No. 16 /February 2018 It’s free!
magazine
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
No.16 / February 2018
magazine Managing Director Andreas Sigurdsson Managing Editor Lorcan Lovett Photography Leo Jackson Rasmus Steijner Cover & Event Photos Wai Phyo Editorial assistant Pamela Tan Contributors Cliff Lonsdale Min Ye Kyaw Edmond Sailland Charles Duchemin Duncan Hines James Fable Brittney Tun Myat Theingi Khine
12 What’s On 6 Cinema 8 The Tea Shop 10
The Arts The Armless Artist 44
Tech Talk Best apps 46
Advertorial Citta Consultancy 45
Promotions, Card Deals & Tickets 48
Illustration Anik Nyein
Cover Story MYANMORE Awards 2018 12
Art & Production Kyaw Kyaw Tun Hein Htet Publisher MYANMORE Magazine Pyit Thiri Thaw Lychee Ventures (Myanmar) Limited Permit No. 01588
Features Dance of the Lion 20 The Dating Game 22
Printer Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. MCM Printing (00876)
Cover Q & A Patricia Pun 24 Eat & Drink Sofaer & Co 28 Mu Ai 29 Ethnic recipe / Street snacks 30 New openings 32
Sales & Advertising sales@myanmore.com 0977 900 3701 / 3702
Travel Set Set Yo 34 Medicine in the Mountains 38 Escaping Upwards 42
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.
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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.
www.myanmore.com www.facebook.com/myanmore www.issuu.com/myanmore Follow us on Instagram and Viber.
What's on
Art & Stage
FullMoon Party Live in Yangon 2018 10th February 2018 | 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Werewolf-themed party with international DJ artists : Wiwek, Zomboy, FRED, Mike Haider, Chacky, Horror Noise, Noise Controllers. The ONE Entertainment Park - Paw San Hmwe St, ThinganGyun Tsp
Idiots 13th Anniversary One Band Show 17th February 2018 | from 6:00 pm
TUBORG brings their brand ambassador IDIOTS for the band's 13th anniversary. Ticket prices: 8,000 kyats and 30,000 kyats. | RSVP : 09 451010789. Thuwunnabhumi Event Park - Thuwana, ThinganGyun Tsp, Yangon
companies to invite their prospects, clients, suppliers and partners. The capacity is limited to 200 persons only. Rate: US$200/person - On registration only $1,800 for a table of 10. | RSVP : 01 523 700. Novotel Yangon Max - 459 Pyay Rd, Kamayut Tsp, Yangon
Sports
One Championship Quest For Gold
23rd February 2018 | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Myanmar national hero and ONE Middleweight World Champion, “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang clash on 23 February at Thuwanna Indoor Stadium in Yangon. For ticket information contact to www.myanmoretickets.com .
Valentines Special Valentine's Day | Love Bazaar & Sales
kyats and seats are limited. | RSVP : 09 771 239924.
LadyB Myanmar hosts at Roof Alchemy. Local and designer brands, cosmetic shops, floral shops and more will join. With parking space and a lovely ambience!
Valentine Day Celebrations
The Penthouse - 271-273 Bagayar Rd, Park side one building 8th floor, Sanchaung Tsp
1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
8:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Hard Rock is in the tune of love at Hard Rock Cafe. Make your reservations for Valentine’s Day now. | RSVP : 09 45826 1390.
Roof Alchemy - Yangon International Hotel Compound ,Dagon Tsp
Hard Rock Cafe Yangon - 192, Unit 406, 4th floor, Myanmar Plaza, Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, Yankin Tsp
Thuwunna Indoor Stadium - Way Za Yan Tar Rd, ThinganGyun Tsp, Yangon
As You Like It. Shakespeare for Valentines at Atlas
Activities
Professional Women's Network: Networking Evening
9:00 pm - 11:30 pm
13th February 2018 | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Join the PWN for a professional networking evening with free flow wine and soft drinks. | RSVP: https:// britishchambermyanmar.eventbank. com/event/7280/ Signature Fine Dining & the Garden Bistro - Corner of Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd & Kan Yeik Thar St, Bahan Tsp
Dining
French Cabaret Dinner-Show 13th February 2018 | 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Opening cocktail with canapés and champagne, exquisite 4-course French dinner prepared by Michelin Star Chef Jérôme Laurent, from ADEN Services, never-seen before cabaret performance by internationaly awarded French artists from French Wingz. This is the perfect occasion for
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Just the Two of Us 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Last month marked the launch of the TopBrand Consumers Award in Myanmar. TopBrand is already widely recognized as a leading independent arbiter of branding in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, an the Philippines. Now it plans to pinpoint Myanmar’s best brands and stamp them with the TopBrand logo, a reassurance to consumers and boost to companies. The research is done through Zen Research, which helps evaluate the market-leading brands based on rigorous local consumer surveys. For upping brand quality in the country, watch this space!
Spend the night for lovers feasting on world-class food and drinks plus live band entertainment at Café Sule for US$ 88 nett per couple. Toegether with a give away and a souvenir shot from a photo booth, there's no lovelier place to enjoy a romantic dinner on the 14 February. Sule Shangri-La, Yangon - 223 Sule Pagoda Rd, Kyauktada Tsp
The world’s first cycling theatre company, the HandleBards, pedalled to Yangon again and this time they will feature “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare. Invite your someone special for a one-of-akind performance and treat them with one of Atlas's special drinks of the night. Watch Rosalind and Orlando getting into the forest of Arden where they become engaged in a bizarre game of lust, love and mistaken identity. | RSVP : 09 767 419413. Atlas Rooftop Bar & Lounge - 84, Pan Hlaing Rd, Sanchaung Tsp
Happy Birthday Love 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm
It is the time of the year where love of food and love of the other half comes together. They offer a 3 course menu (choice) for 49,000
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Cinema Cinemas
CINEMA
Now Showing Maze Runner: The Death Cure Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller Thomas leads some escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions that the Gladers have been asking since they arrived in the maze. Casts: Rosa Salazar, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Dylan O'Brien & more. Kiss like Wine Romance, Drama, Culture With the beautiful heritage of Taunggyi and Shan State, this film shows Moe Thit Pin, the son of a rich family, fall in love with a village girl, La Yeik Aye who works for his family. When Moe Thit’s mother, Daw Ma Ma Shin, tries to restrict their love, things get complicated.
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Casts: Aung Ye Lin, Min Oo, Wutt Hmone Shwe Yi, Soe Myat Thuzar & more.
Coming Winchester: The House that Ghosts Built Biography, Fantasy, Horror After the sudden death of her family, firearms heiress Sarah Winchester becomes convinced that she's haunted by the souls of those killed by guns. Winchester then decides to build an enormous mansion that's designed to keep the evil spirits at bay. When skeptical psychiatrist Eric Price visits the estate to evaluate her state of mind, he soon discovers that her obsession may not be so far-fetched after all. Casts: Helen Mirren, Sarah Snook, Jason Clarke & more. Fifty Shades Freed Drama, Romance, Thriller Believing they have left behind shadowy figures from their past, newlyweds Christian and Ana fully embrace
an inextricable connection and shared life of luxury. But just as she steps into her role as Mrs. Grey and he relaxes into an unfamiliar stability, new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it even begins.
people and could not remember what he did after. The the gang follows him and he met with the beautiful doctor who is trying to fix him and the FBI cross-examine the case when he admit what he did to the police.
Casts: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Arielle Kebbel & more.
Casts: Khar Ra, Myint Myat Soe San, Alice Ong, Ja Seng Ing & more.
1921 Horror, Romance, Thriller Ayush, a pianist, moves to London from India to learn music. The mansion he stays in has a haunted past, and soon enough strange events start happening around him, threatening to engulf his entire life. That's when Rose enters, a ghost whisperer, hell-bent on saving Ayush from whatever evil lurks around him. Meanwhile, Rose and Ayush fall for each other. Casts: Zarine Khan, Karan Kundrra, Manjit Singh & more. Dimensions Action, Drama, Thriller A adult lost his memory at the moment and the worst is he keep killing MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Monster Hunt 2 Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Casts: Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Baihe Bai, Boran Jing & more.
his foes and secure the safety of his people.
The story continues with Wuba after he parts way with his human parents Tian and Lan for his own journey. Peace has not been restored in the monster world after the death of the evil monster king as a sinister lord has ascended and seized the throne. A heavy bounty is placed on Wuba dead or alive, forcing him to go into hiding again. He encounters an ill-famed gambler Tu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) who's deep in debt and seemingly up to no good. Together, they form a reluctant alliance in order to escape from their predicament.
Black Panther Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Casts: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o & more.
After the death of his father, T'Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T'Challa's mettle as king—and as Black Panther—gets tested when he's drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat
Credits: Rotten Tomatoes & IMDB
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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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Briefings
Heard the news? The champ is coming home and Mandalay is preparing for one of the year's biggest concerts. Up North
JamIt Returns Mandalay’s 2017 concert calendar saw more EDM and DJ events than rock, a surprising turn-around for the city that gave birth to Zaw Win Htut, Lynn Lynn and other famous rockers. But JamIt returns on 10 February with a full line-up of Yangon artists as well as Mandalay alt bands including Romantics and Skunx. Rumors are also abound that another underground show will be held in March as well as a show featuring one of the country’s best punk-rock bands. Stay tuned!
