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Myanmar - Places
MRAUK-U AND ITS HISTORY, PALACES AND PAGODAS
MRAUK-U
MRAUK-U (80 kilometers or five hours by boat from Sittway) was the capital of the Arakanese kingdom between the 15th to the 18th century, and boasts more 1,500 ancient pagodas. It is where the Rakhine kings built their palaces and ruled over their people. Located on the banks of the Shwenatpyin Tributary of the Kaladan River, Mrauk-U was established by King Min Saw Mun in 1530 and today it is known for Hindu-influenced temples and murals.
Worth checking out are the ruins of the ancient palaces walls; the stupa of Andawthein Phato (with unique stone carvings and floral designs); Htokekanthein Pahto (built from rock by King Phalaungmin and known for its interesting stone sculptures); Saka-man-aung (a tall attenuated stupa) and Yadanabon Zedi Pagoda. Inside the Theindawgyi Pagoda are paintings and statues of courtiers and dancers with elaborate clothes and hairstyles. Inside the old palaces wall is an archeological museum. The main sights are Shittthaung Pagodas, Ananda Sandra Pillar, Andaw Thein temple, Yadanarpon temple, Dukkanthein or Htoke Kan Thein, Koe Thaung Pagodas, Pitakataik (or) the Library, Five Victory Pagodas, and the Palace Site.
Myauk-U Archaeological Area and Monuments were nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 According to a report submitted to UNESCO: Capital city of the first Arakanese Kingdom, the site measures 7 by 6 kilometers and contains some 200 Buddhist monuments (temples, stupas, monasteries, etc.) mostly built in the 15th and 16th centuries AD. Located at the junction of the deltaic plain and the Arakanese mountains, the site is an exceptional example of the cleaver use of natural features (hill ranges, waterways, marshes) for fortification. A network of rivers provides easy access to the sea. The religious monuments in various states of conservation and maintenance, have no equivalent in the region. the monuments, particularly several fortified temples, are mostly built in well dressed stone, including skillful vaulting over geometrically complex spaces. Impressive decoration includes outstanding examples of stone carving and sculpture. The Myauk-u kingdom had an important rôle in the history of trade and warfare in the Bay of Bengal, and was the seat of intense cultural and religious interaction between Buddhism and Islam through the Bengali sultanates, between Buddhism and Christianity through the Portuguese. [Source: Department of Archaeology of Myanmar]
History of Mrauk U
Julian Hattem wrote in The Guardian: "When time began there lived a lonely monkey who met a peacock, who laid an egg from which was born a mighty prince who built a city on the spot of his birth and called it "monkey egg". Whatever the myths around its creation, by the 15th century, Mrauk U (Monkey Egg) was the capital of a powerful kingdom and one of the richest cities in Asia. [Source: Julian Hattem,, The Guardian, June 11, 2017]
"Up to the 18th century, it was a vital trading port for rice, ivory, elephants, tree sap and deer hide, cotton, slaves, horses, spices and textiles from India, Persia and Arabia. In the centuries since, it crumbled into a backwater town in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state. But the city where Christians, Muslims and Buddhists once lived in harmony can still be glimpsed in its hundreds of ruined temples, fortifications and storehouses – mostly ignored for more than 100 years.
"From the 15th to 18th centuries, Mrauk U was called "the golden city" by European travellers from the Netherlands and Portugal. Samurai from Japan stood as guards for the king. Many of the larger temples from that golden age remain intact. The Shitthaung temple is said to hold 80,000 stone statues of the Buddha. The nearby Koe Thaung temple is even larger, with 90,000 Buddha images carved into three stories of stone.
Mrauk U and King Narameikhla (ruled 1404-1434)
Mrauk U was a maritime kingdom situated to the west of Lower Myanmar on the Bay of Bengal. King Narameikhla (ruled 1404-1434), or Min Saw Mon, established Mrauk U as the capital of the last unified Arakanese Kingdom in 1430, after 24 years of exile in Bengal. He regained control of Arakan with military assistance from the Sultanate of Bengal. The Bengalis who came with him formed their own settlements in the region. [Source: Wikipedia +]
Narameikhla ceded some territory to the Sultan of Bengal and recognized his sovereignty over the areas. In recognition of his kingdom's vassal status, the kings of Arakan received Islamic titles, despite being Buddhists, and legalized the use of Islamic coins from Bengal within the kingdom. Narameikhla minted his own coins with Burmese characters on one side and Persian characters on the other. Arakan remained subordinate to Bengal up until 1531.
Even after gaining independence from the Sultans of Bengal, the Arakanese kings continued the custom of maintaining Muslim titles. The kings compared themselves to Sultans and fashioned themselves after Mughal rulers, despite remaining Buddhist. They also continued to employ Muslims in prestigious positions within the royal administration.
King Narameikhla (reigned 1404-34) was the founder and first king of the Mrohaung dynasty in Arakan and the son of the son of King Rajathu (reigned 1397-1401). When Arakan became the scene of fighting between rival powers in the 15th century, Narameikhla was forced in the first year of his reign to flee to Bengal, where he became a vassal to King Ahmad Shah of Gaur. With the aid of Ahmad Shah's successor he regained control of Arakan in 1430. In 1433 he built at a new capital at Mrauk U, which remained the capital of Arakan until the 18th century. As a nominal vassal of the Muslim kings of Gaur, Narameikhla employed Muslim titles in his coins and inscriptions, though he and his subjects were Buddhists. He was succeeded by his son, Ali Khan (reigned 1434-59), who had adopted a Muslim name. [Source: Myanmar Travel Information]
Mrauk U: a Great Trading City
Eventually reaching a size of 160,000 in the early 17th century, Mrauk U served as the capital of the Mrauk U kingdom and its 49 kings until the conquest of the kingdom by the Burmese Konbaung Dynasty in 1784. Due to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal, Mrauk U developed into an important regional trade hub, acting as both a back door to the Burmese hinterland and also as an important port along the eastern shore of the Bay of Bengal. It became a transit point for goods such as rice, ivory, elephants, tree sap and deer hide from Ava in Burma, and of cotton, slaves, horses, cowrie, spices and textiles from Bengal, India, Persia and Arabia. Alongside Pegu and later Syriam, it was one of the most important ports in Burma until the 18th century.[citation needed]
The city also traded with non-Asian powers such as Portugal and then the VOC of the Netherlands. The VOC established trading relations with the Arakanese in 1608 after the Portuguese fell in favour due to the lack of loyalty of Portuguese mercenaries, such as Filipe de Brito e Nicote in the service of the Arakanese king. The VOC established a permanent factory in Mrauk U in 1635, and operated in Arakan until 1665. Much of Mrauk U's historical description is drawn from the writings of Friar Sebastian Manrique, a Portuguese Augustinian monk who resided in Mrauk U from 1630 to 1635.
At its zenith, Mrauk U was the center of a kingdom which stretched from the shores of the Ganges river to the western reaches of the Ayeyarwaddy River. According to popular Arakanese legend, there were 12 'cities of the Ganges' which constitute areas around the borders of present-day Bangladesh which were governed by Mrauk U, including areas in the Chittagong Division. During that period, its kings minted coins inscribed in Arakanese, Kufic and Bengali. The inclusion of Kufic and Bengali were not that the Mrauk U kings had embraced Islam, but in order to gain legitimacy over the mainly Islamic Bengalis who were subjects.
Archaeology and Conservation at Mrauk U
Julian Hattem wrote in The Guardian: "Archaeologists are racing to survey and protect those sites, hoping to secure a spot for Mrauk U on Unesco's world heritage list, following in the footsteps of Cambodia's Angkor Wat and the pyramids of Egypt [Source: Julian Hattem,, The Guardian, June 11, 2017].
"Backed by the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan – who said Mrauk U is "arguably the greatest physical manifestation of Rakhine's rich history and culture" – an international commission released an interim report this year urging Myanmar to nominate the city for world heritage status and since then enthusiasm has grown exponentially. The process will take some years but, along the way, the government is hoping to transform Mrauk U from a forgotten ghost town into a global tourist attraction that draws hundreds of thousands each of visitors a year.
"A team led by U Nyein Lwin, director of the National Museum at Mrauk U, is trying to turn that into a reality. But the undertaking is enormously complex. "We need a lot of help," he said. "Time is very short." "He and his team need to do rigorous analysis of Mrauk U's current population and forecast its growth, so that future developments such as new irrigation lines do not interfere with the ruins. Financial assistance has been pledged by Italy, Australia and China, but more outside support is needed, he says. "U Nyein Lwin and his team are in the midst of creating a registry of all of the ruins that remain in Mrauk U. When finished, they may chart as many as 3,000. But the town is a long way from seeing tourists wandering its streets.
