Mr Jones’ Orphanage is originally a themed dessert franchise from Bangkok. The main theme of the place is, of course, of the fluffy purchasable teddy bears who are allegedly “the orphans.” The sub-theme, according to the staffs, differs from place to place. The shop we paid a visit is under the theme of “carousels”

Atmosphere

Even from the far out, we were greeted with the sight of whimsically lit decors and lights, glistening against the heavily lighted mall. The gently revolving carousel, decked with numerous teddy bears, hovers up the shop from above. Underneath it, there would be neatly tables and booths with their own fluffy teddy bear companions. Even though the subtle formality of theme café does not resonate well with the open area, the decorations and teddy bears would truly avert your attention from the bustling shopping center. In other words, you would feel in place and, of course, sheltered.

Recommendation

To get desserts and coffee would be optimal here but there are numerous decent meal options you can choose.

Shrimp open sandwich is definitely a must delicacy since the creaminess of the cream coated with tender shrimps a resounding flavor by following up with a chewy bread. Sausage fried rice, with a toning mixture of sausage and eggs also would make an interesting option if for lunch. The cherry on top these sundaes of meals would be the desserts of the shop.

We started out with the massive stacks of “Matcha Toast” with vanilla ice cream on top. This is one of those desserts which would acquire an eccentrically soggy yet fascinating texture and taste even if you let it sit for a while and let the ice cream melt on top. However, it is always wise to order this only if it is for two. We moved on next to Rainbow Crepe Cake with strawberry syrup, which would be an absolute sugary delight for all those who crave for decent dessert.

Moreover, since excess of good things can always lead to something unpleasant, it is always sensible to order a drink to wash it all down. A simple latte (which is also pretty decent) can go all the way. However, “Momma is the best”, slushes of mango flavored juice, was the perfect ending with its impeccable acidity which compensated the sugary richness of the desserts.

Final Thoughts

The only (mild) criticism I have off of this place would be the fact that it is quite hard to a peace of mind since there is a ball pit for children right beside the shop. Then again, on the other hand, if you are a parent, this is the perfect place to let your children on the loose. Aside from these, this place in general is a nice place to strike up a conversation with your friends. There’s always something comforting and warm about talking while holding on teddy bears over dessert.

Café

09 979 88791109 979 887911

Mr. Jones claims to be the first theme cafe in Myanmar serving homemade delicious cakes and desserts. They also conduct various baking classes for bakers and kids usually on weekends. Seasonal fruit smoothie and puddings are available too.

Opening Hours

9:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Price Range

$$

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Photo: Thiri May Thu

Since recent democratization of the country, Myanmar was quickly exposed to the effects of globalization, which includes the emergence of big international chain restaurants, and arrival of different culinary culture. This has inevitably culminated in these restaurants and culture gaining popularity among young people in the vibrant metropolis of Yangon. At the same time, there are local restaurants such as “Taing Yin Thar”, which are striving to promote the role of the traditional foods in a rapidly developing Myanmar, by consolidating every possible exotic delicacy from different regions and different ethnic groups in one stop. Myanmore had a chance to interview the manager of Taing Yin Thar, Ko Myo Min Thet, on the gastronomic journey of the restaurant.

When was Taing Yin Thar established?

The idea of the restaurant was set forth in early 2010. After that, it was a materializing period. We hired staffs and went through the process of giving them proper trainings and all. We only had our opening ceremony at 22^nd October of 2011.

How many types of ethnic cuisine can you offer here?

In general, the categories can be arbitrary since we try to cover everything. Of course, there are dishes of majority groups: Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Bamar, Rakhine, and Shan. However, this is not how we particularly categorize things because there can be excellent dishes from other minority groups, and some which are categorized by different regions. For example, there are dishes from A Nyar (Mid-Myanmar), Myeik, and so on. Overall, there are over 70 different dishes in our menu right now.

Since you are not focusing on one cuisine, what kind of challenges do you often face?

There are a lot of difficulties in terms of settling on the general taste of a dish because it is often conflicting and challenging when it comes to finding the right and the most authentic one. Even with ordinary home dishes, the right taste can be a subjective thing. It was exceptionally hard for us when it comes to these ethnic exotic dishes, which we do not especially have references if it is by ourselves. However, we are very devoted to have them divulged. So we hired a lot of chefs from different ethnic groups to come by, and teach us some of their finest recipes from their respective areas. Some actually even started to work for us. Right now, we actually have a very diverse group of chefs in the kitchen. Of course, the process of getting a dish into the menu often takes excruciatingly long but it’s always worth it.

