MYANMORE Magazine - No.14/ December 2017

No. 14 /December 2017 It’s free!

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TREND SETTER Mogok Pauk Pauk

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No. 14 / December 2017

magazine Managing Director Andreas Sigurdsson Editors Natty Tangmeesang Lorcan Lovett Chief photographer Leo Jackson Contributors Adit Agarwal Rik Glauert Maitreyi Gupta Duncan Hines Su Su Maung Keith Lyons Cover Photo Amour & Co

28 What’s On 8 Cinema 14 New Openings 16 Briefings 18 Cover The Innovator: Fashion designer Mogok Pauk Pauk 20

Art & Production Kyaw Kyaw Tun Hein Htet

Fashion The Watch List 26 Behind the Catwalk 28 Style Direction 28 Ruby Land 38 Fashion's New Wave 40 Design Grand Designs 34

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Travel Bangkok Shopping: Christmas and New Year 36 Mergui Archipelago 40 Q&A Nicholas Bury 40

Printer Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. MCM Printing (00876)

Food Healthy Take on Myanmar Cuisine 40

Sales & Advertising sales@myanmore.com 0977 900 3701 / 3702

Advertorial MIA Ruby 44 Christmas with City Mart 50 Citta Consultancy 51 Horoscope 52 Promotions, Card Deals & Tickets 54

Editor's note

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.

Publisher MYANMORE Magazine Pyit Thiri Thaw Lychee Ventures (Myanmar) Limited Permit No. 01588

Myanmar's sartorial style impresses every visitor to the country. With the coming international fashion week, this style is celebrated and spread even further from these shores. Myanmore joins the celebration with this fashion and design special, a tribute to all in the industry. Special thanks to fashion week organizer John Lwin of Star Event Production for his support on this edition.

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 Follow us on Instagram and Viber.

What's on

Art & Stage

kyats, available at City Mart, Ocean, Genius(Phyo Lay), OMG(Nay Win), Bo Bo office, China Town Point. | RSVP : 09972137474, 09769331415, 09455573442, 09451010789.

KandawGyi Island - Myaw Sin Kyun area, Bahan Township, Yangon

Voice Of the Youth 2017 Music Festival

Song to the Moon, An All Czech Classical Music Concert

8th-9th December 2017 | 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm

15th December 2017 | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

This year, voice of the the youth will be at Myaw Sin Kyun area in Kandawgyi Park. There will be so many artists such as J+Me, Side Effect, Lil’Z, Ah Moon, Fever 109, Lanbar, Nightmare, Zwe Thet Paing, Kultureshock, T-Zin, Jimmy Jacobs & Mr. Luffie, The Myth, A Letter From Caesar, RB2 and Floke Rose (VOY2017 Song Contest Winner). And also special guest DEFILED (Death Metal Band from Japan) and DJ CEE (German DJ/producer from KL) will perform. Ticket price is 10,000

Myanmar Music Festival and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Myanmar present a concert of all Czech classical music featuring works by well-known Czech composers Antonín DVORÁK, Bedrich SMETANA, Leoš JANÁEK, and Josef SUK. This is the first concert of its kind in Myanmar. | RSVP : 01 242 828.

usage of the swimming pool. | RSVP at www.myanmoreticket.com

Education

2017: The Change (YSiD Interior Design Diploma Show)

Rose Garden Hotel - 171, Upper Pansodan Road, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon

16th-17th December 2017 | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

You are kindly invited for YSiD Interior Student diploma show at Yangon Gallery. Opening reception will be from 2PM to 6PM. It will showcase how YSiD students change the local product to an international brand from the interior design point of view. Please come and support our students' creation and changes to local brands.

The Yangon Gallery - People's Park, Near Planetarium, Ahlone Road, Dagon Township, Yangon

Christmas Eve Set Dinner

24th December 2017 | 6:00 PM Price: US$60 net per person, advance reservations. US$70.00 net per person on the day. Children ages 4 to 11 years old will be 50 percent off.

Four course set menu with welcome cocktail, unlimited draft beer, house wine & soft drinks. | RSVP at www. myanmoreticket.com Rose Garden Hotel - 171, Upper Pansodan Road, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon

Sports Education

Sule Shangri-La - 223, Sule Pagoda Road, Kyauktada Township, Yangon

21st Century Soft Skills 23rd-24th December 2017 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Pocari Sweat Run Myanmar 2017 17th December 2017 | 5:00 AM - 11:00 AM

The second time Running Event of Pocari Sweat is celebrated in Myanmar at Kyeikkasan Stadium. The purpose of holding the run is to promote the importance of hydration and other factors while running. | RSVP : 099 5333 8832.

Kyikekasan Staidum - Yangon

Myanmar University Students' Forum is a 2-day event where any Myanmar citizen undergraduate university students can participate. The main objective of the Forum is to provide the university students with new skill-sets which would be beneficial to their professional and daily lives. The theme is "21st Century Soft Skills", comprised of five topics Communication, Personal Branding, Teamwork within Diversity, Personal Finance, and Civic Engagement.

Diamond Jubilee Hall - Yangon University, Kamaryut Township, Yangon

Dining

Dining

New Year’s Eve Set Dinner

Christmas Sunday Roast

31st December 2017 | 6:00 PM

24th December 2017 | 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Tickets: US$26 (36,400 kyats) net per person. Children ages 4 to 11 years old will have 50 percent off. Three sharing roast choices on the menu, tapas style appetizers, luscious desserts with unlimited draft beer and soft drinks and

Price: US$ 60.00 net per person advance reservations. US$70 net per person on the day. Children ages 4 to 11 years old will be 50 percent off.

Four course set menu with welcome cocktail, unlimited draft beer, house wine & soft drinks. | RSVP at www. myanmoreticket.com Rose Garden Hotel - 171, Upper Pansodan Road, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon

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Cinema

CINEMA

Coming This Month

nary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Casts: Benjamin Bratt, Anthony Gonzalez, Renée Victor, Ana Ofelia Murguía, Gael García Bernal, Jaime Camil and more.

FOREVER MOM Drama, Family

COCO Animation, Adventure, Comedy Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordi-

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with Finn, Poe, and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII. Casts: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill and more.

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE Adventure, Drama

In the brand new adventure Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the tables are turned as four teenagers in detention are sucked into the world of Jumanji.

When they discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of, they are immediately thrust into the game’s jungle setting, into the bodies of their avatars, played by Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan. What they

A film about a woman who passionately love her child, her husband and family even she forgets to love herself, is so called a mother. And a love story about a young doctor who loves his mother so much and a girl who he met in school. When they try to build their lives together..

Casts: Ye Aung, May Than Nu, Nay Toe, Wutt Hmone Shwe Yi and more.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Action, Adventure, Fantasy Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji –Jumanji plays you. They’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, or they’ll be stuck in the game forever….

Casts: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Nick Jonas, Karen Gillan, Ser'Darius Blain and more.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Comedy, Drama Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business & tells of a visionary who rose from nothing

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

Casts: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson and more.

Credits: Rotten Tomatoes & IMDB

Cinemas in Yangon 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

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New Openings

New Openings This Month Great Garden Bar • Bar A new rooftop bar with breathtaking views and good food and drinks. Plus superb customer service and warm atmosphere for friends to chill. Oh wait, they also have karaoke rooms, so a perfect place for both singing and drinking.

Lanmadaw Plaza Hotel rooftop, corner of Mahabandula Rd and 17th St, Latha Tsp 09 73195030 5 pm - 11 pm

After 8 - Shot & Cocktail Bar • Bar The bar itself plays fun and easy music and the interiors are modern and slick but very comfortable. The prices are fair considering the experience – cocktails are 7-8,000 kyats. Come 7pm the bar is filling up with cool, young Myanmar folk. The food prices are very fair too but you don’t come here for that.

4th Floor, Myanmar Plaza, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Tsp 09 951 222888 5 pm - 2 am

Find out more in sarmal.com.mm

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Bar Industry • Bar Bar Industry is a two-story building with a modern, stylish interior and exterior located beside Min Lan Mote Te shop on Waizayantar street. The bar offers draught beers, signature cocktails and Asian fusion food for your dinner and night out.

21, Sat Hmu (4) Street, (8) Quartar, South Okkalar Industrial Zone, South Okkalarpa Tsp 09 950 442442 4 pm - 12 am

Gloria Jean's @ Star City • Cafe Gloria Jean’s, an Australian coffeehouse chain offering gourmet blends, tea and pastries located in more than 35 countries, arrived at Star City in Thanlyin. The place is decorated with the firm’s signature forest theme and the atmosphere is cozy. Along with its signature coffees and cakes, the cafe offers an updated menu including coconut noodles, sandwiches and burgers, pasta, chicken basil, nasi goreng, chapati, mont hin gar, see chat khauk swe, rolls and wraps, soups and salads, appetizers and congees for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Star City, Wing A, Building A4, Ground floor, Thanlyin 8 am - 9 pm

Urban 86 • International Urban 86 Group together with Training Ground Gym bring you the first ever modern permanent indoor market to Yangon with trendy design styles, providing a unique and vivid indoor environment for shopping and dining for your experience. They also have live music shows, seasonal lighting decorations for photo shoots and a kids' play zone.

Ground floor, Urban Asia Center, Maha Bandula Road, Corner of 48th St, Botahtaung Tsp 09 797 228686 11 am - 10 pm (Closed on Mondays)

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Briefings

MYANMORE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE: DINING & NIGHTLIFE 2018 The annual Myanmore Awards of Excellence in Dining and Nightlife have undergone an exciting makeover.

The 2018 Myanmore Dining and Nightlife awards are set to be the most exciting and innovative ever, with ten completely new excellence-based award categories up for grabs. Using feedback received from industry and intensive research, the awards have been improved to be more streamlined and relevant to the growing needs of the dining and nightlife industry with an increased emphasis on the promotion of excellence at all levels.

