FIRE

Best Language School on the Yadanarbon Market 4th floor was burnt down at approximately 11am in the fire of 25th March 2008  .

 All the students and staff  were evacuated safely.Nothing really left to salvage.

I thank all who e-mailed me , called me in support  and offered and gave help.   We are getting new premises ready ASAP.

We will re-start classes next week Monday !

 

The ways of Mandalay

Here in Mandalay and most of Upper Burma/Myanmar ,Saturdays and Sundays, official holidays and holidays of other religions other than Buddhism are not given much thought of by most people. The important days of rest /play are the once-a -week “U-boak ” or Buddist Sabbath day when most markets and businesses take the day off. The Full moon days of each month are holidays even more so when coinciding with dates of note on the Buddhist calendar .

Christmas and New Year ( of the Gregorian  calendar )  it seems to me  are utilized for the marketing blitzes of companies but most people here don’t go to those kind of parties.

Don’t go about asking ” What time is the bus going to get to……… ? ” when you’re already on it off to somewhere either, especially in the Northern Shan State. It’s said the Nats or spirits don’t like it and penalize you and your mode of transport by causing niggling delays of all sorts. Anyways, when the roads are in the conditions that they are , and with nearly 99% of all vehicles being second-hand imports, already been used for years, timetables and such, don’t really mean anything. Ask the forbidden question and you will be at least be met by a gruff ” We’ll get there when we get there “.  Enjoy the scenery and atmosphere etc. instead of thinking about such un-holiday like thoughts as getting there on time . LOL .

Night-life in Mandalay is nearly non-existant. Everyone visits the restaurants ,gets their full of toddy and grub and hits beddy-bye . That’s it. Better to get up early and go about your holiday or business. Have fun in Bangkok instead.. Come here for a good nights sleep , battery recharging and what not…. ( not much electricity either )

The  months, May to October are HOT ! 36 - 40+ C.  Let this be a warning to all those with weak constitutions and those susceptible to heat stroke.

When it rains here , it comes in two varieties , the light drizzle lasting 3-4 hours and the 45-minute hammering downpour accompanied by strong gusts but both making it muddy and dreary.  

The dust … the fine itch-causing powder…….. what should I say ?  Keep some baby wet-wipes ready.

  

 

Well, you could say that I have been neglecting the blog for some time. And you would be right. But……anyway

Here goes with ……

What went on in Mandalay recently !

 a summary…… of what I remember……

Not much happening, last  month that includes activities at the school, general events in this town, mellow I’d say .

Except for the Kyauk Taw Gyi  Pagoda Festival which was in full swing. Totally crowded. Seems that people, especially younger people haven’t had some good fun in a while and I’m glad that they looked like they were enjoying themselves on the full-moon night of Thadingyut at the above-mentioned festival .

The weather has changed just yesterday from an unbearably hot state to real nice and cool breezy situation.

I took a short trip again to Maymyo with the kids. Always as relaxing and refreshing as usual . My friend, Chris was building boarding school quarters when we popped in to his place.

 I have been urging the students to join libraries and learn some practical / marketable skills, I’m happy that some have done so too.

I wonder what most people think of the economic future of this region ? any ideas ?   I , for one, do not think that tourism, although and easy way of bringing in  foreign exchange, is  that important to the long-term economic future of a country, given the minuses that it has .

Your thoughts on this please….

Another thing that I noticed about Myanmar students who go abroad ( especially those from upper Myanmar ) is that they never write emails to me ? What might be the reason (s) for this ? I will try to find out in the comings weeks.

That’s all for now . See you everyone

 

I feel a bit dizzy and sad with all the going ons here .
The general uncertainty and head in the ground mentality of you know who is getting on the nerves.
What is should be more though can’t say which way fate will take us

 

Hi everyone from around the world

                            

Hi there everyone  ! BEST  is a  language school here in Mandalay and  we’ve got lots of students with big hearts , learning and speaking English quite well. Drop in if you can !

Mandalay , at the moment, after no rain and searing heat for the past two months is now cool because of a persistant drizzle. The roads are in their usual state of disrepair. Electricity is supplied a litle bit more than usual, flickering on and off all through the day and night.

For any info about Mandalay do not hesistate to ask in the comments section. I read/update  my blog about every two days .

And you can  drop in to our school at Rms 433/435/437  RayWorld Complex, 4th Fl , Yadanarbon Market ,78th st Bet: 33rd &34th Mandalay , Tel: 02-89550 Ext: 437,  09-5165388.

Ask for U Soe Lwin

 Cheers

 

Hiya there everybody

Sorry that I haven’t been able to write for some time because I have been very busy. Well I was is YGN for 24 hours going through the hassle of  applying for a passport. Weather was very humid there  . Mandalay has not seen rain for some time now. Still hot . I’d say 35-39 C.