Other than these challenges, we have to deliver in the spices and commodities, which can’t be found in Yangon, from respective areas to keep our dishes as authentic as possible. So that’s obviously an obstacle too.

As a traditional restaurant in a developing country, how would you promote these ethnic dishes among other foreign cuisines?

It is very true that foreign cuisines like Japanese food and Korean food are very popular amongst a lot of young people nowadays. You can say that they are even becoming mainstream dishes in culinary and restaurant industry here. It’s quite sad that there are still some locals, who do not have a chance to try the taste of these ethnic dishes because they aren’t as popular as they should be. Which is why, we are now associating and collaborating with this organization called EREMA (EAT.Myanmar Ethnic Restaurateurs Association), which is being led by Padonmar Restaurant. The main purpose of the association is to promote ethnic dishes in developing Myanmar. If there is a food festival in town, it is sure that we are there to showcase our signature dishes. Hopefully in the near future, locals and other guests will have more exposures to different types of cuisines in our country. Even now, I can see some profound appreciation of these dishes from our customers.

How do you try to be more innovative with the dishes and restaurant whilst staying true to tradition?

I can say that our dishes are as authentic as they can be. However, to be more harmonious between tradition, fine dining, and ethnic essence of the dishes, we make sure we set the aesthetics and ambiance straight by using certain adornments, unique sorts of utensils, and paintings for the decorations.

For the dishes to be as authentic as they can be, we are constantly and consistently trying to reflect on ourselves and keep on upgrading and innovating. There are some dishes that cannot stay true to the original recipe. For example, Chin people tend to use ashes of bamboo instead of salt for certain dishes since they cannot easily get salt in the mountains. There are times like this when we have to upgrade a bit to stay up to a certain hygiene standard. We also keep things simple and natural. We avoid MSGs, food coloring, and any other non-natural chemical products. For example, for sour taste, we don’t use vinegar. Instead, we use other natural alternatives such as lime, fermented lemon, and so on.

If you were to recommend a signature dish of your restaurant, what would you recommend?

This is a tough one because every dish here is supposed to be a signature dish. Haha! However, the popular ones are Shan style grilled fish, sausage from Kayah , Kachin style steamed fish, and coconut rice with chicken curry. Other than that, the most popular dish has to be Za Kaw Hta Min (gigantic platter of rice and assorted dishes).

 What makes Taing Yin Thar different from any other similar restaurants?

I can’t say for any other restaurants but I would say Taing Yin Thar always make sure that the customers get what they came for. This is often a tricky and risky thing since we have to tweak our recipes to fit their taste they are looking for while staying true to the recipe itself. Of course, we try not to jeopardize the original recipe. We always suggest and compromise to find the sweet spot between what the customers want and what we can provide. Which is why, we don’t have anything pre-cooked. Every delicacy comes straight from the pot.

What do you hope to see in the future of Taing Yin Thar restaurant?

I hope people will recognize us more in the future. Between our opening in 2011 and now, we have been constantly awarded by different travel and review guides such as Tripadvisor, Lonely Planet, and so on. Even though, it’s only been a few years, I feel like we have reached to a certain point of success in our career as restauranteurs. We currently have two shops in Yangon but we are planning to have more chains in Myeik, Taung Gyi, Inle, and Bagan.

Of course, our ultimate aim is shoot for theinternational scale to make the culinary culture of Myanmar to spread all over the globe.

Here are the two outlets of Taing Yin Thar Restaurant in Yangon.

Outlet 1

No. (5/A), Corner of Mya Kha Road and Parami Road, Ma Yan Kone Township, Yangon

Ph: 01-9660792

Outlet 2

No.(2/A), Kanbae Road, (6) Quarter, Yank

in Township, Yangon.

Ph: 09-787154799

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The post A Conversation with Taing Yin Thar Restaurant: Against the Current Culinary Trend appeared first on MYANMORE.

