by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Jan & Feb 2018

Had a wonderful time in Myanmar in January and February, 2018.

• 5th Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe for ICST/UCSY

• Paid respect to Saya U Soe Paing
• Paid respect to Saya U Moe Aung
• Last rites at Ye Way for Ko Aung Moung (M73)

• Guest lecture at UCSY
• Guest lecture at MARB
• Guest lectures at private monk university
• Monthly meeting of 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65
• RITAA meeting (includes Opening Ceremony of Teacher’s Corner
• Discussion with Ko Wynn Htain Oo and Sayama Daw Thida

• 69er breakfast gathering organized by Ko Shwe (EP69)
• Birthday celebration by Ko Tin Mg Aye (M69)
• Birthday soon kway by Ko Kyaw Win (SPHS63, Germany) for Uzin Victor Aung Chaw
• UCC lunch gathering hosted by Ko Soe Myint and Ko Sein Myint
• Gatherings with relatives
• Meeting old friends

ICST

The 5th Acariya PuZaw Pwe of ICST (Institute of Computer Science and Technology) and UCSY (University of Computer Studies Yangon) was held in January 2018.

Former students from UCC (Universities’ Computer Center), DCS (Department of Computer Science) and ICST (Institute of Computer Science and Technology) requested me to attend the 5th Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of ICST/UCSY.

San Yin Myint (Samanta), one of the organizers for the Pu Zaw Pwe, is a niece of Saya U Win Kyaing (GBNF) and a cousin of Ko Maurice Chee (M75).

Per arrangement of Samantha, Saw Yan Naing picked me up. He is the son of Dr. Saw Naing (Leslie), a nephew of Dr. Myo Khin and a cousin of Ko Soe Lin Maung (ex-UCC).

Gave a short speech as a member of “Generation Zero of UCC”.

The SPZP was held in five batches. As a member of “Generation Zero of UCC”, I covered some milestones of the Introduction of Computers to Burma under the leadership of Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe.

Ma Nge (Daw Nge Ma Ma Than, GBNF) attended the SPZP.

ICST/UCSY published a commemorative magazine for the 30th Anniversary of the founding of UCC. I wrote “Paying Back to My Alma Mater” (a summary of the 30+ posts about UCC) for the issue.

UCSY

Gave a guest lecture at UCSY a week later.

Spent several days of my vacation to write and post “Memories of UCC”.

I also wrote an abridged version for publication in the 30th Anniversary of UCSY.

UCC

Sayama Mu Mu Myint is a senior alumni of UCC and DCS. She requested her husband to drive a long way from their home to hand over the “token garawa” from an earlier “Thet Kyee Pu Zaw Pwe”.

Soe Lin Maung hosted a lunch micro-gathering (despite his busy schedule).

Ko Sein Myint (EC76, ex-UCC) and Ko Soe Myint (KSM, ex-UCC) hosted a lunch gathering at Kone Myint Tha. Ko Aung Myint (AM), Ko Win Myint (Bo Waing) and Ma Nu Nu Aung were also present. We then walked to Saya U Soe Paing’s house and paid respect to Saya (who was having a problem with his spine). Friends of Daw Saw Yu Tint (Alice, T69, MEHS 63) advised Saya to undergo a surgery in Singapore.

RIT

Met Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War), Ko Wynn Htain Oo (Mg Mar Ga, M72), Ko Ohn Khine (Gaing Gyi, M70), several members of RITAA, and 69ers.

69er Gatherings

Attended three breakfast gatherings with the 69ers.

Donated US$100 (part to 69er HCF and part to EE 69er HCF).

I hosted the gathering (mostly EE) with Uzin Aung Chaw (C) and Wei Lu (Met) as guests.

Mini-gathering hosted by me

During my visits back home, several friends gave me rides.

U Win Maung (Lake) gave a ride to three alumni:

• U Myint Maung (Bu, Volleyball)
• Ashin Okkantha (Uzin Aung Chaw, Victor) who came down from Sagaing Hills
• Yours truly

Since it was short notice, some former classmates could not show up.

A notable exception was U Win Thein Zaw (“Wai Lu”) who came down from Nay Pyi Taw at the breakfast gathering. His spouse is a cousin of U Win Boh (Robert).

