One Of the Culture Stage Of Myanmar !

About Myanmar's Puppet

In old days, Myanmar artists made Myanmar style figures with movable limbs i.e. arms, legs, head etc. and tried to move these moving parts by playing/controlling strings connected to these movable parts so as the actions look like as human being. At that time, the people who played the puppet show made puppets themselves. When they carved the boy parts, the body part of male and female is carved as it is in the real appearance. The puppets were well dressed as the people were used to wear.

The wood used for typical puppets was different depending on the characters / figures. Clog wood (Ya Ma Nay) for human characters including horse and Nat, Millingtonia Hortensis wood (Aye Ka Yit) for king, hermit and ministers, Anthocephalus Cadamba (Ma U) or Albiziz Stipulata (Pan Mair Sar) for other characters.

In 1821, Bombax Malabaricum wood (Let Pan) or Garcinia Elliptica wood (Tha Nat) was used instead of Millingtonia Hortensis wood (Aye Ka Yit), Anthocephalus Cadamba wood (Ma U) or Albiziz Stipulata (Pan Mair Sar).

Basic characters were primarily counted as 18 characters in a band. These are shown in below:

Mythological
1. Demon/Ogre (Belu)

2. Alchemist (ZawGyi)

3. Dragon (Naga)

4. Garuda (Galon)
5. Brama (Byarmar)

Animal
6. Horse (Myin)

7. White elephant (Sin Phyu)

8. Black elephant (Sin Net)
9. Monkey (Myauk)

10. Tiger (Kyar)

11. Parrot (Kyet To Yway)

Human
12. Spirit Medium (Nat Ka Daw)

13. Prince (Min Thar)

14. Princess (Min Tha Mee)
15. King (Bu Rin)

16. Minister (Wun)

17. Brahmin astrologer / Villain (Ponna)
18. Hermit (Rathay)

In 1776 AD, the number of characters in a band increased to 28 characters. The changes were:

Demon/Ogre
(demon lived in the forest and royal demon) 2

Sprit (Nat) instead of Garuda (Galon) 1

Adding of

• Old Lady (Ah may O) 1

• Comedian (Lu shwin taw) 2

• Female Dancer (Ah pyo taw) 1

• Senior Prince (Min thar Gyi) 2

• Minister (Wun) 4

As artists were performing plays the number of characters / figures were not enough to meet the characters required for play, the characters increased to 36 and 42 respectively.

To be able to move puppets in various actions, total of seventeen strings were attached to the parts of a typical puppet and the other ends of some strings are tied at a wooden handle and some are looped. The presenter has to use both hands to play puppets by holding wooden handle and by pulling respective strings.

• Right head string
• Left head string
• Nape string
• Right shoulder string
• Left shoulder string
• Right elbow string
• Left elbow string
• Right hand string
• Left hand string
• Right side of waist string
• Left side of waist string
• Right knee string
• Left knee string
• Right heel string
• Left heel string
• Right foot string
• Left foot string

Myanmar puppets are available in two classes i.e. puppets for decoration, it has lesser strings and playable puppets ( for puppet show ). The sizes of the puppets for decoration are ranged from 25 cm to 82 cm in height. But, the size of the puppet for puppet show is normally in the height of about 55 cm so as the presenter can handle comfortably. However, larger sizes are also available.

Cultural Heritage Land of Myanmar !!

Ancient City ( Bagan)

