MYANMORE Magazine - No.12/ October 2017 by MYANMORE

No. 12 /October 2017 Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free!

magazine

Kyaw Thu:

HOW TO ACT WITH CHARITY Yangon, Mandalay & Beyond

LOTTE

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

magazine

No. 12 / October 2017

Managing Director Andreas Sigurdsson

Prost! 34 Q & A 36 In conversion with: Mr. David Shim Technology 38 Galaxy Note 8 Sports 40 Deadlift Educatiion 42 Creating the future of Myanmar's workforce

Editors Natty Tangmeesang Rik Glauert Contributors Donimic Horner James Frable Malti Lahiri Sam D. Foot Sofia Raineri Susan Bailey Victoria Rebello San Zar Ni Bo

Environment 44 Say no to plastic bag

Photography Leo Jackson

Horoscope 46

Art & Production Kyaw Kyaw Tun Hein Htet

Promotions, Card Deals & Tickets 48

Publisher MYANMORE Magazine Pyit Thiri Thaw Lychee Ventures (Myanmar) Limited Permit No. 01588 Printer Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. MCM Printing (00876) Sales & Advertising sales@myanmore.com 0977 900 3701 / 3702

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On 9 Cinema 12 New Openings 14 Briefings 16 Cover Story 18 Kyaw Thu: How to act with charity

Travel A happy surprise! 24 Mount Popa: On the top of the world 26 Food & Drink Burmese food 30 Babett 32

Disclaimer No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from Myanmore. All details are deemed correct at the time of print. The editor, employees and contributors cannot be held responsible for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions that may occur. www.myanmore.com www.facebook.com/myanmore www.issuu.com/myanmore

About Myanmore Myanmore is a registered brand under Lychee Ventures (Myanmar) Limited providing digital and print publishing as well as creative services. Myanmore is managing the leading online city guide www.myanmore.com and printed publications Weekly Guide, EnjoyIt, KnowIt. We also work closely with the team of DRIVE, the first and only premium car magazine in Myanmar. Recently, we have launched applications such as MYANMORE (lifestyle app) and Sarmal (app for finding restaurant & bars in Myanmar). The mission is to provide great content and experiences for residents in Myanmar.

New Openings

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

What's on

Nightlife

You’ve Been Infected Halloween Night 31st October 2017 | From 7:00 PM

Halloween Party at Chatrium Royal Lake. Make sure you wear a Costume. DJ Angel will be there with us all night long. Buy one get one free “Morphine” cocktail for the whole night. Entrance Fees – USD 10 per person (including 1 free drink). Activity: Beer competition, Halloween Games, the Best Costume Award. For more information and reservation, please call +95 1 544500 ext: 6243 or email to clubrizzoli.chry@chatrium.com

Education

The 5th Asian SME Conference 2017 14th-15th October 2017 | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Chatrium Royal Lake Hotel - 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon

Continuing the tradition of high voltage conferences focused on innovating SME growth in Asia, join them in Myanmar's capital, the beautiful garden city of Nay Pyi Taw, for the largest SME event ever to be held in this freshly developing country. Whether as a speaker, panelist, or active attendee, your voice is important in the conversation they will share together this 14-15 October 2017. So they urge you to reserve your tickets now before all our seats are filled: http://smeconference2017.org/tickets/ NayPyiDaw Convention Center 2 - MahaThukha Road, Near BawGaTheikdi Circle, NayPyiDaw.

Nightlife

Sunset Boat Party

21st October 2017 | 4:30 PM - 8:15 PM

Activities

Oktoberfest Yangon 2017 20th & 21st October 2017 | 5:00 PM - Till late

Oktoberfest is the world's largest Volksfest (beer festival and travelling funfair) which held annually. This year, they will celebrate in same location as last year: Rose Garden Hotel.Tickets will include free flow drinks and foods with live bands. Ticket Price is 45 USD / 60 000 Kyats, Door Sale 65 USD/ 90 000 Kyats. You can get ticket at https://ticket.myanmore.com/ Rose Garden - 171 Upper Pansodan Road, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

The Sunset Boat Party returns. In a return to it's roots, the boat party will feature the finest selection of Yangon Djs playing compelling sets of the latest music. Join them for dancing on the newly renovated boat, which boasts bespoke, hand crafted wood and metal worked designs to enhance your experience. DJs will swelling beats from House Music to Gypsy, Breaks to Hip Hop and Electronic music. Food will be available onboard. See you there. For ticket contact to 09975167973. Botahtaung Jetty - Botahtaung Pagoda Road, The Royal Irrawaddy Boat, Botahtaung Township, Yangon.

Art & Stage

Art Talk

10th October 2017 | 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Young artist YADANAR will present some of her major art works through pictures and video. She will tell us where she gets inspiration from, explain about her performance art records and her new ART group 3 AM. Register by email with your name + NRC or Passport number at raphaele.martin@fco.gov.uk British Embassy Club - 46 Gyo Byu Road, Dagon Township, Yangon

Education

Hand Forming Pottery Four Days Workshop

14th,15th,21st and 22nd October 2017 | 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM You can participate this workshop together with the people you love. Besides, you can also give the artistic things that you made to your favorite people as a gift. You can carve your name, quotes or something like that on your creation and that will last forever. For more details contact to 09 765 088986. The Workshop - Art & Craft School - 101, Building A4, Bo Min Yong Housing, Bo Min Yong Road, North Dagon Township, Yangon

Dining

Boutique Brunch 22nd October 2017 | 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

All freshly cooked creations from our kitchen team to have a relaxed Sunday - not much walking around and no stress. Their Boutique Brunch has become even better - now you can enjoy apart from the delicious food selection, PROSECCO, House white and red wine, draft beer, fresh juices and coffee and tea without limitations. USD 39.- net per person with free flow beverages. | RSVP : 01 526289 Savoy Hotel Yangon - 129, Dhammazedi Road, Bahan Township, Yangon

BRINGING THE HEART AND SOUL Mediterranean Restaurant

OF THE MEDITERRANEAN TO YOUR PLATE

Mediterranean Mediterra r nean Restaura ra Restaurant r nt ra

Enjoy the freshest Mediterranean tastes with modern interpretations on classic dishes while enjoying a bottle of something special from our extensive cellar.

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MELIĂ YANGON - 1ST FLOOR 192, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon melia.yangon@meliayangon.com.mm www.melia.com

Cinema

CINEMA

Now Showing Kingsman: the Golden Circle Action, Adventure, Comedy

The Foreigner Action, Thriller

a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything and everyone.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a 2017 action spy comedy film. The plot follows the Kingsmen needing to team up with their American counterparts, the Statesmen, after the world is held hostage by a new threat.

A humble businessman with a buried past seeks justice when his daughter is killed in an act of terrorism. A cat-andmouse conflict ensues with a government official, whose past may hold clues to the killers' identities.

Starring: Jeremy Ray Taylor, Gerard Butler, Abbie Cornish and many more.

Starring: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Edward Holcroft, Sophie Cookson, and Hanna Alstrรถm with Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal, Elton John, Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges.

Starring: Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, Charlie Murphy and many more.

Ib and Boum decide to commit suicide together in Bangkok in 1997. After reneging on the promise, the vengeful ghost of Ib returns 20 years later to haunt Boum and her 15 year old daughter, Bell.

Geostorm Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Starring: Kachai Pich, Fahkuelon Ratsameekhae, Klai-Udom Sarantorn and many more. The Promise Drama, Horror, Thriller

Coming Soon

Geostorm is an upcoming American disaster science-fiction action film directed by Dean Devlin as his feature film directorial debut. The plot follows a satellite designer who tries to save the world from a storm of epic proportions caused by malfunctioning climate-controlling satellites.When the network of satellites designed to control the global climate start to attack Earth, it's a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before

the most popular net idol today to be the adverts. To display a dazzling review ...

Starring: Numthip Jongrachatawiboon, Apichaya Thongkham, Thunyaphat Pattarateerachaicharoen and many more. Net I Die Horror, Thriller

Blade Runner 2049 Sci-Fi, Thriller

Net idols that have been celebrated in the past. Have launched their own brand cosmetics. And have gathered

A young blade runner's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years. Starring: Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas and many more. Aung Say Paing Say Action, Comedy A two criminals work together to get profits from the villages without knowing them they work together. But when the real threat comes, will they reveal their real identities to all or not ?? Starring: Nay Toe, Luu Min, Khine Thin Kyi, Ei Chaw Po and many more. MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Cinemas in Yangon Junction Maw Tin 01 225 244 Junction City 01 9253591, 01 9253592 Junction Square 01 527 055 City Mall 09 764808081 Mingalar Sanpya Cineplex 09 260 887 035 — 36, 01 230 3 165 Mingalar Cineplex (Gamone Pwint) 09 779 054 671 — 73 Mingalar Cinema 2(Dagon Centre (II) 09 732 54 091 — 92 Nay Pyi Daw 01 251 277, 01 251 288 Shae Saung Cinema 01 252 113, 01 388 034

Thamada Cinema 01 246 962, 01 246 963 Thwin 01 372 594, 01 388 033 Mingalar 01 243057 Mega Ace (Tharkayta) 01 556 782 Mega Ace (Tamwe) 01 554 383 Mega Ace (North Okkalapa) 09 971 750 91

Show Time @ Mingalar Cinemas Every day: 10 AM, 12.30 PM, 3.30 PM, 6.30 PM & 9.30 PM. Show Time @ Junction Cinemas Sun – Thurs: 10AM, 1PM, 4PM, 7PM Fri – Sat: 10AM, 1PM, 4PM, 7PM, 9.30PM Timings subject to change. Please call to reconfirm and book your tickets in advance via phone.

