Summer and Health

Summer and Health

( Yin Nwe Ko )

Together with the words ‘Goodbye’, of the remaining droplets of snow, the hints of summer intrude into Myanmar. As the saying goes, ‘It is unruly Ta-baung, the twelfth month of Myanmar year, during which days are hot and nights are cold,’ people have to drape with thick blankets at night but heat gets more and more intense at noon. Normally, people find it much convenient in travelling hither and thither or working in summer as it is a pleasant and open season. Like others things summer too has two faces – the good and the bad. The bad part is some awful experiences summer always brings together with it. What make summer hideous are the diseases that raise their ugly heads together with intense heat which makes the aged, people with poor health and young children vulnerable. In addition to infectious diseases, non-infectious diseases like sunstroke are common in summer. So, people should have awareness to stay healthy during the summer. Therefore, I present some important diseases which occur in summer as follows.

The first one is Chicken pox. We ever wonder how it got this name? Well, that’s because the boils resembled the peck marks of a chicken, and the disease was christened ‘chicken pox’.

It is caused by the Varicella zoster virus seen right at the onset of every summer. Chicken pox manifests as itchy red rash like spots or boils all over the body, usually in children. Spread by air- borne particles, the disease spreads when an already infected person sneezes or coughs. Another mode of transmission is if a caregiver touches the blisters or the fluid of a patient.

The early symptoms are fever, headache and sore throat. After about a day or two a rash like blister appears in a localized part of the body which will later spread to the entire body. The boils or blisters burst after about 2 days and once they crust over, the patient can resume their daily activities. Until then, it is important that he or she is kept in complete isolation and given a good amount of rest. It takes about 10 days for the body to recover from the illness. On the bright side, once one suffers from chicken pox, one will not contract the disease again due to the natural immunity the first attack confers on him or her.

There are some precautions since there is a vaccine available to protect ourselves against this virus. Even so, some simple precautions like washing our hands thoroughly after visiting a common or crowded place and to isolate a person suffering from the disease to prevent its spread can be exercised.

The second disease is Measles. It is also called rubella or morbilli and is a common condition seen in the summers. It is caused by the paramyro virus. It infects the lining at the back of the throat. It is transmitted the same way as chicken pox. Its initial symptoms are high fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and red eyes. These symptoms later progress to what is called a measles rash (rashes that look like small red spots), fever, cough, runny nose and tiny white spots within the mouth. The measles rashes usually appear 3-5 days after the initial symptoms and start around the hairline and face in most cases.

The precaution is the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) which is usually given to all children, which is a method highly efficient in preventing the disease from occurring.

The third disease is Jaundice. It is also called Hepatitis A and it is a water-borne disease caused mainly by contaminated water supplies and food cooked in unclean places. Jaundice is spread by the Hepatitis A virus, which affects the liver causing over-production of bile. The initial symptoms of jaundice include yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and the whites of the eyes, light-coloured stools, dark-coloured urine and itching of the skin.

There is also a precaution as a vaccine is available, but to protect ourselves better, we should avoid eating food made in unhygienic places. Drink only filtered or double boiled water.

The fourth disease is Typhoid.  It is commonly known as typhoid fever and it is water borne disease passed on through the orofecal route. It is caused by the bacteria called Salmonella typhi. Passed on by the oro-fecal route, the bacterium is commonly found in unsanitary food or water sources. Its common symptoms include high fever, fatigue, weakness, pain in the abdomen, headache, loss of appetite, and sometimes a rash. Once treated a person can still carry the bacteria but not suffer from the disease. These people are called ‘carriers’ and often are the cause for further spread of the virus.

It needs essential prevention. There are two types of vaccines available to protect us against typhoid. One is a vaccine that kills bacteria, and is injected into a person. The second is the attenuated or weakened bacterium that is administered in the form of medicine or a pill.

The other disease is Mumps. It is an extremely contagious viral disease. It is known to occur mainly in children during peak of summer. It is caused by the mumps virus and it is transmitted when an infected person sneezes or coughs. One of the most common symptoms is the swelling up of the person’s salivary glands at the base of the neck. It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, and is followed by swelling of salivary glands.

There are some precautions. The MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) can help protect us from contracting the disease. 

People from grass-root level lack knowledge and so they cannot take great care for themselves and for their children. Thus, their style of living is not rather hygienic. They are vulnerable to summer infections. Nevertheless, I believe that my  article will give some advice to them to pursue a health life during summer. All in all, summer can be a beautiful time to spend with friends and family if we are healthy. What all of us need is awareness and a few precautions to enjoy our good times.

The Myawady Daily

The future Ashin Bãvita guesses

Yin Nwe Ko (Linn)

Ashin Bãvita has been awake since he heard the sound of the logalarm. However, he does not get up but keeps tossing and turning on bed. He is not familiar with the activities of this monastery yet as he entered the short-timed monkhood there only yesterday afternoon. While tossing on the bed, he listens to the movement of monks and novices, for a short time till he hears another sound of the strikes of iron-piece. It is the alarm for monks and novices to gather a place from which they start their daily alms round. Only then, Ashin Bãvita gets up from bed. While making the bed, a monk asks him whether he would come along with them.

“Sorry Sir, I may not join you because of my poor health,” he humbly and politely declines the offer. Unfortunately, his poor health denies him from going round the town for alms food like other monks do.

As he is unable to go for alms round, he decides to stay at the monastery doing the sundry chores of the Buddha Chambers and the monastery. However, he feels somewhat self-doubting when his mind recalls the counsel given by the presiding monk at yesterday evening’s ordination ceremony about the benefits of making daily alms round anywhere from the religious point of view.

Firstly, he enters the chamber where the Buddha image is in and sweeps all the dust and rubbish away and cleans the walls. After offering lights and fragrance to the Buddha images, he recites the Parittas as much as he can, shares merit and sends loving-kindness. The chamber where Ashin Bãvita is doing the sanitary activities is in a large hall for performing religious deeds. Its space is rather wide, occupying  an area which can accommodate about six normal houses. As he has finished cleaning the chamber, Ashin Bãvita starts sweeping the floor. As the surface area of the floor is so wide he cannot finish the work in a short time. While sweeping the floor, monks and novices who were on their alms round arrive back to the monastery. It is about 6:30 a.m.

At that moment, Ashin Bãvita  takes notice a certain movement in his stomach. He knows that it is the warning signal of his empty stomach. However, it is too early as the monks have just arrived back from their round. He throws a piece of cake into his mouth and quickly swallows it with the help of a cup of drinking water.

At about 7 a.m, there is the sound of iron-piece from the refectory. When he gets there, he finds monks and novices having their breakfast. He takes seat at the table where Ashin Agga is having his meal. There are just three dishes of curry – the snake gourd curry which was prepared by the monastery, the hotchpotch which is the constant dish of the monastery and the mixture of boiled pea and fried asparagus bean. However, he finds the meals delicious. Although Ashin Agga has been in monkhood for over two years, he is quite familiar with the monastery. They are old close friends as they have known each other very well since they were laymen. Ashin Agga is now over seventy years but he can devour a lot more than him.