The restoration work of the Myanmar Department of Archaeology at Mrauk-U has be called questionable. According to the Myanmar Times in January 2016, the Mrauk-U Heritage Trust has raised the alarm over the rebuilding of historic pagodas without regard for the original design, abandoning any pretence of historical authenticity. This follows on the heels of the reported destruction of part of the heritage zone some years ago for the construction of a railway.
Tourism at Mrauk U
Julian Hattem wrote in The Guardian: "To reach the complex, a traveller needs to take an hour-long flight from Yangon, 750 kilometers away, and then spend several hours snaking up the Kaladan river. Only about 4,000 foreign tourists a year make the journey. The temples at Bagan attract 70 times as many. The temples of Angkor Wat, in Cambodia, receive more than two million visitors annually. An airport being built outside Mrauk U will make it more accessible. But it could take years to complete.Tourism was on the rise in 2010 and 2011, tour guides say. But it dropped off in 2012, when ethnic violence rocked the region. Some aspects of Mrauk U's history remain captive to modern-day ethnic conflict. [Source: Julian Hattem,, The Guardian, June 11, 2017]
Mrauk U, now a backwater, was a vital trading port until the 18th century and the capital of a powerful kingdom, one of Asia's richest cities. "A grand mosque of the 15th century, known as the Santikan mosque, once stood to the north-east of town, in an area now dominated by rice paddies, but many local people have never heard of it and all that remains above ground is a small hill, scattered with stones that may once have been bricks, interspersed with cow dung in the hot sun.
"And just maybe, as Annan stated, the efforts will help to solve a brutal ethnic conflict that has divided Rakhine state between nationalist Buddhists and the Rohingya, a group of ethnic Muslims stuck in a refugee limbo in the state. Rights groups claim the Rohingya are the target of an ethnic cleansing campaign that has lasted for years. In recent months, Burmese soldiers have been accused of raping and killing civilians indiscriminately."If such a status was granted, this could eventually serve to boost tourism to Rakhine, and thus help strengthen the state's economy," the commission said.
"Local people hope that Mrauk U will become internationally renowned, drawing in much-needed cash to one of the poorest states in Myanmar. A stronger economy, in turn, may tamp down the simmering tensions some Buddhists feel towards the Rohingya, and remind them of a cosmopolitan history where Buddhists, Muslims and Christians lived in peace. "What's important for the international community to know is that Mrauk U is immensely important to the Rakhine from a cultural and historic point of view," said Christopher Carter, the UN's senior adviser for Rakhine state. "Kofi Annan's recommendation of Mrauk U as a candidate for world heritage status was greeted very warmly by even the hardest-line nationalists.""
Shitthaung Stupa
Shitthaung Stupa (Mrauk-U) is the most famous building at Mrauk-U. A fortress-like religious structure built by the Rakhine king Minpargyi is 1535, it purportedly contains 80,000 Buddhist hair and tooth relics. The shape of the stupa is different from other stupas found in Myanmar: enclosed on three sides by wall, the stupa includes a maze-like structure containing numerous Buddha images, of different shapes and sizes.
The design of the stupa is influenced by Hindu architecture. Enshrined in the stupa is a three-foot-high gold Buddha surrounded by 108 smaller gold images, 108 silver images, 108 images made from nine kinds of gem, 12 gold statues depicting 12 Rakhine kings, and 80,000 Buddha figures carved in the walls. Traditional Rakhime boat races are held at the annual Skithaung Stupa Pagoda Festival. Shitthuang is sometimes written as Skithaung. In ancient times the stupa was called Minbargyi.
Shitthaung or "Temple of the 80,000 Buddhas" located about half a mile to the north of the palace site and was built by one of the most powerful kings of the Mrauk U Dynasty. According to records on inscriptions as King Minbin who reigned from 1513 to 1553. The king built this fortress-temple after repulsing a Portuguese attack on the City of Mrauk U. The skill and art displayed in its construction and ornamentation are remarkable. The curious maze-like layout of this pagoda induce some foreigners remark that Shitthaung Pagoda was built alike a fortress. The real purpose of the pagoda was for prayer, rituals of initiation and some royal ceremonies, which were usually held secretly.
The stupa was constructed six feet thick of solid sandstone and like "rock cave tunnel". No mortar was used in the construction and stones were connected with stone brackets. It is believed that 84,000 of the Buddha's relics with the same number of the Lord's images are enshrined in it. People who entered the tunnels of the temple felt that they were actually inside an endless tunnel. The pagodas had been built by one thousand architects and workmen for a year. The central pagoda is160 feet long, 124 feet wide and 86 feet high. On the north and south walls, at regular intervals, are circular, turret-like pagodas. There is one big one and 14 smaller ones on the north and a bigger one and seventeen smaller ones on the south. Along the other two inner galleries are hundreds of Buddha images of various sizes.
Shittaung Pillar (on the northern entrance of the Shittaung Pagoda) is well-known and is believed to have been brought from the ancient Indian-Buddhist city Vesali to Mrauk U. It was placed in the pagoda by King Minbin in 1535 A.D. The pillar was destroyed during the World War II. Later it was renovated. The original pillar stood 10 feet high and each side is 2 feet 4 inches wide in surface. Three faces have Sanskrit Inscriptions and the other one was badly damaged. The pillar was made from red sandstone and decorated with double lotus petal motif at all the eight corners. The ancient petal pattern designs of the Mrauk U period can be seen on this pillar.
Royal Palace of Mrauk U
Royal Palace of Mrauk U was surrounded by three wall encirclements and this is mostly what you see today. When Mong Saw Mon started buildings the palace, underground canals were first dug, then stone walls were erected and finally the three hills were leveled down. Some of the canals that carried off the water to the Thinghanadi creek to the south of the palace can still be found.
Before visiting any other place in Mrauk U priority should be given to the ruins of the inner palace city where the Royal palace once stood magnificently. The area of the whole palace was 1.2 square miles and the walls were originally made of brick. King Mong Ba Gree reinforced the palace walls with a new structure of stone in 1531. The height of the walls today averages 12 feet and thickness runs about 7 feet. Three sites of the palace are guarded with moats. The moats in the east and west were man-made, whereas the southern one is natural Thinghanadi Creek. The Royal flotilla used to be manned in this very creek. The northern side had buildings for the Queens and also includes the strategically important Haridaung Hill.
The inner enclosure of the palace had all the important structures. From here all the 48 Kings of the Mrauk U Dynasty reigned with pomp and grandeur. The Golden Palace had roofs with five tiers supported on tall, thick pillars, gilded with gold on a coat of vermillion. The roof was plated with glistening sheets to copper that would reflect the crimson rays of the sun in the early morning, transforming the palace into a fairytale palace awash in gold.
The King's Palace was essentially a complex of many separate buildings. The King and his attendants stayed in the palace proper whereas the queens, princes and princesses were assigned separate buildings within the palace city. To the west of the Royal family's quarters there were the quarters for the Duty Officer and from there proceeding to the south was the quarter of the Port Officer.
The Thinghanadi creek running across the city offered easy communication with the Lemro river in the east. Agricultural products and handicrafts from the Lemro made their way along the river into the five central markets of Mrauk U. Lying side by side with Anuma Lakey south-west of Zina Banaung Pagada is the Laksaykan Lake. This scenic lake is about 100 acres wide and its embankment connecting the two hill ranges has two 12 feet high gates. The western gate. know as Laksaykan gate is 24 feet long. 17 feet high and 8 feet wide. In case of an enemy raid from the south of the palace. This gate was to flood the lower plains in the north to defer the enemy.
Pitakataik
Pitakataik (close to Htupayon Pagoda and south of Shinkite wall) was a library built by King Min Phalaung. It was square in plan with an entrance passage to the east like others pagoda in Mrauk U. Built entirely with stone, the outer walls are decorated with ornate floral and geometric design. It is said that there were 33 Pitakataiks built in Mrauk U. The little library or Pitakataik. The Repository for the Buddhist scriptures was built in 1591 also by king Min Phalaung.
The Pitakataik measures only 14 feet from east to west, 10 feet from north to south and is only 9 feet in height. Built entirely of stone there are lovely designs on the outer walls making it look like a tiny jeweled casket shaped like a blooming lotus. There were 48 libraries in Mrauk U but only this is the one that has been preserved, though it is sometimes obscured by thickets of bushes and partly covered by moss and weeds which flourish in the 200 inches of annual rainfall in the region. This library is reputed to have housed 30 sets of the Buddhist Tipitaka which King Narapatigyi (1638-1645) received from Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately it acquired an unpleasant appellation due to its dark windowless interior. The library is also known as Khraung Kaik Library from name of the city wall which is close to the the library. If you have difficulty in finding this library ask for the Htupayon Pagoda as it is just north of this pagoda.
