Heritage

Ninety years ago, trams were a popular mode of transport in Myanmar's former capital.

Check out Shwedagon Pagoda, Scott Market, and Strand Hotel back in 1935.

Yangonites go about their daily business, with Shwedagon pagoda in the background. (Peter Ward)

An Australian documented his tour of Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan back when Burma had an even more potent allure for adventurous travellers.

The king of Burma's nephew Chan Toon was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1888. (Thamine blog)

While there were only a few young Burmese men studying in Britain in the 19th century, by 1910 there were almost 100.

   Major General Orde Wingate after his return from the first ‘Chindit’ expedition into Burma. (Imperial War Museum)

The onion-eating soldier’s exploits were the scourge of Japanese forces in the Burma theatre of World War Two, prompting Winston Churchill to describe him as a “man of genius.”

Father Alfredo Cremonesi (1902-1953). (Vatican News)

Gunned down in the mountains of Karen state more than 65 years ago, Alfredo Cremonesi is now on the path to sainthood.

The Olympian (right) in action. (Kyar “Tiger” Ba Nyein / Facebook)

Like any martial art, the bare-knuckled sport of lethwei has its heroes. One of them is Kyar “Tiger” Ba Nyein, an Olympian who helped introduce Muhammad Ali to Burma.

 

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