Myanmore Magazine - No.39/January 2020

No. 39 /January 2020 It’s free!

A WOMAN IN FRONT:

NANG LANG KHAM 2019 IN REVIEW AND WHAT'S COMING NEXT THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF YANGON UNIVERSITY HOW TO TRAVEL IN MYANMAR ON A TIGHT BUDGET MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

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No. 39 /January 2020

magazine Managing Director Andreas Sigurdsson Managing Editor Min Ye Kyaw Sub Editor Megan Grace Clark Editorial Assistant Hsu Myat Lin Naing Cover Photo Gerhard Joren Illustration Ben Hopkins Photography Khiri Travel Linn Yan Kha Susan Bailey Wai Phyo Zwe Wint Htet

12 What’s On 6 Cinema 8 The Tea Shop 10 Cover Story The Pioneering Vision of Nang Lang Kham 12

Lifestyle La Source Luxury Spa 32 Eat & Drink Myanmar Meat Club 33 Sharky's Latest Innovations 34 The Myst Bar and Lounge 35 New Openings 36

Arts 38 Rangoon Rhythm 39 Sports 40 Tech Talk 42

Features The 100th Anniversary of Yangon University 16 2019 in Review and What's Coming Next 18 Sofar Sounds 23 Travel How to Travel in Myanmar on a Tight Budget 24 Tips and Updates from Popular Destinations 26 Fashion WHOW: 30

Art & Production Win Zaw Htun Phyo Thu Kyaw Publisher MYANMORE Magazine Pyit Thiri Thaw Lychee Ventures (Myanmar) Limited Permit No. 01588 Printer Rhythm Force Offest Permit No. 01490 Sales & Advertising sales@myanmore.com 0977 900 3701 / 3702

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

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Contributors Adam Perrell Christian Gilbert Edwin Briels Khin Wathan Oo Mariana de Heredia Nay Thiha Susan Bailey

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 MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

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What's on Literature

Big Bad Wolf Books 10th to 20th January 2020 Big Bad Wolf is back to Yangon this month as its second debut. If Wolfies are looking for more reasons to stop

by Sale, just think about all the money you’ll save when you snag the books you’re looking for with a 50%-90% discount. Gain a headstart for the new year with wolf selection of titles that will excite and challenge your mind.

Save up now for lots of knowledge and fun.

Myanmar Expo Hall at Fortune Plaza Corner of Minanda Road and Thumana Road, Thaketa Township, Yangon | 9 am - 12 am

Activity

Yangon Zay 11th & 12th January 2020 Yangon Zay is a sustainable concept market featuring exciting foods, vendors as well as other exciting pop-ups curated especially for family fun weekends. On 12th January, Myo Kyawt Myaing and Sophia Everest will perform their songs on stage of Yangon Zay starting from 6:30 pm. For reservation and ticketing please call 01 664 728.

The Tea Factory - No.2, Kanyeiktha Street, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Mayangone Township, Yangon | 12 pm - 8 pm

Teens and Dreams Scavenger Hunt 2020 19th January 2020 This year, the Scavenger Hunt will be held at the University of Yangon on Sunday, 19th January. Over 50 games will be played by 3 players per team and the players will be given mission maps, gifts and water bottles or soft drinks. Top 3 winning teams will be awarded too! The registration price is 5,000 ks per person and if you come together as a team, it will be only 12,000 ks for 3 persons. Walk-in registration is not included and the number of outsiders is also limited so the earlier the registration, the safer. So now is the time to find your

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partners for the hunt. Even if you cannot find anyone for the team, do not worry about it since the organizers will arrange and find partners for you on the d-day.

University of Yangon - University Avenue Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon| 8:30 am - 12 pm

Myanmar Craft Beer Fest 2020 19th January 2020 8 breweries from 5 countries will showcase 32 beer styles across 24 bar taps from 12pm midday to 12am midnight on January 19, 2020. Early bird tickets open on December 1, 2019 - special discount price of only 15,000ky per ticket. Tickets include festival entrance, 1 x Food Item and 3 x 200ml glasses of premium craft beer. Special opening discount - Buy 5 x Tickets, receive the 6th for free.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 09 775 451852.

Burbrit Taproom - No.74, Ma Naw Hari Street, Dagon Township, Yangon | 12 pm - 12 am

Yangon Pride: Thakin Mya Park 24th to 26th January 2020 Yangon Pride is back at Thakin Mya Park and it will be bigger than ever.

With three days of spectacular performances, photography, games,

films, competitions and so much glitter. Come for the celebrities, Drag Queens, DJ, games and songs.

Thakhin Mya Park - Corner of Thakin Mya Park Street and Lower Kyimyindaing Road, Ahlone Township, Yangon | 3 pm - 10 pm

Sports

Centurion Squash Tournament 18th and 19th January 2020 The announcement of the Yangon Squash Club’s Centurion Squash Tournament which is happening in Yangon on 18th and 19th of January.

All skill levels are welcome for this team race to 100 points. The ticket price is 15,000 kyats for members and 25,000 kyats for non members. For more information and ticketing please contact 09 252 347 759.

Yangon Squash Club - Moe Kuang road, Bahan Township, Yangon | From 6 am

Education

2nd Myanmar Project Management Symposium 19th January 2020 The 2nd Myanmar Project Management Symposium focuses on “Myanmar 2020 Vision:

Ensuring Project Success in the Next Decade.” The symposium will inspire project managers, program officers, government regulators, and executives to develop the skills and understanding needed to deliver project success in a rapidly growing economy. This year it celebrates PMI’s 50-Year contribution to Project Management. We celebrate the 50 PMP Credential Holders developed in Myanmar. For more information and ticketing please contact 09 257 999 601.

LOTTE HOTEL YANGON - No. 82, Sin Phyu Shin Avenue, Pyay Road, 6½ Mile, Ward 11, Hlaing Township, Yangon | 9 am - 5 pm

Recruitment Dynamics in Myanmar 22nd January 2020 The recruitment dynamics in Myanmar are changed dramatically right before our eyes, as the development of technology proliferates the HR industry; causing more and more transparency into the labour market and hiring practices. Matt De Luca, Managing Director of JobNet.com.mm, will share current HR market trends and the most in-demand jobs through the landscape from both the employee and the employer perspectives.

Don’t miss this enlightening event; valuable for any company looking to expand their workforce, attract the best talent, or seeking up to MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

date and relevant, industry insight.

The price is US$ 10 per member and US$ 20 per non-member. For reservation please contact connect@ austchammyanmar.com.

Rose Garden Hotel - No.171, Upper Pansodan Street, Near Kandawgyi Lake, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon | 8:30 am - 10 am

Business

AMCHAM AGM Reception 30th January 2020 The highlight of the Annual General Meeting is the celebratory reception to congratulate and welcome the newly elected Governors. AMCHAM invites members and non-members to join for a networking reception to meet the new AMCHAM leadership.

Delighted to announce that the U.S.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Ambassador to Myanmar, H.E. Scot Marciel, will be guest of honor and provide the opening remarks at this festive occasion. Cost: Free to attend for members; USD 15 per non-member (24,000 MMK). Fee includes canapes and free flow of beer, wine and soft drinks. For more information, please contact mya@amchammyanmar.com.

Auction” will be held in accordance with international procedures at the Inya Lake Hotel.

Pan Pacific - Corner of Shwe Dagon Pagoda Road and Bogyoke Road, Pabedan Township, Yangon | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Middle Eastern Night Dinner

Arts

Valuable Paintings & Freeholders Curio Exhibition and Auction 19th January 2020 A second event of “Valuable Paintings & Freeholders Curio Exhibition and

Inya Lake Hotel - No.37, Kabaraye Pagoda Road, Mayangone Township, Yangon | 9 am - 5 pm

Promotions

17th and 31st January 2020 Experience the authentic taste of Middle Eastern countries. Enjoy your favourite Mediterranean dishes such as Arabic Ouzi (Lamb with rice), Shawarma, Hummus, Falafel and many more. The buffet includes free flow of soft drinks, beer, white and red wine, all at US$ 35 net per adult. Also enjoy a complimentary shisha during this Middle Eastern buffet night. Only limited seats are available and shisha service will be provided on a “first

come, first served” basis. Please call 01 934 5000 to reserve your table.

Melia Yangon - No.192, Kabaraye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon | 6 pm - 10 pm

Enjoy Your Quality Time At The Heaven Bistro January 2020 The Heaven Bistro is unique for those who like to enjoy a variety of food and drinks in Asian and Western fusion. Buy one Beer Tower and get a delicious bite platter for FOC. For those who prefer Beef Steak or Salmon Steak will get a glass of Premium Draught Beer as a complimentary. There will be a 20% off for all types of cocktails & mocktail.

Saturday Night Live Music every week from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm.

The Heaven Bistro - No.4, G/F, Room (I,J), Wingabar Road, Bahan Township, Yangon | 11 am - 10 pm

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Cinema

Now Showing Ford v Ferrari

Action, Adventure, Drama Academy Award-winners Matt Damon and Christian Bale star in FORD v FERRARI, based on the remarkable true story of the visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby and the fearless British-born driver Ken Miles, who together battled corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.

Cast: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe & more.

The Grudge

Horror, Mystery After a young mother murders her family in her own house, a detective attempts to investigate the mysterious case, only to discover that the house is cursed by a vengeful ghost. Now targeted by the demonic spirits, the detective

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must do anything to protect herself and her family from harm.

A Confession by a Woman

Dolittle

Cast: Tara Westwood, Junko Bailey, David Lawrence Brown & more.

Thet Hnin Eain meets Yu Maw at a French language class and falls in love with him while she’s engaged to her highschool boyfriend, Ko Aung. The film indicates a heart touching love story between a woman who just wants to express her love and affection to the one she loves and a man who does not understand what love is.

After losing his wife seven years earlier, the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle, famed doctor and veterinarian of Queen Victoria’s England, hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his menagerie of exotic animals for company. But when the young queen falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure, regaining his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and discovers wondrous creatures. The doctor is joined on his quest by a young, self-appointed apprentice and a raucous coterie of animal friends, including an anxious gorilla, an enthusiastic but bird-brained duck winner, a bickering duo of a cynical ostrich and an upbeat polar bear and a headstrong parrot, who serves as Dolittle’s most trusted advisor and confidante.

Coming Underwater

Action, Drama, Horror Mysterious creatures terrorize crew members aboard a research station located seven miles below the surface of the ocean.

Cast: Kristen Stewart, T.J. Miller, Jessica Henwick & more.

