Today is my birthday and the tradition within the office is to take in a cake. So, I went to my local bakery in the City Mart shopping centre near my home and bought a large white cake. I requested that they write the words 'Happy Birthday' but in Myanmar language so that I could enter into the cultural spirit of the day. As I walked back to my home, I couldnt resist sneeking a view of what the wording might look like in Myanmar language. When I saw that they...

It's been a slow day at work and I still have energy to burn so I head down to the Institut Francais for a yoga class. Afterwards I join Ellen and Kathleen for a bite to eat and a drink in the bar area nearby. We sit and chat and listen to some jazz and then... Suddenly, with no warning, an enormous storm unleashes its awesome power and the lights and the electricity go down. The winds are ferocious and the noise deafening as huge claps of thunder and great f...

I meet a number of expats who live in mid and downtown. I like it up here in uptown and being one of relatively few foreigners in the area. In my little neighbourhood, I enjoy the greeting I receive each morning and evening, especially from the children. Its a poor part of town with open drains and water channels. People wash from buckets or standpipes in the street and some live in wooden houses amongst the concrete apartments. There are two little classroom s...

This morning is really great. An hour and a half of meditation and then a small group of Ellen, Savita, Kathleen Chris and Melani meet up and head for coffee and breakfast at a nearby cafe. The other trip today is to see the Aung San house, which is where the Myanmar leader lived and where his daughter Aung San Sui Kyi lived as a young girl. Aung San was a revolutionary and nationalist, who is still revered today and considered the 'Father of the Nation'. H...

The concept of 'retreat' is popular in Myanmar for organisations to get away and take time out for relaxation. My Akhaya team were originally planning for a three day beach retreat but today it has become a one day there and back visit to a local hotel complex. the Shwe Pyi resort just short of Bago is an interesting place. Pin addition to the restaurant area, it has many lakes , a small golf course and most bizarrely of all, an aero plane which is being conve...