New Openings

New Openings This Month

Prime Grill Mediterranean Restaurant Yangon â&#x20AC;˘ Mediterranean The authentic Mediterranean restaurant with fantastic Mediterranean cuisines in the heart of Yangon, Nawaday Street, Yaw Min Gyi Ward. The place itself is gorgeously decorated by the Mediterranean scenes, romantic atmosphere and good for dating also. 18C Nawaday Street, Dagon Township 09 793 808082 10 am - 10 pm

Nara Thai â&#x20AC;˘ Thai A Thai fine dining restaurant which serves traditional Thai cuisines with a modern twist surrounded by a cozy atmosphere and mouthwatering dishes. What special about Nara Thai is its signature dishes that express the Thai tradition with the art of cooking. 1 Kan Yeikthar Street, Mayangone Township 09 777 151 222, 09 777 161 222 10 am - 3 pm & 5 pm - 10 pm

Find out more in sarmal.com.mm

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Delicious Fillet & Vegetable Steam • Asian Fusion Delicious is an Asian Fusion restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner the whole day. Dim Sum, Hot Pot, Seafood, variety of fried rices but they offer Chinese focused. The restaurant is big, two-stories building for which is good for groups and family hangout, Birthday party. Very fresh Oysters are available there and well-worth trying. 155 Wai Za Yan Tar Road, South Okkalapa Township 09 45994 7571 6 am - 10 pm

DERMA GRAND • Aesthic Clinic Derma Grand clinic provides a wide range of aesthetic services such as facial rejuvenation, acne management, laser services, laser hair removal and many more services. It is also working in alliance with Krung Siam St. Carlos Medical Centre from Thailand which is being famous in medical spa, aesthetic and cosmetic surgery and media centre. No.(Y), Kabaaye Pagoda Road, Yankin Township, Yangon, Myanmar 09 969 798001, 09 969 798003 10 am - 7 pm

Uncle Tetsu Cheesecake Myanmar • Japanese Made-from-scratch using only the highest quality ingredients, Uncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecakes are admired for their fluffy and light texture with a balanced sweetness, perfectly made to satisfy your sweet cravings. 176B, Baho Road, Between Phyar Pone Street & Myaung Mya Street, Sanchaung Township 09 964 006094 9 am - 8 pm

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Briefings

Inle Festival

BALLOON & ROCKET FESTIVALS TAKE OFF IN NOVEMBER By Susan Bailey

The full moon of Tazaungmon is celebrated throughout Myanmar but perhaps no more raucously than at Taunggyi’s balloon festival. In addition to this world-famous week of merriment, two other celebrations take to the skies in November. Kalaw’s Rocket Festival takes place from November 4-8, and the 13th Annual Pyin Oo Lwin Balloon Festival starts October 31 and carries on until November 4. Plan wisely and you can make it to all of these celebrations, a Tazaungmon trifecta! Here is your guide to making it happen.

Pyin Oo Lwin: Oct. 31 – Nov. 4

Set off early from Mandalay, as traffic can be very heavy, and make your way to Pyin Oo Lwin. Taking the train is the safest and cheapest option but it does entail an early wake-up as it departs at 4:30 a.m.! Cherry Myae (02-73571, 6,000-8,000 kyats per person) runs regular shared taxis, just call in advance to organize a pick up. Or hire a private car for around 40,000 kyats. The festival is entering its 13th year and has become hugely popular with more than 120 balloons expected to take to the skies. In addition, there is a photography competition, which attracts shutterbugs from throughout the country who showcase their best art in hopes of winning a prestigious prize. The festival takes place at Maha Ant Htoo Kan Thar Pagoda, in the center of town. The roads will be packed, so book a hotel nearby or plan extra time to get there in time for the evening celebrations.

Kalaw: Nov. 2-6

Travel down to Kalaw for a smaller, but no less impressive celebration. If using public transport, you will need to double back to Mandalay but if driving yourself you can take the slightly treacherous yet stunning Yet Sauk Road (Road 41). There are plenty of good value guesthouses and hotels to choose from in Kalaw, but it is recommended to call in advance. The festival takes place in the hills around Kalaw, not in the town itself, but it is easy to arrange a tuk-tuk or motorbike to get you to where the action is. Rather than the hot-air balloons found in Pyin Oo Lwin, here the villagers—from various ethnic groups—launch homemade rockets in a symbolic gesture of thanks to the skies for the recent rains. The rockets resemble a giant firecracker made from bamboo and an intense, but fun, competition ensues to see whose rocket can fly the highest. The festival is attended by Pa-Oh, Shan, Danu and other ethnic groups who don their colorful costumes and play traditional music while dancing and drinking the night away. Details: This year, local party planners Banana Events are offering multi-day packages with extra experiences such as a DJ/Club night, trekking excursions and camping. (bananaeventsyangon@ gmail.com; 09 7961 40175/ 09 7957 57573)

Taunggyi: Oct. 29 – Nov. 4

Saving the best for last, travel up to Taunggyi. There are regular buses and shared taxis from Kalaw, or you can easily hire a private car—traffic will be heavy so the normal 2.5-hour journey may turn into four or five hours.

However, be sure to have your hotel arranged in advance as accommodation gets booked out months prior! During the week-long festival, tens of thousands of people gather in a large field not far from Taunggyi’s center. Stalls selling clothes, snacks and household goods are interspersed with vendors hawking food and, yes, alcohol. The real party kicks off at night with concerts by rock bands and pop singers and the main event: the launching of the hot air balloons. One by one, the massive bamboo-and-paper vessels are illuminated and soar into the sky. Inevitably one of the balloons catches on fire or drifts askew, causing the small candleholders to tip over so that small fireballs drop down into the audience. It is festival where you will almost certainly have fun. However, it is a good idea to keep your wits about you. In addition to the fire hazards, petty theft is high during Taunggyi’s balloon festival and incidents involving stolen wallets or snatched bags are certainly higher than normal. Drunk driving is also an issue. If possible, stay near to the main grounds so that you can walk to the festival or hire a taxi in advance for the return trip rather than relying on finding a sober motorbike taxi driver late at night! Details: Shan Yoma Travel Agency (info@exploremyanmar.com) is able to arrange hotels and transport for the Taunggyi Balloon Festival as well as tours in and around the Inle Lake Area.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Feature Cover

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Kyaw Thu:

How to Act with Charity By Sam D. Foot Translation provided by Awbur Nyan

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Feature Cover

hen rising film star Kyaw Thu cleared up at the 1994 Myanmar Academy Awards for his role in the film Miss Shwe Hta, The Foreigner, he would not have been able to predict the future that was to come. A rebel by by nature, raised in the studios of the old regime where his father called the shots, the young man would obsess about film, learning from legendary film stars like U Nyunt Win, U Kyaw Hein, and College Jin Nay Win, and watching all he could at a time when pirate VHS tapes were revolutionary and the country was, by all accounts, not entirely accepting of things deemed subversive. But Kyaw Thu had a hot streak, he was always ready to shake things up. It is no surprise that he idolized the original American angry young men—first Marlon Brando, then James Dean— and dressed up like his heroes, imitating the brash, handsome iconoclasts and replicating their insouciant charm and charisma. Kyaw Thu’s swagger, his cool, and his polished good looks meant he was sure to succeed, and, by the mid-1990s, he arguably became the biggest draw in Myanmar cinema. After being unexpectedly asked by legendary director U Myo Myint Aung to star in his first movie (Chit Kyoe Lay Nha Myhin, or Two Threads of Love) whilst still a newly married physics graduate in 1981, Kyaw Thu’s stardom rose meteorically. Women gushed over his performances, men hailed him as an icon. Despite this, and as he grew a body of work swelling into hundreds of movies, Kyaw Thu was consistently overlooked by the critics; until 1994 the actor had refused to collaborate in any work which he considered propaganda. The government-backed Miss Shwe Hta, deemed by many as inferior to much of his previous oeuvre, was his concession—a victorious blip on his resume but also a career direction he was as quick to abandon as he was to initiate. Although further success followed—in 2003 he won the Academy’s “Best Director” gong for Amay Noe Boe—Kyaw Thu was always uncomfortable playing the role of sycophant and, by the mid 2000s, things were changing fast in Myanmar. In 2001, Kyaw Thu began a process of reinvention which has seen him become one of Yangon’s leading human-

