Two Orphanages

Events of Monday, 20th May 2019

After an enjoyable visit to Mandalay Railway Station in the morning (described here), we moved on to the serious business of the day, taking the much-improved Oriental Highway from Mandalay which climbs into the hills at Pyin Oo Lwin where Doctor Hla Tun was to make food donations at two orphanages. There are many posts in this blog regarding educational charitable work in Myanmar initiated by the 'Road to Mandalay Social Contribution'. You can find them all here or by selecting search label 'Education'.

In Pyin Oo Lwin, there is an orphanage for boys at Doe Pin and one for girls at Shwe Sin Minn. Both are supported on a regular basis by a Swiss charity, Enfants d'Ailleurs Foundation. The foundation remits funds to the Belmond Myanmar Foundation in London which releases them to Doctor Hla Tun who acts as a 'trusted intermediary' organising the actual food donations, normally two each year, to both orphanages. The Doctor arranges the formal handover, receiving the donation certificates issued by the orphanages on behalf of the donor organisation and providing photographs of the event.

My first visit to Doe Pin was in 2009 and I've been back from time to time ('Related posts' below lists posts describing these visits). The Abbott greeted us warmly, offering refreshments and Doctor Hla Tun checked the donated foodstuff laid out ready, checking the list of food and its cost recorded on a 'white board'.


Doe Pin Orphanage 20-May-2019, with the foodstuffs donated by Enfants d'Ailleurs Foundation on the left and listed on the 'white board'.

The Abbott issued the donation certificate to the Doctor and a number of photographs of the handover were made.


Doe Pin Orphanage 20-May-2019: Doctor Hla Tun receives the donation certificate issued by the orphanage, watched by a group of orphans.

The Abbott then made a short address and, after some general conversation, we said 'good bye' and returned to our car.



Doe Pin Orphanage 20-May-2019: The Abbott makes a short address.

We drove through the town of Pyin Oo Lwin to Shwe Sin Minn orphanage founded by two sisters in 1999. My first visit was in 2011 when building work was in progress to expand the accommodation. I returned in 2013 to find another extension being constructed ('Related posts' below lists posts describing these visits). Arriving in 2019, I found another major new building under construction.


Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: New building under construction, given by a Taiwanese donor.

The food donated by Enfants d'Ailleurs Foundation was already laid out at the rear of the assembly hall, with the orphans sitting on the floor in the remaining space.


Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: Orphans gathered in front of donated sacks of rice. The 'white board' in the background lists the donated foodstuff.

The Head Nun presented the donation certificate confirming the foodstuffs received to Doctor Hla Tun.


Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: Doctor Hla Tun receives the donation certificate issued by the orphanage from the Head Nun.

The Head Nun then invited Doctor Hla Tun to make a short address to the assembled children.


Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: Doctor Hla Tun made a short address to the assembled orphans, watched by the head nun.

Finally, all the orphans moved outside for a group photograph.


Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: Orphans pose for a group photograph.

Having completed the formal donations at the two orphanages, we set off by car to return to Mandalay, stopping on the outskirts of Pyin Oo Lwin at a long line of roadside vendors. The area is well-known for strawberries, other fruit and various local wines. Doctor Hla Tun made some purchases to take back to his home in Yangon on the following day then we continued on the Oriental Highway to Mandalay, slowly making our way through the heavy traffic of the city to my hotel. Doctor Hla Tun had made his own arrangements for accommodation that night but insisted that the following morning we would travel to Mandalay Airport together where he would take a flight to Yangon and I would start my long journey home via Bangkok.

My friend Ko Hlaing and his young daughter Sandy had arranged to visit me at the Hilton Hotel in the evening. They didn't want a meal so we just went to my room for a chat and ordered soft drinks. Both speak good English making things easier for me and I really enjoyed spending a little time with them both since it had been around 18 months I'd seen them (that visit is described here).


Mandalay, 2019: Ko Hlaing and his daughter Sandy.

