Myanmore Magazine - No.30/ April 2019

No. 30 /April 2019 It’s free!

magazine

DAW POE PHYU

GROWING SKILLS AND PRECIOUS TREES

No.30 / April 2019

magazine Managing Director Andreas Sigurdsson Junior Editor Min Ye Kyaw Photography Mark Fernando Staff Writer Gam Seng Maw Nay Thiha Contributors Alec Wilmot Edwin Briels Illustration Ben Hopkins Art & Production Kyaw Kyaw Tun Phyo Thu Kyaw

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Publisher MYANMORE Magazine Pyit Thiri Thaw Lychee Ventures (Myanmar) Limited Permit No. 01588 Printer For All Printing House 01267

What’s On 6 Cinema 8

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

The Teashop 10 Cover Story Polishing the Ruby Land 14 Feature Chasing the dreams 12 Thingyan survival guide 18 What’s in a watch 24 Travel Perfect places to visit in Myanmar during the green season 22 Eat & Drink Northlander 26 NooDi 27 New openings 28

22 Rangoon Rhythm 30

Tech Talk 32

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 application Sarmal (for finding restaurant & bars in Myanmar). The mission is to provide great content and experiences for residents in Myanmar.

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

Bass Kingdom Music Festival 7th April Another electronic dance music festival organized by Myanmar Beer as Pre Thingyan Festival on 7th April. This time, Amsterdam’s favorite Barong Family will be on stage to lead the crowd with one and only Yellow Claw.

Ticket price is 30,000 Kyats and call 09 430 201 45 for ticket.

The One Entertainment Park - Paw San Hmwe Street, Thingagyun Township, Yangon | 4pm - 12am

SAISAI BIRTHDAY SHOW 19 10th April The 15th annual Birthday Show of famous Hip Hop singer Sai Sai Kham Leng. Ticket price is 12000 Kyats for GA. For ticket please contact to 01 252903.

performance: In-house DJ, dancers, music band, Exclusive party F&B package: grab a chance to win the lucky draw. Collect tickets upon bill purchased at the bar: get 2 tickets with bill from 50.000 kyats, 5 tickets with bill from 100.000 kyats, 10 tickets with bill from 150.000 kyats, 20 tickets with bill from 200.000 kyats. And don’t forget to return the Wet & Wild Festival to join the lucky draw.

Eclipse Bar & Restaurant - 4th Floor, Myanmar Plaza, 192 Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon | 7pm - 12am

Sunday Sunset Party - Special version for pre Waterfestival 7th April Enjoy collection of creative cocktails

by Nyan Htet Naing, Bar Manager of SEEDS and Kyaw Wanna, Brand Ambassador of Monin with free flow festive canapes. Live DJ by Ana Red. Ticket price is USD 25. For reservation please contact to 09 972 784841.

Thingyan Staycation

Special Thingyan Staycation 1st to 30th April

Thingyan Music Festival - TMF 2019 13th to 16th April Are you ready for The 6th Year Celebration with Thingyan Music Festival on 13th-16th April 2019? This year TMF will be bringing uniquely “AQUA GARDEN” experience year.

Mark Your Calendar and Save Your Energy for The Unforgettable Ultimate Water Festival. World’s favorite DJs; Steve Aoki, Crisis Era, Darren Styles, Gammers, Said The Sky, Tony Junior, Zatox, etc. For ticket information please contact to 09 7750 07750.

Thingyan Music Festival - Pyay Road, Infront of Inya Kan Baung, Kamaryut Township,Yangon

SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge - No.63/A, U Tun Nyein Street, Ward 10, Mayangone Township, Yangon | 4:30pm - 6:30pm

Underwater Kingdoms BlackJack 2019

Nightlife

Inya Splash Walk Yangon - 2019 13th to 16th April

Craziest festival night at Eclipse is ready for all party-goers, book now 09 44247 7778 to enjoy Best live

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Summer Staycation 1st to 30th April Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake introduces the summer staycation package.

You can enjoy one night stay at 5 star hotel only with 90 USD. That include breakfast, entrance to Fitness Center, Swimming Pool. (This package is only for Myanmar Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Expatriates.) For more information, please contact to 01 544 500.

Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake - No.40, Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon

13th to 16th April

12th April

Pan Pacific Yangon - Corner of Bogyoke Aung San Road and Shwedagon Pagoda Road, Pabedan Township, Yangon

Activity

Thuwunnabhumi Event Park - Thanthumar Road, Between Shwe Ingyin Housing & Chanthar Gongyaung housing, ThinganGyun Township, Yangon | 7pm - 11pm

Thingyan 2019: Wet & Wild Festival

Enjoy holiday escape with luxurious accommodation and facilities at the best rate. For reservations and more information, please contact to 01 9253810 or email: reserve.ppygn@ panpacifc.com

The era of Inya Road Thingyan is reviving with the arrangement of government. This is the first time on Inya Road from April 13 to 16 (9am - 6pm daily) with celebrities, entertainment with a lot of singers, food vendors, 8 ethnic zones and other activities.

Black Jack is coming up again for Thingyan Festival. This time they create the event with “Underwater Kingdoms” theme. Seven stages with seven international artists and 35 local artists will join the force — HeadhunterZ, Cat Dealers, Rave Republic and more. For ticket information please contact to 09 5117474.

Black Jack - Pyay Road, Infront to Inya Kan Baung, Kamaryut Township, Yangon

Relaxing Thingyan Staycation Package 1st to 30th April Myanmar’s Thingyan is around the corner, the most awaited festival. Be it or not you’ll need to get wet as the festival symbolizes water as cleansing.

Looking for a refuge to escape the water-throwing chaos this Thingyan Festival? Treat yourself to a relaxing Thingyan Staycation Package at the Rose Garden Hotel Yangon. Pamper and enjoy yourself to our luxurious facilities and one of the best swimming pools in Yangon, but close enough to the main stages to enjoy the action.

For reservations, please contact to 01 371 992.

Rose Garden Hotel - No.171, Upper Pansodan Street, Near Kandawgyi Lake, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon

Inya Road, Kamaryut Township, Yangon | 9am - 6pm

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Staycation at Parkroyal Yangon

Happy Myanmar New Year Package

1st to 30th April

1st to 30th April

Beat the Heat this Thingyan at PARKROYAL Yangon. Book now and stay any dates of April. Thingyan is considered the sacred Myanmar New Year and is one of the most celebrated holidays in the City, symbolizing goodwill, love, compassion and gratitude through water. Enjoy your stay with traditional touch and energize for new year.

For more information and reservation please contact to 01 250 388.

Experience your best ever holiday staycation in April 99 USD Room Only package.

The Package includes Free Wifi Access, 25% off Infinity Bar & Pool Bar Usage, 25% off SPA Usage, Free Use of Fitness Center, Free Use of Outdoor Swimming Pool. BOOK Now at (+95) 01 937 7188 or info@ wyndhamgrandyangon.com

ParkRoyal Yangon - No.33, Alan Pya Pagoda Road, Dagon Township, Yangon

Myanmar New Year Special

Wyndham Grand Yangon Hotel - No.11, Corner of Kan Yeik Thar Road & U Aung Myat Road, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon

Thingyan Packages 6th to 20th April

Empire from 13 – 20 April 2019. For more information please contact to 01 233 0288.