For the first time ever the Myanmore Dining and Nightlife awards will focus on facilitating an environment where the attainment of excellence is supported throughout the year, not just celebrated on an annual basis. A program of excellence will be launched where award winners will be encouraged to share their knowledge with others to promote the continued improvement of standards while developing a culture and ethos of excellence throughout the whole industry.

In order to focus on the achievement of excellence the award categories will no longer consider the style of cuisine but will simply focus on the type of venue. This means, for example, that for the first time ever there will be a green (environmentally friendly) award of the year in Yangon. Members of the public will be invited to nominate their favorite venues online and also provide a short review to support their nomination. The venues from each category with the most nominations will be compiled into a shortlist, and a panel of independent expert judges will conduct thorough and undercover evaluations of these shortlisted venues, focusing their attention on three specific areas of excellence: product, environment, and service.

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The Venue Excellence award categories are:

The Special Contribution to Excellence awards categories are:

• Restaurant of the year • Café of the year • Bar of the year • Myanmar food restaurant of the

• Chef of the year • Wine and spirit ambassador of the

year

• Local bar / beer station of the year Six new and innovative award categories that celebrate special contributions to excellence by individuals and teams have also been developed.

Nominations for these awards will come from both the public and industry and will be judged by an independent panel of industry experts.

year

• Newcomer of the year • Entrepreneur of the year • Green award of the year • Special award for contribution to excellence

hensive guide will use public votes compiled for the awards along with Myanmore expertise. It is another first in Myanmar and will contain detailed information and reviews of the top 100 dining and nightlife venues across the city, and special features focusing on the 2018 Myanmore Dining and Nightlife award winners.

Visit Myanmore.com/awards for more information.

The awards ceremony will be held at the prestigious Melia Hotel in Yangon on February 3 2018 when the new Myanmore Top 100 Dining and Nightlife Venues 2018 guidebook will also be launched. This compreMYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

A unique network of professionals from all corners of Myanmar's financial community.

myanmarbankersclub

myanmarbankers.com.mm 09 257 999 601 / 602 / 603

Cover Story

THE INNOVATOR

By Lorcan Lovett. Photos by Amour & Co.

M

ogok Pauk Pauk is telling a story about one of her heroes – her father, a man who dealt her beatings as a child.

“One time he beat me and later I saw him crying,” she says, burying her face into her hands, as he did at the time.

“Tears dropped from his eyes. He was lying on the bed. I was beside him. He thought I was asleep.”

Pauk Pauk was aged 13 then, a creative boy growing up in the gem-laden

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valley of Mogok in Mandalay Region.

Hues of rubies and maternal love brought joy into her life. School bullies sucked it out. Her father surrendered his anger when the tears dried: his young son liked dressing dolls; indeed, his young son was gay, but he vowed from then on to support Pauk Pauk’s endeavors.

Over three decades later, Pauk Pauk is arguably Myanmar’s most successful fashion designer ever. She has studied fashion in Milan and has three clothing

lines. Her couture has leapt from the catwalk to the streets, where passersby hail her as a reality TV star (she judged The Model Academy and Style Secret).

Devotees would say she is to the acheik longyi what Armani is to androgyny or Yves Saint Laurent is to women’s trousers. Those two are also her heroes. She is a champion; some may even say an icon. But she is somewhat disillusioned.

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

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Cover Story

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What is Fashion?

“Still now, people don’t understand what fashion is,” she sighs. “Even fashion designers don’t understand what is a fashion design.”

The 44-year-old artist has just finished a photo shoot. She is wearing a beige two-piece, the top split between halterneck and collared jacket. Her brunette bob dances above the deep brown of her irides as she delivers answers with thoughtful silence and soft conviction.

“They don’t know about the colors, how to mix and match, how to wear in the evening. If I say this they will be very angry, but I have to tell the truth.

We need real fashion designers and fashion professionals in our country.”

Classes teach sewing, cutting, drawing, she says, but there are no real fashion schools, no one teaching where “fashion is born from.”

In the case of Pauk Pauk fashion was born from adversity. When she was in high school her father lost money in the gem trade for five years straight.

Dealing raw stones is a risky business, with one askew shave plummeting the price of a polished stone. Hopes of sending Pauk Pauk to study abroad were abandoned, and her mother, a hair stylist, kept the family afloat.

But after rainfall in Mogok, raw rubies sometimes emerge from the earth, blood-red accessories for Pauk Pauk to glue onto paper. Treasure can be uncovered in stormy weather, and during the financial woes Pauk Pauk uncovered a talent for make-up artistry and linguistics.

By the age of 15, she was sharing a house with her and two other families, and quickly gaining a name as a gifted make-up artist. In the afternoon she would sort stones in her auntie’s house, a routine broken two years later when a well-known movie stylist in Yangon replied to her letter, agreeing to take her on.

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

She remembers sabotaging her matriculation exams to clear the path to the movie industry in Myanmar’s metropolis, where at 17 she was beginning to live as a woman and develop a philosophy that could counter any hate for the LGBT community.

“If you are wise and think positively, people will accept you,” she says. “It’s like a mirror: smile and they will smile at you.” Some places where LGBT people will never be accepted must naturally be avoided, she says, but LGBT or not, the undercurrent is “respect others and others will respect you.

You love people, people love you.”

In the early 90s Yangon make-up artists would also design the costumes and even read scripts with the actors.

Pauk Pauk nurtured the experience, her passion only bolstered by a practical need to support her family – particularly a younger brother and sister.

“Since I was 18 I took responsibility for everything in my family,” she says.

Power cut, darkness envelopes the room. She carries on, unperturbed.

“Until now I haven’t asked for one kyat from my family.”

Mogok to Milan Wedding season, Mandalay, 1996.

Local Chinese brides scour the city for gowns. Pauk Pauk – now known by many as a mysterious force behind the movies – opens with her Taiwanese cousin the first modern bridal studio in Myanmar. Chinese brides wear three to five dresses per wedding.

With a hefty Chinese community, Mandalay makes sense.

Pauk Pauk’s Mandarin skills and minor celebrity helped the business become a success. But it was a success she would leave in the hands of trusted staff in order to follow the call of Milan, the global capital of fashion and design.

Jumping through endless hoops, she eventually secured a Schengen visa and began a one-year sabbatical in

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Cover Story

northern Italy over which time she completed a two-year fashion qualification.

When she arrived in Milan all the taxis were on strike, so she lugged her suitcase down and up the metro before slumping on a bench in front of a beautiful store of cafes, home ware and fashion. Her eyes wandered to the store’s sign: Armani.

“Oh, you are famous in Myanmar,” she recalls thinking. “Compared to this businessman, this entrepreneur, this artist, you are nothing.” Her eyes now fixate on a patch in the ceiling.

“The first thing impression: you are nothing.”

Studying hard, sleeping four to five hours per day, she fluttered between euphoria and dread at the exposure to international fashion houses along the Monte Napoleone. Could she ever reach those heights?

Fashion is…

“Everything,” declares Pauk Pauk, talking about her inspirations. She lists objects strewn around the room: paintings; plates; flowers etc. The sabbatical was inspiring, and gave her fresh eyes on Myanmar culture. She visited her hometown and witnessed workers widening the road, unveiling a rainbow of colors in the stone that she represented in a wavy achiek, an ancient pattern supposedly based on the undulating Ayeyarwady River.

One of her most revered designs was a wedding dress with petals inspired by a blooming white rose. Her work is coveted by socialites, who she would makeover Cinderella-style in a matter of minutes, earning her the nickname Fairy Godmother (FGM is the name of one of her brands).

Fashion designers are widely more respected now than in the last decade, the industry has improved, says the artist, but “in a miserable way.”

“There are many so-called fashion designers in Myanmar but it’s very rare to find a real fashion designer.”

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MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

Nobody seems to know the true definition of fashion design. When asked for it, she takes a few stabs: fashion and design are separate but both are needed. No. Fashion is…she breaks into Myanmar language, saying it means arranging, changes over time, comes from the heart, but with tech.

None of these explanations satisfies her.

The following day Myanmore receives this message: “Fashion is like a sign of trendy ones such as clothes, accessories or style in a specific time.

It’s also like a combination of art and profession that can be varied according to time, place and condition. I also realized that fashion is some kind of decorating.”

After admitting she will be glad to see the back of reality TV and reenter the “sweet hell” of the studio, the interview comes to an end. Budding designers, she finishes, should enter the industry because of their love for the work and not for the fame.

Dictaphone off. Suddenly she reveals she is unhappy because of the fame.

People are focusing on her celebrity and she feels her work is fading.

“I love women. I respect women. I love to dress women. I want to make them beautiful – especially in Myanmar,” she says.

The father of Pauk Pauk died seven years ago; her mother died last year.

But the legacy of strength and guidance left by her parents drive her on to the next mission: to make her style affordable to the masses.

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

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Fashion

THE WATCH LIST Whether you want a sharp, polished look, or to chart the ocean’s tides, or just to simply tell the time, you’re in the market for a good watch. Watch collector Adit Agarwal reviews a selection of classy timepieces to help guide you on your purchase.

Omega Omega is perfect for the business type: a young and upcoming entrepreneur who wants to make an uptown, elegant statement. Daily wear of an Omega will enhance a person’s stature, while the company itself is older and richer in history than Rolex. My pick would be the Seamaster collection, a perfect blend of luxury and sports with a titanium on rubber strap. The Constellation series is more appropriate for a work setting - and may cost some a year’s salary.

Visit www.omegawatches.com.

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Rolex The name of the world-famous vintage brand sounds connotations with ownership, style and exclusivity.

The Rolex Sky-Dweller is a strong choice; much more complex than other editions, and perfect for a dinner date.

The Datejust 36 has perpetual, mechanical and self-winding movement and a silver set with diamonds on the dial.