The hotchpotch, the main and constant curry, is very delicious. It in fact is a collection of breakfast and lunch leftovers boiled in a big pot. Very often it is added with vegetables and other edible ingredients to improve its taste. At every dish is always warm and delicious.

Although it is so named as the dawn meal, it normally ends at about 7:30 a.m. After meal, Ashin Bãvita takes a short rest. Then he restarts sweeping. After he has finished it, he listens to the eleven Parittas recorded in his hand phone.

While listening to them, he hears novices in the adjacent building studying their religious lessons. At about 9 a.m, the learning stops as they start taking bath before going homes that invite them for lunch i.e. day-meal. Again Ashin Bãvita stays at the monastery doing sundry chores as he is not invited. Only the residing monk and other two or three monks who are in ill-health like him are left at the monastery.

At about 11 a.m, there is an alarm of iron-piece to have day-meal. According to the sitting plan of the dawn-meal, monks and novices take their places and have the meal. Unlike breakfast meat and fish is served at the day-meal. However, Ashin Bãvita does not know whether such dishes of curry are included at the table of novices. It is the rule that nice dishes of curry must be offered to the monks in favour. He has already heard that the tables of the novices are finished up with ordinary or side dishes.

After day-meal or lunch, the monks take a nap. At about 1 p.m, the voice of the studying novices is heard again. The learners take rest at about 4 p.m. At that moment the sundry chores of the monastery is done by some monks and novices. After doing it, some novices play various games but some stay quiet facing with their phone screens. At about 6:30 p.m, there is an alarm of log to pay mass obeisance to the Lord Buddha. All monks and novices gather on the upstairs of the two-storeyed building and pay mass obeisance to the Lord Buddha in unison. They recite Parittas. 

As some Parittas are ones which Ashin Bãvita learnt by heart, he can follow the reciting but some are not and he has to stay silent.

After paying obeisance to Buddha, all listen to the admonishment of the residing monk. Then he thinks that all of them must take rest for the night at their respective buildings after listening to the admonishment but soon, he hears again the voices of the student novices learning their lessons. At about 9 p.m, the voice ceases. Ashin Bãvita tries to sleep appeasing the noise in his stomach with a cup of drinking water. But he cannot sleep, but remembering the words a presiding monk told him a few days ago.

He said, “The role of the studying novices and the teacher monks is greatly essential for the perpetuation of the Buddha Dhamma. Although there were over fifty Sanghãs in this monastery during the previous rainy season, there are only about forty Sanghãs in this Buddhist lent. Some novices leave the Order. They want to use the hand phones like others. It is a Pariyatti monastery and so novices must study their lessons day and night or else they will fail in their exam. Many novices are only interested in using facebook and want to spend most of their time on it. Their will on studying the Pariyatti hard further dwindles. In the end they leave the Order and go to the cities such as Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw to get any kind of work including carpentry and masonry. They join any occupation within their reach just to buy the hand phones with a unit prize of Ks- 100,000. As the number of such dropouts increases, the number of novice Pariyatti students at monasteries decreases. This phenomenon is happening in all Pariyatti monasteries across Myanmar. If this continues, the future of the Sasana will be in a worrisome situation. Ashin Bãvita hears the clock strikes twelve, but is still lost in thoughts while foreseeing the importance of nurturing the novices as they are the vital sources for the perpetuation of the Sasana.

The Myawady Daily

The secret of Theinni

< Maung Than Weik >

The tall and slim pagoda can be seen from afar even before entering Theinni, an ancient hill town over 40 miles from Lashio in northern Shan State. Situated high on a mountain slope in the northern sector of Theinni, the pagoda, titled “Kaunghmu Htut” has an unusual architectural design when compared with most of the pagodas around the country.

After ascending the mountain through a snaky motor road, we reach the pagoda built under the patronage of Mine Phone Sayadaw, an eminent Buddhist monk from eastern Shan State. 

According to some local accounts , ruins of an ancient pagoda said to be over 2000 years old were found at the place where “Kaunghmu Htut” is now standing. Locals also claim that the idea of building the pagoda at the present site in the present shape came to the Sayadaw in vision, and that the design was drawn by the Sayadaw himself. Additionally, they believe that the ruins are the remaining parts of a pagoda built by the natives with the help of missionaries sent to the area by King Asoka.

On the large brownish-red foundation structure stands the golden stupa which has four stories of chambers, each accommodating a standing Buddha image and facing a different direction. The first floor has 12 chambers; the second floor, eight: and the third and fourth floors, four each. 

On top of the uppermost storey comes the florally decorated structure supporting the parts where the scared umbrella, hngetmyatnar and diamond bud are erected. 

Painted brownish-red, white and gold colour on the surface areas, the pagoda has altogether 28 standing Buddha images as a symbol of paying obeisance to the 28 Buddhas described by the Buddhavamsa. 

Another significance of the pagoda is that all the four sidewalls of its square-shaped foundation are studded with mounted half-figures of white elephants. 

The surrounding area of the pagoda is mostly forested and there is a natural stream thundering down the mountain slope. As for the monks of a nearby monastery, the stream is a source of clean water for drinking and many other purposes. 

There are also two strange-looking shrines for local (nats) spirits in the area. From the mountain, picturesque Theinni with its medium-size lotus lake lies silently amidst vast paddy fields.

In fact, the town Theinni has a long history as it was the seat of the Shan chieftains. Once, the town was besieged by a large invading army with flags and banners fluttering high in the air.

The general of the enemy troops stationed on the hills surrounding the town was demanding total surrender or to face annihilation.

At that time a prophecy came out saying that the only means to crush the enemy troops was to trample on their flags and banners. But how could it be done without defeating them first? 

Fortunately a wise man appeared before the chieftain and advised him to dig a shallow lake on whose surface the enemy flags and banners were reflected. Then he asked the chieftain to order his men to trample on the images of the enemy flags and banners. This gave Theinni men and women enough morale, courage and strength to eliminate a much larger army.

Some speculate that the wise man was no other person than the court minister U Paw Oo who was on a visit to the area or was exiled as a light punishment for annoying the King.

Perhaps, Theinni may have many more interesting places and stories to show and tell visitors. “Seeing is Believing”. So, come, visit the town and discover its secrets.

The Myawady Daily

‘Long-necked’ women hope to turn tourism into homecoming

Kayan tribeswomen wearing a stack of bronze neck coils -- the statuesque sign of beauty of her Kayan tribe -- and children gather at Panpet Village located in Demoso Township in Kayah State, central Myanmar. /AFP PHOTO / PHYO HEIN KYAW

PANPET, Myanmar - Wearing a stack of bronze neck coils -- a sign of beauty for her Kayan tribe -- Mu Par dreams of a time when all "long-necked" women can return to Myanmar from Thailand where they are a tourist attraction.

