My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so I looked forward to returning to Southeast Asia. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.

A huge treat for me was going to the Strand Hotel in Yangon. They’ve restored the old colonial building and it was a step into the colonial history of Burma. The warm wood paneling and elegant polished floors were so elegant.

In the lobby a young lady played the Xylophone, so while I sipped my very expensive coffee (5000Kyat which equaled $5), I listened to music and pretended to be in the early 1900’s, back in a time when the city was called Rangoon, wearing an elegant gown, carrying a parasol on my arm.

Question: What do you know about this Lotus that’s used for weaving?

T 1. While the lotus is used for weaving cloth, it’s also a sacred plant. (The Padon-ma Kya. the Sacred Lotus is believed to bloom only in sunlight and the Kumudra (Gamod) Kya. a fabulous white lily. is said to bloom only with moonlight.)

F 2. The lotus flower is beautiful, but poisonous. (The seed of the lotus is edible. They are green and resemble a large peanut and come embedded in a cup-like bulb and is commonly called Kya-Khwet. (that is a lotus cup) on a stalk. It is a very tasty ingredient in steamed duck or as part of the stuffing in duck roast. They can also be eaten raw.)

NOW what do you know about the xylophone in the Strand Hotel?

T/F  Authors such as Maugham, Kipling and Orwell were entertained by the music from the xylophone in the Strand lobby.

Answer tomorrow.

My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so I looked forward to returning to Southeast Asia. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.

A Monastery at Mingun

• What is the name of this country? 

Burma or Myanmar? It seems the answer is both. Our state department doesn’t recognize Myanmar.  The people from that country to whom I spoke, preferred Myanmar, the old name before colonial times.

• Why are tourists allowed now but prohibited before? 

My guess is money. I’m politically naive, but if the generals lose control of this country to The Lady, they want as much revenue flowing into their pockets as possible before she steps in.

• Will the Muslims gain control or will the Buddhists keep them out? 

I saw some Muslims on the streets, especially in Yangon. But the sentiment among the people I talked to was strongly anti-Muslim. They worried that the Muslims already had too much influence in their government, especially with Aung San Suu Kyi, who needs all the political backing she can muster.

Answers to P
T 1.  While the practice of using neck rings seems abusive and sexiest-since men do not wear them-this was a vestige of a matriarchal society. (Because women did not have full mobility, men often helped with the care of children and household chores.)

T 2. The rings were considered magic and could cure illness by touching them. (In the book, From the Land of the Green Ghosts, Khoo Thwe children were allow to touch the rings when they were sick. Also, touching them before a journey was thought to bless the traveler.)

NOW Do you have any questions about Burma? It’s a country that generates a lot of questions.