Zoho Writer Update

A few days ago, I wrote about Zoho writer. (www.zoho.com). I wrote that it stuck when I tried to resize the photos. Today, I used it again at another computer. Here, there is no problem. I used Firefox both times so it is not the browser problem. I think it occurs only with my computer. I didn't find anything about it in the Zoho forum too. May be I better shut down my computer and restart again to see whether there is any problem or not. (I haven't shut down my computer properly for weeks. I only hybernate or stand by).

Technorati Tags     Internet

Update on Myanmar MP3 free music download

It was a long time ago since I posted the links to Myanmar MP3 music sites for free song download. There are now a few new entries to this area so I think I should update my list again. Here is my update.

Myanmarmp3 - The old Myanmar mp3 download site is even better, with new and improved design and more new songs.

Nyakabyar - Another old Myanmar mp3 songs download site. It is better than before with many new songs although not as extensive as the Myanmarmp3 site.

Myitzuri - Looks like a new site, or may be I didn't noticed it the first time. Got a nice collection of Myanmar modern music.

Miss You - A new site, with some collection of Myanmar songs and MTV, but not extensive.

Ayinepan - Another old Myanmar mp3 download site, getting better this time.

Myanmar Image - A section in Myanmar Image site. Some nice modern music but not much.

Inwa - A section in Inwa website to view music videos from Myanmar.

MMA - Myanmar MP3 Album - New mp3 music download site.

Technorati Tags: Myanmar, Burma, Burmese, mp3, songs, music, free, download

Zoho Writer

Zoho Writer - A Web Based Word Processor

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I am just testing the Zoho writer from www.zoho.com. It is a web based writer whrere you do the simple word processing on your web browser. It seems the application has some powerful features, although not as powerful as Microsoft word. However, on the other hand, Microsoft Word cost a lot of money while Zoho writer is free of charge. And you can save your documents online free of charge and later retrive back from any computer with online assess. This is particularly useful if you are travelling and you want to write some letter or document, but forget to bring a laptop or a thumb drive. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend Zoho writer, as you can get Open Office free of charge, which is as powerful as Microsoft Word. And one problem I encounter while using Zoho writer is that whenever I tried to resize images, it stuck. I don't know why.

However, if you use online alot at internet cafes, this writer is a very useful application, as you can simply save all your documents online. And you can also use it to post the documents to your blog. You can reach Zoho writer at www.zoho.com.

Cinema halls in Yangon (Rangoon)

Compared to other capital cities of South East Asia, Yangon has fewer cinema halls. And most of them are quite old, dating back to as far as the colonial period. There are about six or seven cinema halls in downtown Yangon which show Hollywood, Bollywood (Indian movies) and local movies. They usually play four shows a day.

In Myanmar, the cinema halls are single theatre types, usually having two levels of seating. On first level, there are usually three or four classes with the front seats being the cheapest. Level two is upper class or first class, and the most expensive. Because of limited number of cinema halls in Yangon, there usually a lucrative black market of cinema tickets, sold at two to three times the official selling price, depending on the popularity of the movies.

Most of the theatres in Yangon are equipped with old and out dated projectors and sound systems. There are now a few theatres equipped with more modern projectors and sound systems. However, the quality is still no where near those from other modern theatres.

Myanmar Web Text Editor

Here is a very nice program I have been looking for, for a very long time. A Myanmar Web Text Editor! I couldn't type Myanmar properly, and there are many people out there who cannot type Myanmar. I believe a visual Myanmar test editor, either online or standalone version, would be a great help. Now it is coming. All you need to do is to click the appropriate buttons, and the text editor will do the rest. Try it at http://www.mysteryzillion.com/project/webtext/. Myanmar online web visual keyboard for Zawgyi-one font.

Khaung (Indigenous Beer)

“Khaung” is a kind of alcoholic beverage made locally in some parts of Myanmar, mostly among ethnic people. There are various kinds of “khaung” produced locally but most widely known are Kachin and Chin khaungs. I don’t know about Kachin khaung, but I have some knowledge about Chin khaung that I could share with you.

In Chin state, the most famous khaung is made in Southern Chin State, especially in Mindat Township. In contrast to khaung from other ethnic people, Chin khaung is made from millet seeds, not rice or sticky rice. Every family in Mindat grows millet seeds in their farms solely for the purpose of making khaung.