Standing:

• U Shwe (Treasurer of the 69er HCF and EE 69er HCF)
• U Sein Myint (Major donor of the HCFs, RIT Selected for Rowing, Swimming and Water Polo)
• Ashin Okkantha (Uzin Aung Chaw, Sagaing Hills)
• U Win Maung (Lake, RIT Selected for Swimming and Water Polo)
• U Hla Min (Host, also donated to the HCFs)

Seated :

• U Myat Soe Lwin (Sai Hwet, Survived a fall from the ceiling)
• U Win Thein Zaw (Member of Pyithu Hluttaw in Nay Pyi Taw)
• U Kyi Win (Kyaw Gyi, former sea farer, yogi)
• U Myint Maung (Selected for EE Volleyball, One of the youngest 69er, Eligible bachelor)

Second Gathering

Ko Tin Maung Aye (M, Accordion) hosted a gathering to celebrate his birthday.

Third Gathering

The gathering on February 24, 2018 was to welcome Ko Win Boh (Robert) and Ko Surinder Singh — both from Australia. Unfortunately, Ko Surinder could not wrap up his trip to Upper Burma to be in time for the 69er gathering. Ko Kyaw Nyunt organized a lucky draw with presents given by Ko Frederick Thetgyi.

Trips

Tiring, but interesting and entertaining to take three trips.

Phyu Phyu Kyaw (UCC) offered to sponsor me to spend two nights at a hotel in Bagan Myo Thit. Had been a long time since I visited Bagan / Nyaung Oo.

A sayadaw asked if I would like to attend a consecration ceremony for “Lyaung Daw Mu” (Reclining Pagoda) near the bank of Mu River (in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing).

My beloved wife wanted to do dana at Hinthada for her ancestors.

Learned a lot

I learned a lot from the trips by being a good listener and also experiencing the conditions (infrastructure, culture, …) in different parts of Myanmar.

Cost more to take a taxi to and from the “Long distance bus station” than to travel by an air-conditioned bus.

Takes a lot longer to take the short cut road than to take the longer paved road. It’s worse if one is not aware of unfinished repair work on a dirt road : sharp rocks, pot holes, …

Ha Lin (Old Capital of Pyu) is a Cultural Heritage, but there are no decent roads leading there.

Someone commented : “Most of us just make quick trips to pagodas. Several tourists hire motorbikes to explore both Old and New Bagan (and beyond). They take photos with professional cameras.”

SPHS

Kyaw Wynn (SPHS63) is cousin of Saya U Tin Htut (M) and Sayama Daw Khin Khin Chit Maung (E).

He rowed No. (3) on the Bow side in our Senior Novice crew.

He hosted a birthday soon kwyay gathering at Shwe Ba ရွှေဘ (အောင်သုခ) Saing. Offered soon to Uzin Aung Chaw (C69) and donated to Uzin’s dhamma projects. Ordered lunch for his old classmates (some of whom I have not seen since our University days). Attendees include Ko Than Win (M69), Ko Tin Tun (M69), Ko Khin Maung Bo (Alan, EP69, GBNF), Ko Aung Kyi (Arthur, “motorcycle” guy, GBNF), Ko Aye Ngwe (Edwin), and Ko Khin Maung Zaw (Frank, UK).

Updates

• Some are now GBNF.
• Dr. Kyaw Thein succumbed to Covid.
• Uzin Aung Chaw, Aung Kyi, Khin Maung Bo and Tin Tun (all SPHS63) have passed away.
• Aung Myint and Nge Ma Ma Than (ex-UCC) are also GBNF.
• The GBNF list for 69ers currently has 139 members.

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

• In July 2015, Ivan Lee (M69) invited us to stay at his home in New Jersey. Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi & Daw Emma were also invited to spend a few days before going back to Canada.
• Conversation with Sayagyi and Ivan was interesting. Ivan had an expensive hearing aid, but he did not use it. So, several questions and answers had to be repeated.
• Ivan took us to selected places in New Jersey & New York. We saw a victory parade of the victorious US women soccer team.

• Ivan hosted the RIT-UCC gathering at his house.
• Ivan asked Fred to join us in the whirl wind tour of Canada and US East Coast.
• Ivan provided his car (Mercedes) & gas for the trip.
  Fred drove most of the trip.
• Stopped at Buffalo & Niagara Falls before heading to Windsor.

Visit to Canada

Windsor

• We arrived at the house of Sayagyi U Aung Khin a few hours late. Sayagyi was calm and smiling. We had a brief conversation before Ivan and Fred left for a nearby hotel.
  Sayagyi graciously let my spouse and I spend the night in his guest room.
• Sayagyi prepared Mohinga and Ah Kyaw for breakfast for all of us.
• We paid respect to Sayagyi.
• He asked us to choose a souvenir from Windsor.