Mrauk U Museum
Mrauk U Museum (near the palace site) displays some old artifacts of the Vesali, Launggret and Mrauk U periods. The bronze Buddha icons of Rakhine are exquisite in design. Various inscribed stone inscriptions in Sanskrit, Rakhine and Arabic are also displayed. Votive tablets, images of Krishna, Vishnu and Bodhisattvas, dvarapala, stone htis (stone umbrella of pagodas), lintels coins, musical instruments and ceramic-wares are also on display.
Highlights include a 15th century stone Wunti God Image, a part of 8th century stone pillars from Stupas in the Watha Li period; pieces of a stone 15th century Vishnu image, Wetha Li coins from 4th to 8th century, and stone-sculptures from the Mrauk U period. Household appliances in Mrauk U period include a 15th century from Mrauk U period and the glazed floor tiles. You can also find stone-sculptures such as God of Earth and the Goddess Wathoundarei and Wathoundara. There is a replica of Ananda Sandra stone inscription carved in Danyawaddy alphabets from the 8th century. The inscription tells us about Watha Li King Ananda Sandra and his ancestors with 65 verses. Stone inscription of Purain Ah Song-Taung (1430), Wara-Dhamma-Yar-Zar (1618) and An-Taw-Thein (1596) are also there to be studied.
Pagodas in Mrauk-U
Dukkanthein also called as Htukanthein or Htoekanthein. stands on a hill which is about 30 feet in height. Built under King Minphalaung in 1571, this pagoda has a flat surface and sort of resembles a drum. Like most of the ancient monuments in Mrauk U, Dukkanthein was built with sandstones and layers of bricks over the roof. The measurement of the temple is 190 feet from north to south and 200 feet from east to west. It has stone stairways about 8 inches broad in the east and south sides. These stairways measuring 106 feet are built of massive stonewall on the north. east and south. The west one which is slightly convex is connected to an oblong chamber.
The pagoda entrance on the east side, closer to the south-east corner, leads to a long vaulted passage which spirals up in two tiers till it reaches the central chamber. The superstructure—a bell-shaped dome on receding terraces—is similar to the one on Shitthaung, but here a tall square arch is provided on the east side to admit light into the central chamber. The inner chambers and passages of the temple are constructed with well fitting and cemented stones. The pagoda is well-known for the stone sculptures in the vaulted passages. especially the figures of seated ladies, with different hairstyles, offering lotus buds to the Buddha. Traditionally it is said that there are sixty-four kinds of hairstyle and all the figures are of the wives of noblemen. Besides. on both sides of the entire passage, niches of 1½ feet wide, 1 foot deep, and 2 feet high are carved at regular intervals of 20 feet in the wall and each contains a stone image of the Buddha in sitting posture. There are one hundred and forty-six niches along the passage.
Lemyathnar Pagoda (150 feet to the northwest of the Dukkhanthein Pagoda) or "the Four-Faced Pagoda" was built by King Minsawmon, the first king of Mrauk-U Dynasty, in 1430. It is one of the five pagodas built at the beginning of the establishment of the city. It is a square structure. with a long protruding portal towards each cardinal point. The interior room is octagonal. In the center of the latter there is an octahedral column intended to support the circular tower erected over the center of the roof. Over each of the four corners of the terrace a smaller circular stupa was built. Each side of the square of the shrine measures 55 feet; the portals are 13 feet broad and protrude 17 feet into the platform. The central tower is circular and has the shape of a dome. with a circumference of 80 feet at the base and is 70 feet high. There are 28 Buddha images as mentioned in the Sambuddha scripture.
Andaw Pagoda
Andaw Pagoda (86 feet northeast of the Shittaung Pagoda in Mrauk U) means the "Pagoda Enshrining the Tooth-relic of Buddha." Min Hla Raza was the original builder of this pagoda, in 1521. Due to some damage, the King of Mrauk U, Minrazagyi reconstructed parts of in 1596. The central tower of the shrine contains the tooth-relic of Buddha. It was originally obtained from Sri Lanka by King Minbin (1534-1542 A.D.)
The shrine is an octagonal structure made of pure sandstone, with two internal concentric passages. Fifteen small circular pagodas built of bricks stand on the platforms of south, north and west of the shrine. On the east, there is a prayer hall. which has an entrance on the east, north and south sides. A stonewall divides the prayer hall from the outer court. The east facade of the shrine measures 31 feet from north to south and is only 14 feet high from the ground to the roof. On each side of the entrance are three niches which get into the wall—which are 6 feet high, 1.2 feet deep and two feet wide—which contain stone images of Buddha. Passing through the vaulted passage a gallery opens on either side. Each is 3 feet 7 inches wide and 9 feet high.
The gallery runs in an octagonal shape around the central chamber; each of the outer sides of the passage measures 20 feet and each contains a row of four niches with a semicircular arch 2 feet above the ground, and a second row of smaller niches at the height of 7 inches, four to each side, which hold stone images of Buddha. From the inner side of the gallery a vaulted passage leads from north, south, east and west to the inner chamber, which is also octagonal in shape. At the center stands an eight-cornered stone pillar 40 feet in circumference. It supports the roof.
Neither light nor air can penetrate into the shrine except through the front entrance. The roof is about ten feet thick. Over each of the eight corners of the shrine stands a smaller pagoda. At the center. there stands a large pagoda. Andaw Pagoda was wholly constructed with stone blocks. It stands on a small square-shaped hillock. This hillock includes the shrine and pagoda and measures 228 feet from east to west and 145 feet from north to south and is 42 feet in height from ground to top. While Shittaung features three square passages inside the temple. Andaw Thein has two passages around an eight side pillar. which supports the roof.
Sanda Muni Pagoda
Sanda Muni Pagoda is located in Bandoola Monastery of Mrauk U. It is said that Gautama Buddha came to Mrauk U and from that time on people started to believe in Buddhism King Sanda Thuriya reigned over the Rakhine territory when Gautama Buddha came to Mrauk U. The king begged the Buddha for images as a symbol representing the real Buddha. The Buddha made four Muni Buddha images which are: 1) Maha Myat Muni (located at Mandalay); 2) Shwebonthar Muni (located at Pyay); 3) Zalun Pyaydawpyan (located at Zalun); and 4) Maha Muni (located at Sittwe). There was more jewelry and gold left. so he made 5 more images known as 1) Sanda Muni, 2) Kuja Muni, 3) Sakkyar Muni, 4) Deva Muni and 5) Sula Muni. These five images are also known as Maha Kyan Images. The Maha Muni was surrounded by these five images.
When King Saw Mon. he moved to Mrauk U as the capital. He took the Sanda Muni image along with him to Mrauk U. In 1852. lower Myanmar fell under the rulings of the British colony. The British took all the bronze images to melt and turn these into weapons. Since the people wear afraid that the Sanda Muni might be turned into weapons. they covered the image with concrete and left in the Bandoola Monastery. The British thought that this image was made of concrete and left it where it was.
In April 1988, Sayadaw Ashin Sattkapalar was cleaning the floor in front of the image and suddenly an eye dropped down. The monk saw that the inner part was not made of concrete but of bronze metal. A month later the covered concrete of the Image was torn down and the real Sanda Muni Buddha Image was shown to public. The size of the image is 4 feet 10 inches high and 4 feet and 2 inches in width. This Buddha image became more and more popular with the locals.
Koethaung Pagoda
Koethaung Pagoda (400 meters north of the Pisei Hill) means "90,000 Pagoda," which probably signified the number of Buddha images it was supposed to contain. The pagoda stands on a plain and is surrounded by paddy fields. The upper tiers of the pagoda have disappeared. The remaining lowest tier is about 30 feet high including earth foundation. King Mintaikkha who was the son of the King Minbin, built Koethaung Pagoda in 1553 A.D.
This pagoda is the biggest among the pagodas in Mrauk-U. It measures 230 feet from east to west and 250 feet from north to south. The Koethaung Pagoda is very similar to Shitthaung Pagoda. They are of the same type from the historical and archaeological viewpoints. This tradition of donation of religious buildings by royal families came down from the royal ancestors.
The pagoda was constructed of massive stonewalls and terraces. The small one hundred and eight pagodas, all made of sandstone, were built on the terraces. The entrance to the pagoda on the east side leads to a long vaulted passage which spirals round the tiers until it reaches the central chamber. The construction of the Koethaung Pagoda resembles a rock cave tunnel. The main tower above the pagoda is octagonal in shape. It is believed that there may be treasures of sculptures. artworks and even valuable jewels buried underneath the ruins. The platform is scattered here and there with vestiges of pagodas. images and many other such paraphernalia.