The process of khaung making is as follows. First, red millet seed is cooked until it becomes thick. Then it is allowed to cool down. Once it is cool down, yeast is added to it and blends properly. Then it is put into a clay pot and sealed air tight. Fermentation takes place inside the sealed pot. This process takes at least a month, but the longer the fermentation time, the better the quality of khaung. To get a really good quality khaung, it needs at least six months of fermentation.

After a certain period, it is ready to drink, but you need to make beverage or khaung from this mixture. The pot is opened, and water added into the pot. Banana leaves are put above the content and a straw is inserted into the pot. Khaung is then siphoned through the straw and into the cup. First cup is the best and usually served to the guest of honor. When water contents in the pot lowers, more water is added, again and again, until there is no more taste.

The taste of Chin khaung is sweet, and a bit sour. It tastes somewhat like a mix of alcohol, grape fruit juice and lemonade. Khaung plays a very important part in Chin culture. If you are offered a cup of khaung in Chin Hills, don’t refuse under any circumstance. You are considered a guest of honor and refusal of the offer will be considered rude.

The Internet was quite slow during these days

Usually, the broadband speed in Thailand is quite fast, even in a small rural town like the one I stay. It is fairly easy to watch youtube videos on the internet using the broadband here. However, it was already two days that the broadband speed was so slow; so slow that even visiting a regular site such as google or yahoo was taking more than a minute. That was unacceptable. I hope tomorrow it would be better.

I just put a shout box

Well, I just add a shout box to my blog. I want to know what you, the readers, are thinking about my blog. Please feel free to say anything you want. Thanks.

My New Layout

I changed my layout of my blog from two columns to three columns. I think this is a bit better. I have so many side bar widgets that they make the side bar so congested. You can download the three columns from this website free of charge. Please give me comments on the new design of my blog.

Yaw Festival

I was visiting a small remote town (actually a large village) in Yaw region. It was Laungshae, a very ancient town in Myanmar, and situated in Saw township. I saw these local people on a religious procession on a Buddhist holy day.

Chin Hills

Here is a group of local people in a small town in Chin State of Myanmar (Burma) pulling a cow to the market. This is a large mountain found abundant in Chin Hills. They are bringing this cow to the butcher.

Chin National Day on 20 February

Just a quick reminder. Chin National Day is on 20 February, and there will be a big official celebration in Hakha, the capital of Chin State, Myanmar. There will be Chin traditional costume shows, Chin traditional dances and Chin traditional wrestling. Interested visitors should plan their visit in advanced as there is only one guest house in Hakha.

Shin Pyu

Shin Pyu is an essential and integral part in a life of a Burmese Buddhist male. “Shin Pyu” is a ceremony in which a young Buddhist male becomes a novice in the order of The Sangha.

For a Burmese Buddhist male, it is important for him to be a novice for a certain period in his life as this will enable him to gain merit which will enable him, in his future lives, to gain Nirvana (enlightenment). Gaining Nirvana is the ultimate goal for any Buddhist. By entering the order of The Sangha, as a novice in this life, it will greatly enhance his Karma (Merit) in gaining Nirvana in later lives. Not only he will gain Karma, his parents will also gain the same Karma as him. Thus, it is the most important event for both the boy and the parents in his life.

Usually, the boy who is around the age of 10 years will join The Order as a novice. There is no fixed age for entering the order as a novice, but he must be under the age of 19 years and 3 months. (In Buddhism, a person becomes alive at conception, so at 19 years and 3 months, he will be 20 years old). He will usually stay in The Order as a novice for a few weeks. (Usually a week to a month, but may be more). He will learn basic principles that are essential in becoming a good Buddhist.

As this is a very important occasion for him and his family, the parents usually celebrate the event in an extravagant manner. The boy is dressed in princely outfits of silk and wears a gold headdress. He is then ridden around the town on a white horse or in a car, in a grand procession. Musicians are hired to entertain guests. Not all families can afford this however, and many shin pyus are more modest.

At the monastery, his hair is shaved and begins the ceremony of becoming the novice. After the ceremony, he becomes a proud member of the Holy Order of Sangha.