actions saw him banned from creating new material, and also placed a public prohibition on the airing of his works. Kyaw Thu was out in the cold—unable even to visit his children overseas. The judgment held until Thein Sein’s regime loosened the injunction in 2012. But a life of conviction reveals itself in many forms. Charity, and the belief in care and respect for the misfortunate, is a common road taken by activists and celebrities the world over. As an outcast, Kyaw Thu threw himself into humanitarian work. Revered among most of Myanmar’s citizens for its unsurpassed deeds in aiding families to pay their final respects with dignity, FFSS has been arranging last rites for those of limited means since 2001, a pivotal social function in a country where prescribed funereal rites are too costly for the majority of the population. Donations flow in from a number of sources; foremost amongst these being fellow actors, artists, and patrons within the Myanmar diaspora. FFSS has to date provided burials for nearly 200,000 people. itarians. The organization of which he is president and patron is named the Free Funeral Service Society (FFSS), a charity so famous that we simply say “Kyaw Thu’s office” to our taxi driver and he embarks on the hour long drive to the edge of town, in North Dagon. It is a large operation, with over 500 staff—the majority of whom are dedicated volunteers—many wearing the actor’s distinctive bearded, pony-tailed portrait on their t-shirts. From the start, it is clear that there is a strong cult of affection towards the eminence gris of Myanmar’s silver screen star turned victor of the less fortunate. We enter, past a life-size waxwork of the philanthropist, into FFSS's reception. After a long hiatus, we are ushered into Kyaw Thu’s personal office: modest, but abounding with the mementos of a life spent among the great and good of Myanmar society. Fabulously quirky paintings cover the walls, interspersed with edgy film posters and an imposing canvas photo of the man, handsomely gripping his 1994 award haul. Artsy portraits with friends and lover Shwe Zee Kwet cover his desks, displaying at a life well spent.

I point at one: “Your work?” I ask. Kyaw Thu is also a noted artist, his censored paintings having previously been exhibited in New York. “No, these are all by friends,” he smiles, charmingly. Then, pointing to a discreet, delicate landscape that I mistake for an ethereal example of Chinese brushwork, he notes: “By Aung San Suu Kyi.” In fitting with his on-screen persona, Kyaw Thu has always lived a life of conviction. A free-spirited, drinker and drug user in the past, he has never been afraid to question authority. I ask about a lengthy, conspicuous tattoo in Thai script covering his lower left forearm. In response, he strips topless, revealing the same message inscribed in four different languages across his entire body. It is a poem, penned by him: “Walk your own path, Do your own duty, Fulfil your own obligations, Be guided by your own virtue, Write your own history… That’s all!” It is perhaps this headstrong attitude that saw him thrown into prison during the 2007 sangha protests, for offering alms to the monks. Despite being detained for only seven days, his

“In the year 2000, funeral costs were so high that in some regions people were secretly burying bodies in fields, farms and forests.” Kyaw Thu recalls. “When the owner discovered this, the bodies would be disinterred and the farmer himself would have to face the repercussions.” Kyaw Thu co-founded the organization with another hero of the arts scene, the accomplished late author, musician and director, U Thu Kha. Since FFSS’ inception, it has been a central tenet of the charity that burials are offered to all, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. “Baba U Thu Kha spent a period in hospital. In the bed alongside him was a seriously ill woman. One day, her family was informed that there was no longer anything the hospital could do for her. She was discharged. And, then, something unusual happened: Her family purposefully stopped associating with her until her death a week or so later. U Thu Kha chased down the family to discover the reason behind this cruelty. The answer: “We are a poor family, and we cannot afford to cover the cost of our mother’s funeral. MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Feature Cover

“We see the root cause of all this illness as low education levels and a general lack of understanding of wellness,” Kyaw Thu

We have no choice, our hearts are broken, but we cannot be burdened with this cost.’” Since then, FFSS has shouldered the cost of all aspects of the burial ceremonies and even shouldered the actual coffins. Kyaw Thu is known for his dedication to the task at hand,

dispelling social stigma by occasionally acting as pallbearer and driving the hearses of the deceased. “Sometimes, when family members see me holding the coffin, they’d be so happy they’d momentarily forget their sorrow. They’d come for autographs and offer me food. I’d say: ‘let’s get the cremation out of the way first... then let’s get together.’” Although there are no FFSS branches elsewhere in Myanmar, Kyaw Thu believes that in this way he has set the example for the numerous national organizations which now mimic the good work which he began. FFSS also operates a mobile clinic, named in honor of U Thu Kha, which provides vital free medical assistance to more than 200 people each day via a staff of more than 50 volunteer doctors. Further operations have sprouted in Pyay, Bago, and Kyobingauk. “When we started FFSS, we saw a lot of death. On average, we would see 30 to 40 corpses per day,” he exclaims. “Looking into the causes, we found that medication was too

costly, and we decided to act on this.” The clinic provides not only primary healthcare, but serves as a hospital for the treatment of many other major health afflictions. More recently, the clinic opened an optometric unit and a clinic for kidney patients.

about our work and, almost overnight, eviction attempts began. Eventually we were kicked out and we moved to where we are now, in North Dagon, on the outskirts of town, on land which was the unofficial municipal dump. But relations remained tense, even so.”

“We see the root cause of all this illness as low education levels and a general lack of understanding of wellness,” Kyaw Thu told Myanmore. As such, education has become a key priority of FFSS: The organization provides classes for matriculating students, runs summer schools which teach children basic courtesy, grammar and ethics, and offers vocational training in areas such as hospitality, business, and teacher training.

The organization also arranges disaster relief, filling gaps in official provision to help victims of fire and flooding. And in this area, hurdles are also common. Speaking of FFSS’s work in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis and the Pakokku flooding, he recalls: “We entered the region to provide relief. As soon as we attempted to charter boats, the former junta prohibited the hire company from leasing. We tried extremely hard to carry on with our mission, despite all the odds. We collected many dead bodies over those days, to cremate. Once the immediate disaster had receded, the rehabilitation processes began. Our organization participated in agricultural efforts by providing wells, machinery, manpower and

Providing ad-hoc humanitarian aid has not been a straightforward process, however. “When we began, the only suitable place to perform such services was from a monastery. We became successful, and word got around. The former junta heard

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

input, and also aided the construction of new schools. Everything was gone. We tried to provide all we could; from food, shelter and clothing upwards. We couldn’t do as much as we wanted, even though we had the cash and the tools. There was so much bureaucracy—the junta found every way possible to put up roadblocks.” When asked about the current situation, and the hurdles to performing his charity work, he is positive: “Things have improved, but I still get hassled outside of Yangon, when I cross borders or visit Bagan the security forces question me incessantly, asking for all the details of my transport. I have no idea why they still do this, but I am not a politician and I have absolutely no plans to be. It’s the reality, it’s an irritation, but it is what it is.” A man with firm Buddhist faith, Kyaw Thu feels that only now can he finally leave his dichotomous past behind: No more flitting between work as a poster boy for a regime which he was, at the same time, frequently rallying

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

against. The FFSS and a selfless devotion to humanitarian work now dictate his entire life, a point he reiterates obsessively. When asked, with Myanmar’s tense current climate in mind, what he now thinks of FFSS’s policy of inclusion, he conclusively replies: “We help anyone regardless of ethnicity or race, whether poor or rich, friend or enemy: that is what being a public servant is—it is altruism. Humans should be treated as humans, we must have sympathy towards all, that’s my attitude. If someone is denied because of their religion, that is not the true meaning of charity. This is what our Lord Buddha taught us, it’s the Four Sublime States, sympathy towards other humans, the core of my belief! As Bogyoke Aung San said: ‘If a country lacks the Four Sublime States, that country will face many disasters.’ If we look at it in this context, we are facing these disasters now. Natural depletion—which also affects the minds of people—sickness, floods, greed, fires, racial conflict: these are the disasters we now face.

They happen because we are lacking loving kindness. If everyone developed sympathy and loving kindness, our country, maybe even the whole world, would be better and safer.” The majority of Kyaw Thu’s cinematic output since 2012 has been consonant with the goals of his social work. He is settling into a life of humanitarian selflessness, working on selective shows, and espousing his philosophy by publishing collections of his Facebook posts. “At this stage, I just want to pass my life peacefully. I want to meditate and achieve a state of inner peace. However, I still have many attachments that I cannot get over. For example, my charity work is something I must do. Regarding art, I believe my work should benefit the public in this same mindset. I now have many movies to shoot, I am scheduling the timetable. I have committed to act and direct the TV adaptation of Bagan Myo Thu (Bagan Girl), and that is where you will see me at the moment. However, it is my wish now purely to put out work that is beneficial to the public.”

Asked what he gets from his work, he provides a stern final outburst: “I will keep on running FFSS until my last breath, for the sake of everyone who benefits. I will not get involved in politics, I have no interest whatsoever, I just want to ease the pain of our cities and our people. I don’t want power, but I will push on with charity work whatever happens—even if I am incapacitated, even if it is only by words.” Then, staring ahead at a photo of himself as a younger man, he concludes: “I am addicted to charity work. Before, I was a drinker, I was addicted to drugs. When I started doing good deeds, all of my vices evaporated. The truth is this: I found that charity work is more addictive than anything. If I am now addicted to good deeds, then this is a better way to be.”

Travel Day Trips

YANGON

A HAPPY SURPRISE! Domâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Trips: Part 4 - Ale-ywa Beach By Dominic Horner

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

If you fancy some beach action with tasty seafood for lunch then Ale-ywa’s got your name on it. True, no one’s going to confuse Ale-ywa for Ngapali but then you can’t drive to Ngapali in less than 2 hours for under 50,000ks. For Ale-ywa,you can.

