31/10/2007
"Transview Golf", a new golf equipment store, has opened on Saya San Road. Number of golf stores has increased in Yangon during recent years. So has number of Myanmar golfers. It is good news for salary earners. Golf seems to be the one and only sport for salary earners to relieve their stress in Myanmar where there is little entertainment.

29/10/2007
Shwedagon pagoda was packed with pilgrims on October 26, full moon day of Thidingyut (the end of Buddhist lent). There were also Hip Hop, Pop and Rock concerts in Kandawgyi Park, which was packed with young people. Children played with fireworks and houses were decorated with colourful lights.

24/10/2007
In this season, sweet potatoes are plenty. You can see hills of them at vegetable wholesale centres. I happened to buy about ten sweet potatoes and ate them after baking and boiling. It really reminded me of how much we enjoyed them as children. I had my fill and felt satisfied. In Myanmar, baked or boiled sweet potatoes are eaten. It is also an important ingredient for sago (hard white grains cooked with milk and coconut).

22/10/2007
Tazaung Daing Light Festival will take place for five days at Maha Ahnt Htoo Kantha Image, in May Myo, starting from November 21. The event has been celebrated for three years. The festival includes competition of traditional hot-air balloons. The event in which hot-air balloons of various sizes and colours are flied is a prominent festival of May Myo.

19/10/2007
People celebrate Light Festival at the end of Buddhist lent which coincides with conclusion of the rainy season. This year event falls on 26 October. Paper lanterns are being sold at stalls all over Yangon. Wedding receptions are held after the rainy season because traditions do not allow such receptions to take place. Magazines and weekly papers carry articles on promotion of reception halls of hotels, wedding dresses and beauty salons.

17/10/2007
Gabala oranges (citrus aurantium) have come into season. The fruit tastes sweet like oranges. Despite the sweet taste, it smells sour. Peeled gabalas are chopped into bite-size pieces that are served with food colouring and salt. Such combination makes the taste of the fruit more prominent. Why don’t you try some during your visit to Myanmar.

15/10/2007
Bo Aung Kyaw Shopping Centre has been opened on the corner of Maha Bandoola Road and Bo Aung Kyaw Street. The shopping centre is comprised of first and second floors. The third floor with clothing and fashion shops are packed with young people. We need to wait and see how many people will patronize this shopping centre because there are other shopping centres such as Yankin Centre, Dangon Centre, etc.

12/10/2007
K Mart, a new super market, has been opened at Pearl Condominium on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road. Korean foods and a wide variety of goods are available there. There has been continuous boom of Korean products for two or three years in Myanmar. K Mart is a symbol of the boom because Korean fashion and foods are gaining wide-spread popularity. By the way, the own knows Japanese language and he can give you detail explanation of products.

By Nishigaki Mitsuru