6 random things from Myanmar I am currently thinking about

(1) The hot weather

My peeps suffering the heat back there would probably scoff at this. I hear that it's extremely hot now. I too thought I would never say this but up here in the mountain, it blows, it's cold, it rains and it's insane. So, I can't help but think about what it would be like at home now. The melting heat, the endless sweating, the burning roads, the scorching sun, the.... Oh, I think I'll just look forward to spring here.. :P

(2) Padauk flowers

Usually, around April, we'll get special rain showers. It's like a short reprieve from the heat. It's called "Thingyan-moe" which can be translated into "Thingyan-rain". (You'll know more about "Thingyan" later.) This rain heralds the blossoming of Padauk flowers. These flowers are pretty special because they bloom only once in the whole year. It rained here today and it made me think about how I would miss the Padauk tree in front of our house with its beautiful yellow flowers this year. 

Photo Credits: http://nmmflowerslovers.blogspot.jp/2009/04/padauk-flowers.html

(3) Thingyan Festival

Thingyan Festival is the Myanmar New Year Water Festival. The tradition is to splash water at each other to cleanse away the impurities of the old year and start the new year afresh. It falls around mid-April. Country-wide celebrations last for about 4 or 5 days. It's a period of official holidays with fun and festivities all around. Another post later for details and my own Thingyan experiences.

(4) Tomato ngapi-chat

This is a Myanmar dish. It mainly consists of tomatoes (obviously) and ngapi (which is a kind of salty fish-paste). Ngapi is a famous cooking ingredient for Myanmar people, the way kimchi is for Koreans. If you are interested in Myanmar cuisine, you should definitely try this.

Photo Credits: http://thiriyatanar.blogspot.jp/2011/09/blog-post_15.html

 (5) Botahtaung Pagoda

When you visit Myanmar, you'll see a lot of pagodas. This particular pagoda is close to my home. I could see it from my house. I liked going there at night. I would sit on the cool platform after saying my prayers.The sight of the golden pagoda lit up against the night sky will make you marvel and gives you a sense of peace.

Photo sent by my mum

(6) Wearing traditional dress

Myanmar girls mostly wear "hta-mein". It's the name of the dress for the lower part of the body. We wear it at school, at universities, at work and also at home. But not on every occasion. We wear jeans and skirts, too. There's a full traditional costume for very formal occasions like graduation ceremonies and weddings. But there's a less formal version too. Below is a comparison:

Models wearing formal traditional costumes:

Photo: http://www.theasian.asia/archives/20913

Not-a-model wearing a less formal traditional costume:

See the difference? The picture below is more casual right? :D That's how young female students normally wear when they go to school or university.

So, later! :)