The visit concluded with Sandy and I going for a walk around the outdoor swimming pool. Although it was dark, the swimming pool area was well-lit, producing some dramatic lighting effects. There was time for one group picture in Reception before we finally said our 'good byes'.


Mandalay, 2019: Ko Hlaing, Sandy and Jan.

Related posts on this website

This is one of a series of posts describing my 14th visit to Myanmar. The post Return to Burma is the first post in the series.
Clicking on the 'Next report' link displays the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the trip in sequence.
Next report
Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Burma 2019 reports' link displays all the posts on this trip in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Burma 2019 reports.

You can find all the posts about education support here or by selecting search label 'Education'.

The following posts include references to Doe Pin or Shwe Sin Minn:-
Visit to an Orphanage, Myanmar (Doe Pin) 2009
Three Orphanages 2011
Three Orphanages Revisited 2012
Support for Orphanages in Myanmar 2013
Maymyo 2013
News from Burma - Educational Support 2014
Two Orphanages and a Monastery 2018


My pictures

My pictures showing this part of the trip are in the albums:-
Hilton Hotel, Mandalay.
Burma 2019.
Doe Pin Orphanage 20-May-2019.
Shwe Sin Minn Orphanage 20-May-2019.

All my general pictures on this trip are in the collection of albums also called Burma 2019

[Link to 'Next report' added 5-Nov-2020]

A Second Weekend at Bagan Medical Clinic (part 2)

Saturday, 18th May 2019

Like the previous day, I spent Saturday observing the activities of the Bagan Medical Clinic but there was also the excitement of a morning trip by car to make a stationery distribution at Htee Pu school, and a visit to a famous Mountain Pagoda, Tuyin Taung, on the way back.

The school at Htee Pu is in a fairly remote village in the Mount Popa area which Doctor Hla Tun and the Road to Mandalay Social Contribution have supported for a number of year. This assistance includes new school rooms, toilet facilities together with donations for school uniforms, stationery and teaching support. I'd first visited Htee Pu in 2009 (that report is here) and been impressed with the local Abbott's drive in trying to improve the lives of local people and I've subsequently been back a number of times:-

Opening of New School Building at Htee Pu (Saturday, 4th September 2010)
Mount Popa to Bagan (Saturday, 29th October 2011)
Htee Pu School Visit (Saturday, September 22nd 2012)
Visiting Bagan Schools (Monday, 28th April 2014)
Visit to Bagan Schools, 2015 (Monday, 27th April 2015)
Bagan (Day 4) (Monday, 2nd May 2016)
Visiting Schools in the Bagan Area (Monday, 1st May 2017)
A second weekend at Bagan Medical Clinic (2) (Saturday, 5th May 2018)

Initially, Doctor Hla Tun had intended to accompany me to Htee Pu for the distribution described below but, on reviewing the numbers of waiting patients, he decided he'd continue with consultations and send me with the monastery car and driver to Htee Pu. The stationery to be distributed to the pupils was loaded into the car and the driver and I set off on the familiar route at about 8.00 a.m. The final two miles to the village is still over an unsurfaced road but, as I've commented in previous posts about Htee Pu, improvements have been carried out, including a bridge over a section which formerly frequently flooded in the rainy season. The village is now more accessible.


Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019: The new bridge on the road to Htee Pu.

In the village itself, I noticed new concrete poles with electric lighting. Electrification remains an important ongoing project in Myanmar. On my early visits to Htee Pu, I'd seen locally-installed wooden poles each supporting two electric conductors simply notched into a wooden cross arm with periodic dangling lamps. All this was powered by a small diesel engine driving an electric generator at the monastery. Because of the cost of diesel fuel, hours of operation were very limited. Numerous electrification projects are slowly improving the picture but the mains electricity supply in Myanmar remains notoriously unreliable compared with what I can expect in England.


Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019: Htee Pu Village, showing new concrete poles with electric lighting.