Bad Boys for Life

Action, Comedy, Crime Old-school cops Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett team up to take down the vicious leader of a Miami drug cartel. Newly created elite team AMMO of the Miami police department along with Mike and Marcus go up against the ruthless Armando Armas.

Drama, Family

Cast: Daung, Sai Si Tom Kham, Paing Phyo Thu & more.

Adventure, Comedy, Family

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Emma Thompson & more.

Cast: Will Smith, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig & more.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

The Gentlemen Action, Crime

The Gentlemen follows American expat Mickey Pearson who built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he’s looking to cash out of the business forever it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Henry Golding & more.

The Last Full Measure Drama, War

The film tells the true story of Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger, a U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen (also known as a PJ) medic who personally saved over sixty men. During a rescue mission on April 11, 1966, he was offered the chance to escape on the last helicopter out of a combat zone heavilyunder fire, but he stayed behind to save and defend the lives of his fellow soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division, before making MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

the ultimate sacrifice in the bloodiest battle of the war.

Thirty-two years later, respected Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman on a career fast-track is tasked with investigating a Congressional Medal of Honor request for Pitsenbarger made by his best friend and PJ partner on the mission and his parents. Huffman seeks out the testimony of Army veterans who witnessed Pitsenbarger’s extraordinary valor, including Takoda, Burr and Mott. But as Huffman learns more about Pitsenbarger’s courageous acts, he uncovers a high-level conspiracy behind the decades-long denial of the medal, prompting him to put his own career on the line to seek justice for the fallen airman.

Cast: Alison Sudol, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Plummer & more.

Ashfall

Action, Drama Stagnant since 1903, at an elevation of 9000’, a volcano erupts on the mythical and majestic Baekdu Mountain.

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Henry Golding & more.

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

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MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

THE TEA SHOP Illustration by Ben Hopkins.

Please DON’T BURN Your Leaves Anymore Bokashi Myanmar, a local company that focuses on converting everyday food waste into soil, introduced a campaign to stop burning leaves. It is very common to see smoke coming from open areas and it can produce a lot of breathing problems. That’s why, Bokashi Myanmar created this “Don’t Burn” Campaign to reduce burning leaves. Mr. Ag Soe, one of the organisers of the campaign said that the campaign is focused on Shwe Taung Tan ward in downtown and they collect 30 bags a week anywhere in Yangon. The easiest way to turn leaves into soil is to pile them under trees or to put them under planting frames.

Sharks and Rays Extinction In Myanmar The risk of extinction of these two species are increasing due to illegal fishing in Myanmar’s water sector. Shark fins are very popular among restaurants to make shark fin soup. Such demands make fishermen hunt sharks illegally and the risk of their extinction has been threatened since. To protect those endangered animals, the Department of Fisheries is implementing a national plan to exploit public cooperation to increase the awareness of protecting endangered animals.

The campaign includes educating fishermen about illegal fishing of sharks and rays and how actions will be taken for illegal fishing.

Moderate Quake attacks Mandalay’s Thabeikkyin Township On 28th November, an earthquake destroyed several buildings, houses and temples in Thabeikkyin Township and nearby areas. Mr. Aye Min Thu from the Disaster Management MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Department said that walls and ceilings of some buildings cracked and it is also said that the earthquake was also felt in Mogok Township and Sagaing and Kawlin Township in Sagaing region. He also added that people affected are being provided assistance and no injuries had been reported.

Scholarship Program Coming to Rakhine Students There will soon be a scholarship program for students in Rakhine state organized by Embassies of Norway and Denmark. The purpose is to open a new door for the students in Rakhine who are under various challenges by helping to improve the quality of education.

Students who passed the matriculation exam in 2019 will be eligible to apply for the scholarship. This program will help young people in Rakhine State to be able to seek for more opportunities for their future and help them make a change for their communities.

The Process of Government’s Regulations on Alcohol Imports Almost Finished The Ministry of Commerce has been drawing up regulations to ease the import of alcohol in Myanmar and the approval of the Attorney General is the only thing left to complete the legislation. Since 1962, the imports of foreign spirits have been strictly banned and the new legislation can pave the way for importing foreign alcohol and spirits under certain rules and regulations. The General Administration Department will issue licenses for the manufacturing, storage and distribution of alcohol.

After the legislation has been approved by the Attorney General, it will be presented to the parliament for further processes.

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Cover Story

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MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

A WOMAN IN FRONT: THE PIONEERING VISION OF NANG LANG KHAM Words & Interview by Mariana de Heredia. Photos by Gerhard Joren.

Many of us are inspired by people in history who have pioneered new inventions and shaped our world, those who have used their creativity, art, and intellect to push the boundaries of their craft and venture into the unknown. We find many leaders like so in Myanmar, but also ones driven by heart and values of care and loving-kindness. A young, articulate woman with an innovative vision for Myanmar, Nang Lang Kham, Deputy CEO of KBZ Bank, is one such leader, helming the country’s largest financial enterprise.

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he most striking aspect of meeting Nang Lang Kham in person is not her eloquence and charisma, but the sincerity in what she is passionate about. Clad in comfortable yet smart clothing, a conversation with Nang makes it clear that she is a true polymath, a person with a curious and educated mind with a passion for learning new things - from the future of finance to tonic-infused cold brew coffee.

“I’m actually quite a private person, but I’m also not an introvert” replies Nang when asked about her public persona. Despite coming from a prominent family, public speaking never came naturally to her. It was only after 2014 when she attended the U.S. Department of State Global Women's Mentoring Partnership Program, a four-week program for emerging young women leaders from all over the world, that she found confidence to share her learning with others.

From there, Nang followed her calling to make an impact on people’s lives by focusing on the social purpose of the KBZ business and setting up her family’s founMYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

dation. Having been involved in the business from the young age of 14, Nang and her sister Marlene eventually assumed formal roles in KBZ Bank in 2016. This was a time where the company was going through significant transformation, transitioning from a family businesses to a professionalised corporation.

Putting Myanmar onto the world map in a digital age has been a driving force for Nang and her family, especially after 2011 as the country opened up and began a process of transformation and growth. Nang and her sisters have seen that a new generation of technology-led businesses are needed to reach this and help Myanmar achieve more inclusive growth. Just like her developed confidence in public speaking, Nang emphasizes the need to ‘learn to be outside of your comfort zone’ in order to accomplish this: “We need to be intellectually curious and push the boundaries of how our work and jobs are defined everyday.”

Gender equality and inclusivity Gender and disability equality

and inclusiveness in the workplace have been major agendas pushed forward by Nang inside KBZ, given that more representation is needed for a transformed Myanmar. “In the beginning, I was told that these issues were for NGOs or governments to solve and that the private sector

would not participate much. But the private sector is where many employment opportunities can be found. If you really want to push the employment and leadership of women, you can’t leave the private sector out of the conversation. In Myanmar, the issue is a bit more complicated, in the

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Cover Story

“You need to know how to plan your life goals, how to find your passions, and finding inspirations/ aspirations - the way you want to be, how to grab these opportunities and grow.” banking and retail sectors there is equality of pay, but it is the leadership positions where women are excluded. At the bank, more than 60% of branch managers are female, but closer to the head office level, there tends to be a funnel. So it is the private sector that really needs to champion this. It’s no longer about having conversations on this issue, but about implementing impactful policies.”

“Also, women in Myanmar are constantly pressured to get married and have children, which I think, in this day and age, they shouldn’t need to be. The world today allows you to be successful and driven in your career, and have the option of having children in the future, without necessarily sacrificing either.” When asked about what wisdom she would share with other women who aspire to have a successful career like herself, Nang replies with no lack of assertiveness: “When there are opportunities, take them. And don’t give excuses.”

Education and the digital age Nang’s global perspective and cosmopolitanism attest to her experiences abroad. At the age of 14, she moved to Singapore to study in a boarding school.

This experience taught her to be independent and resourceful, and especially to grow as a person and develop good judgment.

More than anything, though, Nang reflects back on this time as being exposed to a diversity of people and cultures, learning how to see things from different perspectives and learning about other people’s lives, “learning how to not be single-minded” as she puts it.

Like her parents, Nang and her sister Marlene have a strong interest in education. But like in everything else, Nang’s vision is long-term, even futuristic. Going beyond structured education, Nang believes in a more holistic education: “You need to know

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how to plan your life goals, how to find your passions, and finding inspirations/aspirations - the way you want to be, how to grab these opportunities and grow.”

“As the oldest sibling”, Nang laughs full-heartedly, “I got the worst share. I was the first child, so my parents had high hopes and expectations of me.” Nang figuratively paved the path for her two younger sisters, studying abroad and setting a very high bar. When she was growing up, her parents’ business was not the powerhouse it is now.

Nang was born in Shan State when her father was still a teacher.

During the first year of her life, her parents would drop her off at a friend’s farm before work, and she recalls with a laugh: I found joy in the simplest of things and playing outdoors. My parents would find me playing with the farm animals on their way back from work to pick me up. I lived through the journey of them being teachers, then taking over a single branch from the founders of a small town bank in Taunggyi.”

Nang comes from a tight-knit family of achievers, all sharing the goal of having an impact on people’s lives in one way or another, through medicine, education, or banking. Closeness is very important to them, her family has a tradition of sharing two meals a day together. Beyond the dining room, Nang works together on a daily basis with her younger sister Marlene: “We complement each other, but we have quite a different profile. It’s a good support system, a sounding board; for one, you get immediate feedback” she says tongue-in-cheek with a smile. “At the end of the day, we both have one vision for the company. We are both interested in the same things in and outside of work, and we share the same friends so most of the time we are together. But we do have our own space and time.”

“My parents are quite open-mindMYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

ed, they are both teachers and entrepreneurs. In the early days they were more traditional, but because of education, they always wanted us to be exposed to education beyond what they have learned themselves. And now they learn a lot from us. My mother always asked us about what we were learning, what it was like living in Singapore or in Australia, what the food is like… I think curiosity was always there, but their generation did not have the same opportunities to be exposed to more international grounds. However, my mother is interested in a lot of things. She wants to use digital platforms and support our mission to make Myanmar a cashless economy” Nang explains with a smile.

This interest in the digital, of course, extends beyond Nang’s family. Myanmar skipped the generation of analog phones, the penetration of mobile devices in the country has been a major shift, a frog-leap in the way people use and share knowledge.

KBZ has a goal of 100% digital connectedness, to really achieve financial inclusion in a digital sense, leaving no one behind. In terms of social responsibility of the telecommunications sector, Nang stresses the importance of digital literacy in order to enforce issues such as privacy, security, and reliable news sources.