What is it: Rejoice, Seafood Lovers! This is the very first Cajun/Creole cuisine in town, which proudly claims to be catering authentic southern Louisiana style seafood. If you fancy releasing your inner seafood loving maniac by wearing a bib, cracking shells with your bare hands, and chowing down on aquatic delicacies such as lobsters, crab, and clams, Pier 9 is definitely the place where you need to be at.

Atmosphere: The shop is a three-storied pier themed building, and every floor seems to serve its own purpose. The first floor is rather family oriented with its large tables and charmingly decorated seating whilst second floor gives out a bar vibe, where you can enjoy drinks from the bar and maybe a football match with your friends along with the meal. The third floor is a lounge area where you can sit comfortably and has a fine dining feel to it.

Recommendation: We started off with cocktails, Pimm’s Cup (Ks 5490) and Rosarika (Ks 6490), from the bar. The subtle mix of raspberry vodka’s rawness and gentle fragrance of Rose beer in Rosarika will trick your tongue and kick off strong if you are on an empty stomach.

For starters, we munched on crunchy deep fried whole onion called Blooming Onion (Ks 5900) with remoulade sauce and Cajun Boudin Balls with spicy lemongrass sauce (Ks 5900).

For entrees, we tried Ox Tail Stew (Ks 10900) soaked in onion gravy, which is served with toasted bread (you can choose to have it with rice as well).

The mouthwatering main course we had is called “the whole 9 Yards” (Ks 24,900): the signature dish of the restaurant. It is a spicy platter of assorted seafood with corns and potatoes mixed in Pier 9 original sauce. Interestingly, unlike other assorted dishes I have had before, the texture of the taste did not give out a certain overwhelming miscellaneous-ness, but rather had a refined wholesomeness to it.

Final thoughts: The overall experience was wonderfully satisfying since the staff was helpful and the food was exquisite. The location might be in 9 miles, but according to the restaurant manager, it is intended to have more space for parking. In a sense, if you want to escape from your daily monotonies to give yourself a soul soothing seafood treat, Pier 9 is just the place for you.

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Open for Thingyan   American   Seafood

Taw Win Road Yangon Yangon Region MM

09 977 74545509 977 745455

p9yangon@gmail.com

1st Authentic Cajun, Creole cuisine in Yangon to experience the true “Down South” Cajun experience showcasing the very own Louisiana style seafood boil.

Opening Hours

11:00 AM - 1:00 AM

Price Range

$$

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Atmosphere: The first captivating impression has to be the roominess. The balcony is naturally lit and filled with large seats while the inside, a gigantic ballroom, encapsulates a coffee lounge, bar and concert stage. Karaoke rooms are located on the far-right side, and in the middle of the ballroom is the dining hall. You will definitely feel overwhelmed by the choice of seating if you go there for the first time. However, the staff are very friendly and always ready to assist you. The bar has multiple bartenders, who are more than willing to chat. Arrive before 8 pm and the atmosphere will be chilled, arrive after 8 pm and things will be heating up.

Recommendation: The food menu is divided into three categories: European, Chinese, and Thai. Of course, aside from those, there are typical bar foods such as appetizers. The staff recommended Braised Sea Asparagus with Oyster Sauce (a whopping 20,000ks), which is a new addition to the menu and already a favourite. This delicacy goes well with white rice due to its warm oyster gravy and the tenderness of simmered asparagus.
For beverage, “Relax” and “Snow white” cocktails are a must. Relax is a vodka based cocktail, layered with mango and strawberry mix. Snow White is a Gin based drink mixed with mount dew. I would also recommend the Shisha if you are going with a group of friends. Since it is an ultimate conversation maker, and resonates well with the ambience of the bar. We ended up spending over two hours just having chitchats over Shisha.

Final Thoughts: According to the bartender the place only gets crowded after 8 pm. Before then, there are mostly family gatherings and diners. You can rent out the whole shop to throw parties as well. If you want to catch the live music, there is always a band playing from 7pm to 11pm from Wednesday to Saturday. The weekend nights always have a DJ from 11pm to 1 am.

