At Yangon's National Theatre, the expats are out in force tonight as the Thai Philharmonic Orchestra is on tour. I am fortunate to get one of the free tickets and meet up with Carol and Cora. The performance is being shown live on national television and it's a big night in the city's cultural life. The music is a mixture of Thai, Myanmar and European traditions and it is really enjoyable evening. We decide to walk down the road to find somewhere to eat. It is...

I am getting used to the area where I will be living for the next six months. It feels like a close knit community situated between the pagoda and the main road. Some residents are getting used to me being around and I exchange a few handshakes. Across the narrow lane in the evening, I enjoy hearing schoolchildren reciting their lessons. it is a school provided and run by the NLD (National League for Democracy) The dogs are docile and are often asleep during t...

This morning, I left my hotel accommodation and with Phil and Carol's company, moved to my apartment in the north of the city. I am taking over from Christiane who has lived here for a year and it will be a real Myanamar community experience. People live in small wooden shacks and in some narrow lanes, new apartment buildings are being built. This is not an expat lifestyle and I am a little nervous of being the only foreigner for miles around. Christiane, who h...

I was at work this morning at 7.40 to help Htar Htar (she's the Director) and other colleagues with their strategic planning for work with political parties. I move to my little apartment in the north of the city tomorrow and so I have a lot to do, work and accommodation wise. But one thing I have wanted to do is to watch a football game and today is the last opportunity before the season ends. I get a taxi to the stadium in town to see the Yangon United versus...

Within a week, my colleagues at Akhaya Women have put together a conference to draw attention to a survivor of an acid attack. It's been good to be part of the planning for the event and to see it come together this afternoon. The energy and teamwork is something to behold. 250 people attended the event which was a great success with several TV companies and newspapers covering the story. My organisation provides services for women who are subjected to sexual v...