“What will Myanmar’s story be? The future I’m looking at is digital. The future I’m looking at is equal and inclusive. The way I see it, in order to empower people, they have to be financially independent, and they have to be in control of their finances and planning.”

Tell me what you read and what you eat and I will tell you who you are...

‘If you know what books someone is reading, you can know what someone is thinking’ the old saying goes. So, what books lie on the reading table of this young leader?

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Topping the list are the much-discussed non-fiction best-sellers, ‘Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind’ and ‘21 Lessons for the 21st Century’ and ‘Homo Deus’

by Yuval Noah Harari. “It is very futuristic. It makes your brain work to see how things are, what the future looks like, and how one can be part of that.”

Another book on her list is ‘My Organic Life: How a Pioneering Chef Helped Shape the Way We Eat Today’ by Laura Jane Fraser and Nora Pouillon, about the woman who opened the first organic restaurant in Washington D.C. It’s interesting to me how people with very strong passions have the drive to really get there.”

“I love these kinds of books, but at the same time, I love books that are very vivid and have lots of story-telling, like Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming’. Her whole life story is amazing. I‘m really interested in people’s lives. I want to know how they got to where they are, and what their inspirations were. So Michelle

Obama, in her book, wrote about the house where she lived, how she met her husband, and all the way until becoming the first lady.

She has been a great supporter of her husband, but at the same time, truly independent; she is a powerful female leader and role model.”

“This will sound weird,” says Nang with a laugh, “but whenever I travel to different countries, I will always include a cooking class on my trip. But I cannot cook. So I won’t remember anything afterward, but I love the experience.

From food you can tell a lot about the people, and make connections.

I’ve taken cooking classes in Vietnam, Amsterdam, Italy, Barcelona, and one in China,” Nang says, holding back the laughter.

“If I wouldn’t be in this business, I would be a travel writer.” As a testament to her nature as a true explorer with an infinitely curious mind, her recent interest is in the Arctic Circle, about which she talks about passionately.

But when asked about her favorite

food she goes immediately back to her Myanmar roots: “I eat Mohinga every morning.” Nang’s devoted father travels back and forth, especially to Shan State, and whenever he comes back from the airport in the morning he brings her favorite Mohinga from an airport restaurant she especially loves.

“Be kind in what you do” Nang learned from her mentor, the former CEO of Sam’s Club, Rosaline Brewer. “I was amazed to see what a humble leader she is. I always thought of CEOs as extroverts who you cannot touch” recalls Nang with a bit of nostalgia in her voice for the role model from whom she learned so much. “I used to think of CEOs as extremely confident people who always know exactly what to say.

But she taught me that you need to prepare a lot when you are doing public speaking and especially when you are giving an interview, you can’t just improvise” Nang reflects with a smile as she calmly sips her green tea.

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Feature

DID YOU KNOW THAT 2020 MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF YANGON UNIVERSITY? Christian Gilbert

N

inety-nine years ago this December, a group of students at the University of Yangon (then Rangoon) decided they were fed up.

The school had only recently been opened by the British colonial authorities as the first modern, secular university in Myanmar; up until that point, aspiring Burmese students had been forced to seek higher education in Calcutta or London.

But now there was a sparkling new campus situated well away from the city centre, between Victoria (Inya) Lake and Prome (Pyay) Road, a deliberate move on the government’s part so as to make student protests easier to control.

Former Secretary General of the United Nations U Thant 1963.

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Myanmar, December 9th), Yangon University would gain a reputation as a hot-bed of political activism and anti-government dissent.

In the 1920s, the University Student’s Union was the training ground for Myanmar’s future nationalist politicians - the Thakins - who reappropriated the colonial form of address for Europeans, Thakin or “master”, for their own revolutionary ends.

At that time the university also happened to be amongst the best in Asia. In the 1930s, it was home to great professors of archaeology, linguistics, and economics such as G.H. Luce, Pe Maung Tin and J.S. Furnivall.

Many Burmese students, however, were unhappy with the situation.

They argued that the University was elitist (modelled on Oxford), too expensive for local people to attend, and only likely to perpetuate British colonial rule.

Over the past 100 years it has played alma mater to some of Myanmar’s most famous politicians, artists, and intellectuals such as the independence leader Aung San, dictator Ne Win, writer and journalist Khin Myo Chit, the poet Min Thu Wun, and state councillor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

A majority decided to go on strike.

The strikers met at the Shwedagon Pagoda and soon they had founded an alternative system of National Schools that emphasized Burmese culture and language (one of these was Myoma National High School now BEHS 2 Dagon).

One particularly symbolic image has been that of the University’s Convocation Hall, built in 1927 and deliberately left unpainted in recent years (some say by military order out of the fears that the day it is repainted Myanmar will become a democracy).

From that day onward (later commemorated as National Day in

The University has loomed large in Myanmar culture - in the novels MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

The University’s Convocation Hall today.

of Inya Moe Moe and as the subject of songs such as Htoo Ein Thin’s Blue Moon’s Shadow Over Judson Chapel.

Moreover, it has borne witness to some of the great events of 20th century Myanmar history.

It was here, after three years of fierce fighting, that the Japanese General Heitaro Kimura officially surrendered to the Allied Forces on October 24, 1945.

This was a hopeful moment, but, later on, the University campus would serve as the backdrop for some of Myanmar’s darkest political dramas.

On July 7th, 1962, following General Ne Win’s military coup, troops stormed the campus to disperse a peaceful student protest.

The female student inhabitants of Inya Hall dormitory hung their htameins over the entrance, daring the soldiers to enter and risk the bad luck of crossing under a woman’s sarong. Ultimately, they did, and scores of students were killed.

language of instruction was changed from English to Burmese - which might have been a praise-worthy move had not education been significantly de-funded at the same time.

What was once perhaps the best university in all of Asia was over time reduced to the bottom of the world rankings.

In 1974, when the former Secretary General of the U.N. U Thant’s body arrived in Yangon, the government sought to bury him quietly in Kyanndaw Cemetery.

But a group of student activists from the University had other plans.

They snatched the coffin, enshrining the body in front of Convocation Hall and insisting on giving Thant the state funeral they thought he deserved.

Eventually, at the urging of the family, they gave the body back, but then another group of students snatched the coffin for a second time and entombed it on the site of the former Student’s Union Building - which by this point had become a symbol of resistance to the government.

The army cracked down, driving the students out of the campus, seizing the body, and entombing it where it now lies at the Kandawmin Mausolea.

The University campus would see protests again during the 1988 Uprisings, when hundreds of protesting students were either shot or drowned by troops in nearby Inya Lake.

The University was closed down for a time in the ‘90s and students dispersed to other colleges

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

But in 2012, spirits were high once again as then-President of the United States, Barack Obama, came to speak. In his speech, he cited the legacies of alumni Aung San and U Thant, eulogizing the University as a place where “scholarship thrived during the last century and students demanded their basic human rights.”

In 2013, the campus re-opened once again to its first undergraduate class in years, and it has since climbed in the international rankings.

A new Student’s Union is up and running, protesting injustice as its predecessor did (the problems persist: in recent years, many minority ethnic students have been unable to attend Yangon University due to the requirement that students hold national I.D. cards).

But, on the occasion of the school’s centenary, it is instructive to look back at history and reflect, while wondering what the next 100 years will bring.

The next morning, the Student’s Union Building was dynamited with students still cowering inside.

After that, everything changed.

The University was put under direct government control and the

around Yangon to discourage demonstrations. By the millennium there was not a square inch of Yangon University which had not seen bloodshed at some time or another.

Japanese commanders surrender to the allies at the University 1945.

Keep an eye out as Yangon University will be holding a number of events to celebrate throughout the upcoming academic year.

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Feature

2019 IN REVIEW AND WHAT’S COMING NEXT Since 2020 has already started, let’s review what has happened in 2019 in Yangon and beyond. According to the records by the World Bank, it’s been a tough year for Myanmar and the country’s economy performed even worse than in 2018. Although many iconic bars and restaurants have closed down - some have survived - but they’re also new places that opened up in 2019. With the Secretariat opening its doors to the public, more and more landmarks and historical buildings have followed the saga. This our list of important updates in Yangon. Please share yours too!

Food & Drink

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nion Bar, a memorable signature of 57 Below closed down and Port Autonomy made its comeback at the same location. Then at the end of 2019, it also closed down to look for an outdoor space as fans requested, so Parami Pizza will instead take over this location.

The Pansodan introduces the vibe of Old Burma where you can enjoy Burmese food with contemporary European style.

The team behind Rangoon Tea House launched another great concept with Namsu, a traditional Shan restaurant. It will definitely help your cravings for homemade Shan food with its fresh and

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delish Shan recipes together with a wide choice of cocktails.

Heaven Bistro serves its excellent taste within a cozy two storey building, a good place for a family dinner and a secret hide out.

Spruce Pansodan offers varieties and specially selected beverages which includes Japanese whiskey, wines from both West and East.

The Myst Bar & Lounge is another big scene for Yangon nightlife. With bright flavor cocktails and a long list of food items it could be your next your favorite one. Plus they have live dj music every week.

Locale Café made another appearance at Central Boulevard, with its greenery aesthetic and

western-eastern fusion of healthy organic dishes plus a small floral shop which turns it into an Instagram worthy spot.

Beauty In the Pot, a franchised restaurant from Singaporean has opened its second branch at Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road in September.

50th Street Bar has been a place for sport lovers amid Yangonites for two decades. A dramatic closing of this waterhole in September fortunately resulted in a reopening under new management shortly after.

Harry’s Bar introduced its third branch at Royal Sportainment Complex in August. Not to mention its consistency in food and

service, the third Harry’s is always a full house since the opening.

RedDot Brewhouse made its first appearance at Sayar San Road in January. Then opened its second branch at Kantharyar shopping mall in August, providing chilling vibes and great beer with the view of Kandawgyi lake.

Sushi Tei opened its second outlet on Pyay Road, corner of Yoma Yeikthar Street beside Vantage Tower, Kamayut Township.

The Brunch Society reopened at Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road in May after settling at Sule Plaza for over 3 years. With its unchanging taste and beautiful decorations, it was welcomed again by its brunch lovers.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

As its third branch in Yangon, Sharky’s Myanmar opened a new outlet at La Pyae Wun Plaza in December.

Lifestyle Shwe Taung Group’s Junction Square Mall has revamped with new Food Square in January 2019 with more food, more lifestyle.