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Kachin State celebrated its new year with the Manaw Festival on January 10—not so much a festival, according to one resident, as a “gigantic sale of trinkets, clothing and things.” Other going-ons in the state capital Myitkyina include fancy new bar and grill Ledo, on the southern end of Myae Myint Street. Punters can enjoy TV and entertainment inside or perch on the large deck to enjoy food in the fresh air. “Anticipate a bit of sticker shock when you get the bill as prices are a bit higher than what is common in this small city and noticeably higher than you'd pay in Yangon,” one customer told Myanmore. Elephant in the Waterfall In mid-January, the Myanmar Timber Enterprise opened Mandalay’s first elephant camp near popular Dee Dote waterfall. While it is an affordable and easily accessible way to get up close with these gentle giants, many have grumbled that the experience seems more about capitalizing on the waterfalls’ popularity rather than contributing to the well-being of the elephants and their natural environment. One concerned local, a regular of Dee Dote, griped “We don’t want elephants sh*tting in our falls!”
Aung La Goes For Second Title ONE Middleweight World Champion Aung La N Sang and Brazilian Alexandre Machado will clash for the light heavyweight belt on February 23 at Thuwanna Indoor Stadium in Yangon. Kachin-born Aung La N Sang “The Burmese Python” will headline the show while Yangon-born Phoe Thaw is set to face Sor Sey on the main card. Aung La N Sang promised his fans that he “will do everything in [his] power to make the people of Myanmar proud,” according to a statement from ONE. Visit Myanmore.com to read about other trends and new openings, like a newly opened BKK Market in Yangon. MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Cover Story
MYANMORE DINING AND NIGHTLIFE AWARDS 2018 By Cliff Lonsdale The fifth annual MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards were held at the prestigious Meliá Hotel in Yangon on Saturday February 3. As the only awards ceremony in Myanmar celebrating the attainment of excellence in the food and beverage sector the event was packed to the rafters with everyone who is anyone in the industry. The audience were entertained by a demonstration of Latin dance from the Fusion Dance troop, musical performances from the Gitameit orchestra, the band Messenger and a special performance by Myanmar music star Raymond from IDIOTS. The night of celebration also featured a fabulous five-course meal served up by Chef of the Year runner up, Chef Franz Paul Wieser. The ingredients were provided by Premium Distribution and Marble Black, and this sumptuous feast was accompanied by Myanmar Premium beer, Magners Irish Cider, and free-flow wines provided by Marco’s Cellar. The awards were the most glamorous and exciting ever and marked a significant move toward Myanmore’s focus on facilitating an environment where the attainment of excellence is supported throughout the year, not just celebrated on an annual basis. Check out the March edition of Myanmore magazine to see the first contributions from our Ambassadors of Excellence and visit Myanmore.com to read the stories behind the winners.
Eleven awards were handed out at the fifth annual MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards.
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MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Cover Story
Special Award for Contribution to Excellence
Newcomer of the Year
Ye Htut Win
Babett Eatery and Bar
Ye Htut Win AKA Sharky needs no introduction—he is an institution in his own right in the Myanmar food and beverage industry. The audience rose to their feet to congratulate Sharky on winning this award. No stranger to the awards, Sharky told Myanmore, “After 20 years of hard work, it's me and my team that have earned it.”
Having recently entered the Myanmar dining and nightlife scene, Babett is already influencing the standards expected by customers and this can only be a good thing for the industry as a whole. Othmane Ammani told Myanmore, “We were not expecting that many people thanking us for all the work we have done. We are going to train our team and make sure the new generation will give the best service in our place.”
From his first shop on his mother’s veranda in 1996, Sharky has expanded his empire to include three restaurants in Yangon and Bagan, and farms all over the country. Sharky leads the way in ethical and sustainable farming methods and inspires the whole industry with his innovations, dedication, attention to detail and drive to achieve excellence in everything he does.
Café of the Year
Best Myanmar Premium bar
Café Salween
50th Street Bar and Grill
The owners of newly opened Café Salween were delighted with their victory, and told Myanmore, “We are only seven months on the market so we were not very sure we would win and are very suprised to win this.”
50th Street Bar and Grill is a legendary Yangon institution that needs no introduction. This year they will turn 21, and it seems fitting that they were awarded Best Myanmar Premium Bar. In an ever changing bar and restaurant scene, 50th Street is still one of the most consistent, reliable, and much loved venues in the city. Phillipe Eckert, the manager of 50th Street, told Myanmore, “We feel very honored from Pun + Projects and 50th Street. It's a pay off of the quality we try to give to our customers in terms of food, service and the whole drinks scene.”
Hidden away next door to the 7th Joint Bar down a non-descript back alley along the side of Urban Asia Center, Café Salween has quickly built up a large customer base of people that return every day to enjoy the laid back and relaxed atmosphere. An indoor Frangipani tree dominates the café and the minimalist space is also filled with plants and fresh flowers. They offer a wide choice of coffees based on origin and artisanal method of production and brewing. Beans are imported from coffee growing regions famous for their quality including the Shan hills.
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Babett are fast developing a reputation as a favorite after-work hangout due to their perfect location, good food, excellent drinks and great atmosphere. With an attractive laid-back dining room decorated with a collection of original works by local artists, and a well-designed and sophisticated outdoor pergola terrace, Babett is a comfortable and stylish place to relax and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.
50th Street is much more than just a bar, and the excellent and eclectic menu of high quality foods including hand-cut Australian sirloi steak tartar means it stands out against the offerings of other bars in Yangon.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Bar of the Year
Wine and Spirits Ambassador of the Year
Harry’s Bar
Jen Queen @ Union Bar and Grill
Many of the event goers headed down to Harry’s Bar at the end of the evening to celebrate their Bar of the Year award with them. As one of the most popular bars in Yangon, Harry’s was packed out as usual. Owner Ma Su told Myanmore, “I'm so excited and honored to receive this award. We will have some plans now we've won this award, but I can not say them now. I will announce them later.”
Myanmore is excited to welcome Jen Queen as the first ever Wine and Spirits Ambassador in Myanmar. As anyone who frequents Union Bar and Grill will attest, Jen has been a revelation to the industry and has brought a creative energy and approach to excellence that her customers can’t get enough of. She is also leading her bar team at 57 Below by example and supporting the development of their skills and knowledge through monthly master classes on spirits and weekly cocktail trainings. It is anticipated that many of them will go on to do great things in the future. Her protégé Lal Mon Puia is already making a name for himself at Gekko.
Harry’s consistently provides a top-class bar experience, though it is not a pretentious bar, just a busy, noisy, fun and energetic spot. It is one of the few places in town that you have to book your table in advance, and is somewhere to linger long into the evening with a large ice-cold glass of Harry’s Premium Lager.
Jen will be contributing regularly to Myanmore to share her expertise and knowledge with our audience. Jen told us, “It's such a fantastic honor. It makes me feel right at home and I'm really happy to take this back to my team.” She has been instrumental in the 57 Below “straws suck” campaign, which aims to eradicate single use plastic straws from the whole of Yangon and Myanmar. It is hoped that many other dining and nightlife venues across the country will follow their example in banning the straw in 2018.
Green Award Nourish Café The first ever winner of the MYANMORE Green award was Nourish café, for their strategic approach to prioritizing the sustainable and ethical use of resources. Owners Jojo Yang and Jerome Sterckh were made up with their award and Jojo told Myanmore, “The idea of veganism has not really caught on [here] so we feel so honored that they recognize that veganism is a really big route to environmental sustainability.” Nourish Cafe is also a space for the yoga and health community in Yangon to connect. They are the first ever Myanmore Green Ambassadors, and we will be working closely with them, along with other venues over the next 12 months to develop a collective interest in an environmentally friendly approach to business within the industry.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Cover Story
Entrepreneur of the Year Myanmar food Restaurant of the Year Isabella Sway Tin and Htet Myet Oo Khaing Khaing Kyaw The first award of the evening was presented to Khaing Khaing Kyaw. They received a high number of public nominations, and the independent judging panel were impressed with the exceptional quality and huge selection of their traditional Myanmar cuisines. Judges were particularly impressed with the service and impeccable hygiene and cleanliness of the restaurant visited. The owner Kyaw Shwe told Myanmore, “Without the customers, we cannot stand. We didn't expect to win but Khaing Khaing focuses on improving cleanliness, quality, price, which are fundamentals. I'm so happy words cannot describe.”
Platinum Sponsors
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Isabella Sway Tin and Htet Myet Oo were up against stiff competition in this prestigious award sponsored for the third time by KBZ Bank. Sisters Phyone Pong Yon and Ipkaw Pang who are behind the successful Root Kitchen, and Chef of the Year Chef Orng were the runners up. Isabella told Myanmore, “It's a testament to our team that because of their relentless effort and trials to always succeed in whatever they do we really owe it to all of our employees, our stadd and management team, and their support throughout the year and vision.” From its inception in 2014, the Rangoon Tea House has fast become an institution in Yangon. The RTH group has three restaurant concepts in five establishments and employs over 150 people, 70 percent of whom are female. The award sponsor KBZ bank takes a very active approach to this award, and are looking forward to supporting Isabella and Htet over the coming year. KBZ business development and support head Siva said, “The KBZ winners receive funding and also mentorship from the KBZ Management with the goal to a lifelong partnership.”
Gold Sponsors
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Chef of the Year
Restaurant of the Year
Chef Orng
SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge
The biggest cheer of the night went to Chef Orng. His journey to the stage was delayed due to the number of people who had leapt from their seats to congratulate the chef who, despite only opening his first restaurant less than a year ago, impressed the judges with his meticulous approach to food. Chef Orng was clearly blown away by his award and told Myanmore, “It's been a short time with a long hard journey. As a chef you can't ask for a better prize than this. This is for my team.”
