It’s a Nun’s Life. Thailand and Myanmar, a comparison “Buddhism’s not really for Women…………. they can’t make merit.” As Lo Win my Burmese Buddhism sceptical motorcycle taxi driver I hired for the day in Mandalay put it, while I snapped the passing nuns
The central province of Suphan Buri, about 107 kilometers from Bangkok by car, is holding its major cultural event, “Don Chedi Memorial and Red Cross Fair,” from now until February 1. The two-week fair takes place in the Don Chedi Memorial compound in Don Chedi district. This annual event is meant to commemorate the glorious victory of King Naresuan the Great in a traditional royal battle on elephant back. The fair includes a bazaar of One Tambon, One Product, or OTOP, products, an exhibition of public and private organizations, and many cultural performances
I’m in the back of a luxury Limo on a dirt road, it’s pitch black outside only the occasional checkpoint light breaks the darkness as we speed past the armed guards unchallenged. I’m in one of the most totalitarian regimes on earth, no passport, no travel permits, alongside me half a dozen Chinese gamblers and one enemy of the state……… After what seems like an eon the jungle canopy breaks and the car pulls up in the middle of a vast levelled area concealed deep within the forest. Gaudy neon lights of illegal casinos illuminate the area, around a stream of limousines are pulling up in front of the casino doors dropping tonight’s punters off.
From our 2006-2007 Continuum TV season. Dr. Al Purvis leads VBCI staff and students into the northern Thai jungles to preach the gospel. 
Former Philippine President Cory Aquino was a world democracy icon who in 1986 led a movement which sparked change through non-violent action and people power. This lead to similar non-violent changes all over the world in countries such as South Korea, Thailand, Eastern Europe, Burma, China. ... Philippine President Cory Aquino burial Getting news out of Burma’s more remote corners — such as the Kachin Independence Army/Organisation headquarters at Laiza — can be a difficult job at the best of times. When there is inherent, and perhaps even deliberate, ambiguity thrown into the mix it is almost impossible. Nonetheless I was startled to see the contrasting headlines for two recent and very important articles. They are, just to clarify, about exactly the same matter! Lawi Weng, “ Kachins reject Border Guard role ”, The Irrawaddy , 10 June 2009. KNG, “ KIO accepts junta’s idea of transformation of armed-wing ”, Kachin News Group , 9 June 2009.
There’s been another — albeit less tragic — mishap at a major Buddhist shrine in Myanmar, less than one week after the collapse of Danok Pagoda on May 30. Exile news website Mizzima reports that eight monks were injured on June 4 when a lift malfunctioned at Myanmar’s largest standing Buddha, which is located near the Sagaing Division capital Monywa, 120 kilometres northwest of Mandalay. Three monks and five civilians were in a maintenance lift inside Maha Bodhitahtaung, a 130-metre-high standing Buddha, when it fell about 6 metres.
Regular readers will recall that in recent weeks I have pointed out some of the interesting parts of Burma and Thailand that are visible on satellite images. Today I have been scouting around for other places of interest and decided that a short tour of the towns of Ruili and Muse would be appropriate. From high above, this little corner of the Sino-Burmese border is unremarkable. However a few nudges of the zoom function and we are right up close on Jie Gao , the peculiar little piece of Chinese commercial life on the “wrong” side of the river. It is, of course, where one of the major border gates between China and Burma lies. Right up close and personal with the border checkpoints between the two countries it is possible to see border life very clearly. It looks like this shot was taken on a busy day. Just off to the side of the Chinese checkpoint is the Dai-Jingpo Cultural Park that featured in this series of New Mandala posts
It cannot have pleased Myanmar’s ruling family — the collapse of a 2,300-year-old gold-domed pagoda into a pile of timbers just three weeks after the wife of the junta’s top general had helped reconsecrate it with a diamond orb and a sacred golden umbrella. There is no country in Asia more superstitious than Myanmar, and the collapse of the temple was widely seen as something more portentous than shoddy construction work. - Extracted from Seth Mydans, “ Many Burmese See Pagoda Collapse as an Omen for the Junta ”, The New York Times , 7 June 2009. This article quotes a number of researchers on Burmese affairs: Zarni , Josef Silverstein , and Ingrid Jordt . The collapse of the pagoda was discussed on New Mandala earlier in the month
These photos were taken during a peaceful gathering of concerned Burmese citizens near Insein Prison. More details on this vigil are available here. The gathering was in support of detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose trial on a new set of charges began yesterday.
TC Kitchen, Ubon Ratchathani Thailand
Bangkok on the Fly, Thailand.
A New Door, A New Journey, Isaan Style.
49 Years of Marriage for John and Nancy.
Nong Ja and Magha Puja Day Thailand 2012
Morning Alms Offering to 8,000 Monks in Bangkok