For years Kayan women and girls have been driven across the border by poverty and conflict to earn money posing in holiday makers’ pictures in purpose-built Thai villages decried by rights campaigners as "human zoos".

Now several have returned to their remote native Panpet area in Kayah State, Myanmar, with an entrepreneurial plan to reverse the flow of departures as their homeland emerges from decades of solitude.

Mu Par came home just a few months ago having saved enough money after 14 years working in Thailand.

She now runs one of a dozen neat little shacks selling locallymade wooden dolls, scarves and individual bronze neck rings -- giving tourists a more ethical window into their uniqueculture.

Lining up a neat row of handmade "long-neck dolls" at a new craft market, Mu Par hopes to entice tourists to her eastern Myanmar homeland, and provide for her four children, aged between four and 15.

"In Myanmar my children can attend school and also I am happy to be among my relatives," the 33-year-old told AFP, as a handful of tourists milled through the area.

Once the preserve of intrepid travellers Myanmar is now a hot new tourist draw. Arrivals have doubled in the past five years and numbers are expected to surge under a new government.

Much of tiny Kayah State was off limits to foreigners until recently. Authorities now hope the region’s emerald hills and languid waterways will become the country’s next top travel destination. Mu Par and her neighbours from Panpet’s cluster of five hamlets grouped together to build the market. They share the profits from the 5,000 kyat ($4) visitor entrance fee.

"If we can get many tourists here, we want all the Kayan girls in Thailand to come back," she told AFP. 

Controversy and culture

From as young as five years old, Kayan girls are given up to ten neck rings to wear, they then add a new one approximately every year until adulthood. The practice, which gives them a giraffe- like appearance, painfully compresses their shoulders and collarbones, rather than actually stretching their necks.

A grown woman can wear as many as 25 rings, weighing a total of five kilos (11 pounds). One local legend suggests women began wearing the rings to protect themselves against tigers, who once roamed the region in large numbers and bite the necks of their prey.

Men in the village also used to wear face-shaped masks on the backs of their heads in a bid to ward off tiger ambushes, according to local people, although the practice has since died out. Fewer women now wear the coils, which force them to keep looking straight ahead. Families often cannot afford the costly, handcrafted rings, while many young girls feel they are an impediment to getting a job outside of their region.

The women can remove their rings with the help of a specialist and their shoulders and collarbones can eventually return to normal, depending on the age when they are taken off. Several dozen women and girls still wear the traditional bands, including those at the new handicraft market in Panpet.

Until recently they spent much of the year in Thailand, earning around 3,000 baht ($90) a month in the tourist attraction villages, where most of the money goes to Thai tour agents.

"Asking them to pose for photographs for money is acting like they are in a human zoo," said Phyoe Wai Yar Zar a Myanmar tourism official.

"Instead (in their home villages) people can buy their products like food, handmade crafts and souvenirs to support them."

The Myawady Daily

Tatmadaw’s virtues reflecting its historic glories

< Aung Khant Phyo Wai ( Taungoo ) >

The 27th of March 2016 is the 71st Anniversary Armed Forces Day. The Day reflects the brilliant historical tradition of the Tatmadaw that victoriously launched the antifascist struggle together with the people with the spirit of unity while putting the interest of the state and the people to the fore. In honour of this glorious historical tradition, every year the nation observes the Armed Forces Day on 27 March.

The Tatmadaw was born on 27 December 1941 as the Burma Independence Army(BIA). The Tatmadaw was formed amidst the anti-colonialist struggle and the national independence struggle. Moreover, it was founded by the people who joined the service with the will to sacrifice life, blood and sweat for the cause of the nation and the people or in other words for the race and religion. 

These are its two significant characteristics that serve as the strength of the people’s Tatmadaw of today. Having these significant characteristics, the Tatmadaw formed within the nation has been discharging the nation-building and national defence duties unwaveringly and brilliantly while joining hands and leading the people in their service since its formation.

Since ancient times, Myanmar has been a proud country under its own monarchs in this world. People established city states such as Beikthano, Hanlin and Srikestra in about 300 BC. During the Bagan period, King Anawrahta founded the First Myanmar Kingdom. King Bayintnaung, after reuniting the whole country, set up the Second Myanmar Kingdom with Taungoo as the base, and King Alaungmintaya U Aung Zeya established the Third Myanmar Kingdom with Shwebo as the core. In the 19th century, the British colonialists after incorporating India into their empire took the country as the base in waging three aggressive wars against Myanmar in 1824, 1852 and 1885 and finally annexed the country. Thus Myanmar had lost its independence and sovereignty since then.

When the World War II broke out in 1939, Myanmar youths started their efforts for waging the armed resistance against the colonialists. In 1941, the Thirty Comrades ventured to Japan and underwent tough military training there. The BIA led by the Thirty Comrades was founded in Bangkok on 27 December 1941. The BIA in cooperation with the people could drive out the colonialists from the country. When the colonialists left the country, Japan broke its promise of giving Myanmar independence with no string attached.

On 27 July 1942, the fascists abolished the BIA and reformed it as the Burma Defence Army(BDA) with strength of about 3,000 men. On 1 August 1943, Japan granted Myanmar sham independence and the BDA was renamed Burma National Army. Standing fi rmly by the people, the Burma National Army started preparations to drive the fascists out of the country. On 27 March 1945, together with the people it successfully launched the anti-fascist struggle. British, who had already witnessed the unity and courage of the people and the Tatmadaw, applied various means to delay independence. Eventually the British had to grant independence to Myanmar. Myanmar restored total independence and sovereignty on 4 January 1948. Throughout the independence struggle, the Tatmadaw together with the people made utmost efforts with sacrificing spirit till the whole country regained freedom.

One year after Myanmar regained her independence in 1948, the whole Myanmar was at the mercy of multi-coloured insurgent groups and the then-government was called “Yangon  overnment”. For the country’s independence and sovereignty, the Tatmadaw had to fight against destructive acts from home and abroad. The Tatmadaw saved the country at a time when the country was on the edge of collapse. In 1958, the Tatmadaw retained the nation’s situation as the split in the government might lead to the bloodshed and supported the flourishing of parliamentary democracy system. In 1958, the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) split into two factions. Even the prime minister himself was unable to solve the political scandal as it was very complex. On 29 October the same year, the Tatmadaw had to take over the State’s duties and safeguard the lives and property of the citizens.

The Tatmadaw had to retain the country’s power temporarily as a caretaker government. The caretaker government was comprised of 14 members including the prime minister who was not involved in the country’s politics. While in office, the caretaker government could solve China-Myanmar territorial disputes and held the third parliamentary democracy elections successfully. On April 3, 1960, the caretaker government handed over the country’s power to the Union party which won the elections. The Union party could not govern the country and faced the big rift and some old chieftain’s demand for separation by expecting military assistance from the western countries. The Tatmadaw had to take over the country’s power in the name of “Revolutionary Council” as the country was in danger of collapse.