Situated at the corner of Kabar Aye Road and Kanbe Road, The Central Boulevard is a new spot where some of the most luxurious shops can be found facing its front to Inya lake.

Kantharyar Shopping Mall was introduced in July, offering varieties of clothing shops, restaurants, playground plus JCGV cinema.

2019 is a year for Myanmar’s cinema uprising. Both Myanmar’s leading multiplex cinema exhibitors – JCGV & Mingala Cinemas – have expanded their services into Premium and Gold Class experiences which include online ticketing and payments.

Landmarks The Secretariat, Yangon’s iconic colonial building, has finally opened its doors for visitors in October to explore the historic place with Victorian-style architecture. Along with daily guided tours, museums and art exhibit spaces, coffee shops and office spaces, The Secretariat introduced modernized features inside the historical landmark.

The Tourist Burma Building returned to the screen in September after 2 years of renovation. After its opening, it hosted events such as textiles display, jewelry crafting, lacquerware demonstrations and many more for about two weeks.

Times City complex was introduced to the public with its shopping malls, jewelry malls, office spaces and serviced apartments in November. Located at the busy and crowded Kyun Taw Road, Times City is another luxurious spot for locals and tourists to explore and its sister hotel, Hilton Yangon is known to open in 2022.

One of the most successful hotel chains in the world, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts under Marriott MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

International, will open its first hotel in Yangon in June 2020. Situated on U Tun Myat Road near the famous Kandawgyi lake, this 5-star hotel will bring the best and luxurious experiences for the guests.

Zealax Hotel and Residence by Eskala, a five-star property, was opened on 1 January 2020.

Rosewood Yangon, housed in a heritage building, made its debut in November. This elegant hotel is located at the junction of Strand Road and Sule Pagoda Road, offering exquisite facilities and ultra-luxury services to the customers.

Bagan, Myanmar was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2019 by the UN at the Azerbaijani capital Baku, nearly 3 decades after the complex of Buddhist temples was first nominated for listing by officials.

Bagan was first nominated as a

World Heritage Site in 1995 but plans were later scrapped due to issues with the government.

Events MYANMORE Awards Once again, the MYANMORE Awards 2019 celebrated its annual event at Novotel Yangon Max on 6th March along with Myanmar’s top chefs, restaurateurs, business entrepreneurs, musicians, media and more attendees.

Winners are Balloons Over Bagan, Novotel Yangon Max, May Myat Mon Win, Jean Marc Lemmery, Lal Mon Puia, Savoy Hotel Yangon, Nikki Baltrop, The Bar BurDubai Inya Rd, Win Star, Myat Phoo Wai, Burma Bistro, Mu Ai Kachin Food, Bodhi Nava, The Penthouse, ORNG Kitchen and Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min. Myanmar Car of the Year Awards In November, MCOTY, also known as Myanmar Car of the Year Awards, was held at Junction Square com-

pound with various brands from the motor industry being participated in this series of annual awards event. Winners are Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Tucson, KIA Sorento, Nissan Terra, Mitsubishi Xpandar, GAC GA4, KIA Picanto, Ford Ecosport, Mazda CX9, Range Rover Velar, Toyota Majesty, Ford Ranger Raptor, Borgward BX5, Toyota Camry and as Brand of The Year, goes to Toyota.

Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards The 2019 Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award Ceremony was held on March 23 at The One Entertainment Park. Many celebs have attended this annual event and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was given a speech about the film industry in Myanmar. Winners are Sithu Daw Myint Myint Khin, Shwe Kyar, Aww Yatha, Wyne (Own Creator), Thu Htoo San, Phway Phway, Kyaw Kyaw Bo, Aye Myat Thu, Win Lwin Htet, Shalon-M-Rawnan, Ko Aye and Kyaw Khaing Soe. Myanmar Responsible Tourism Awards The 3rd Myanmar Responsible Tourism Awards was held to identify and celebrate Myanmar’s most forward-thinking and innovative tourism businesses at PARKROYAL Yangon on 6 December. Winners are Excelsior Yangon, Sa Ba Street Food Tours Yangon, Laguna Lodge Eco Resort Ngapali, Green Season Travel, Babylon Trekking and Camping, Thant Myanmar, Sampan Travel, The Hotel – Kalaw Hill Lodge and Thingaha Hotel Naypyidaw.

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Sponsored

JUNCTION SQUARE: RESHAPING THE IDEA OF THE MALL WITH VISION AND HEART

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the dreams of the up-and-coming.

In a city of constant change, it is not only the people that evolve but also the steel, the glass, and the concrete.

retail and dining, Junction Square developers Shwe Taung Real Estate want their space to be a platform for life experiences.

With each generation there comes a shift in consciousness. The ethos of the young rarely matches that of the aged. The ideas of the established tend to be far removed from

Junction Square sits restlessly in the heart of Kamayut Township, woven into the metropolitan fabric of a bustling urban community.

More than a shopping mall, the 305,000 square-foot area is a living, growing community center, hosting gatherings such as the Yangon Hoop Festival and the PUBG Mobile King of the Hill Tournament. Where many shopping centers offer a platform for

Just off Pyay Road, Junction Square is central to a hub of prosperity. With Novotel Yangon Max to its north, Crystal Residences adjacent, and Time City Yangon just across Kyun Taw Road, Junction Square is surrounded by economic development. In order to offer the best of experiences in their competitive landscape, Junction Square is evolving with the community it serves.

angon is ever-changing. The streets are being transformed with the ebb and flow of traffic. The skyline is being shaped tirelessly by workmen and cranes. As communities hum to the rhythm of economic development, the individual is finding new opportunities, making new paths, and bringing about the changes for a better tomorrow.

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“We want to stay ahead of the curve,” explained Vinny Kuah, Head of the Leasing & Marketing Division for Shwe Taung Real Estate, “we have embarked on a series of rejuvenation, of enhancements.

We want Junction Square to be more lifestyle and leisure-focused.”

Junction Square is expanding on all fronts. In March they plan on opening the largest indoor playground among all Yangon Shopping Malls, offering families a clean and safe environment where kids can be kids. They are enlarging their food court’s culinary selection with

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

international cuisine to cater to the tastes of a discerning and adventurous public. They are serving the community with a holistic vision of inclusion and diversity.

Gone are the days of shop till you drop; now are the days of living your best life non-stop.

“We have to evolve as the population changes,” said Ms. Kuah, “we want more than just economic development we want to be part of the growth of the people of Yangon.”

Ms. Kuah painted a picture of a

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

small boy who runs wild in Junction Square’s indoor playground growing into a teenager who meets up with his friends for laser tag and a movie. As he ages and his needs mature, Junction Square develops with him. He studies for university in one of their many cafes, takes his girlfriend for some international cuisine at one of their many restaurants, and tells his dad he is going to marry her over drinks at Harry’s Bar. One day the boy will have become a man and he can expect Junction Square to have grown alongside him. When he has children of his

own, he can trust that his home away from home will delight and encourage them as it once inspired him. No matter where he is in life, Junction Square will hold a place in his heart. Shwe Taung Real Estate wants Junction Square to build relationships with the community that last a lifetime.

The need for such relationships is intensifying. Online shopping, food delivery services, and social media grow more pervasive and our space for connecting is becoming increasingly virtual. If we value the face-to-face, the interaction, the

real-world bond, then the venues for genuine human connection will need to become multi-faceted, versatile, and engaging. As the traffic in Yangon grows ever more frustrating, the willingness of the Yangonite to inch across town is dying. Junction Square does its best to make the trip worth their while by nurturing the social spheres that make the word “community” meaningful.

Shwe Taung Real Estate sets the standard with the rejuvenation of Junction Square. They are more than simply shaping the urban landscape; they are shaping life in Yangon.

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MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Feature

SOFAR SOUNDS: SAMPLE LOCAL ARTISTS IN AN INTIMATE SETTING

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stone’s throw from Sule Pagoda I sat on a stranger’s floor and watched a bustling crew prepare a series of pop-up performances. My girlfriend sat beside me, my +1.

As the other guests filtered in, I recognized a few faces from the September show at Sofaer & Co on North Pansodan—these shows really do pop up everywhere.

Some guests sat on the floor, others posted up on a wall, and one or two plopped on the bed behind me. It was relaxed and mellow, simple and real.

Sofar Sounds seeks to create intimate and meaningful shows where artists and music lovers can connect. The rules are simple: no talking or walking around during performances, stay off your phone, and pay attention. In an era of constant connection, updates, and notifications it demands that you disconnect and tune in.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Adam Perrell Océane, a French singer/songwriter inspired, in part, by her time in Myanmar, was the first of three performances. As she played the audience, undistracted, tuned into her sound, giving her their appreciation. The next set was the local audio duo of Bouhinga, previously featured in MYANMORE, who brought synthetic and melancholic sounds, along with dry humor, to a captivated and fully invested room.

The evening wrapped up with Arran Fagan, a singer/songwriter passing through Myanmar, whose folksy sound crept in through your ears and landed heavily in your heart. Even his happiest song was sad. True to the spirit of Sofar Sounds, Arran encouraged audience members to ask questions, get to know him, and discuss music, building a relationship that is all too often missing from more traditional shows.

A far cry from the giant stadiums, where a sea of phones might block your view of the performance, and the noisy and uninterested bars sporting a live band, Sofar Sounds brings great musicians closer. In this closeness, strangers share in great performances and by the end of the night are a little less strange.

Sofar Sounds shows maintain their intimate environments through exclusive yet fair systems. Interested hosts, performers, and audience members apply through their website, www. sofarsounds.com/yangon. Hosts and artists are screened and selected by longtime Sofar Sounds volunteers, while those looking to enjoy a show submit themselves to a lottery. Selected guests get an email 2-4 days prior to the show to confirm their attendance and find out the location the day before. By limiting their numbers

and bringing in emerging artists, Sofar Sounds consistently creates personal and impressionable musical experiences.

How much do these experiences cost? You decide; you donate.

Sofar Sounds Yangon operates through the dedication of volunteers and with the donations made at the end of each show.

Create an account with their site and get email updates on upcoming shows and opportunities to listen, to really listen to some great music.

Credit for photo to Sofar Sounds Facebook Page.

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Travel

Public train.

HOW TO TRAVEL IN MYANMAR ON A TIGHT BUDGET Edwin Briels December is an expensive month with a lot of partying, giving presents and enjoying good meals. To start the New Year without breaking the bank, some tips to travel through Myanmar on a small purse.

