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CHINESE

HOROSCOPES

SEXUAL MORES

INTERNET

&SCAMS

South East Asia & The Orient

(C) IQ Inc. 1997. 2007. 2009.

CHINESE

HOROSCOPESSEXUAL MORES

INTERNET

&SCAMS


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Thanks to the many journalists and travellers

who contributed information and articlesto this publication.

Published by IQ Inc.

(C) 1997. 2007. 2009.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro-duced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form

by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, record-

ing or otherwise,

except brief extracts for review, without the written permis-

sion of the copyright owner.

The authors and publishers have made every effort toensure that the information contained within is as accurate

as possible. However, no liability can be accepted

for any injury, loss or inconvenience caused

to anyone using this book.

Published by IQ Inc.International licencing enquiries:

[email protected]

www.iqincmedia.com

ISBN 974 - 94994 - 0 - 9

CD-ROM: 1997.First Book Pressing: July 2007.

E-Book: 2009.


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1CHINESE HOROSCOPES

Oriental nations take Chinese horoscopes very seriously. Many

business people, politicians, as well as the general public, wont

make a move without them.

Because Chinese horoscopes are an important part of

Oriental culture, you never know when even a small element of

knowledge on the subject could be helpful.

If you lack even surface information about the culture

of any nation you wish to travel to, your social or business

goals will be that little bit less likely to succeed. This is particu-

larly true of South East Asia & The Orient.

The Chinese Astrological Cycle

The Chinese Astrological cycle takes twelve years to complete,

and each year is named after an animal. Legend has it that The

Buddha named the individual years more than six hundred years

before the birth of Christ.

The Chinese Astrological Cycle commences with theyear of the Rat and ends with the year of the pig. So if your

partner has behaved like a rat or if you have had a pig of a year,

you can always blame it on the way your astrological cycle fell.


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The Twelve Years of the Chinese Astrological Cycle

RAT

OX

TIGER

RABBITDRAGON

SNAKE

HORSE

SHEEP/GOAT

MONKEY

ROOSTER

DOGPIG

The Five Elements

Chinese philosophy considers that everything and everyone is

influenced by the five elements that make up all matter. These

elements are: Metal, water, wood, fire and earth.

Metalis connected with a strong will.

Water with qualities of sensitivity and persuasiveness.

Woodwith powers of imagination and creativity.

Fire with energy and dynamism.

Earth with practical aptitude and stability.


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Yin and Yang

The concept of yin and yang is to achieve a balance of the elements.

The planets are balanced in the universe and the survival of all living

creatures depends on such harmony. When you think about it, bal-ance and harmony are important, and the South East Asian goal is to

translate that balance to relationships within the family and between

nations.

This is the reason why any display of strong emotion,

sorrow, delight or anger is discouraged. In fact it is considered

to be the behaviour pattern of an immature and undisciplinedpersonality.

Breaking this cardinal rule in any of the nations of South

East Asia is a cultural mistake which many Western individuals

make. Just by itself, emotional self-indulgence can potentially

ruin what would otherwise have been a fabulous holiday, or

destroy a business deal in seconds flat. In extreme circum-

stances it could even get you killed, as such behaviour canpotentially make others lose face. In South East Asia & The

Orient, that is a particularly grave sin.

Balance and harmony rule the psyche of the peoples of

South East Asia. Chinese Horoscopes are a part of that cultural

configuration.


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NB. In the West until recent times, the Chinese practise of acupunc-

ture was generally considered to be fatuous. However, when sub-

jected to in-depth scientific investigation for a few decades, it wasfound to be a holistic treatment that could banish pain and help heal

without the use of drugs. Acupuncture can even be used during sur-

gical procedures as an alternative to conventional anaesthetic. Could

Chinese Horoscopes possess a similar inscrutable power?

What Chinese Astrological Sign Are You?