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Photo credit to Thiri May Thu

The Loft House
Address: 33 Kyaik Waing Pagoda Road, Mayangone Township, Yangon
Tel: 09 788 887788
Open: 11 am – 2 am

Western   Asian

09 788 88778809 788 887788

This place is a home where all different culture mingle together as one, for heartwarming good times! Located on the rooftop of the building, you can try various kinds of fusion foods there. And the place is just fantastic. They decorated the whole place with the lofts and bears and fancy cute furnitures. The foods are looking delicious and just seeing them make you craving for more…

Opening Hours

11:00 AM - 2:00 AM

Price Range

$$

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On the left side on Pansodan, if you’re walking towards the Pansodan Jetty, you will find this gentleman displaying his watercolor paintings on the left platform of lower block. Myanmore interns encountered him swaying his foot to mix the colors on a paper canvas, which gradually became a landscape painting by the strokes of his brush. 

Myanmore: How much do you take for a painting?

Foot Painter: I only take 1000 kyats for these. This is very reasonable price, considering if you go to other galleries and shops, you will have to pay over 90,000 kyats for a small painting. Of course, art is art.

Myanmore: Where do you get the paints and papers?

Foot Painter: Around Sule Pagoda, I have suppliers. It only costs around 500 per bottle.

Myanmore: Would you also do portraits and other kind of paintings?

Foot Painter: I don’t. Not in the street like this. I only do these scenery watercolor paintings here. For portraits other paintings, I’d prefer to go home and concentrate on a canvas, and it would take at least a week for me to do so, considering I have to go out on the street to sell these paintings.

Myanmore: Your accent sounds different. You are not from around here, are you?
Foot Painter: Haha! True. I’m from Shan State. In 1992, I came to Yangon to learn more about paintings. Then I found a teacher named “U Min Wai” in Golden Valley, Bahan. After the school, the teacher wanted me to stay here because life could be better here, and he wanted me to do more painting. Then, I stayed here, learnt more about painting, got married, and all the good stuffs. Of course, I decided to settle here after I got married.

The post Yangon Soul – The Foot Painter appeared first on MYANMORE.

Mohinga is beloved enough to have many names and designations, similar to Daenerys Targaryen from the hit HBO TV show Game Of Thrones,  Mohinga has been referred to as the national dish of Myanmar, the pride and joy of the Irrawaddy, the best traditional noodle soup, morning glory of Burmese breakfast, marvel of Burmese brunch, timeless late night supper, and possibly the signature all-day breakfast dish for adventurous tourists of Myanmar. To eat and adore the combination of rice noodle, fish soup, seasoned egg, chopped fish cake, and Bu Thee (Calabash) tempura is the ultimate virtue of living in Myanmar. Mohingavendors are scattered everywhere in the city of Yangon. The places listed here arguably offer (good Mohinga can be quite subjective) the best or the most virtuous class take on the national dish. The price of Mohinga may range from 400 kyats to at most 1800 kyats per bowl depending on the shop and what kind of toppings you choose.

Air-con, Dining Chairs & Shelter

Myaung Mya Daw Cho

118D, Old Yaydarshay Street, Bahan // 16, 11th Street (lower block), Lanmataw // 149, 51st Street (upper block), Pazuntaung // 120, Tamwe Street, Tamwe // 206, Parami Road, South Okkalapa // Pa-9, Padonmar Street, Sanchaung.

Originated from the rice bowl and fishing district of Myanmar, Irrawaddy division, Myaung Mya Daw Cho has been serving the consistent taste of the their  fish soup and tender rice noodle. Currently, there are countless Myaung Mya Daw Cho branches scattered around the country, but the original one is here in Yangon, Anawrahta Road.  It usually opens from 6am to 9am in the morning. Since it is a very well-known place, it is most likely to be crowded even in the morning. The best place to go after a jog in the morning with a famished stomach.

Daw Yin Shwe’s Mohinga (LATE NIGHT)

91,U Yay Khae St.,Ward (2), Mayangone Township

This place is mostly known as U Yay Kel Mohinga (the street it is on) rather than its actual name. What is special about this place is that it only opens from 5 pm to at most 3 am in the morning. Being a perfect haven to dwell and eat mohinga after the late night hangouts, this place will fulfill up your hankering for a warm bowl of fish soup. This place also has a good reputation among the locals and always filled with customers even at night. The service can be quite slow if you decide to just sit at your table and wait for the order to come up

Daw Nyo

Seik Kan Thar Street, Upper Middle Block, Pansodan Township

This is one of the most well-known places for Monhinga in Yangon yet I view this place to be underrated. The taste of the broth at Daw Nyo is wonderfully unique from the others. A slight twinge of sweetness can be tasted with every spoonful of soup. Legend has it that the original recipe uses handful of palm jaggery as an essential ingredient. The small layout of Daw Nyo makes the shop look more busy and crowded than it really is, I always manage to get a seat whenever I go.