Visit www.rolex.com.

Seven Friday

Franck Muller Keep it traditional in movement and style with one of the most iconic (and complicated) luxury watch designs seen by mankind. If you want to stand out at the party, strap on one of the maker's models. The latest Gravity collection allows one to witness the watch’s hypnotizing mechanism with its skeleton body. The bridges and the pillars of the tourbillon have been completely reinvented into an elliptical circle with a diameter of 21.2 mm giving the timepiece a three dimensional aspect. Visit www.franckmuller. com.

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

A funky mix of luxury and leisure, these watches stand out from the crowd.

Try the M-series - particularly the M1/03 (listed on its website for $1,550) which features a polished stainless steel case with sandblasted deep black animation ring. As with all Seven Friday watches, the M-Series has three customised discs reading hours, minutes and seconds powered by a Miyota 8215 engine. This watch is also near-field communications compatible via the firm’s app. Visit www.sevenfriday.com.

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Fashion

BEHIND THE CATWALK A roster of talented local and international designers will boost Myanmar’s modelling and fashion scenes this month when they exhibit their work at fashion week. Myanmore interviews two designers – one Myanmar and one Thai – before their shows.

she explains, computer and print replicas from copy cat firms soon follow the inaugural showcasing of one of her pieces on a model.

Chaw Su Myat In three anticipated rounds, designer Chaw Su Myat opens Myanmar International Fashion Week for the second year in a row in December.

She uses the example of renowned actress Wutt Hmone Shwe Yi who recently wore one of her pieces to an event.

The first round showcases casual wear – including brocades, laces and silks from Europe and Asia, the second round covers couture evening gowns, and the third round flaunts her signature acheik.

“It took only three weeks to have all the computer replicas,” she says.

“They sold it only for 22,000 kyats whereas this acheik cost about 15 lakhs.”

A favourite for high-profile actresses and models across the country, Chaw Su Myat established her boutique in Yangon’s Bahan Township in January, 2015.

The 31-year-old designer is celebrated as a “pioneer of big motif lines” along the acheik, she says. Born in Yangon, Chaw Su Myat studied at Canadian International School in Singapore and completed a bachelor’s degree in commerce and masters in marketing at the University of Melbourne.

Chaw Chaw Silk and Luxury Fashion Boutique has nearly 100 acheik designs, all created by the owner, as well as other Myanmar dresses, cottons, silks and more. It boasts a one-stop service, where customers can choose the fabric and have it fitted there on the spot.

She deferred a PhD in marketing or management at Harvard University in order to return to Yangon in 2009, where she took care of her sick mother. During her downtime she began doodling fashion designs and creating acheik using the traditional weaving method.

But the story behind the fabric is what makes the studio so unique. Many of the dresses are Myanmar traditional handmade lun yar kyaw acheik.

The name lun yar kyaw is reserved for acheik made using more than 100 shuttles on a big wooden weaving machine operated manually – a traditional loom technique.

Chaw Su Myat works with a family in a village of Sagaing Region who use their centuries’ old knowledge to

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fastidiously create some of the most exclusive and desired garments in Myanmar. The dresses can take up to two months to complete, and the fashion can be traced to the 15th century when colourful waves and floral

designers were sewed on to plain material.

“For one day’s work you will be lucky if you have one inch,” says Chaw Su Myat on the production process. However,

With her unique style of prominent colors and striking designs, she has quickly become a respected master of Myanmar fashion. “I am always on the lookout for the fashion trends but I never follow them,” she adds. “I always do what I like.”

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Davis Pranlapon Award-winning designer Davis Pranlapon, 45, will be representing Thailand in this month’s fashion show.

The Thai national who graduated with a master’s degree in fashion and textile from esteemed Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok has exhibited his couture at the event before.

This time, however, will be unlike any of his previous collections, he says. “It presents a new vision,” he says, with the only further explanation summarized in “more future, more sexy.”

Davis has experience as a stylist and costume designer for TV, working with some of Thailand’s best actors and actresses. In 2009 he won a prestigious Nataraj award – Thailand’s Oscars - for best costume design. The following year he launched dVIS, a bespoke menswear boutique in Bangkok, for “the man who needs something different,” he adds. “dVIS is many kinds of styles,” he says.

“We provide for all our customers’ varied styles and suggest the best

designs, trends, outfits and textiles for them.”

But his work is not influenced by the Thai style alone.

many times and always promote it in my runways, including in Myanmar fashion week twice before.”

The mix of fashions from the countries makes for a “not pure traditional

style,” he explains. This is an exciting time for Davis, who hailed social media as allowing people to share ideas on fashion. In this dynamic new world, he declares pride representing Thailand while absorbing the styles of others.

“I love Myanmar style. I designed my collections in line with Myanmar style

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Fashion

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MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

STYLE DIRECTION As Myanmar International Fashion Week is upon us, model Shwe Eain Si and stylist Justin met with Myanmore at Atlas Rooftop Bar in Sanchaung Township to share their top fashion tips. With Shwedagon Pagoda in all its golden glory to the east, and the sun setting beyond the Yangon River and paddies to the west, it was the perfect venue to sip wine and put this shabby world to rights. Here’s a snapshot of the conversation:

the most important point is that the dress fits perfectly. “It doesn’t need too many flowers, bows, whatever the hell you want to put on there. What you need is the fitting and the cutting of the dress to look good. I see too many messy things around the dress,” she laments. Justin chimes in: “Simple and easy is like perfect.”

Know Thyself Shwe Eain Si shares a harrowing experience. One time, she went to a party where another girl was wearing the same dress. Justin shudders.

Fortunately she had a jacket. But still.

“If everyone is wearing that, that is something you definitely have to

Think Beyond the Cocktail Dress An invitation to the party arrives and suddenly the same old light bulb goes off: black cocktail dress. Sure, a fine choice, says Shwe Eain Si, but “the easy way” isn’t necessarily the best way.

“We need to think more about how we are going to present ourselves,” she says. Justin agrees, stressing a link between what you wear and good first impressions. “If you see someone and are dressed well, you make a good impression,” he adds. “You have to think about what you are going to wear.”

Keep it Simple A lot of Myanmar people “think about the patterns and accessories rather than the shape of the dress, the cutting,” says Shwe Eain Si. But probably MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

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Fashion

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MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

avoid. You don’t want to look like everybody else,” she says. “For me, trend is not that important because you are your own person and you need to pick out clothing – a type of skirt, blouse, whatever you’re going to wear. You need something that fits you.” See a model online and think this dress looks gorgeous on her. Buy it and then – crushed – you think it looks crappy on you. Shwe Eain Si breaks it down: “You think ‘what’s wrong with me’ – there is nothing wrong with you, what’s wrong is that you are following a different type of fashion that doesn’t suit you.” If you are going to follow the style of a celebrity/model/anyone, make sure they look similar to you in the first place, she asserts.

When Fashion Goes Wrong

Show off the Curves

Out/In

Think outside the box – yes. Think individually – yes. But Shwe Eain Si warns not to go overboard. “The idea is to be different but you can’t look awkward. Sometimes people go too far. They want to look very stylish and different but that’s when fashion goes wrong. It gets you the attention that you want but it doesn’t suit you.” Think what’s best for your body and posture.

“Just stay who you are,” says Justin.

“We don’t need to catch up with the trends.”

The htamein and aingyi – part of the traditional Myanmar women dress – wrapped cylindrically around the body are elegant and graceful garments, suited to the climate and canny at hiding some girls’ perceived flaws. “For the Myanmar girls, they should think about who they are first and then we are supposed to follow up with our culture.

We don’t need to dress that much,” says Justin. Curvy bodies only require a simple dress and a pair of earrings to look great, says Shwe Eain Si. “We are not showing off the shape of the body enough and covering up. We are failing to decide what to wear to highlight the best part of the body,” she adds.

“Next year I think there is no more jeans,” declares Justin. Goodbye jeans. “These days people wear old jeans, ripped jeans, but for next year I’m not sure.” He predicts the color trends will be red, reddish yellow. And what’s coming in? “Small stuff,” he says. “Fancy, maybe heels, earrings.

More collection stuff. That’s what I am looking for.”

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Photography by Leo Jackson.

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Interior Design

GRAND DESIGNS Interior designer Ma Mya Myitzu has brought to life some of Yangon’s most exciting renovations, including Rangoon Teahouse, Rau Ram and the recently soft launched Tea Factory.

She is now working on the restoration of a heritage house commissioned by Meeyahta Development Limited. We asked the 35-year-old designer to tell us about her boutique design firm M.Interiors (M.ID), which she founded in 2011, and heard her view on how the industry in Myanmar has changed since she joined it.

Q Out of your projects, which makes you the most proud?

When I was first starting out, I was only in my late 20s, I undertook Sarana Pun, a residential project in Pun Hlaing - a sprawling riverside estate of over 40,000 square feet. The building was designed by modern Burmese-American architect Douglas Soe Lin.

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Together, we developed the interior layouts and design. It was a very good collaboration between the client, the architect and myself. To this day it is one of the most stylish homes.

I have been very proud of doing some of my estate projects, which people hardly get to see. But the restaurant [design business] has been very hot

in the last few years so I think people tend to see me purely as a restaurant designer. Restaurants only represent a small portion of our projects portfolio. M.Interior has been designing show flats for large real estate projects, offices and a variety of other kinds of venues. And because none of the projects end up looking the same, I like to see M.ID as a conceptual firm.

When we take over the design of a project, we always start by looking into its history and personality. All places carry a set of features that, we believe, must persist through the design process. The main theme might be inspired by the venue’s past purpose and the inhabitants or customers’ lifestyles will translate into the layout we’ll come up with. I always talk about it in

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the sense of custom-tailored clothing: as some women only choose to wear their custom-made dress once, for a specific social event, I apply the same rule to our interiors projects, we would never repeat our look. Everything is custom fitted and tailored in design.

it is very much a reality that sometimes appliances do break down, and the people coming to fix them often end up breaking other things in your kitchen as well.

