“But it was really bizarre looking. One of the reviewers of the study called it a monster, and I have to admit it had a face only another fly could have loved. I was thinking of making some masks based on it for Halloween.”

“As water was so scarce, we used to hide the pot of drinking water when guests came to our home. And when we took a bath, we used only the small pot and while we were washing we would sit one of our children on our head so they got a bath too, that would help us save water.”

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama would represent Japan at the summit, the official said, adding that it was unlikely there would be sideline meetings between Myanmar and Japan.

“Giving blood benefits both donors as well as patients. Donors who give blood are aware that they must look after their own health in order to do so. Only if they are healthy can they donate their blood to others,”

“I participated in the meditation course last year. Some people who helped out last year are now taking the meditation course. We are happy to support them and then we also practise meditation in our free time,”

“We won’t allow the selling of [high-density polyethylene (HDPE)] plastic bags in Yangon markets [from December]. We will take action against any people who sell bags in the market after November 30,”

U Htike Lun Maung, the managing director of New Motion, said that while in the past most Myanmar people opted for domestic vacations during their holidays, a growing number are becoming interested in visiting other countries when they travel.

“The cyclone affected us both physically and mentally. Although we received a great deal of help from the government and various donor organisations, we are really just back to where we were before Nargis. Before the cyclone we had many needs and the cyclone made it worse,”

But the report did state that Myanmar received a very low amount of Official Development Assistance (ODA) compared with other ASEAN countries. The report said Laos received US$68 (net disbursements per capita), while Cambodia received $46, Vietnam $29, Philippines $7 and Myanmar only $4 in 2007.

“I tested the strength, stamina and performance of the more established players in the first match and gave the younger players an opportunity in the second. They really responded, using all their effort and speed – the second match was more competitive than the first.”