Ottawa

• We went to Ontario, but did not have the time to visit Saya Des.
• We drove around and headed to Napean (in Ottawa Province) to visit Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi & Daw Emma.

• Sayagyi shared his memories and jokes.
• We all stayed at Sayagyi’s house.
• Sayagyi showed us around Ottawa.

• He then took us to a Thousand Islands for a boat trip.

Massachusetts

• On the way back, we visited Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw (EC69) and Daw Khin Maw Maw in Massachusetts.
• They live about 50 miles from Boston.
• Since they were renovating their house, they put us up at a hotel.

• We visited MIT, Harvard and selected places in the area.

Connecticut

• The next leg took us to Trumbull, Connecticut. U Toung (EC69) and Daw Khin Myint hosted us.

• They took us to see Yale and a restaurant where Bill Clinton used to hang out.

Rest of the Stay

• Then, it was “Home Sweet Home” for Ivan.

Side Trip

• Fred later took us to see his second sister in Philadelphia.
  Sad to note that Ma Kathleen passed away recently in November, 2021.
• We stayed at Fred’s house.
• He showed us around. We bought souvenir coins from Liberty Bell.
• He drove us to Maryland to see my lone remaining uncle.
• Then, we headed back to New Jersey.

Thanks to our hosts for the memorable trip

• Sayagyi U Aung Khin
• Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi
• Ivan
• Fred
• U TAG
• Ko Toung

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Trip to UK

• In September 2017, I visited United Kingdom. It was my second visit to UK. My first visit was in 1972.

Hosts

• My cousin nephew Dr. Khin Tun (Peter) & Daw Win Mar hosted us at their house in Reading (40 miles from London).

Sheffield

• Took train to Sheffield to meet Peter’s younger brother Dr. Ye Myint, Daw San San Aye & their daughter Aye Sandar (Dental Surgeon).
• My cousin sister Dr. Tin Kyi Win & her son Raymond drove to Sheffield to meet us.
• Enjoyed food cooked by Ye Myint, San San Aye & Tin Kyi Win
• They also took us to a Thai restaurant for dinner.

Updates

• Peter Tun passed away on April 13, 2020. He was an early NIH Doctor to succumb to Covid. See my posts that chronicled his demise.
• Some time back, Tin Kyi Win passed away peacefully in her sleep.

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Niagara Falls

• Visited Nigara Falls twice
• First : from the US side
• Second : photos taken on the trip in 2015 from the Canada side

Ngapali

• Visited Ngapali three times
• First : with cousin & friends
• Second : with my family
• Third : Guest Lecturer at the Luyechun Camp
• My poem was published in the Forward Magazine

Inlay

• Visited Inlay four times
• First : as RIT Luyechun
• Second : with Peter Pe & Mg Mg Aye (SPHS classmates)
• Third : with a Tour Company
• Fourth : with PSA
• My poem was published in the Thadinkyut Supplement.

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Gatherings

In 2006, I visited Sydney, Australia to attend

• RIT Alumni Gathering
• UCC Alumni Gathering
• BOB (Brothers’ Old Boys) Gathering.

RIT Gathering

• Saya U Hla Myint (Charlie, M65) and Saya U Myo Win (M/Ag65) co-chaired the RIT Alumni Gathering.
• Organizers include U Thet Tun (Henry, M75), U Wint Khin Zaw (A79), and U Sein Win (C80).
• Attendees include Saya Dr. Freddie Ba Hli, RIT Alumni & family members, U Aung Zaw (UCC) and some Doctors
• Ko Htay Aung (EC80) provided tickets to attend the Gathering.

UCC Gathering

• Saya U Aung Zaw (UCC) hosted the UCC Alumni Gathering at his house.
• Ma Kyawt cooked Mohinga.
• We paid respect to Sayagyi Dr. Freddie Ba Hli and Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe

BOB Gathering

• Dr. Than Naing (Bonnie Kywe, SPHS66, Geology Professor) hosted the BOB Gathering at the Olympic Park built for 2000 Summer Olympics.
• Attendees include Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint (from Canberra), U Win Boh (Robert from Queensland), U Htay Aung (Victor), Stanley Saw (from New Zealand) and Philip Smythe (Burma Selected in Swimming & Diving).
• Ko Bonnie invited U Pantra.

