THE Yangon-Mandalay Railway will be upgraded to ensure quick and smooth transportation, in keeping with the current pace of development in the country. At present, trains take 14 hours to travel from Yangon to Mandalay. After the upgrade, the travel time will be almost halved to 8 hours, according to reports. The upgrade project is scheduled to start on 1 October.

VILLAGERS from Tharkyin in Ngan-zun Township, Myingyan District, Mandalay Region, have been selling traditional hand woven hats made of wheat straw for over 20 years.

AS more  and  more  local  and  foreign  investments  flow  into  Yangon,  more  businesses,  industrial  zones,  housing  projects  etc.  were  in  the pipeline as well as plan for new or satellite town. The new or satellite town is in Dala, on the  other  side  of  Yangon  Riv-er. It is learnt that preliminary surveys were being conducted.

BASED on Theravada Buddhism, the Rakhine culture, literature, music and fine arts have flourished. The Rakhine oillamp choral dancing is famous; so are the traditional slash-andburn dancing by Thet ethnic people, ............