How to get the most out of your travel budget without becoming so stingy that you’re actually misusing the generosity of the Myanmar people? And how to support the Myanmar economy as spending your money within the country is more sustainable than another trip to Bangkok.

Here’re the top 10 tips:

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1) Use public transportation se public transport for long distances: the Myanmar busses are luxury, air-conditioned, reliable, and cover the whole country. Sit back, relax, and for less than US$ 15 you’re in 10 hours from Yangon in Bagan. It is much cheaper than any flight ticket and you also save the costs for a night in a hotel. Yes, it’s a bit slower so you might actually see something of the country. Take a public train to go from A to B but keep in mind the ride could be a bit bumpy (the train from Pyin Oo Lwin to Hsipaw is an interesting and scenic one though). Websites like www.myanmarbusticket.com, www.flymya.com and www.oway. com.mm or your local travel agency can help you booking tickets.

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Visitors with bikes in Bagan.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

2) Compare accommodation prices before you book Find out the best deal for your preferred hotel from different suppliers like online hotel booking websites (www.expedia.com or www.booking.com), local travel agencies, and the hotel itself: sometimes a hotel has a special Myanmar resident’s promotion, sometimes the travel agency has best rates, and sometimes you find good offers online.

Don’t stress if you see “only 1 room available” on a website like booking.com as it simply means that this particular company only has 1 room in their portfolio and there might be 30 other rooms available at other sources. As the big stock exchange listed companies are headquartered overseas, they might not have up to date information so better try to book locally to support local companies.

3) Check what is included in your tour package The difference in price is based on what’s included in your tour package so double check these details: Are entrance fees covered? What meals are included?

Are there any additional charges for staying a big longer at a certain temple or taking your time to ask a lot of questions to the guide? Will you be picked-up at your hotel or do you have to find your own way there? All of these adds up so estimate how much you will spend on entrance fees, transport and meals if you don’t book a package tour. Furthermore, keep in mind that the more time you spend on a guided tour; the less likely you spend on other forms of entertainment – shopping, eating, drinking etc.

4) Alternative ways of exploring / getting around Choose activities that don’t need a private chauffeur car as these are relatively expensive: go for trekking in Hsipaw area or use a bike for sightseeing in Bagan or Inle Lake and start the activity right from your hotel (without having extra costs to drive to the starting point).

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Scenery along the biking tour @Grasshopper.

5) Use a guide only at places he / she gives added value to learn about a site Plan carefully when you need a guide and when you don’t.

Guides in Myanmar are a great source of information, not only about history but also to find out more about local ways of living in their area, the local economy, culture, and festivals in their area.

I definitely recommend to use a local guide for sightseeing; yet, as you live in Myanmar you probably will be able to arrange a local taxi by yourself to get to your hotel from the bus station and you will be able to order a dinner without the help of the guide so book a guide only for the guided excursions and not as your private travel assistant, unless you like the extra pampering.

6) Use “joined-in tours” Instead of booking a private guided excursions that is tailor-made exactly to your own preferences and time, you can choose a “joined-in tour” or a “group tour”.

Going for this option will reduce the cost considerably as the “group costs” like guide and vehicle are born by a group of fellow travellers and not just by your party. Companies like Grasshopper biking tours, Urban adventures, and Viator offer group excursions or the Facebook group “backpackers myanmar” can connect you with other travellers.

7) Too cheap can end up being more expensive (or a waste of time) Look for “value for money” and

be aware of tours that are ‘too cheap to be true”. Just like anywhere in the world, booking the cheapest tour might mean you end up spending a lot of your valuable holiday time sitting in crappy souvenir shops or paying through the roof for your drinks in the tourist restaurant that had a cheap lunch included in the package. I often see tourist complaining that Inle Lake is “so touristy” as they booked the cheapest boat with a driver who only knows the souvenir shops and need the extra commission to actually be able to make a living.

8) Check if you need the extra’s and don’t change your mind Over the years, all kind of extra services have been added to booking engines and you can choose to pay extra fees to have the possibility to change your booking, add travel insurance (for things your usual insurance might already cover), book priority boarding, pay for extra luggage, pay extra for a guaranteed exchange rate or a price guarantee etc. All smoke and mirrors created to earn extra money so basically it’s always best to simply make up your mind, then book and don’t change anything in your reservation.

9) Slow travel Stay an extra day in your destination to explore some of the off the beaten track places nearby as usually the rule “the more you move from one location to the other the more it costs” is very true. Don’t try to add too many different states and divisions in

Myanmar into one holiday but simply choose 1 destination and stay a bit longer (it’s easy to spend 5-6 days just in Bagan or just in Inle Lake area) 10) Avoid the peak season Especially accommodation prices can go up during the peak season and travelling during the months November, February and the Christmas & New Year period can raise the cost. The Myanmar green season (May till September) is excellent to travel upcountry (trust me; places like Shan state, Mandalay, Bagan and Kayah state get not even half the amount of rain you’re used to living in Yangon); landscapes are lush and green and many hotels drop their prices often with 50%.

Following the above simple tips you can easily enjoy a 5 days holiday to Bagan by luxury A/C bus, stay at a 3 good star hotel with pool, and have 2 guided excursions for less than US$ 300 per person. Last hint to stay within your budget: simply tell the travel agency your maximum budget and ask to make a package within that price range.

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 edwin@khiri.com khiri.com

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Travel

TIPS AND UPDATES FROM POPULAR DESTINATIONS

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ome local tips and updates from our correspondents across Myanmar.

Mandalay Mandalay coffee lovers rejoice- as the temperatures have cooled off, there are more options for warming up! Several new cafes selling locally-grown coffee have opened just in time for the winter weather.

Here are a few of our new favorite haunts.

What’s Up Café (71st between 30 x 31st Streets) This tiny shop is clearly run by coffee lovers as the menu is limited to just a few espresso-based drinks. But what they do, they do well! The java is some of the best in town and at a cheaper price than most cafes.

Add to that fast wifi, friendly staff and a clean, modern design and it's no surprise why What’s Up is so popular!

Goffee Coffee (59th Street between Anawratha x Bayint Naung Streets) Long-standing favorite Goffee Coffee launched its third, and largest, branch. In addition to its fabulous espresso-based drinks the new outlet is hosting barista training and coffee appreciation courses.

Given Café (33rd Street between 73 x 74 Streets) Given is a quiet haven in the middle of Mandalay’s hustle and bustle. The dark grey walls, fabulous local artwork and friendly staff set the relaxed tone of the space and so it’s often filled with customers working, studying

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or hanging out with friends. The menu features great coffee drinks, an impressive range of herbal teas and some fresh juice options for once you are fully caffeinated. The food menu is limited to sweets but they are planning to launch some savory options in the near future.

Pseudo Café (34th Street between 73 x 74 Streets) Although it may put coffee purists off with its frappe and milk tea menu, Pseudo Café is still worth stopping in for a cuppa. The setting is Instagram-worthy and the average customer is young university students so it can get noisy at times, but the coffee is good and well-priced.

Bagan Bagan’s temples have made it a tourist hotspot. And no doubt, the UNESCO Heritage site is amazing.

But if you find yourself throwing a temple tantrum after seeing your 37th pagoda in 24 hours, then look west to the mighty Irrawaddy River. The river and its surroundings offer a host of interesting activities to break from temple touring.

Bagan Boat Trips (near Fantasia jetty)- The team at Bagan Boat trips have a range of river options, including join-in trips for those wanting to join a group and save some money. Day trips head north to Kyauk Gu U Min Cave temple, south to Salay and north to Pakokku. Evening sunset trips run nightly and can be upgraded to include a stop on a sandbank in the middle of the waterway. Prices start at 6,000 kyats/person.

Cycle the western banks of the river – Grasshopper Adventures pioneered cycling tours in Asia and their latest offering ‘Bagan Countryside Sunset Bike & Boat Tour’ is one of their best yet. The trip starts around 1.30pm with a boat trip across the river then continues by bike along the western shores. The route passes through farming villages, countryside roads and more.

After 20 km of cycling, it’s back on the boat to return to Bagan as the sun sets- cocktails and snacks are served on board. Price is US$ 60 / person.

Yoga by the River - Rejuvenate the mind, body and soul with a yoga class by the Irrawaddy River. Yoga Bagan has fixed daily classes in the morning and evening as well as offer private lessons on request.

While the main classes are hosted at the Yoga Bagan shala in New Bagan, the riverside locations are superb- either on the banks of the river or on one of the sandbanks, far from the noise of passing tour buses. Classes start at 10,000 kyats/person.

Naypyidaw As Naypyitaw slowly extends with the growing population, towns and villages are popping up around the centre and make for a lovely local haven from the spread out capital. Lewe is one such town, it's around 20 minutes drive from the international hotel zone, below the city. Going to Lewe feels like you’re seeing the real Myanmar, something you can never get from Naypyidaw central. Here you can

mingle with the locals, eat some authentic food and enjoy a wander around the town.

Off the main road you can drop into one of the cafes for some tea and food, Lewe Ma Wai Salads serves up delicious and authentic dishes. It’s in no way a restaurant so don’t be alarmed when you are sitting on the floor and eating off of a plastic plate. Excellent restaurant has live music, a menu in English and a good crowd of locals to add to the atmosphere. It's the perfect place to escape from your stuffy hotel restaurant.

After dinner you can head to the whisky bar Grand Royal Whisky House on the Corner of Office Road and LanMaTaw Road and indulge in some delicious drinks or if you want to grab some booze and head back to your hotel, Hla Myo Tayar Liquor Store has incredibly well priced alcohol, a bottle of Mandalay Rum costs around 2000 kyat but they stock a variety of local and imported brands.

If you want to while away an hour or so, Lewe has a lovely lake pagoda and the Phaung Daw Chat Ma Theatre which puts on performances during religious festivals. There’s also the Thiri Yadana Market which you can peruse for some fresh food.

In a capital that feels like few people live in it and no real sense of local culture, spending an afternoon in Lewe is a welcome break from the sterile international hotel zone and one of the rare glimpses of real Myanmar.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

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Sponsored

BALLOONS OVER BAGAN CELEBRATES 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Myanmar’s favorite travel experience celebrates its 20th anniversary.

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ook at any travel story or poster promoting tourism in Myanmar and chances are it will feature one of two iconic images – the shimmering golden stupa of Shwedagon Pagoda, or a hot-air balloon drifting celestially over the ancient temples of Bagan at sunrise.