Moe

36th street, Upper middle block, In front of Technoland Computer Sales centre

Some people have a tough time eating Mohinga outside, sitting on small stools while others devour the soup to their heart’s content. If this is you, come to this small indoor brunch joint offers a quiet atmosphere, which sometimes play 60s rock ballads. Nice, clean, and hygienic sets of seating can be found as well as the friendly cheerful waiters humming along to the songs. The shop does not have the best Mohinga but the fact that the shop has an air conditioned and peaceful space is ideal for picky eaters who don’t like spicy food.

Sein Paw Ma Tin

The third floor of Junction squre, right beside Shwe Pa Lin Tea Shop

This is the best place to rest for a bowl of Mohinga after a stroll Sunday grocery shopping at Junction Square, and this can even be an excellent place for a Mohinga and a movie date night. The taste of the soup is not the ideal for a Mohinga nut like me and the price is higher than normal, (1800 Ks) but the soup is still quality. Being in a busy food court, you could deem these to be ‘fancy’ bowls of delicious Mohinga.

True Local: Outdoor with Small Plastic Stools

Ya Thar Mon Mohinga

U Tun Lin Chan St, In front of Victor Clothing shop, Hledan

Those who are not picky when it comes to places, this is a place to go. This is a street Mohinga shop, which attracts adventurous souls with an appetite for street Mohinga. The fish soup comes from a steamy pot of soup just beside the stand. This place usually opens in the evening.

Phoe Kwar Mohinga

Kyaung Gyi Street, Kyi Myin Taing.

This is a cart shop which has quite a reputation among the locals of Kyi Myin Taing. This place, according to a local, serves the ultimate street Mohinga you can find in Yangon.

Myint Mohinga

Mahar Bodhi Street and Banyadala Road, Right behind Daisy Kyaw Lin Clothing shop
This is a teashop, specialized in Mohinga, serving their delicious dishes to the locals and people who exercise around Kandaw Gyi Lake early  in the morning.

Pay A Little More

Rangoon Tea House

77-79 Pansodan Street

Probably doesn’t belong on this list considering it’s a modern international brick and mortar restaurant, but the Mohinga at RTH is quite delicious and at an affordable price.

The post Yangon Mohinga Guide appeared first on MYANMORE.

What it is – Pizza Factory is a small pizza joint, which serves crunchy, crispy, and wood- oven baked pizzas at after work hours. Every ingredient, with the exception of Italian mozzarella and salami, is acquired from local markets for the freshness and homey spirits they can bring. The sauces, the dough, and the ingredients are prepared on a daily basis and everything culminated in fresh pizzas made in the wooden oven, located just in front of the shop. Based on the philosophy of “by hands and not by the grams”, the two Burmese chefs (who were thoroughly trained by a disciplined traditional Italian pizza maker) are wholeheartedly persevering to maintain delicious consistency for their homemade taste.

Atmosphere – You can expect a warm ambiance, made by the smell of baked pizza, to met you at the doorstep of the shop. Since the shop just opened recently, the lack of the crowd also provided an intimate atmosphere. A bar is located in the middle of the shop, and the bartender of the shop serves various drinks as well as a cheerful smile. This is more of a restaurant than a pizzeria, with friendly staff who take your order at the table.

Recommendation – There are seven types of pizza, but the highlight of our visit has to be Pizza Regina and Pizza Factory Signature (Both about 12,000K). First of all, nothing beats the smell of the wooden oven on the pizza. Second of all, the pizzas are neither unnecessarily greasy nor unappetizingly oily, they are careful to not serve dripping slices. Now, the marvel started with the first bite of the crunchy crust of Pizza Regina. Mushy mushrooms and chewy capsicum happened to mix in during the second bite. A spread of Pesto sauce (crushed basil leaf and olive oil) jumps into your mouth to make a playful swirl with ham and bacon. Pizza signature definitely lives up to its name as it offers a certain kind of comfort that can only be found at our homes. A simple mix of eggplant, olives, and bacon, merging with crispy crust and the fragrance of wooden oven, makes pizza that tastes fresh and made by familiar hands. At last, you can always order various types of juice or a cup of Myanmar draft beer to wash it all down.

