28/11/2007
Negotiations are underway between Myanmar officials and Bangkok Dusit Medical Services for emergency helicopter services to Bangkok hospital. If the service is implemented, it will be convenient for both Myanmar patients and foreign visitors. So we hope it is realised.

Photo by Myanmar Times Journal

23/11/2007
Tazaungdine festival (light festival) in Chaina town was held form today to coming Sunday.

21/11/2007
[The Yangon Bus Directory 2007] was published in the first week of November. There are detailed maps of bus routes, contact information of embassies, hotels and travel agencies and train schedule in it. As written by English, it is very convenience for foreigner. It was sold for K3500/book.

Photo by Myanmar Times Journal

19/11/2007
Saturday of this week is full moon day of Tazaung Moon. Decorated offerings which are to be donated to Lord Buddha can be seen here and there at the moment. Yellow robes, slippers, umbrellas, alms bowls, fans made of paper notes, etc are hung on wooden decorated frames. People donate offerings to monasteries after carrying the frames in procession in towns.

16/11/2007
Discounts cards were offered to guests for spending ten dollars or more at Traders Hotel on October 1. Two so-called Traders Dollars were issued for the guests who consumed at the restaurants or used service which is worth ten dollars or more. This also included room charges. You can use the dollars to buy food at the restaurants. It was an enjoyable programme for both guests and local people. Moreover, there will be gift offering programmes of new hotels and promotion progammes of many hotels in competition.

14/11/2007
Today, we would like to introduce “chopped fresh water catfish packet”, a Myanmar traditional fish. This dish is made of morinda (Morinda angustifolia) leaves which are also popular in Japan.

Ingredients:
Fresh water catfish (fish like Nama zu)
Morinda leaves (Nuni leaves)...........10 leaves
Garlic ............................................small amount
Onion ............................................1 bulb
Ginger root ....................................small amount
Chili powder ..................................two table spoons
Cooking oil ....................................two table spoons
Salt ...............................................small amount
Curry powder ................................small amount
Fish meat ......................................small amount

How to cook:
First, pound chili powder, onion and garlic till the mixture becomes smooth. Stir them till they are combined. Then, cut fish into three slices. Chop them. Add salt, curry powder, fish meat and ginger root. Stir them. Make balls. Wrap the balls with morinda leaves. Put cooking oil in a pan. Heat oil. Add freshly pounded mixture of chili powder, onion and garlic into the pan. Cook for two minutes. Add the fish balls wrapped in morinda leaves. Put about 300 ml of water. Cook for 15 minutes. It is done with clear oil separating out on the top. We would like you to try this recipe because this relishing curry goes well with rice.

12/11/2007
Blue Ray, a shop which distributes digital electrical appliances, has opened in Shwe Gone Daing. Japan-made televisions and digital cameras are on sale. Moreover, a wide variety of MP 4 players are also available here. There are a lot of young people who focus on quality of picture and sound although it will take a long time for the people to be able to use them widely. Prices are out of reach of urbanites. They are high compared to prices in Japan.

9/11/2007
Daypawali Day of Hindu fell on November 8. People knew when the day will fall only one week in advance. It was announced an official holiday. Hindu people gathered at Hindu temples and said prayers. We could see small orange flowers offered to the temples and flowers for decoration. Temples were lively with people roadside stalls of Indians which sold sweets.

7/11/2007
Calendars for 2008 are being sold all across Yangon. Despite a wide variety of them available in the market, as you all know, calendars with Korean actors sell best. Moreover, calendars with Myanmar actors and football players attract customers. I also bought one, of course.

5/11/2007
Floating Hotel "Serenity" was opened in Inle Lake in October. It is under the same management as Inle Princess, a hotel of high standard in Inle. Rooms and services are targeted to be the same level as Inle Princess.

By Nishigaki Mitsuru