Myanmar Tea Shop - Where Friends are Made!

Just like British people love tea drinking, we Burmese people also have a penchant for tea. Teashops are an important and integral part of life in Myanmar.

As a foreigner who first arrives to Myanmar, you will be surprised to see so many teashops in Yangon and almost everywhere in Myanmar. The streets are filled with numerous tea-shops. And surprisingly, most of them are filled up with customers.

Nowhere in South-East Asia would you find such a large number of teashops. Burmese people have a saying, “sitting at teashop”. This is because we really sit at a teashop for a very long time, sometimes even hours, after ordering just one cup of tea. It’s like a national past-time activity.

The teashop may also sell some finger food to its customers.

And there is always the free flow of plain Chinese tea. You can order plain Chinese tea, in abundance, while you’re sitting at the tea-shop. The main reason, the people sit at a teashop for so long is just to sit and chat.

But there’s more to teashops than just tea and chat. Teashops are where friends meet each other; businesses are done, news and tips are exchanged and even quarrels. You can meet people and hear their local latest news/tips just by sitting at a teashop for a few moments.

The people from Kyout Pa Dong like their tea to be too sweet. You can just say ‘Kyout Pa Dong’ at a tea shop and the waiter will know what you want. He will then present you with a cup of over-the-top sweet tea.

If you want a light tea, you need to say ‘pot pot’. If you want a tea with a lot of milk, then say ‘Pot Saint’. Or if you want a strong tea just tell them ‘Kya Saint’.

There are many types of teashops in Myanmar, each having its own different and unique style. But the most popular ones are the roadside ones. They are simple and opened on a concrete slab. Small and low tables surround the tea shop where customers can sit. This is where you meet the locals. If you really want to experience Burmese way of life then you need to visit any such roadside teashop. You will definitely have a new and wonderful experience.

The most crowded timings are from 7 AM to 10AM and 6PM to 10 PM. People want to enjoy a cup of tea (Burmese Style), before they can head to work. Though, most of them are men. To break the ice and start a conversation, simply ask any Burmese man about his tea taste. He will definitely suggest you some good ones and in the process, become your friend.

Mann Shwe Sattaw: The Festival of Joy in Myanmar

Shwe Sattaw: The Festival of Joy

Myanmar Burma is known as the festival land. With countless Pagodas scattered among the beautiful landscape of Myanmar, there are equal number of festivals too. The Shwe Sattaw (Buddha’s footprint) is the unique Pagoda festival in the middle of Myanmar.

Shwe Sattaw is located beside Mann Stream and called Mann Shwe Sattaw at 32 miles from the MaGway. As expected, the Ayeyawaddy River too is nearby. The Shwe Sattaw wildlife sanctuary which is locaed between Mann and Mone Streams, it is established in 1940, June 29th and especially intended for Myanmar Golden Deer. In accordance of 1998 inventory, the population of Myanmar Deer is increasing and there you can see some wild bear, wild dog, leopard, gaur, barking deer and and some species of primates and various kinds of birds also.

Mann Shwe Sattaw Pagoda Festival is held every year between February to Middle of April and during this time; the whole place is flocked by religious pilgrims from across the Myanmar. The place can be reached by a road along the Yangon-Pyay highway. It further takes you to Pathein-Monywa road from Nawaday Bridge and until you reach the holy spot.

Once at the Pagoda, you will see two Sattawyar (footprint). The upper one is located on the hill with the footprint of Lord Buddha and a lower Sattawyar, where is situated another footprint of Lord Buddha.

To reach the two places, there are two ways. The older people prefer the road, which takes them easily to the hill. However, there is also a staircase which is preferred by the younger generation. This is a treacherous terrain. At the top of this staircase when you reach the holy spot, you also get a panoramic view of the whole place. In spite of the crowd, there is a lot of peace in the surroundings. If you go to east direction, MoteSoe Du Htauk Image can give you a glimpse of the green surroundings.

At the same time, the lower Sattawyar is active with Buddhist to worship and praying.

Beside the Mann Stream there are also stalls which sell various kinds of traditional handicrafts and herbs. You can also get to eat and rest in these stalls. At most, temporary bamboo housings are made for the visitors to rest or spend a night. The Pagoda festival is filled with life and fervor at each point.

An experience of a lifetime that you can be sure to take home will be taking a dip at the holy Mann Stream. The water is cool and crystal clear and it just refreshes you instantly. The bath soothes the tired body exhausted by the treacherous terrain.

The approximate time to travel to this area is March and you can witness this holy Festivals of Myanmar.

Myanmar Wedding

No matter who you are, what your age, what your career, you don't want to be alone, yes! no! maybe?
This is depends on a person’s mind and belief.

In Myanmar, there's a saying, "Three things: Getting married, building a pagoda and getting tattooed - these need to be fully thought through before beginning, for it’s almost impossible to re-do them in the future."
In the golden old days, our Myanmar people took at least three years getting to know each other before they married.
Most of Myanmar’s marriages are based on love and affection. The couple is meant to live together for rest of their lives.

I would like to describe the common activities before and after the Myanmar Wedding Ceremony.
First, the groom’s side needs to prepare the Auspiciousness present (we called Ohn Pwe Ngat Pyaw Pwe - coconut, banana and thapyae flower). Depending on their family lifestyle and property level, they can add gold, diamonds, land, a house, car, etc. The auspiciousness present is the base for all wedding ceremonies, to bring auspiciousness to the couple.

In the Myanmar Calendar, which days are lucky and which are not is already set out, depending on the moon cycle.
When the date is lucky for the occasion, their wedding party may be held at their house or a restaurant, monastery or a hotel, depending on their budget.

For the Buddhist, who hold their wedding at the monastery, it is a very simple wedding and effective for the start of the couple.
The monk will offer luck while the couple is reading Buddha's peaceful regulations. As the couple begins a new life, they should have a pure mind, peaceful thoughts and strong luck for their long journey. During this time, the bride and groom are seated in front of the monks and their new auspiciousness gifts.

Now they are husband and wife!

To prevent supernatural miserable energy, a newly wed couple needs to throw a few handfuls of white popcorn, orchid, some money notes, or some rice and sweets. Throwing these into the crowd makes everybody busy and happy.

The last thing to complete their wedding is the golden bar. The new couple is lined by friends standing two by two - holding gold necklaces at each end. The groom must pay money for every golden bar to let them pass.

Some Important Notes for a Myanmar Wedding:
Wedding’s Auspiciousness Color - White, Cream, Yellow and Pink
After the Wedding - Need to pay respect to both parents’ side at home
Wedding Present - Since the couple start their new life, you should give household things as a present.

That’s it! Hope you can enjoy our Myanmar Cultural and making friend with Myanmar People.
With my best wishes!