Grand Mercure Yangon Golden Empire Corner of Myittar & Tha Khin Phoe Hla Gyi Road, South Okkalapa Township, Yangon

Stay More Save More 12th to 21st April Take advantage of the promo rates and enjoy a well-deserved staycation at Melia Yangon. Buffet breakfast at Olea and a daily set lunch or dinner with a special set menu at The Lantern restaurant are part of the deal…and the rest of the day, chill-out around Melia hotel swimming pool. Call now and book your package: 01 934 5000.

Meliá Yangon - No.192, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon

1st to 30th April Lotte is answering for special package during Thingyan Holiday. You can enjoy a Deluxe room with breakfast for two persons, full access of fitness center, swimming pool, Sauna, Jacuzzi and late check out by paying only 120 USD. For more information and reservation please contact to 01 9351011.

LOTTE Hotels & Serviced Apartments Yangon - No. 82, Sin Phyu Shin Avenue, Pyay Road, 6½ Mile, Ward 11, Hlaing Township, Yangon

A STAYCATION AT THE STRAND 1st to 30th April Strand Hotel offers guests the perfect opportunity to experience the quiet comfort and understated luxury of The Strand. It will cost only 299USD for two persons along with 3-course Set Lunch or Dinner for two at the Strand Café and 60 minutes Strand massage per person. This promotion is only available to citizens and residents of Myanmar and inclusive of relevant taxes and service charge. For further enquiries and reservations, please call 01 243 377 ~ 79.

The Strand Hotel - No.92, Strand Road, Kyauktada Township, Yangon

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Thingyan Packages booking are open starting from 25th March! Be the first one to reserve Deluxe Room with the best view.. Spare your time to family members or friends to have fun and re-energize together at Novotel Yangon Max! Call now 01 2305858 or email H9045-RE@accor.com to book in advance.

Novotel Yangon Max - No.459 Pyay Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon

Thingyan Holidays Deal 12th to 21st April Enjoy Mercure hotel exceptional room rate during Thingyan Holidays. From US$ 75 nett per night for two persons and at US$ 125 nett per room/night for four people plus free breakfast, Free Wifi , 20% discount on A-La-Carte menu ,10% discount on drinks for all booking made during 12th April to 21st April 2019.

Mercure Yangon Kaba Aye - No.17, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yankin Township, Yangon

Staycation Package

Splash and Wet Offer 12th to 21st April Are you ready for Thingyan? Check out Pullman Hotel Splash and Wet offer.

Package includes buffet breakfast for 2, 20% discount at any F&B outlet (except Room Services), 20% discount at Laundry services, Early check in at 10:00am or Late check out at 3:00pm, Complimentary High Speed Wireless Access, Use of fitness facilities (Gym, Pool & Sauna).

Pullman Yangon Centrepoint - No.65, Corner Of Sule Pagoda Road And Merchant Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon

Thingyan Package 14th to 16th April Thingyan is here. Spend a memorable Thingyan at Sedona Hotel Yangon with exciting packages. ​For more information about the Packages please contact to 01 860 5377.

Sedona Hotel - No. 1 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yankin Township, Yangon

13th to 20th April Join Grand Mercure Yangon Hotel to celebrate their first Thingyan Festival.

Find out more about these Exclusive Offers for friends and families at Grand Mercure Yangon Golden

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Cinema Cinemas

Now Showing

he squares off against the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.

Dumbo Family, Fantasy

Cast: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong, Djimon Hounsou and more.

Struggling circus owner Max Medici enlists a former star and his two children to care for Dumbo, a baby elephant born with oversized ears. When the family discovers that the animal can fly, it soon becomes the main attraction -- bringing in huge audiences and revitalizing the run-down circus.

The elephant’s magical ability also draws the attention of V.A. Vandevere, an entrepreneur who wants to showcase Dumbo in his latest, larger-thanlife entertainment venture.

Pet Sematary Thriller, Horror

Cast: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito and more.

Coming Shazam Super Hero, Action, Adventure Billy Batson is a streetwise 14-year-old who can magically transform into the adult superhero Shazam simply by shouting out one word. His newfound powers soon get put to the test when

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Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, relocate from Boston to rural Maine with their two young children. The couple soon discover a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his neighbour Jud Crandall, setting off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unspeakable evil with horrific consequences.

Cast: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, Jeté Laurence, Naomi Frenette and more.

Hellboy Fantasy, Sci-Fi Based on the graphic novel by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge.

Cast: David Harbour, milla Jovovich, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim, Ian McShane and more.

Krasue: Inhuman Kiss Drama, Horror, Romance In a far-away village, lived an innocent teenage girl, “Sai” who later discovered herself inheriting the curse of “Krasue”. At night, her head would detach from her body and hunts for flesh and blood. Villagers are terrified by the deaths of their livestocks and that is when the Krasue hunt begins.

“Jerd” a friend joined the hunt with an unknown reason while “Noi”, the childhood friend who had just came back to the village decided to stand beside Sai despite knowing the horrifying truth.

Cast: Phantira Pipityakorn, Oabnithi Wiwattanawarang, Sapol Assawamunkong and more.

The Curse of La Llorona Supernatural horror, Mystery

warning of a troubled mother, a social worker and her own kids are drawn into a frightening supernatural realm.

Their only hope of surviving La Llorona’s deadly wrath is a disillusioned priest who practices mysticism to keep evil at bay.

Cast: Linda Cardellini, Patricia Velásquez, Marisol Ramirez, Irene Keng, Raymond Cruz and more.

Avengers: Endgame Fantasy, Sci-Fi Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers: Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner must figure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos the evil demigod who decimated the planet and the universe.

Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Brie Larson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Josh Broin and more.

In 1970s Los Angeles, the legendary ghost La Llorona is stalking the night -- and the children. Ignoring the eerie MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

The Dark Cinema Burmese, Horror Four filmmaker friends rent a once grand but long decommissioned cinema in the outskirts of a rural town for the traveling film festival that they are organizing. The cinema is steeped in a dark and horrific history that they are not fully aware of. They are joined by Riya, a foreign NGO worker from India, who has a unique sensitivity to paranormal occurrences and ghostly presences. In freakish out-of-season heavy downpours, they are holed up in the cinema as electricity and lines of communications are cut out. One of them accidentally smears with blood from his opened wound on a magical tablet that is laced with curses that he discovers.

And paranormal activities born out of curses from the past begin to terrorize the helpless gang. Together, they have to muster their courage, resort to their practical knowledge, MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

depending only on each other, and face the relentless evil of the cursed cinema. Or they will face unspeakable, horrific consequences that this unforgiving place lashes out at them.

Cast: Kyaw Kyaw Bo, Nay Toe, Riya Ray and more.