RAT

1900 - 31 Feb. 1900 - 18 Feb. 1901

1912- 18 Feb. 1912 - 05 Feb. 1913

1924 -05 Feb. 1924 - 23 Jan. 1925

1936- 24 Jan. 1936 - 10 Feb. 19371948- 10 Feb. 1948 - 28 Jan. 1949

1960- 28 Jan. 1960 - 14 Feb. 1961

1972- 15 Feb. 1972 - 02 Feb. 1973

1984- 02 Feb. 1984 - 19 Feb. 1985

1996- 09 Feb. 1996 - 06 Feb. 1997

OX

1901- 06 Feb. 1901- 07 Feb. 1902

1913- 06 Feb 1913 - 25 Jan. 1914

1925- 24 Jan. 1925 - 12 Feb 1926

1937- 11 Feb 1937 - 30 Jan. 1938

1949- 29 Jan. 1949 - 16 Feb 1950

1961- 15 Feb. 1961 - 04 Feb. 1962

1973- 03 Feb. 1973 - 22 Jan. 1974

1985- 20 Feb. 1985 - 08 Feb. 1986

1997- 07 Feb. 1997 - 08 Feb. 1998


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Compiled & Edited by: Jake Anthony

Thanks to the many journalists and travellers who

contributed information and articles to this publication.

(C) IQ Inc. 1997. 2007. 2009.

International licencing enquiries:

[email protected]

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in anyform by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording or otherwise, except brief extracts for review,

without the written permission of the copyright owner.

The authors and publishers have made every effort to ensure

that the information contained within is as accurate as

possible. However, no liability can be accepted for any injury,loss or inconvenience caused to anyone using this book.

ISBN 974-7313-80-2

CD-ROM: 1997.

First Pressing: July 2007.

E-Book: 2009.

South East Asia & The Orient


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CONTENTS

Burma/Myanmar: Page 74

Cambodia: Page 96

China: Page 110

Hong Kong: Page 132

Indonesia: Page 148

Japan: Page 166

Laos: Page 290

Malaysia: Page 206

Philippines: Page 226

Singapore: Page 244

South Korea: Page 262

Taiwan: Page 278

Thailand: Page 296

Vietnam: Page 322


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Foreword

The cultures of the Oriental East are uniquely different to those

of the Occidental West. To the Western individual experiencing

those differences in practical terms on a day-to-day basis, the

new rules can potentially come as a shock.

The scenic beauty, cultural diversity and generally polite

nature of the peoples of South East Asia is at most times adelight. In fact it would be difficult to find a better set of loca-

tions in which to experience a uniquely different holiday.

However, the Art of Warwas formulated in the Orient in

ancient times, and business is conducted using those principles

to this day. So if you intend to investigate the possibility of

investment or trade in South East Asia and the Orient, caveatemptor(buyer beware) applies with a vengeance.

As example, during the Second World War, Siam allied

itself to the Japanese. It had no alternative, the country would

have been overrun by the Nipponese forces just as Singapore,

Malaya, Burma and parts of China were in the same land block.

Whilst supposedly allied to the Japanese, Siam assisted the West-

ern powers via the underground. Despite having faced both

ways at the same time for the best part of five years - never

taking up arms and business continuing as usual - at the end of

the Second World War, Siam/Thailand managed to stay on

good terms with both East and West.

Unique amongst non-Western nations, Siam/Thailand was

the only country in South East Asia never to have been colo-nised during the golden age of Western imperialism. Every sin-

gle nation surrounding that country was colonised, but Siam/

Thailand was not.

Youd have to look long and hard through the history


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books to match such dexterous feats of diplomacy.

The cultures of South East Asia and the Orient are an-

cient. In fact some would say superior in many ways. Whilst

the Celts, Scots, Picts, Gauls and Saxons - from which the

European races and majority of the North America and Australa-sian populations are descended - were running around with

blue paint on their faces (wode) armed with spears and wearing

rough hewn skins on their backs, Siam had discovered how to

weave fine silk, China had a well developed commercial sys-

tem, fine art was much appreciated, gunpowder had been in-

vented, and an efficient (albeit slightly corrupt) civil service wasin place.

Then there is the fact that the main Western religions -

Christianity and Judaism - are not the religions of the East. Five

of the countries of South East Asia are Buddhist and/or lean towards

Buddhism - which does do not accept the role of a God or Deity,

believing that the conduct of the individual determines the present

and the future. In other parts of South East Asia, Confucianism,Taoism and Islam are the faiths which predominate.

When a business ventures into other lands, the difference

between doing a deal that floats and one that does not, is cultural

knowledge. An insight into the background and culture of any nation

you intend to visit can also provide greater understanding and pleas-

ure.Bon Voyage.


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Burma/Myanmar

People and Place

Previously a British colony, Burma /Myanmar was occupied

by the Japanese from 1942 until the Allied Forces gained vic-

tory in 1945. It was the last country in the region to be occupied

by the British.Burma became a sovereign independent state in 1948

after 62 years of colonial administration. More recently renamed

Myanmar (its historical name), the country has since been prac-

tising a kind of socialism under harsh military rule - equal

poverty for the masses, and capitalist riches for the ruling junta.

