To the FutureDec 25, 2004
Merry X'mas to you all. We had a Christmas party at the Digital Divide Data Laos office.
Well, my Christmas this year was untypical. I worked during the day since Christmas was not an official holiday in Laos. Unfortunately, because of multinational businesses' taking advantage of law in countries like Laos, they have to work on Saturdays, meaning Christmas was a working day. :-)
However, we had a nice little Christmas party after work even though most of the staff were Buddhists and didn't know anything what Christmas meant. I didn't know if one of the Laos Christians explained about Christmas because everything was happening in Laos. All I know in Laos is how to say "I am hungry", "how much is it?" and "I love you" :-) I am picking up more words, though :-)
Well, the weather here is, of course, not snowing. A perfect Fall day, you would say, if you are from the Mid-west of America. The weather in Bethlehem was not snowing, either :-) 42 F with clear sky recorded in Jerusalem today according to CNN.
Even though most people in the office are Buddhists, they celebrated Christmas for fun :-) Here is a picture of a Buddhist shrine with Santa.
Dec 22, 2004
This is the article I read today. Something to think about Burma. In "Mystique outweighs morality for Myanmar tourists", the author mentioned the desire of many tourists who want to visit Burma instead of sanctions and political problems. A good remark by a Swiss backpacker:
“If you start thinking about not coming here because of the government, you will have to start thinking about whether to go to China, Laos, Tibet, or even the United States,” said Swiss backpacker Marcel Schonenberger.
Dec 21, 2004
I read this article about Burmese economy.
http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/dec/13/13122004bs.htm#A5
Dec 19, 2004
In this article, Amyotheryei Win Naing said that "Free reporting by the media sources on abuses of power by government employees" is needed for the change in Burma. Are we ever going to get there? Everything he writes is scrutinized by the Board of Censors if he wants to publish it in Burma. The Irrawaddy, where he wrote his article, is not available in Burma unless the techie kid goes around the firewall using proxies.
Our country sure stands at a dead lock today. What should we all do to help it solve all its economic, social and political problems?
Dec 18, 2004
Dec 17, 2004
I called Neil and Diana Sowards in the US today. I was testing my cell phone. I tried to call Burma and it never went through. At least I was able to talk to people in the US. It cost me 40 cents a minute to the US. It's 70 cents to Burma but my call never went through because the phone network in Burma is congested.
I bought an Alcatel 735 cell phone. The phone is dual band (900/1800 MHz) and it works in almost all countries in the world except the USA and Canada :-) I bought a phone card to use with my cell phone. The phone card cost me about $ 5 and I talked to Neil, Diana and Auntie Hteemu about 11 minutes. I still have some money left over on my card. It's basically cheap to have a phone here compared to Burma. I feel sad for Burmese people. Burma hasn't to be this way. Laos is catching up with the International telecommunication sector. I used the government company's phone card to call the US. Just think how cheap compared to Burma, from where it would cost $ 4.5 a min to the US. The regime in Burma doesn't know what they are doing. They should come to Laos and learn from the Communist government here in Laos :-)
Communication is everything when you want to get jobs done. In Burma, we have a big problem for that.
Dec 13, 2004
Here is a picture of us eating dinner at the Digital Divide Data Laos office. It's much fun to learn about Laos and the culture and the people :-)
People in the picture: (Left - right) Lwin Moe, Moukda, Phonekham, Teuanchit, Somkhith, Keo.
Dec 10, 2004
Dec 08, 2004
Dec 02, 2004
I left for Bangkok today. I was picked up at the airport by Uncle Tun Thein, Uncle Soe Myint and Ko Zaw Zaw. I felt strange to be in Bangkok. Bangkok has changed to be an International city. I felt like I was in America to be in Bangkok except for Asian faces and Thai characters on bill-boards.
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Mon dress at the museum of Mon Studies Center
A Karen family at a village near Thai-Burma border
Lwin Moe with a Karen family at a village near Thai-Burma border
Three pagodas on Thai-Burma border
From Three pagodas on Thai-Burma border