The second award of the evening went to SEEDS. Against a competition of an incredibly high standard, SEEDS stood out as a restaurant that consistently provides a world-class dining experience. Owner Lucia Eppisser told Myanmore, “We appreciate this and are very happy of course. SEEDS will always be moving, we never stand still and we will provide some surprises for the people of Yangon.”
Chef Orng has great plans for 2018 and his downtown restaurant will serve its last meal on Valentine’s Day before moving to bigger premises up at 7 mile, near the 7-mile hotel. Although the larger restaurant will accommodate more diners, Chef Orng is determined to continue in his quest to serve high quality ‘Michelin standard’ food at affordable prices.
Silver Sponsors
The restaurant opened in Yangon in early 2017 with a simple concept— it's the celebration of a journey involving inspiration, creativity, sharing and most importantly love. Chef Felix demonstrates an extraordinary talent that compares with the best in the world as he pushes the boundaries of excellence within the Myanmar fine dining scene. His menu inspires and excites, demonstrating flair, creativity, innovation and incredible attention to detail.
Lifestyle partner
Venue Sponsor
Official telecom partner
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Cover Story
Artist Mayco Naing, Chatrium's assistant director of marketing communications Thinzar Myat Mon (middle) and fashion designer Mogok Pauk Pauk (right).
The team from Cycle and Carriage Myanmar.
MYANMORE founder Andreas Siggurdson and MFC founder Pyit Thiri Thaw.
Raymond Zha of Krislite and managing director of Enchant Daw Yamin.
Green Gallery owner Thazin Wah aka Bo, and owners of Root, sisters Phyone Pong Yon and Ipkaw Pang.
The Yangon Restaurant general manager Anthony Blardony and Chef Jack.
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MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
WINNERS AND RUNNERS UP Congratulations to all the award winners and runners up, and thanks for making this years event the best ever! Myanmore Magazine wishes you all a happy and successful 2018 and we look forward to supporting the continued growth of excellence in the industry together. Restaurant of the Year Winner SEEDS Restaurant and Lounge Runners up The Marina Indian Restaurant Ietsu Sushi & Soba
Runners up Jazz in Time Yangon Yangon Myanmar Food Restaurant of the Year Winner Khaing Khaing Kyaw
Bar of the Year
Runners up Francesco Moretti (Sarkies Bar @ The Strand) Le Planteur and Le Bistro @ Le Planteur)
Union Bar and Grill / 57 Below group
Newcomer of the Year
Winner Ye Htut Win (Sharky @ Sharky’s)
Winner Babett Eatery and Bar
Winner Harry’s Bar
Runners up Feel Danuphyu Daw Saw Yee Myanmar Restaurant
Runners up Sushi Tei Sofaer and co
Runners up ATLAS Rooftop Bar Eclipse Bar & Restaurant
Chef of the Year
Entrepreneur of the Year
Winner Chef Orng (ORNG Kitchen)
Winner Isabella Sway Tin and Htet Myet Oo (RTH Group) Phyone Pong Yon and Ipkaw Pang (Root Kitchen) Chef Orng (ORNG Kitchen)
Café of the Year Winner Café Salween Runners up Gloria Jeans Easy Café Best Myanmar Premium Bar Winner 50th Street Cafe, Bar and Restaurant
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Runners up Chef Franz Paul Wieser (The Market @ Hotel Melia, Yangon) Chef Sujit (The Marina Indian Restaurant)
Special Award for Contribution to Excellence
Green Award
Wine and Spirits Ambassador of the Year
Winner Nourish Café
Winner Jen Queen (Union Bar and Grill/57 Below)
Runners up Rose Garden Hotel, Chatrium Hotel, Inle Heritage, Sharky’s, Sprouts and
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Feature
DANCE OF THE LION As Myanmar’s Chinese community celebrates their new year this month, Pamela Tan meets a member of a lion dance troupe who was saved by the Chinese tradition. Photos by Leo Jackson.
L
ion dancing was an unlikely savior for Lwin Phyo Aung, a 25-year-old photographer who fell in with the wrong crowd nearly a decade ago.
This number, though, does not take into account Sino-Burmese, ethnic Chinese who have registered as Burman to avoid historic prejudice or Chinese who have crossed the border illegally in northern Myanmar.
He became addicted to prescription drugs and amphetamines, a habit that quickly began ruining his life until his “true friends” urged him to fight the addiction a year into it, he recalled, and take up sports instead.
With the presence of this large community, the term “pauk-phaw” (fraternal) was coined in the 1950s to promote the tenets of peaceful co-existence. Yet the following decade saw anti-China protests in the then capital Rangoon (Yangon) in reaction to Chinese support for insurgent group the Burmese Communist Party (BCP) in the north, perceived by some as the Cultural Revolution crossing borders.
A Yangon-born Sino-Burmese who was raised in Latha township, Lwin decided the agile movements of the lion dance were for him. It’s a two-man job, with the head of the lion controlling the mouth, ears and eyelids, and pouncing from side to side, incorporating the moves of Chinese martial arts.
Bi-lateral relations have long recovered and anyone with Chinese heritage in Myanmar is likely to celebrate the new year with pride. People from China’s southeastern provinces of Fujian and Guangdong typically dwell in the lower part of Myanmar while Chinese in the north are mainly from southwestern province Yunnan.
In the dance, the ‘lion’ springs to life, almost surreally animated, and, according to Chinese beliefs, wards off evil spirits at the start of the lunar year. The lion’s head is said to bring vitality and longevity, while the tail sweeps away bad fortune and negative aspects of the previous year. After years of rigorous training, Lwin now holds the lion’s head of Long De Chuan Ren Lion Dance and Kung Fu Association, one of the groups helping Myanmar’s sizeable Chinese community celebrate Chinese New Year this February—the Year of the Dog. Myanmar’s gigantic northern neighbor has influenced its economy and politics for centuries. Overseas Chinese comprise some 3 percent– over 1.6 million people—of the country’s 52.9 million population.
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Lwin Phyo Aung (front) and his team practice for hours every day.
“I only took up lion dancing so that I would become physically and mentally fit enough to stop using drugs.”
Lwin, who has a Chinese grandfather, will perform with his group at Yangon’s Junction City from 6-9pm on February 7-11. Through meditation and martial arts—the fundamentals of lion dancing—he has learned to control his mind and use the dance as a form of relaxation. “I only took up lion dancing so that I would become physically and mentally fit enough to stop using drugs,” he said, flashing a smile that exposed an absence of two front teeth lost when he fell off a poll during a performance. He continued regardless and later that MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
The dance wards off evil spirits, according to Chinese beliefs.
year won a prize for his dancing. “From the outside you would think that lion dancing is only about practicing, but it’s definitely more than that. There is the method, the training, the courage to pull off the stunts, and the feeling that you acquire from all of that. You can only generally describe it, but there’s so much more to it.”
reach near perfection in order to astonish the crowds this month. Visit Myanmore.com to watch video of Long De Chuan Ren Lion Dance and Kung Fu Association practice the lion dance.
Top Lucky New Year Foods The Chinese are fanatics for superstitions and indeed for puns. Many of their new year foods are a play on the words for luck, wealth, or health. Here are the top lucky foods to eat this Lunar New Year… Sarr ngan thee ngar paung (salt and vinegar fish) The Mandarin word for fish and surplus both sound like ‘yu,’ so in the hope of gaining a surplus in cash that year they devour dishes of fish—any will do, but steamed fish with salt and vinegar is one of the most popular as it’s among the easiest to make. Buy from: Golden Duck (No. 222-224, Strand Road)
This passion for lion dancing has sustained Lwin—even when he fell ill (he is unsure of what sickness exactly) and only managed to perform one stunt at his last performance, during the 2014 Chinese New Year. At the time his manager gave him a painkiller that caused an allergic reaction. “The doctor told me that I was lucky I did not get a stroke,” he said. “I was required to rest for a while but I will be performing again this year.” Lwin lamented a lack of state support for traditional Chinese dancing in Myanmar, saying that without it dancers cannot compete at an international level, no matter how hard they practice. And Lwin practices hard—hours every day—at the grounds of a high school in Chinatown, to ensure his routines MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Lunar New Year in Chinatown Come the new year, Chinatown, which runs from Lanmadaw Road to Shwedagon Å Road, will erupt in fireworks and celebrations, as revelers wave goodbye to the rooster’s year and welcome the dog. Long De Chuan Ren Lion Dance and Kung Fu Association will perform from 6-10pm on February 17-21. Visit Keng Hok Temple on 426/432 Strand Road from 4am-midnight on Thursday, February 15 to pray for good health and wealth for the new year and then 12.15am9pm on Friday, February 16.
Dumplings With a resemblance to ancient Chinese silver ingots, dumplings are believed to bring money. In fact, the more you eat, the better your cash flow the following year. Buy from: Food vendors on Lower 18th Street Sweet Rice Balls Due to the pronunciation and their round shape, sweet rice balls are associated with reunion and being together, a treat symbolizing family that the Chinese eat throughout the new year. Buy from: Food vendors on Lower 18th Street Glutinous Rice Cake This, in Mandarin, sounds like ‘climbing annually.’ Eating rice cakes, then, can mean anything from getting better grades to growing taller— anything seen as improving generally. They are made of sticky rice, sugar, chestnuts, Chinese dates, and lotus leaves. Buy from: Mhway (No. 100, Middle 17th Street)
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Feature
THE DATING GAME Modern-day dating is a minefield of faux pas and unsolicited photos. With Valentine’s Day upon us, Min Ye Kyaw talks with dating app users on the rules of the game. Photo by Rasmus Steijner.
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ne of the biggest associations with February is Valentine’s Day, a gooey occasion for starry-eyed lovers and tequila-time for lone wolves.