Final Thoughts – This place definitely is a haven for people who want authentic homemade pizza with consistent taste and feel. According to the staff, the shop can get crowded if there is an event nearby, and it is closed on Sunday. The shop has fewer customers on the days weekdays with no concerts or conventions in the area. So, the intimate atmosphere of the shop can surely provide a nice pizza and beer date with your significant other.

Pizza

Shan Kone Street Yangon Yangon Region MM

09 45402 394709 45402 3947

http://yangonpizzafactory.com/

Your neighbourhood pizza joint in Sanchaung! Great Napolitan pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven. Their pizza sauce is homemade and only use fresh ingredients.

Opening Hours

6:00 PM - 10:30 PM

Price Range

$$

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Written By Htun Lyn Zaw

Visual media is currency in Yangon. Perhaps not for those with a good wifi in their home, if you’re part of this demographic, feel free to stop reading. The majority of Yangonites who use coffee shop wifi and/or top-up cards for internet connection, streaming or downloading large files is too pricey to do. Many of these folks wait for a friend’s external hard drive to be passed around so they can participate in House of Cards discussions. But if you are simply looking for something for the next movie night with friends, you should browse one of the many DVD shops of Yangon.

With several different ways to ‘gather’ movies these days, the quality of the recordings are varied with no guarantees. A DVD costs around 1500 Ks per disc, you’ll be buying multiple discs if you plan on buying a complete season of a TV series. Some places will download shows directly to your hard drive for 50 Ks for every hour of content.

Besides being places to get movies, these shops also tend to be neat, well air-conditioned and popular hangouts for the Myanmar’s Gamer community. Without further to do, here is Htun Lyn Zaw’s (a.k.a Frankie) recommended spots.

Dong Jing

Latha Street (upper bloc), in front of the police station. Latha township, Yangon    

This probably is the most famous DVD shop in Yangon, since it always has been the talk among young people if they want some new movies in the current box office or new TV shows. Located in the heart of Yangon, Upper Block of Latha Road, a crowd of people is always browsing through DVD shelves, tumbling over each other in this tiny apartment of a shop. Not only they keep updates on mid seasons of TV shows, they also have collections of old TV shows. The same goes for the movies, music videos, and anime series. If you want to buy DVDs of Friends reruns, CSI series, Dawn of Justice, or new Game of Thrones mid-season, this is the best place to go.

Memory

No. 178, 47th Street (Upper Block), Botahtaung Township

This shop definitely is a haven for film enthusiasts, and people with eccentric taste in movies. Most DVD shops in Yangon can only offer new movies that were big hits in the box office or Oscar winners. This shop has old but gold movies strewn all over the place. You can always ask the friendly shop owner or the staffs if you want to browse by directors, such as Staley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock, or Richard Linklater’s movies. They will always try to find what you need. Since the shop contains a large section of DVD shelves, you can take your time and browse to your heart’s content.

Naytharland

No. 142, Sint Oh Dan st, Latha Township, Yangon

I always like to refer to this place as “Nerdvirna” because they not only have variety of DVDs but also items and toys concerning with superhero, pop culture, and comics. This undoubtedly a heaven for comic book fans, superhero enthusiast, and Star Wars geeks as they can browse a great collection of DVDs as well as window-shop the figurines of their favorite character. However, this probably will be one of the places you would regret taking your kids to, as they have action figures, superhero helmets, and Batman T Shirts lying around all over the place. Nonetheless, if you want to buy “Captain America (The Winter Soldier)” DVD and Captain America’s shirt before watching the Civil War on cinema, this is the place I would recommend.

Sweetie DVDs

Padonma Street, (near Knoe Htet Sanchaung)

Just a few blocks away from Myay Ne Gone traffic lights, this shop is always filled with customers browsing away till they are satisfied. This place not only has movies and TV shows but also DVDs of live shows and music videos. Aside from this, it has a large collection of Blu Ray discs of new movies. The prices of the discs here range from 500 Kyats to 3500 kyats. In addition, a friendly staff are can help you navigate for a specific movie.