Virtually cut off from the West for decades and withminimal contact with its neighbours, Burma has not garnered

the benefits which an open society would normally expect to

obtain.

As a result, even though the country benefits from the

same land mass, coastline and topography as its neighbour Thai-

land, perceptions of the country as a tourist resort are less than

perfect.Burma/Myanmar lies on the crossroads of two of the

worlds most ancient civilisations: China and India. Its culture is

a blend of both, but with Buddhism predominately influencing

daily life. The people are slightly darker in skin hue compared

to the Siamese (Thai) and slightly more Asian (Indian) in ap-

pearance. In the North East, Chinese ethnic influence predomi-nates.

Burma is made up of a number of tribes with over a

hundred languages and dialects spoken. Shan and Myanmar

predominate. Other races are the Kachin, Kayin, Chin, Bamar,

Mon, Rakhine and Karen. Myanmar is the language spoken in city


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locations, but Cantonese and Mandarin will be heard in business

circles.

Over 80% of the population are Buddhist, but Christian-

ity, Islam and Animists practise their religions.

Stretching from the Himalayas in the North on the bor-der with India, to the coral reefs on the same coastline as South

West Thailand, Burma is the largest country in the South East

Asian Peninsula. Sharing borders with Bangladesh, India, China,

Laos and Thailand, Burma occupies an area of 676,577 sq.

km. - twice the size of Vietnam and equal to France and the

UK combined.With borders running from Southern Thailand to India,

the climate varies dependent upon latitude. Temperatures range

from 19C. to 38C. spread over three distinct seasons: hot from

March to May; rainy season with monsoon winds from June to

October; and cool from November to February. The climate is

less tourist-friendly than Thailand.

Yangon (Rangoon) is the capital city with a populationof nearly 5 million. However, the military government has re-

cently built a new capital city in a remote area! Other major

cities are Mandalay, Mawlamyaing, Bago and Pathein. With a

population approaching 47 million in the country as a whole,

the literacy rate is 81%.

A spectacularly beautiful country with an enormouslylong coastline, Burma/Myanmar could potentially have the most

successful tourist industry in the world. A repressive political

system and severe paranoia concerning the West, has prevented

that from taking place.

Since gaining independence in 1948, Myanmar has gone

through various phases of economic development - from a cen-

trally planned economy to one that is attempting to become

more market-oriented.

Lush forests and reserves of minerals, oil and gas, provide

the ingredients for sustained economic growth if the military junta

ever decides to liberalise and democratise the political climate.


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Tourism is considered by the government to be the most

promising area of business growth, and many hotels, restau-

rants, tour companies and related services are being established.

Despite the handicap of what the West would regard as

the countrys less than acceptable record on human rights and acomplete lack of democracy, the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism

is promoting this area of investment to foreign companies. The

result is that more than 150 hotels have been built (both local

and overseas owned) with a billion US dollars invested.

Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world

with ultra low wage rates for staff and utilities, hotel costs arerelatively high in Burma/Myanmar. In fact they are astronomi-

cally high compared to nearby Thailand. Add the fact that en-

tertainment is extremely limited, and a successful tourist indus-

try in Burma appears to be something of a pipe dream at the

moment.

To make matters worse, internal visas are required for

local people to travel within the country, and access to manylocations is of-limits to tourists. This hinders the development

of tourism.

Proof of this scenario is that during the year 2000, tourist

arrivals fell far short of the governments target of 500,000 a

year. Less than half arrived, a drop of 9.3% on the previous

year. Just a quarter of a million tourists in one year is minusculecompared to Thailands annual 9.5 million plus.

As an underdeveloped nation, the main industry is teak

and hardwood logging. Unofficially, heroin production is rela-

tively prevalent in the south. Rice paddies and small scale agri-

culture allow the people to survive, along with hunting, fishing

and raising livestock. Traditional handicrafts provide moderate

cash income.

Burma/Myanmar has as many natural resources as its

prosperous neighbour Thailand, and with an ethnically related

population. Logic suggests that Burma/Myanmar has the potential

to be just as successful. The basic difference is that Thailand is pre-


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dominately a democracy practising free trade. Burma/Myanmar is

not.