Approaching new people can be awkward—especially if your shyness reduces you to a fumbling buffoon, staring at the end of your shoe and nothing else.
What was inspired by St Valentine helping Christian couples wed in the 3rd Century despite a ban from the Roman emperor has now turned into a worldwide celebration that has been embraced by Myanmar.
These days, though, the rules of the dating game have changed. We live in the age of swipes and likes, where daters can flick through prospective partners like a catalog.
Flowers fly around Yangon, tables at high-end restaurants are booked out and hotels lure couples with special ‘staycation’ packages. There are even agencies and event planners offering to orchestrate the perfect romantic day. That’s all good and well, but how do you meet someone in the first place?
Arguably it began in 1995 with the advent of Match.com, an online dating website that soared to 26.6 million users by 2002. Fading were the days of spontaneous meet-ups at universities, bars, parties—things our old folks probably did. Now there are many dating apps, believe me. This has delivered seismic shifts to Myanmar’s dating scene.
Things are changing fast for Myanmar, but its people are mostly traditional and conservative. That has not stopped the younger generation from jumping at dating apps. As a young Myanmar person and a seasoned dater, I’d say the top 5 are: Tinder—everybody’s favorite hookup app, usually used by people aged between 18 and 30 in Myanmar. Swipe left to reject and right to…ah, you know how it works. Facebook—for many in Myanmar, this is basically the whole Internet, and a handy tool for maneuvering out of the friend zone. Badoo—founded in 2006 and with its headquarters in London, this dating app posing as a social network gained popularity in Myanmar in 2016. BeeTalk—allows you to send users near you a “whisper” message that
disappears afterward (as well as doodles and “cute stickers.”) This is also superb for dating. Viber—a free Japanese crossplatform instant messaging and voice over IP app. It’s the most commonly used app in Myanmar for dating and information-sending among locals. Focusing on the first app—Tinder— we asked three of its users in Yangon about modern-day dating etiquette. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
Where do you take a date? Do you turn your phone off? Should the guy pay? Do you hook-up on the first date? How has app dating changed the way people meet?
A view of downtown Yangon. (Leo Jackson) Using your phone on a date is a big no-no for most in Myanmar, a country where dating apps are gaining popularity.
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MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
A teacher from Germany who lives in Sanchaung Township.
Christian Betzmann, 27
1) Bar, beach, or café. It depends. 2) Yes. Turn them off. 3) No, the guy should not pay for the drinks! Both should have turns. 4) I have done, yes. 5) Dating apps are a simple way to meet but are often considered as ‘sexual meet-ups.’ That’s why a lot of people tend to think someone just wants sex instead of a nice conversation.
The Single’s Guide to Valentine’s Day I will be single for this Valentine’s Day. But that is OKAY. Okay? Actually, being single doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate on the day—it’s all about having the spirit to do it yourself. Here’s my plan. Feel free to use it or send me your ideas at minyekyaw@ myanmore.com. Contact me. Please. 9am—Enjoy a huge breakfast at your favorite restaurant or café. My favorite is the breakfast buffet at Winner Inn on Thanlwin Road from 7-10am daily. For a mere 5,000 kyats you can eat delicious noodles, mohinga, American-style options and more. 10am—Go to Training Ground gym. Even if you don’t do anything, the journey there qualifies as exercise. Congrats, good workout!
A student from Pazundaung Township. 1) Movie or coffee. 2) Of course, I don’t like a guy using his phone while dating. Attention is very important here, but it’s cool if the incoming call is important. 3) If it’s the first date, it should be separate bills. Girls should know that. But it’s okay if the guy says it’s his treat. 4) No. 5) I don’t know, it’s weird from the girl’s side, knowing the guy is seeing other girls. Something like being cheated on.
11am—Chill out with your best buddies (probably single ones) at home or in Myanmar Plaza’s arcade Alibaba, where you can become the zombie killer you were born to be. 1pm—Watch a film at the nearby Mingalar Cineplex (Ga Mone Pwint), take a stroll around nearby Inya Lake for lunch, or catch up on some shows (on my list are Riverdale, Supernatural, The Magicians, Arrow, The Flash etc.) Shun Lat Chan Thar, 20
3pm—Buy yourself chocolate and a special gift. Resist any feelings of self-pity and victimhood from past relationships. Acknowledge that the hour beckons when it is socially acceptable to drink. 5pm—Have a drink. Is 5pm too early? Just have one then. I like HPL Beer at Harry’s Bar. 7pm—Go to a singles’ party around town. It’s like Tinder without a phone.
A student from Bangkok who lives in Latha Township.
Ravipapat Kaewnumthip, 22
1) Mall or some café. 2) I use it sometimes but only if needed. 3) Both should share the bill. 4) Nope, I don’t hook up with people on Tinder. I use it just to make friends and hangout sometimes. 5) People can meet and know each other much easier in real life.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
9pm—Use your tipsy momentum to do something nice for somebody. Take another drink, get creative with it. 11pm—It’s time for karaoke. Go to Voice Industry KTV Entertainment in the Asia Business Center in Botahtaung Township—crystal clear sound systems for your fantastic singing. 12pm—You’re probably at 7th Joint by now, aren’t you? It’s also in the Asia Business Center complex. Time to make some outrageous travel plans. Like, right now. Wake up with a dry mouth somewhere near the Indian border.
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Q&A
PATRICIA PUN Marvels abound in the two-floored Trish Gallery; jade meticulously cut into fish scales fixed onto an ever-cool century-old teak bed; glass tables supported by dozens of small marble elephants from Mandalay; colonial-era coins blasted into dressers and tables. But the founder, Patricia Pun, does not limit the space to creative furniture renovations. Some of the greatest Myanmar artists have been showcased in the Yangon gallery since its opening in 2010, and Pun, an avid art collector, is keen to promote young artists, as her history attests. An India-born ethnic Chinese, Pun is the sister of tycoon Serge Pun and was raised in Myanmar before leaving for Hong Kong in the late 1960s and returning in the 1990s. She speaks with Lorcan Lovett about the Myanmar art scene and her plan to support the next wave of Myanmar artists. Photos by Rasmus Steijner.
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MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Q&A
Trish Gallery in Dagon Township is filled with innovative art and sculptures.
Q What is your background? My professional background is in Human Resources for international companies such as International Computers (Hong Kong) Ltd., Joseph E. Seagram & Sons (Far East) Ltd., and then Serge Pun & Associates (Myanmar) Limited until my retirement. Q Does your whole family take an interest in art or is it just you? My siblings are also private collectors but they have not ventured into it with the intention of doing it as a business. My children are also art oriented and collect art. Q What made you decide to open an art gallery? As my collections grew, I decided to expand it into a semi-business venture to support my continued interest in collecting art, especially Myanmar Art. Q Tell me about your collections. My collections consist of works of top artists plus works of young and upcoming artists who are not
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known in the art world, both locally and internationally. My preference is on realism and landscaping. Artist Nann Nann has created many of the beautiful pieces displayed in the gallery. Q Many galleries have opened in Yangon over recent years. What changes have you seen in the art scene in Myanmar over the last decade? And what makes your gallery unique? The art scene in Myanmar has changed dramatically in recent years. Artists are now able to express their talents and feelings onto canvas without major restrictions. And they’re able to show their works in foreign countries, which they were not able to do before. Q Has becoming involved in the business side of things affected your love for art? My love for art has not been affected by setting up Trish Gallery. In fact, it has provided me with a place to meet artists and educate collectors about Myanmar art.
Q What have been the biggest challenges you have faced when establishing an art gallery in Myanmar? My biggest challenge in establishing Trish Gallery has been to introduce Myanmar art to the world.
rainy season. All three are still alive and producing artwork. Q How healthy is the contemporary arts scene in Myanmar compared to more traditional art? Both are equally in demand and popular with art collectors in Myanmar.
Q Do you have a favorite painting? Yes. I purchased my favorite painting when I was 17 from the late U San Pe from the Shan states. It depicts a portrait of the face of an ethnic Padaung lady with very prominent features displaying her beauty.
Q What makes your gallery unique? Trish Gallery offers a very friendly and cozy gathering for both foreigners and local art lovers during their visit. I think that is an important element in sharing art.
Q Who are your top three Myanmar artists of all time—both past and present?
Q What is next for Trish Gallery?
Bogie, Tin Maung Oo and Kyee Myint Saw. Bogie is known for his modern abstract work, using his own secret medium to depict the unique difference of his artworks from other artists. Tin Maung Oo’s work is semi abstract with a touch of realism in his multi-color paintings of Buddhist temples and monasteries. And Kyee Myint Saw specializes in describing night scenes of hawker stalls, marketplaces and other scenes during
Trish Gallery will continue to support existing artists plus young and upcoming talent. We hope to promote and hold events that can bring artists and collectors together. Trish Gallery is on Min Kyaung Street in Dagon Township, Yangon, and opens from Tuesday-Sunday, 9am-5pm. Visit trishgallery.com.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Maximise Your Potential.
in Retail Banking today.
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Banker (CRB)
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Payments Professional (CCPP)
Enrol With Us Today Phone 09 257 999 601 / 602 / 603 Email info@mfc.com.mm
Address Myanmar Financial Center (MFC) Urban Asia Center, 2nd Floor (Corner of Mahabandoola Rd. and 48th St.) Botahtaung Township Yangon, Myanmar
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Branch Manager
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Customer Service
The programmes outlined herein have been offered by MFC in partnership with the Retail Banking Academy in London, UK.
