‘Longyi’ is actually the proper name for the Burmese wrap-around long skirt, commonly worn by many women and men. I don’t dare in public. Several Europeans do, with one that is always too short and tied in the wrong way. Good for a laugh. I love to wear one at home though. It is so bloody hot and humid here, so a bit of air down there is very comfi.

I admit; the title should be ‘real men in the tropics wear skirts’. Scottish and Swedish train conductors need wool between the legs, I would imagine. Here, on the street, at work, in the plane, everywhere men wear their colorful dress with pride.

Of course, the longyi is tradition and fashion. Every region has its own design, but the fashionable ones come in bright purple silk, or black with little woven swastikas. Young men wear them often too high - the Burmese version of the baggy jeans. Most of them are spotless and ironed. The knot on the top is the most important. There are several ones, for different times in the day and special occasions. Like there are so many ways to tie ties. The main difference: a tie slipping off in public is not that embarrassing.

Long pants, jeans and shorts are also common, but compared to most mayor cities in South East Asia I know, Yangon has by far the highest percentage of men in skirts. They must have the coolest nuts in the region.