All cinemas will be closed during Thingyan Festival. Find out more on myanmore.com/ cinema.

Cinemas in Yangon Junction Maw Tin | 01 225 244 Junction City | 01-9253591, 01-9253592 Junction Square | 01 527 055 City Mall | 09 764802081 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 Mingalar Sein Gay Har | 09 402177771— 73 Mingalar Tamwe | 09 402199991, 2, 3 Nay Pyi Taw | 01 251 277, 01 251 288 Shae Saung Cinema | 01 252 113, 01 388 034 Thamada Cinema | 01 246 962, 01 246 963 Thwin | 01 372 594, 01 388 033 Mingalar | 01 243057 Mega Ace Cineplex (Tamwe)| 01 554383

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Tea Shop

THE TEA SHOP Illustration by Ben Hopkins Inya Splash Walk 2019 Yangon - Inya Road is famous for its pandals and stages back in the old days before the government shutdown the permissions in 2016. This year, there will be 35 pavilions on Kandawgyi Circular Road, Kabaraye Pagoda Road and University Avenue Road for this year Thingyan Festival. What more this year? The Inya Splash Walk is reviving the festival for the first time again on the Inya Road from April 13 to 16 (9am - 6pm daily) with celebrities, entertainment, food vendors and other activities.

Check more details on the facebook page: Inya Splash Walk Yangon - 2019.

Save Mrauk U Over the past few weeks, Mrauk U in Sittwe, Rakhine has suffered from the conflict between the Myanmar military and rebel Arakan Army (AA). Which went viral on the internet was when the artillery shells during the fight flew over Tukka Thein Pagoda where the heritaged ancient capital of the Arakanese kingdom is but missed and somehow it would have destroyed the pagoda. People are really concerned about the incident and plan to get Mrauk-U on the UNESCO World Heritage list. So they started using hashtag #SaveMraukU on social media - Facebook and Instagram to get awareness from the public.

Myanmar joins Trashtag Challenge Have you noticed the pictures about people with trash bags on Facebook? The challenge abides the pictures of streets and places full of litter and trash heaps then clean as before and after which was started by a citizen of Nepal. And they share the photos on social media with the hashtag #trashtag.

Today as the whole world is participating, Myanmar jumped in as soon as it started all the way from upper Myanmar to down Yangon city.

East Africa’s champion Thet Htar Thuzar Myanmar’s badminton champion won two gold medals in East Africa this early 2019. Thet Htar Thuzar, 20 who is now practicing to participate at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, had

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MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

won gold medals in Badminton Uganda International Series 2019 and Kenya’s. She started playing badminton at her age of seven and in order to participate in the Olympics, her ranking must be within 100, 134 is her current.

Yangon dogs to be checked for leptospirosis Veterinary Department Yangon prepares to check especially dogs in the region for leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. This project is part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation which will examine animals at vets for canine leptospirosis using rapid-kits.

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

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Feature

CHASING THE DREAMS:

NOBEL AUNG

A

An animator Nobel Aung shares the journey of finding himself in the fantasy dreamworld of Myanmar’s animation panorama. Words by Nay Thiha.

butterfly wings into no direction, a boy chasing it desperately as if in a surrealistic world—the Big Bag’s hit of Thadi Ya Tal (Grounded) will give you a familiar scene about the award winning music film by Pencell Studio at the Ringerike International Youth Film Festival 2018 in Norway.

humour as the personalities of most of his cartoon characters.

Nobel Aung, the art director of Pencell Studio co-founded the workplace with his brother Nyan Kyal Say in 2017. As a son of renowned cartoonist Aw Pi Kyal, cartoons are no strangers to him.

Then he quickly realised himself as a cartoonist and he was already running Joosk Studio with four of his friends in 2014. A year later, they started a comic series Gwen University that tells about a group of college students and their incidents in a comedic way got joyful reactions among young netizens but sadly due to numerous reasons, he moved out from Joosk Studio in 2016.

At that time, he didn’t want to do any

“My father taught me how to animate videos since I was young and I improve through self-studies then,” says Nobel.

On a personal note, Nobel is friendly and blessed with a great sense of

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He recounts his life before Pencell Studio, “I worked as a programmer after studying information technology. I was pretty lost at first and I had to slow down, take some time to find myself.”

commercial stuff.

Roughly another year after the foundation of Pencell Studio, the team dropped their masterpiece Thadi Ya

Tal music video, which catapulted the two brothers to stardom.

“We work as a team on every project.

My brother deserves most credit since

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

he was the director and he gave all of his compassions and imaginations for the piece. On the other hand, I handled the animation process with three other members.

As a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki, a co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Nobel admits he is inspired by Japanese manga art style. “We need our own creativity which is not just an art, also a MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

storytelling screenplay.”

Animated films are expensive. For one second of action, an animator has to produce at least 24 pictures. “On the accounts of producing full-length animated films, you may see the credit scenes after an animated film with thousands of animators. Projects like these take at least three years and we can’t afford a thousand animators for

three years!” he declares. Some issues like copyright infringements and lack of sponsorship also count as major obstacles for the development of animated films, he adds.

The studio now runs with 30 members, steering high-profile projects include promo animations for the Asean University Games 2018 hosted by Myanmar for the first time,

and JCGV Cinemas’ messenger bot and a new music video.

“You have to know that doing everything solo isn’t a good idea, especially when it comes to animation.

If you want to finish a project fast, you can do it yourself. But if you want to do more than one project, work with a team,” Nobel agrees.

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Cover Story

GROWING SKILLS AND PRECIOUS TREES: DAW POE PHYU

Alec Wilmot sat down with Daw Poe Phyu to reflect on her hometown Mogok and the charity projects that drive her today, from employing underprivileged women to saving the palm plantations of the Myanmar dry zone.

D

aw Poe Phyu passionately believes that her native town of Mogok could become a renowned tourist destination in Myanmar, which has prompted her to engage with a number of donationsdriven development programmes

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that cover education, employment, and tourism. It was during this process that she added environmentalism to her checklist, taking up the cause of working to end the clearing of historic palm tree land in Kyaukpadaung and Magway.

While her family has predominantly worked in the jewelry business, trading the famously stunning, voluminous gems that pour out of the hills and mountains of the valley, Daw Poe Phyu had a different path in mind.

She opted instead to go to university

in Yangon where she attained a physics degree.

“Actually, there were quite a few women in that field”, she said when asked if she faced discrimination studying the sciences. “After that, I

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

went into real estate. It was a good time to join the market when I entered.

I traded properties and developed plots for selling on”.

Growing wealthy from the real estate business gave Daw Poe Phyu a certain time to reflect on how she might be able to give something back to the Mogok valley and wider Myanmar community.

“The people in Mogok struggle to make ends meet. I wanted to find a way to help by giving them skills and agency so they could be self sufficient”, she said.