An American friend of mine from  Hawaii , Dean got married to a Burmese girl,Mie Mie at the KyanKin monastery ,traditional style. Very nice wedding and was very impressed with him ,wearing the traditional white Burmese jacket and longyi.

Lots of my students are off to Singapore this month for their studies. The world is certainly becoming a much smaller place.

And surprise !surprise ! we have had regular electricity for 3 days at my house( except for a-two-hour break ) although that doesn’t apply to all the neighborhoods in this town. 

My wife left me with the school and kids and went off for a week traisping around Thailand . She needed the break I guess. But has come back to nag me now

And I have made myself go to a gym.

Yes after eating all that barbeque and not realy avoiding beer I have put on some pounds . Now I will lose some for a change . My buddies say “fat chance of that happening”. 

Well ,for all you students, here’s  a good site   www.englishclub.com.   CHECK IT OUT ! 

And to all my students out here have fun ! and study hard !

USL 

  

 

Not the best time to be in Mdy

Hello everyone out there . Now (the last week of  May and maybe for the next 2 months ) is definitely not the time to visit MDY. Why ? cause it’ll rain and MDY is depressing when it rains while when it stops raining, the sun will stew you ,boil  you ,bake you and bludgeon you so much you can’t  go out or  do anything then either.

 Horrid is the  term I would use to describe this weather.

THE SUN’S SO BRIGHT

AND WE’RE WITHOUT LIGHTS 

I WISH I HAD NO NERVOUS SYSTEM NOW

OR HAD THE CONSTITUTION OF A COW

I WISH I WAS A TREE

HAVE MY OWN SHADE AND COOL AT LEAST I’D BE

BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS BUNGLE

WHEN IT COMES TO CONCRETE JUNGLES

SO RETREAT THEY DID TO INNER SPACE

BEFORE BEING   KICKED RIGHT IN THE FACE

 

What’s up here ?

Hi everyone, I have been a little busy lately with getting the new school premises ready for opening on the 2nd of June. Also I had a trip to Yangon to see my mum which was nice but was the weather, really hot and humid. I was soaked in perspiration (sweat) nearly all the time I was there. I know Mandalay can be hot too but the hot muggy heat and humidity in Yangon really got to me. The new school premises are on the 4^th floor of the

Yadanarbon Market. We have 2 big classrooms, an office and a fine view from there, drop by if you can.Also seminars this month. There was Inswold School from Singapore which specializes in  “O” and “A: level prep and also Kaplan APMI which runs CAT and ACCA courses and Business diplomas and degrees.  At Best Language School we are introducing a new course, Diploma in Hospitality Management [F& B ] or  Restaurant Management in conjunction [ together with]  AEC  or Asia Education Consortium.It is a great course and I hope we get at least about ten students for the first batch. They study for 3 months in Mandalay ,then 3 months in Singapore, after that it is paid job attachments.When I was young we never had opportunities or even heard of things like that.

 Different times ,I guess.  I also gave a talk on studying abroad. Lots of kids want to do that and I don’t blame them if they want to either  In the next 2 months I am also thinking of teaching the Cambridge GSCE“O” Levels.I will have some of the young and best teaching talent in Upper Myanmar working together with me. It’s going to be a lot of work but I know I’ll enjoy it. 

Although we are much busier than usual, it does not mean we do not have time for students or visitors .It is just that we have  to manage our time better .And I think when the new school stuff settles down , I’ll have lots more time to write in my blog and talk to visitors. Here in Mandalay it’s been raining a bit everyday. Not seasonal the rains that we’re having at the moment. The roads are in a  horrible state though.
Mandalay people are going to have to change their habit of not going out or to school if this pattern of regular rainy weather goes on.   

And thank you readers from in Myanmar and all over the world for all your comments .For all visitors from abroad, the best months to visit Mandalay are middle of October to the end of February. Pagoda festivals ,cool nights and days of perfect weather.I can’t wait ! By the way , all you  football fans out there ,who do you think is going to win the Champions League final this Thursday ?
Liverpool or AC Milan ?  I’m going to spend half the night in front of the telly watching that match. Well, that’s all for now.

USL

 

Everyone is welcome to drop in

To all the readers/visitors from Burma / Myanmar  and around the world, thank you for reading this blog and I invite you to visit us here in Mandalay anytime .

 Just give me ( U Soe Lwin ) a phone call  (+95 - 02-36596 ) in advance .

Best Language School  is at :

Rm.10, 2nd /3rd Fl , NanYadanar Building ,37th st, Btw 78th & 79th sts ,Mandalay

Visit our classes . All the students would love to talk to you in English.

Cheers

 U Soe Lwin 

P.S.

And can someone tell the Lonely Planet that the range of places to eat etc. in their Myanmar  book is so limited .