Q Where do you take your inspiration?

"Ever since I was a high schooler living in Yangon, I grew up mesmerized by the grandeur and beauty of our buildings."

I collect a lot of architectural books, and publications on artists and styles around the world. I do believe books are very important but I must admit that, these days, I find online catalogs and magazines interesting and helpful, as they make design more accessible than ever. Until a few months ago, I hardly ever played movies or turned the TV on. Recently however, I have started to watch a lot of Netflix. The platform hosts a great number of architectural documentaries and because we are currently designing a classical home, I started watching The Crown [a drama chronicling the life of Queen Elizabeth II) obsessively. When you watch the show, you see the interiors and you are sort of baffled by the production design. All the work it must have taken, just to depict Queen Elizabeth running through the great hall!

The last book I bought just last weekend was on kitchens - dissecting how every appliance actually works, and what are the technologies that power them. It’s not a very glamorous topic but, as I have designed many large kitchens for our residential projects, ‘kitchen dynamics’ has kind of grown on me. I could tell you extensively about the core differences between regular, steam and combi ovens for instance. Talking about kitchens, I now have my own ways on designing them.

I always suggest building microwaves and ovens into removable carcasses for example, so that if the device breaks, you don’t need to mess with the whole cabinetry to get to it. This level of detail is often overlooked in the industry but I see it as important as a venue’s global design. I believe there needs to be synergy between the design of a place and the people living,

Q What can Yangon do to protect and use its trove of colonial-era buildings?

Ever since I was a high schooler living in Yangon, I grew up mesmerized by the grandeur and beauty of our buildings, and I always dreamed to refurbish a unit downtown. I have heard of developers wanting to revive an entire street. These are great ambitions but they take a long time to plan and execute. I guess I’m not that patient. When I returned to live in Myanmar, as a designer I wanted to show people what was possible on a grass roots level - which is the whole idea behind Rangoon Teahouse. We took this old colonial era loft and turned it into a very comfortable, modern and well facilitated restaurant people go to regularly. When I see similar small businesses spring up all over downtown, for the same reasons that pushed me to build Rangoon Teahouse, it makes me happy. It shows people that there are opportunities to make our architectural history accessible and alive again. And I hope to see it happen more! As designers and business owners are playing an important role, I believe large-scale organizations like the Yangon Heritage Trust and the government itself carry a great part of the responsibility. It is necessary for them to be involved, and they should work together in helping

to protect our buildings and the city.

Again, for all the same reasons, I have been active and I am very proud to be a member of the advisory board of another physical piece of our modern history: the U Thant House.

Q With Yangon experiencing a boom in construction, do you dislike any common features on the new buildings?

Being very honest, I am growing uncomfortable with the number of Singapore based designs in Yangon. There are great architects and designers everywhere in the world, Singapore included. But the fashion carrying Singapore based interior designs would gain more depth from using culture and art more than it seems to be doing now. From a very personal point of view, I’ve always found these venues a little cold, corporate, yet also luxurious, but without real conceptual depth: as a result, they often all look the same.

Q Over the years how have you seen interior design develop in Myanmar?

I started in 2011 when the country had barely opened up and there were really no interior designers, nor were there any suppliers. Like for almost any industry in Myanmar, things have changed for the better.

In this day and age, I can work with suppliers to get materials that are yet to be sold in Myanmar. This means that brands have arrived and that they are progressively unrolling their full product range. Whether it is the increase of suppliers or designers, I am all for it. I love to see up-and-coming new designers since, in the end, they contribute to making Myanmar a beautiful place. And as they do so, we are drawing, together, Myanmar’s own identity and style.

Green fields and clear skies in Mrauk U MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

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Shopping

BANGKOK SHOPPING: CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

By Natty Tangmeesang

T

he season for gifting is here, but if you are having little success at finding the right presents in Yangon, perhaps a trip to Bangkok is on the cards.

Only one hour away by plane, Thailand’s capital is a mecca for shopping fanatics and the perfect city to secure some great presents for this Christmas. The metropolis is also my home city, so here are some insider tips for your shopping spree.

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Upscale Shopping In Bangkok, you are spoiled for choice with shopping malls that are scattered across the city. Siam Paragon and Emporium are the top destinations for luxury products. These malls boast high-end brands’ flagship stores from Hermes, Rolex, Chanel to Jimmy Choo, Versace and many more.

Central World and EmQuartier Mall offer greater choice on affordable

wallet, MBK is popular among tourists from across the world. Cloths, cosmetics, phones and gadgets are all here in one place. Bring your bargaining skills and shop till you drop.

lifestyle products with high-quality and unique designs.

Midscale Shopping Just opposite of Siam Paragon, Siam Square is one of the most legendary open-air shopping areas in Bangkok. It is known for catering to the trendiest fashion pieces. If you want to know what’s in, you have to head to this area.

Shopping without breaking your

About 15 minutes walking from MBK, Platinum Fashion Mall is a paradise for ladies. The mall is full of wholesalers for fashion clothing and accessories.

If you want the complete look, you can get it all here at cheap prices. We advise you bring your friends along, as

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the prices will be cheaper if you buy in bulk.

More than 1,500 boutiques are lined near the river at Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok, with items including Thai souvenirs, handicraft, jewelry, and clothing. Brands here are more local and have creative approaches.

In the heart of the famous Sukhumvit/ Asoke area, Terminal 21 feels like the world in one place. Each floor is decorated with designated themes such as European, Asian, and American. On the ground floor, you will find athletic brands, for example, Nike, Adidas, Roxy, and some other street fashion brands. The first floor is for women’s fashion, men’s fashion on the second floor, and gift, jewelry, and souvenirs on the third floor. In total it has 600 shops, with mostly independently-owned brands.

Local Markets Chatuchak weekend market is the biggest weekend market in the world, with over 8,000 shops and 11 categories of goods, namely clothing, accessories, handicrafts, ceramics, furniture, home décor, food and beverage, plants and gardening, art

and gallery, pets and pet accessories, books, antiques, collectibles, miscellaneous and used cloths.

You may need an entire day or two to fulfil your shopping needs here. The best way is to study the map and try to locate your desired products first before you visit. It will save you a lot of time.

Night Markets Inspired by Art Box market in Singapore, Bangkok has adopted the new concept of artsy and indie markets called “Rot Fai Night Market.” Currently, the markets are in two locations: Srinakarin and Ratchada.

cut-rate prices, second-hand shops, shoes, handbags, handmade products, and tons of street food stalls. For the Srinakarin branch, you will find a lot of unique, rare, collectible goods. The markets are only open from Thursday to Sunday from 6pm to midnight.

New market alert: Changchui, which means “careless craftsman” in Thai, is the newest creative space in Bangkok.

It has become talk of the town due to its unique concept of combining an art gallery, theatre, co-working space, café, street food and clothes and music stores, plus way more. Products here are guaranteed to be artistic, creative and unique. It is open everyday except Wednesday from 11am-11pm.

Wandering around the Rot Fai market, they have cloths and accessories at

Shopping Bangkok with JCB Shopping fatigue? Take a break at a spa. Here is a Bangkok sample of JCB cardmember promotions to help: • • • • •

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

Kose Beauty Center: 10 percent off Rarin Jinda Wellness Spa: 20 percent off spa package Harnn body care and spa shop: 10 percent off Panpuri: 10 percent off spa products and 20 percent off spa treatment Show your JCB card and passport at tourist centers in Siam Paragon, Siam Centre and Siam Discovery to get special deals and a gift bag.

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Gems & Jewellery

RUBY LAND

By Natty Tangmeesang

M

yanmar is renowned for having the world’s finest precious stones, including rubies, sapphire and jade. These natural resources have placed the gems and jewelry industry at the core of the country’s revenue for decades.

Almost 90 percent of the world’s rubies come from Myanmar. One place in particular plays a vital role in this overwhelming supply: Mogok, a valley nestled into the hills of Pyin Oo Lwin district in Mandalay Region.

The city is famous for its gemstones, earning it the enticing nicknames

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“Ruby Land” or the “Valley of the Rubies” because of the purities and hues of the rubies found there. Jewelry and gems have been entwined in Myanmar culture for centuries, with ruby and sapphire the top two favorites, according to Michelle Lau Lau, marketing director of The Rich Gems, one of Yangon’s leading jewelry shops. Jade, surprisingly, comes in third place, she said.

“The best ruby and sapphire has to come from Myanmar. These two are Myanmar’s favorites. Jade is also from Myanmar, but popularity wise, it’s not as big as the previous two,” she said.

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

“The best ruby and sapphire has to come from Myanmar. These two are Myanmar’s favorites.

Jade is also from Myanmar, but popularity wise, it’s not as big as the previous two.”

Michelle Lau Lau The older generation tends to wear heavy jewelry; for instance, a necklace, bangle, and large earrings all at once, a spread of decoration that implies wealth and success.

Gold is a preference of the middle and lower-middle classes, explained Lau Lau. Many of the public see a big necklace as a hallmark of tasteful attire. The perfect example was when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wore a grand set of jade stones around her neck at a peace conference dinner in May, catching the attention of not only local but also international media.

“If women wear necklaces, they will choose a V-shape, a full one necklace, especially for the bride when she is getting married. That’s how they want to show off. They like to make it full on the chest,” said Lau Lau. Since Myanmar began opening its doors and boosting its Internet access in 2011, there has been a shift in people’s style in the media, fashion and jewelry industries. Influenced by the glamor of Hollywood stars, the younger generation has embraced trendy and sophisticated jewelry – but only wearing one piece at a time.