She would become involved in fundraising to create an old people’s home for retired artists. The centre accepts any and all career artists who, as can be typical in Myanmar, have lived on meagre wages that do not lend them financial security in their old age. Leading on from that, she joined the Mogok 800 Years Foundation as vice-chairperson and began fundraising for educational and vocational programmes in the lead up to eighth centenary. The vocational training included education for tour guides, English proficiency training and classes in artistic disciplines and computing.

The Mogok 800 Year Anniversary Event, held last year, was a fundraising effort to put on a full festival in the town to celebrate the vibrancy of local culture and the natural gifts bestowed upon the valley. Singers, performers, artists and thousands of monks collected in Mogok over three days to partake in the celebrations. More than just being a celebration of Mogok’s history, the event is part of a broader plan to put Mogok on the map for tourists and visitors. As Daw Poe Phyu explained, if you can develop a hub for tourism then other areas of focus for development, such as environmental conservation, improving education and diversifying the economy will work in the concert.

So it was around the time of the 800 year celebration that Daw Poe Phyu learned from a journalist that the palm plantations of Kyaukpadaung and Magway were disappearing at an alarming rate (50 per cent loss MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

since 2012 nationally). The reporter informed her that large swathes of palm were being cleared for their wood content and shipped away.

Daw Poe Phyu knew full well that sustainable palm harvesting was a slow and methodical business, and that deforestation threatened the entire community. So she decided to act.

“Palms grow very slowly. They do not begin producing juice until they are twenty to thirty years old.

Families have a strong tradition of palm ownership. If a grandmother once planted a palm tree, it will be her descendants who own that tree, and can do with what they will. Now, what is happening is that the land is being divided and bought, and families lose

their traditional rights”.

Daw Phoe Phyu added that palm roots travel very far underground, all the way to the water-table and draw that water up to the surface. Clearing the palms wholesale threatens to make the top soil destitute, in addition to creating an ugly landscape in the short to medium term.

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Cover Story

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MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

In terms of value, even the stumps of the aged palms can be made into furniture pieces which sell for many hundreds of dollars overseas.

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Her first mission was to go and see the clearing for herself, which she did shortly after the 800 year celebrations wrapped up, and found the reports to be accurate. It is reported that palm plantation owners of the region are facing significant difficulties earning their keep off the traditional crop, and many are losing out against big development and logging, earning only K25,000 for a palm tree that might be up to 40 years old.

“In terms of value, the stumps of the aged palms can be made into furniture pieces which sell for many hundreds of dollars overseas. I saw that all the stumps had been burned after clearance”, she said of her visit to the region.

Using her influence and experience with the 800 Year celebration group, Daw Poe Phyu helped to form the advocacy office Save the Palms which focuses specifically on palm conservation in Kyaukpadaung and Magway. She made contact with the Mandalay Regional Forestry Department and lodged a complaint over the treatment of the local palm

owners who were being robbed of their heritage. Today, thanks to her efforts, palm tree cultivation is more closely monitored and the rate of felling has slowed considerably, but Daw Poe Phyu is still waiting to see official announcements on the issue from the Mandalay government, and the threat of further palm destruction still lingers so long as the traditional farming practice remains unlucrative.

Palm cultivation links directly with vocational training and the push for a tourism industry in Kyaukpadaung, which has resulted in the next stage of development for the area; Kyaukpadaung is going to have weaved Buddhas in order to attract tourists. As far as anyone involved with the project knows, weaved Buddhas are not a hallmark of any place in the country, giving Kyaukpadaung the opportunity to seize that mantle.

The weaved Buddhas are an original idea by Daw Poe Phyu. The project will involve 30 trained weaving women from her vocational programme building Buddha statues for an old pagoda in Kyaukpadaung town. Daw

Poe Phyu intends for there to be multiple Buddhas, but the biggest will stand at 34 feet high. Originally slated to be 45 feet high, the ambitious size was cut down to save on roofing costs.

Each Buddha will be constructed using entirely traditional methods and be coated with organic paints and a fireproof layering. As Daw Poe Phyu put it, everything from the hats and small handbags the weaving women make, up to the biggest Buddha, will be a natural, classically hand-made product that will attract the interest of foreigners and keep those traditions alive in the community.

The project has not yet begun but the pre-construction organising is well underway. Plans have been drawn up for their designs and materials are being gathered.

“In the future, regional Myanmar handicrafts will be very rare. This project is going to help preserve Kyaukpadaung traditional wears, and do it in a way that’s sustainable and healthy for the community”, Daw Poe Phyu said.

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Feature

THINGYAN

SURVIVAL GUIDE When it comes to Thingyan festival, most of us recall beautiful moments we had over the past few years partying on big stages (pandals). What else can we do apart from partying? Check out our list of activities to see whether you are up for traveling or parties, stay home and watch Netflix all days or eating out, Myanmore gives you a list of tips you want to know to concern during the festival.

Travel Getting bored of Yangon water festival activities? Then you should head to Mandalay which is the second metropolis city of Myanmar.

Every year, Mandalay celebrates the biggest Thingyan festival with a stream of pandals on each side of the Royal Palace. This could be another experience to encounter if you are in Myanmar.

Inle lake is quite popular among other cities to travel during the water festival. This year, the very first floating Thingyan festival in the lake will be held with thousands of boats and barges which include entertainment and celebrations. Authorities say the festival will be located at Inle Cultural Heritage Trust Complex in Nyaungshwe from 13th April to 17th.

Aung Sat Kyar Mogok Vipassana Meditation Centre The centre focuses on the preaching of Mogok Sayadaw U Vimala as it has Mogok moniker in the title. The highly celebrated monk was best known for his preaching that revolves around Vipassana meditation. Foreigners are welcome to meditate from 8th April to 18th at a rate of Ks5,500 per person for meals and belongings.

Moreover, they give you only two meals (breakfast and lunch) and there are not many options. So, if you’re vegan or allergic to certain food, let the administrators know.

Panditarama Shwe Taung Gon Meditation Centre As it is a year-round meditation centre, prior registration is not required.

Administration opens 1pm to 4pm daily but the foreigners are not allowed during Thingyan holidays due to a large crowd. The holiday meditation session starts from 10th April.

Panditarama (Website).

Address: 80-A, Than Lwin Road, Bahan Township, Yangon Phone: 01 535 448, 01 705 525

Address: No. 1, Myindawtha St., Ward 7, Thaketa Tsp, Yangon.

Phone: 09 514 7382, 09 798 003 747 Facebook: Aung Sat Kyar

Beaches like Chaungtha, Ngwe Saung and Ngapali are crowded during the festival. So if you are planning for an escape, you better book your hotel in advance.

Find your zen during Thingyan If you want to avoid all the hustle and bustle of the water festival and build up inner peace, meditation centres are open during Thingyan holidays. Of course you won’t attain enlightenment just by meditating for a week. But this is the best opportunity to learn the basics of Vipassana (Observing yourself by observing your senses) meditation. Most centres have strict regimens, so make sure you’re physically fit for it before signing up.

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Shwe Oo Min (Website).