Legend says that the pagoda was demolished and hit by a thunderbolt because the King Mintaikkha built the Koethaung Pagoda (ninety thousand images). which exceeded in number to the images of his father, King Minbin's Shitthaung Pagoda (eighty thousand images). In truth, Koethaung was built in six months time on the advice of his astrologers. In building this pagoda workmen used both bricks and stones. Other pagodas were mostly built of pure sandstone, which had to be carried from the Rakhine-coasts. The six-month's time was not long enough to collect the required number of blocks of stone. As a consequence. Koethaung was inferior in quality in materials as well as in workmanship compared to Shitthaung Pagoda.
Text Sources: Myanmar Travel Information, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Lonely Planet Guides, The Irrawaddy, Compton's Encyclopedia, The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, AP, AFP, burmalibrary.org, burmanet.org, Wikipedia, BBC, CNN, and various books and other publications.
Last updated August 2020


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Tribute to American yachts which dominated the international stage from 1851 to 1973
Post by f.allavena
14th Monaco Classic Week – La Belle Classe : Stars and Stripes forever!
For this edition of the biennial Monaco Classic Week, the Yacht Club de Monaco is taking on an American accent, opening the meeting with a rendition of the famous Sousa march, 'Stars & Stripes forever' performed by naval military band, Musique des Equipage de la Flotte.
This is the only classic boat gathering which invites both sailing and motor boats, with some 130 registered. They include 74 classic and Metric Class sailing yachts, as well as 30 motorboats, represented by those symbols of the Mediterranean, the Rivas, and for the USA a fleet of the Chris Craft icons of American lakes.
It will be the first time that Atlantic 2010 (replica of the 1903 three-mast schooner on which Charlie Barr in 1905 set the best time for an Atlantic crossing) will be in the Principality. Another icon, SS Delphine (1921), the 79m steam-boat built for the wife of automobile magnate Horace E. Dodge, makes a welcome return. It was aboard this beauty that three world leaders, Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill, negotiated at least part of the 1945 Yalta Agreement.
'BORN IN THE USA'
In Port Hercule, on the quays and in the Clubhouse, the YCM celebrates American yachting, those East Coast heroes on New York Yacht Club territory whose members helped write this incredible chapter in yachting history. Through their creations, we will find its designers, the likes of Starling Burgess, Nat. Herreshoff and John G. Alden, not to mention their prolific prestigious successors, Olin Stephens and his accomplice Roderick Sparkman, and Dick Carter whose clients had names like Vanderbilt, Rockfeller, Pierpont Morgan, Gorbes and John Kennedy.
More than a past-time, yachting combines creativity, industry and high-level competition, but also economic rivalry. What more effective and subtle way to conquer the American market, better than with tea or a disposable pen, thought the yet to be ennobled Thomas Lipton and then nearly a century later ballpoint producer Marcel Bich.
It was with American gigantism that the Yankees developed yachting to its highest level to beat the English on their own turf in Cowes, in front of Queen Victoria one day in June 1851. The vanquished wanted revenge, the winners agreed to host them on their waters, and the challenge was named after the victorious 1851 schooner, America, the replica of which will be moored in the YCM Marina.
Initially inspired by the big Maine fishing schooners, these designers were quick to innovate when faced with an onslaught of beautiful British yachts designed by Watson, Fife, Mylne and co. At the same time that NYYC members were building ever larger one-design classes, up to 70-foot for racing amongst themselves, others less wealthy but just as passionate were going for the Atlantic record in the Fastnet race to hear their anthem on the podium. And they were building them solid. The 20-plus out of 70 sailing boats that will be here at Monaco Classic Week will show they had lost none of their flair: Oriole (NY 30, 1905), Chips (P-Class, 1013), Rabbit, real time all classes combined winner of the 1965 Fastnet, and many others.
NEW FOR THIS EDITION :
This year, Metric Classes built after the 1906 International Rating (IR) was introduced have been invited to Monaco: 6M, 8M, 12M, and of course the 15M which includes the YCM's emblematic Tuiga, celebrating her 110th anniversary this year. It is an opportunity to see some great racing, particularly in the popular 6M and 8M classes. The 12M class will be represented by La Spina, a masterpiece of Italian design, and French Kiss, just out of the yard after some restoration work. It was the latter which, in 1987 skippered by Marc Pajot, pulled off the best result to date for a French boat in the America's Cup by reaching the Challengers' semi-finals in Perth.
The International Schooner Association has chosen Monaco, after Capri, for the second stage of its all-new Schooner Cup Series. A dozen schooners, including Invader (1905), Puritan (1930) and Elena of London 2009 (1910 replica) will recreate the atmosphere on the quays of yesteryear, when they came to spend the winter in Monaco or watch the Powerboat Meetings in the spring at the turn of the last century.
Among newcomers of Monaco Classic Week: Atlantic (66m), the famous New York Yacht Club schooner which in 1905 set the record for an Atlantic crossing of 12 days 4 hours 1 minute 19 seconds. Rebuilt at the instigation of Ed Kastelein, an expert in recreating famous sailing yachts, Atlantic is an identical replica of the three-mast schooner Charlie Barr commissioned for the Kaiser's Cup in May 1905. It was not until 1st August 1980 that a certain Eric Tabarly improved on that time on this 2,925 mile course.
Amidst this prestigious fleet will be 20 entrants from the charming 12' Dinghy class, with their immaculately varnished hulls and colourful sails, flitting across the water like butterflies.
A reminder that quays are open to the public who are free to stroll around the Monaco Classic Week Village of around 20 exhibitors all linked to classic yachts: boatyards, craftsmen, marine painters, sculptors and photographers, with an overall American theme for the decor.
In front of the YCM's Clubhouse, a one-off G.L. Watson and the America's Cup exhibition will delight classic yacht fans who for the first time on this side of the Atlantic can find out more about those early boats, which competed in the America's Cup and established USA supremacy. Set up on Quai Louis II it features unpublished photos from the George Lennox Watson archive, the unlucky Scottish designer behind four British Challengers including a Shamrock for Sir Thomas Lipton. A pioneer of industrial espionage, for each edition of the Cup he obtained photographs of the American boats either in action or in the yard to study them. This unique and historically significant collection has been made available to the yacht Club by G. L. Watson & Co in Liverpool.
Spectacle accessible to all!
Regularity and manoeuvrability contests for the motorboats, races for the sailing yachts and elegance parades – chaired by S.H.S. The Princess Beatriz de Orléans-Borbón in the presence of S.H.S. The Princess Camilla de Bourbon des Deux-Siciles – are just some of the highlights awaiting spectators. Ashore, chefs on classic yachts vie to produce the most creative original dish in a culinary competition on the quay. For members and participants, the Yacht Club's decks offer panoramic views of the bay, as does the main harbour wall and other high viewpoints in Monaco for the public.
Time to step back in time to relive the passion yachtsmen already had over a century ago and which continues to motivate those who restore, maintain and sail these invaluable testimonies to our maritime heritage.
Provisional programme (subject to change)
Monday 9th & Tuesday 10th September
11.00am Start of passage race from Imperia – Monaco
6.30pm Premiere of Movie-lecture MONACO and the Sea (Ballroom)
for YCM members and participants of Monaco Classic Week
11.00am Metric Class races (6 M IR/ 8 M IR/ 12 M IR/ 15 M IR)
11.00am Classic yacht races (CIM rating)
7.00pm 'A la rencontre de la Monaco Classic Week' opening cocktail (by invitation)
with an American serenade by Musique des Equipages de la Flotte
9.00am-6.00pm Inspection of yachts by "La Belle Classe Restoration" Jury
9.00am-10.00am Chefs Competition (distribution of ingredients on the quays)
11.00am Regularity challenge for motorboats
12.30pm Picnic at sea for motorboats
5.00pm-7.00pm Chefs Competition (presentation of dishes on the quays)
8.00pm Crew Party (by invitation)
11.00am Metric Classes and 12' Dinghy class races
11.00am Manoeuvrability challenge for motorboats
8.30pm La Belle Classe party (yachtsman attire, invitation by Moët Hennessy)
9.00am-6.00pm Inspection of yachts by "La Belle Classe" Jury
10.00am Elegance parade for Classic yacht
2.30pm Elegance parade for motorboats
8.00pm American Night (Great Gatsby dress code, Thirties, by invitation)
12 noon Prize-giving (by invitation)
Pre post

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We are based at Ketteringham Hall – The best way is to set your SatNav to NR18 9RS, via Church Road, Ketteringham, Norfolk.
Park in the main car park.
Turn left into this area and go straight towards the back of the main building (not right into the smaller courtyard). You will see a large bell, very high up on the outside of the building, walk towards this.
Come in through the last door on the right hand side, we can be found directly in front of you.
Use the form, below, to book your place.