Although styles are changing among the young, the blend of superstition and precious stones holds firm, said Lau Lau. “Even the young generation believes in fortunetellers. Some days, I will have a client asking, ‘I want a sapphire ring because my fortuneteller says that I have to wear one for luck,” said Lau Lau, adding that some of her clients also wear gemstones to bring money.

Lau Lau, who has a degree from the Gemological Institute of America, surmised that people who have had international exposure would reject bigger designs. The trend will gear toward the European way – wearing a single stone in a band on halo diamond ring in a simple, classical style that can be worn everyday and everywhere.

But she said the middle and lower middle classes who have the spending power will continue to follow the traditional, gold “Shwe Lat Sut” design.

The jeweler advised those visiting Myanmar who would like to buy precious stones to look for color, cutting and light.

“Pick the right color first, and then see if there’s the right cutting. You will see how the light reflects if it has the right cutting - that’s how you see the light come through. Some stones may be big but can be pretty dead because the cutting wasn’t right. You will only see the color but no luster or any light come out,” explained Lau Lau. MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

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Travel

TROPICAL PARADISE SLOWLY, SOFTLY OPENS

In Myanmar’s deep south, the remote 800 or so islands of the Mergui Archpelago have remained inccessible, hidden, and mysterious. But soon – as Keith Lyons discovers – more intrepid visitors seeking a ‘back-tonature’ experience may be able to get the pristine white-powdery sand between their toes.

W

hen the MV Sea Gipsy rounded the rocky headland and cruised past the guarding limestone pinacles, we all assembled on the upper viewing deck to survey the unfolding scene.

Some of the eight passengers aboard the converted Burmese cargo boat, roused from afternoon naps in mahogany-trimmed open-air quarters below, rubbed their eyes, and blinked at the panorama. Between a vast expanse of sky overhead, and the deep

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teal Andaman Sea below, lay a broad forest-cloaked island.

a school of small fish lept out of the water in silvery synchronicity.

Others reached for their cameras, or peered through binoculars, as we sailed into the bay, scanning the long ribbon of white sand hemmed between dense, dark-green jungle and an azure coral reef.

The crisp sea breeze – salty sea charged with negative ions and infused with vegetative lushness – was pushing in gentle swells which tumbled and spluttered onto the shore. I clambered ashore, feeling the fine sand beneath my feet. Above the white noise of the waves, I heard Bjorn Burchard of Moby Dick Tours (islandsafarimergui.com) declare, “Welcome to Boulder Island.”

A sea eagle soared on the thermals above a promontory. It seemed an auspicous sign. As we transfered to a small runabout to ferry us to dry land,

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. Off-limits to all for half a century, and a challenging (and prohibitively expensive) destination since Myanmar’s opening up, the string of islands off the southern coast has been coveted by divers and those seeking respite from the stresses of modern life.

Not only was I going into the great unknown, but I held a deeper question: how would I ‘be’ in that place. And more importantly: where will I sleep?

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I need not have worried. For tucked behind the coastal screw-pine palms were rustic wooden bunglows with thatched roofs and sea views out to a landmark perched boulder. Combining a down-to-earth Myanmar ethic with a Scandinavian design aesethic Boulder Bay Eco-Resort (boulderasia. com) occupies one of most diverse islands, situated at the outer edge of the Mergui Archipelago. Five hours’ cruising from the gateway port of Kawthaung, adjacent to Thailand’s Ranong, the island is blessed with fresh water springs, and soon will be self-sufficient with its own solar energy farm, with plans for a permaculture kitchen garden. The resort is ‘walking the talk’ when it comes to a minimal environmental footprint, so guests arriving on the scheduled twice-weekly trips ‘take only photographs and leave only footprints.’

Visitors are among the first to step foot on many beaches in the archipelago, says Burchard, a self-confessed island addict who has been involved in tourism and hospitality in Southeast Asia since he left his native Norway as a 19 year old. “There are some islands that haven’t been properly mapped, and some islands don’t even have names. This really is quite a special

place – much of its charm and appeal lies in its untouched nature.”

Having watched the demise of other island destinations in Thailand, he is an advocate for sensitive, small-scale eco-tourism that provides soft adventure activities on land and on water.

“Mergui Archipelago is the ultimate ‘get-away-from-it-all’ destination. I sincerely hope it doesn’t turn into another Phuket.”

While only a handful of people visit each week, the 135-hectare (half a square mile) Boulder Island hosts an amazing variety of plants and animals, including some IUCN-listed endangered species. Burchard is pushing for Boulder to be the first marine no-take

zone in the area. Colonies of branching, plate-like and sponge corals provide a rich habitat for teeming fishlife, including brilliantly-banded surgeonfish, gliding angelfish and the iconic clownfish lurking in sea anemones.

But after we snorkel out to a vibrant reef at one of the island’s four beaches, a short hike along jungle paths away, Burchard says more than preservation is needed. Circles devoid of coral from dynamite fish and dragging boat anchors are being restored using discarded fishing cages found washed up on beaches, in a trial by Project Manaia (projectmanaia.at). Fish are already returning to these new habitats where coral is growing again.

Around a communal dining table Burchard and David Van Driessche, a Belgium photographer (davidvandriessche.com) and photographic location scout (expeditionsinphotography.com) share their concern for the indigenous inhabitants whose semi-nomadic sea-faring lifestyle is under threat. Prohibitions prevent the Moken ‘sea gypsies’ from felling trees to make their traditional wooden boats, says Van Driessche, who leads boat-based tours of the islands. The combination of place and people make the archipelago truly unique, he says. “Where else on this Earth can you find such a place?’”

Where else indeed. I took a kayak out for one last paddle over the crystal-clear waters of the Boulder Bay reef, sitting back to savour the serenity and solitiude of it all, as the sun set on a perfect day in the newfound tropical paradise.

Getting There: Flights from Yangon to the gateway port of Kawthaung, cost around $US160 one-way.

Getting Around: Scheduled island-hopping excursions allow independent visitors, including solo visitors, to join trips. Resorts provide boat transfers.

Entry: a marine park fee from US$100 upwards depending on route and length of stay must be paid in fresh, crisp new US dollar bills.

Photography by David Van Driessche.

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Fashion

FASHION’S NEW WAVE

By Rik Glauert

I

cons and fashionistas descend upon Myanmar for three days of catwalk glamor when Myanmar International Fashion Week arrives in Yangon from December 8 to 9.

The event is the brainchild of John Lwin, who wanted to bring some of the glitz of the runway he experienced in Singapore back to his native Myanmar and support the fashion and modeling industry.

“It’s the biggest fashion event in Myanmar,” he proudly told Myanmore amid a slew of the country’s most promising designers at a press conference for the fashion week at Sedona Hotel Yangon.

Some 13 local designers will show their creations on the catwalk at the 1,000-person hall at Shwe Htut Tin. (If that sounds familiar it’s where they shoot Myanmar idol).

The creations of well-known local designers including Mogok Pauk Pauk, May Myat Waso, and Shartra will hit the catwalk along with some of Myanmar’s rising designer stars.

Which designer is John’s “one to watch’ for 2017? “Oh I couldn’t tell you, or the other designers would hate me,” he said. “We’ll let the audience decide.”

Have no fear if you are feeling flummoxed by the fashion offerings as Myanmore caught up with a number of the nation’s designers to get the inside scoop on how they design and what they will be showing this year.

May Thinzar Theint

May Thinzar Theint May Thinzar Theint has been designing formal gowns and wedding dresses for the last 10 years. She believes the Myanmar public is particularly excited about this year’s fashion week as Myanmar’s designers have come of age.

Designer May Thinzar Theint

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“The designers involved are already famous, and very capable,” she told Myanmore. “People will be able to see a lot of different designs and I am looking forward to seeing how they react to my show.” May Thinzar Theint will be showcasing traditional Burmese-styled gowns as well as more western-inspired dresses at her show this year on Friday evening at nine. Her creations will be fashioned from traditional zinn mal silk in just three colors. Look out for the designer’s trademark blending of traditional Myanmar forms with spicy international influences.

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Designer Mya Pwint Phyu

Mya Pwint Phyu

Shartra

Shartra This young designer has already made a name for himself by designing the dress worn by Miss Myanmar at the Miss World competition in 2016. This striking piece was a velvet creation draped in crystals and gems to form patterns of leaves, branches and birds.

The ambitious designer did not rest on his laurels after last year’s success. “I want to do more, I want to be able to make each dress more and more beautiful. I want to learn what needs to be improved and make my designs better with every next dress,” he told Myanmore.

He describes his creations as “hype fashion” and takes inspiration from the likes of Chun Chun, Nan Kamar and Ann Sai. At this year’s show, Shartra will be showcasing dresses made from lotus root fabric, sourced from Myanmar’s famous Inle Lake, complemented by velvet. Check out Shartra’s catwalk creations at 9pm on Saturday.

Mya Pwint Phyu is pleased to be part of Myanmar’s “booming” fashion industry. She takes inspiration and encouragement from the number of international fashion brands entering the country and the number of capable local designers. “That’s why I’m proud to be in the Myanmar International Fashion Week 2017 show,” she told Myanmore. More and more people of this generation in Myanmar are interested in fashion, she said. “I believe this is the best time to reach international-level design status,” she added.

For her 2017 show, Mya Pwint Phyu has taken inspiration from the minds and the moods of the people and used stripes, wavy lines and bright, mixed colors in both her menswear and womenswear collections. According to Ma Mya Pwint Phyu, the stripes represent simplicity and an easier life, while the wavy lines show a harder life.

Ma Mya Pwint Phyu’s Myanmar traditional dresses, evening gowns, and tuxedoes and blazers for men show at 7pm on Sunday.

May Myat Waso This is the second time celebrated designer May Myat Waso has participated in John Lwin’s Myanmar International Fashion Week. “I modernize traditional dresses,” she told Myanmore. One of Myanmar’s biggest fashion stars, May Myat Waso has shown her work in over 30 local and three international fashion shows. She began designing in 2007 and recently opened a fashion school.