Initially, we wound up in Aleywa by accident we weren’t even trying to go there. We were trying to get to Letkokkon. In the past, Letkokkon had something of a cheap and cheerful reputation and was generally considered a solid (if not spectacular) budget option. But, as various other resorts around the country began to grow in tourist-draw-stature, Letkokkon began to shrink and I think it’s safe to say that it hasn’t been top of many itineraries in recent years. Of course that’s no reason not to go, so we started planning our trip.

Luckily, just fifteen minutes south west of Letkkoken is Ale-ywa and that is a destination. In fact, Ale-ywa rocks bells! The beach has only been attracting visitors for two years - it’s brand new in that sense. It’s not super-big, but it is pretty, and the brackish water whilst quite brown (it’s basically the delta), seems to be clean. Most restaurants rent rubber rings at 1,000ks a pop and if you’ve come all this way you’ll probably want to go for a dip. There’s no shortage of life so if you’ve come by bike it’s quite nice to ride up and down the beach taking it all in. The real draw though, is the seafood.

We postponed for over a year as the village’s sole hotel underwent renovation. Then, in March, when we rang for what must’ve been the fifty-bazillionth time, we were told that project renovation had become project stagnation, and that the hotel would be closed for the foreseeable future and possibly forever. Bummer.

The seafood in Ale-ywa is some of the best we’ve had in the whole of Myanmar and it’s worth the trip just to have lunch. All the seafood is locally caught, fresh, and delicious. The crab curry is excellent but the real mind-blowers are the prawns and fish. The prawns are huge. Remember the prawns in dystopian sci-fi-thriller District 9? THAT BIG.*

We decidedto go anyway. Maybe there would be other places to stay and even if there wasn’t maybe it’d just make for a fun day trip. But when we finally made it down there we found that it wasn’t just the hotel that had fallen into disuse; the beach had all but vanished too. We’re still not 100% clear on what happened. Something about the plants and trees being overgrown and the changing of the tides… It’s all a bit Bermuda triangle we’re not really sure. What is for sure is that Letkkoken itself is no longer any kind of meaningful tourist destination, not unless you’re really into abandoned hotels and grass.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Better yet is the local fish Ngar oe mhout, which is off the charts delicious. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a restaurant but our personal fav is Nan Myo Thu. The service is friendly, the food’s tasty, and the chairs are pink – you’re sorted! There’s exactly no accommodation in the area now that Orchid hotel is gone, but if you ask nicely someone will probably put you up in the village. That’s what we did anyway.But don’t stress it; a day’s more than enough. In terms of the route, the first thing you need to do is get yourself down to

Pansodan jetty and get a return ticket on the ferry to Dala. Once there you’ll need a cab (40-50,000 ks return), or, if you’re feeling badass, you can Easy Rider it down with a motorbike (1520,000 ks for the whole day). A taxi will take around 90 minutes and a bike should take around 2 hours if you keep faff and bike-selfies to a minimum. Overall this merits a strong recommendation. Don’t go to Ngapali. Go to Ale-ywa.

What do I do there? Swim, take photos, feel good about life, play football if you like football (I hate football), ride your bike up the beach like a rock star. Sunbathe? What should I eat there? SEAFOOD! The local fish Ngar oe mhout, prawns and crab. Read the article. Where should I sleep?

Dom’s Fricken Fast Facts How do I get there? Ferry to Dala then a taxi or motorbike to Ale-ywa. 40-50,000 ks for taxi / 1520,000 ks for a bike.

In your own home where you live in Yangon (there’re no hotel). If you insist on staying, ask around and someone might take you in. *NOT THAT BIG

Travel Yangon

MANDALAY

MOUNT POPA: ON TOP OF THE WORLD By James Frable

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Travel Yangon

Few tourists make the half-day trip from Bagan to Mt Popa, and even fewer undertake the hike up to its actual summit. The hike is peaceful, the experience rewarding and the views sublime – so why so few? Misinformation, confusion and rumour are the main culprits: fact-finding has become a complicated task, and making arrangements a hassle – two factors that have consequently deterred tourists. In reality, everything is fairly straightforward, and with the correct information you can organise the hike yourself. Nearly every Bagan tourist office advertises trips to Mt Popa. But these only take you to Popa Taung Kalat – the rocky volcanic plug topped with a picturesque temple (at least when viewed from afar). This excursion can be done in the morning or afternoon; a space in a shared taxi from Bagan sets you back 8,000 ks or 9,000 ks respectively. If you want to climb to the extinct volcano’s summit, however, you need to scale Taung Ma-Gyi (Mother Mountain), a new name given to distinguish it from the more popular Popa Taung Kalat. This is where the difficulties and misunderstandings begin. Taung Ma-gyi

(the extinct volcano) was previously called Mt Popa, but now Popa Taung Kalat (the volcanic plug with the monastery) is officially referred to as Mt Popa. To avoid confusion, you’re best avoiding the name Mt Popa altogether – just use Taung Kalat or Taung Ma-Gyi. To get to Taung Ma-Gyi, you’ll need a private taxi to drop you at the Popa Mountain Resort. I put up a sign advertising my plans in my Bagan hotel reception, and by mid-afternoon four others had joined me. By the next morning we were six. For a total of 50,000ks, we arranged for the taxi to leave at 9am, wait for us at the Popa Mountain Resort while we hiked to the summit, then take us to Taung Kalat afterwards. When the tourist agent, through whom we’d booked the taxi, realised we wanted to scale Taung Ma-Gyi, she almost cancelled the trip: “You cannot do that! The path is bad and it’s so far!”

is one few manage to grasp. I was once told by numerous villagers that a hilltop pagoda I was trying to reach in Pyay was “ayànwaì-deh” (‘extremely far’), but it turned out to be a mere 30-minute walk away. When we succeeded in convincing her that foreigners are allowed to climb Taung Ma-Gyi, that it doesn’t take 2 days to reach the summit, and that we wouldn’t get lost and perish, the rest was plain sailing. We picked up a crude map from the luxury Popa Mountain Resort and set off. Guide books

recommend hiring a local guide, but the hike is dead simple: from the hotel reception, backtrack along the road you came in on, then take the stony dirt road up to your right (it’s the only path – you can’t miss it). Follow this all the way. The hike is pleasant and interesting, and we only saw one other group of tourists. The heavens opened halfway up, buteven those of us wearing flipflops managed no problem. Taung Ma-Gyi last erupted about a quarter of a million years ago and is steeped

The hike to the summit only takes 2 hours, but convincing her we would be fine was a challenge. To understand her concerns, you need to know a little about traditional Burmese thought: most Burmese consider walking an unenjoyable necessity, and thus the Western concept of ‘going for a walk’ MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

in local legend;one story ascribes its creation to a great earthquake, which caused the mountain to erupt out of the ground in 442BC. The fertile volcanic soil nourishes vegetation both rich and diverse. The flowering plants and herbs make the hike up a joy for the senses, and their sheer abundance gave Mt Popa its name – popa derives from the Sanskrit word for flower, puspa. Our ascent was dogged by cloud, giving the jungly lower regions an ominous rainforest feel, and making the mossy upper ones resemble misty Scottish highlands. By the time we reached the crater rim, whose northern section has collapsed, the dense canopy had been replaced by sparse towering pines. Had it been sunny, we would have been able to glimpse the true summit from here.

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We reached our first pagoda one hour later. It sits atop one of the false summits, joined by an MPT telephone tower and patrolled by a grey and gold macaque. The true summit still wasn’t visible, and we were just about give up and go back when the clouds cleared. I quickly got out my camera to snap a few shots, but almost immediately heard shouts from behind me: “Your bag! Your bag!” In the 30 seconds or so I had left it unattended, the macaque had reappeared, undone my bag’s zip and stolen the orange folder containing my passport and money– cheeky monkey! One of my companions hurriedly handed me a banana, allowing me to the lure the thief away and steal back my belongings. With a summit reaching a height of 1,500m, Taung Ma-Gyi affords far greater vistas than Taung Kalat (740m). You can see the sparkling

Irrawaddy River in the distance, and the views were certainly the best I’ve seen yet in Myanmar. To reach the true summit – which, you guessed it, is topped with another golden pagoda –skirt round to the left of the MPT summit and follow the green ridge up to the top.

to Taung Kalat. But if a comparison is to be made between the two ascents, favour must fall with the hike up Taung Ma-Gyi. The 777 steps up Taung Kalat were swarming with aggressive monkeys (one even attacked my leg) and slippery with their faeces – no shoes allowed: it’s a monastery!

Our descent was blessed with blue skies and accompanied by enormous, dazzling butterflies. The booming of drums and crashing of cymbals, presumably originating from Taung Kalat, echoed up the mountain as we followed our tracks back down. The beauty of Taung Ma-Gyi and the peacefulness of the hike made our subsequent visit to Taung Kalat a disappointment. Admittedly, we didn’t have a guide to educate us about its infamous resident nats, retell local legends and explain the plug’s religious significance – half the point of going

So, if you’re planning a trip to Mt Popa, make sure to include a hike up Taung Ma-Gyi – don’t be deterred by the abundance of false information. Organise the excursion yourself, and you’ll be duly rewardedwith lush scenery, fresh mountain air and spectacular views. It may not be a popular tourist destination yet, but the rapid expansion ofMyanmar’s tourism industry will inevitably change this – take your chance now to be the only one at the top.