On my visit in 2017, I'd admired a new open-sided pavilion erected in the school yard in front of the monastery. As we arrived in 2019, I was surprised to see that this pavilion had been joined by a second, much larger pavilion, with a framework of blue-painted tubes supporting a banana-leaf roof. The new pavilion was large enough for a 'top table' with refreshments, space for all the children to sit in the shade on woven mats and even room for our car to be parked in the shade!


Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019: The 'top table' with local dignitaries and waiting pupils enjoy the new pavilion.


Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019: The Headmistress and pupils enjoying the new pavilion.

The stationery was unloaded from the monastery car and the monastery driver supervised the teachers as they made up the 'kits' of stationery to be presented to each pupil. Since it was not a School day, I knew that only some of the pupils would be able to attend but we try to leave spare materials for teachers to distribute afterwards. The children waited quietly seated on the mats under the pavilion until preparations were complete and then teachers formed up the pupils, class by class, to receive the stationery. With teachers supervising the line of waiting students and another teacher passing each 'kit' to me, it only took a few (rather frantic) minutes to complete the distribution.





Stationery Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019.

The discipline of students in Myanmar is always impressive but their individuality is also notable, like young people anywhere. Some will confidently say "Thank you" in English, others, prompted by teachers, will mutter an approximation, whilst a third group remain over-awed at having to approach a stranger. I do my best to appear friendly and unthreatening, usually keeping up a continuous patter in English which is intended to be soothing.

I was then expected to make a short address to the pupils in English, which was translated by a local businessman, with the Headmistress and the Abbott carefully watching. Once again, I relied on the "Never give Up" theme. There was then a presentation of packets of tamarind and sugar lozenges made at the businessman's local factory - delicious.


Jan addresses the pupils at Htee Pu, May 2019

A short walk around the school compound followed, with a number of new toilets pointed out and concluding with an inspection of the classrooms donated in 2010 (report here).


Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019: View of classrooms donated in 2010.

Finally, we took pictures with the teaching staff and a 'group shot' in the pavilion.


Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019: Jan and the Teaching Staff.


Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019: The 'group shot'.

After a brief pause for refreshments, I said 'good bye' and left the good people of Htee Pu, who have made quite an impression on me during my various visits.

Before we'd left the Clinic, the Doctor had suggested that, after the distribution, I might enjoy a side trip to Mount Popa or elsewhere. Mount Popa is a fascinating and historic area which I'm always happy to re-visit but we agreed that a trip to a famous mountain pagoda called Tuyin Taung which I'd not visited might be more appropriate.

Each time I'd travelled on the road between Nyaung Oo and the direction on Mount Popa, I'd been aware of a long mountain range which thrusts itself from the plain parallel to the main road. Particularly noticeable is one gilded pagoda which crowns the high ground, sentry-like, near the Nyaung Oo end of the range. Now, I was to visit this important shrine. Not far short of Nyaung Oo, the car made a left turn to head across the plain to the base of the mountain, followed by a long zig-zag ascent of the mountain finishing in a busy car park a little way below the summit. The popularity of the site was obvious from the number of pilgrims, as far as I could tell all Myanmar people. My driver indicated the daunting flight of concrete steps leading to the unseen pagoda at the summit and said he would look after the car. I slowly hauled myself upwards, clinging to the stainless steel tubular handrail often found in such location as crowds of cheerful pilgrims passed me in both directions. The hot sun bore down and my progress was slow but at last I came to a complex of pavilions with a final broad set of steps on the left leading to the pagoda platform.


Burma 2019: Broad steps leading to the pagoda platform at Tuyin Taung.

The views in all directions from the pagoda platform showed the extent of the Bagan Plain, with the Ayeyarwaddy River glistening in the distance as it arced from my north to my west.


Burma 2019: View from Mountain Pagoda across the Bagan Plain.


Burma 2019: View from Mountain Pagoda, with the Ayeyarwaddy River in the distance.

Looking south-east, the mountain range continued but it was clear that Tuyin Taung Pagoda was on the highest part of the outcrop.