“Balloons Over Bagan pioneered a vision of portraying Myanmar history at a time when the country was as yet unknown to most travelers,” said Cyrus Pun, the CEO of Memories Group, the parent company. “Sailing through the skies in these burgundy balloons has become a once-in-a-lifetime experience for thousands of international visitors from around the world, and will continue to be for decades to come, but most importantly it has contributed hugely to the local community, including our staff, many of whom

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have been with us since we first began.”

ground crew, almost entirely locals.

52-year-old David Sutcliffe who has been piloting balloons for 30 years.

Cary Crawley, who was the pilot of the inaugural flight of Balloons Over Bagan on 31 December 1999, recalled: “There were eight passengers on board and we had eight ground staff, none of whom had ever seen a hot-air balloon before. In fact, the local people were mesmerized by the sight of a hot-air balloon in the sky. Some thought it was a UFO. We used a tractor to retrieve the balloon from a sugarcane field when it landed. Sometimes, in those early days, the tractor could not reach the fields so we had to use an ox and cart.”

“Following the huge popularity in Bagan, in 2013 we introduced balloons at Inle Lake, and in January 2020 we will launch in the picturesque town of Loikaw in northeastern Myanmar,” said U Tun Thura, the current general manager. “We’ve hosted thousands of guests, including Bono from U2, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, and a member of the British royal family.

“Flying a balloon over Bagan is a very unique experience,” he said.

“Taking off at sunrise, we rise up to 2,000 feet, giving guests spectacular views across a thousand years of history. The light is constantly changing at that time of the day and you feel an overwhelming sense of tranquility.

You also get a chance to appreciate the wonder of this ancient kingdom, the layout of the city and its monuments, and a true sense of its history. I would say that flying in a hot-air balloon here is one of the greatest experiences – not only for passengers but for pilots too.”

Twenty years and more than 17,500 flights later, the awardwinning and eco-friendly Balloons Over Bagan operates an average of 12 hot-air balloon flights every day and employs more than 200

“And in all that time, we have never had any accidents or injuries,” said U Tun Thura. “The only ‘accidents’ we can recall are passengers dropping their phones or cameras out of the basket.”

This exemplary safety record is undoubtedly down to the professionalism of the pilots, most of whom hail from the UK, such as

At the height of its empire between the 10th and 13th centuries, Bagan was a cultural center for Buddhism and boasted no less than 10,000 temples, stupas MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

and monasteries. The kingdom collapsed in 1287 AD following successive Mongol invasions. A devastating earthquake in 2016

destroyed some 400 temples and monuments, and major renovation plans were subsequently drawn up plus a ban was enacted

to prevent visitors climbing on the temples. This resulted in a surge of hot-air balloon rivals, as authorities, tour operators and visitors alike began to acknowledge that ballooning was by far the most sustainable way to view the ancient ruins without damaging them. The archeological site was finally awarded UNESCO conservation status in July 2019.

Balloons Over Bagan and its offspring, Balloons Over Inle and Balloons Over Loikaw, run flights in Myanmar’s dry season. They are part of Memories Group, which owns and operates a myriad selection of resorts and travel experiences across the country, including its own island in the Mergui Archipelago with one resort, Awei PIla; yachting tours; eco-lodges; and Awei Metta, a resort-hotel in Yangon overlooking the country’s leading golf course.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Started: First flight was on 31st Dec 1999 Operation years: Since 1999 (20 years now) Acquisition: Memories Group acquired Shwe Lay Ta Gun Travels & Tour Co.,Ltd in Nov 2017 No. of flight to date: Over 17,500 Balloons Flights Operating Scales: 12 Balloons Fleet Type of Flights and Prices: Classic Flight – US$ 350 Premium Flight – US$ 450 Charter Flight Locations: Balloons Over Bagan Balloons Over Inle Balloons Over Loikaw Season Dates: Bagan (October 2019 – April 2020) Inle (November 2019 – March 2020) Loikaw (January 2020 –January 2020)

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Fashion

M

any of us think about where our food comes from and how it gets to our table. Food packaging lists the name of the farm or factory of origin and provides a detailed list of ingredients so that consumers can make informed purchases. But what about the clothes we wear? Ever stop to think about the origins of the fabric, the methods used to dye it or who stitched it together?

Know Who, Know How. It’s a simple but lofty mission for the owners of WHOW, a new line of ethically produced handmade textiles in Mandalay. They create beautiful scarves, cushion covers, and other items crafted in locally-owned workshops and made from locally grown cotton. These textiles have a story to tell and WHOW aims to share that story with the world.

WHOW: TEXTILES FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET Susan Bailey

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For Nina Frambach and Daniel Astbury, the company’s founders, setting up WHOW was a chance to fulfill a longstanding goal. The two had lived in Africa and Asia, working on various projects while dreaming of ultimately setting up a social business. It was on a holiday to Myanmar where everything clicked into place. ‘We saw so much potential. Everywhere we looked, we saw traditional fabrics and the skill used to produce them. As well, the creativity amongst the locals was striking compared to what we experienced in other countries’, Nina remarked.

The couple relocated to Mandalay in 2017 and, shortly thereafter, met Kaw and Htet. The four became great friends and together embarked on the journey that eventually became WHOW. From the start, the goal was to shine the spotlight on local producers.

Rather than creating propaganda aimed at selling products, they planned to use marketing as a force for good.

The early days of WHOW were spent forging relationships in MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

the supply chain. They met with farmers to learn about different strains of organic cotton. They sat alongside weavers at their looms, discovering traditional techniques handed down from generation to generation. And they got their hands dirty- literally- at dying workshops, studying how natural elements could transform fabrics to rich hues.

‘In most cases, we came across our producers by chance, driving or cycling around and asking anyone with a loom or sewing machine where we could make our products and see if there was a connection’, Nina explains. Their patience paid off and WHOW soon had a team of passionate suppliers who were eager to share their trade and traditional techniques with those who appreciated it.

This shared desire to share the story of people and process has created a culture of collaboration at WHOW. The result of the mutual respect and desire to learn, Daniel says, gives more creativity to the production process: ‘Our designs are collaborations between us and our producers.

The traditional weaving patterns are original designs, which we try

to combine with some western influences.’

The product line debuted in November 2019 and features scarves, cushion covers and jackets as well as aprons and tote bags. All are handwoven from locally grown cotton, with a large percentage being organic, and naturally dyed with non-toxic materials. The reception and feedback have been positive, with both locals and foreign expats snapping up the first WHOW items.

To help spread the WHOW message, each product comes with a card explaining ‘who’ and ‘how’ behind the creation of the item.

On the company’s website (www. whow.me) the stories are also beautifully chronicled, providing further insight into the production and the passionate people involved.

Getting the products out to market and having positive feedback has been a rewarding experience for the entire WHOW team. It has been a long process and, as with many new businesses, Nina and Daniel faced many hiccups and delays along the way. But they also had some strokes of luck, such as meeting Nyein, a university student who was hired as a translator for site visits. He quickly became a de facto spokesperson for WHOW, embracing the ethos of the company and using it to help build more in-depth relationships with suppliers.

wants to ensure its suppliers also benefit. In addition to the fair wages and fair treatment practices, WHOW also reinvests 10% of sales into the production chain to ensure everyone involved benefits from the sale of products. The money is given with no strings attached because, as Daniel explains, ‘We believe empowerment is letting people decide for themselves what the causes are worth investing within the given context.’

So, what’s next for WHOW? New collaborations are in process and increasing production is the natural step forward but the founders are still placing quality

over quantity. ‘WHOW is and should remain a creative social business where relationships are paramount’, Nina explains. ‘Of course, we want to grow and establish more connections with local businesses, but our aim is to ensure within this growth we stay true to our ethos.’

If you’d like to Know Who, Know How then check out www.whow.me.

This experience reinforced the couple’s belief that communication is key when doing social business. ‘The biggest lesson we learned thus far’, remarked Daniel,’ is do not try to rush production or communication, you will only end up with more work.

Expect things to work differently yet simple. Having this outlook is beneficial not just for business, but also for personal growth.’

Cotton research Translation.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

As the business grows, WHOW

Cotton Spinning.

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Lifestyle

LA SOURCE LUXURY SPA: AN OASIS OF RELAXATION IN AN UNEXPECTED PLACE Mariana de Heredia

H

idden away at the end of a long and quiet street in a residential area of Bahan, surrounded by imposing stately houses, is one of the bestkept secrets in Yangon. True to one of the realizations of the new millennium, that a spa is as much about lifestyle and wellness as it is about beauty, La Source Luxury Spa is an oasis for those looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

For over twenty years, La Source has offered Yangonites a secluded sanctuary for relaxation and selfcare, although the spa has only been at its current location for

the last five years. Walking inside the mansion-turned-spa, guests are immediately greeted with a smile, soothing hot tea, and the scents of jasmine and lavender.

Inside, the decoration feels a bit too homely, like a two-story living room with dangling chandeliers, floral oil paintings, and Persian carpets in almost every room.

The downstairs area houses the hair salon, and a vast display of beauty products and perfumes imported from Canada, Spain, and France. But upstairs is where the true magic happens.

If you are not a regular spa visitor,

and ‘facials’ sound to you like a glorified face wash, then perhaps the Signature 24-gold-karat facial might not be the right choice. Instead, you could start off with an oxygen-infused facial, which uses 98% pure oxygen to penetrate into your skin’s deepest layers.

The facial is perfectly complemented by transitioning into a tension-relieving back massage or an aromatic body scrub. For the more adventurous spa-goers, La Source offers the only infrared sauna in Yangon, an innovative treatment that uses light to create heat, and a recent ‘hot’ craze among celebrities around the world.

Whatever treatment you end up selecting, the spa’s staff will make sure you are not disappointed.

Moe Thida, a masseuse who has worked for La Source since its beginning, twenty years ago, is a magician of skincare treatments.

Applying layer after layer of designer concoctions, squeezing unwanted ‘impurities’ out of sweatclogged pores, and blowing extra chilled air to a hyper massaged skin, the final peeling feels like the shedding of an old skin.

Their popular ‘leg and foot’ massage is no less gratifying. If you agree with the saying that “if it doesn’t hurt a little bit, it means it’s not working,” then you will find these massages to be truly effective. The masseuse’s golden touch is the perfect antidote to the typical Yangon-dweller’s woes of long working hours, and traffic-inspired muscle tension.

La Source Spa spares no effort in making these treatments as holistic and immersive as possible.

With heated towels, cold compresses for the eyes, and tailored services, undoubtedly, this spa is designed for winding down and relaxing. Its atmospheric music, floral-themed massage rooms, and the staff’s amazing customer care, are all testimony of their devotion to the luxury spa experience… A perfect destination for wellness in a restless city.