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Shwe Oo Min Dhamma Sukha Tawya Sayadaw U Tejaniya, the presiding monk of the monastery and meditation centre, began his Buddhist training as a young teenager in Burma under the late Shwe Oo Min Sayadaw (1913–2002). He teaches meditation at Shwe Oo Min Dhamma Sukha Forest Meditation Center in Yangon, Myanmar. It usually takes in foreigners to meditate during the Thingyan holidays. But we suggest you contact first before submission.

Address: Aung Myay Thar Yar St., Kon Tala Paung Village, Mingaladon Tsp, Yangon.

Phone: 01 638 170 Official Facebook group: Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya Email: shweoomindskt@gmail.com Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation Centre A popular place for meditators in Yangon. It’s not far from the downtown area and located in a tranquil compound. Although the 10day session is available all year-round, the Thingyan session begins on April 12 and will cost you Ks1,000 a day for meals. It’s usually crowded during the holidays. Better call it first to see if you can squeeze in your mat.

mCare (Facebook).

Address: 55/A, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Mayangone, Yangon.

Phone: 01 661 479, 01 652 585 Email: chanmyayinform@gmail.com

Preventing the risks Waterproof your phone You won’t be able to enjoy the water festival at its fullest if you’re worried your phone gets soaked. This is why waterproof plastic pockets exist. From small keypad phones to 6-inch giant phablets, you may find the pocket that is made for your device in these shops below, but buy in advance before the festival.

Naing Win Telecom Address: No.186. 38 Street, Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon.

Phone: 09 999 3985 Opening hours: 09:00 – 21:00 Cover World Address: No. 180, Anawratha Road (Upper Anawratha Block), 33rd St MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Unique (Facebook).

(near Sule Bridge), Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon.

Phone: 09 772 722265 Opening hours: 10:00 – 22:00 Tip: The part of Anawrahta Road between Konzaydan St. and 34th St. is full of phone accessory shops so you have plenty of options. If you still want to explore, go to Latha Street.

Repair shops for worst-case scenarios Left with a broken phone because of a leaky waterproof pocket or dancing

so hard with fellow revellers? Be it a cracked screen or damp battery, there is a few things savvy technicians (and a certain amount of cash) can’t fix.

But make sure you put your device in safe hand. But they all close during Thingyan festival.

Unique Address: No 261, Pansodan Road (Upper Block), Between Anawrahta and Bogyoke Road, Kyauktada Township, Yangon.

Phone: 09 731 712 12, 09 455 209 100 Opening hours: 09:00 – 18:00 Technoland Address: 36th Street, Middle Block, Kyauktada Tsp, Yangon.

Phone: 09-970035101 ~ 04 Opening hours: 09:30 – 17:30 mCare Apple Authorised Service Provider Address: G-045, Multistorey Car Park, Junction Square Shopping Mall, Pyay Road, Yangon.

Phone: 09 336 07777 Opening hours: 09:00 – 21:00 iLAB Address: No 741, first floor, corner of Mahabandoola and Lanmadaw streets, Yangon.

Phone: 09 512 9082 Opening hours: 09:00 – 20:00

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Feature

OPEN PLACES DURING THINGYAN 2019 Wandering around where to eat in Yangon during the Water Festival? Here is a list of bars and restaurants that are staying open during the holidays to get some grub for dinner or find a lunch break.

Babbet Address: 5 Alan Pya Pagoda Street, Dagon Township Tel: 01 243 639 Opens 7am - 12am Easy Cafe Address: 30A Bo Yar Nyunt Street, and #2 24D Nar Nat Taw Street Tel: 09 262 546 289 Opens 9am - 5:30 pm

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Coriander Leaf (Ahlone Branch) Address: Building No 12, Yangon International Hotel Compound, Ahlone Road Tel: 09 431 85008 Opens (11am - 11pm ) Sharky’s (Bagan,Ngapali,Yangon) Address: Ygn | 117Dhamazedi Road, Kamaryut Township, Yangon Bagan | Shwezigon Pagoda, Nyaung U, Bagan Ngapali | Mya Pin, Ward 5, Ngapali Tel: +95 9 42427 1233 Open 9am - 9pm

365 Cafe

Address: 330 Ahlon Rd, Dagon Township Tel: 95 9 42104 0512 Open (10:00 am - 1:30 am)

Le Bistrot @ Savoy Hotel Address: 129 Dhammazedi Road, Yangon Tel: 01 526 289 Open (11:00 am - 10:30 pm)

Sofaer & Co Address: 60 Lower Pansodan Road | Kyauktada Township., Yangon Tel: +95 9 44833 3499 Open 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Kipling @ Savoy Hotel Address: 129 Dhammazedi Road, Yangon Tel: 01 526 289 Open (6:00 pm - 10:30 pm) only dinner operation

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Captain Bar @ Savoy Hotel Address: 129 Dhammazedi Road, Yangon Tel: 01 526 289 Open (7:00 am - 1:00 am)

O-Shabu Hot Pot Address: 8A Parami Rd. Mayangone Township Tel: 01 666 228 Open ( 11am - 9pm )

Esperado Rooftop bar Address: No. 23, Kan Yeik Tha Road Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township Tel: 01 861 9486 Open ( 6:30 am - 11:00 pm )

Manana Address: Kabar Aye Pagoda Road | Pearl Condo D, Ga-15,Yangon Tel: +95 9 255 833 706 Open (10:00 am - 10:00 pm)

Ô’Thentic Crêperie & Wine Bar Address: 45 Yaw Min Gyi street, Dagon township Tel: 09 44952 9557 Open (5:00 pm - 11:45 pm)

369 Rooftop Dining Open on Thingyan Period Address: 369, Lay Daungkan Rd, Yangon Tel: 01 578 101 Open 7 : 00 AM - 1 : 00 AM

Rangoon Tea House Address: 77-79 Pansodan Street | Lower Middle Block, Yangon Tel: +95 9 979 078681 Open (8:00 am to 9:00 pm)

Marina Indian Restaurant Address: No 63, Taw Win Road, Dagon Township, Tel: 09 970 550055 Open ( 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm )

The Lantern Restaurant @ Melia Address: 192 Kabaraye Pagoda Road, Yangon Tel: +95 1 934502 Open (6:00 am to 10:00 pm)

AJ’s Bar & Grill Address: 132 Corner of Bo Myat Htun Street and Anawrahta Road, Botahtaung Town ship Tel: 09 785 422151 Open ( 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm )

The Merchant @ Pullman Breakfast: 6am to 10:30am Lunch: 12am to 2:30pm Dinner: 6pm to 10pm Sunday Brunch: 12pm to 3pm E’Cucina @ Pullman Lunch: 12pm to 3pm Dinner: 6pm to 10:30pm Gustave Bar @ Pullman 11am to 11pm The Deck Pool Bar @ Pullman Address: 65 Corner Of Sule Pagoda Rd And Merchant Rd, Yangon Tel: 01 382 432 Open 7am to 8pm Pier 9 Address: 3/A 13 Taw Win Road, (Near Ocean and Victoria Hospital) Mayangone Tel: 09 795 55 10 66 Open ( 12 noon - 10 pm )

