36 | Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight32 | Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight

Take the plungeSlow, steady lap swimming for 20 to

30 minutes using a combination of

strokes is an ideal body developer. If

laps bore you, learn a routine of pool

exercises. Water provides muscle-

toning resistance; you can kick, walk

on the pool’s bottom, tread water and

do leg lifts or push-ups from the side

of the pool. To burn more calories

and get fit in less time, buy one of

the new aerobic swim-vests or wear

swimmer’s ankle weights.

Do-it-yourself aerobicsPack a good aerobics tape or two

and a small tape recorder. Exercise

programmes on hotel-room television

are also worth checking out.

Climb, don’t escalateStair climbing provides great, easy

aerobics. It tones thighs and calves.

Climb up two flights of stairs (no

faster than two steps per second) and

then rest by taking a one-minute walk

on level ground. A climbing routine of

200 steps a day (burns up 80 calories)

is all you need to keep you in shape.

Walk, don’t rideWalking burns up to 100 calories

every fifteen minutes. Walk briskly

enough so that you are breathing

faster than normal. Let your heels

touch the ground first, roll to the balls

of your feet and swing your arms in

rhythm. Wear good running shoes.

Gyms and spasGyms and health spas often welcome

business travellers on daily basis.

Hotels without in-house exercise

facilities may have agreements with

nearby gyms or health spas that

allow guests to work out free or at a

nominal charge.

3

4

5

6

7

37Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight | 33Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight |

Pack a gymInvest in gear that you can pack and tote: a set of inflatable dumbbells. Fill them with

water (they come in two, five or ten pound sizes) and you can exercise your whole

body. Basic exercise with dumbbells include leg lunges, chest presses, arm curls and

shoulder presses. If they feel lighter than the weights you used at home, just lift and

lower them more slowly. This technique makes them seem heavier and the exercise

are just as beneficial. Another ‘must’ is a jump rope. Exercise with it in your hotel room.

Jumping rope is an aerobic calorie burner and it uses nearly every muscle group in

the body. Warm up by stretching, then jump for about 15 seconds alternating with 30

seconds of rest for a total of 15 minutes of exercise.

And don’t forget to carry a kid’s inflatable playground ball to get in isometric squeezes

for arms, legs and thighs.

8

38 | Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight

Art GalleriesYangon’s

Words by Moh Moh Thaw and Thomas Kean

WHEN it comes to art, there’s something for everyone in Myanmar. From

high-end investment pieces to permanent reminders of your favourite travel spot, the

country’s galleries have it all. Myanmar has dozens of internationally recognised artists,

who regularly hold shows abroad, in Asia as well as Europe, Australia and the United

States. They have also had some success in international competitions. Most recently,

at the pan-Asian Sovereign Art Prize in late 2008, 29-year-old Yangon artist Mor Mor

won the Audience Choice Prize for her painting, “Next”, beating out more than 1000

other paintings from across the region.

Ms Gill Pattison, manager of Yangon’s River Gallery, accompanied Mor Mor to Hong

Kong for the awards ceremony and said “Next” compared favourably to works by

some of Asia’s finest contemporary artists. “The painting in its own right was a very

popular choice but I think the fact she’s a young, female artist from Myanmar was just

another positive for people. They were really happy to see some good news come out

of Myanmar. People were surprised and delighted,” Ms Pattison said.

The country is certainly not new to painting; the art

form is included in the Pan Hsai Myoe, or “Ten Arts”,

an ancient list of the country’s 10 traditional arts and

crafts. In Bagan, painters would decorate the interiors

of pagodas and temples with artwork depicting the

lifestyle of the local population and also informing

pilgrims of the life and teachings of the Buddha.

But while art galleries might seem ubiquitous today,

it has really only been with the growth in the tourism

The country is certainly not new to

painting; the art form is included in the

Pan Hsai Myoe, or “Ten Arts”, an ancient

list of the country’s 10 traditional arts and

crafts.

Photos by Thein Zaw Win (Photo Magic)

38 | Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight

39Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight |

industry that artists have been able to seriously make a living from their craft,

says Min Wae Aung, the owner of New Treasure Art Gallery in Yangon.

“Twenty years ago, no locals were interested in buying paintings and we didn’t

have many tourists then. So we had to just rely on staff from the international

embassies to buy our paintings,” he says. “Now, the art market is getting better

and better each day – even locals are getting interested in what we are doing

and buying our paintings.”

New Treasure and River Gallery are just two of the seven art spaces we’ve run

the rule over for this issue of Golden Flight. Enjoy!

Lawkanat opened in 1971 and is widely considered

to be the city’s longest-running art gallery. The

establishment vibe is maintained by Lawkanat’s

premises – a colonial-era apartment building on the

central Pansodan Road – which is a popular hang-out

place for both local artists and visitors interested in

Myanmar art. A succession of exhibitions is held

throughout the year and the highlight is undoubtedly

the gallery’s annual “members’ show”, which usually

takes place in December. This special exhibition

features works from some of the most famous

names in Myanmar’s art scene, including U Ba

Win, U Win Pe Myint, U Bo Gie, U Kyi Win and

many more.

Lawkanat Art Gallery

Address: No 62, 1st floor, Pansodan Road (lower block), Kyauktada Township.

Atmosphere: Establishment, with more than a hint of old-school class

Opening hours: Daily, 9am to 5pm

39Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight |

Art

40 | Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight

Address: No 410, Taung Ngu Road, 17 Ward, Shwe Pauk Kan,North Okkalapa Township.

Atmosphere: A relaxed family affair, with a wide variety of worksfrom an undisputed Myanmar master

Open: Daily (except Monday), 10am to 5pm

This gallery has made its name as being one of the few in Yangon – along with

Studio Square and Inya galleries – to be exclusively the domain of contemporary

artists. Opened in 1990 by artist Aye Ko as Modern Art 90 gallery, it was

transformed into New Zero in 2009. New Zero boasts 32 artists in all, including

founder Aye Ko, Aung Win, Aung Myint, Thargyi, Nyein Chan Su and Nyein

Chan Kyaw. The founders of New Zero also help to foster the next generation

of contemporary artists by offering free training to talented youngsters.

New Zero Art Space

U Lun Gywe is a towering presence in the local

scene and because of his work at the State School

of Fine Arts most painters are likely to cite him as

a major influence. In 1999, U Lun Gywe opened

Artist Life Art Gallery as a peaceful place to exhibit

his realist, impressionist, abstract and modernist

works. The gallery might be an hour or so drive from

downtown but don’t be put off: it’s certainly worth

the effort. As well as U Lun Gywe’s masterpieces,

you can see works by his relatives – well-known

artists in their own right – including wife Lun Mya

Mya, son Lun Thit and granddaughter Lun Panchi.

Artist Life Art Gallery

40 | Air Mandalay - The Golden Flight

Address: No 54(1/E), 1st floor, Boyarnyunt Road, Dagon Township.

Atmosphere: A creative environment for aspiring contemporary artists

Open: Daily