Review
‘A WORLD OF COLONIAL GRANDEUR AND SUMPTUOUS CUISINE’ Operating from one of Yangon’s most impressive heritage buildings, Sofaer & Co serves up regional dishes with a modern twist. Words and photos by Edmond Sailland.
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really good meal out can feel—just a little bit—like a holiday. This is how I felt after an evening at Sofaer & Co. The continual multisensory pleasures over a couple of hours on a Tuesday evening transported me away from the humdrum of cosmopolitan life to a world of colonial grandeur and sumptuous regional cuisine. Sofaer & Co is blessed with its location, a slice of one of Yangon’s most impressive heritage buildings. Its opening a few months ago helped cement that little stretch of Pansodan Street as Yangon’s most promising eating and drinking neighborhood. The restaurant serves up dishes from the Mekong region—Myanmar, Laos, Thailand—with a modern twist in classic colonial surroundings. There’s dark wood, original 19th Century beams and tiles and lovingly sourced glass from the Nagar Glass Factory. The service is some of the best I’ve seen in Yangon and the cocktails are delicious. I started with the Shan potato crisp with spicy mutton and mayo (4,000 kyats). The potatoes were tasty, the mutton was incredibly rich, with levels of sweetness, spiciness, and
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delicious. The chicken was sweet and succulent and was wonderfully complimented by a tart yoghurt and cucumber sauce. Sofaer’s “signature roti” was a little greasy and became soggy as it was served underneath the chicken. A lighter, crispier bread on the side would’ve been preferable. The richness of Sofaer’s dishes is perhaps a thorn in the restaurant’s side. Even though I tried to opt for lighter options, I found the amount of oil, sugar, and salt began to drag by the end. Also, after trying four dishes, I became tired by the constant garnishes of Thai basil and deep fried shallot. meatiness. The mayonnaise tasted homemade and was well seasoned. I also tried the Burman Scotch egg (5,000 kyats)—a regional take on the British classic which was a little less meaty than I remembered, but still very palatable. After these indulgent starters, I tried to stick to lighter dishes to follow and ordered the morning glory with seared beef (6,000 kyat) and the turmeric crusted chicken (12,000 kyats). The beef in the morning glory was a little chewy, but overall
Overall, however, Sofaer & Co is one of my favorite dining options in Myanmar. I will certainly be back to try more of the well-cooked, wellpresented, and well-priced items on the menu. Address: 60 Pansodan Street, Lower Block, Kyauktada Township Phone: 09 44833 3499 Opening hours: 8am-11pm
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Review
‘EVERY DISH IS A WONDERFUL COMBINATION OF FLAVORS’ One visit is never enough to Mu Ai, a modest establishment serving some of the best Kachin fare in Yangon. Words and photos by Charles Duchemin.
M
u Ai Kachin food restaurant is hidden away on a small side street just off Hledan Road opposite the Hledan Center. The restaurant is simple, immaculately clean, pleasantly cool and surprisingly small. Each of the six tables is decorated with a bamboo vase of freshly cut flowers—it’s a nice touch, and one that alludes to the attention to detail and efforts this little restaurant puts into its offering. The menu is extensive with plenty to go at to justify several visits and is seriously cheap. At a loss where to start, I ask the waiter to choose for me. He chose well. In fact I believe had I closed my eyes and stabbed blindly at the pages of the menu I would have been just as pleased with my selection. The food is amazing; every dish is a wonderful combination of flavors, using fresh ingredients they are all excellent examples of this fabulous ethnic cuisine. But what really stands out above and beyond the flavor of the food is the presentation. Each dish is beautifully served using a range of traditional bamboo and banana leaf receptacles. This restaurant clearly prides itself on the way that the dishes are put together. The quince and chicken served in a thick bamboo bowl soup sets the scene, and is the perfect balance of sour and spicy. The steam that escapes from the banana leaf lid is pungently mouth watering, and the combination of garlic, green chili,
ginger, lemongrass, and mustard flowers, all combine to create a refreshingly filling palate tickler. The next dishes arrive swiftly. Prawns cooked in garlic and chili served with two eggplant varieties is tasty and satisfying. Spicy chicken served with typical Kachin vegetable rice (shat jam) and marbled tea eggs is a great combination of flavors and textures. The highlight of the meal though is left until last—pounded mutton served in a bamboo trough. Having been only cured with lime, chili, Vietnamese coriander, and garlic, the meat melts in the mouth. The dish is simple and rewarding with a powerful and invigorating spice. Traditional Kachin food is a combination of spicy and sour flavors that are cooked with minimal oil. The chef at Mu Ai is clearly talented and proud of his work. His presentation is classy with an attractive use of natural and traditional methods; his food is flavorful and fresh. I leave feeling pleasantly full and refreshed, not bloated or greasy, and determined to return to explore the menu further. Address: Mu Ai Kachin Food, Hledan Road – 1st Street, (Opposite Hledan Centre), Kamaryut Township Phone: 09974281883 Opening hours: 9am-9pm
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Street snacks / Ethnic recipe
PORK STICKS
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kewered pig offal dunked into a communal cauldron of bubbling murky broth may not be to everyone’s taste, but Yangon sure seems to love it. Wat thar dote htoe (or pork sticks) are one of Yangon's favorite street snacks.
U Win Swe took advantage of the city’s appetite for wat thar dote htoe (or pork sticks) in 1993 when he scrapped trishaw driving and selling vegetables from a cart to set up a stall on Sanchaung Street. “It’s a better business,” considered the 53-year-old grandfather. “You can get more profit compared to the other jobs.” Any profit is still modest, however, with broken sticks costing 50 kyats and unbroken sticks 100 kyats. Each one has a special porky treat at the end: intestines; cartilage; eye; liver; kidney; esophagus; tongue; heart; lung; fried blood; or just a plain old cut of meat.
U Win Swe buys it wholesale from a supplier in Sanchaung Market at 6am every day besides Sunday, his day off. Then he thoroughly cleans the offal at his house and brings it to his spot, unfolding a table leaned against a G & G convenience store.
His stall stays open until the meat runs out, usually about 8pm. Seldom are the little plastic seats empty—a hygienic stall is a busy stall—and customers also help themselves to slices of boiled egg, bowls of garlic and chili, and chili sauce poured from a jerry can.
Of course, it wasn’t always a G & G. The building opposite wasn’t always a teashop, either. Over the 25 years U Win Swe has sat there, cutting offal, he has seen the whole place transform.
So busy has the stall been lately that his wife of 28 years has come to help. They spend most of their days beside offal. “When I’m sick the smell irritates me,” U Win Swe admitted. “But when I’m not it’s fine.”
“Before the road was bad and narrow,” he said. “Now it is concreted over. There is so much more demand. I’m very happy about it.”
Why do people flock to his stall? “Kindness,” he smiled, sipping tea. “I have a lot of kindness for my customers and everyone.” Many foreigners are put off by wat thar dote htoe, but a popular stall serving quality offal can quickly change any preconceptions. U Win Swe will be open for a while to come, or “until my body gives up.” Like blindly grabbing a pork stick, he added, “health is unpredictable.” Address: Corner of U San Nyunt and Sanchaung Street, Sanchaung Township. Opening Hours: About 3pm-8pm.
Rainy season, a time spent indoors for most, is bad for business. But that changes come Tazaungdaing Festival, which marks the end of the monsoon.
CHICKEN WITH PICKLED TEA LEAVES CURRY
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rom the herby fare of the north to the fresh and spicy seafood along the western coastline, Myanmar has an endless choice of tasty ethnic cuisine. To try your hand at cooking these dishes yourself, Myanmore and the Myanmar Ethnic Restaurateurs Group (MERG) offer the following recipe from Padonmar Restaurant.
Sunflower Oil - 1 tablespoon Turmeric - a little Mushroom powder - 2 teaspoons -
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Preparation time: less than 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Ingredients Chicken - 32 g Pickled Tea Leaves (Organic) - 2 g Garlic - 2 g Onion paste - 2 g
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Slice the chicken into eight pieces and knead together with mushroom powder and turmeric for 10 minutes. Clean with water and knead the pickled tea leave to tender. Add pounded garlic, onion paste, pickled tea leaves and mushroom powder into the cooking oil and stir for five minutes. Add chicken and stir for five minutes. Add a cup of water and stir until the chicken becomes tender.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
New Openings
New Openings This Month
Blow Hookah Lounge & Grill • Shisha Smoking shisha is similar to any other smoking and can cause cancer. But those who wish to try now have a novelty option in this open air bar on the fourth floor of Myanmar Plaza. The design is Bladerunner-esque and the hookah is sourced from the Czech Republic. It also serves flavorful cuisine for curious nonsmokers. 4th Myanmar Plaza, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township 09 778 788778 5pm-2am
Four Seasons Steamboat Restaurant • Hot Pot Build your own “Szechuan Hot Pot” by choosing your type of broth—spicy, hot-spicy, fish soup with winter melon and mushroom. And then, choose your protein, with popular options including pork ,mutton, beef or fish fillet. 18 Waizayandar Road, in front of JD pool Company, Ward 6, South Okkalapa Township 09 45108 3777, 09 4411 69 866 11:30am-10:30pm
Find out more at sarmal.com.mm
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MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Harry’s Bar @ Junction Square • Bar Best Myanmar Premium bar at this year's MYANMORE Awards, Harry’s came to Yangon in 2016 and has now opened a second outlet in Junction Square. A place where the conversation flows as well as the drinks, Harry’s has a homely vibe and scrumptious food. Kyun Taw Road, Junction Square Compound, Kamayut Township 09 777 708395 11am-11pm
Toast & Melt • Cafe Delicious toasted sandwiches served along with vegetables, meats & cold cuts, cheese, condiments, sauces and condiments. Besides the sandwiches, they also have coffee and cold drinks. 27/B Bo Yar Nyunt Street, Dagon Township 09 441432723 8am-8pm
Bliss Beauty Bar • Beauty
Soccer House Cafe' • Cafe This cafe sits right across Thuwunna Stadium in the National Football Academy Complex. Either you can watch a game or after your game, you can stop by for a healthy bite and coffee to recharge. They open at 6am in the morning and serve Myanmar rice salads from Upper Myanmar along with mohinga, coconut noodles, Mandalay mote te and Myanmar traditional tea. Wai Za Yan Tar Road, corner of Lay Daunt Kan Road, Thingangyun Township 09 250 499 306 6am-11pm
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Bliss Beauty Bar is founded on the principle that beauty rituals should be good for you, both inside and out. The salon offers nail services, waxing and pampering treatments using non-toxic, cruelty-free quality products. Enjoy sparkly nails and bare beautiful skin, guilt-free! 36C Alan Pya Pagoda Road, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township 09 7610 14401 11am-9pm (Mon-Thurs) 10am-7pm (Fri-Sun)
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Travel
SET SET YO A village near Bagan is known for keeping alive a millenia-old hairstyle, but it is also facing serious problems. By Brittney Tun. Photos by Ye Myat Tun of YMT Productions.