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Beauty in the Pot Address: 42(A),SayarSan Road, Bahan Township Tel: 09 252 221 188 Open ( 11:00 am - 12 Midnight ) Alex’s Gastro Bar Address: 31 Yaw Min Gyi St, Yangon Tel: 09 42198 3687 Open ( 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm ) Gallery Cafe Address: 98 C, Inya Road Tel: 09 44065 0040 Open ( 9:00 am - 11:00 pm ) Sorabol Korean Address: Kabaraye Pagoda Rd,HAGL Myanmar Plaza 3rd floor Tel: 09 779 840334 Open ( 10:00 am - 10:00 pm ) Reto Bar Address: 62-63 street, merchant road, Tel: 01 397 865 Open ( 24 hours )

DIY Hot Pot Address: No. 204, Lower Kyee Myin Taing Road, Ahlone Tel: 09 42876 6667 Open ( 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm ) Paradise Dynasty Address: No.(2)&(3), Junction Square Extension, Between Pyay Road & Kyun Taw Road, Kamayut Tel: 09 979 313333 Open ( 7:00 am - 10:00 pm )

Flavours Restaurant at Grand Mercure Yangon Address: Corner of Myittar & Tha Khin Phoe Hla Gyi Road, South Okkalapa Town Tel: 01 233 0288 Open ( 6 AM - 10 :30 PM ) Ho may Address: Urban Asia Center G-11/12,Corner of 48th street and Mahabandula Road Tel: 09 773 994299 Open 11 pm - 10 am Royal Oriental House Address: G01 B, Bo Myat Htun Road, SOHO Tower, Botahtaung Township, Yangon Tel: 09 44246 6445 Open: 6: 30 am - 10 pm Find out more on myanmore.com

Mr Cow Bar B Q Address: No.330 Yangon International Hotel Compound, Ahlone Tel: 09 898 090096 Open ( 12 noon - 10:30 pm ) Little Sheep hot pot Address: 14/14B Kanbawza Street Golden Valley (1) Bahan Tel: 09 44339 9701 Open ( 1 : pm - 10 : 30 pm ) Yummy Hotpot & Bbq Address: Conner of Parami road and Myintsu Tel: 09 780 777778 Open ( 10 am - 11 pm ) Pinlon Hawker Center Address: 262 Pinlon Road, Ward 30, North Dagon Tel: 09 40399 7635 Open ( 11 am - 9 pm)

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Travel

Eastern Shan State - Opium Trails (Khiri Travels).

PERFECT PLACES TO VISIT IN MYANMAR DURING THE GREEN SEASON

T

ravelling in Myanmar from May till September is pictureperfect as it is the right climate for a variety of experiences.

Which is also the time you can urge your friends and family to book flights out to visit as the sun still shines, temperatures dips without being cold, and the lush landscapes up-country are in vibrant shades of green.

Edwin Briels, who likes to be a tourist in rainy season (green season as he claims) gives his best-kept secret list to explore the wonders of Myanmar with 10 clear advantages for tourists to visit Myanmar:

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- - - - - - - - -

50 Shades of Green (from paddy fields to forest) Not too hot in the dry zone, not too cold in the mountains More sustainable (support people to earn a stable, yearround live able income) Longer days with daylight hours for sightseeing (early sunrise, late sunset) No dust Stunning landscapes Fruit, vegetables and other fresh produce at its most flavourful No queues (or other tourists photo-bombing your selfies) Your preferred room / hotel /

Inle Lake (Khiri Travels)

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

-

guide will be available Excellent value for money with good promotions

It is a misconception that storms tear through all of Myanmar which really is just dreadful for people in Yangon.

Statistically it turns out that the key tourist hubs – Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake – only see rainfall on 25% of all “rainy season” days. Even then, the rains are often brief spells and in the evening, not quite enough to deter a holiday-goer.

When planning your itinerary around Myanmar, it’s good to keep this in mind and spend most of your days in places North of Yangon, including Hsipaw, Pyin Oo Lwin, Kalaw, Loikaw, Keng Tung, etc.

The Mon & Kayin state will get a few extra heavenly drops but nothing that would really ruin your sightseeing. In fact, kayaking through the paddy fields is at its best from June onwards, when water levels are decently high and paddy fields adequately green.

Mandalay (Khiri Travels)

A word of caution to avoid Ngapali beach simply because it’s miserable being on a beach if the sun is not shining. Save your visit to Ngapali for October – May when it’s dry and sunny.

Edwin mentioned his favourite place to visit in the green season is definitely Bagan which is so nice and quiet without hoards of tourists, and photographs show greenery rather than dried out shrubs! A perfect weekend escape to Bagan doesn’t need to be expensive – take overnight bus to Bagan on Friday (or the Saturday morning flight) and spend the day with a local expert on electric bikes to discover the hidden temples of Bagan that don’t have souvenir shops lined up out front but have the interesting interiors. At the end the day, catch the sunset on the Bagan swing for the perfect instagrammable picture of yourself swinging against the backdrop of an ancient temple.

Hotels like Villa Bagan or Zfreeti tend to sway towards charming boutique options. The next day, a half day jeep safari outside Bagan would give you an insight into real countryside living in rural Myanmar. Then laze by the pool for a few hours before flying MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Bagan (Khiri Travels)

back to Yangon (or take an overnight bus back in time for office on Monday morning).

An offer they happily extend for any Yangon expat travelling to Bagan with us from now till the end of September!

Khiri Travel did a fun promotion for travellers in the rainy season where we promised a free beer every time it rained for more than 30 minutes.

Edwin Briels is MD of Khiri Travel Myanmar and has been working over 15 years in travel in Myanmar and will share his experiences travelling in

Myanmar in a monthly column.

Khiri Travel 01 375 577 khiri.com – edwin@khiri.com

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Feature

Burma Watches (Provided).

WHAT’S IN A WATCH? Alec Wilmot met with the founders behind two of Myanmar's thriving watches companies for a small confab.

W

ristwatches are the perfect platonic gift for workmates, friends and family at any time of year. A watch is something that’s aesthetically pleasing on the wrist - subtle enough to appeal to broad tastes whilst serving the age-old function of telling the time at a glance, but it should also have a very personal touch. You could spend countless hours trawling downtown Yangon’s retail stores for just the right timepiece and still come away unsatisfied with the choices, so, what about trying the alternative? The best way to ensure you’re getting precisely what you want is a bespoke product

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“The idea of custom watches came into my head a few years ago, when I couldn’t find a wristwatch with Burmese numbers on the face. I knew they existed, and I really wanted one,” said Mr Charlie Artingstoll, founder of Burma Watches.

custom Burmese watch face and then place it inside an existing piece. Charlie was thrilled as his new timepiece started catching the attention of local and foreign friends alike who all said it was the only real-life Burmese watch they’d even seen, and that they’d love to own one. Charlie, a small time businessman and entrepreneur, saw an opportunity, and soon coined “Burma Watches”. The name was chosen because the Bamar typeface would feat neatly into one line.