Burma 2019: View looking south-east from Tuyin Taung Pagoda.

The sun had made me a little giddy so, slowly and carefully, I started my descent of the steep steps to the car park. Seeing my caution, two smiling middle-aged Myanmar lady pilgrims formed up on either side of me, took each arm in a firm grip and made sure I reached the car park safely. It's these small acts of kindness that make Myanmar such a special place for me. My car and driver was waiting so I was back at the Bagan Medical Clinic in less than 30 minutes.

Related posts on this website

This is one of a series of posts describing my 14th visit to Myanmar. The post Return to Burma is the first post in the series.
Clicking on the 'Next report' link displays the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the trip in sequence.
Next report.
Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Burma 2019 reports' link displays all the posts on this trip in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Burma 2019 reports.

My pictures

My pictures including this part of the trip are in the albums:-
Burma 2019. Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019.
Burma 2019: Tuyin Taung Mountain Pagoda.

All my pictures on this trip are in the collection of albums also called Burma 2019

[01-Jul-2019 Visit to Tuyin Taung added]

A visit to Kayin State

Thursday, 9th May 2019

On Thursday morning, we took and early breakfast at the Kaung Myat Hotel, checked out and set off in a small pick-up for the state to the east of Mon state. This is called Kayin State or sometimes, because most of the population are Karen ethnic, Karen State.

Difficulties are encountered most years because of seasonal flooding on the plains. The floodwater persists from 1 to 3 months, dislocating normal life. Because recent years have suffered worse-than-expected flooding, Doctor Hla Tun had decided to make distributions at four schools in Kayin State for the first time. This was my second visit to Kayin State - the first sight-seeing visit, in 2012, is described in the post here.

The roads were very uncomfortable. A proper bearing surface of crushed rock about 6 inch diameter had been rolled and left at that. There was no upper layer of smaller stone and no surface. I had been given the best seat in the cab of the pick-up and I was given a thorough rattling, so I felt sorry for my companions in the carpeted load space. The load space had the usual rudimentary seats and a tilt cover for protection.

After about 45 km travelling roughly north east into Kayin State, we arrived at the village of Hyauk Ya Twin (shown as Kawgo on Google Maps) situated on the southern bank of the important Gyaing River, where overnight accommodation in a private house had been arranged.

Our first distribution was to be at the monastery at Tha Yet Taw (shown as Krop Kreik on Google Maps) and it had been arranged that we would reach this village, about eleven kilometres upstream, by boat. The first task was to transfer the stationery for the distribution from the house to the jetty, using a 3-wheeled handcart and load it onto the waiting boat.


At Hyauk Ya Twin, a handcart brought the stationery for distribution at Tha Yet Taw from our accommodation to the jetty: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)


Loading stationery onto the boat at Hyauk Ya Twin: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)

We all piled into the boat and made our way to Tha Yet Taw on the noisy longtail boat.


By boat to Tha Yet Taw, view astern: Kayin State, 2019.

We made the first distribution near the river under the arcading leading to the monastery. The Doctor told me there are 508 houses in the village, the population is 3,280, 100 children attend the primary school and a further 310 attend the secondary school.


Distribution at Tha Yet Taw: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)



The 'group shot', Tha Yet Taw: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)

Then we clambered back into the longtail boat for the 35-minute dash downstream back to the first village. After lunch at the accommodation, we headed off by road to make a distribution to the 153 primary school children from Hyauk Yay Twin. The village has 169 dwellings housing 803 adults and children. I travelled in the cab of our pick-up but, because of the stationery in the load space, my companions travelled as pillion passengers on local motor-bikes.


Doctor Hla Tun, pillion passenger on a motor bike to our second distribution in Hyauk Yay Twin: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)

Here, the Distribution was made in the 'Undercroft' of the wooden monastery, with a monk in attendance who afterwards presented each of the visitors with a silver ring.