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et Set Yo village, about an hour from Bagan, is the last place to witness the fading tradition of Myanmar’s yaung pae soo hairstyle. Dating back to the Pagan Empire, the unique topknot once adorned the heads of kings and “bawgas” (the rich) during celebrations and parades, but is now only kept by Set Set Yo’s children.
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My troupe and I loaded 36 bags of trinkets, sweets, and school supplies, then set out from Bagan to the village monastery. A local couple was already there offering a donation, and the Sayadaw had the youngsters seated behind them. “Don’t force the kids for a picture,” he cautioned. “Some people come and pressure them to.”
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Children in the village near Bagan still sport an ancient hairstyle.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Travel
Set Set Yo has suffered the affects of climate change over the last decade.
Producing crops such as pigeon pea, groundnut and sesame, the village is a recipient of the UNDP’s Adaptation Fund project, “Addressing Climate Change Risks on Water Resource and Food Security in the Dry Zone of Myanmar.” The four-year plan, which started in February 2015, is in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. Karma Rapten, a technical specialist for the UNDP, is involved with the
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project in Set Set Yo. “Myanmar’s Dry Zone is one of the few areas in this region where food security for survival is still a real issue,” he said. In the last 10 years, the village has suffered the effects of climate change. Shorter monsoon seasons with erratic rainfall patterns, high intensity rainfall with flash floods, and extreme temperatures producing drought spells have affected the village’s economy. In Set Set Yo, there are 125 dry land
farmers, but approximately 30 percent of total households in the village are landless. These households earn their income as seasonal agricultural workers. “UNDP provides droughttolerant species of livestock [pig, goat, and chicken] to landless households. So far, 18 households in Set Set Yo village have received support through the project,” said Karma.
pest and disease control. “The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department has supported the farmers in providing free vaccination and technical support for the management of livestock,” added Karma. Farming, he says, is the primary source of livelihood for the farmers and “tourism is in no way a significant feature of Set Set Yo village.”
Additionally, farmers and government staff are receiving training on better animal husbandry practices and
After measuring us up for about 30 minutes, the kids retreated to the back of the monastery and poked around MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
it themselves—the older children washing, trimming, and shaving the hairlines of the younger children with razors. As each child grows, they adapt their yaung pae soo to reflect their age and gender, eventually shaving it off upon taking customary monastic vows, then growing a full head of hair. Khaing Tha Zin Myo, a girl of about nine, laced her fingers in mine, tugged me, and said, “Comes.” “Thaw dare,” I cheered. “Ni ma Inglake zagar tut dare!” She beamed and cast her pretty eyes downward. Everyone followed in a grand procession, stopping occasionally to pick flowers for our hair. We circled the village when, like lightning, they broke for a dry creek bed behind a line of trees and brush. My daughter learned how to play leapfrog and hopped her way to the finish line drawn in the sandy bottom.
The little ones huddled around us closely, the sweet, natural fragrance of their locks wafting through the breeze. We went again to the monastery where they opened their presents. I marveled as they skipped the chocolates and candies and went straight for little whistles we threw in. The sound was deafening, and my husband belly-laughed for the first time in ages. A few stopped to help my daughter blow hers. The awareness for the little ones around them is instinctual. Soon, they will grow their hair out and become farmers, but today they are free to roam and play leapfrog. I’ll never forget the sound of dozens of children blowing little plastic whistles in the Myanmar countryside. It was, perhaps, the purest moment of my life.
at a homemade paper boat floating in a giant mud puddle. The older boys leaned against a tree, crossing their lanky arms and eying us warily. The younger kids gathered for a game of hpan khoun, a type of marbles game. I was watching the game at a distance beside a group of girls who were coddling my three-year-old. I envied their long, glossy eyelashes. From the corner of my eye, I saw a youngster helping another child of four or five to re-tie his topknot. They do MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Farming is the primary source of livelihood for the villagers.
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Travel
MEDICINE IN THE MOUNTAINS High up in the Naga Hills, James Fable receives a frosty reception and learns of an initiative to provide local communities with healthcare. Photos by Médecins Sans Frontières.
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erched over 1,000 meters up in the Naga Hills of northern Sagaing State, Lahe is as beautiful as it is remote. The only route up is from Hkamti via a rugged mountain road that takes five hours by jeep, and the area has poor Internet and phone connection. Despite these logistical challenges, international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) set up base here 18 months ago and have been working with local Naga communities to improve healthcare across the mountainous, self-administered region. Lahe sits on a picturesque mountainside and boasts sweeping views of the leafy valley below. Misty mornings force everyone to wrap up
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well; most locals wear coats, a few don distinctive red and black Naga blankets interwoven with stylistic animal designs. Some of the older women have chin tattoos of four evenly spaced vertical lines going down from the bottom lip, and many wear colourful beaded necklaces. As the sun rises, the morning gloom disperses and dusty trails weaving elegantly round the mountains become visible. They lead to remote Naga villages, where MSF does most of its work. One of these villages is San Htun, which I had been encouraged to visit. When I reached the brow of the hill leading there, thatched roofs reflecting the morning rays came into
view. Bamboo huts lay sprawled over a dusty hillside sparsely scattered with skeletal tree trunks and verdant treetops. The women had chubbier faces and wider mouths than Bamar women, and the girls sported stylish ginger streaks in their black hair. Every child ran away as I passed, and every baby cried. This I was used to in rural Myanmar. What I wasn’t used to were the unwelcoming stares and parents hiding their children from me. It was eerie, and I felt the most isolated I have during my entire travels. One guy in a lime longyi and grey jacket eventually began talking to me, but that was only once I had reached the far end of the village. Photos were a definite no.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
MSF visit residents of a remote village in Nagaland.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Travel
As I headed back down the hill, a guy offered to sell me a traditional coneshaped hat for 50,000 kyats, but to my estimates it was worth ten times less. While we talked, a procession of 20-30 weeping women wrapped in blankets strode past in single file, imitating the wails of their elderly leader. Many were genuinely crying and those who weren’t held blankets over their eyes to make it look as though they were. I had managed to hitch a lift to San Htun with an acquaintance; but to return to Lahe I’d have to arrange a motorbike taxi. I got talking to a villager in a navy sports jacket who was smoking an enormous bamboo bong. He invited me into his place, where bull skulls hung on the walls. A fireplace sat on a raised bamboo platform, the ceiling had been blackened by smoke, and dust particles spiralled through shafts of light penetrating the thatched walls.
The MSF team struggles to deliver medical aid near Lahe.
Offering me yay nway jan, he called his friend over and they priced the 45-minute ride to Lahe at a steep 30,000 kyats, to which I offered half. They then discussed in Burmese (which they knew I partly understood) how they could bleed my wallet. With no other means of returning, we agreed on 20,000 kyats, still double the fare, I later learned. My experience in San Htun was similar to Michael’s, the only other tourist in Lahe. He had been introduced to the community by Lahe monastery’s sayardaw, who lived in the village. But unless Michael paid them, no one would talk to him. Initially I suspected the hostile reception was due to the village’s isolated location, but traditionally every Naga village identifies as an independent republic, and so outside involvement has historically been met with resistance. The MSF team of national and international staff, however, have been more readily accepted by the communities.
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The team has facec challenges including the transport of generators, drugs, fridges and other materials.
Bamboo huts lay sprawled over a dusty hillside sparsely scattered with skeletal tree trunks and verdant treetops.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
“It’s been very nice to see how the Naga population is welcoming us and supporting us through their acceptance,” Dr Andrea Incerti, the medical coordinator of MSF Swizz, told me. “They see us as somebody that can help.” The team has faced challenges including the transport of generators, drugs, fridges and other materials, during the six months they’ve been operating, he said, but has been helped by the Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS) and people in the region. They focus on those lacking access to health care or in emergency situations and have been in Myanmar since 1992, with current projects in
Nagaland, Tanintharyi Region, Shan State, Kachin State and Yangon. Of all these locations, Lahe may be the least accessible. The Hkamti-Lahe road has improved, but “there are still so many isolated villages to which there are no roads,” said Dr Incerti. “We may have to walk for a couple of days to reach a completely isolated population, where there is no communication means.” Each Naga village has its own dialect, but despite these challenges, Dr Incerti is pleased with MSF’s progress, their main goals being to create a sustainable regional healthcare system that the MoHS can take over and to boost health awareness among the locals.