text:
Home > News > featured news > Siklu and Signify Announce Agreement to Integrate Gigabit-Speed Wireless Connectivity into Lighting Infrastructure
Siklu and Signify Announce Agreement to Integrate Gigabit-Speed Wireless Connectivity into Lighting Infrastructure
Siklu | January 25, 2022
Siklu, a global leader in millimeter wave (mmWave) solutions for Digital City, Gigabit Wireless Access (GWA), and Mobile x-Haul, and Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, today announced a strategic partnership agreement to add Siklu's MultiHaul™ TG multi-gigabit wireless connectivity technology to Signify's BrightSites portfolio. This combination will result in an addition to the BrightSites portfolio, which will be known as Broadband luminaires.
Signify's new innovative BrightSites solution is converting streetlights into a wireless connectivity grid which can facilitate a wide range of digital city services, such as: IoT, security and traffic monitoring, 4G/5G small cells, as well as "digital inclusion" initiatives including municipal Wi-Fi and residential broadband access. BrightSites helps cities to meet the needs of citizens, businesses, and visitors by delivering faster and more accessible broadband connectivity that helps ensure constant access to their digital world.
The new broadband luminaires, integrate Siklu's Terragraph-compliant MultiHaul™ TG multi-gigabit wireless connectivity technology to significantly reduce the dependency on fiber deployment and enable municipalities to create a wireless mesh network by replacing their luminaires with Broadband luminaires. This will significantly accelerate city-wide scalability for secure and reliable multi-gigabit wireless connectivity, at a fraction of the cost and time compared to an all-fiber network deployment.
Siklu's MultiHaul TG is Siklu's third generation 60 GHz point-to-multipoint product line and fifth generation overall of V-Band products. Overall, Siklu has hundreds of thousands of products installed in hundreds of cities around the world and offers advanced software tools to design and operate a network. Siklu's MultiHaul TG continues this tradition of excellence by creating secure and reliable fiber-like multi-gigabit wireless mesh networks to support any type of network topology from a small campus up to city and regional deployments.
Both companies have collaborated over the past year in the development of the Broadband luminaire portfolio, based on Siklu's MultiHaul N366 TG node. Following successful market validation, the two companies have agreed to expand the collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize solutions for street lighting infrastructure.
"We aim to radically accelerate the transition to smart cities by enabling the lighting infrastructure as a primary platform for cost-effective and scalable broadband connectivity. With our combined solution we overcome significant hurdles for the creation of dense networks by ensuring every light point acts as a data hub. This reduces time and cost, and most importantly, it improves the environmental impact as compared to legacy means. By integrating Siklu's Terragraph-compliant MultiHaul TG multi-gigabit wireless connectivity technology into our BrightSites portfolio, over the future of Smart Cities is a reality now," said Khalid Aziz, Head of Connectivity Solutions at Signify.
"Siklu products are already enabling a wide range of urban and industrial services that require gigabit broadband access. With the increasing demand for high-speed internet connections everywhere, especially in the COVID era, we share Signify's vision of utilizing the lighting infrastructure as the connectivity grid of the future. Signify is the global leader in lighting infrastructure, and we are excited to collaborate in the digitalization of cities and transforming our vision into reality."
Ronen Ben-Hamou, CEO of Siklu
About Signify
Signify is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers and lighting for the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact connected lighting systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. With 2020 sales of EUR 6.5 billion, we have approximately 37,000 employees and are present in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We achieved carbon neutrality in 2020, have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for five consecutive years and were named Industry Leader in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
About Siklu
Siklu delivers multi-gigabit wireless fiber connectivity in urban, suburban and rural areas. Operating in the millimeter wave bands, Siklu's wireless solutions are used by leading service providers and system integrators to provide 5G Gigabit Wireless Access services. In addition, Siklu solutions are ideal for Smart City projects requiring extra capacity such as video security, WiFi backhaul and municipal network connectivity all over one network. Thousands of carrier-grade systems are delivering interference-free performance worldwide. Easily installed on street-fixtures or rooftops, these radios have been proven to be the ideal solution for networks requiring fast and simple deployment of secure, wireless fiber.
IoT Services, discover how Garbsen is becoming a smart city
Diehl Metering supported Garbsen in implementing a future-proof IoT network that makes the city a sustainable and smart city.. Diehl Metering first assisted in choosing the most suitable IoT technology through an independent IoT technology training, then in collaborative network planning, and finally in implementing the entire network installation. The choice of the mioty® technology was made, since it ensure a secure and long-lasting network for different smart city use-cases.
More featured news
TI unifies fragmented IoT ecosystems with Matter-enabled wireless MCU software
Texas Instruments | November 04, 2022
Enabling smarter connections to the world around us, Texas Instruments (TI) (Nasdaq: TXN) today introduced new Matter-enabled software development kits for Wi-Fi and Thread SimpleLink™ wireless microcontrollers (MCUs) that will streamline adoption of the Matter protocol in Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The software builds on TI's close involvement with the Connectivity Standards Alliance and innovation in the 2.4-GHz connectivity space. Engineers can use the new software and wireless MCUs such as the CC3235SF and CC2652R7 to create ultra-low-power and secure, battery-powered smart home and industrial automation IoT applications that seamlessly connect with devices across proprietary ecosystems. Learn more about making connections simpler, more secure and scalable with the foundation for connected things in home and building automation applications at www.ti.com/matter. "In a matter of weeks, we're quickly seeing alliance members building on the new capabilities of Matter and bringing innovation to the ecosystem, in this case a streamlined approach for MCUs and IoT applications over Wi-Fi and Thread, TI's new wireless MCUs for IoT applications will help designers seamlessly and securely connect with interoperable Matter devices." Chris LaPre, Head of Technology at the Connectivity Standards Alliance TI will demonstrate the Matter protocol's ability to enable smarter EV charging management at home in booth 157, Hall C4 at electronica in Munich, Germany, November 15-18. Visit ti.com/electronica for more information. "As a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technology, we are pleased to be a part of the alliance to drive Matter forward in the HVAC business. At Grundfos, we strongly believe that collaboration will be key to reaching our innovation and sustainability goals," said Anders Johanson, SVP and Head of Group Technology & Innovation, Grundfos Holding A/S. "Our collaboration with TI to bring low-power, Matter-enabled radio solutions to the market will play an important role in delivering comfort to our end users and reducing energy consumption in HVAC systems – helping reduce carbon emissions" What is the Matter protocol? Matter is a royalty-free connectivity protocol developed by the alliance, formerly the Zigbee Alliance. Matter runs on Thread and Wi-Fi network layers and uses Bluetooth® Low Energy for commissioning, allowing devices from different ecosystems to communicate, even if they are manufactured by different brands. By providing a unified application layer based on proven technologies, manufacturers can leverage this open-source protocol to accelerate IoT development. As a board member of the alliance and one of the participants in the development of Matter, TI can help engineers build wider and more interconnected IoT ecosystems – overcoming current compatibility challenges caused by otherwise fragmented ecosystems. In addition to working alongside the alliance, TI is also a contributor within the Thread Group and a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Enhance system efficiency and security with Matter-enabled SimpleLink wireless MCUs New TI SimpleLink wireless MCUs can help designers reduce standby power consumption up to 70% in Thread applications compared to competing devices, extending battery life up to four years while using five-second polling. For long-range connectivity applications, the highly efficient integrated power amplifier in these wireless MCUs enables reliable connectivity by consuming 101 mA at +20 dBm – the industry's lowest power consumption – further reducing battery power consumption at higher output power. Designers of Matter-enabled Wi-Fi applications can leverage TI's dual-band, multilayer security approach to protect device data and secure against cyberthreats without the need for additional external components. Integrate Matter easily with software and hardware resources Streamline your design of Matter-enabled applications by connecting with our applications engineers through the TI E2E™ Wireless Connectivity design support forums or by watching the video, "TI Matter Technology Demo: Unified Standard for Connected Objects," to learn how TI wireless MCUs streamline Matter connectivity. FAQ guides are also available on the TI E2E™ design support forums for getting started with the CC2652R7 (Thread) and CC3235SF (Wi-Fi). Package, availability and pricing Engineers can start prototyping today by requesting LaunchPad™ development kits for Thread LP-CC2652R7 (US$39.99) and Wi-Fi LP-CC3235SF (US$54.99). The CC2652R7 and the CC3235SF are now available through TI and authorized distributors, with pricing in 1,000-unit quantities starting at US$3.01 for the CC2652R7 and US US$4.53 for the CC3235SF. Flexible connectivity solutions tested to match your design needs TI's breadth of connectivity products allows designers to choose the right feature set for their applications, whether they are deciding between wired or wireless, high bandwidth or signaling, short or long range, or any other options that help drive innovation in a connected application. About Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN) is a global semiconductor company that designs, manufactures, tests and sells analog and embedded processing chips for markets such as industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment and enterprise systems. Our passion to create a better world by making electronics more affordable through semiconductors is alive today, as each generation of innovation builds upon the last to make our technology smaller, more efficient, more reliable and more affordable – making it possible for semiconductors to go into electronics everywhere. We think of this as Engineering Progress. It's what we do and have been doing for decades.