Until Burma/Myanmar is willing to follow a more ac-

ceptable approach to human rights and democracy - not to

mention a more tourist-friendly approach to hotel prices, inter-nal travel, visas and currency exchange - business investment

and tourism from the outside world will probably be thin on the

ground.

As a tourist destination, Burma/Myanmar is probably more

suited to the adventurous individual and journalists seeking an

expose on life under a repressive regime. A shame, as the coun-try is beautiful in many areas and the people friendly.

Burma/Myanmar


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Visas, Immigration, Work Permits, Currency, Getting Around.

Tourist Visas

Tourist visas for 28 days duration can be obtained from consu-lates and embassies within two to three days. Cost is $20 to

$30 - dependent upon which country it is purchased in. Two

passport photos are required plus a confirmation letter issued

by your travel agent. Emergency visas can be obtained for an

additional fee.

Officially visas cannot be extended. However, theImmigration Departments in Myanmar will do so for up to a

further 30 days. Five photos are required plus a fee of up 30

US dollars. The fee varies from office to office.

Short term extensions usually require gifts such as 200

cigarettes or currency subtly offered in the pages of your pass-

port.

Two month visas are granted to students of Buddhism.Journalist visas are generally treated with suspicion, and you

are much less likely to obtain entry if journalism is stated as

your occupation.

Business Visas

Business visas can be obtained at embassies and consulates

abroad. Proof of business bone fides and objectives will be

required.

Multiple visas are now allowed as the country gradually

opens up to the outside world. However, individual offices can some-

times be difficult.

Stay visas for up to one year are permitted for foreigners

operating businesses in Burma They must be endorsed by the For-

eign Investment Ministry regarding the type of business engaged in.

Visa extensions are allowed once contacts are made with

local people or officials in the Immigration Department.


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Foreign visitors must register each new address with the local

police or immigration authorities. Hotel staff are usually willing to

carry out this duty.

Organised package tours are encouraged by the

Myanmar Tourist Board, but the cost is high. Independent trav-ellers can obtain a tourist package of a visa plus two nights

accommodation from Bangkok travel agents. Cost is from $100-

$200. That gets you into the country with hotel stay included.

From then on the traveller is independent and able to book the

hotel of choice.

Other than by road from Mae Sai in Northern Thailand,foreigners can only enter Burma/Myanmar by air. Tourists ar-

riving without a visa will be deported. Albeit, everything is po-

tentially negotiable. Children over 7 years mentioned in the

passport of a parent must hold a separate visa.

Transit visas are valid for 24 hours. Holders of Taiwan-

ese passports are prevented from entering the country other

than if in possession of an affidavit issued by a representativeof the Myanmar Consulate abroad. But anything is negotiable

with tea money.

Information regarding where tourists can travel within

the country is obtainable from the Tourist Corporation in Yangon

(Rangoon). Any embassy abroad will also advise which areas

are off-limits to foreign visitors. An official tour guide is re-quired to accompany a foreigner visiting areas away from con-

ventional tourist destinations.

Customs

Customs officers inspect luggage for drugs and contraband. Body

searches are carried out for the same reason, and to prevent terror-

ism. All souvenirs and goods brought into the country require an

export permit.

Technically, mobile phones cannot be taken into Burma/

Myanmar without prior permission from the Government. If imported


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without advance permission, such devices will be temporarily de-

tained by Customs Officers on arrival. They will be returned on

departure. There are so many cell phones these days that this rule is

not actually enforced on arrival and customs staff usually turn a blind

eye.

Airport arrival Documents and Procedures

1. Passport, entry visa, disembarkation card.

2. Vaccination certificate against yellow fever and cholera if

arriving within 6 days of leaving an infected area.3. A pet health certificate if animals are being brought in.

4. A customs declaration listing all electrical goods, radios, com-

puter lap-tops, cameras, etc. This must be completed if you

wish to take them out of the country without payment of ex-

port duty. A list of goods taken in is stapled into your passport.

However, some people simply unclip the list and customs rarely

check on departure.

Currency

Visitors were once required to exchange a minimum of $300

into F.E.Cs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) which could not

officially be changed back to the original currency. As a result, astrong black market in F.E.Cs was a major local enterprise.

That is no longer in force. However, there are no official cur-

rency exchange bureaux in Burma/Myanmar and banks do not have

a currency exchange desk. Yes, banks that do not exchange foreign

currency into local currency!