Her show this year, at 7pm on Saturday evening, will have three rounds: uniforms, followed by evening dresses, followed by traditional Myanmar dress. Some of the dresses she’s showcasing this year include custom-made art pieces.

“People in Myanmar wear a lot of chite longyi, but they are not always suitable for events. So, in my most recent designs, I included some art in the designs,” she said.

May Myat Waso has a surprise in store for those attending her catwalk show. “I have put in some designs that can only be seen when the wearer is walking,” she told Myanmore, adding that the opening and the closing dresses are the most stylist in her collection. Thanks for the tip, May Myat Waso.

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

Mya Pwint Phyu

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Advertorial

MIA RUBY

UNIQUE DESIGNS, LOCALLY MADE, SUPPORTING MYANMAR WOMEN

By Maitreyi Gupta

A

lovely little girl, Mia, is bouncing around a jewellery store in downtown Yangon, trying to get her hands on some of the sparkly merchandise. Mia was born in Myanmar to Amber Cernovs, an Australian development worker who has lived in Yangon for over four years.

While thinking of a middle name for her daughter, she wanted to find a link to this beautiful country that has touched her heart. Ruby, she thought, would be the perfect choice! Mia Ruby represents her daughter and is a “keepsake and memory for having spent her early years here,” says Amber with a broad smile.

in gemmological studies at the Gemmological Institute of America; which has a campus in Bangkok.

This sparked a deeper interest in Myanmar’s gems and led to a visit to Mogok in central Myanmar, which has been famous for centuries for having the best rubies. The marble and rock

formation has occurred in a way that leaves the stones with the richest color in the world. People say the best rubies in the world, come from this one valley in Myanmar.

The uniqueness of Mia Ruby’s gems is from the Mogok family they trade with. Their stones are neither

heat-treated nor coloured. Mia Ruby also asks the family to only source their stones from non-military owned mines. The gems are cut in Mogok itself, which provides a livelihood to Myanmar gem cutters. It is estimated that the majority of Myanmar’s gems are smuggled out of the country and most get cut in Thailand, meaning

This middle name selection-exercise led her to ponder upon the possibilities of buying rubies – the world’s best – in the country of its origin. Thus began the ruby research.

It’s hard to find gems that are more responsibly sourced these days, and until the end of 2016, the US government still had sanctions on Myanmar rubies because of the military control of ruby mining in the country. So Amber was left with a quality quandary she really didn’t know what to buy or if she was looking at red glass instead of real ruby stones. This got her started

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local artisans miss out on benefiting from this hugely valuable natural resource. “I want to add value to Myanmar” says Amber. Every product in Mia Ruby is sourced, designed and made in Myanmar, giving more opportunity to local Myanmar people, and value adding to the economy.

Amber says eventually one thing led to another and she began designing her jewelery, which had is modern but with a Myanmar twist, a product that could be worn by anyone. A Mia Ruby shop was a natural next step, and it is now located on Pansodan St, right next to Rangoon Tea House.

When the time came for her to leave Myanmar, and travel back to Australia, Amber encouraged Mia’s nannies to expand their horizon and take a chance on a new career; and they embraced the opportunity! Kry Sar and Mee Chaw initially worked in Singapore as domestic help and were not very well treated. Like so many Myanmar women, they were smart, keen and hard-working but faced a mountain of social and economic barriers that stopped them being able to take charge of their own lives. Amber was blown away by their willingness to learn the business. Within a year of having launched Mia Ruby she decided it was their time to take over the shop.

I really want to give them an opportunity to have a better life too,” she says with tears in her eyes.

Amber still designs all of Mia Ruby’s jewelry and stays in touch by regular travel back to Yangon. When asked about where she draws inspiration from for her jewelry design, she narrates that although it’s a modern take, the designs are inspired by Myanmar culture. For instance, the Mandalay-weave design; taken from the royals’ attire and crafted into an intricate ring. Necklaces with words such as “love” and “happiness” written in the Burmese script, sprinkled with a few jewels for a touch of positive affirmation. And a tribute to the rare orchid flowers of Myanmar; these floral inspired designs stand as a recognition for Myanmar’s natural beauty.

When talking about the process of designing and finally creating a prod-

uct, Amber animatedly points to her hand drawings, which she sends to the workshop where the jewelry draftsmen redraw the image to the perfect millimetre. The design is printed via a 3D printing software into a wax mould, which liquid gold is then poured into.

Once the gold jewelry piece is cast, the gems are then set by hand.

Mia Ruby’s silver jewellery is handmade through a community organisation called Akhaya Women. The mission of the group is to empower Myanmar women, including by teaching them non-traditional vocational skills. Since most goldsmiths are men; Akhaya Women launched She Smith,

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which trains women to become silversmiths and eventually goldsmiths.

This focus on empowering Myanmar women is a perfect match with Mia Ruby’s values.

At Mia Ruby only Myanmar gems such as rubies, sapphires, spinels and peridots (so no diamonds or emeralds, which are not mined in Myanmar) are used to create their beautiful jewelry.

Amber tells us that in purchasing a coloured gem, there are 4C’s to be aware of - color, clarity, cut and carat.

When purchasing a ruby, or any coloured gem, colour is the most critical of these. Myanmar rubies are known to be the best in the world because

of their rich-red coloring known as “pigeon’s blood” which is sold at the highest prices.

What sets Mia Ruby apart is their modern designs with a local twist, their passion for more responsible and sustainable approaches to making jewelry, and a mission to empower Myanmar women.

So the next time you want to pamper yourself, or buy the perfect keepsake from Myanmar, make sure to stop by at Mia Ruby. They source, design and make locally - and it’s beautiful.

45

Q&A

IN CONVERSATION WITH:

NICHOLAS BURY

Myanmar country manager for airline Cathay Dragon

By Natty Tangmeesang

Hong Kong-based Cathay Dragon is one of only two airlines flying directly from Yangon to Hong Kong – the other being Myanmar National Airlines. Cathay Dragon, which previously operated as Dragonair, recently increased its servicing of the route from seven to 11 flights per week.

Myanmore sits down with the airline’s country manager Nicholas Bury to talk about the increasing demand for travel to Hong Kong and opportunities for growth in Myanmar.

Q When did Cathay Dragon arrive in Myanmar?

We started the operation in early 2013. We came here five years ago, in late 2012. Initially we started off with just four flights a week. Later, we got to daily flights, which we have had for two years. Now, we have added an additional four flights per week

Cycling in the countryside

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MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

open new destinations to Hong Kong people. The idea behind it, at that time, was to open a new destination, a new investment opportunity for people, and a leisure destination.

Q What makes Cathay Dragon still stand strong in the market?

Although the Cathay brand is relatively small in the Myanmar market, we stand for quality, safety and service excellence. These things are the core parts of the brand. I think people really appreciate it. Though we are competitive on pricing, people are prepared to pay a bit more for it.

Q Who are your target customers?

on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Q Why did the company initially move to Myanmar?

The additional four flights are actually a 60-percent increase in capacity, which deems as a big increase for Myanmar. It is our challenge to fill the seats. Those flights go direct to Hong Kong. The benefit of the flight is it gives you great connections to other flights.

Five years ago, it was the time when Myanmar was opening up. It’s always going to be a good opportunity market. The country is situated in a strategic location, close to Hong Kong and a part of Southeast Asia, which has great market opportunity. What Cathay Pacific group tries to do is to

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

The way we work is we have sales all across the world. People are traveling from all over the world to come to Myanmar. In terms of the numbers of the people who come here, our top inbound markets are Hong Kong, China, the US, and Taiwan. For people going outside of Myanmar, we do a lot of business traffic. People are traveling for business reasons. We have some Hong Kong businesses invested in Myanmar and Myanmar people are also travelling to Hong Kong for work purposes. A lot of traffic is to and from Hong Kong. We also have traffic from connecting flights. Apart from business, we also have leisure, and VFR [visiting friends and relatives] to the US. The US is also our biggest market outside Hong Kong.

transit to particular places such as Japan, Korea, or China. However, we want to give more choices to the customers. Rather than changing the current flight time, we have added flights. Apart from more choices, we have seen opportunities of growth in Myanmar. Right now, the market is unsure or the investment scene is a bit unsure on where to go in Myanmar, but the long-term future is clear. You can see Singapore and China are both investing in Myanmar in a big way. I think Myanmar will continue to grow.

Q Due to the uncertainty in Myanmar’s business scene, do you plan to target more Myanmar people visiting Hong Kong for leisure?

Good question. Myanmar people like to travel in the region - places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam or Bali – which are quite close and they don’t need a visa. So, we want to promote Hong Kong as a leisure destination. It is a fantastic city for everyone.

Q Do Myanmar people need a visa to visit Hong Kong?

It’s quite a straightforward process.

We hope that with Myanmar being under the ‘One Road’ initiative, there will be a look for ways to facilitate trade and investment between Hong Kong, China and Myanmar. For our part, we are trying to promote Hong Kong as more than just Disneyland and dim sum.

Q What are the reasons for the increase in the frequency of the flights?

In our previous schedules, it was kind of anti-social times. It was a late-night flight, 1am departure. Some people like it because they can be there in time for a full-day work or you can

47

Food

A HEALTHY TAKE ON MYANMAR CUISINE

By Duncan Hines

G

uests in homes across Myanmar may find themselves being served particularly oily dishes – a warm gesture also implying the host has wealth. But, according to restaurateur Sonny Aung Khin, this is a disservice to the country’s food.

“It’s the wrong concept,” he says, reclining on a chair on the lawn of Padonmar, his Myanmar food establishment in Dagon Township. “I want

48

to change that and introduce healthy food to visitors, with less oil and especially Myanmar cuisine without MSG.” Sonny is a veteran of the country’s food scene, having been in the business for 26 years. Born in Yangon, he began his career in the airline industry and worked for BOAC – a previous incarnation of British Airways – in the 1960s, steadily acquiring the contacts that would prove invaluable in the next

decade when he launched a travel agency in Bangkok.