Semtech and Exeger Demonstrate Solar Harvesting Technology for Internet of Things (IoT) Sensors
Semtech | November 11, 2022
Semtech Corporation, a leading global supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms, announces its collaboration with Exeger, a Swedish deep-tech company manufacturing fully customizable solar cells. Combining Semtech's LoRa Edge™ asset management platform with Exeger's Powerfoyle solar cell technology significantly extends the battery life of asset tracking and environmental sensing devices. Semtech's LoRa Edge scans GNSS satellites as well as Wi-Fi SSIDs and partitions the processing between IoT devices and the LoRa Cloud™ to determine location. The Cloud-based solver significantly reduces power consumption and increases battery life. Exeger's Powerfoyle is uniquely flexible and durable and can be integrated seamlessly into any electronics device. The solar cell technology converts all forms of light to charge and power devices with clean, endless energy. "Coupling the benefits of Powerfoyle with the ultra-low power capabilities of Semtech's LoRa® devices will provide IoT applications with an extended or even unlimited battery life, Together, we move one step closer to energy independence through more sustainable products powered with clean, endless energy." Dr. Oscar Hemberg, chief product integration officer at Exeger The patented Powerfoyle material integrates into IoT sensors with Semtech's LoRa Edge chip-to-Cloud platform with the goal to create a new standard for environmentally friendly platforms for the IoT industry. Combining both technologies is expected to spur a world of new solar-powered tracking applications for geolocation use cases, including indoor and outdoor asset tracking, global supply chain logistics, agriculture, smart utilities, and smart cities. "LoRa devices enable smart IoT applications that help solve some of the biggest challenges facing our planet," said Marc Pégulu, vice president and general manager for Semtech's Wireless and Sensing Products Group. "Semtech and Exeger's collaboration will enable manufacturers to develop IoT devices leveraging new energy harvesting technology for a smarter and more sustainable future." New IoT asset trackers will be showcased at EdgeTech+ 2022, Nov. 16 – 18, 2022, in Yokahama, Japan, in the LoRa Pavilion, booth A-H04. Register to attend the show here. About Semtech's LoRa Platform Semtech's LoRa chip-to-Cloud platform is a globally adopted long range, low power solution for IoT applications, enabling the rapid development and deployment of long range, ultra-low power and cost efficient IoT networks, gateways, sensors, module products, and IoT services worldwide. Semtech's LoRa technology provides the communication layer for the LoRaWAN® standard, which is maintained by the LoRa Alliance®, an open IoT alliance for Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) applications that has been used to deploy IoT networks in over 173 countries. Semtech is a founding member of the LoRa Alliance and produces the "The WAN Network Show" podcast to connect massive IoT end users to operators of LoRaWAN networks around the world. With the proliferation of LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN standard, the LoRa Developer Portal is a technical support platform for IoT innovators to learn, connect, collaborate, and find resources to help accelerate product development efforts and expedite time to market. About Exeger Exeger is a Swedish company with a unique solar cell technology that converts all forms of light into electrical energy. This material, Powerfoyle, is the world's only fully customizable solar cell. With its superior design properties, it can be integrated seamlessly into any electronic device. Powerfoyle enhances every product it is integrated into with extended or even unlimited battery life, putting the power of cutting-edge solar cell technology directly in the hands of people. Exeger is leading the way to energy independence through more sustainable and user-friendly products – with the vision to touch the lives of a billion people by 2030. About Semtech Semtech Corporation is a leading global supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms for infrastructure, high-end consumer and industrial equipment. Products are designed to benefit the engineering community as well as the global community. The Company is dedicated to reducing the impact it, and its products, have on the environment. Internal green programs seek to reduce waste through material and manufacturing control, use of green technology and designing for resource reduction. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol SMTC.
Tuya Smart's Internet of Things Solutions Enable Business Sustainability
Tuya Smart | December 26, 2022
Contents 1. Tuya Smart's Intelligent and Sustainable IoT for Maximum Energy Savings 2. Leveraging Smart IoT for Efficient, Safe and Sustainable Buildings Sustainability with regardsto maximum efficiency, energy savings, and safety is needed for residential, commercial, and industrial IoT application development. The trends in IoT for sustainability are moving towards smart energy management, air pollution monitoring, smart waste management, fleet management, smart water management, smart farming, and cold chain monitoring. Tuya Smart's breakthrough technologies implemented in Tuya-enabled hardware help save energy and create convenient and tailored smart device applications. 1. Tuya Smart's Intelligent and Sustainable IoT for Maximum Energy Savings Tuya Smart is creating an ecosystem of innovative technologies for the sustainable development of the world. Consumers and businesses can use its all-in-one smart solutions and Tuya-enabled hardware to save the most energy, get better control over operations, and make smart devices more convenient. Tuya Smart is set for the Venetian Expo of CES 2023 in Nevada, Las Vegas, on January 5–8, with the theme "Be In Smart," where it will demonstrate to consumers and companies the sustainability benefits of IoT development. 2. Leveraging Smart IoT for Efficient, Safe, and Sustainable Buildings Tuya will exhibitcutting-edge technologies, including smart coffee machines, smart surfboards, and e-bikes, among others, at CES 2023. It will highlight its latest accomplishments in the fields of smart energy, smart sensing, and commercial lighting when showcasing its comprehensive smart solutions. It will bring together the latest insights into the ecosystem of connection protocols, IoT technology, and commercial applications for global customers. Smart automation combined with sustainable IoT creates a promising future for safety, efficiency, and sustainability when it comes to applications for household and commercial buildings. About Tuya Smart Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA) focuses on smarter living. Tuya's cloud platform connects IoT devices. Tuya builds interconnectivity standards for brands, OEMs, developers, and retail chains across smart devices and industries. Tuya solutions empower partners and customers by improving the value of their products and making consumers' lives easier. Tuya's growing SaaS business offers intelligent business solutions for many verticals. The company's platform has industry-leading data protection and security. Tuya partners with Philips, Schneider Electric, Lenovo, and others to make things smarter.


Camp will be held June 17-June 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The final performance is Saturday, June 29, at 10 a.m.
At Camp Shakespeare, young actors dive into the world of the greatest playwright in history: William Shakespeare. Under the guidance of theater professionals from the Shakespeare Theatre Company, participants unravel his plays with text analysis; transform into Shakespeare's characters through voice, movement and improvisation work; wage battles against mortal enemies with stage combat; and develop fundamental acting skills using classical theater techniques. To culminate the session, participants stage a performance for friends and family in the Alden Theatre of the McLean Community Center.
Camp Shakespeare at the McLean Community Center will explore "Twelfth Night," one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies where music, love and laughter mingle with merry deception. To find out more about Camp Shakespeare or to register, visit: www.shakespearetheatre.org/education/classes-and-camps/camp-shakespeare/young-players. The phone number to register with the discount is: 202-547-5688.
Each session will have one, in-house entertainment event and one to two days of water play per week. Three- to four-year-old campers will participate in arts and crafts, outdoor play, story time, singing, dancing, small group games and more. Campers remain onsite at all times. The campers–staff ratio is one adult to six campers. Maximum enrollment is limited to 24 campers per session.
For children 5-6 years old. (Campers must have turned five years old by June 3, 2019).
For children ages 7-8. (Campers must have turned seven years old by June 3, 2019).
Each session includes two trips to a swimming pool, one, in-house entertainment event and one field trip. Each session, campers participate in specialist-planned activities. The camper/staff ratio is one adult to six campers. Maximum enrollment is 24 campers per session.
For children 9 - 10 years old. (Campers must have turned nine years old by June 3, 2019).
Each session includes two trips to a swimming pool and two field trips. Campers will participate in specialist-planned activities. The camper–staff ratio is one adult to eight campers. Maximum enrollment is 24 campers per session.
• The center will issue a full refund when a camp program is canceled by the center.
• Patrons who submit requests for withdrawals and/or cancellations that are received before Friday, April 5, 2019, will receive a full refund.
• Patrons who submit requests for withdrawals and/or cancellations that are received after Friday, April 5, 2019, will be charged a $100 processing fee, which will be deducted from the total amount paid.
• If a replacement can be found to fill the space vacated by the cancellation and/or withdrawal, the $100 processing fee will be refunded to the patron.
• If a replacement cannot be found, a refund of the processing fee will not be issued.