However, almost every shop and hotel and many stalls

in market places will provide local currency in exchange for US

dollars, Thai baht and some other currencies. Rates of exchange

vary and rip offs are possible, so its a case of buyer beware.

Where allowed to operate and even when not, free enterprise

supplies whatever product or service is required.


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Airport Departure Procedures

Leaving Burma/Myanmar was a complicated procedure at one time,

but it is now much more tourist-friendly.

The check in desk at your airline accepts the required $10airport tax and checks tickets and passport. These days its over in

seconds.

Passport, airport tax receipt and aircraft boarding pass are

then checked and stamped by Immigration officials. Again, over in

seconds.

Transport, Communications, Getting Around

A limited rail network operates in Burma/Myanmar. Train travel is

slow, but can be a very pleasant way to see the country. However,

only book upper-class seats as they have upholstery and recline,

which on long journeys is essential. Wooden seats and the whole of

the farmyard on its way to market is the case in second or thirdclass, so take a cushion. Train travel can be a very low cost way to

soak up local culture.

To prevent tourists visiting restricted areas, train tickets are

only supposed to be bought by foreigners from official tour compa-

nies. However, a friendly Burmese will be happy to buy a ticket on

behalf of a foreigner for a small tip. Professed ignorance of the lan-guage and local rules added to a friendly demeanour, can assist if

apprehended in an out of bounds location. Tea money may also

help.

The countrys infrastructure has been neglected during dec-

ades of military rule, and the roads are pretty poor. However, there

is a fairly comprehensive bus service throughout the country, but

buses are usually old. Taxis are plentiful but again are almost all very

old. No meters, so negotiations regarding fares are not in favour of

the tourist. None of this is exactly conducive to encouraging tourism.

Due to limited relay stations, mobile phones do not work in

many areas.


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There is no Internet to the outside world, so forget about

communicating via hotmail or yahoo. There is an internal internet

used by Burmese people but that does not reach the outside world.

A few businesses have internet connections but they are monitored

by the ruling military government. Not exactly conducive to over-seas business investment or local freedom of speech.


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Burma/Myanmar

Culture Shock

As in other South East Asian countries - particularly those followingthe Buddhist philosophy - Burmese people maintain close family ties

and retain respect for the elderly. As with the people of Thailand, the

people of Burma./Myanmar are generally friendly and polite.

As the country has been less than free for many decades,

with authoritarian rule and state intervention dominant, the kind

of scams which often proliferate in neighbouring countries areless prevalent. However, the police or military are liable to par-

ticipate where they are encountered.

There are a multitude of festivals throughout the year.

The most outrageous is the Water Festival (Thingyan), mark-

ing the change of the old year to the new.

It can be difficult for Western tourists to accept being

saturated with water by every passer-by, but that is what thewater festival is about. Expect to have water thrown at you

even by passing motor cycles or people in cars.

Anyone can throw water with impunity during the festi-

val. However, throwing water at elderly people and pregnant

women is taboo. Public servants on duty, cops and postmen

are also immune from being doused. Throwing water that wasdirty, would not be appreciated and would almost certainly en-

gender a hostile reaction potentially leading to violence.

As the festival progresses, water throwing often gets more

outrageous and children use buckets and bowls of various shapes

and size. In towns, electrically operated water hoses are used to

drench passers-by. Probably best to avoid Burma/Myanmar during

the Water Festival. Same goes for Thailands New Year Water Fes-

tival called Songkran, which takes place in April.

During the Water Festival, highly decorated floats tour the

cities and villages, and entertainments and contests proliferate. A

contest called a Thangyat is allowed, and is probably the only occa-


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sion when you can satirise an individual in a South East Asian coun-

try without making them lose face. Poems and rhyming couplets

criticise or poke fun at people and their actions. It is a competition

attracting big crowds because satire in all other circumstances is

culturally forbidden. In fact it could get you killed.Thingyan is also a season of goodwill and good deeds, and

people use perfumed water to wash images of the Buddha. Many

elderly people spend time listening to sermons and meditating at

pagodas and monasteries. Young men become temporary monks

and young women earn merit by helping the elderly.

The Burmese people are generally self-effacing, so wearingthe latest fashions would not be an issue. It is therefore impor-

tant not to underestimate a person or assume they are poor or

of low status because they do not flaunt their wealth, wear

expensive clothes or boast of their achievements.