MMOtaku Data Library

No.36 (Ground Floor ), 19th Street, Latha Township, Yangon

This up and coming data shop is a revolution in DVD industry in Yangon as it started selling TV shows and movies with data transferring basis. It was established by anime enthusiasts’ organization MMOtuku, which always do annual Cosplay festivals. Locating near China Town of Yangon, 19th street upper block, the shop is always crowded with costumers browsing the catalogs. Since it is always crowded, you might also have to leave your hard disk for a while. This shop probably is the perfect shop for anime fans and TV show fans since they keep updates on every TV shows and Anime series. They are also always active on their Facebook page, keeping in touch with its costumers’ favorite movies and TV series.  You can always ask them on their Facebook page whether they have the movies or TV shows you want. Subscribe to them in order to know about their monthly promotions and discounts

Honorable mentions

HD Movie Stores (Data Library)

Thit san khant computer service (in front of yangon post office) Bo Aung Kyaw Street (Lower Block), Botahtaung Township Yangon

Movie Maxtric (Data Library)

No.945, Kyait Wine Pagoda Road, Yangon

The post The Best DVD Shops And Data Libraries In Town appeared first on MYANMORE.

Institut Français de Birmanie on Pyay Road @ 8 pm to 1 am // 8,000 Ks Door Price including 2 beers // the Marionette, the Big Bag, and Krono performing

Since the dry season is coming to an end and monsoon is up ahead, French Love Friday events are coming to an end at the 17^th one. Myanmar ‘s young Rock n Roll talent “The Marionette”, Punk legend “The Big Bag”, and French Dj duo “Krono” will be the main performers for the wild night, which will go on till 1 am in the morning. FLF will probably not be returning till the next dry season. So, get your rain dance on.

The post Final FRENCH LOVE FRIDAY Before Monsoon Season w/ Big Bag appeared first on MYANMORE.

Yangon Soul is a new column run by the MYANMORE editorial team that aims to capture snippets of the characters that make Myanmar what it is. Whether it is a profile of neighborhood personality or a look into the holdovers from the era of isolation, Yangon Soul is a chance to shed light on those who are noticed but not known.

U Own Myint is an elderly man who plays the young man’s game of Chin Lone. The MYANMORE interns caught up with him at his usual playing spot the Myay Ne Gone overpass….

UOM: “I love every sport there is, and I got hooked on sports when I was working as a part time typist in Yangon University Library” said short and stout 68 years old U Own Myint as he parked his bike under the overhead bridge of Myay Ne Gone. “Before that, I was an orphan, living with relatives, happy being an urchin on the street. Then, I join the army in 9th grade because I did not want to study anymore, but I got kicked out by a colonel since I was too young and weak and of course he thought I needed to go to school.”

MYANMORE: “What kind of sports have you played?”

UOM: “I like football. I used to be an official referee back in the days for a short period. I have played badminton, a little bit of football, table tennis, and now Chin lone.”

MYANMORE: “How did you start playing Chin Lone?” “Why Chin Lone?”

UOM: “I used to go play with this Karen Bible study group near my house, it was quite convenient for me to do so. Even though, I was an only devoted Buddhist, they were okay with it. There’s no difference once you are in the match, you are just a player. What I like about Chin Lone is that I can apply what I learnt from other sports into Chin Lone as. For example, table tennis paddles have anti-topspin which can stop and also activate the spinning ball. I apply that method to my Chin lone shoes by adding a rubber layer with pores on it. I had my shoes custom made at a shoemaker in 8 miles. With these shoes, I can make or stop powerful spins during the serves”

Our conversation ended once the other, younger, Chin Lone players finally arrived to start the daily match. 

MYANMORE: “Can we join these matches?”

UOM: “Sure you can! If you are good enough, you are welcome, but you are terrible at it, we are going to curse you for sure, hahaha!”

You can find U Own Myint and the Chin Lone gang under the flyover bridge of Myay Ni Gone, in front of Dagon Centre 2 at around 5 in the evening everyday.

The post YANGON SOUL: When Chin Lone Is Life appeared first on MYANMORE.