30/09/2002
This is a street vendor who sells belaching powder. He praactically shows how to get rid of stains putting soiled clothing, soap powder and bleaching powder in a bucket filled with water. A small packet is available at K 30.

27/09/2002
These are containers made of bamboo being sold in front of Bogyoke Market. Bamboo trunk between joints is made smooth, painted and decorated with pictures. Hand-made craft is fine. It costs 4000 K a piece.

26/09/2002
Calendars have come out as the end of the year is drawing near. A new poster-shop that sells posters of stars of the screen has opened near our office. A number of landscape posters and potrait can be available.

25/09/2002
This is caster oil plant. Village people from Chin region use white seeds from the fruit as soap. Yangonites use the oil as purgative. (K.K)

24/09/2002
These are pigs from Chin State. They are different from the pigs of Yangon. With short, small body, the belly almost touches the ground. The joints of legs are small. They are like mouses with oblong built from plan view. (K.K)

23/09/2002
This is a topic in April. Mindat in Chin State is located 2000 feet above sea level. It is said it is very cold in the town when it rains. We reached Mindat through Magway via Bagan in dry zone in Myanmar by jeep. We stayed at Victoria Guest House. On every hill side, side clearing for cultivation was being made. And the trees cut were being burned. It may be because of nearly charged weather or it may be a smybol the weather was changing from summer to the rainy season. There may be worse road than this. But, it was the worst from my experience. After crossing small creeks one after another, we got to Chin State. (K.K)

20/09/2002
In this shop, a wide variety of Rakhine (formerly Arakan) food can be available. They love to have hot and spicy curries. All curries take plenty of chilli because this shop follows their traditions. Each and every curry is unbelievably spicy.

19/09/2002
This is a kind of fruit that produces strong smell. When the fruits are mature enough, they are kept in the rice boxes like this till they become ripe. This is the traditional way of Myanmar. There are a lot of black seeds in the fruit. It has strong and sweet taste. It can be eaten mixing with gaggwry. The fruit help digest and suitable for woman.Leaves of the fruit trees can be consumed cooking with fish.

18/09/2002
It is a kind of lime. It is ugly to look at because of coarse things on its skin. So, is it called "Shauk Bilu" in Myanmar? (with the meaning Shauk is Citron, Bilu is Ogre) It tastes bitter and sour. The fruit is mainly used for making idigenous medicines.

17/09/2002
At a place not very far away from my house, there is a banana plantation. Some are with bunches of bananas. The prices of banana has gone up because they are mainly used for offering Buddha Images when people pay hormage. Banana Buds can be eaten after fermenting. They can also be fried to serve as a side dish. Kernel of banana plant is used in cooking Monhinga, a Myanmar traditional gravy snack. Banana leaves can be used packing snacks. The whole plant is useful.

16/09/2002
Reproduction rate of mosquitoes increases during the rainy season, it is said. Necessary measures are taken to prevent from mosquito related diseases. Mosquito coils are lit as soon as evening hours come. One of the repellents is mosquito repellent bulb. It is like an ordinary bulb and produces yellow rays because it is painted yellow. It is not so effective but its light is so bright.

13/09/2002
Plans are underway to move the two bus terminals_Sinmalaik and Saw Bwa Gyigone_to Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal in North Okkalapa. It is part of plans to decrease traffic jams in Yangon.

12/09/2002
This is Myat Thanda that cruises along the Yangon river from 6 to 8 p.m on weekends. On weekdays, the ship serves as a restaurant at a jetty.

11/09/2002
These are the sparrows that are being sold at a Chinese Temple near our office. It costs 100 kyats a sparrow. Those who do merits in order to avert from danger free the sparrows.

10/09/2002
I came across cooking pork curry in a big pan near a bus stop. When I asked, it was said to offer the monks on sabbath day. I saw a lot of pork in a pot under the table nearby. It is lovely tradition that people donate as much as they can afford no matter they are rich or not in the country where people believe in Buddhism.

9/09/2002
I took photographs of oysters on my way to jetty. It costs 50 kyats per 10 oysters. Generally, they are sold at higher prices. They seemed to be sold at low prices so that the seller could cover daily spending for that day.

6/09/2002
This is a programme which everybody takes interest in. The programme "So Gya Me!! Pyaw Gya Me!! means " Let's sing and be happy". It is for novice singers to have a chance to show their talent. It starts at 5:30 in the evening on Sundays. Under 25 singers may take part in this competition with the songs of their choice.(K.K)

5/09/2002
This is a programme which everybody takes interest in. The programme "So Gya Me!! Pyaw Gya Me!! means " Let's sing and be happy". It is for novice singers to have a chance to show their talent. It starts at 5:30 in the evening on Sundays. Under 25 singers may take part in this competition with the songs of their choice.(K.K)

4/09/2002
I wrote about it when I had bought a shrine. It was about a woman in shirt and longgyi. The shrine was moved a little when I repaired the shop. Similarly, there are shrines in pubs and bars in Myanmar. There is no reason for encouraging of drinking by the Buddha. Are they asking for permission to drink from their mind worshipping the Buddha? I have no idea. There are some customers who believe in Islam that strictly prohibits the believers from drinking. They stealthily drink beer at the inner most part of the restaurant in the absence of people. Significant character of Myanmar drunkards is that they calculate and check the bill themselves no matter how much they are under influence of the alcohol. They raise questions when they find the fact that they really don't understand and take time to foot the bill. I think it is a good habit. As for restaurant, they may be expressing their honesty regarding the bill placing the shrine right above the counter. (K.K)

3/09/2002
It is about changing style of Myanmar youths. It doesn't mean that the style is caused by someone or they are not normal ones. The one on the right is 16 years old and he has a long nail on little finger coloured red at the tip. The young man on the left is 17 years old and he has a long nail on his thumb polished red. Do they want to do different things from others? The man who was kissed by a gay at the trade fair also had long nail on his thumb and it was coloured red. Number of girls and boys who have their hair coloured has increased recently. The impact of style of dress of singers and actors on youths is severe.(K.K)

2/09/2002
Countries in South East Asia region are suffering for natural disaster-floods. Similarly in Myanmar, water level of all major rivers has risen and some cities along the rivers have been flooded. In Monywa, on Chin Dwin river flooding is the worst in 50 years, that is 2/3 in the city. Pyay is in the verge of danger. The roads to Mon State near Bago have been cut by floods. On Sittaung river, Taungoo and Madauk are experiencing floods. On Than Lwan river, Hpa-an and Mawlamyine are in danger.