Connected, talking about money or the possessions you

own would regarded as tasteless. In conversation, it would be

considered crass and stupid to brag about personal achieve-ments or material wealth. That is the complete opposite of the

West - and the USA in particular - where self-promotion and

conspicuous consumption are generally the rule.

Critical comment should be avoided because of the loss

of face factor, and should be particularly avoided in public. If

this rule is transgressed, an act of revenge could be expected.Where censure is required in a business or social setting, it

should be done with kindness, understanding, and in private.

Displays of anger, sorrow, fast speech, shouting, over

familiarity, touching, kissing, impatience are best avoided, as all

are considered signs of weakness and bad manners.

Emotions are not openly displayed in South East Asia, and

any individual ignoring this cultural imperative would be regarded as

a person lacking in character and self-control.


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Burma/Myanmar

Essential Business Etiquette

The most common mistake Western people make when trying to dobusiness in South East Asia, is to get straight to the subject they wish

to discuss. That is considered impolite in most South East Asian

societies. In Japan - where it can take ten meetings before the busi-

ness you wished to discuss is even mentioned - you would never do

any business at all with such a get-to-the-point approach.

People like to get to know you first, and it would be commonto talk about your family, education, how you have enjoyed your

stay in their country, and general aspects of business before you

open the subject you actually came to discuss.

You would obtain greater success if you ignored the business

to hand and enquired instead about the health of each family mem-

ber of your indigenous associate - starting with the eldest son and

finishing with the youngest daughter.Add the fact that a Burmese version ofThai -time (slowly)

operates in Burma/Myanmar as well as a tea money culture,

and travellers are advised to gear their approach to local mores

or avoid attempting to do business in the location at all. The

same approach is required relating to government transactions

such as obtaining official permits, visas, etc..Haste when conducting business would infer that you

were upset with the person you were attempting to speed up,

and anger directed at someone would be taken as a direct criti-

cism. It should be avoided at all costs, as the result would be coun-

terproductive to any business or social objective. Even violently so.

For the Western individual used to getting things done quickly

- and venting spleen on any individual who does not jump to it - the

bureaucracy in Burma/Myanmar can potentially drive the foreign

business person to distraction. However, a burst of anger to hotel

staff or a clerk in a government office will mark you down as some-

one of the lowest class, and whatever you hoped to achieve would


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vance, reconfirm a few days prior to your meeting, and phone a

short time before leaving. The better your personal relations with the

people you hope to do business with, the more likely they are to

honour an agreed time slot.

So make sure your secretary is on good terms with their sec-retary, and deliver gifts on appropriate occasions. Hustle, but in a

low-key and more subtle manner than in the West.

In South East Asia the word no is impolite. This is be-

cause it makes the other person lose face. It is therefore not

used. That can be difficult for overseas visitors to handle, espe-

cially when trying to conduct business. The trick is to try andinterpret other peoples answers in juxtaposition to the rest of

the conversation and their recent actions.

An ultra high IQ is required plus a Degree in Psychology.

This helps to ascertain when a yes means maybe; or when

a maybe means no.

In regard to trade and investment in Burma/Myanmar,

the social and political climate tends to make any attempt to dobusiness a potential risk and a challenge. Time wasting and loss

making perhaps, but potentially enlightening. Travel certainly

broadens the mind - if your psyche is open to the challenge.


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Burma/Myanmar

Understanding Local Customs

The family is important in Burma/Myanmar, and everything isdone to empathise with each member of the family with a degree of

consideration that would not normally be seen in the West. This

approach is often seen in the workplace, with employers showing

empathy to employees with problems.

Family names are new in Burma/Myanmar and many

people do not have them. Where they do exist, women keeptheir maiden names after marriage. Add the fact that children

are given nicknames that have no relationship to their parents,

potentially makes keeping an address book something of a Chi-

nese puzzle.

Each Burmese person has a name given at birth - based

on astrology or the advice of a Buddhist Monk. However, a

Burmese person can change their name as often as the moodtakes - if it is considered that a change of name might bring

prosperity or success.

Children are given unpleasant names like frog or goat to

ward off evil spirits. When they grow up, they change their

name to one more pleasant and which suits them personally.

Many people in the West might wish they could do the same.Face is important in South East Asia, and status is denoted by

the title utilised to address a person. A man of high status or social

standing would be respectfully addressed as U Kau Reng. The pre-

fixKo is utilised between men of similar standing.

Maung would denote a male child, teenager or a person of

a lower social standing. A man might also useMaung to demon-

strate modesty.