Charlie’s search led him to a watch repair shop at Sule Pagoda, where the owner told him he could make a

In 2014, Kyaw Thuya Naung was a first year student of the University of Manchester and an avid collector of

with end-to-end design choices that’s guaranteed to makes a statement.

That’s exactly what Burma and Watches and Mandalay Watch have brought to the market.

wristwatches. He loved the almost surgical disassembly and repair of minute watch mechanisms, and dreamed of owning a watch company of his own one day. His first project was producing 40 wristwatches with his own 3-D designed exteriors. His friends in the UK ate it up, and he quickly found a following on social media. When Kyaw Thuya Naung returned to Myanmar, Mandalay Watch was born.

“The first forty pieces were really successful, but I realised I couldn’t keep up that energy on my own. I reached out to factories around the MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

globe and now in Hong Kong where Mandalay Watch timepieces are constructed based on my designs, and then imported here,” Kyaw Thuya Naung said.

Mandalay Watch has put out slick video advertisements, which netted it real attention. Kyaw Thuya Naung said, “I give credit to my friend Snow Miley, she really made a masterpiece. She takes care of all the videos and they hit the internet”.

Both men had stumbled on the idea of custom local watches at approximately the same time, and both had discovered there was a fascination with Bamar numeral watch faces. Bamar faces would become the similarity between Burma and Mandalay brand watches, but the production processes are fascinatingly different.

Charlie retains just partners in Burma Watches – U Kyaw U and U Lu Maw, both older men with decades of experience in watch repair. Charlie refers to the Burma Watches process as the more ‘informal’. A custom order will come over Facebook, then, Charlie purchases a pre-made watch and has it professionally taken apart. The

pieces travel to North Okkalapa where U Kyaw U and U Lu Maw do their work on the thin mental disks. They burn off all the stock paint with acids before beginning the complicated work of hand-painting Burmese numbers on the clean surface. Then, for the logo and other small parts, they brand the face using a form of linography. It’s a hot, finicky process, but results in a totally bespoke, hand made watch face for the customer.

What makes Mandalay Watch different to Burma Watches is that the body of their products, the entire exterior, are Kyaw Thuya Naung’s personal designs, mixed and matched for variety. These watches arrive in Myanmar retail ready with perfect, factory-made faces. Their face designs are beautiful and all aspects are by catalogue choice. The customer can get a sneak peek of what the product looks like once the order is made.

Overall, Mandalay Watch offers a smoother couture experience while Burma Watches offers something a bit more rough-and-ready, a genuine, locally handmade souvenir, which lends authenticity, and makes Charlie’s watches popular with foreigners.

What unique about Burma Watches is the service of printing your name on

a personalised watch face if you want an exclusive gift. The next step, Charlie says, is working with a local leather smith to soon offer Myanmar made, genuine leather watch straps.

The two watch companies charge similar prices for their products, around K120,000, meaning customers can decide between the two both on aesthetics but also with the processes in mind. Both offer to put names on the face of the watch. Mandalay Watch is in a better position to fill bulk orders for weddings, conferences and the like, and are also pushing a line of watch straps that embrace traditional

Myanmar patterns (Chate). Charlie pointed out, however, that Burma Watches’ handmades appeal to be more intricate detailing on the faces.

“It’s fine to have competition,” Charlie said. “I think the customers can see that we’re not offering the same product. There are subtle, but important, differences”. https://www.facebook.com/ BurmaWatches/ https://www.facebook.com/ mandalaywatchcompany/

Mandalay Watches (Provided).

Mandalay Watches (Provided).

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

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Review

NORTHLANDER: AVERAGE YET PRICEY FOOD So we ordered Heart Attacker (6,500Ks) first which comes with brown rice, chicken thigh, grilled pineapple and hot sauce after a few minutes. The first thing I noticed was the brown rice, which was covered by the whole chicken thigh. So I took a spoon and fork to it, and the first bite was not bad, although the rice was wet and pulpy – in other words, not cooked properly. The chicken tasted odd, and the grilled pineapples were overgrilled—one out of ten!

Then we tried Melted Tacos (6,000Ks) and Wholemeal wrap (7,500Ks) to persuade our stomachs again. The crispy tacos come in three pieces loaded with minced beef, tomatoes, onions, melted cheese and some chip. What made us confused was the cold beef inside, although the melted cheese was appealing.

Two large slices of the wholemeal wrap filled with crispy chicken and veggies got our hopes up in the end.

But we were told that the last order of our Beet Power (3,500Ks) was canceled since the maker behind the juicer was away. Draught beers and liquors are on the list but we didn’t take any since it’s a weekday.

Melted Tacos (6,000Ks)

F

acing the Secretariat, Northlander pictures a mix of Shan ethnic traditions and Mexican trinkets featuring a set of Shan national gongs, long drums and cymbals along with a giant Sombrero and small maracas on each wall. The restaurant sits beside the mosque lodging tall wooden tables as well as teeny ones on the ground floor, and a cozy mezzanine upstairs—all grey and green.

The bar was empty as we sat down and checked the menu, which was pretty impressive with burgers, wraps, salads, tacos, pizzas, soups and specialities.

The prices seem lavish but we decided not to judge before the plates come.

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Overall, Northlander, as a new comer, can be considered a nice place to dine out for those who live in downtown if they could revamp the food quality and the prices since Father Office, Healthy Me and Kim Sakura sushi are thriving in the neighbourhood.

Address: 301 Bo Aung Kyaw Road (Middle block), Kyauktada Township Tel: 09 266 002 544 Opens 10am – 10 pm Giant Sombrero and small maracas.

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Review

NOODI: YANGON’S FAVORITE STICKY NOODLE PLACE

N

oodle with starch gravy is not as popular as Kyay Oh or Mohinga in Myanmar since it is rarely seen in some of Yangon restaurants. Which is more or less the same as Lor Mee that popular in Malaysia and Singapore, these sticky noodles are easy to obsess once you have tried.

NooDi was opened just a year ago. But it has made noises in the ever-growing Yangon food scene by promoting the lesser known food popular among local foodies.

The proprietor Myat Phoo Wai, the fresh winner of KBZ Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the MYANMORE Awards 2019, is a self-taught cook who has passion in making gravy noodles.

She considers she could do better than those boring Chinese restaurants hence she came up with a plan to stand out the dish as her own brand— NooDi. Myanmore visited NooDi a week after the award ceremony to see as if the food lived up to the hype. The starchy noodles – or sticky noodles as the proprietor likes to call it – was the main menu of the shop which is pretty popular even before she won the award.

Customize your bowl with favourite base - starch gravy, chicken soup or salad then three different types of noodles and 11 toppings, we went with starch gravy, flat noodles and pork intestines which is an odd choice paired with salty and spicy fish paste.

Although it verily makes more savoury, help yourself with the strong smell of fish paste if it is your first try. If you don’t like it, just ask for more traditional condiment chilli sauce.

