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, ............

EXTREMELY Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis was an uncommonly destructive and deadly cyclone that caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Myanmar. The cyclone made landfall in Myanmar on Friday, 2 May 2008. Nargis developed on 27 April in the central area of Bay of Bengal. Initially, the storm tracked slowly northwestward, and encountering favourable conditions, it quickly strengthened. Nargis rapidly intensified to attain peak winds of at least 165 km/h (105 mph) on 2 May, according to India Meteorological Department — IMD observations; the Joint Typhoon warning Centre — JTWC assessed peak winds of 215 km/h (130 mph). The cyclone moved ashore in the Ayeyawady Division of Myanmar at peak intensity after gaining extra strength near Hainggyi Island.