Along with tickets, he would give curious foreigners “a taste of Burma” in his Bangkok restaurant Mandalay then one of the only Myanmar diners in the city - before they ventured across the border.

seven years before moving to Padonmar (meaning lotus flower), which he has also ran for seven years. A driving force behind his ethos is promoting the “real healthy Burmese food.”

Over a lunch of chicken curry, grilled eggplant salad, rice and lentil soup (a Padonmar set option for 6,000 kyats), he mulls his mission.

He returned in 1994 to Yangon, where he ran a restaurant on Inya Road for MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

“Every healthy person has a passion for food,” he says. “For me, I want to introduce Myanmar food to the visitors, the foreigners, so that they can taste the real food.”

Some 400 tour companies schedule stops at Padonmar, he explains, ensuring a stream of customers throughout the day. Often it is the first stop on the trip, meaning guests have their first taste of authentic Myanmar food at Padonmar - just like at his old restaurant in Bangkok.

The restaurant has a memorable interior of elaborate wall paintings and photographs of Sonny with an eclectic mix of famous guests, including Cliff Richard and John McCain.

Upstairs the four private rooms each with space for nine, 14, 30 and 35 people are lined with reproductions of Bagan pagoda murals along with more bucolic scenes of Myanmar.

The Padonmar Room looks over a culde-sac of trees and a lantern-dappled garden whose seating for 80 people will become useful again as the dry season approaches. The building itself is nearly a century old, says Sonny. Embodying the style of late 19th century British architecture, the carved eaves of the structure nod to a traditional Myanmar design.

Padonmar hosted the inaugural Monsoon Myanmar Traditional Food

Festival in late August, comprising 12 food stalls that fed more than 100 guests. The event was organized by Myanmar Ethnic Restaurateurs Group (MERG), an entity founded by Sonny about three years ago in order to endorse small to medium sized ethnic food diners.

“Like the Kachin food in northern Burma – since they do not have many rivers they eat more meat, and hot chili. Very hot. Maybe it’s the weather.

Since Rakhine is a coastal area they use a lot of seafood. Karen food is not so popular like the Kachin or Shan food.

They also use a lot of meat and fish.”

“So far our membership is about 20 plus,” says Sonny, adding that more are expected to join. “They are all based in Yangon and are most of the major ethnicities – Rakhine, Kachin, Shan. All of these are quite similar [in food] but have their unique style.

One of Padonmar’s 120 staff serves Sonny his dessert: grilled banana, honey and watermelon, a signifier of the restaurant’s simple, good fare. His favorite dish to serve visitors is Hilsa fish of Myanmar’s delta region, steamed for hours until you can eat the bones.

“It melts in your mouth,” he says.

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

At peak times the restaurant caters for up to 400 customers, but amid the bustle, Sonny never forgets to taste the food everyday. “I don’t know how to cook but I know how to taste,” he add. “I taste it randomly. There is an original taste: not too oily, not too salty.”

49

Advertorial

ENJOY CHRISTMAS WITH ITALY’S FINEST FOODS AT MARKETPLACE

BY CITY MART

T

he spirit of Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones, sharing gifts, and enjoying the finest foods. With this festive fun in mind, it comes as no surprise that Myanmar is embracing the season more than ever.

But the revelry is not limited to Myanmar’s more remote borderlands.

Across Yangon and Mandalay, not only cathedrals and churches are diligently putting up decorations but also businesses, supermarkets and family homes.

Christians comprise about 6 percent of Myanmar’s near 53 million population, with most of the communities based in Chin, Kayin and Kachin states, where celebrations typically begin on December 1 – or “Sweet December,” as many of the country’s Christians fondly call it.

Although Myanmar is a predominately Buddhist country, Christianity and its traditions have been established in the nation for centuries. In fact, some say the country’s first Christians -the Nestorians – originally celebrated Christmas here as far back as the 7th Century.

With such a long history of Christmas festivities, Myanmar now warmly celebrates the occasion by sharing care and joy and carol singing together.

Non-Christians eagerly await the celebrations, regardless of religion, and cherish the joyous holiday that brings family and friends together. Of course, an essential part of creating a warm atmosphere is good food.

One of the culinary gems of the world also happens to be a greatly important place for Christianity and so for Christmas. Italy is awash with tinsel and cheer at this time of the year; tables

across the boot-shaped nation spread with breads, pastas, cakes, cheese and wine to mark the holiday.

Only last month did Myanmar have a taste of Christmas excitement, when Pope Francis left Vatican City, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church based in Rome, to visit Yangon and Naypyitaw, the crowds cheering him along.

Now families and friends can have a real taste of the country’s food by visiting their local marketplace by City Mart.

Myanmar’s premium supermarket marketplace by City Mart stocks the finest Italian food of the highest quality. Impress guests at your Christmas party with a marketplace selection of delicious pastas including linguine, penne, and tortellini.

Your local marketplace also has an array of spaghetti sauces, salads and cheeses to decorate the table this December. Other festive ingredients are also available, as well as an impressive selection of wine.

With premium brands and exclusive products, shop at marketplace by City Mart to make this a Christmas to remember.

50

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

TEAMWORK IS A BUZZWORD, SO CREATE A HIVE!

By Su Su Maung, M.A., LMFT, DCC, EAS-C, Citta Consultancy

T

he emerging economy of Myanmar has been given a couple of catchy names, such as the “Waking Tiger” and the “Last Frontier of Asia.” Businesses have entered this frontier market to be a decibel in the roar of this “tiger cub” since it began developing when the country opened in 2010. As corporations form their centers and branches in Myanmar, they start personnel teams comprising both local and global staff. With any department, teamwork is crucial and has become something of a buzzword. Continuing on that theme, let’s create a hive as well, because a “busy bee” buzzing about their work relies on their hive for efficiency. The question is then, what is a human hive?

A bee colony and its organizational hive have specific roles, and although certain roles have more power than others in their social structures, they are also closely inter-dependent. The queen bee cannot survive without the worker bees bringing food and producing wax to build the bee hive. Even though the queen lays the fertilized eggs, without the drones to mate with, there would be no worker bees born.

This is teamwork at its best in mother nature.

Our human hive can learn a thing or two about team work from the bees.

One thing to model after is the use of the various abilities that each one has for the same organizational goal.

We can extend this idea to not only the abilities of individuals but also the abilities of various groups, departments, and vendors. There are many terms affiliated with this model, such as collaboration, alliance, partnership, inter-disciplinary approach, et cetera.

They all mean similar concept of joining with others that have the skills, tools and resources to accomplish a shared goal.

Competition is frequently the buzzword for success. There is a need for healthy competition so that we strive to be better. However, it is not the whole picture. Collaboration is also crucial in success. Many successful businesses are formed from internal and external collaborations, such as Zoho and Facebook. Collaborations bring unique ideas forward because no two partnerships or consortiums are alike with their make-up. Moreover, resources and talents can be shared, creating better efficiency and effectiveness as well.

When we think of teamwork and collaborations, it is easier to think about the internal teamwork. The external collaborations often get left

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

out of consideration. Health care and social work are industries that more readily incorporate external collaborations. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is an example of a combination of mental health care, social work, occupational health, and human resource management. EAPs collaborate extensively with care providers and client organizations alike to provide their services.

There are several types of EAPs, from internal within the organization, to external agency with affiliate providers, to hybrid models. However, all EAPs essentially utilize different disciplines of counseling, psychiatry, social work, financial services, legal advocacy, and industrial/organizational psychology to help the organizations and their

team members. EAPs in partnership with organizations and providers create a hive for employees. How do you create your hive for your team at work?

Citta Consultancy is psychological consulting firm set up with the intention to shift paradigms for the heart/mind of individuals and organizations by providing wellness programs, training and consultation. Our website is at http:// www.cittaconsultancy.com.

51

Horoscope

HOROSCOPE San Zar Ni Bo, San Zar Ni Bo, a former political prisoner-turnedfortuneteller, is a highly respected name in Myanmar. He’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 December.

Sunday You will regain overdue loans and possessions. The ill-health of your mother, grandmother or aunt should be taken care of. Loss of personal belongings may occur. Opportunities for improvements in life will arise. Matters will go well only after emotional disturbances. Investments will be beneficial. There is good fortune concerning far-off lands and the rediscovery of lost contacts. Good news will arrive. Arrangements for travels will be successful. In spite of large expenses, income also will be great. Exchange or change of house land, car or apartment in family members.

Lucky Colour - Red, Yellow, Orange Lucky Number - 1,2,4,7

Tuesday

Rahu

Friday

Matters must be done personally as much as possible. For those running their own enterprises, piercing through courses unthought of and undone by others will result in improvements and successes.

Doing matters sentimentally rather than on calculations will bring success. In spite of attacks and obstacles, success will be seen in the end. Those concerning education will see exceptional improvement and success. Work and education will go hand-in-hand with improvement. Possessions will increase. Desires will be entirely fulfilled. Difficulties of another will be resolved due to your help.

New ideas and aims will have to be realized. Dealing environment will change. Words never spoken before will have to be said. Works never done before will have to be done. Chances to study new skills will be met. Training courses are to be attended. Love and marriage is foreseen for singles in the family.

Chances to study traditions and languages of other races will be encountered. Talks regarding land, car and house will be successful.

Telling truth and rashness should be reduced. Talks concerning important matter on work will have to be made.

Desires and intentions will be completely fulfilled. Business will prosper. Wishes and desires can be carried out. Money income will be good. Family business will run well. Sudden opportunities are to be well used. Success will be had.