Updates

• Several are now GBNF. They include Dr. Freddie Ba Hli & Daw Myint Thwe, Dr. Chit Swe, U Aung Zaw and U Myo Win.
• Most RIT alumni were from Sydney. A few from Perth & Auckland (New Zealand) attended the Alumni Gathering.

by Hla Min

Update : May 2026

Ngapali

Poem

• My poem “The Ngapali Beach” was published in Forward Magazine
• Received 15 Kyats for the poem
• Illustrator received 50 Kyats
• Bohmu Ba Thaw was Chief Editor of the Forward Magazine. He jokingly asked me if I would be interested to join his staff.
• U Sein Hla was Assistant Editor

Three Visits

• My first visit was during my student days with my cousin Ko Thaung Lwin & friends. We stayed at U Tha Gyaw Wai’s Bungalow (managed by my uncle U Thet Toe).
• At a nearby bungalow was the Amyotha Yoke Shin movie crew with U San Maung (Gerald, RUBC Gold & 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 ပျံလေတဲ့ဌက်ခါး).
• 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 & two young sons. We stayed at Amyotha Yoke Shin Bungalow managed by U Mya Maung, elder brother of Saya U Tin Htut (M).
• My third visit was as Guest Lecturer for Ngapali Luyechun Camp in 1988. I spent some time chatting with other Guest Lecturers including Saya U Kyaw Myint (DG of Higher Education, former Physics Professor at Mandalay).
• I know a few people who have taken annual trips to Ngapali.

Inlay

Poem

• My poem “Phaung daw-u Festival” was published in the Thadinkyut Supplement of the Working People’s Daily (WPD).
• Received 15 Kyats for the poem

Four Visits

• My first visit was as Luyechun to 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 Nyaung 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 အမတ်ချုပ်of Nyaung Shwe Sawbwa ညောင်ရွှေစော်ဘွား). We attended the Mee Bone Byan Pwe မီးပုံးပျံပွဲ

• 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.

• Sad to see the declining state of Inlay (e.g. low 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 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

In June 2006, I visited Sydney, Australia 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

• Visited Nigara Falls twice.
• My first visit to Niagara Falls two decades ago from the US side.
• Ko Mya Aung, Ko Tin Ohn, Ko Mg Mg Myint and I rented a car and made a quick trip.
• My second visit to Niagara Falls was made in July 2015.
• Ivan Lee (M69) provided his Mercedes for a trip to Canada and the East Coast of USA.
• Fred Thetgyi (M69) drove most of the journey so that Ivan could rest. On the way to Windsor, Canada, we visited Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.

UK

England

• Hosts : Dr. Khin Tun (Peter) & Daw Win Mar (Reading, England)

Wales

• Hosts : U Maung Maung Kyi & Daw Khin May Than (Ogmore-by-the-sea, Wales)
• See posts

Texas

Hosts

• Dr. Ba Han & Daw Lillian (Fort Worth)

• U San Lin & Daw Hla Hla Myint (Dallas)

• U Myo Tin & Dr. Khine Zin Oo (Temple)

Seattle

• U Khin Maung Zaw (Side trips to Oregon & Vancouver)

East Coast

Maryland

• Dr. L Sein Myint

• U Thein Han & family
• U Wynn Myint Aung & family

Washington, D.C.

• U Htin Lin & family

Tri-State

• U Aung Thu (New York)

• Ivan Lee (New Jersey) : Side trip to Canada & East Coast
• Tom Liu & family (Connecticut)

Pennsylvania

• Fred Thetgyi & family

Massachusetts

• Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw & Daw Khin Maw Maw (also Cape Cod for their son’s wedding)

SoCal

• Saya U Tin Htut & Daw Irene

• Steeve Kay (QTCM & KFF)

• U Aung Khin & Daw The The
• Daw Phyu Phyu Kyaw

• U Tin Htoon & Daw Helen

• Ed Saw

Canada

• Sayagyi U Aung Khin (Windsor)

• Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi & Daw Emma (Napean)
• U Zaw Oo (Vancouver)

Singapore

• U Win Latt

• U Tin Aung Win & Daw Wah

• U Ngwe Soe & Daw Nu Nu Yee (Side trip to Jahore & Malecca)