The taste was nice and the intestines were melt-in-your-mouth tender.

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Sticky flat noodles with pork intestines.

But it wasn’t filling so we ordered one more dish, the rice with starch gravy.

Although it was described as “minced meat sticky rice”, it was ordinary rice.

Comes in large portion and complete with an omelette, meatballs, vegetables and generously sprinkled minced chicken. The gravy was poured around the rice which I found more preferable since it didn’t make the meal too greasy. Just don’t mix them if you don’t like sticky gravy.

Again, it tasted better with fish paste than with chilli sauce.

The dishes were rich in flavour so I had a cold and refreshing honey lemon juice with basil seeds. My friend ordered “signature” iced coffee which we found it ordinary.

The menu is reasonably priced, just around Ks2,000-3,000 for each dish.

There were rice dishes, a curious wonton pizza which was basically fried wontons prepared in the shape of a pizza and some salads for you to choose.

paste because I am not a fan of it. But it will appeal to many Myanmar people who love fish paste as a condiment with their daily meals.

Address: No. 44, Insein St, Kyimyindine Tsp, Yangon Phone: 09 45416 6310 Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Overall, the food was delightfully good. The problem was not the taste but coming to terms with the fish

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New Openings

What’s new this month?

Café Deja Brew • Cafe The concept “Déjà vu” — “Brew” is to offer an experience of drinking coffee in a café shop in the early 1900s. Lies in the middle 37th Street, a two-story cafe houses squared tables in a tiny room featuring a very old functioning typewriter, a vintage brand radio and an old phone on the shelves on the wall. It offers specialty coffee, juices and various Burmese and Asian fusion dishes yet the barbecued chicken-stuffed roti roll is a must-try.

Address: No.134, 37th Street middle block, Kyauktada Township, Yangon Tel: 09 430 52489 Opens 9:30am - 8pm

Mr.Cow • Taiwanese They say, Taiwan’s No.1 Skewers. Another best Taiwanese food spot awaits you with pop-up menus starts from the spicy noodles to roasted meats. Mr.Cow, means the barbecuer in Chinese, provides not only the outstanding taste but also the attractive food presentation which will at least make you crave for more.

Address: Inside Yangon International Compound, Ahlone Road, Dagon Township, Yangon Tel: 09 8980 90096 Opens 4pm - 11pm

Find out more at sarmal.com.mm

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MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

Little Sheep Hot Pot • Chinese

Hayeonjung • Korean Located at 2nd floor of Spring Line Condo in Hlaing township, this Korean restaurant offers exclusive premium pork galbi buffet at 9,800 kyats along with marinated charcoal duck bulgogi. Other side dishes as Kimbibap, soups and meals are also available at the restaurant with a bottle of Korea’s signature Soju.

Address: 2F Hlaing River Road, Insein Township, Yangon Tel: 09 960 250205 Opens 11am - 10pm

Little Sheep has the extensive choices when it comes to ingredients, and the chunks of Mongolian Lamb are what really make this place stand out. The food is fresh, crunchy, salty and well prepared with loads of flavors. Perfect choice for the ones who want to taste unique hot pot style. Yoma Stragetic Holdings is behind the franchise and management of Little Sheep.

Address: 14/14B, Kanbawza Street Golden Valley (1), Bahan Township, Yangon Tel: 09 4433 99701~701 Opens 11am - 11pm

Sweets Seiza • Japanese You love desserts but tired of ordinary ice-creams and cakes? Try the Japanese sweets which are mainly mochi (glutinous rice cakes) stuffed with sweetened red bean and strawberries which are the perfect match for a cup of hot macha.

Address: No. 70/C-1, Ground floor, Shwegone Daing Road, Ko Min Ko Chin Ward, Bahan Township, Yangon.

Phone: 09 791 609832 Opens 10am - 4pm (Closed on public holidays)

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

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Music

San Thu Aung (Provided).

RANGOON RHYTHM:

SAN THU AUNG Budding new star on the Myanmar pop scene, San Thu Aung is a shy young man with a charming smile and an easy manner. He’s Mandalay born, son of a Kachin mother and Chinese father. According to the artist, he’s been in love with singing since he was just five years old, taking it up enthusiastically as a member of his church choir and then as a solo hobby around the home. He says he never had grand designs on a career in show business, but as an older teen he made a hobby of uploading his covers of popular Myanmar pop tunes on YouTube. Words by Alec Wilmot.

H

is videos, shot in an endearing amateur style around his own home, enjoyed moderate viral success. The online support he received prompted him to try out for the Myanmar reality TV show Galaxy Star on MRTV-4, a pop music competition by Samsung.

He entered the 2017 competition and battled his way to second place, which garnered him further online attention and some mediation and advice from the show’s pop idol judges.

“The most challenging part about doing live performances is dancing.

People are expecting to see great dance moves, but I’m not very

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practiced at it,” San Thu Aung expressed.

He admits his preferred style is playing intimate Myanmar ballads on acoustic guitar, but to get ahead, he’s going to have build up his public confidence.

For a year after the show ended, San Thu Aung continued working on his own material and uploading videos, but then, in 2018, received an offer from Korean media agency One Entertainment, which quickly led to the release of San Thu Aung’s first album, “Keys”.

“My mother cried when she learned I had released an album. She was

so supportive, I really felt validated because a lot of artists struggle getting their parents’ approval to sing” he said.

The agency then put San Thu Aung’s works on Korean streaming apps Bugs and Melon, as well as on iTunes.

He’s now learning how to sing in both Korean and English to increase his marketability, and is slowly figuring out a dance routine. His first single, “Holding Me Back”, was released to streaming on 18th February in both Korean and English.

Myanmar, Korean and English pop songs and ballads. The language training, on top his recording commitments, has got San Thu Aung hard work, but he still finds time relax, preferring to spend his weekends noodling on his guitar, going to the cinema to see comedies or (he seems embarrassed to admit) playing Clash of Clans on his mobile phone.

“I’m not sure what the next step is”, San Thu Aung said. “I can’t wait to see what Myanmar audiences think of a mixed language album, it’s going to be something new”.

He is now about to release his second album, which is going to be a mix of MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

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Apps

TECH TALK Our roundup of some of the best tech to enhance your life in Myanmar.

Yummly

If you are having a hard time for a delicious dinner at mid or a breakfast in the morning, and you don’t want to order from a diner, Yummly helps you to improve your cooking with handy tools, tips and helpful videos. Your best partner in the kitchen with over 2 millions recipes.

Mingalar Cinemas

The app shows all the information of Mingalar cinemas.

You can find films that are showing now as well as showtimes. What makes this app special is that you can purchase movie tickets in advance with just a click.

Feedly

Feedly makes sure you don’t miss the crucial updates as it collects 40 millions plus feeds from online magazines, journals, new blogs and youtube channels. You can read, organize and share the contents via your social media with friends and families.

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MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

MYANMORE magazine #30 April 2019

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