Money will flow in due to not only to work but also to luck. Change of social environment will occur. Unemployed family members will be employed and employed ones promoted. Frequent disagreements will take place. Fortune is favourable regarding educational matters. You will be able to do things unfeasible for others.

Lucky Colour - Black, Dark Blue, Dark Grey Lucky Number - 2,4,8,9

Lucky Colour - Purple, Grey, Cream Lucky Number - 5,6,7,9

Lucky Colour - Green, Blue, Red Lucky Number - 3,4,6,9

Monday

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

Primary aims will go well again.

Talks on money matters will come out satisfactorily. Desire should be realized. Old friends will cause trouble. People from far-off land will be advantageous. Remarkable ideas and successive promotions in work will occur. Also successive improvements in family income will occur. Aims carried out practically will give good consequences. All rivals and obstacles will be overcome.

Dilemmas should not be had concerning decisions already made.

Go further without fear. Critics must be ignored. The one who has been in conflict for a certain amount of time will move out. The newcome will go well with you.

Kind and honest people will be met. Religious deeds will do you good. Unusual photos and images of Buddha will be had as presents.

Letter, parcel or person from faroff land will arrive. A plan will have to be restarted, among the three made.

Attacks will be made in every direction taken but success will be seen at the end. You will receive a good present. Other races will be beneficial. Success will be had in doing community welfare and group work. Pleasant news will arrive. Money luck is in favour.

Personal assistant cannot be kept.

Another’s problem will become yours. Studies will go very well.

Personal belongings will be lost.

Beware of pickpockets on travels.

Young people will be lucky in love and marriage. Ill health to parents can occur.

Aid from elderly friends will be had. Co-operative work will see success. Wealth will be on the increase for you or for family. Family plans will go well. Gifts from a faroff land will arrive. New plans and new business will see success in the family. Novel business will be done. Money or property of family yours will be regained. You will be wondering in your new life due to extreme affection ties to your family.

Lucky Colour - White, Green, Grey Lucky Number - 2,7,6,9

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Lucky Colour - Yellow, Blue, Green Lucky Number - 1,3,5,6

Lucky Colour - Pink, Rose, Violet Lucky Number - 1,3,8,9

Lucky Colour - Dark Blue, Deep Purple, Grey Lucky Number - 1,3,6,8

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

Card Deals | Tickets | Promotions

MYANMORE TICKETS https://ticket.myanmore.com

808 Festival @ Thuwunna Bhumi Event Park

appetizers, luscious desserts, unlimited draft beer and soft drinks, kids’ corner, live music provided by local band LNR and usage of the swimming pool.

The market restaurant will put in place a wide range of festive season meals during this special holiday. Book before December 15th to enjoy special deals.

Get Ready For 808 Yangon 2017 with top international DJ artists: Timmy Trumpet, Vini Vici, BoomBox Cartel and many more. You can get tickets at the Myanmore tickets website.

Christmas Eve Dinner @ Rose Garden Hotel

NYC Yangon @ One Entertainment Park

Four course set menu inclusive of welcome cocktail, free flow draft beer, house wine & soft drinks. Children ages four to 11 years old will be 50 percent off.

The biggest New Year countdown party in Yangon to celebrate New Year’s Eve with the top names in the electronic dance music. Top international artists are Terror Bass, The Bugbears, Cesqeaux, Breathe Carolina and Say My Name.

9th December

24th December celebrate with Indian Bollywood stars.

Enjoy sumptuous Indian dishes and exiting lucky draw prizes. It’s time to be together again and have fun.

Amazing Xmas Night @ Esperado Rooftop

New Year Eve Dinner @ ROSE Garden Hotel

24th December

Sunday Roast & Pool @ Rose Garden Hotel 10th December

Sunday roast is a serious affair at the Rose Garden where you will find at least three sharing roast choices on the menu, tapas style appetizers, luscious desserts, unlimited draft beer and soft drinks, kids’ corner, live music provided by local band LNR and usage of the swimming pool.

We Were Kings – Yangon Premiere – documentary screening @ Old Tourist Burma Building 13th December

Come and join Grammar Productions and Myanmar’s royal family, in partnership with the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, as they celebrate Yangon’s first public screening of the award-winning ‘We Were Kings,’ the story of Myanmar’s lost royal family.

Bollywood Diwali Mela 2017 @ Gandamar Grand Ballroom 15th December

Indian Association Myanmar presents Indian Festival of Lights. Come and

54

Christmas Cruise Party @ Yangon Rhythm Cruise

31st December

Free flow of red & white wine, special door gifts, entertainment, handmade color clay doll, Santa’s photo corner and many more exciting events.

Four course dinner menu including welcome cocktail, free flow draft beer, house wine & soft drinks. Children ages 4 to 11 years old will be 50 percent off.

16th December 2017

The party includes international and local DJs (house, techno, pop, swing), finger food & drinks, Santa lucky draw gifts, Xmas tree and other decorations. The best party crowd in town and lots of fun.

Celebrate your Christmas at the Market @ Melia Hotel 24th-25th December

Dine, cheer and celebrate with family and friends this magical festive season.

The market restaurant will put in place a wide range of festive season meals during this special holiday. Book before December 15th to enjoy special deals.

Christmas Roast @ Rose Garden Hotel 24th December

You will find at least three sharing roast choices on the menu, tapas style

31st December

New Year Eve Dinner Party @ Esperado Rooftop 31st December

Chatrium New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party @ Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake

Free flow beer, special door gifts, entertainment, handmade, color clay doll at 31 December 2017 (7am-1am).

Ticket price is US$35 net per person.

31st December

Enjoy the special performance with Wai La, May Sweet, Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein, Here & Now Dance Group, Immortal Band. International Buffet Dinner with free-flow wine, beer and soft drinks, door gifts, and New Year lucky draw prizes.

New Year at the Market @ Melia Hotel 31st December

Dine, cheer and celebrate with family and friends this magical festive season!

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

MYANMORE CARD Trending Deals L'Opera Italian Restaurant & Bar

- 10% discount on A La Carte bill (not valid for set menus, business lunch, events and promotions).

Valid for cash payments and for 8 guests per card 62/D, U Tun Nyein Street, Mayangone Township 09 773 729230

50th Street Bar

- 10% off on food and beverage. Not valid with other promotions and brunch.

9/13 50th Street, Botataung Township 01 397 060

Voice Industry Family KTV - 10% discount on room charges & food

Urban Asia Center, Corner of 48th and Maharbandoola Road, Unit First floor, Botahtaung Township 09 45888 9292

Inya Day Spa

- 15% off spa services, 10% off thai full body massage 16/2 Inya Road, Kamayut Township 01 537 907 03-055, Junction City, Bogyoke Aung San Road 09 42358 8857

Amata Resort Ngapali Beach

- 20% discount for accommodation - 20% discount at Nibbara Spa - 10% discount on food & beverages at restaurant of Amata Ngapali Beach, Rakhine State 01 665 126tment Blk A, No. 001, Corner of Hantharwadi Road and Hnin Si Street, Yuzana Highway Complex 09 968 119995

MYANMORE magazine #14 December 2017

55

Promotions | Business Listing

Dining

YUM CHA LUNCH SET MENU

Nok Air Myanmar - Ground Floor, Sakura Tower, Bogyoke Aung San Road, Kyauktada Township

till 31st December

Stay warm this winter

Do not forget to come and enjoy Yum Chan Set Menu at Royal Pavilion. If you want to have a memorable lunch with your Friends and Family, Business or Group, we are waiting for you to serve with delicious steams, fried dim sum which can choose different option along with main course and dessert .

Royal Pavilion offered Yum Cha Lunch 4 courses set menu start from minimum 2 persons and above including free flow tea, coffees, water and soft drinks. Here is a special promotion for you is **buy 3 get 1 free**.!!! Reserve your seat at 09-251185972.

Warm your heart this winter season by visiting any of their enchanting destinations in Europe and USA. Take advantage of their great winter fares and experience the charm of Europe and USA at this festive time of the year www.qatarairways.com/mm. For more information contact to 01 - 379845, 379843, 379831

Novotel Yangon Max - 459 Pyay Road, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon.

Pun Hlaing Leasing Department

Made in Thailand Dinner Buffet at The Emporia Restaurant Every Friday and Saturday Come and discover the exotic flavors, textures and aromas of Thailand in a lavish buffet of authentic Thai specialties from the four corners of the Kingdom prepared by our resident team of expert Thai chefs.

USD 37.00 nett per person Half price for children aged from 5-12 years old For more information and reservations, please call +95 1 544500 or email to fb.chry@chatrium.com Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon - 40, Nat Mauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon.

Travel

Round Trip Air Ticket Promotion Limited Time Offer Promotion is back this week. You may purchase tickets for YGN-BKK/ BKK-YGN route from November 27 to 30 within 8am to 7:30pm (9am-8pm BKK Time) with start from 33USD per way per person.

Travel period is from 4 December 2017 to 30 September 2018. You may purchase online here https://goo.gl/ B5nQBH or at nearest travel agency.

Ph: 01 255 050

Qatar Airways - No.65, 2nd Floor, Room no. 22,23,24 - Corner of Sule Pagoda Rd and Merchant St, Kyauktada Township

Real Estate

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

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

Mercure Hotels Yangon Kaba Aye 17 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yankin Township 951 650933 Ext:154, Fax: 951 650960 resvn@micasayangon.com www.accorhotels.com

YPF Your Property Finder 459A, Room703, New University Avenue Road, Bahan Township 01 8605255-56, 09 402617094 www.ypf.com.mm www.facebook.com/yourpropertyfinder

Hintha Business Centres 221, Sule Square, 10th Floor, Sule Pagoda Road, Pabedan Township 01 441 3410, 01 925 5124 www.hinthabusinesscentres.com

Europcar Myanmar No.74, Lann Thit Road, Nant Thar Gone Ward, Insein Township 01-646 330, 09 964 722 884 www.europcar-myanmar.com