Dear All,
I just came across this web page that looks like it comes from the
'official' Myanmar Travel web site at http://myanmartravelinformation.com/mti-bagan/ananda.htm
Here are two quotes from the page:
Structure
The structure of Ananda temple is that of a simple corridor temple.
The central square measures 53 metres along each side while the
superstructure rises in terraces to a decorative cliff 51 metres above
the ground.
…
Facing outward from the centre of the cube, four 9.5-metre standing
Buddhas represent the four Buddhas who have attained nibbana (nirvana).
Note that there are no conversions to any of the old pre-metric
measures.
I don't think that this is the official government position on the
metric system, but it sure looks like the way they behave when they
are trying to attract tourists.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
P.S. As a reminder, here is the text of a previous posting to the USMA
mail list when the nation of Myanmar (Burma) was flooded in the
aftermath of a cyclone and nothing was being done to aid the homeless
and starving because the government wanted to hold a constitutional
referendum:
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Naughtin
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Monday, 19 May 2008 01:45
Subject: [USMA:40932] Metrication and numerology in Burma
Dear All,
I heard a broadcast on overnight radio about the current dictator in
Burma, Than Shwe, and his leaning toward numerology and astrology.
Apparently Than Shwe cannot defer the constitutional referendum
because the astrological signs favour a positive result for his junta
— so any assistance to cyclone victims has to wait until after the
referendum!
In a story with the headline, US delivers aid to Burma' 'The Sun' in
the UK reported it like this: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1150321.ece
) Here is an extract:
It was revealed last night that the Burmese tyrant blocking aid to his
cyclone-devastated people is being advised by ASTROLOGERS.
General Than Shwe consults a star-gazing weirdo called E Thi — dubbed
"ET" — and a Buddhist nun.
When I tried to investigate this further this morning I found this
reference: http://www.burmalibrary.org/TinKyi/archives/2002-12/msg00025.html
where they refer to Than Shwe's predecessor, Ne Win, when they write:
The hermit-minded leader dreamed up eccentric economic policies based
on his superstitious belief in numerology.
In 1987, he canceled the Burmese kyat currency and introduced new
notes in denominations based on his personal lucky numbers ? 15, 45
and 90. Many people were bankrupted overnight when the previous
currency was declared invalid.
People were suddenly given new 90-kyat notes, and told they could only
make change with new 45-kyat and 15-kyat bills.
"He was said to have bathed in dolphins' blood to regain his youth,
and his dedication to numerology was legendary," the BBC reported.
I don't suppose that the Burmese government will be giving the
adoption of the metric system of units a high priority anytime soon.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has
helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the
modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they
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