• U Zaw Tun & Daw Kyu Kyu
• Pale Shein & Ko Ye

• U Khin Maung Myint

Myanmar

5th Irrawaddy Literary Festival

• Host : ILF Board

2020 Myanmar PSA Tour

• Host : U Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing & 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)

by Hla Min & Ivan

Update : May 2026

NJ Gathering

• For many years, Ivan Lee (M69) hosted Annual RIT-UCC gathering at his New Jersey home.
• The Guests usually included Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi, Saya U Soe Paing, RIT alumni (e.g Fred Thetgyi) and UCC alumni (e.g Soe Myint) mostly from the East Coast). Some — Tun Aung Gyaw, Sein Myint — are alumni of RIT and UCC
• In June 2018, the special guests included Saya Dr. Tin Win & Daw Lily from Southern California, Saya U Aung Myint from New Zealand and Daniel Tint Lwin from Singapore.
• Ivan suggested repeating the Whirlwind Road Trip taken in July 2015 to visit Sayagyi U Aung Khin in Windsor and Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi in Napean, Ottawa.

Visit Sayagyi U Aung Khin

On 23rd June, 2018, the following visited Sayagyi U Aung Khin in Windsor, Canada.

• Saya U Tin Win (M62)
• Daw Lily Win (Khin Hta Yee, T72)
• Saya U Htun Aung Kyaw (ChE67)
• Saya U Aung Myint (M69)
• Ivan Lee (M69)
• Fred Thet Gyi (M69)
• U Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69)

Paying respect to Sayagyi U Aung Khin

Updates

• At a later meeting, the attendees proposed to form MASTAA

Initial MASTAA Team

• Ivan — CEO and Chair
• Sein Myint (EC76, UCC) — Vice Chair
• Soe Myint (UCC) — President

MASTAA Interviews

• Saya Dr. Aung Gyi
• Saya Dr. San Hla Aung
• Saya U Soe Paing

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Trip Plan

We had frequent flyer miles with United Air Lines.

Booked round trip flight from SJC (San Jose, California) to DFW (Dallas / Fort Worth in Texas) via DEN (Denver, Colorado) after consulting with Dr. Ba Han (SPHS66, IM1 73, who lives in Fort Worth) and U San Lin (Robert, MEHS67, EC73, UCC, who lives in Dallas).

There are several twin cities in the USA. They include

• Dallas & Fort Worth (in Texas)
• Minneapolis & St. Paul (in Minnesota)
• Seattle & Tacoma (in Washington)

DFW is an International air port near Dallas and Fort Worth.

Dallas also has a local airport named “Love Field” (which is used mainly by Southwest Airlines).

Robert agreed to pick us up at the DFW air port and host for two nights.

Dr. Ba Han agreed to host the remainder of the trip, and also show us around selected cities in Texas.

Break from FB

I did not take my lap top.

I did not log in to FB for the duration of the trip.

May 8, 2019

We flew from SJC to DEN on the morning of May 8, 2019.

At the DEN airport, we learned that “due to thunderstorms, only a limited number of inbound flights to DFW were allowed.” The estimated time of departure from DEN was adjusted twice. After more than two hours delay, the plane took off and landed in DFW about two hours later.

Robert and his spouse Daw Hla Myint (Marina, EC73) picked us up at DFW. They treated us to a Texas BBQ (Barbecue). We learned that Robert had become a vegetarian, but would occasionally order BBQ for his grandson.

They hosted us for two nights.

May 9, 2019

They showed us around Dallas (including the infamous depository used by Oswald, the ranch used in the TV series “Dallas”, and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

Robert

Robert studied at RIT & UCC. He worked for TI (Texas Instruments) in Singapore. He was relocated to TI in Houston. He retired in 2018 and moved to Dallas to be near his son Dr. Vincent & two grandsons.

Vincent and his wife are medical doctors. They hosted a dinner near the swimming club of their elder son.

Robert’s father U Boon Pin is a 1948 – 49 classmate of U Soe Aung (PWD) and U Gyn Kho (PWD, Dr. Ba Han’s uncle). He retired as Deputy Chief Engineer of Railways.

Robert’s mom passed away in Taiwan in 2020. She has two sisters. One married Albert Teoh (the eldest of 15 Teoh siblings). Another is the mother of Johnson Lim (C7x).

May 10, 2019

Dr. Ba Han joined us for lunch at the Dallas Chinese temple that offers excellent vegetarian dishes for a suggested donation of $7.

He then drove us to Temple to meet our common niece — daughter of his elder brother U Myo Myint (EC67, RUBC Gold) and my elder sister Sayama Daw Tin Tin Win (RIT Chemistry).