Address: 12E, Inya Road, Kamayut

Township, Yangon Tel: 01 512 380 Hours: 9 am – 9 pm

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MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Eat & Drink

MYANMAR MEAT CLUB: BACKYARD BARBECUE COMES TO MYANMAR

E

ach bite was part of an elaborate story. The crackling introduced the rich flavors of the pork belly with a satisfying and captivating crunch.

The lion was tender and carried the narrative from taste bud to taste bud. My slice of porchetta reached a poetic climax when loin and pork belly met mid-chew and I melted into the experience.

Standing before me, beaming with pride, was José, my narrator of texture and taste, my poet of the grill.

“Is it okay, edible?” he asked. He smiled knowingly.

Lost for words to describe it, I stumbled out, “It’s great. It’s amazing.”

I looked to the lady and gentleman to my left. He was nodding.

She was smiling. They looked as MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Adam Perrell though they were following the same line, in the same paragraph, on the same page.

Someone behind me immediately ordered two plates of the pork.

José directed them to the Myanmar Meat Club table and returned both dutifully and happily to his grill. There were many more stories to tell and they required him to tend to the flames.

A unique new culinary experience is coming to Yangon.

Myanmar Meat Club is born from the love of great cooking techniques and quality meat, not as a product, but as an experience.

Marbled Black Company founder Htoo Maung and Brazilian foodie and grill perfectionist José Ricardo Silva mix passion and expertise to introduce Yangon to the culture of barbecue.

José found his passion for cooking early in life. “I started cooking when I was around twelve years old,” he said, reminiscing, and like many great cooks, his inspiration was his family.

“My father came from a farm, my brother is a professional butcher and a barbecue master, and that’s where everything came together.

I used to help my brother slaughter the cows on our farm. Once we were just finished I would have a red piece of fresh steak cooked on the grill.”

Htoo Maung’s family also played an important role in his love for great food. His family in Hong Kong and Singapore own their own fine food companies, building in him a love for quality.

Although quality is important when talking meat, Htoo Maung wants the focus of Myanmar

Meat Club to be on the laid back atmosphere of a cookout, amazing flavor of the cuts, and the time spent with family and friends.

At their launch event on December 14th and 15th at Yangon Zay, the pair served 450-day GF Australian wagyu rump, pork belly, pork chops, homemade sausage, and chicken wings. Everything on the menu delighted the senses and went easy on the wallet.

Myanmar Meat Club is making its entrance into Yangon like a friend coming over for dinner. It’s sauntering in, saying hello, grabbing a beer, and sharing stories by the grill.

Keep an eye out for the Myanmar Meat Club. And if you see them, say hello, enjoy their cooking, and appreciate the culture of barbecue.

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Eat & Drink

SHARKY’S LATEST INNOVATIONS Sharky’s is well known for passion and aspiration to create extraordinary cuisines which are organic at the same time. These are some of the latest creations worth trying: Golden Salmon Mohinga uses a broth made with Salmon. This creates a dish different and intriguing from other Mohinga dishes, at the same time a bit controversial for Mohinga traditionalists.

Served with slow-cooked egg and mini gourd nuggets, Golden Salmon Mohinga is available all day..

Ohn No Khauk Swe (Coconut Noodle Soup) redefined, Sharky himself took on the task to create a new version of this famous dish.

Damn Hot Spicy Noodles are just launched in Sharky’s Bagan. Just 1,500 Ks for vegan and 2,000 Ks for chicken noodles and the dish is limited to 100 bowls a day from 6:00 am to 10:00 am so don’t miss your chance!

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MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Review

THE MYST BAR AND LOUNGE: COZY, COOL AND NEONIZED

An oasis of neon, concrete, metal, and glass recently debuted on New University Avenue last weekend.

The Myst Bar and Lounge is a haven of cool music, comfortable seating, and amazing lighting in Yangon.

T

he Myst is cozy and cool.

Its modern architecture and alluring neon lights lure you inside a red-lit corridor where a bookshelf trapdoor straight out of a Sherlock Holmes mystery leads you into a lofty lounge with broad cushioned couches, a large mahogany bar, and designer lighting.

tail menu is no less flowery and mysterious. Offering cocktails with names such as ‘New Girlfriend’, ‘Jin and Rose’, ‘One Night Stand’, ‘Bad Romance’ and ‘Pass the Rum’, patrons must exercise their imagination trying to figure out what these drinks contain, or ask the friendly staff if one is less prone to suspense.

Once inside, you’ll be enveloped by the smell of sweet Shisha vapors; they offer different flavors such as ‘Cola’, ‘Saffron Hype’, and ‘Watermelon Berries’. The cock-

The cocktail menu is pricey and ambitious, to be sure, and the results might miss the mark in terms of flavor and intensity, but the presentation is spot on. With

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

rose petals as decoration, chililime-rimmed glasses, or lemon wedges, the drinks don’t stay on their coasters for long.

The food menu is as eclectic as it is delicious. Ranging from Mexican tapas (8,000 Ks) to Beef Nachos (7,500 Ks) and Prawn Salad (9,000 Ks), one can be pleasantly surprised by such rich flavors from a venue not specializing in food.

The Lounge area at the Myst, where DJs perform live every weekend, is a separate space

next to the Bar better suited to the party people. The spacious room is saturated with red light reminiscent of crimson districts in other arts of the world, reinforced by a neon “lick me!” sign.

There is something for everyone at The Myst Bar and Lounge.

Address: 25/27 New University

Avenue Road, Bahan Tsp,

Yangon.

Tel: 09 788 881899 Hours: 6pm – 2am

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Eat & Drink

What’s new this month?

The January update on new openings of restaurants and cafes in Yangon. Check them out and share your feedback!

JNS Cafe Located at fresh and new Times City Mall, JNS Cafe is a place for cake lovers where you can get various kinds of cakesMatcha cake, Rose Cheesecake, Earl Grey Mille crepe and many more. Its white color decoration and relaxing atmosphere makes it a great place to hang out and chill.

4th Floor, Times City, Jewelry Mall, Yangon Tel: 09 783 334 892 Hours: 9am- 9pm

1964 Gastropub Rock star Zaw Win Htut introduced 1964 Gastropub which is located inside Hotel Yangon. This cozy bar is another chilling place for anyone to hang out with friends and their signature craft beer is a must try for beer lovers.

No. 91/93 Corner of Pyay Road and Kabar Aye Road, 8 Miles Hotel Yangon Tel: 09 892 891 964 Hours: 5pm- 11pm

Find out more at myanmore.com/new-openings/

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MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

My Turn Board Game Cafe Playing board games has become everyone’s new favourite hobby to spend time these days. My Turn Board Game Cafe offers you the best combination of experience to enjoy time with family and friendsfood and board games.

Address: 1st Floor, 82 Sanchaung Street(Corner of Sanchaung St & Padonmar St), YangoTel: 09 442 234 541 Hours: 11am- 10pm

Vuvuzela Cafe & Beer Club The Secret Spot The Secret Spot is a newly opened bar located at Myanmar Sports Hotel where you can do multiple activities in one place- eat, drink, listen to music, swim and chill with your friends.

Myanmar Sports Hotel, Lay Daungkan Road, Thuwanna Football Stadium, Thingangyun Tsp, Yangon Tel: 09 447 755 910 Hours: 3pm- 11pm

Origin from Vietnam’s busiest Ho Chi Minh city, Vuvuzela is a new bar in town where you can enjoy Vietnamese food while listening to unplugged music bands. They also offer shisha in various flavours which are legit and affordable drinks.

G-21/22, Building(B), Ground Floor, Urban Asia Center, Corner of 48th Street & Maha Bandula Road, Yangon Tel: 09 692 699 699 Hours: 4pm- 2am

Havana Social Club Havana is the first Afro-Latin dance club offering classes in Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba and many more. As its name says, it is a perfect place for social dancing and spending time in a lively atmosphere with a great selection of food and drinks.

G23, Urban Asia Centre, Mahabandoola Road, Yangon Tel: 09 778 779 769 Hours: 6pm- 12am

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

37

Arts

PRESENT-DAY STROKES: THET HTAR SAN “If one has fire in one, and soul, one can’t keep stifling them and – one should rather burn than suffocate. What’s inside must get out”, said Vincent Van Gogh in one of his back and forth letters to his brother, Theo. Art is a very abstract and fragile matter, respected by all and accepted in unique ways.

Back in the days, when one wants to express the love for art, it was a little difficult to do so due to the lack of easy and accessible medium, at least when compared to today. Speaking of medium, technology has made the lives of the generation a lot easier and the art has been included as one of the categories that technology has impacted. Like the quote earlier from Van Gogh, people are finding ways to let out what is inside and nowadays, the new category of art, namely, digital art has been emerging and emerging fast due to its flexibility and unbounded means for creativity.

T

hus, in Myanmar, it has been growing internationally as the quality and creativity of the local artists are beyond comparable to those of the international artists. For the determination to get to know more about the lives of the local digital artists, Khin Wathan Oo speaks to the talented Thet Htar San, also known as Summer, who is currently working in the digital art industry.

Summer is a digital artist at Pencell Studio, one of the fast-growing and award-winning animation studios in Yangon. During the exclusive interview with Summer, she mentioned how her interest in art started ever since in her younger ages. When we look at the art style and the concepts of the digital artists, most of them are largely influenced by the artists from eastern region but Summer grew up with the western art styles, such as Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Looney tunes and so on, hence, she pursued her style ac-

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cordingly. As she grew older, she was introduced with Japanese art styles through its infamous anime series, “Naruto”.

“Pokémon also was the major part of my art journey”, she giggles.

“My practices were more encouraged when I got my own smart phone when I was in high school and I started my digital drawings with my thumb since I did not own any pen or tablet”, she added. “Fortunately, Pencell Studio was calling for an internship when I finished high school and I was lucky enough to get in as an intern and that’s how I started working as a digital artist”.

In her earlier days in work, she illustrated for the calendars and other small projects together with Pencell Studio. Later, she got a chance to get involved in the creation of infamous music videos, “Tha Di Ya Dal (GROUNDED)” with Big Bag and “Nga Yeesar Ga Po Mite Tel” with

Frenzo Production by Sai Sai Kham Hlaing which were the major turning points for the digital art and animation industry in Myanmar. To be specific, the former music video, “Tha Di Ya Dal”

by Big Bag was screened in many international film festivals and received Best Music Film Award from Ringerike International Youth Film Festival, while the latter one with Frenzo Production received Best Animated Music Programme/ Series Category from Asian Academy Creative Awards).