• All withdrawals, refunds and cancellation requests MUST be submitted in writing to registrar@mcleancenter.org.
Camper forms should be submitted one month prior to the start of camp. This gives you time to complete any missing or otherwise incomplete forms prior to camp.
Note: All forms must be complete and on hand at camp before your child will be admitted to camp. No exceptions will be made.
• A current and completed Certification of Immunization.
• A Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Physical Examination Form signed by a physician. A copy of the form is acceptable. Any camper under the age of six years old must submit a Physical Examination form that is dated after August 12, 2018.
• In accordance with Virginia law, camp staff members are required to witness a document with proof of your child's age. You must bring one of the following items in after you register your child for camp. Note: Please do not leave the originals.
1. Certified copy of his or her birth certificate.
2. U.S. Passport or State Department-issued documentation.
3. Virginia based school report card.
The Camp McLean Parent Handbook contains important information about our camp, its policies and the campers code of conduct. It can be found online on the Camp McLean page of the website, www.mcleancenter.org. Please read it and contact us with any questions you may have.
Registration is now open! Spaces fill quickly, so please register as soon as possible to ensure your space.
Be first in line, register online!
Go to www.mcleancenter.org and click on the green "Register" button or the linked seven-digit activity code associated with the camp you seek. You may also register in person at the McLean Community Center Registration Office, 1234 Ingleside Ave. or the Old Firehouse, 1440 Chain Bridge Rd.
Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1:30-4 p.m.
Morning and Afternoon Sessions are offered each week.
Tuition: $195/$183 MCC district residents. Materials fee: $35. Make check payable to Abrakadoodle . ® fee is due to instructor on the first day of camp.
Note: Children must be fully potty-trained. please remember to send a snack and drink each day (no nuts, please).
This popular series of imaginative art camps for children is based on the learning principles of Jean Piaget. Children create wonderful "masterpieces" using innovative art materials, while exploring artistic styles and techniques. Each camp offers unique experiences designed to foster creativity. There will be a different theme each week of camp, including "World Travel 3D Art Camp," "Space Art Adventure STEAM," Plug into Your Imagination," "Kids on Canvas," "Fairy Tale Art" and many more!
For more detailed descriptions of Camp Abrakadoodle, visit MPA's website, www.mpaart.org.
Questions? Contact Briana Clorey at 703-790-1953 or bclorey@mpaart.org.
your classic comic books, you will construct flip books to show your own comic style in motion.
Create an extraordinary sketchbook focusing on drawing from observing things in nature combined with a variety of collage materials. Campers will meet in the Duval Studio in the McLean Community Center and explore many places both indoors and outdoors. You will explore perspective, contrast, shading and color working from a variety of sources both natural and manmade. You will be looking for elements of art including color, form, line, shape and space, as well as the organizing principles of design.
Each day of this week focuses on the interrelations of Art with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. You will create paintings using biological images from the world of plants executed in watercolor and ink. You will collage images of machines that tell a science fiction story. Geometric shapes will be used in dynamic and colorful compositions.
Delve into the world of hue, shade, tint, value and intensity. Starting from the color wheel, you will draw and drip paint on paper and canvas with colorful layers of paint, oil pastel and collage. You will experiment with different types of 2D printing and use pencil, pen, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media. Learn about exciting artists such as Jackson Pollock, Morris Louis, and other contemporary artists who use various techniques in their works.
Draw, print, collage, paint and construct your way through ancient and modern myths from across the world including Greek, Native American, Chinese and American traditions. Discover stories and imagery inspired from these different cultures, which will enable you to create your own legendary tales through 2D and 3D art. Learn compositional and comprehensive skills to create your own story line.
What kind of artist are you? This camp will provide a gateway to a myriad of artistic mediums and techniques. Sculpture, printmaking and collage will allow you to experience and experiment. Discover the art forms that fit your own personal style and interest!
Explore the exciting world of printmaking by experiencing various types of printmaking such as monotype, potato, fish and others! You will learn a variety of techniques that include color blending, layering images, using inventive textural treatments, and more as you create a beautiful series of prints. You will work from a variety of sources for subject matter including still life, landscape and abstract motifs.
Do you love stories about dragons, fairies, unicorns, and other magical and mythical creatures? You will recreate some of these characters in your own imaginative masterpieces! You will use color pencils, markers, paint, beads, feathers, special papers and other materials to construct 2D and 3D artworks starring our favorite characters, either from literature or entirely from our imaginations.
Create sculptural creatures and marvelous mobiles using upcycled everyday materials in this fun mini-session. Beads, fabric, feathers, sequins, yarn, cellophane and other cool materials will all be used to create your most unique sculptural inventions. You will explore the works of El Anatsui, Debra Butterfield and Judy Pfaff.
This camp is all about your own artistic expression. You will explore your dreams and fantastic stories using drawing and painting techniques. You will be inspired by great artists, such as Calder, Matisse, Picasso and many others! Through their work and our own, we will discover elements of art, including color usage, shape, texture and composition.
Explore the exciting world of hand building with clay. You will also create beautiful decorative patterns with various sculpting tools and stencils. You will learn various techniques including, slab, pinch and coil construction. You will be able to take your projects home as we are using non-firing clay.
Explore works by "pop" artists Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg and others of the 1960s and 1970s. You will then create your own pop artworks using found objects, commercial packaging (save those candy wrappers and soup can labels!) and other everyday commercial symbols. Discover color and composition working from everyday objects using drawing, painting and collage techniques.
Explore all things planetary and alien during this week of artistic space travel. You will look closely at some of the beautiful and colorful photographs of space. Deriving your inspiration from the planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial bodies, create your own intergalactic masterpieces using new techniques.
Morning and afternoon sessions offered each week.
Join the McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) for a variety of imaginative and fun week-long camp sessions! Each week will feature a variety of art activities that will ignite your child's creativity. Taught by MPA's experienced art educators, students will learn about and create art in the beautiful and professional DuVal Studio and gallery spaces located inside the McLean Community Center.
Tuition is $235 per session/$220 MCC district residents. Week 2 (Mon.- Wed. only) is $145/$135 MCC district residents. Campers have the option of attending both morning and afternoon sessions. All materials are provided. Campers should bring a snack. Included in the camp experience is an ice cream treat and a smock to protect their clothes.
Do you love stories about dragons, fairies, unicorns and other magical and mythical creatures? You will recreate some of these characters in your own imaginative masterpieces! You will use color pencils, markers, paint, beads, feathers, special papers and other materials to construct 2D and 3D artworks starring your favorite characters, either from literature or entirely from your imagination.
This camp is all about your own artistic expression. You will explore your dreams and fantastic stories using drawing and painting techniques. You will study and be inspired by great artists, such as Calder, Matisse, Picasso and many others! Through their work and your own, you will discover elements of art, including color usage, shape, texture and composition.
You will delve into the world of hue, shade, tint, value and intensity. Starting from the color wheel, you will draw and drip paint on paper and canvas with colorful layers of paint, oil pastel and collage. You will experiment with different types of 2D printing and use pencil, pen, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media. You will learn about exciting artists such as Jackson Pollock, Morris Louis and other contemporary artists who use various techniques in their works.
Explore the exciting world of hand building with clay. You will also create beautiful decorative patterns with various sculpting tools and stencils. You will learn a variety of techniques including slab, pinch and coil construction. You will also be able to take your projects home as you will be using non-firing clay.
Explore works by "pop" artists Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg and other artists of the 1960s and 1970s. You will then create your own pop artworks using found objects, commercial packaging (save those candy wrappers and soup can labels!) and other everyday commercial symbols. You will discover color and composition working from everyday objects using drawing, painting and collage techniques.
Explore all things planetary and alien during this week of artistic space travel. You will look closely at some of the beautiful and colorful photographs of space. Deriving your inspiration from the planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial bodies, you will create our own intergalactic masterpieces using new techniques.
Delve into the world of comics by making your own books and looking at the work of professional comic book authors. You will learn what works both from a compositional and storytelling perspective. You will look at some of the most famous heroes and villains in comic book history for inspiration. Beginning with pen and ink drawings for your storyboards, you will add sequential and close-up images as part of creating your own exciting comic books. In addition to classic comic books, you will construct flip books to show your own comic style in motion.
Create an extraordinary sketchbook focusing on drawing from observing things in nature combined with a variety of collage materials. Campers will meet in the Duval Studio in the McLean Community Center and explore many places both indoors and outdoors. You will explore perspective, contrast, shading and color working from a variety of sources both natural and man-made. You will be looking for elements of art including color, form, line, shape and space, as well as the organizing principles of design.
