Posts

Showing posts from April, 2008

How to insert images and pictures in Gmail

Gmail is cool, really cool and I use it as my primary mail. I used to use other emails before but now I use gmail as my sole email. I even assess my office pop mail using gmail's pop collector. However, there are a few things that I like to see in gmail. 1. You cannot insert images and pictures into gmail message. You can send them as an attachment but you cannot insert them into the message body. 2. You cannot format the message using html. That is too bad. OK, they are too bad but you can still do these, and it is not difficult. Very easy indeed. To so these, first, open a google document. Write your message with message in it. Just write anything you want and insert any picture or image anywhere you want in the message. After you finish, just select the whole page and copy. Then go to gmail, open the compose window, and paste. Done! It is that easy. Now what if you want to do some html formatting? Go to google pages, create a new web page (no, you don't need to publish it),

Ah-lhu - a donation ceremony

When you visit Myanmar, you will encounter ah-lhu one day or another. What is ah-lhu ? It is in deed a religious donation ceremony. People usually do ah-lhu when they donate food and offerings to the monk or the monastry. It can be a sole even. Or it can be in celebration for the wedding, anniversary, or to mark the day a family member died. People usually do ah-lhu at home or at the monastery. Usually, on the day of ah-lhu , monks are invited to the home. They are then offered food and offerings, after which monks recite Buddha's scriptures and give sermon. After the monks go back to the monastery, meal is served to the invited gusts. This is usually a Burmese formal lunch, although sometimes, it can be monhingha, a popular Burmese noodle soup. Ah-lhu is an integral part of Myanmar Buddhist life, and most Myanmar people, if they could afford, will do ah-lhu quite frequently.

All Channel

Image
This is a news website for Myanmar people. The site is written in Myanmar, but features news not only from Myanmar but also from all over the world. They have sections on E-books, cartoons, fashion, video, music, sports, money, interview, photos, short stories, games and many more. They also have live radio channels but it seems these radio channels are the online channels from other providers, they just list them here. Anyway, it is a nice place to read current news for Myanmar people. Visit the site at all-channel .

Adobe launches photoshop express

Image
Now, Adobe also joins the increasingly popular free online photo sharing, image hosting and photo editing war. Adobe just launched the Adobe Photoshop Express a few weeks ago, in beta version. The sign up is free and includes 2 GB of free storage for photos. You can also edit the photos using the online editor, which is a simple and easy to use but a useful editor. I tried the Adobe photoshop express and found it quite a useful online service. Check it out free at Adobe Photoshop Express .

My favourite photo

Image
This is one of my favorite photos. I took this photo in Kanpetlet, Chin Hills. The mother was looking at the foreigners who were visiting their village, while the boy was looking at me and my camera. I grasp the moment and get a snapshot of the boy.

Phoe Wa

Image
Here is another start up web portal from Myanmar. This is entirely in Myanmar language. They started the web portal a year ago. There are current news stories on Myanmar, entertainment, travel, fashion, and celebrities. There are also sections on movies, music, fashion, new products, models, shopping, sports, horoscope and Myanmar web directory. You can visit the Phoewa web site here .

Weekly Eleven News Journal

Image
This is an online version of Weekly Eleven News Journal from Myanmar. It is quite a popular weekly journal from Myanmar with news from both Myanmar and the world. You can read the journal at Weekly Eleven website . Technorati Tags: Myanmar , Burma , Weekly Eleven , Journal , Myanmar Journal

Money Exchange in Yangon (Dollar Exchange)

Image
If you are visiting Myanmar, you will find yourself trying to find a money exchange to change your foreign currency into Myanmar kyat. Although US dollar is universally accepted, small vendors will be reluctant to accept US dollars because of difficulty in exchanging into kyat. So you invariably have to change some money into Myanmar kyat anyway. The first place you can change is at the airport. There is an authorized money exchange counter at the airport, but the rate they pay is very low, so you better not change there. Your hotel might be able to make money exchange for you at a reasonable price, so you should always ask their price first. If they cannot, they can give you some advice on it. They can contact a money exchange dealer as they always have contact with these people. Apart from your hotel, the most convenient place in Yangon to change your dollars into kyat is in Bogyoke market. There are a number of money exchanges in Bogyoke market although none of them are authorized.

Orbituary - Ludu Daw Amar Died at the age of 93

Image
Ludu Daw Amar, a famous and beloved author from Mandalay, and wife of late Ludu U Hla, died at the age of 93 at Mandalay General Hospital this morning. She was born on 29 November 1915 in Mandalay from U Htin and Daw Su. She studied in Mandalay ABM and National School, and later studied in Mandalay College and Rangoon University. She established herself as a writer by translating Trials in Burma by Maurice Collis. She later married to Ludu U Hla and publish Ludu Newspaper. Her husband Ludu U Hla passed away in 1982. She has five children. It is perhaps one of the biggest loss for the literature circle of Myanmar in recent years.

Bus to Mandalay

If you are planning to go to Mandalay directly from Yangon, you have three options. The most comfortable, convenient and expensive one is to take a flight. The price (for two way ticket) is more expensive than a two way ticket between Bangkok and Yangon. The second, less expensive one is to use the train. The cheapest and most uncomfortable way to travel is by bus. Buses from Yangon to Mandalay usually leave around 5 PM in the afternoon, and arrives to Mandalay the next morning around 9 AM. The buses are all air-conditioned, but some of the bus drivers may turn off the air cons once the leave Yangon. Most buses will also take passengers in the axle seats, which makes the bus very crowded. The buses will stop on the way for dinner and supper, usually around 8 PM and after midnight. The stop depends on the bus service. Food might be a little difficult for you to digest as this is always Burmese rice and curry. Food price is not included in the bus fare. The toilets at these restaurants a