The charter drafting was one of the works done by the Tatmadaw during the period from 1962 to 1974. On March 2, 1974, the Tatmadaw handed over the country’s power to the civilian government after the Pyithu Hluttaw and the People’s Council had been formed according to the 1974 Constitution. The Tatmadaw is always loyal to the country and continues performing the state’s defence and security duties. The single party system lasted for 14 years from 1974 to 1988. The country’s development was slow as the country could not make reforms in conformity with the political and economic situation in the world.

In 1988, there occurred political activities that opposed the single party system. There was anarchy in the country at the instigation of the above-ground and underground insurgents. But the Tatmadaw could protect the country from the collapse in time. On 18 September, 1988, the Tatmadaw formed “the State Law and Order Restoration Council” and retained the situations. The Tatmadaw had to retake the country’s power inevitably by upholding the non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty. The Tatmadaw had to steadfastly stand in front of people to defend the lives and property of the people as the anarchy like beheadings was rampant in the country.

From 1997 to 2011, the Tatmadaw as the State Peace and Development Council took the responsibilities of rebuilding the nation and establishing internal peace and Myanmar joined the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on July 23, 1997 under the administration of the State Peace and Development Council. The SPDC in order to build a peaceful, modern, developed, democratic nation, adopted and implemented four political objectives, four economic objectives and four social objectives. On August 30, 2003, it adopted seven-step road map and implemented it step by step. Likewise, the SPDC adopted ‘Our Three Main National Causes’ as the national policy and could make peace with 17 ethnic armed groups, enabling them to undertake regional development works together with the Tatmadaw. The council also helped them transform into border guard forces, allowing them to serve the national defence duty hand in hand with the Tatmadaw. Serving the interests of the nation and the national people, it carried out regional development tasks the length and breadth of the country, drafted the 2008 Constitution and ratified it with the support of 92.48 per cent of national people in a nationwide referendum, laying sound foundations for establishment of modern, developed, democratic nation as aspired by the people and finally handing over the overall power of the State to the new government on March 31, 2011.

Since the independence struggle, the Tatmadaw was born as a result of historical and national necessity. Formed with patriotic citizens of the country, it is a strong national force with long history of serving the country and the people. Our Tatmadaw has to be strengthened and modernized to be on a par with international defence forces for perpetuity of the country’s independence and sovereignty. 

The subsection (f) of the article 6 (the Union’s consistence objectives) of the Chapter I on Basic Principles of the Union states “enabling the Defence Services to be able to participate in the National political leadership role of the State.” Additionally, article 20 (e) states “The Defence Services is mainly responsible for safeguarding the non-disintegration of the Union, the non- disintegration of National solidarity, and the perpetuation sovereignty” and article 20 (f) states “The Defence Services is mainly responsible for safeguarding the Constitution”.

Since the Tatmadaw is the Union defence forces formed with national brethren, it besides the national defence and security duty has always provided relief and rescue works in time whenever there is disaster. It has also carried out rehabilitation works with might and main. The mobile medical teams of the Tatmadaw also provide health care services for national people in respective regions and states to be able to lead a healthy life.

Unless there is rule of law and peace and stability, the democracy the country is building will not last long and the government, people and the Tatmadaw are therefore engaging in peace process to end armed conflicts in Myanmar to be able to march straight toward the goal of democracy. The government took the first step, introducing multiparty democracy in 2011 and the Tatmadaw unwaveringly supported the democratic path over the past five years. It will do the same, ensuring peace and stability in the second stage of democratization process.

The Tatmadaw is building up defence (army, navy and air) capability to be able to fully protect the country—a land of natural resources located in strategic position—and the national people. It is striving to build strong, capable armed forces with advanced technologies. As the Tatmadaw was born of historic necessity, it is ensuring the socioeconomic security, and peace and stability of entire national people and is ready to accomplish the national defence and national political duties to be assigned by country, learning the lessons of the past and taking pragmatic approaches.

As the Tatmadaw is the sole national force standing before the people since independence struggle until today, the history of the country and the history of the Tatmadaw cannot be separated. Adhering to the instructions of the successive leadership of the Tatmadaw “to serve the interests of the people, to always protect the people, and to comply with the wishes of the people with right attitude and belief,” the Tatmadaw maintains its fine traditions.

Therefore, in crafting the future considering the past and present of the country, the Tatmadaw and the people are to work shoulder to shoulder to shape a brighter future for the country. Hailing the 71st anniversary of the founding of the Tatmadaw, this article hopes “Tatmadaw’s will go down in history for what it has done for the country”

The Myawady Daily

Summary of Rajāmaniculā Kaung Hmu Taw Pagoda Stone Inscription

A file photo shows Rajāmaniculā Kaung Hmu Taw Pagoda in Sagaing.

< Dr. Aung Tan Win (Oriental Studies) >

Sagaing City is situated between north latitude 21 degree 51 minute and 22 degree 13 minute and between east longitude 95 degree 36 minute and 96 degree 03 minute. It is on 228.09 feet above sea level. It is 12 miles far from Mandalay, about 72 miles from Monywa, about 54 miles from Shwebo, and about 12 miles from Tada-U.

Rajāmaniculā Kaung Hmu Taw Pagoda’s stone inscription is situated in a private cave at the northeast corner in the pagoda compound. It is the original and the documentary data of foundation of Rajāmaniculā Pagoda and records of donations offered by King Thalun (1633-1648 AD). Then the splendid consecrating the ornamental umbrella on the pagoda celebrated by King Pintale, son of King Thalun was also inscribed in it.

Ven. Tipitakalankara Taung Phi Lar, because of King Pintale’s apology, arranged and wrote these data and Mahaindagutta, his disciple inscribed them on the stone slab. It can be guessed in 1649 AD which was the finishing era of the ceremony of hoisting the umbrella atop the pagoda.

Rajakumarā inscription begins the Pali term ‘Jayatam’ which means ‘must be successful’ and then two wishing stanzas are inscribed. The Buddha enlightened at this Bhadda world, the noblest of all, and preached the sacred sermons for the sake of begin.

Then it denotes super high power and grand glory of Emperor Bayint Naung who was founder of Second Myanmar Emperor, the ruler of Hamsavati capital of Ramañña and the owner of royal white elephants. King of Sinhale (Sri Lanka), other bank of an ocean, offered respectfully Buddha’s alms-bowl and his daughter to King Bayint Naung.

King Thalun (1633-1648 AD) with the title of Sirisudhammarājā Mahādhipati was the grandson of Emperor Bayint Naung and son of Sihasura Mahadhammarājā, King Nyaung Yan (1600-1606 AD). He was royally consecrated both in Hamsavati and Innwa thrones and he erected the Rajamanicula Kaung Hmu Taw Pagoda. The inscription expresses that he dug in a stake at the place the pagoda was established on 29 August 1636.

Then he built the pagoda until 12 years but he passed away before hoisting the ornamental umbrella atop the pagoda. Then the inscription denotes his son King Pintale (1648-1661 AD) with the title of Sirinandadhammarajā pavaradhipati, succeeded to his father’s royal throne on 23 August 1648. Then the royal ceremony of the His Majesty to visit the hoisting of ornamental umbrella atop Kaung Hmu Taw Pagoda from Innwa to Sagaing was inscribed in details. The royal ceremony of the His Majesty to visit the religious ceremony in Nyaung Yan period was proudly recorded in this inscription. Ceremony of hoisting the ornamental umbrella atop the pagoda was held on 8 April 1649 and King Pintale celebrated this ceremony with splendor and greatness.

Yadanarpond Newspaper

The oldest and longest teak bridge

The oldest and longest teak bridge

= Nadi Nain =

One of the past capitals of ancient Myanmar Amarapura sits in the country’s central arid zone just 11 kilometres south of Mandalay. Founded by King Bodawpaya in 1783, the city served as the seat of throne until 1857, when the nation moved its royal administrative power to Mandalay.

What remain of the former royal city today are the ruins of the city gate, parts of the palace, and the tombs of olden day rulers. Additionally, a large number of religious buildings are still standing in the area. And of them Kyauktawgyi Pagoda and Maha Gandayon monastery are popular.

But a visit to Amarapura will not entirely complete without a walk over the world's longest teak bridge spanning an old lake in the area. One of the main tourist hotspots of Myanmar U Bein Bridge is an ancient bridge crossing Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura for many years till now. Historical records say that the 0.74 mile (1.2-kilometre) overpass was built about 170 years ago and is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. When the capital of Inwa monarchy moved to Amarapura, Mayor U Bein collected the teak pillars of the dismantled palace that would be left behind. The mayor and his team of engineers and workers erected the bridge with those teak pillars as the main columns of the facility. So the bridge is named after the mayor who organized the bridge project. He and his men started the erection work in 1849 and finished in 1851. It is said that the Myanmar engineers used traditional methods of scaling and measuring in erecting the bridge; and that they made scale by counting the footsteps.

The crossing and the lake in combination create one of the best sites for local and foreign photographers as the world’s longest teak footbridge gently curves 1300 yards across the shallow water body. During the summer times the dried-up parts of the lake bed are turned into green patches of seasonal vegetable plantations. So the bridge passes high over these vegetable farms and a shrinking lake with lower water level during the dry season. But when the monsoon comes, the lake grows bigger again turning all the lowlands of the area into a large single water body. Its surface level so high that water laps just below the fl oor planks. As the bridge is very old some of the 1086 poles supporting the facility have been replaced with concrete columns. Floods during the rainy season coupled with stagnant waters caused by fish breeding in the lake have gradually damaged these pillars. Gladly, the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library of the Ministry of Culture has renovation and conservation plans for the long-term existence of the bridge which still is largely intact till now.

Apart from its virtue as a visitor paradise, the bridge also serves as the central part of the community as hundreds of local commuters including Buddhist monks are walking to and fro on it daily and on the surface of the lake under it are fishermen doing their routine job. The best view of the bridge comes at sunset, and the best photo shot of the facility can be taken from a boat paddling in the lake. But a great time to visit the world’s longest and oldest teak bridge is just after sunrise when hundreds of villagers and monks commuting back and forth across it.

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Saving forest Lands

Saving forest Lands

= Maung Than Weik =

Forests can ensure a balanced climate as the two have interrelations. Many experts believe that forest depletion and degradation are one of the main contributors towards global warming that is changing the weather patterns in many places and affecting wildlife habitats around the world.

During our school days we learn geography and came to know that over 50 percent of Myanmar was covered with forests. Some records even say that roundabout 90 percent of the country’s territory was home to flora and fauna during the pre-independence period.

Sadly, those figures have already left behind in history as our motherland now is no more a place where forest lands are in safe hands.

Latest records indicate Myanmar’s total forest cover at 46 percent of the total land surface. But if we look into this latest figure in detail the results are alarming. Of this 46 percent close forest or thick jungle is only about 19 percent of the total land area, while the other 27 percent is just an open forest where trees are not dense.

As time goes by, we turned more forest lands into livestock and crops farms to feed the growing population. We also established industrial zones, mineral extractions, human settlements such as towns and villages to employ and accommodate new comers. A number of these projects also ate up some forest land.

Another thing is that we used wood as fuel for households and cottage industries which is one of the major causes of forest diminution. In some places, locals unaware of the consequences cut trees indiscriminately never thinking about the long-term cause of their action.

But the worst is illegal logging as these flora poachers do not know anything more than profits. Unlike licensed lumberjacks who usually conduct extraction and regeneration in parallel, they care only for their short-term benefits while always ignoring the long-term ill consequences. And there were even foreign criminal gangs committing large-scale illegal logging of priced woods in Myanmar’s forests.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry has been exposing and curbing illegal logging all around the country. During the period from fi scal 2011-2012 to fiscal 2014-2015, the ministry seized 138,649 tons of teak, hardwood and other wood species together with over 130 foreigners and 22,673 locals involved in this illegal business, revealed the Forest Department, adding, 3429 log trucks, 477 tawlaji vehicles, cranes, excavators and bulldozers totaling eight, six tractors, 688 mechanized boats, 422 units of chain saws and many related equipment were also included in the seizure.

Naturally, we must give something first in return for something. And if the gain is higher than pain, it is worth making a sacrifice. So, we understand that we must sometimes give up our trees in making way for prospective regional for national development undertakings.

As for the work of reducing wood fuel consumption and ending indiscriminate felling of trees, it requires broader public knowledge, especially among the rural folks. Accordingly, we must launch awareness programs effectively particularly in rural areas with the participation of the departments concerned, volunteers, civil societies and non-governmental organizations. And then we must teach them and encourage them to use fuels such as solar, gas and farm byproducts in place of wood. Some institutions are already doing this job.

Moreover, we must put more energy to the country’s fuel wood plantation, reforestation and forest regeneration programs.

But as for the illegal logging it is an unpardonable crime not only against our nation and people but also against the whole mankind and the Mother Nature. As these criminals are plundering and stealing our natural treasures at an alarming rate our image as a lush and green country is tarnishing. Then again it is a clarion call for us all to take punitive action against these tree poachers swiftly and effectively and to save our invaluable forests as faithful citizens of the country.

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A flood-free rainy season for Yangon

A flood-free rainy season for Yangon

= Maung Than Weik =

Annually, many of the roads and areas in Yangon are flooded during the rainy season, a scenario the people of this metropolitan are familiar with for many years. And when the roads are inundated there come other hazards such as electrical and traffic accidents that can cause death, injury and property damage.

There is another danger larking under the flood waters. Many of the platforms in Yangon have holes and they become hidden traps when the muddy waters cover them. There are also other traps that are even bigger and more treacherous for pedestrians during the city fl oods. They are the drains built under the platforms. These semi-underground canals are covered with concrete slabs and in many parts the cover slabs are missing leaving big holes in a number of places of the roadside platforms. When flood water makes them invisible they are turned into dangerous traps deep enough to cause serious injuries for any person who falls into one of them.

Normally, the worse hit areas of the city are Pabe-dan, Latha, Lanmadaw and Botahtaung townships in central parts, and Pazundaung, Mingala Taung Nyunt, Dawbon, Mayangon, Thakayta and North Okkalapa townships in other parts.

Recently the Yangon City Development Committee-YCDC announced that it had been in the mission of preventing city floods through the work of dredging the underground and above ground canals, building new drains and extending the existing ones, repairing the platforms, filling the missing covers of the roadside canals in the whole Yangon at a cost of over K 30 billion, saying that it was going to reduce the rainy season flood menace by 50 percent this year. Moreover, YCDC in cooperation with Myanmar Developers Association and Human Settlement and Housing Development Department built over 2000 culverts in North Dagon, South Dagon, East Dagon and Dagon Seikkan townships in fiscal year 2014-2015.

Most of the parts of the drainage system of Yangon are old or even deteriorating that they need proper renovation, substitutions and maintenance. As the population of Yangon is increasing rapidly other problems also arises along with this growth. Among them garbage problem appears as the one helping intensify the city flood menace. But the problem actually comes from the lack of discipline among the Yangonites. Unfortunately many in Yangon indiscriminately discard garbage. Although there are dustbins placed on the roadside platforms, pedestrians and food stalls usually leave garbage on the streets. Rain water washes them into drainages, and when the pieces of garbage assemble into a single big mass they begin to block the channel like a dam. This trend reverses the work of underground drains turning them into portals that fill water on the city streets from the conduits channeling water out of the city. Another supporter of the city floods is tides. Most of the drainages empty into the nearby rivers and creeks. When the tides come, water levels of these natural water bodies rise and the current turns upwards blocking the flow of
water from the drains as their openings are under the water during the tides.

But the main culprit is the random throwing of trash that causes blockages in the drains. Hence, it is important for the authorities concerned and the YCDC to look into their garbage collection and disposal system while educating and rallying the public to join hands with them in making Yangon a clean and green city free from floods during the rainy season.

From now on, let us all be systematic and disciplined in throwing garbage right into the dustbins, and enjoy a rainy season free from city floods.

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" Why we should educate girls "

" Why we should educate girls "

= Hnin Thet =

Across the globe, the glass ceiling for women appears to exist in every society. If not, there would not have been the phrases like ‘women’s rights’ and ‘gender equality.’

Compared to their counterparts in many fellow Asian countries, Myanmar women generally have a greater degree of equality with men. But then, a glance at the legislature and government departments will make it clear that Myanmar women just represent a small presence in leadership and decision making positions.

Like the majority of world’s countries, a deeply entrenched belief in male sex superiority persisted in Myanmar for centuries and both men and women thought it was normal. The time-honored maxim for housewives “Treat son as the master, and treat husband as the Lord” reflects the traditional role of Myanmar women, their innate tendency to rely on men and their acceptance of the back seat.

However, the belief in male sex superiority is started to be shaken in 2000 s when the rising living expenses forced many women from their homes to the workplace to become earners themselves, which has gradually reduce the women’s reliance on men. This is perhaps the most significant benefit the ever-increasing commodity prices have brought for the sake of women.

Nowadays, we have seen a number of women breaking out of the age-old glass ceiling — some standing up and speaking out for their rights, some managing viable businesses and some showing a heart of gold to the afflicted and vulnerable. They are taking the lead role and some are even outperforming their male counterparts, but then, to the dismay of womanhood, there are only a handful of such women.

While the educated women of high and middle social classes see considerable opportunities, those from poor backgrounds, particularly of urban population, see the different things as chances are scarce for them.

Most of the girls from poverty-stricken families with poor educational background are employed in manufacturing business like garment and shoe-making factories. But longer working hours do not mean higher wages there. The pay is just enough for them to make ends meet, given the soaring living expenses.

In the past, there was a traditional belief in rural areas that girls need not be educated and basic numeracy skill is just enough for them. Although this belief has diminished with the passage of time, its legacy still drags on.

In fact, educating a man is educating a person and educating a woman means educating the whole family. While the men are generally considered the breadwinner of a family, women can help better their families than men do. Women indeed are the gatekeeper of their families’ health.

Educating girls would do a lot as studies show girls who have completed primary school at the lowest could help themselves much better than in pregnancy, family planning and even prevention against sexually transmitted diseases than those who have never gone to school.

Since women and girls constitute more than half of the national population in Myanmar, how much they are educated or their educational levels will decide the future of the country. And no doubt, protecting their rights means guaranteeing human rights.

Though it is not possible to increase the proportion of women in the legislature and political leadership immediately overnight, their rights can be best protected with the help of women’s rights organizations and CSOs for the time being.

Whether they have the power like “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” or are considered as the weaker sex, one thing is for sure that investing in brining education to girls would make better the younger generations under their caring hands.

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" Foreign investors showing greater interest in hotel and tourism sector "

= Zar Nyi Thitsar =

As the country opens up, foreign investors in grasping this opportunity expressed their interest in Myanmar tourism business and a variety of enterprises have already entered Myanmar. They are bringing together with them capital for hotel and tourism sector. The fruit of steering the course onto democracy, the international business have been eyeing Myanmar as untapped last remaining market in the South East Asia.

Myanmar now has 859 Hotels with 31321 rooms operating under the permission of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism. 217 hotels holding 9451 rooms in Yangon, 90 hotels owning 3886 rooms in Mandalay, 40 hotels with 2640 rooms in Nay Pyi Taw, 76 hotels containing 2351 rooms in Bagan, Nyaung Oo and 66 hotels having 1837-rooms have been opened and license for hotel is given regionally, according to offi cial data of Hotels and Tourism Ministry. Among them, over twenty are 4 or 5-star hotels.

There are over 1,000 hotels including inns, motels and guest houses owned by local businessmen, most of which are located in Yangon, the commercial hub of Myanmar. 

There are a total of 39 foreign-invested hotels and commercial complexes across the country including Yangon and Mandalay Region.

Some of experts said more favorable rules and regulations are needed to encourage more international investors to Myanmar. International hotel chains’ interest in Myanmar is a positive sign for the development of tourism sector. Their interest in Myanmar upgrades the image of our country’s tourism business too. But more importantly, the government should encourage these international investors by offering favorable tax regulations, investment law and policies.

However, there are still issues to overcome in order to turn interest into actual investment.

Foreign companies have already invested over $1.4 billion in Myanmar hotels and tourism business. In addition to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong from the east UK, US and other countries from other parts of the world are also preparing to enter Myanmar hotel and tourism sector with a high speed.

Experts also highlighted that other issues will affect how FDI will come in, including adequate infrastructure and guarantees for maintaining development. Facilities like international roaming and a fast and reliable internet connection are necessary for the economic development of the country.

In a bid to boost tourist arrivals in the country, Myanmar has introduced online e-visa for tourists from 67 economies including ASEAN's since Sept 1, 2014. The system ensures all the global tourists destined to Myanmar to get e-visa within fi ve days. Moreover, Myanmar has also reached visa exemption agreements with Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam, and negotiations are underway with Malaysia and Singapore on similar agreements.

The number of tourists has increased from 1.05 million in 2012 to 2.04 million in 2013 in Myanmar, which is among the world tourist destinations. It received 3.05 million tourists in 2014, which is an increase of 49.5 percent from 2.04 million in 2013. Myanmar hopes to attract five million tourists in 2015.

Of the 3.05 million tourists who visited Myanmar in 2014, 70 percent came from ASEAN member countries, followed by those from Europe especially Britain and Germany.

Amid the surge in tourist arrivals, the number of tourism companies also increased, reaching 1,623 in 2014. Myanmar's tourism earnings hit 1.14 billion U.S. dollars in 2014. The tourism industry accounted for 4.2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. It generated about 6.5 percent of the total job opportunities. 

Myanmar also targets to welcome over 7.5 million tourists in 2020.

Foreign investment in the hotels and tourist sector reached 2. 15 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 4.26 percent of the total and is standing at the sixth place in Myanmar's foreign investment line-up as of November 2014.

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" Shwe Set Taw Pagoda Festival "

= Hpone Thant =

hwe Set Taw (The Golden Footprints) pagoda is one of the most venerated pagodas in Myanmar. Actually there are two pagodas: the Ahtet Set Taw Ya or the Lower and the Ahtet Set Taw Ya, the Upper.

The pagoda history tells us that in the 12th year after Lord Buddha attained his Enlightenment He came to this area with a retinue of 500 followers. At that time the present Mann Chaung (Mann Creek) was known as Namada and here lived a Dragon King. Once this Dragon King invited Lord Buddha to his realm for worship and at the request of this Dragon King, Lord Buddha left an imprint of His feet on the banks of the present Mann Chaung. This day this place is known as Auk Set Taw Ya (Lower Golden Footprint). 

Then Lord Buddha journeyed up the Thitsa Banda Hill that rose by the Mann Chaung where he met a hermit named Thitsa Banda. He also gave a sermon to the hermit and left His left Footprint here at the request of the hermit too. This is the Ahtet Set Taw Ya (the Upper Golden Footprint). Although there were some historical references to the pagodas during the Bagan era when King Alaung Sithu was said to donate some land to the pagodas they were largely lost and forgotten. But the story continues that only by the efforts of a most revered monk, the Taung Phi Lar Sayardaw, fairly recently that they were re-discovered and made possible for the succeeding generations to worship them.

But whatever the story, the Shwe Set Taw Pagoda Festival is one of the most unique pagoda festivals in Myanmar. As the rains recede from Myanmar, sandbars appear in the streams and creeks that flow into the Ayeyarwady River from the eastern foothills of the Chin Hills. Sandbars also appear along the banks of the Mann Chaung too. And these sandbars eventually became the venue where stalls and accommodations for the pilgrims spring up during the festival time. City folks from all over the country travel to this festival with the double intention of paying homage to the Buddha Footprints and also to enjoy the scenery on the way to the Pagoda and escape from the hectic rat race of city life even if for a week only.

The Shwe Set Taw Pagoda Festival normally begins in the Myanmar month of Tabodwe( February) and continues for a long time, until the Myanmar Thingyan (New Year) in mid-April. But going after that time is dangerous. Unexpected squalls, the precursors of the monsoon rains, will come suddenly and the Mann Chaung is prone to fl ash fl ood at that time.

The pilgrims stay in bamboo and thatch huts that are erected on the banks of the Mann Chaung. Food is also plentiful as there are many food stalls: traditional Myanmar food, Chinese dishes and Indian biryani, all available. Just make your choice. Other stalls selling various kinds of merchandise are also here and most villages around this area depend on these shops to buy what they need for the coming year. There will be turbaned Bamar farmers as well as a sprinkling of tattooed Chin ladies browsing among these stalls. And jostling with them might be a bevy of city girls decked out in more modern attires. Entertainment troupes are also here. Local Myanmar entertainments, called pwes, perform throughout the night. Their performances are a mix of pop songs and stories of traditional Jataka tales taken from the Holy Scriptures. Aside from these the visitors can also enjoy splashing in the cool waters of the Mann Chaung right at their doorsteps.

But apart from the holy sites Shwe Set Taw has other attractions too. Only a few people know that it is also the centre of the Shwe Set Taw Wildlife Sanctuary. Established since 1940 it has as its purpose:(1)To protect and conserve the endemic Shwe Thamin(Cervus eldithamin) deer which can only be found in Myanmar;(2)To conserve the unique Thandahat forest type(a kind of mixed dry zone plants) Eco system;(3) To conserve the watershed area of the Mone and the Mann creeks which are important tributaries of the Ayeyarwady River flowing in from the west;(4)To preserve the environs of the Shwe Set Taw Pagoda.

According to Forest Department data bears, gaurs, samburs, barking deer and various types of smaller wild feline species are found in the surrounding forests. The rare Star Tortoise is also present but is on the endangered species of the IUCN Red List. Forest/ vegetation types range from Thadahat forest type to low Indaing or (dry Dipterocarp) and dry deciduous forests.

There are several routes to Shwe Set Taw Pagoda. One preferred route accessible via Minbu in Central Myanmar is to drive to Magway and cross over the Ayeyarwady river by the Magway Bridge. The road to Shwe Set Taw is dusty but more or less passable even by smaller saloons but the added incentive is the opportunity to visit several other notable pagodas along the way, notably the Mya Tha Lun pagoda in Magway, Shin Pin Sek Ka Te in Minbu and the mud volcanoes at Naga Pwet Taung. Accommodations are available at the festival venue. Most are primitive with little or no amenities. They are temporary huts of bamboo and thatch built on the sandbanks of the Mann Creek. Bathing and washing are done in the creek too. Some government departments maintain guesthouses for their departmental guests but these can be rented for a fee on the spot if there is a vacancy. These government guesthouses come with ensuite toilet facilities.

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" The Trouble of taking the Bus "

" The Trouble of taking the Bus "

= Poe Aung =

Though he wakes up at 5:30 in the morning, he really has very little time to spend with the family. Tin Maung, 45 as soon as he gets up says prayers and then cooks for his children and his wife who has already gone for a hawking. After a while he is ready to go to work. His house unfortunately is far from the downtown at the outskirt; it takes about two hour bus ride. So he has to be at the bus-stop by 7:00 am.

Normally, from HlingTharYar where he lives to downtown is two hours drive but sometimes it takes more than two and a half hours as many problems lay in wait for passengers on choking buses rolling slowly all along the congested roads. It also is the traffic to be blamed.

“Days run out by just preparing for the bus ride and it also takes time on the bus too,” said Tin Maung, a construction worker. “If I’m late for work, the employer is not happy with me and he cuts a certain amount of money from my salary,’’ he added.

Though ministries have permitted to import vehicles in place of old ones, importers are giving priority to personal car business so it can be seen that ordinary workers and majority of the people have to still count on the existing commuting buses.

U Soe Tint, a bus driver from Shwe Eathe said “It takes normally one and a half hour from the fi rst stop to the last stop (HlingTharYar to Yangon- downtown). But now, since after old vehicles have changed with new ones it takes about 2 and a half.” “This is because of some drivers driving with no traffic rules and because of some hawkers and pedestrians,” he added disappointedly.

As buses running in the city still have weak points more extended bus lines have been introduced for the convenience of the city dwellers. Unfortunately most of the extended lines are A-htoo or the special buses which charge more, but crowded as usual, said Tin Maung.

“These special buses are not different with those that have to pay only 100 kyats. At first, they said to take off only when the air-con is cold enough, no passenger to stand and ride and will not pick passengers at all stops. But now they are taking a lot more passengers as ordinary buses,” said Tin Maung.

We read in the local papers and state run papers that actions will be taken against buses that let stand passengers ride but in reality rule enforcing seems week.

Along with these rules, bus fares were systematically set by the authorities but sometimes conductors are playing by their own rules, charging as they like and speeding at will, sometimes pulling in-coming passengers onto the bus and pushing outgoing passengers out of the vehicle, a practice that is awful for everyone. Frequently, bus riding is a breathtaking adventure for people.

The complaints from passengers have been rising, and the number of complaints surpassed 1,400 in 2014, up from 400 in 2013. Most complaints revolve around overcharging and rude behaviour by conductors.

Usual problems on these cramming buses involve male molesters and pickpockets taking advantage over their victims and quarrels and brawls resulting from accidental knocks or thumb against one another.

“I understand that our bodies may be touching one another on a crowded place or bus, but what I mean here is some people taking advantage of this situation to harass women like us”, said a 23-year-old company staff. 

Before, there was a social association that protects women from being taken advantage gave out whistles and pasted papers on the buses encouraging to blow the whistle if anything happen. But later these actions fade away.

Currently, roundabout 350 bus lines are running on 17 routes in Yangon region, with roughly 4,000 vehicles, according to official statistics. The spokeperson from Bandola Transportation, U Myo Myint Nyein said “We need to increase the number of busses to meet the demand. We’ll do it gradually.” There are over seven million people in Yangon Region, of whom over 3 million are daily city travelers, and 85 percent of them use public transport.

Apparently these people are travelling each day. “I need to get up before the day break and I get home very late at night. I have no time to stay with my family,” said Tin Maung.

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" Thingyan Fever "

" Thingyan Fever "

Tin Maung Than

We are travelling on the road passing through Meiktila plain, a vast stretch of mostly flatland with no mountain or mountain ranges in sight till reaching the horizons. Only few trees and some groves of bushes grow naturally on this dry area which now sees a gigantic greening plan covering a network of irrigation facilities supplying water for crops, tree plantations, regeneration projects, farms and the local people.

The plan in fact is for sustainable development of the multiple sectors and the environment of the plain home to a large number of people living in villages or towns big and small engaging in various kinds of businesses to earn their living or to stay wealthy. The plain is famous all over Myanmar for its business, trade and production activities, its important location in the central part of the country and the Meiktila Lake which is a significant topographical character in Myanmar literature and an important water storage and supply facility throughout history.

The plain saw real action during the World War II, may be the first ever major tank battle between the two rival armies -- one the British army and the other the Japanese Imperial Army – on Myanmar soil. Sherman tanks of the British army and Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks and 16 Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks of the Imperial Army battled against each other for control of the militarily strategic position during their Myanmar campaign.

Every activity whether implementing a project with the help of machinery light and heavy or in battling against enemy using mechanized troops need fuel as all machines run on it. They need a large amount of fuel as these machines are gas guzzlers. But my article is not about the heavy machines with high fuel consumption, but about my car that we are riding on our journey to Wundwin a town in the northern part of the plain. We start our trip from our home in the compound of the News and Periodicals Enterprise in Zeyathiri Township to the town where two NPE staffs make a solemn promise to each other for a new journey into life sharing joys and sorrows and overcoming difficulties together forever both making a declaration “Till death do us part”.

The car we are riding is not a gas guzzler. It’s a Japanese made Honda Accord. When it is at its fifth speed the car goes fastest and burns least fuel carrying us conveniently all along the trip till reaching the destination. So, we don’t need to fill gas during our up trip to Wundwin famous for its weaving industry producing cotton sarongs of beautiful designs and patterns for both man and woman of all ages.

On our return trip back home, we need to fi ll some gasoline. We see a lot of private filling stations all along the road, hoping to find the one selling gas at a price lower than any one of its rivals. Then we see one and stop there to fill gas. The good part is that young male and female staffs are so polite and hospitable, but the bad part is that they do not have gasoline which they call the white fuel. They only have another kind of fuel they call octane or the red one apart from diesel. And when we stop at three more private filling stations, they too have no gasoline left and only octane is available. One of the staffs tells us that gasoline supply will come only after Thingyan holidays. Station staffs suggest us to use octane as a substitution. We do not want to use octane as our car engine is designed to run with gasoline. Besides running on octane will cause damage to the engine and weaken its power in the long run. So we keep on finding a filling station that still has gasoline left to sell.

In the end, we find one where gasoline is available, but at a much higher price. But we decide to fill as we know that such things always happen whenever Thingyan is just around the corner. It is usual that prices of essential commodities like fuel, rice or cooking oil go up high or they are in short supply when the water festival is drawing nearer and in some years they never go down again even after the annual holidays. So, we Myanmars are accustomed to it. Every year when the water festival comes, Thingyan fever is always high among youths who want fun, older people who search Dhamma, government employees who love holidays, artists who love entertaining the public and the businessmen who take it as an opportunity for self interest. So, Thingyan is a win-win festival bringing happiness to youth, serenity to older people, relaxation to employees, satisfaction to artistes and profits to businessmen. Everyone enjoys the festival.

A pleasant Thingyan and a very happy New Year to all!

#Themyawadydaily

#ျမ၀တီေန႔စဥ္