Delve into the world of hue, shade, tint, value and intensity. Starting from the "color wheel," you will draw and drip paint on paper and canvas with colorful layers of paint, oil pastel and collage. You will experiment with different types of 2D printing and use pencil, pen, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media. Learn about exciting artists such as Jackson Pollock, Morris Louis and other contemporary artists who use various techniques in their works.
Explore the exciting world of printmaking by experiencing various types of printmaking such as monotype, potato, fish and others! You will learn a variety of techniques that include color blending, layering images, using inventive textural treatments and more as you create a beautiful series of prints. You will work from a variety of sources for subject matter, including still life, landscape and abstract motifs.


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Macy's Plans Patriotic Campaign
Macy's has announced plans for a new summer patriotic campaign that will feature curated merchandise and themed events.
MacysAmericanIcons.jpg
Macy's has announced plans for an American Icons campaign, which will pay tribute to the American spirit this summer with a series of curated merchandise, special collections and themed events.
The department store plans to honor the brands, events and pastimes that have contributed to American culture beginning in mid-May and continuing through July.
The campaign will include a collaboration with top American brands to curate a range of American Icons merchandise that will also include special collections from Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's and Nike.
"Macy's is America's department store, and through this campaign we're celebrating the unique people, places and things that make our country great," says Martine Reardon, chief marketing officer, Macy's. "In addition to collections from incredible brands including Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Michael Kors, we're embarking on a nationwide tribute that will feature some of America's most beloved and nostalgic pastimes including the drive-in, baseball and grilling, along with a program to support and celebrate America's veterans."
Among the events and programs Macy's has planned for this summer are:
Macy's and Martha Stewart Collection sweepstakes: One winner will win an exclusive experience with Stewart herself through the submission of regional dishes. The contest will kick off May 17 when Stewart and Everyday Food editor-in-chief Sarah Carey demonstrate recipes from the book Martha's American Food at Macy's Herald Square in New York City.
Macy's Great American Drive-In: In honor of the 80th anniversary of the drive-in theater, classic movies will be projected on the store exterior at 20 Macy's locations and on-screen at 10 local drive-ins nationwide alongside classic concessions and activities beginning in June.
Macy's Great American Road Trip: 2012 Macy's iHeartRadio Rising Star winners Megan and Liz will take a cross-country road trip in a new Ford Mustang convertible to explore the vast musical history of America. Their trip will begin May 14 and end in July at the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks in New York City.
Macy's Day at the Ballpark: From June 3-16 Macy's will be sponsor scoreboard features, live announcements and game day giveaways at 10 major league and 35 minor league baseball games.
Macy's Sizzle Showdown: A contest to find the country's grilling guru, fans will submit their recipes through Facebook this month for the chance to compete in a grill-off June 8. The winner will be selected by chefs from Macy's Culinary Council and will be awarded $10,000, a trip to Macy's 4th of July Fireworks and the title of America's Greatest Grill Guru.
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(-) American Museum of Natural History (2)
(-) California Academy of Sciences (1)
(-) University of Maryland / Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites (CICS-M) (1)
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (1)
Butler University (1)
College of Exploration (1)
Colorado State University (1)
Denver Museum of Nature and Science (1)
Exploratorium (1)
Literacy Volunteers America of Monroe County (1)
Miami Museum of Science / Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science (1)
North Carolina Aquarium Society / North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island (1)
Oregon State University (OSU) / Hatfield Marine Science Center (1)
Science Museum of Minnesota (1)
Smithsonian Institution / National Zoological Park (1)
University of Wisconsin-Madison / Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) (1)
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts (1)
(-) 2010: ELG for Informal/Nonformal Education (3)
(-) 2008: ELG for Spherical Display Systems for Earth Systems Science-Installations & Content (1)
2006: Environmental Literacy (1)
SOS Ocean-Atmosphere Literacy Partnership
American Museum of Natural History offsite link · New York, New York
The SOS Ocean-Atmosphere Literacy Partnership is a collaboration among the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York, NY; Maryland Science Center (MSC) in Baltimore, MD; and Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) in St. Paul, MN. This collaboration will create two six-minute programs and two 30-minute live presentations for the spherical display systems, including NOAA's Science on a Sphere. The SMM will produce "Ocean-Atmosphere Thermodynamics"; the AMNH will produce, "Tropical Cyclones: Theory, Models, and Observations."
Competition: 2008: ELG for Spherical Display Systems for Earth Systems Science-Installations & Content
PI: Rosamond Kinzler Ph.D
State: New York County: New York District: NY10
Partners: Maryland Science Center · Science Museum of Minnesota ·
Exploring Earth Systems: Expanding Data Visualization Experiences for Museum Learners
The American Museum of Natural History, in association with several NOAA entities, will be creating a suite of media products employing visualization of Earth-observation data as well as associated professional development programs to expand educational experiences in informal science institutions nationwide. Interactive versions of the visualizations will also be disseminated via the AMNH website. Visualization assets will be distributed to NOAA for utilization on climate.gov and Science on a Sphere.
The American Museum of Natural History, in association with several NOAA entities, will be creating a suite of media products employing visualization of Earth-observation data as well as associated professional development programs to expand educational experiences in informal science institutions nationwide. Interactive versions of the visualizations will also be disseminated via the AMNH website. Visualization assets will be distributed to NOAA for utilization on climate.gov and Science on a Sphere. The creation of training programs and educational materials for informal education professionals will enhance the experience and efficacy of the data visualizations as tools to understand and build stewardship of Earth systems.
PI: Vivian Trakinski
Partners: Institute for Learning Innovation · Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) Chicago · New York University (NYU) · NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) · NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) / Climate Prediction Center · NOAA Research · NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory · NYU Center for Advanced Digital Applications ·
Worldviews Network: Ecological Literacy Programming for Digital Planetariums and Beyond
California Academy of Sciences offsite link · San Francisco, California
The Worldviews Network - a collaboration of institutions that have pioneered Earth systems research, education and evaluation methods - is creating innovative approaches for engaging the American public in dialogues about human-induced global changes. Leveraging the power of immersive scientific visualization environments at informal science centers across the US, we are developing transformative educational processes that integrate the benefits of visual thinking, systems thinking, and design thinking.
The Worldviews Network - a collaboration of institutions that have pioneered Earth systems research, education and evaluation methods - is creating innovative approaches for engaging the American public in dialogues about human-induced global changes. Leveraging the power of immersive scientific visualization environments at informal science centers across the US, we are developing transformative educational processes that integrate the benefits of visual thinking, systems thinking, and design thinking. This "seeing, knowing, doing" approach empowers educators with tools and techniques that help audiences to visualize, comprehend, and address complex issues from a whole-systems perspective. The Worldviews Network will make explicit the interconnections of Earth's life support systems across time and space as well as inspire community participation in design processes by providing real-world examples of successful projects that are increasing the healthy functioning of regional and global ecosystems.
PI: Ryan Wyatt
State: California County: San Francisco District: CA12
Partners: American Museum of Natural History · Denver Museum of Nature and Science · Institute for Learning Innovation · Fort Worth Museum of Science and History · NASA Ames Exploration Center · NASA Goddard Space Flight Center · Bell Museum of Natural History · Elumenati · Journey Museum & Learning Center · University of Michigan / Museum of Natural History · University of North Carolina at Asheville · WGBH Educational Foundation ·
Interpretation of Real-Time Weather and Climate Data for Spherical Displays
University of Maryland / Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites (CICS-M) offsite link · College Park, Maryland
The Interpretation of Real-time Weather and Climate for Spherical Displays (EarthNow) project utilizes the Science on a Sphere (SOS) Network to enable meaningful interpretation of real-time weather and climate data by museum docents and visitors viewing SOS exhibits nationwide. The project will generate and provide real-time NOAA weather, climate and ocean data to the SOS Network along with appropriate training for docents. It will also provide data interpretation summaries, data discussions and concise talking points on a regularly updated blog.
The Interpretation of Real-time Weather and Climate for Spherical Displays (EarthNow) project utilizes the Science on a Sphere (SOS) Network to enable meaningful interpretation of real-time weather and climate data by museum docents and visitors viewing SOS exhibits nationwide. The project will generate and provide real-time NOAA weather, climate and ocean data to the SOS Network along with appropriate training for docents. It will also provide data interpretation summaries, data discussions and concise talking points on a regularly updated blog. This project is being implemented by a collaborative team of two weather and climate centers of NOAA/NESDIS: the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites (CICS), in association with the NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory, the I.M. Systems Group, and the Maryland Science Center.
PI: Phillip Arkin
State: Maryland County: Prince George's District: MD05
Partners: Maryland Science Center · Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) Chicago · University of Wisconsin-Madison / Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) · National Maritime Center (TNMC) Nauticus Museum · Aldo Leopold Nature Center · Grand Canyon Visitor Center · Space Foundation · NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory ·