Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a hugely popular figure in Myanmar, together with her father, the Bogyote Aung San - Burma's independence fighter.  I was quite expecting to see Yangon awash in her portraits, but did not.  Still. the locals visibly brightened up when we declared that we had visited Myanmar because Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had been released from house arrest (which was totally true).

At the Nyuang Oo market, photographs of different sizes depicting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Bogyote Aung San were placed in prominant places in many shops, much akin to religious symbols in other countries. It was quite evident that the common people had a very high regard for them.

The photo of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was taken in a lacquar shop.  I was looking forward to buying T-Shirts depicting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, but perhaps the shop keepers weren't expecting many tourists in the hot summer months, for I did not see many T-Shirts with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  Shopkeepers were more intent on showing off their Longyis, which, while they were beautiful, were quite fremd to me.