Local boys take a break from football. (James Fable)
“We may have to walk for a couple of days to reach a completely isolated population, where there is no communication means.”
MSF doctors talk with residents of a village in Nagaland.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Travel
Pan Pacific Yangon is located in the heart of downtown.
ESCAPING UPWARDS Rising above its surroundings, Pan Pacific Yangon offers an impressive level of luxury in the city, as Duncan Hines found on a recent stay. Photos supplied by Pan Pacific.
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imbs draped over a lounger, a languid wave of contentment swept over my newly kneaded body. Filling the air was Van Morrison’s Warm Love and filling the skyline was the 19th Century Holy Trinity Cathedral and, shrunk in the distance, Shwedagon Pagoda. I began marveling at these structures, like I was seeing them for the first time, despite living in Yangon for nearly a year. Perhaps the infinity pool helped. The setting was Pan Pacific Yangon, a five-star hotel opened in November and widely expected to set a new standard of luxury in Myanmar’s commercial hub. In its shadow are
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Junction City Shopping Centre and the throbbing downtown streets, but guests will feel far removed from that clamor when sipping cocktails in the hotel’s bar or lounging by the pool. Handily, though, a new bridge links the shopping mall to the historic Bogyoke Aung San Market for those who wish to tackle the crowds and buy some Myanmar gifts. Unlike, say, Singapore, Yangon is relatively low on outstanding hotels with first-class amenities. On the other hand, the city boasts an enviable trove of colonial-era buildings and a stunning heritage. Pan Pacific ticks the first-class box and capitalizes on
headed to our deluxe king room. The sun had already set, but in the morning the motorized shades would rise to reveal a view of the historic Yangon General Hospital.
the heritage by fitting an abundance of floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping views of the city. A Cantonese Feast We began a recent ‘staycation’ at Pan Pacific with a coffee at Pacific Marketplace on the ground floor before heading to the lobby lounge, an airy, beige space with clay sculptures inspired by traditional earthenware found in Myanmar. National artists and craftsmen created 60 percent of the art here, including some wonderful murals. Greeted with wet towels and glowing green juice, we
Fumbling through the ritual of flicking light switches, a wide desk was illuminated, along with its useful tray of sticker notes, pencils, scissors and other stationery. The large sit-down shower was separated from the toilet with frosted glass, and it was possible to see the huge TV from the bath—this scores highly on staycation points. Before dinner was a good opportunity
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Saan restaurant has a wide choice in its breakfast buffet.
to sample the fancy creams of spirulina and Irish moss among other ingredients. On the sixth floor and overlooking the Yangon River is Cantonese restaurant Hai Tien Lo, where we enjoyed a feast of dumplings, honeyed-chicken, and a delicious chilled mango cream with pomelo and sago. Also served were wok fried shelled prawn curry and signature rice with egg yolk and crispy anchovies. Dumplings were about US$6 and the larger dishes ranged from $15-25. Shelves in the restaurant are filled with tokens of Chinese culture, such as scholarly works, birdcages and hand fans. A fun addition is the choice of tea leaves marked out to help determine your choice of tipple. Happily satiated, we strode past a pair of regal Myanmar-style carved chairs
and sat on the balcony of The Teak Bar, where from a rather regally priced menu we chose some digestifs and enjoyed the cool night breeze. Myanmar Massage The buffet breakfast at Saan Restaurant is everything you would expect from such an esteemed chain, with Western, Myanmar and regional choices available. Plus it comes included with the staycation package. The fresh juice in little vases and jars of yoghurt were particularly good, although the fridge shelf designated to cheese had a forlorn vibe, the choices being either Babybel or packaged cubes of Gouda. The next refreshments came an hour later in the form of apple water at St Gregory spa and wellness center, moments before we had an hour-long Myanmar massage. Gazing giddily at
A deluxe room at Pan Pacific Yangon.
a bowl of stones and white frangipani flowers, an elbow dug meticulously into the knots in my back. Myanmar massage involves more palm and thumb work than Thai massage, which has more ‘cracking.’ Pressure was applied circularly to the whole of my body, the stress melted away, and I was left feeling pleasantly sleepy. This, perhaps, was the highlight of the stay. Staff were always keen to help. This was proved quite dramatically when my partner mistook the emergency red button in the Finnish sauna for an activation press. Within seconds, my partner recalled, a female staff member was there, ready to save the day. Instead she turned on the sauna for the sheepish bather.
also include private showers with small benches to place your kit. I slightly regretted not visiting the pool in the evening, underneath the stars, but the setting, with loungers in the shallows and a vertical garden wall, was impressive in the morning sun. Secluded on the other part of the floor is an outdoor garden that catches most of the sunshine. And in the vicinity is a gym with state-of-theart equipment, pads and a punch bag. Putting some vertical distance between myself and the city streets was a welcome break. From above things look, and usually are, better, and so Pan Pacific offers the perfect nearby escape.
There’s also a sauna in the men’s, as well as a steam room and Jacuzzi in each changing room. Gold-colored taps and sinks line the rooms, which
From 6pm to 10:30pm on February 14-18, couples will be able to enjoy the “Champagne Valentine” package at the infinity poolside pavilion bar for US$100 net. It will be inclusive of one bottle of champagne, Valentines Canapés, and door gift and flowers for the lady. A weekend staycation in a deluxe room cost $129 net inclusive of breakfast for two persons. Also, from 6-10:30pm on February 14-18, couples will be able to enjoy the “Champagne Valentine” package at the infinity poolside pavilion bar for $100 net. It will be inclusive of one bottle of champagne, Valentine’s canapés, and a door gift and flowers for the lady.
The infinity pool at the hotel offers a view of the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Shwedagon Pagoda.
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The Arts
THE ARMLESS ARTIST A gifted painter born with a rare birth defect sells his art on Yangon’s streets. Words by Myat Theingi Khine and Lorcan Lovett. Photo by Rasmus Steijner.
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at between two parked cars on dusty black tarpaulin, Ko Tint delicately lifts a paintbrush with his toes and dabs it on wet felt cloth. He is surrounded by about 30 detailed paintings of bucolic scenes; banyan trees, rivers, mountains. Some are cast in the shadow of a nat shrine tree; its falling leaves and twigs decorate others. “I have a passion for painting,” says the 53-year-old. “And it is suitable for me because there are not many other things I can do.” Ko Tint was born with phocomelia, a rare birth defect that caused the bones in his arms to be shortened. Brought up in a church-based orphanage in Shan State capital Taunggyi, he learned to use his feet for hands from a young age. Pausing between questions to work on a monochrome painting, the stoic
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artist recalls a meeting between the then Philippine ambassador to Myanmar and himself in Taunggyi, which led to the ambassador sending Ko Tint to Yangon to enroll on painting classes in 1992. A crowd has gathered to watch as he slips a palette knife between his toes; a red cap and umbrella stand helping to shade him from the scorching sun. His “easiest” works take him about 2030 minutes to finish, he explains, and more complicated paintings take 45 minutes. He sells them for only 1,000 kyats each, although his watercolors, which take the whole day to complete, are sold in local galleries for 60,00080,000 kyats. “On a bad day, I can merely sell five or six paintings, sometimes just three or four. On a really good day I make 50,000-60,000 kyats, but that’s only in the summer. I cannot sell during the rainy season.”
“Most of the places are far and difficult for me to go home. Because of that, I have to build a tent and sleep at the night bazaar.”
Monsoon season is spent mostly painting at his home in Mingaladon Township, building up a bank of works to sell when the rain clears. He slings his work and brushes around his shoulders or sometimes his son helps carry them to spots around Yangon like 42 Street or Pansodan.
Ko Tint, a father of three, was regularly joined by his wife until worsening diabetes limited her travel. Of the six-brush set, he selects the smallest and puts the finishing touches onto his latest painting.
“I did not sell much at either of those places so I tried to find another place and finally got here. I sell quite a good amount at this place.” Getting to this spot next to Maha Bandula Street near Sule Pagoda takes three hours each way, including a motorbike taxi to the number 37 bus stop. When money is running low, he sells at night bazaars at Theketa, Kyaik Khauk in Thanlyin, and Botahtaung. But the rental prices are often too high, so he opens shop at “random places” on the market outskirts.
It is a beautiful landscape enhanced by depth and perspective, but Ko Tint plays down the quality. “At home, I practice painting with watercolors. When I paint the paintings of fruits and flowers with watercolor, I put those paintings in frames. But there are still so many things I need to learn. I am not very skilled at painting yet.” Amazed, the onlookers would disagree.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Advertorial
THE TREE LINED PATH By Su Su Maung, M.A., LMFT, DCC, EAS-C.
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ounseling for mental health and psychosocial issues is a new practice in Myanmar; a new way of seeking help for the people. Counseling invokes common associations of advice, problem-solving, fixing, curing, behavioral change, and mind-reading. But aside from from problem-solving and behavioral change, the other associations with counseling do not hold true. Counselors do not give advice, fix or cure problems. They certainly do not read minds. Counselors are, however, well trained to recognize and understand certain human behaviors and their patterns, and facilitate the person with resolving any issues through discussions and other reflective and experiential techniques.
- The presence of an external other supports the reflective thinking. The external other can mirror the thoughts and ideas so they can be seen more clearly and concretely.
One of the techniques I use in my work and train my counselors to use is the process of “thinking-with.” What is “thinking-with?” There are many theoretical concepts that inform this approach, and with an innovative touch, I’ve brought it out of its original context to apply in other contexts. The original concept that the approach was borrowed from is the psychoanalytic concepts from Wilfred Bion’s book “Theory of Thinking.”
