Burma

MUDON TOWNSHIP, Mon State—Emerging from a temple near the world’s largest reclining Buddha statue, a 94-year-old abbot in southern Burma saw a busy start to 2013.

The abbot, Kesara, watches over a monastery in Mon State near the Win Sein Taw Ya statue, which is 180 meters tall and includes 200 images of monks collecting alms.

The 94-year-old is known for his ability to give blessings and predict the future, and on Tuesday, the first day of the new year, more than 500 people traveled to meet him.

The pilgrims, who came from cities around Burma and even neighboring Thailand, saw the abbot to request good health, business success and even lucky lottery numbers in the coming year.

Nyo Than, a Burmese woman from Thailand, went to the monastery in hopes that a blessing would help her conceive after 20 years of marriage. The abbot gave her a blessing, as well as a gift: a leaf from a tree which he said would help her become pregnant in the future.

Burma

RANGOON—Mon State government officials want to participate in the upcoming Mon National Day and are requesting local ethnic organizations for their approval, according to Mon leaders. The request is being met with skepticism by local leaders, who point out that Burma’s government has long ignored expressions of Mon culture and identity.

Min Nwe Soe, a state minister, met with met five members of Mon National Day Committee in Moulmein on Monday to discuss state government participation in the 66th Mon National Day on Feb. 26, which until now was organized only by Mon ethnic groups and local communities.

Nai Tin Aung, chairman of the organizing committee, said that Min New Soe “told us that his government wanted to do Mon National Day this year.” The state’s chief minister Ohn Myint and state parliament chairman Kyin Pe wanted to serve as “honorable leaders” during the Mon holiday, while Min New Soe wanted to be chairman of the event, he added.

Cambodia

Smartphones and tablets may find a place in the Cambodian classroom, as the launch of a new pilot program by two NGOs aims to tackle illiteracy with e-learning in schools.

In October, World Education and Kampuchean Action for Primary Education (KAPE), two partner NGOs dedicated to improving access to education, launched a program for 2,000 children in Kampong Cham to improve literacy rates through the use of new technology.
A total of 30 per cent of children from grades one through three are still unable to read or write, according to recent Ministry of Education statistics, which prompted World Education and KAPE to devise their Total Reading Approach for Children (TRAC) program to supplement the ordinary reading curriculum.

“We’re now in the 21st century and technology is very important. The use of smartphones will be a huge development in Cambodia and help enhance the [existing] reading curriculum,” said Ul Run, project manager of TRAC.

Organisers hope the program, which is still in its pilot stage, will reach 10 million children by the end of its two-year introductory phase.

RANGOON—While Burma opens up to ideas and fashion from abroad, foreigners are increasingly taking an interest in the country’s culture, and the longyi clothing style seems to enjoy particular popularity.

At Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon many foreign visitors can be seen donning the country’s national dress, praising its comforts in the local tropical climate or its stylish appearance.

One such visitor was Dutch tourist Thorsten Roobeck, who arrived only one day before but was already appreciating the benefits of the garment, which consists of a piece of cylindrical cloth that is worn around the waist and runs down to the feet.

“I was in shorts when I came here [at Shwedagon], but I thought it was more appropriate to wear this,” he said. “It’s comfortable and has good air circulation for this hot weather.”

“I do have problems with the knot; in the beginning it fell off but some people helped me,” said the student, who was traveling with his sister. “The only thing is that it lacks pockets.”