Myanmar History from Myanmar Perspectives, the programme annually carried out by SEAMEO CHAT as the Centre's significant programme was conducted this year from 16 to 22 November.

It includes the two-day lecture and five-day field trip. On the first day of two-day lectures, three lectures were given: Myanmar Historical Background, Bagan: Art and Architecture, and Mandalay: The Court and the City. The three other lectures given on the second day were; Briefing on field Study of Myanmar History from Myanmar Perspectives, Hanthawaddy: Maritime Trade and Land Empire, and Bagan: Buddhism. The Field Trip started from 18 November with the trip to Bago on which participants had a chance to visit Kanbawzathadi palace and famous pagodas in Bago such as Shwe Maw Daw, Shwe Tha Hlyaung, Mahazedi and Kyaikpon pagodas.

Participants flew to Mandalay on 19 November and paid a visit to Taungthaman Lake, Amarapura and the work sites of Hundred Multihued Shuttle Loom and of Myanmar Tapestry, Shweinbin Monastery and Thakawun Monastery. After lunch, they visited Mandalay palace, Kyauktawgyi pagoda, Kuthotaw pagoda, Ahtumashi Kyaung, and Mandalay Hill.

On 20 November morning, participants visited Gold Leaf workshop, Mahamuni Pagoda, and then went on to Sagaing. In the evening, they left for Bagan by flight.

Participants stayed in Bagan for two days as there are a lot of pagodas, temples, and other interesting places. The pagodas that participants visited were: Lawkananda, Phetleik Seinnyet Nyima,Mingalazedi, Shwesandaw, Shwezigon, Ngakywenadaung and Bupaya, and the temples were; Seinnyet Ama, Nanpaya, Nagayon, Gubyaukgyi (Myinkaba), Apeyadana, Shwegugyi, Sulamani, Dhammayangyi, Thatbyinnyu, Pahtothamya, Gubyaukgyi(Wetkyi-in), Ananda and Htilominlo Temples. They also visited Soemingyi Monastery, Tharaba Gate, Minanthu village and a lacquerware workshop. SEAMEO CHAT has seven participants for the Annual Programme this year: four from Singapore, two from the Fine Arts Department of Thailand and one from SEAMEO RIHED.