These processes are what I call the parallel processes of “thinking-with” that a counselor with the role of ‘thinking facilitator’ can support the client with. These may be fancy terms for a straightforward ‘thinking
- The external other can also allow for a medium, or a metaphoric drawing board, to draw connections between disjointed or isolated thoughts that appear to exist in silos. - This external other can provide the “alpha functions” as described by Bion, facilitating the digestion and processing of information and thoughts, so that they can be transformed into more sensible, integrated and usable forms for the person.
buddy.’ However, one who has both the specialized knowledge of human behavior, and technical skills to facilitate thinking and feeling processes, is better equipped to contain and direct the flow of thinking so that it can move more effectively toward a desired direction. Emotions can overwhelm us when we are stressed, and it may be difficult to think clearly. “Thinking-with” is part of the scaffolding assistance provided in counseling, so that effective thinking becomes possible again. Ultimately, as counselors, we empower the people we help. We also believe in the innate healing ability and strengths that humans have. Our role as counselors is to draw out and facilitate the strengths the person already has, so he or she can increase their capacity to solve challenges that life throws at us all. No man is an island, and certainly, when one is stressed and not at optimal, one needs some support to get back on track. Having a partner
who can provide the supportive scaffolding makes the path easier to walk, like trees that line a path to provide shelter for travelers. In this new year, we at Citta Consultancy wish that the road less taken be the one that is a treelined path for you. If you will like to learn more about counseling and other resources we provide for the community, you can contact us at admin@cittaconsultancy.com.
About Citta Consultancy Citta Consultancy is a 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. Visit us at http:// www.cittaconsultancy.com.
For the sake of brevity, I will not indulge in exploring the depths of the concept of “thinking” as described in Bion’s theory. The applications I’ve adapted Bion’s concepts to are as such: - Thinking happens in the presence of another. This other can be internal or external, but it does require a certain “looking in” and “looking out,” or to put it simply, a reflective process. - When we are immersed in or limited by our own experiences and perspectives, it can be difficult to engage in reflective or “looking in and looking out” thinking.
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Apps
TECH TALK
Our roundup of some of the best tech to enhance your life in Myanmar.
Daily Mart
Plans for airport take off
Who needs to go grocery shopping when you can just get it done online? With Daily Mart you will be able to purchase your daily goods anytime, anywhere.
Construction plans for a major new airport in Myanmar are expected to be finalized this month, according to the country’s department of civil aviation. Hanthawaddy International in Bago Region about 50 miles outside Yangon is to open by 2020 and will have an initial capacity of 12 million passengers a year, a number that is eventually projected to rise to 30 million.
Available on Google Play and Apple Store Free Yangon Door2Door Avoid Yangon’s relentless traffic and get food delivered to your doorstep for the same amount of cash you’d use for traveling to the restaurant. Available on Google Play and Apple Store Free
The £1.1billion project will become the most modern and main international gateway for Myanmar, with all international airlines reportedly to be based there instead of Yangon International Airport upon its completion. Google invests in Southeast Asia
Sarmal Prioritize convenience by downloading this detailed food directory. You are a couple of touches away from finding the best restaurants, cafes, and bars! Wherever you are in Myanmar, Sarmal lists the best dining places based on your requirements and other user reviews. Available on Google Play and Apple Store Free
Google invested in Indonesia’s leading hail-riding service Go-Jek, news site Tech Crunch confirmed at the end of January. The investment also involved China’s Meituar Dianping and Singaporean sovereign fund Temasek and was worth US$1.2 billion altogether. It marks the first investment from the US tech giant in Indonesia since its deal in India in December 2017. Whether it will eventually set its sights on Myanmar, where Uber and Grab are rapidly expanding, only time will tell.
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MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
Tickets
MYANMORE TICKETS www.myanmoretickets.com
Python” Aung La N Sang, will attempt to ignite the entire nation once again by taking on Brazilian powerhouse Alexandre Machado for the vacant ONE Light Heavyweight World Title. So don’t miss this chance to experience ONE’s signature brand of non-stop action for yourself.
tion, please call 01544500 ext: 6221 or email to fb.chry@chatrium.com Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon - 40, Natmauk Rd, Tamwe Tsp, Yangon.
Thuwunna Indoor Stadium - Way Za Yan Tar Rd, Thingankyun Tsp, Yangon.
Valentine’s Pop up 14th February
Rose Garden Hotel - No.(171), Upper Pansoedan Rd, Yangon.
Friday Night Wine Down
Romantic Valentine @ Novotel
9th February
14th February
TGIF! “WINE DOWN” at Sky Bistro. Enjoy FREE FLOW delicious wine, cheese, cold cuts + sausage, chemical-free veggies & fruits and more, with the beautiful night view of Yangon City from the 20th floor of Sakura Tower.
The month of February is declared as the Month of Romance. There can never be too much love in the world and it should be celebrated. Let’s have a chance to get romantic over dinner @ The Square Restaurant with Valentine Special Seafood and live Food station while a beautiful musical serenading. They will be offering the roses and chocolate for every lady and let’s join in couple game. It's never too early to book your seat and secure some lovey dovey time over intimate eats. Book your seat now.
Sky Bistro - 20th Floor, Sakura Tower 339 Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon.
The Square - 5th floor of Novotel Yangon Max, 459, Pyay Rd, Kamaryut Tsp, Yangon.
Valentine’s Day Special @ Chatrium 14th February
Enjoy Chatrium classic Valentine’s specials to prove to your loved one how much you really care and be in with a chance to win in their very lucky draw. Valentine’s Set Dinner – USD 120 per couple. Be in with the chance to win an exciting lucky draw prize from Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon. For further information and reserva-
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Celebrate Valentine's day @ SEEDS Restaurant 6 Course Tapas Menu based on a aphrodisiac ingredients with welcome cocktail "Rose Kiss". Lucky draw : Win a beautiful Love Seat provided by Classic Home Wicker and take amazing Love Pics at the Love Photo booth, Love Song included.
All Aboard the Love Boat 2 Hours Luxury Canapes with welcome Glass of Prosecco for 45,000 per person. 2 Hours Luxury Canapes with welcome Glass of Prosecco plus Bottle of Prosecco for 135,000 per couple. Live Music with be there with them. Botatung Jetty – The Irrawaddy Princess, Near Botahtaung Pagoda, Seikkan Tsp, Yangon.
Seeds Restaurant - 63 (A), U Tun Nyein St, Mayangone Tsp, Yangon
ONE: Quest for Gold 23rd February
Thunder returns to the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, with ONE: Quest for Gold on 23 February. In the main event, Myanmar national hero and ONE Middleweight World Champion, “The Burmese
Season of Love @ Rose Garden 14th February
Cynical Cupid says: chocolate melts and flowers die, so why not spend those hard earned dollars on something that will last forever this Valentine’s Day like sweet memories from Rose Garden Hotel. Celebrate love with a 5 course dinner for two with welcome drink, free flow of wine, beer and soft drinks, a box of chocolates on the table and one dozen red roses for only US 90.00 net per couple. MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
MYANMORE CARD Trending Deals Mr. Jones' Orphanage
- 10% discount off on minimum of 10,000Ks,not valid with any other promotion. Valid Monday to Thursday. 3rd floor, Myanmar Plaza, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Tsp 09 979 887911
50th Street Cafe, Bar & Restaurant
- 10% off on food and beverage. Not valid with other promotions and brunch. Valid - Sunday to Thursday. 9/13 50th Street, Botataung Tsp 01 397 060
Divino Italian Restaurant
- 10% off daily lunch and dinner. Max 4 person per card. Not valid for ser menu, business lunch and promotions. Valid everyday. 61 University Avenue Road, Kamayut Tsp 01 5259355
Easy Cafe & Restaurant
- 10% off (minimum billing of 8000 Ks & above for a max of 4 pax). Not valid on retail products. Valid everyday. #1 30A Bo Yar Nyunt Street, Dagon Tsp 09 250 141 098
Bayview - The beach resort
- 10% off on published website rates, not combinable with other promotions, 1 room per card. Valid everyday. 205 Hgnet Pyaw Khaung Kwin Lin Thar, Ngapali
01 504 471
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018
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Promotions | Business Listing
Real Estate
AVA Executive Offices Co.,Ltd. Suites 213-217, Pearl Condo Building C, 2nd Floor, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township +951 860-4660~5 sales@ava-offices.com www.ava-offices.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, Room 703, New University Avenue Road, Bahan Township 01 8605255-56, 09 402617094 www.ypf.com.mm www.facebook.com/yourpropertyfinder
Pun Hlaing Leasing Department Pun Hlaing Estate Avenue, Hlaing Tharyar Township 01 3687 777, 3684 246
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punhlaingleasing@yomastrategic. com www.punhlaingestate.com
Star City Leasing Department Building A1, Star City, Kyaik Khauk Pagoda Road, Thanlyin Township leasing@yomastrategic.com www.starcityyangon.com Wellbeing
Pun Hlaing Siloam Hospital
Activities
Flexible Pass Flexible Pass is a fitness pass that you can use from our Android mobile application or Flexible Pass website to see the locations, prices and class schedules of our partner gyms/fitness centers in Yangon and access them with suitable prices. Unit 11 E, 178 Upper Pansodan Road, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Tsp 09 966 854000 www.flexiblepass.com
Pun Hlaing Golf Estate Avenue, Hlaing Thayar Township +95 1 3684 323, 3684 325, 3684 336, +95 9 450692206 phsh@phsh.com.mm punhlaingsiloamhospitals.com
MYANMORE magazine #16 February 2018