Food & Drinks Burmese Food

BURMESE FOOD Has Made its Name Abroad By Sofia Raineri

Since 2015, Myanmar has seen a dramatic rise in tourism, encouraged by increased accessibility to the country. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Burmese food has started making an international debut. Visitors taste the country’s fresh salads, creamy curries and endless varieties of noodle dishes and look to satisfy their cravings once they come home. Freya Coote, owner of the London pop-up restaurant Yee Cho, has seen an increase in interest since the popup started. “Myanmar has become a top travel destination in the last couple of years and I’ve found some guests come to Yee Cho to relive their holiday memories,” said Freya, who started Yee Cho to share her passion for Burmese food, but also as a way for her to explore her cultural heritage. Burmese food is a fusion of the cuisine from the countries bordering it. The result is a vibrant cuisine with an unthinkable variety of dishes and techniques which brings together the flavors of South East Asia. Burmese food vendors and restaurants outside of Myanmar have the freedom to rotate and unveil different dishes as their menus change; the important thing is to keep the flavors, and especially the ingredients, authentic. People in London are open-minded and the curiosity for the cuisine allows for authentic flavors to be maintained, even if some dishes may seem unusual and strong-tasting to some. One of the staple dishes at Lahpet in London is lahpet thohk, the famous tea leaf salad.

“We import a significant amount of produce from Myanmar monthly, a lot of raw Lahpet whole leaf [that] we marinate ourselves, and fried crispy beans,” Chef Zaw Manesh explained. Meanwhile, Myo Lin Thway, owner of Burmese Bites, a stall selling Burmese food at Queens International Night Market in New York, has also noticed an increasing interest in Burmese food in America. “I prepare the food the way I know how it should be, as authentic as possible, and serve it. And they like the way it is. Americans, especially the younger generation these days, are very open-minded. They are so ready to experience new things, new foods, acquire new tastes,” noted Myo, who has been living in the US for more than 20 years. Myo serves just three dishes at his food stall: Keema Palata, Chicken MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Curry Palata, and Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup (Ohno Kaukswe). These simple but delicious and comforting staples of Myanmar cuisine have brought the food stall incredible popularity, perhaps thanks to importing irreplaceable items, such as the masala, directly from Yangon for maximum authenticity. Sharing dishes also means allowing people to connect with traditions and candid moments spent with friends and family members, as Burmese cuisine is cooked with a passion and fondness for tradition and culture. Freya tells me her dishes celebrate family moments and traditions, and that the recipes used for Yee Cho are “mainly recipes I’ve learnt from a family friend, Yee Cho, in Yangon. She teaches me new dishes when I visit my family, and the pop up is a dedication to her.” As per tradition, guests are encouraged to share dishes, and although some opt to have their own dish. “Most opt to have a spread of dishes in the middle of table and share everything, just like in Myanmar homes,” said Chef Zaw from Lahpet London. Cooking Burmese food outside of Myanmar is not only a wonderful way to showcase the delicious cuisine of the country, but also a way for people to connect with a rich and varied culture. Burmese food is about family, culture, and complex, comforting flavors, and the pleasure of eating it can now be shared around tables from London to New York and back.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Food & Drinks New Opening: Babett

BABETT

Yangonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sexiest New Restaurant By Malti Lahiri

Introducing Babett: Vintage and chic, this new eatery is the perfect place to paint the town red with its trendy ambience and Mediterranean menu.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

The restaurant with indoor and outdoor contemporary seating is located in Hotel G Yangon, the lobby of which also hosts G-Shop—offering to a number of Hla Day products. Delicious coffee and free Wi-Fi can be enjoyed al-fresco in a comfortable chair under the restaurant’s antique fans throughout the day. In the evening, Babette is the perfect place to enjoy a Spicy-G tequila cocktail and delicious tapas. While sipping on your drink at the island bar, don’t miss having a sneaky peek at the chefs toiling away in the glass-windowed kitchen. Babett is also the only restaurant in Yangon to boast a dry-ageing room—perfect for steak lovers. An extensive menu of hot and cold tapas begins at only 3,000 kyats. One of our favorites is the Esqueixada—a codfish tapas dish with olives, peppers and tomatoes. Its delicate yet zesty. Another codfish delight is the Brandada Roll codfish and garlic puree wrapped in zucchini. A bottle of imported French wine from Babett’s extensive wine list is perfect to wash down the restaurant’s delectable cold cuts and cheese platters. The G-board features

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Saucisson, Serrano accompanied with Tomme de Savoie, Gorgonzola and Brie.

Address: 5 Alan Pya Pagoda Street, Yangon Opening Hours: 7 am to 12 pm Phone: 01 243 639

Starters not to miss are the Gazpacho Salmorejo, a delicate tomato and butterfish soup, and the smoky grilled octopus. For your main course, we recommend the melt-in-your-mouth pork chop for 19,000 kyats. For those of you with a sweet tooth, Chocolate Lava is a decadent dessert of chocolate cake, fudge, and ice cream. It’s a large portion, but you will have no problem finishing it by yourself. Babett’s lunch menu Monday to Friday is just 10,000 kyats and on Tuesdays, get your friends together to share the restaurant’s one-meter pizzas. On Thursdays, there’s a tapa and wine combo for 6,000 kyats and Wednesdays is ladies’ night—free cocktails for women between seven and nine p.m. There’s a live DJ on Saturday night and there’s happy hour—including a one-dollar beer— from five to seven p.m. each day. Babett is sassy, yet eccentric. Its design is sophisticated and elegant, its menu at once delicate and dainty, bold and beautiful.

Food & Drinks Prost!

Prost! Authentic Atmosphere at Oktoberfest Yangon 2017

n October 20 and 21, staunch Oktoberfest fans and those who aspire to be can enjoy the atmosphere of the world’s largest folk festival in Yangon for two days. The 2017 event will take place at the same venue as last year: the Rose Garden Hotel on Upper Pansodan Road.

enthusiasts shake off the laziness which comes with a filled stomach. Once again, Oktoberfest Yangon will certainly be a memorable night.

60,000 kyats. The price at the door will be US$65, or 90,000 kyats.

Don’t forget to buy your tickets now, as the price is only US$45 USD, or

• German Embassy Yangon • Rose Garden Hotel Yangon

Tickets are available at:

• Savoy Hotel Yangon • Inya Lake Hotel • Mahlzeit • Hledan Centre • Meliá Yangon • https://ticket.myanmore.com

Ever since the movie Beerfest came out in 2006, the term ‘beer festival’ has been established as the unofficial international name for Munich’s famous Oktoberfest. The organizers of the Oktoberfest Yangon—including the German Embassy, Luther Law Firm Limited, the Savoy Hotel and the Munich-based Hanns Seidel Foundation—stress the importance of the original royal Bavarian beer shipped to Yangon from the König Ludwig brewery in Kaltenberg (Bavaria). They say almost 15,000 liters of “Spezial” and “Weißbier” have been ordered for this year’s Oktoberfest Yangon. But the organizers also point out that it would not be fair to reduce the Oktoberfest to a mere beer festival. Similar to the original Oktoberfest in Munich, Oktoberfest Yangon is part celebration of authentic traditions and, at the same time, a meeting place for party people from all over the world. Traditional German food— which sometimes can appear quite adventurous to non-Germans—is just as important as the beer. At Oktoberfest Yangon, a team of German chefs working in Myanmar and in other Southeast Asian countries will make sure to deliver an authentic German food experience. And when you feel the need to help your stomach to digest all these delicacies, several kinds of German wines and schnapps are waiting for you. The authentic Oktoberfest atmosphere, complete with live music from an original Oktoberfest Munich band and dancing on original beer benches from Germany, will of course help Yangon’s Oktoberfest

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Sarmal Community reviews regional bistro bar

K.K.Pots Food is good but ambiance could better.

Nice deco and cozy place. love it .

Min Ye Kyaw

Thiri Thaw

Ă&#x201D;'thentic

Casa Miaa Italian Kitchen & Bar The ultimate Italian dining experience in Yangon. My favourites are the mini pumpkin cake with mozzarella cream as antipasta and the classic tiramisu as the dessert. The pizza with truffle is excellent.

Nice little corner with large glass door. The French Owner is friendly, staff are good. French taste in Yangon with reasonable price. I do recommend.

Renaud

collections Best Rooftop Places

Cheese Pizza Day

Do you love to dine and drink on a nice view on the rooftop bar? Here take a look...