My niece Dr. Khine Zin Oo & her spouse U Myo Tin treated us a dinner at a restaurant which offered dishes from Texas and Louisiana.

Posts

• Texas (May 8 – 10, 2019)
• Texas (May 11 – 13, 2019)
• Texas (May 14 – 16, 2019)
• Texas (May 17 – 19, 2019)

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Places

We visited

• Temple
• Austin
• Houston
• San Antonio
• Fredericksburg

May 11, 2019

The weather reports indicated heavy rains and floods in parts of Texas (e.g. Houston) on May 11, 2019.

So we decided to visit Austin that day. My niece Dr. Khine Zin Oo and her husband U Myo Tin took us to Austin Sitagu and the Austin Capitol.

Austin Sitagu

We offered soon to the resident monks (including an American monk). Several meals were prepared by a former Sushi shop owner from California.

The visitors included

• Dr. Doris Maung Oo : spouse of Thura Tin Maung Aye (BAF, GBNF)
• her daughter (classmate of my elder son at TTC)
• her son-in-law
• niece (daughter of Dr. Alice Maung Oo).

State Capitol

We joined the tour at the Austin Capitol (which at one time claimed to the tallest among the Capitols in the USA).

The tour guide explained the six flags of Texas and showed us the two chambers and the Dome.

May 12, 2019

Dr. Ba Han took us to Houston to see NASA and to visit our cousin U Oo Thwin (Michael, alumnus of Rutger’s University).

NASA

There were two tram rides at NASA.

One tram took us to the Mission Control room.

We were not aware that the Mission Control room had been emptied (as part of the renovation for the Golden Jubilee of the Apollo 11 flight in July, 1969). The docent highlighted the importance of Mission Control for the NASA missions in general and the Apollo missions in particular.

Another tram took us to the Training Facility of the astronauts. There were several interesting items on display.

Both tram rides stopped at the “Rockets site” with three vintage rockets.

U Oo Thwin (Michael)

We paid respect to our cousin Ko Michael (son of my maternal uncle) at his house. He has five children and some grand children. His eldest daughter Capy (who had moved back from Seattle after her mother passed away) and his younger son Nyi Nyi were there that day.

His friends include Sao Aung Myint (John Khun Kyi).

May 13, 2019

Dr. Ba Han took us to San Antonio and Fredericksburg.

The tourist attractions at San Antonio are the Alamo (which gained fame in the Davy Crockett movie) and the River Walk beside a man-made canal (with a depth of 3 to 5 feet). We took a book ride.

We visited National Museum of the Pacific War at Fredericksburg, Texas. One exhibit was dedicated to Admiral Nimitz. He and Dwight D. Eisenhower were the two five star generals during Second World War. One exhibit was funded by the George H W Bush foundation. A two-day pass for seniors cost $12.

We returned to Fort Worth.

Fort Worth

Daw Tin Tin Aye (Lillian, T72) is known as a “Ah Phwa” to several Myanmar (Mon, Chin, …) families in Fort Worth. She is happy providing social services especially to the new comers. Due to her busy schedule, she could not join Dr. Ba Han for the trip to Temple, Austin, Houston, …

During her visit to Yangon, “Good Morning” Kyaw Myint took her to the M72 Reunion.

Lillian keeps in touch with her close friends from T72, but she cannot recall the names of several sayas and others from the Class of 72.

Dr. Ba Han’s family

Dr. Ba Han (SPHS66, IM1 73) is the younger brother of U Win Htein (SPHS56, Purdue, PWD), U Myo Myint (EC67, RUBC Gold) and U Myint Thein (B.Com, cox of our Novice crew) & the elder brother of Daw Myint Myint Thein (Susan, DAC).

He has a daughter Hester (who is a teacher) and two grand children.
His younger son Harry is doing internship at a hospital in San Francisco.

He retired twice (once in New York and once in Texas).

He has come out of retirement and is now working (some weeks from home and some weeks on-site).

During our trip, he delegated most tasks to his assistant, but he still had to take phone calls and/or “Telepresence”.

He belongs to a big extended family. He is a cousin-uncle of U Aung Win (Owen, M71).

Posts

• Texas (May 8 – 10, 2019)
• Texas (May 11 – 13, 2019)
• Texas (May 14 – 16, 2019)
• Texas (May 17 – 19, 2019)