• Ngapali
• Inlay
• Sydney, Australia
• Niagara Falls
• Other Visits
• Visits to Burma by Foreign Leaders

Ngapali

My poem “The Ngapali Beach” was published in the Forward Magazine.
I received fifteen kyats for the poem.
The illustrator received fifty kyats.

Bohmu Ba Thaw (Maung Thaw Kha) was Chief Editor of the Forward Magazine. He jokingly asked me if I would be interested to join him.

U Sein Hla was Assistant Editor of the Forward Magazine.

Three Visits to Ngapali

My first visit was during my student days with my cousin Ko Thaung Lwin and friends. We stayed at the Bungalow owned by U Tha Gyaw Wai and managed by my uncle U Thet Toe.

At a nearby bungalow was a movie crew by Amyotha Yoke Shin with U San Maung (Gerald, RUBC Gold and Coach). They were shooting a film starring Wah Wah Win Shwe and directed by U Min Naing. Ko Gerald asked me if I would be interested to join them on the way back to Rangoon via Taung Goke.

The ride on the truck over the Taung Goke Pass was rough and tough. At Taung Goke, we were hosted by a cinema owner. He offered the movie audience a free show if they could translate the Burmese titles into English. One submission was “Fly away bitter bird” (Pyan Lay dei Nget Khar).

The rest of the trip involved a boat ride (after a long delay) and a train ride.

My second visit was with my beloved spouse and two young sons. We stayed at the Bungalow owned by Amyotha Yoke Shin and managed by U Mya Maung (GBNF, younger brother of U Sein Tin and elder brother of Saya U Tin Htut).

My third visit was as a Guest Lecturer for the Ngapali Luyechun Camp. I spent some time chatting with other Guest Lecturers including Saya U Kyaw Myint (Director of Higher Education, former Professor of Physics at Mandalay).

I know a few people who have taken annual trips to Ngapali.

Inlay

My poem “Phaung daw-u Festival” was published in the Thadinkyut Supplement of the Working People’s Daily (WPD).
I received fifteen kyats for the poem.

Four Visits to Inlay

My first visit was as Luyechun to the Inlay Khaung Daing Camp in the summer of 1965.

My second visit was as a guest of Peter Pe (SPHS) in October, 1965. Maung Maung Aye decided to join us. We were greeted at Nyang Shwe by Thar Oo (Shan Pyay).

We stayed for a week in Inn Paw Khone in Inlay Lake. Peter’s cousins (including a medical doctor) hosted us. We attended the Phaung Daw-u Festival.

We then visited Taunggyi to see Peter’s uncle U Maung Maung Latt (Ah Matt Choke of Nyaung Shwe Sawbwa). We attended the Mee Bone Byan Pwe.

My third visit was in the mid 2010’s via a Tour Company which arranged a Tour Guide, and car, a private boat and a night stay at a hotel in the Lake.
The photo shows a rainbow in the background.

We were sad to see the declining state of Inlay (e.g. water level). We also spent some time in Taunggyi and the nearby cave in Ho Pone.

My fourth visit was in January 2020 as the last leg of a one week PSA 2020 Tour. We stayed at a hotel near Inlay Lake. Two PSA members gave a short course to the hotel employees. Some went for the Hot Air Balloon ride. Some opted for a boat ride in the Inlay Lake.

Sydney, Australia

In June 2006, I visited Sydney to attend three mini-gatherings.

• Annual Dinner of Engineers
  mostly RIT Alumni
  
• Gathering hosted by Saya U Aung Zaw (UCC)
  to pay respect to Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe (Founder of UCC) and Sayagyi Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (National Advisor, Board Member of UCC)

• Lunch for Old Paulians in Olympic Park by Dr. Thann Naing (Bonnie Kywe, Geology)

Ko Tha Hlaing (EC83) is the son of Dr. Freddie Ba Hli and my cousin Daw Myint Thwe. He gave me the book “This is Sydney” as a present.

Niagara Falls

I visited Nigara Falls twice.

My first visit to Niagara Falls two decades ago from the US side.
Ko Mya Aung, Ko Tin Ohn, Ko Maung Maung Myint and I rented a car and made a quick trip.

My second visit to Niagara Falls was made in 2015.
Ko Ivan Lee (M69) provided his Mercedes for whirl wind trip to Canada and the East Coast of USA.
Ko Frederick Thetgyi (M69) volunteered to drive most of the journey so that Ko Ivan could rest. On the way to Windsor, Canada, we visited the Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.

Other Visits

In my other posts, I have described my visits to

• England and Wales
  Hosts :
  Dr. Khin Tun (Peter), Daw Win Mar (Reading, England)
  U Maung Maung Kyi, Daw Khin May Than (Ogmore-by-the-sea, Wales)
• Texas
  Hosts :
  Dr. Ba Han and Daw Lillian (Fort Worth),
  U San Lin and Daw Hla Hla Myint (Dallas),
  U Myo Tin and Dr. Khine Zin Oo (Temple)
• Washington, Oregon and Vancouver
  Host :
  U Khin Maung Zaw (Seattle)
  U Zaw Oo (Vancouver)
• Cape Cod
  Hosts :
  Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw and family
• East Coat of USA
  Hosts :
  Dr. L Sein Myint (Maryland),
  U Thein Han and family (Maryland)
  U Wynn Myint Aung and family (Maryland)
  U Htin Lin and family (Washington D.C.)
  U Aung Thu (New York)
  Ivan Lee (New Jersey)
  Fred Thetgyi and family (Pennsylvannia)
  Tom Liu and family (Connecticut)
  Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw and Daw Khin Maw Maw (Massachussetts)
• Southern California
  Hosts :
  Saya U Tin Htut and Daw Irene,
  Steeve Kay (QTCM and KFF),
  U Aung Khin and Daw The The
  Daw Phyu Phyu Kyaw
• Canada
  Hosts :
  Sayagyi U Aung Khin (Windsor)
  Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and family (Napean)
• Singapore
  Hosts :
  U Win Latt,
  U Tin Aung Win and Daw Wah,
  U Ngwe Soe,
  U Zaw Tun and Daw Kyu Kyu
• Malaysia
  Hosts :
  U Ngwe Soe and Daw Nu Nu Yee
• 5th Irrawaddy Literary Festival
  Host :
  ILF Board
• 2020 Myanmar PSA Tour
  Host :
  U Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing and family

Visit to Burma by Foreign Leaders

• During our younger days, three N’s : Nu (Burma), Nehru (India) and Nasser (Egypt) celebrated the Burmese New Year (Thingyan Festival). They helped found the Non-Aligned Movement.
  
• Other leaders such as David Ben Gurion (Israel), Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) and Daj Hammarskjold (UNSG) also visited Burma.

Nehru (India)

Photos : Compiled by Win Aung Gyi (Maung Aung Mon)

Nehru and Indira Gandhi (India)

Chou En Lai (China)