Explore the best pizza place in town.

this month hot deal Mahlzeit German Restaurant Mahlzeit offers a broad range of regional German dishes. Atmosphere is quiet and a nice place to dine with families and friends who prefer German food. A very delicious taste will serve you satisfy.

review us & enjoy 1 free coffee Find out more on sarmal.com.mm

Q & A Lotte Hotels GM interview

In Conversation with: Mr. David Shim General Manager of Lotte Hotels & Serviced Apartment Yangon, Myanmar By MYANMORE

Q As a GM [General Manager] of a five-star hotel brand like Lotte, what was your background in the hospitality industry? I studied hotel management in Switzerland starting in 1990. After that, I had experience working with Grand Hyatt, Hyattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first chain in 1995 in Korea. I worked there for 10 years. After that, I moved to the most luxurious hotel in Korea. I had work experience in F&B [Food and Beverage] for 10 years and in new business development. Later on, I was managing around 120 restaurants throughout the the whole Korean peninsula. I joined Lotte Hotels in 2011. When I joined, Lotte was operating only five hotels domestically. With my experience, I was in charge of setting up new Lotte hotels, domestically and abroad. With my team, I was planning about 15 Lotte hotels all over the world and in Korea. Q What is it about Myanmar that made you settle here ? My relation with Myanmar started six years ago, and I was involved in this project from the very beginning. I was working as a General Manager in our headquarters, which is the biggest hotel in Korea: 1,200 rooms. After working there, I had the choice to go abroad. I actually volunteered to go to Myanmar, because six years ago I was here and it was a very attractive country to me at that time. So I asked our board members, if possible, I would like to go to Myanmar and I would like to work as the GM there. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I am here!

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Q What kind of opportunities did you see six years ago in Myanmar? We believe it was still quite challenging back then, compared to now. A: It wasn’t only me. Outside of Myanmar, the world was looking at this country as one of the last jewels of Asia. They saw a lot of potential. Six years ago, not many places were developed enough, but we saw a lot of potential. Q In your opinion, what is the key factor in making Lotte successful in Yangon? Actually, I cannot select only one reason. Success from business is not only due to one factor, like our location, which is just next to the Inya Lake—one of the most beautiful spots in Yangon. It’s really short distance from the airport and the city center as well. Our hotel is also one of the biggest hotels in Yangon. We have 658 rooms. All the facilities are state of art, and represent new trends, new equipment, new machines.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

We do not say “staff” or “employees”—we always call them our family. I am one of the family, too. We have almost 700 family members here, working together. We have been recruiting for six months to bring good members together. Fifty percent are Myanmar nationals who have worked abroad in places like Dubai, Oman, and Singapore. Q What are the requirements you look for in people to work at Lotte and become part of the family? A: Concerning skill or knowledge— everyone can be taught that. Knowledge and skill are not our first target; attitude, behavior, ambition and a willingness to learn together— those were our top priorities in choosing our family members. Q Being here in Yangon, how do you incorporate aspects of both Korean and Myanmar cultures in your work? A: Basically, we are accepting Myanmar culture for our family, as well. Among the 650 members of our family, Koreans only make up five people. The

remaining 645 are all Myanmar people. We respect Myanmar culture—their ways, their manners, their lifestyle. And on the other hand, we are asking that our headquarters’ spirit, our manners, be respected as well. So we try to coordinate with each other. That makes me believe there is a synergy. Q What are your management techniques in terms of working with different people, especially with Myanmar staff? A: If you speak in terms of technique, I have to reference the system. Our Lotte Hotels try to work within the system so even if I am the General Manager, I am not managing the hotel in my own way. I am managing the hotel in a very reasonable way which everybody understands. That is international system of hotel management.

and facilities and all the programs are totally different from the competitors’ hotels. It’s a Westernized wedding set up. Those kind of facilities—the new setting, new atmosphere— we brought from Korea. That has not been seen yet here in Yangon, Myanmar. Maybe once Myanmar ladies see those kinds of weddings, they will love them. That is the different culture, different facilities and technology that we got from Korea. Q If you could describe Lotte in one word, what would it be? A: Service. At Lotte, there is one thing [that stands out] and that is the service. This is what I say in orientation as well. Our Lotte Hotel service is the best in the world. We’d like to stay number one.

Q Korea is known for its technology. What will you be bringing here from Lotte in terms of new technology ? A: Our grand ballroom—we have two grand ballrooms. Our wedding setup

Technology Review

GALAXY NOTE 8 Back in 2011 – an eternity ago in tech time – when Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note “phablet”, there was no shortage of critics. A 5.3 inch screen was far too large. People would feel silly holding such a hefty plank up to the side of their head (forgetting that there is a fine line between silly and fashionable). It wouldn't fit in normal

jean pockets (forgotting how accommodating clothing manufacturers can be if large pockets meant bigger profits). It was excessive in all ways... though they had to admit that it performed pretty well, and this newfangled stylus accessory had its uses, but still thought the Galaxy Note would be a commercial flop.

They were flat out wrong, the arrogant morons. To date they have sold well over 100 million of the 8 generations.

yes, that includes you, Mr. iPhone who hasn't made a significant style or substance advance since Steve Jobs died).

Six years later, Samsung has just released an eye-poppingly expensive but whizz-bang killer full-featured powerful phone/phablet that is the best available as of this month. (And

Everything but the Kitchen Sink First off, with the Galaxy Note 8, you get everything it is possible to have. Obviously keen to make good on last

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

year's disastrous Galaxy Note 7 – that tended to catch fire and explode – Samsung are pulling out all the stops. So for starters, to get all technical on you (google the acronyms you don't know), you get a 6.3” Infinity QHD+ Super Amoled display, NFC/MST, wireless charging, expandable storage, 6 Gigs of RAM, a Snapdragon 835 processor, dual rear cameras, water resistance, and Bluetooth 5.0 – and that is just the top of the iceberg. This thing is a tech nerd's wet dream. And though it may seem kind of pricey at 1,275,000 Ks it is a bargain with all these bells and whistles. And it is packed into a lovely curvaceous piece of glass and metal If it was a woman, it would have all the curves, a pretty face, an excellent fashion sense, charm and intelligence, a massive trust fund, with a passion for sex and giving back massages. But it's not actually a woman, so you'll probably move on to a younger model within 18 months. But for now... you're the one for me, baby. Into The Future The great thing about such features as NFC/MST contactless payment systems, and the security of facial recognition, fingerprint recognition and iris scanning, is that they are ahead of the curve, and retailers are scrabbling to implement the systems in-house. So you're ready as more advanced and secure payment and banking options come into full flower. Mind you, as secure as iris scanning may be for phone-based banking apps, it won't prevent suspicious partners from accessing your phone when you MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

are passed out on the sofa. It is a simple matter of peeling back your eyelid, hovering the phone in front of your face, and bam! they can access your Tinder account and tell all those girls to take a hike. In the modern world of mobile devices, nothing is sacred. Picture This Smartphone cameras, even on lower end models, are pretty good these days, but still don't compete for more “serious” photography. But the two-camera system on the Galaxy Note 8 (with image stabilization) – a solution few other brands have tried yet – gives shockingly good results, with excellent low-light shots, spectacular colour gradation, and there is a 2X optical zoom. This is one area where it gives the iPhone 8 a run for its money – iPhone's camera quality being one of its well-know strong points. Depending on lighting and other factors, the two are neck and neck. It's a Looker If you have never owned a large format phablet before, they do seem a bit clumsy and oafish at first – but you soon learn to cope with it. And after you've used one for a couple of months, going back to a regular-sized phone feels like you are looking at the world from the inside of a postbox. The round glass edges make it easier to grip, whatever size your hands may be. And it is pretty to look at, looking so deliciously watery, you sometimes feel like you could eat it. And its looks make iPhone owners jealous. Used to be that iPhones were stylish and

Samsungs generic, but the tables have turned. Do note though that the clumsier among you will want to get a decent protective case, because it will shatter if you drop it on a marble floor enough times. And that would be heartbreaking. So to wrap it up. If you have the money, buy one. If you don't, you may buy one anyway – using your credit card for the last time before switching to your new phone's NFC/MST/Bluetoothpay. Anyway, it is an excellent phone for just about everyone – the serious tech-nerd, the overpaid executive on the run, amateur photographers who

want to explore the world beyond the selfie (you mean there is one?) as well as the the fashion conscious and their close brethren, the status conscious, who have no talent except the means to buy the latest toys to impress their equally shallow friends. As we said at the beginning, this phone has everything.

Sports

DEADLIFT

2. Sumo Deadlift Your hands are on the inner sides of your feet with a wider stance. Doing the exercise sumo-style—with your feet spread out wider than your shoulders—is a great way to get the same benefits while protecting your back.

he deadlift is a weight training exercise in which a person lifts a loaded barbell or bar off the ground to the level of the hips and then lowers it by controlled effort to the ground. It is one of the three key power lifting exercises, along with the squat and bench press. Deadlift means the lifting, without momentum, of dead weight that is lying on the ground. The deadlift is one of the most effective exercises for developing the pure strength that is a precursor to bodily size and athleticism and it also builds total body muscles. The deadlift also improves posture. We live most of our lives in the fronts of our bodies, ignoring our rears. In turn, we develop body frames without balance, leading to a host of postural issues such as hunched shoulders and weak backs. Deadlifting reintroduces us to our body’s back side. Posterior training balances the body, allowing us to stand tall with greater strength. It is a compound workout that focuses on the legs, gluteus, back, core and arm muscles. In addition, it is an effective way to train the para spinal muscles which run down both sides of the spine and play a major role in the prevention of back injuries. Deadlifting requires the body to pay a heavy tax. It’s best for a beginner to perform the exercise at the beginning of a workout. A fresh nervous system means productive reps, because the body more efficiently learns movement and better form is attainable. There are many different kinds of deadlifts. The most common ones are:

Push your knees out, keep your back flat, take a big breath and flex your lats. These are the key points you should take note of when performing the Sumo Deadlift. 3. Snatch Grip Deadlift Your hands will use a circle grip like in the snatch. The snatch grip deadlift is a variation of the regular barbell deadlift. Snatch grip deadlifts are one of the best exercises for working your posterior chain muscles—the glutes, hamstrings and lower back—and are one of the best ancillary exercises for boosting your deadlift.

