Economics as if People Mattered
From Small is Beautiful. Modeled on small scale self-sufficient communities, E.F. Schumacher developed his ideas while living in Burma.
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September 22, 2010
The Golden Land, Burma (now called Myanmar), has some of the most beautiful landscapes and temples in the world, as well as the friendliest people.
Traditional Shampoo and Urban Laundry
I first came across soapnuts when I was living in Myanmar/Burma in 1999. I was working at a remote hotel on the shore of the mystical Inle Lake in Shan State. My oven was made from a large barrel and was wood-fired, whenever the kitchen staff noticed me making a move to try to get the fire under the oven going myself, they would quickly send the kitchen’s expert fire-maker to take over. They had already learned the hard way that they would be completely smoked out of the kitchen if they let me attempt it myself.
The staff at the Inle Princess Resort were really a fun bunch of people, we would go to the five day farmer’s markets early in the morning and stuff ourselves with treats of fried Shan tofu and cups of sweet, strong and delicious Burmese tea, on the walk home the girls would always amaze me with their taken-for-granted knowledge of nearly every plant and it’s medicinal benefits that we passed by. They would rave to me about the wonders of the traditional Burmese shampoo. The next time we were at the market they showed me bags hanging from strings full of a yellowish liquid with these soapnuts, tamarind pods and various other herbs in them. I gave it a try and was soon a convert. Although the shampoo didn’t suds up quite as much the shampoos I was used to, my hair was soon gleaming with a healthy shine.
November 23, 2009
Old Fashioned Homemade Pickles
Published August 2009 in Healthy Options magazine, New Zealand Recipe for homemade lacto-fermented dill pickles. Lactic Acid Fermentation: Symbiotic Man's Secret Ingredient for Health and Longevity Many years ago, I worked at the Inya Lake Hotel in Myanmar which also does catering and events for the various embassies in Yangon. It was Korea's National Day and the embassy was having…
August 3, 2009
Farmers Markets of Myanmar
Click here to view exotic images of farmers markets around Myanmar.
Who can resist an open air market? In Shan State they have a very clever system by having their farmers market run on a five day cycle. So, for example, around the mystical Inle Lake, the market will be one day in Nyaung Shwe, the next at Mein Tauk, the next at the other corner of the lake as a floating market, etc. This way local farmers can sell their product without having to go too far afield, and tourist just love going to the different locations each day. It is a system worth considering bringing back to other areas of the world. The Burmese have been forced to maintain their traditional methods of farming and subsistence living, which may in the long run be a blessing in disguise for them and the rest of the world. If any of us want to know how to live really sustainably, I recommend following in the footsteps of E.F. Schumacher (author of Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered
) by going to Burma and learning from them.
July 13, 2009
Myanmar Farmer Markets Slideshow
"The Burmese have been forced to maintain their traditional methods of farming and subsistence living, which may in the long run be a blessing in disguise for them and the rest of the world." More... Click here to see images from various markets in Yangon (Rangoon).
July 13, 2009
Markets of Rangoon
Click here for images from market around Yangon.
The first time I visited Burma/Myanmar was in December of 1995. We stayed in the YMCA in downtown Yangon (formerly Rangoon) and were harassed by bed-bugs all night. I remember the streets being particularly gray at that time, except for the bright blue, tiny little taxi’s that were the only vehicles tearing around the roads. This little trucks seem like little blue ladybugs and can still be seen today, packed into the traffic filled streets.
Since then I have had the opportunity to get to know the markets of Rangoon. Most tourists don’t stay long in Yangon, the more mystical tourist destinations are Bagan, Inle Lake or even Kyaiktiyo — the Famous Golden Rock Pagoda, and most tours follow a highly scheduled ten day whirlwind dash to these favorite sites.
July 11, 2009
Yangon Markets Slideshow
My favorite market in Yangon is the Indian Spice market which is on 26th St and Anawratha, and there I love to buy thick honey-rich sandalwood oil, turmeric, fragrant sandalwood beads, freshly ground whole wheat flour and blocks of beeswax. An old friend hangs around his buddies spice stall, and always is excited to see me. (pictured) More information here.…
July 11, 2009
Mormor’s Kaukswe
Burmese Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Kaukswe is one of the most famous of Myanmar’s wonderful breakfasts, Mohingha is the most famous and is made with fish and banana trunks.
Breakfast is a very special time in Myanmar, there are so many tasty things to choose from, but you have to get up early or you will miss your chance.
This is my grandmother’s recipe for Chicken Kaukswe which is a favorite Burmese breakfast, but can also be eaten at other times of the day. Burmese Chicken Noodle Soup.
Serves 6-8
March 8, 2009
Pennywort Salad (Min Kwa Yuet)
Another of the famous Burmese lethok literally "mixed by hand" salads. This one was first brought to my attention by my little sister who was a mad fan of eating Naw Rosie's Min Kwa Yuet Salad on her home-made brown bread while she was going to high school in Myanmar. It is definitely addicting and delicious beyond description. Unfortunately it…
February 23, 2009
The Gift of Typhoid
I was given a melted popsicle from a local ice-cream seller while visiting a pagoda in the suburbs of Yangon/Rangoon. It was a bit of a surreal experience. The old man smiled so kindly as he eagerly handed it to me. He was so sweet and toothless. He had come across me as I was trying to find the vendor of the incense stall so I could offer some incense to Garuda my Burmese deity. In Myanmar your horoscope is the day of the week you were born on. I am Sunday born and therefore my Burmese name must begin with an A and my special animal is the Garuda which is half-beast and half-bird. Interestingly it is said that worship of Garuda is believed to remove the effects of poisons from one’s body. On this day, my worship of Garuda brought a colony of destruction down on my gut.
November 28, 2007