Bagan is one of those truly marvelous places which demand superlatives and yet remains almost impossible to describe in a satisfactory manner. It may not have been listed as one of the classical marvels of antiquity- after all, it wasn't built until around half a millennium after the fall of the Roman Empire- but today it must certainly runk as the most amazing sight in Burma and a genuine wonder of the world.
The remains of Buddhist Bagan stretch across almost 40sq Km ( 15 sq miles ) of the flat, dry east bank of the Ayeyarwady River. All that remains of this once mighty capital of the first Burmar Kingdom ( 11th- 14th Century AD ) are the religious structures which were made of brick, sandstone and stucco. Secular building, whether the palaces of the rulers or the simple dwellings of ordinary folk, have long since disappeared, being made of easily degradable wood, bamboo and thatch. It requires some efforts, then, to imagine the extent and richness of Bagan in its prime. Even today, after conquest by the Mongols and subsequent centuries of abandonment to the whims of harsh climate and earthquakes, Bagan is an impressive sight indeed.
Fortunately we have a description of Bagan in the late 13th Century, just before Bagan succumbed to its Mongol conquerors. The grate Venetian Traveller Marco Polo visited and penned the following evocative description: " The towers are built of fine stone, and one has been covered with gold a finger thick, so that the tower appears to be of solid gold. Another is covered with silver in a similar manner and appears to be made of solid silver. The King of Burma caused these towers to be built as a monument to his magnificence and for the benefit of his soul. They make one of the finest sight in the world, being exquisitely finished, splendid and costly. When illuminated by the sun they are especially brilliant and can be seen from a great distance.''
Today the gold and silver have long since disappeared, but much of the glory that was Bagan still remains, and that which survives is more than enough to make the passing traveller step and wonder. Its no good rushing here, and the visitor should plan to spend at least three days taking in the sights. In a single day, however, it is possible to visit several of the most important temples before relaxing over a cool drink by the Bank of Ayeyarwady River to watch the sun, usually a ball of fiery, dust-clad red, descend behind the Chin Hills to the West !

Eco Tourism In Myanmar !!

Eco Tourism & Birding Sites of Myanmar !

Myanmar is unique in the world in its biodiversity. It offers outstanding nature, wildlife and birds watching / birding opportunities in its ecotourism, birds watching / birding sites. It is the second largest country in South East Asia, 676,577 sq km and lies on the boundaries of continental South East Asia, Indian Subcontinent and Tibetan plateu. This location marks a rich biodiversity with varied ecosystem, including lowland and montance forests and and various wetland habitats including coastal and riverine wetland.
Himalayan species are found in the mountains in the north and west, and tropical Malayan species inhabit the south of Myanmar (Burma) ecotourism, birds watching / birding site. In fact new species of animals are still being discovered in Myanmar (Burma) ecotourism, birds watching / birding sites. A recent example is the Naung Mung Scimitar Babbler Jabouilleia naungmungensis a species of Babbler that was discovered in northern Myanmar during February of 2004. It is also widely believed by ornithologists that, if the critically endangered Pink-headed Duck still survive, it could be found in North of Myanmar (Burma) ecotourism, birds watching / birding site. And, also wintering Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus was rediscovered in January 2008, after a gap of almost 131 years, wintering Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer was in 2006, after a gap of almost 129 years and Gurney's Pitta Pitta gurneyi was rediscovered in 2003, after a gap of almost 90 years.
Myanmar (Burma) ecotourism, birds watching / birding site have 1,067 bird species, five of which are endemic bird to Myanmar; 114 bird species are globally threatened and near-threatened. About 300 species of Mammal, 92 species of bats of which some species inhabit in natural cave, which include the world's smallest mammal (Craseonycteris thonglongyi), 32 species of turtles, 6 of which are endemic, 5 species of crocodile, over 1,169 butterfly species and over 11,000 species of flora, are in Myanmar (Burma) ecotourism, birds watching / birding site.
Please Visit to > www.sstmyanmar.com

About Us !!

SST's Mission

Supreme Services Team ( SST ) is to participate in mother country's development doing business in sustainable nature for future generation.

Individual and small group tour specialist.

While we were working for Ngapali Beach Resort project under S.S.T (Myanmar) Co., Ltd. in 1996, we had got the advice from a friend to extend tourism in connection with.

S.S.T Tourism Company Limited was established in 1997. As soon as the license was approved in January 1998, we started the tour operation . Very first package tour was Natmataung (Mt.Victoria) expedition. Then to promote domestic tourism. We operated the domestic tours to famous destinations starting in 1999. Nowadays, introducing nature destinations than normal pilgrimage sites.

Closely working with nature and wildlife conservation division at Myanmar forest department, scientists, and researchers, we emphasize on Ecotourism development.

S.S.T's participation in Myanmar Ecotourism development paper was submitted for panel discussion in Southeast Asian Regional meeting for International Year of Ecotourism, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Myanmar Perspective exhibition at the Asian Cultures Museum & Educational Center was held from April to August in participation with SST Tourism.

SST actively involved in Community Based Ecotourism(CBET) cooperation with Naga Cultural Committee.

For your widely view, kindly to www.sstmyanmar.com.