A woman of superior social status or mature years would be

addressed asDaw Kau Reng. It would also denote that the woman

was married.Ma as a prefix would be the less formal title for a

woman. It would be considered impolite to address a woman with-


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out the use of one of the aforementioned prefixes.

Status is constantly shown in the way that people address

members of the family. Husbands would be addressed asEing Ga

Lu orEin That, which means Good Man of the House.

Similarly, a woman would be addressed as Mama orAmla Gyl, which means elder sister.Mawould be used for a young

female child andDaw Daw for an aunt or adult female.

Employers and people in authority would be referred to

as Ko Gyl or Saya - meaning teacher. Saya would be used to

address a doctor. A monk would be addressed as Sayadaw

(Venerable),Ashin (Reverend), or Kodaw (Your Reverence).The military would be calledHo.

As in Thailand, friends and acquaintances would call a

Westerner by his Christian name but would add Mr.: Ko Ian,

Ko John, etc.. In Thailand, the prefix Khun would be used.

Tipping was not normal in the past and a waiter or recep-

tionist would probably return spare change left on the restau-

rant table or hotel desk. However, awareness of the touristculture added to economic hardship means that tips are essen-

tial to survive. In bureaucratic situations, tea money will almost

certainly be required when official permissions are sought.

Gift giving on special occasions such as weddings and

birthdays would not normally be in cash unless the bridal couple or

individual were young or still at college. Cash gifts could infer that therecipient was poor, whence they would lose face. No one likes to

be regarded as poor, even if they are.

Beautifully wrapped presents would be the safest route. Ar-

tistically wrapped to suggest that the recipient was important, which

would give face.

However, if cash was provided it should be discreetly given

and offered in a prestigious looking gift envelope. The envelope would

not normally be opened in public but after the event, in private. That

is because if the sum was regarded as too small, the giver would

lose face by appearing too stingy. At the other extreme, if the gift

was too generous, an inference would be implied that the recipient


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Burma/Myanmar

Trade Shows

Free enterprise is new to the country and is highly controlled,and there is no organised programme of trade shows as yet.

Burma/Myanmar

Useful Addresses

www.myanmar.com

http.travel.state.gov

Ministry of Information.

3651367 Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Yangon (Rangoon).

Tel: (95 1) 294812,294645.Fax: (95 1) 287916.

Myanmar Investment Commission

653/691 Merchant Street, Yangon (Rangoon).

Tel: (95 1) 272009,272855.

Fax: (95 1) 282 10 1.

Export/Import Registration Office

Ministry of Trade

226/240 Strand Road, Pabedan, Yangon (Rangoon).

Tel: (95 1) 284299,289352.


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Cambodia

People and Place

The smallest country in South East Asia, located to the south and

west of Thailand, Cambodia has a similarly attractive topography

but a short coastline. Cambodia is virtually landlocked between Thai-

land, Vietnam and Laos.The northern areas of Cambodia catch the tail-end of

monsoons from Vietnam and China. In the South - particularly

the coastline overlooking the Gulf of Thailand - the climate is

less extreme. It is near perfect year round and suited to tour-

ism. Temperature ranges from 26C. to 35C. However, it can

get a bit cold at night.Similar in appearance to Thai people, the Cambodian

race are very beautiful.

Buddhism has long been the philosophy of the Cambodian

people and remains so. Albeit, somewhat diluted due to years of

despotic rule when attempts were made to wipe out all religions.

Year Zero, Pol Pot ominously called his reign of terror.

For decades, Cambodia suffered under the brutal Pol Potregime and a particularly virulent form of communistic-type rule.

Fortunately, peace and reconciliation is occurring and democracy of

a sort has now been established. However, the effects of decades of

internecine conflict, the legacy of the killing fields and minefields which

still kill people on a daily basis and likely to do so for decades to

come, has injured the psyche of the people. Add poverty due todogmatic, inhuman policies brutally enforced in the past, and the

nation has been psychologically and economically damaged.

War devastated the population, which now numbers just 11

million inhabitants. Half are under the age of 15 and the average age

of the whole population is just 17.4 years. As a result, the people


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387

READ OTHER HARD HITTING, GRAPHIC,

CONTROVERSIAL REALITY NOVELS

FROM

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White Slavery -

For King & Country

From Other Worlds

Cybernaut

Siam Streetfighter

COMING SOONSleepless in Bangkok 2 -

Return to the Triangle

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