Distribution at the monastery at Hyauk Ya Twin: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)


The Group Shot at the monastery at Hyauk Ya Twin: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)

Then it was back in the pick-up to our final stop at Kharit Village. Here, the distribution was made in the assembly hall of the teak wood monastery. There are 276 students in the secondary school here, derived from a population of 1,670 in 320 dwellings.


The Doctor addressing the children at Kharit monastery: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)


Distribution at Kharit monastery: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)


The 'group shot', Kharit monastery: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)

We didn't have time to visit the fourth location, Kaw Kha Taw, just over one kilometre south of Kharit. Here 265 houses support a population of 958 and the High School has 303 students. However, we donated stationery for distribution later by the teachers.

By the time we arrived back at the accommodation for an evening meal and bed, I was fairly disorientated and exhausted.

Related posts on this website

This is one of a series of posts describing my 14th visit to Myanmar. The post Return to Burma is the first post in the series.
Clicking on the 'Next report' link displays the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the trip in sequence.
Next report.
Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Burma 2019 reports' link displays all the posts on this trip in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Burma 2019 reports.

My pictures

I've uploaded lots of pictures to 'Flickr' but they're not all sorted and titled. I'll get onto it as soon as I can.

Kayin State, 2019
Burma 2019
Kyaung Myat Hoyel, Mawlamyine (most pictures taken on earlier visits)

[Link to pictures added 21-May-2019: Text added, pictures embedded 29-May-2019]

Mudon Township

Mudon Township, Wednesday 8th May 2019

After breakfast at Kaung Myat Hotel we drove on the North-South Highway 8 to Mudon.

Our first distribution of the day was at Ka Mar Wet Drop In Centre. Most of the children remembered my visits in previous years so it was a jolly event.


The Group shot, Ka Mar Wet D.I.C.: Mudon Township, 2019.


This teacher is about my age and always makes a fuss of me.

Our next distribution was at Mudon Drop In Centre. Once again, most of the children remembered my earlier visits and I was asked to speak on the "Never give up" theme.


Distribution at Mudon Drop In Centre, 2019.

When the distributions were finished at 11.30 a.m. and most of the children had left, a dining table was arranged and we were treated to Lunch.


Lunch at the Drop In Centre: Mudon Township, 2019.

Then it was on to the main distribution for the children from Ko Dut who this year had to travel to a large assembly hall at Mudon monastery to receive their distribution. Only 177 children out of a total roll of 332 were able to attend. The main limiting feature was the fact that only six small pick-up trucks could be hired at short notice.




Distribution in Mudon Monastery, 2019.

After the distribution, a senior monk addressed the children briefly. He also asked the Doctor to express their appreciation of the support being given.


The Group shot, Distribution at Mudon Monastery, 2019.

The children from Ko Dut then piled back into the six pick-up trucks for the long drive home.


Children returning to Ko Dut by pick-up: Mudon 2019. Note plastic basket for their flip-flops.

Our final distribution of the day was at the small D.I.C. at Kot Kha Pon which I'd visited previously.


Distribution at Kot Kha Pon D.I.C., 2019.

All that remained was to drive north on Highway 8 to Mawlamyine, pausing for a quick tour of the very modern Ocean shopping mall in Mawlamyine before taking an evening meal at the customary tea shop near the hotel.


Ocean shopping mall, Mawlamyine 2019.

This was to be the last night at the Kaung Myat Hotel - the following morning we were to drive to neighbouring Kayin State.

Related posts on this website

This is one of a series of posts describing my 14th visit to Myanmar. The post Return to Burma is the first post in the series.
Clicking on the 'Next report' link displays the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the trip in sequence.
Next report Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Burma 2019 reports' link displays all the posts on this trip in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Burma 2019 reports.

My pictures

I've uploaded lots of pictures to 'Flickr' but they're not all sorted and titled. I'll get onto it as soon as I can.

Mudon Township, 2019
Burma 2019
Kyaung Myat Hoyel, Mawlamyine (most pictures taken on earlier visits).