As much as Summer is glad to see the industry growing, she believes there is still a long journey to go.

“I do not expect much, yet the acknowledgement and advance should be equivalent to that of other Asian countries. To be able to get to a certain level of achievement, the government needs to support young artists, especially the proper schooling and education for the digital arts”, she mentioned.

“Also, it is very heart-warming that a lot of people from Myanmar are becoming more and more aware of the Intellectual Property (IP) concerning artworks and that promises us the future of high potentials”, Summer added.

Not only the animations and anime from other countries, the culture of cosplay, which has become more apparent lately, has a notable impression on the exercises of creating digital art.

Through such activities, Myanmar’s youth will become more aware of the digital artists and start to appreciate the hard work of the artists.

As Summer mentioned earlier, it is for the better if the international investments in art education could get into business here, in Myanmar, for the future of young Myanmar artists. So far, kudos for the hard-working artists and their astonishing art works!

Follow her @summerartzz.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

Music

RANGOON RHYTHM: HTET THIRI “Shae Sat Yan Ma Shi”, a single by a very young female artist was ranked #1 on JOOX Myanmar music chart and it can be heard humming by a lot of teenage girls today. Of course Myanmar has a lot of new faces in the music industry within these past years and it has been growing fast into global audiences through international music apps like Soundclouds, JOOX, Spotify, etc. Hsu Myat Lin Naing meets Htet Thiri, a girl behind this top hit single and talks about inspiration and love for her music.

D

espite her sweet angelic voice, Htet Thiri has never thought she’d hopped into her music career as a professional musician at first. The 17 years old wanted to be an actress after accompanying her grandfather U Zaw One to his shooting sets, who was a famous actor in the last decades. The greatest actor has also featured her in some films and commercials but her passion to become an actress slowly faded away when her mother opposed it, claiming that it is a very tiring and stressful job.

However, she is no stranger to music as her mom used to sing a lot when she was young. Htet Thiri somehow inherited her mother’s genes and she started to realize her interest and enthusiasm for music when she was in grade 8. Once she had finished her matriculation exam, she sang cover songs of her favourite tracks and posted short clips on Facebook, which paved the way for the young girl to get on the road of success.

In 2018, one of her friends at Litt (Life is True Treasure) Entertainment asked her to join the agency. She made a cover song of Singer Lay Phyu’s “Khayee A Sone Hti” and posted it on her page.

And that’s how Htet Thiri was born. She admitted.

Then, I asked her about JOOX’s Top Hits No.1 song “Shae Sat Yan Ma Shi”.

“I’ve been singing cover songs MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

and I haven’t done any of my own songs since I joined the agency. But then, Zig, one of my fellow artists from Litt, showed me a song that he wrote for me and asked me if I wanted to sing it. I find the song relaxing and I think it’d go well with my soft voice so I decided to give it a try”, Htet Thiri replies.

Inspired by her grandfather as a greatest artist since she was a kid, Htet Thiri used to follow him to his concerts and watched him performing from backstage.

Tin Zar Maw is her favorite local musician and she jokes with a smirk that she would like to make a song with BTS (a seven-member South Korean boy band) someday, which is her favourite global artist since thirteen.

“I feel the happiest whenever I get to grab the mic. Others might enjoy being a musician but for me, I just simply enjoy singing and it makes me feel so happy.” said Htet Thiri with her eyes sparkling with joy and content who has recently finished writing her very first song and it is expected to record in January or February.

She may also feature in an album with all artists from Litt Ent. and some small commercials. With her passion for music and the inheritance from her grandfather, we can really look forward to how she creates music as the new generation of music industry.

Follow Htet Thiri on Facebook @ htetthiriofficial.

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Sports

THET HTAR THUZAR:

CHASING OLYMPIC DREAMS Thanks to Thet Htar Thuzar, badminton (a long forgotten sport in Myanmar) is regaining the public attention it deserves. Nay Thiha e-interviewed the young champion about her journey and goals.

W

hile we were exchanging emails for the interview, Thet Htar was in Malaysia to train for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.

After that, she began joining international tournaments. She lost in her overseas competition in Laos, but emerged third in her second foreign tournament in Nepal.

“December is quite an eventful month. Besides the SEA Games, I have to participate in local tournaments. I have also registered for the tournaments in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand in January. But I’m not sure I will play in all of them,” says the 20-year-old.

Thet Htar understands the importance of learning.

She watches the world champions training on YouTube and takes note.

All of these efforts will come to fruition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. As of 27th December 2019, Thet Htar stands at 62 and 28 respectively on the Badminton World Federation and the 2020 Olympics’ rankings.

“I have to watch my weight and avoid fat. I do my training regularly to stay fit, so I don’t have to be too strict about my diet.”

“They select the players for the Olympics in April.

So, I will be com- peting in tournaments overseas throughout these months.”

Badminton is always on the cards for Thet Htar since she was born to parents who are both badminton players. She first picked up the racket when she was seven years old.

Thet Htar was raised briefly in Thailand since her father was serving as a coach there. She juggled sports and studies in Thailand and won third prize in her first competition at the age of seven.

Then she came back to Myanmar with her family in 2010 and trained more enthusiastically while handling her academic studies. Shortly after her return to the motherland, she was selected to represent Yangon Region in the Regions and States Tournament and won the best player award.

Then, she started competing in open tournaments and was enlisted in the national team. She was only 11 when she participated in the 2011 SEA Games. Although she did not emerge victorious at her international debut, Thet Htar had now fallen in love with the taste of competition.

“Every tournament is a challenge,” she says. “To best the opponents and come out victorious is an exhilarating experience.”

To train her for the Malaysia SEA Games in 2017, the country hired a foreign coach who urged her to join more international tournaments to gain experience and improve her global rank.

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When asked about her ideal diet, she did not mention anything special.

Besides her skills and success in badminton, her generous smile and classic Myanmar brunette looks have made Thet Htar a Myanmar sweetheart, gaining a huge fan base both online and offline.

Badminton did not enjoy much support from the State. Regarding the government endorsement, she says: “There were no government sponsorships in the early days of my participation in international tournaments. But this has changed since the government now rewards the players based on their achievements at the global levels.

I also receive some support from corporations.”

In pursuit of Olympic dreams, she has travelled as far away as Africa to compete in international tournaments. The most remarkable moment in her career was last year’s competition in Egypt where she won her first overseas title.

So far, she has won seven titles and three runner-ups and is the best hope for local badminton to shine at the Olympics.

When asked about her retirement plan, she replies: “I will be a businesswoman. Even now I’m selling Victor-branded badminton equipment from Thailand. I will extend to other fields of business when I’m retired.”

At the 2019 SEA Games, she was bested by her opponent Ruselli Hurtawan from Indonesia. But it hardly disheartens her. She is currently taking part in the Asia Olympic Project, which is a year-end regional training programme being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

It is continuous efforts that can ensure one’s success and Thet Htar still has a lot of fight in her.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

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TECH TALK JBL Tuner JBL Tuner is a portable Bluetooth speaker packed with powerful sound and crystal clear DAB digital radio sound. You can enjoy your favorite tracks and radio stations anywhere thanks to its compact design and a rechargeable battery that supports up to 8 hours of playtime. It includes wireless bluetooth function to stream high quality sound from your smartphone or tablet. If digital coverage isn’t available, you can simply switch to FM radio. It also features scrolling backlit LCD screen which allows for easy viewing of radio station details and 5 DAB/FM direct preset buttons to quickly tune into your favorite stations, making it your ultimate on-thego listening companion.

Address: Wai Yan Electronics, No.118/122, Bo Aung Kyaw Road(Lower Block),

Botahtaung Tsp, Yangon Contact: 01 250596

Mi 9 Smartphone (Xiaomi) With its holographic color scheme with a blend of metallic reflection and rainbow hues. The curved back feels uniquely comfortable to hold, fitting perfectly into the curve of your palm. The phone comes with a 6.39 inch touchscreen display with 6GB of RAM. The M9 runs Android 9.0 and is powered by a 3300 mAh battery. Its solid durability also marks the beauty of Mi 9. Its Corning Gorilla Glass 6 gives the screen dependable protection and the sapphire glass camera cover provides lasting protection. The phone comes in 3 colors -- Lavender Violet, Ocean Blue and Piano Black.

Address: Win Mobile World, No.48(A),

Ground Floor, Shan Kone

Street, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon Contact: 09 785222888

Redmi AirDots Wireless Bluetooth Headsets This headset with a built-in Bluetooth 5.0 chip can be proclaimed as a new generation of headphones. With the connection being faster and more stable, the data transfer rate is two times faster than the previous generation. Being lightweight and comfortable to wear is the highlight of this headset and it’s free to adjust and not easy to fall thanks to the strict weight control of single headset at 4.1 g. It has 12 hours long battery life with a charging box. The battery capacity of headphones is 40 mAh, together with 300 mAh battery capacity of charging box. It comes in white and black colors. There are 3 models of ear protectors for closure and firmness. For anyone who’s looking for a great wireless headset with exceptional quality, this Redmi AirDots is the perfect one to experience your best moments.

Address: Win Mobile World, No.48(A), Ground Floor, Shan Kone Street, Sanchaung Tsp, Yangon Contact: 09 785222888

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Pedometer - Step Counter, Weight & Calorie Tracker

Track all of your activities in this intuitive interface within your phone. Pacer’s fun challenges, amazing data insights, outdoor routes, personalized fitness plans and guided workouts will help you achieve your unique fitness goals. Neither a wristband nor other hardware is required to use the app. It just work entirely from your phone with no additional set up. You can also record steps, calories, distance and active time. Attain your goals and get fit today!

Planner Pro - Daily Calendar

Planner Pro is a personal organizer app to manage your daily life better. Its key features include day, week, month and tasks modules for better management, full records history including events, tasks and notes, setting the day of week manually and many more. It also offers an optional full version so that you can organize events by week view, create projects and recurring tasks. Planner Pro is the most suitable one for anyone who is looking for a personal planner to manage their daily life better and more systematically.

WPS Office

WPS is a free office suite application with all-in-one features. It’s fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and also integrates PDF, presentations, spreadsheets, memos, Google Docs, etc. The app also includes free PDF converter, reader, editor and you can also connect to the Cloud Drive to automatically save your documents to the Cloud platform. WPS office is a very useful app since it has a variety of useful functions that focus on the users’ convenience.

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020

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MYANMORE magazine #39 January 2020