1. Conventional Deadlift The conventional deadlift ranks high on the list of total-body movements because it works virtually every fibre in your physique.

Here are some key points to take note of: One, drag the bar straight up your legs, and two, keep your arms straight and fully extended. Three, do not bend and try to pull with your arms, or allow the bar to travel away from the body.

Set up as you would for a regular deadlift, with your feet shoulder-width apart, weight on your heels, and the bar over the middle of your feet. Squat down and grasp the bar with as wide a grip as you can manage. Keep your head and chest up, pull your backside muscles down, then forcefully lift the bar up by extending your knees and pushing your hips forward. Pause briefly at the top, then lower the bar under control. 4. Dumbbell Deadlift Variations (Dumbbell Deadlift, Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift & Dumbbell Stiff Legged Deadlift) These are for either accessory work or if you don’t have access to a barbell and weight.

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• Dumbbell Deadlift

• Dumbbell Stiff Legged Deadlift

Hold dumbbells at arm’s length in front of your thighs. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Without changing the bend in your knees, hinge at your hips, and lower your torso until it’s almost parallel to the floor. As you lower the weight, keep the dumbbells as close to your body as possible. Pause, then raise your torso back to the starting position. That’s one rep.

This variant is not recommended for people experiencing lower back problems.

• Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift For this particular variant, no complete flexion or extension occurs at either joint, and for that reason, many call it an isolation move. Whichever camp you are in, it’s pretty clear the Romanian Deadlift should be a trusted go-to exercise on leg day.

For the starting position, stand with your torso straight and your legs spaced shoulder width apart. Keeping the knees stationary, lower the dumbbells to over the top of your feet by bending at the waist while keeping your back straight. Keep moving forward as if you were going to pick something from the floor until you feel a stretch on the hamstrings. Exhale as you perform this movement and start bringing your torso up straight again by extending your hips and waist until you are back at the starting position. Inhale as you perform this movement. When performing the deadlift, the lower back and knees are most vulnerable to injury. The wrong technique could prove very dangerous. It is better to lift a lighter weight with proper technique than to try to lift too heavy a weight with bad form. Lifting too heavy a weight causes the spine to overcompensate and you can incur an injury. Deadlifts are generally not recommended for persons with lower back joint problems. Training Ground is equipped with state-of-the art facilities that include top-grade fitness equipment from Life Fitness and world-class professional audio systems by Electro-Voice. We offer group exercise classes and training programs that are led by highly experienced fitness professionals with international certifications, so you can perform high-risk exercises like power and strength workouts with under the supervision of our qualified trainers to prevent injury and to improve posture properly. Training Ground also provides specific rehabilitation trainings for members with injuries through our team of certified physiotherapists.

Make sure to keep the bar very close to your body while your knees are bent, back is flat, and chest is up. Try and avoid the tendency to look up in the bent-over position.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Education Pre Collegiate Program

CREATING THE FUTURE OF MYANMAR’S WORKFORCE Pre Collegiate Program By Malti Lahiri

nowledge only from a textbook is, without a doubt, not enough to compete in today’s world of work. There are particular skill sets you will need to differentiate you from other candidates applying for jobs, including critical thinking, analysis, discussion, presentation, and more.

and giving them the best chance to study in international institutions.

The Pre Collegiate Program (PCP), as the name suggests, is a platform providing holistic education for Myanmar students before entering university

PCP aims to instill individuality while emphasizing the serving of one’s community and Myanmar at large. The ideology of this educational system is to give back and contribute to the

Kristen Hartman, the Director of PCP, says students are “excellent at rote learning, but there’s a deficit in critical thinking.” PCP therefore aims at fostering values and skills that are required in today’s world, such as analytical thinking.

world. It boasts a 98 percent success rate for admissions to universities world-over. Eligibility for this 16-month course is based on a level of proficiency in English, an admission test and an interview. PCP extends this opportunity to states all over Myanmar, not restricting its intake to students from international schools. Pupils sit around one table in a classroom to encourage dialogue and interaction. The teaching methods focus on cooperative learning

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

rather than competition by creating a friendly environment and allowing the students to blossom. “In classes the teacher is probably speaking only 10 percent of the time,” says Hartman, prompting more student discussion. Subjects including World Philosophy and Comparative Literature are taught to form a link between the East and the West. Part of the mission is to prepare students for locations of study such as the United States and Europe. Therefore, by engaging in subjects that make them familiar with the West, the impact of culture shock is reduced. PCP tries to make the transition from Myanmar to an international university a smooth one. While local education does not always provide extracurricular activities or experiential learning, PCP does. The curriculum involves field trips, report writing, internships and more; PCP conveners understand the importance of practical exposure. When posed with an array of university in places like France, Japan, and the US, students may be confused by

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

the amount of options. PCP helps with identifying students’ interests and guides them with narrowing down this search. Ms. Khaing Ei Mon, the Dean of Administration, is particularly involved in supporting each student in filling out technical forms for the admission process. Each student is also coached for SAT exams and writing their Statement of Purpose for their chosen universities. From a class of 20 students, PCP fully funds about four to five scholars, with partial funding for about seven to eight students. Although fundraising may be tough, they do not let that interfere with a deserving student’s future. This year the City Love & Hope Foundation by City Mart Holding Co., Ltd. has funded the program for three students. Twenty-year-old PCT student Paing Oo could not be more grateful for this rare opportunity in Myanmar. He says that he has already gained so much knowledge, and PCP has enhanced his way of thinking. Piu, as teachers and students call him, says with assertive enthusiasm that he will definitely come back to Myanmar after univer-

sity. He says he wants to share this opportunity with every student in Myanmar.

a change in the world, and if not the world, then definitely in her hometown.

Driven 18-year-old Zir Tir Thang quotes Jack Ma as source for inspiration: “He says, ‘do not try to be the best, be the first.’ I want to be the first woman from my town to go out and find a new path for the future.” Her interactions with trailblazer alumni of PCP reinforces her drive to make

PCP is currently accepting applications until December and applications can be made at www.precollegiateyangon.org

Environment Save Yangon

SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS By Victoria Rebello

t is no secret that Myanmar faces a trash disposal issue. In fact, the whole world suffers from waste management problems. With progressively bigger trash-related problems come increasingly harsher anti-garbage measures. In 2002, Ireland reduced its plastic bag consumption by 94 percent by imposing a plastic bag tax of US$0.33 . In 2016, France became the first country to ban plastic plates and cutlery to fight climate change. Earlier this month, Sri Lanka banned all plastic bags and disposable products after a garbage crisis that generated 300 deaths. Myanmar is, unfortunately, not excluded from the trash-affected routeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and suffers from a lack of proper disposal options and education. Each day, each one of the 5.21 million people in Yangon produces 0.41 kilograms of w``aste , amounting to 1981 tonnes of trash per year. In the absence of disposal, many independent local initiatives arose, united by the common goal of making Myanmar a cleaner place. Shwe Yamin Oo, local entrepreneur, is the CEO and Founder of RecyGlo, a Start-Up committed to providing environmentally friendly recycling solutions. According to Shwe, the main difficulty in making Myanmar a waste-free place is ensuring individual participation, as the population generally lacks education on how and where to dispose of litter, as well as on the importance of recycling.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

In order to kickstart change in any sector, we should not focus on the scope of the problem, but rather, on our own personal sphere of influence. In other words, it is not about what could or should be done by others, but it is about what we can do to contribute to social change. It is no different when it comes to trash. As citizens, and the ones responsible for waste production, it is our duty to make individual efforts to reduce the amount of trash we generate. Thankfully, there have been several initiatives in Yangon that make it possible for us to take part in that movement. One of the initiatives is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;No Plastic Bag Day,â&#x20AC;? pioneered by City Mart Supermarket and Marketplace by City Mart, every 5th of the month, and every last Monday and Tuesday of the month, respectively. The idea of No Plastic Bag Day is that, instead of taking your groceries home in plastic bags, which accumulate in very rapid rates and require a complex recycling process, you could purchase a reusable bag for very reasonable price of 550 kyats (small) or 750 kyats (large). During that day, a symbolic price is also charged for plastic bags, with the objective being to discourage its usage. Instead of using plastic bags, consumers can purchase a City Hero Kit, which comes with a re-usable water bottle, bag, and City Hero badges to acknowledge those who throw away trash systematically. The City Hero Kits are available at any City Mart in Yangon from September 21 onward. City Mart will use all of the proceeds from the kits toward initiatives to protect the environment. Only a limited number are available. The City Mart initiative is a good start. However, in order to reduce the amount of waste in Yangon, and Myanmar in general, we will need to take action on the issue much more than just once a month. Creating the habit of carrying reusable bags, backpacks or any other container along on your monthly shopping spree is one example of a small action that can make an impact on the country`s sanitation.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Horoscope

HOROSCOPE San Zar Ni Bo, a former political prisoner-turned-fortuneteller, is a highly respected name in Myanmar. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s known for his palm reading technique, birthdate and naming. His well-known prediction, before the November 2015 elections, was that against all odds, Aung San Suu Kyi would assume a leading position in the government. Read on to find out what he says is in store for the month of October. Sunday

Tuesday

Emotional disturbances in every walk and every direction. Temporary misfortune may occur in the family. Attacks in social dealings. Befriending with undesired people and because of others, plans and deeds will go astray. Mistakes in buying and selling. Care in driving vehicles is necessary. Case due to neglect of road-safety rules can occur. Matter done relying upon anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promises and advices will not be beneficial. Important paper matters and money matters should be handled with care. Races other than the self and foreigners will cause trouble. Old problems will renew. Period to give attention.