[Text added, pictures embedded 27-May-2019]

Hlaing and Future Generations Drop In Centres

Mawlamyine, Tuesday 7th May 2019

During Monday night, Mawlamyine received heavy rainfall so I awoke to a rather wet morning. We breakfasted in the 3rd floor dining room of the Kaung Myat Hotel - convenient since our rooms were also on the same floor. Like many countries, Myanmar tends to use the American notation where the ground floor is called the 1st floor so the 3rd floor is two storeys up. I'm afraid I usually use lifts these days, when available.

The plan was that we would be picked up at 8.00 a.m. but it was a little later when Zaw Moe Aung collected us. Last year, they just put a temporary sun roof over the narrow lane outside Hlaing Drop In Centre for the Distribution and something similar had been installed in 2019 but the risk of further rain had made it prudent to move the Distribution to the monastery a short distance away from the Drop In Centre. It was raining as we drove slowly through Hlaing's crowded street market to reach the Drop In Centre but the rain stopped a little later and didn't resume.


Hlaing's crowded street market.

Since my last visit, there have been important changes in the charity structure. Although Care Myanmar are still involved in the work, it's now carried out through a local charity called Nway Htwe Thaw Yin Khwin. The Drop In Centre has been modified to incorporate two small offices for the Project Team and the Administration and Finance Team.

After finding out a little more about the various initiatives, we moved to the monastery where the distribution was held in an assembly room, open on one side. Exercise books, pencils, erasers, pens (for older pupils) and a good-quality school uniform in a Government-approved style were issued. In 2019, as an innovation, rather than issue a traditional pattern of shoulder bag, back packs with zipped compartments were issued. This proved a very popular change. Most of the young people remembered me from my previous visits and I was asked to give a short address, in English, which Doctor Hla tun translated. I chose the theme "Never Give Up".


Hlaing Distribution 7-May-2019.


A group of young people after the Hlaing Distribution: Hlaing/Future Generations 7-May-2019


After the Hlaing Distribution, some of the children returned home by small motor-cycle taxis: Burma 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)

Hlaing is predominantly a poor area and there are examples of extreme poverty. After the distribution at the monastery we visited a small number of these 'poor houses', issuing small sums of money or items of clothing like men's shirts.

Making a donation to a retired midwife in Hlaing. During her career, she had delivered almost 500 babies: Burma 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)

An affectionate Alzheimer's sufferer in Hlaing.

After Hlaing, we stopped at a tea shop for lunch and then visited a new venture, opened in September 2018: the first Safe House for Abused Women in Myanmar, initiated through Care Myanmar but funded by the Norwegian aid agency Norad.


First Safe House for Women in Myanmar.

In the afternoon, we drove to the Drop In Centre called 'Future Generations' for further Distributions to children.


Distribution at Future Generations 7-May-2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)


Future Generations- the Group Shot: 7-May-2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)

When our work was finished, we stopped at a tea shop for hot, sweet tea before making a fascinating tour by car at dusk of Bilugyun Island which faces Mawlamyine across the estuary of the Thanlwin River. Until recently, the access was only via ferry but an impressive bridge and viaduct over one mile long now links the island to the mainland.

The day finished with a visit to the tea shop near our hotel for an evening meal. A wonderful, if exhausting, day. Once again, we overnighted at Kyaung Myat Hotel in Mawlamyine.

Related posts on this website

This is one of a series of posts describing my 14th visit to Myanmar. The post Return to Burma is the first post in the series.
Clicking on the 'Next report' link displays the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the trip in sequence.
Next report.
Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Burma 2019 reports' link displays all the posts on this trip in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Burma 2019 reports

My pictures

I've uploaded lots of pictures to 'Flickr' but they're not all sorted and titled. I'll get onto it as soon as I can.

Hlaing/Future Generations 7-May-2019
Burma 2019
Kaung Myat Hotel, Mawlamyine (most pictures taken on earlier visits).

[Minor edits 24-May-2019: Edits, pictures embedded 27-May-2019]