 

Best food ,drink and all in MDY

The best places for chow ( a slang word for food ) etc  , in my own  and my friends’ opinion and as of April 2007  are as follows  :

1. Best Yunnan-Chinese  style Barbeque  :

Shwe Pan Saing   Restaurant     30th X 66th corner

Shwe Khaing  Restaurant         33thX 82nd corner 

Yunnan Restaurant                   39th st Btw 78th & 79th

Kaung Kaung                            35th st  Btw  68th & 70th  

2 . Internet Cafes     :

Imagine   38th BTW 78th &79t

Acme.net   26th BTW 78th & 79th

 CityNet   80th BTW 30th & 31st

3. Cafes & Tea shops            : 

Minthiha     28th X 72nd corner

Friends      73rd   BTW 39thX 40th

Cafe City  66th st    , Near National theater

There’s one near the Nylon Hotel  83rd X 24th I think ( forgot the name ) 

4. Food Courts           :

 At Sky Walk Shopping Center, 2nd Fl. Yadanarbon Market ,  78th st BTW   33rd & 34th

At 4th fl of 78 Shopping Mall   78th Btw 37th & 38th

5.  Best places to buy computer parts and accessories :

     Innwa computer         73rd st BTW 30th&31st

     DCD                               82nd st    BTW 34th X 35th

     I-net computer             Yadanarbon Cyber Corporation  ,Yadanarbon 

                                           Market    78th BTW 33th& 34th        

6. Southern Indian Cuisine ( Chittee food )

    Lachimi 28th BTW 80th&81

   Pan Cherry   81st  BTW 27th & 28th

7.  Muslim food  and Biryani ( Danbauk )

     Karaweik 35th Btw 74th & 75th

                     26th & 83 rd corner

     Tin Win     35th  Btw 75th & 76 th 

                                                

8.  Myanmar/  Burmese Food      : 

  Tu Tu  Lay   27th St  Btw 74th & 75th

   Daw Lay May  73rd btw 29th & 30th

   Unison  78th  Btw 39th & 40th

   Daw Yee   80th X 81st and 18th X19th  compound

9. Shan Cuisine / Food :

Shan Yin Yin  62nd Btw 34th a& 35th      

Maw Kam Noon  31st Btw 80th & 81st

Shan Yoe Yar    23rd & 84th corner

10.  Cold Drinks & ice-cream

Nylon  83rd & 25th corner  

Paung Taw Thi   80th Btw 34th & 35th

Easy Ray    78th St Btw 32nd 33rd

Ko Ju       22nd & 83rd corner ( Drinking  Yoghurt )

            10:45 - 11:45 am ( Runs out very quickly )

11.   Bakeries :

        Dumbo     80th Btw 28th & 29th       

        KK             32nd Btw 81st &  82nd       

        Seasons     1st fl.   78 Shopping Mall , 78th st Btw , 37th & 38th sts

12. Bookshops

Nagar     83rd st  Btw 30th & 29th

Tun Oo   84th st  Btw 28th & 29th

13. Libraries :

British Council Library     SY compound, Btw 30st & 31st , 78th & 79th

14. Night open-air markets/ Bazzar

Night market    Btw  34th &35th , 77th & 78th

Night market    84th st  Btw 27th & 29th

15. Playing Billards / Pool :

Relax      3rd Fl. Yadanarbon Market 78th Btw 33rd & 34th

Fantasy World    78th st  Near the railway Station Btw 31st & 32nd ( I think )

16.   All kinds of Restaurants

Golden Duck      17th st & 80th corner ( Chinese )

No. 12                 Kandawgyi Lake Rd     ( Shan Chinese )

Ko’s Kitchen      19th & 80th corner   ( Thai )

Kaung Kaung      Kandawgyi Lake Rd   ( Barbeque & Chinese)

JJ’s                       Corner of 78th & 38th   ( Western & Chinese)

J34                       Corner of 34th & 73rd  ( Beer & Barbeque )

MD                       2nd Fl   Skywalk shopping mall 78th st Btw 33rd & 34th 

 

17.  Hotels

Hotel Mandalay 78th st Btw 37th & 38th

Power Hotel       80th st Btw  39th & 40th

Tain Phyu ( White Cloud) 29thst & 73 rd corner

Mandalay View Inn  66th Btw 26th & 27th  

Mandalay City Hotel  26 th Btw  82nd & 83rd

Sein Sein   81st Btw 32nd & 33rd  

Hongta   82nd st Btw 26th&27th ( Big rooms under reno but should be good soon )

  ( more to come )

Please look in the Lonely Planet and other guide books too ,they list a lot of convenient and inexpensive places for backpackers. 

18. Supermarkets :

City Mart   Supermarket  :   1st fl , 78 Shopping Mall 78th st Btw

                                                     37th & 38th

Blazon  Supermarket  : 80th st  Btw 28th & 29th sts

Orange Supermarket  : Skywalk shopping center , Yadanarbon

                                               Market 78th st Btw 33rd & 34th sts