Aim will succeed. Overseas journey is foreseen in the family. Other races will bring benefits. Ideas concerning changes will be realized successfully. Those who have been helped by you will be successful. Business and wealth will increase. You will be helping other people rather than doing for your own affairs. Few people will understand your genuine good will. Loss of money or properties in business will return. Things thought to be eternally lost will return. You will have to do extra work and take extra responsibility. Dealings with new environments will have to be made. As programmed work will not turn out well this month, improvements in life must be found from given situations.

Lucky Colour - Red, Blue, Grey Lucky Number - 0,5,8,7

Lucky Colour - Red, Dark blue Lucky Number - 0,9,8,4

Monday Good-fortune will arrive. Aims will be achieved. Improvement in money matter due to systematic way of work. Good ideas will appear successively. Decisions made will be right. Good friends will be encountered. Co-operative work will be beneficial. Improvement in life due to good name. Good news of the family will be heard. There will be slight ill-health. Auspicious talks will have to be made. People are in favour to you. Speech will go far. Difficult cases should be resolved systematically. Good profits can be obtained from previous investments. New ideas can be realized practically. Lucky Colour - White, Green, Cream Lucky Number - 2,4,7,6

Wednesday Period of emotional disturbances. Fatigue of mind and body. Confidant will give trouble. Emotional upsets due to others. Taking responsibility of documents and money matters must be avoided. Dishonest people will be encountered. Mistakes due to rash actions will be made. Disagreements will occur. You will be misunderstood. Family affairs will be turbulent. Aims can be realized. Much work will have to be done. Intervention in fights should be avoided. Goodwill will be misunderstood. Minor accidents are to be taken care of. Expenses will be made concerning machines and vehicles. Wearing red with black must be avoided. Lucky Colour - Green, Yellow, Ivory Lucky Number - 1,3,5,6

Rahul

(Wednesday night before dawn on Thursday) Talks for the welfare of others will be successful. Talks will have to be made in the family concerning change of land, cars and money matters. Unexpected profits will be made from possessions in hand taken as disadvantageous. Verbal confrontations with relative concerning matter is foreseen. Advantageous matter will arise from regions beginning with letters a,m,s,t and j. Business matters will overcome obstacles; however, hard thing may seem. Co-operative work will be fruitful. Success will be acheived due to skill. Promotion is foreseen. Lucky Colour - Dark blue, Dark grey, Old gold Lucky Number - 2,4,8,0

Thursday Plans which have not been able to put into action will be able to do so. Matters practically worked out will progress. Unexpected journey will have to be made. Home industry will prosper. Upsets in skill-work due to slight carelessness. Emotional disturbances will occur at home due to frequent outside problems. You will be giving help to one who has no money but wants to do big business. Devices will break down at home. Frequent verbal fights with family will occur. A long forgotten matter will have to recommenced. Young persons will be attracted to the opposite Lucky Colour - Pink, Red, Orange Lucky Number - 0,7,4,2

Fortune is changing from the bad to the good. Invested money will reappear. Furthering onwards, expenses made will be regain. Co-operative work will be beneficial. Other races and nationalities will be beneficent. Exceptional advantages will be brought by other races and nationalities in business. Direct dealings with abroad will succeed. Family members retarded in business will be able to continue smoothly. Studies in languages and literature will be advantageous. Changes, unexpected and exceptional, will arise this month. Retarded rights will be had. Lucky Colour - Sky blue, Turquoise, Pale Green Lucky Number - 1,6,4,7

Saturday There will be several upsets. Mental and physical tiredness will occur. Anxiety will occur due to others. Mistakes will be made due to haste. The influences regarding money conflicts, family sorrows, misunderstanding are all evident. Important life decisions will have to be made. There are interferences while taking your course of your own efficiency. Anxiety due to wealth and property will occur. Stress will be had due to own money. ill- health will be due to careless living. Avoid talking responsibility on money and documents. Lucky Colour - Black, Dark grey, Blue black Lucky Number - 8,4,9,3

Friday MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Card Deals | Tickets | Business Listing | Promotions

MYANMORE TICKETS https://ticket.myanmore.com

MYANMORE CARD Trending Deals Roof Alchemy - 10% off total bill Yangon International Compound , Dagon Township, Yangon 09 254 272 460

Dee Mak Thai Spa - 20% off total bill No.459(C) New University Avenue Road, Sayar San Ward, Bahan Township, Yangon No.87, Kyaung Kone Road, San Chaung Township, Yangon 09 798782854/09252240831

Myanmar National Airlines - 10% off for base fare Myanmar National Airlines, Strand Road, Yangon

Amata Hotels Hsipaw - Minimum 20% off for published room rates - 10% off for food and beverages - 10% off Nibbana Spa Hsipaw Resort, Old Hsipaw Village, Hsipaw, Shan State, Myanmar 01 665 126, 657 050

Tiger Hill Chinese Restaurant @ Chatrium Hotel - 20% off for food (dinner only) 40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon 01-544500 Ext.6294

ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: Hero's Dream The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the complete bout card for ONE: HERO’S DREAM, set for the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium on 3 November. In the main event, ONE Middleweight World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar will take on Muay Thai heavyweight world champion Alain “The Panther” Ngalani of Hong Kong in an open weight contest. The ONE Middleweight World Championship will not be on the line.

OKTOBERFEST 2017 Event of the year! With a ticket price of 45 USD it includes all-you-can-drink Royal Bavarian beer, all-you-can-eat German delicacies and sounds by the famous Oktoberfest band from Munich. Don't miss this unique celebration of German culture and get your lederhosen ready!

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT MELIÁ YANGON FOR 8TH OCTOBER 2017

Our award-winning Sunday Brunch has been upgraded with free-flow of two additional refreshing cocktails – Mojito and Sangria. $48 net per person inclusive of freeflow sparkling wine, Mojito, Sangria, house wine, beer, soft drinks, chilled juice and water. Take advantage of our limited prepaid discounted tickets available Monday to Friday through Myanmore Tickets Website only for $42.

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017

Dining

Live Seafood Delights at Tiger Hill Chinese Restaurant start from 1st October Indulge in a world of the freshest flavors from the sea at Tiger Hill Chinese Restaurant as Chef Chichtichoch presents an array of succulent temptations for a memorable feast of live seafood. - - - -

Lobster and Seasonal Fruit Salad with Mayonnaise dressing USD 8.00 nett per 100 grams Pan-fried Mantis Prawns with Chili and Garlic USD 8.00 net per 100 grams Steamed Clams with Garlic USD 15.00 nett (5 pcs), USD 30.00 nett (10 pcs) Steamed Whole Grouper with Soya Sauce, Spring Onions and Ginger USD 6.00 nett per 100 grams. RSVP: 01 544 500

Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 40, Nat Mauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon

Sweet September in Savoy Hotel till 12th October Room Type: Deluxe room (Double) with USD 277 net. Executive Suite (Double) with USD 377 net. Reservation is including of Romantic boutique Breakfast, Romantic Dinner for two including Sparkling Wine. Aromatherapy 60 minutes for couple in Inya Day spa including transportation arrangement. Ph: 01 526 289, 01 256298, 01 526305 Savoy Hotel Yangon - 129, Dhammazedi Road, Bahan Township, Yangon.

Real Estate

Pun Hlaing Leasing Department Pun Hlaing Estate Avenue, Hlaing Tharyar Township 01 3687 777, 3684 246 punhlaingleasing@yomastrategic.com http://www.punhlaingestate.com

Star City Leasing Department Building A1, Star City, Kyaik Khauk Pagoda Road, Thanlyin Township leasing@yomastrategic.com http://www.starcityyangon.com

Wellbeing

Oasis Spa at Pun Hlaing Estate Pun Hlaing Estate, Pun Hlaing Estate Avenue, Hlaing Tharyar Township 01 3687 660, 368 7662, 3684026 (ext. 1514) countryclub@spa-mm.com

MYANMORE magazine #12 October 2017