Urgent Action by 10/10

[freeburma@xxxxxxxxx]

Posted for David Wolfberg, L.A. Campaign for a Free Burma:

Following is the University of Southern California Travel
Brochure Text.

The USC Alumni Association meets Tuesday, October 10, 1995.
Please read this and FAX YOUR SENTIMENTS TO GERALD PAPAZIN,
DIRECTOR OF USC GENERAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF
GOVERNORS, AT (310) 373-3461 TODAY, OR PHONE JAN STURGEON,
DIRECTOR OF TROJAN TRAVELERS AT (213) 740-8968 OR CALL THE
USC GENERAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DIRECTLY AT (213) 740-2300.
Or write:

Gerald Papazin, Director
Board of Governors
University of Southern California General Alumni Association
Widney Alumni House
650 Childs Way
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0461

---------------------------------------------
USC Burma Tour Brochure
Cover letter -- Letterhead marked
"University of Southern California General Alumni Association /
Trojan Travelers"

Dear Trojans:

Visitors to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, become
spellbound among the centuries-old pagodas and temples in the
half-light of a misty dawn by the banks fo the Ayeyarwady
(Irrawaddy) River.  It is not just the ruins' majesty nor the
fervent devotion of this quiet people, but an ambience as elusive
as the msit which creates a feeling of another world, a world one
might believe exists only in history books.

The imperial majesty of Myanmar, however, is very real, and
after decades hidden from the rest of the world, Myanmar now
freely welcomes visitors from the West.  It is in this spirit of
rediscovery that we invite you to join us on the Road to Mandalay,
a program that surveys three nations and cultures including
Thailand, Myanmar and Hong Kong.

Begin this Trojan Travelers' journey in Bangkok, the City of
Angels and Venice of the East, where Thai traditions continue to
flourish along the many canals of the city.  In Myanmar, tour
Mandalay and board the deluxe Orient-Express operated river
ship M.V. Road to Mandalay for a voyage on the Ayeyarwaddy
River, the focal point of Burmese life.  Visit the villages of
Mingun and Sagaing, their hillsides decorated with both temples
and fragrant blossoms.  Along the Bagan (Pagan) plain, you will
marvel at the hundreds of temples and pagodas that have
survived since the 12th and 13th centuries whent he city was
reputed to have four million such structures.  The capital city of
Yangon (Rangoon) is the home of the impressive Shwedagon
Pagoda and a holy site for Buddhists.  Enjoy three full days in
Hong Kong, a city in the crosscurrents of tradition and modernity
that has elevated itself to the status of global commercial hub.
Here you will learn about the 1997 changeover in governance
during a specially arranged presentation at the exclusive China
Club.

We are pleased to offer you this travel program that combines the
vibrant cities of Bangkok and Hong Kong with the opportunity to
be among the first Westerners to visit the newly opened land of
Myanmar and to explore this enchanted and unspoiled land.  We
do hope you will join us.

Sincerely,
Jan Sturgeon
Coordinator

Please call Trojan Travelers at (213) 740-8968 for information or
reservations.
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BROCHURE  Page 1
Sponsored by The University of Southern California Trojan
Travelers
A Program of the General Alumni Association
The Road to Mandalay
Cruising the Newly Opened Irrawaddy River
March 1 to March 14, 1996
[photo of Pagan]
To find an unspoiled country today may seem impossible, but
Myanmar, called Burma in the days of the Raj, is such a place.
Though not as ancient as the land itself, Myanmar's pagodas and
temples, scattered among great forests and rolling plains, remain
living objects of veneration.  Through this remarkable landscape
runs the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River -- Kipling's river and
the country's great natural highway.
The deluxe river cruiser M.V. Road to Manday is your base for
exploring the Ayeyarwady and its temples, plains and hills.  Like
Burmese kings of yore who processed in silk-shaded crimson
barges, you can relax as the treasures of the ancients await
ashore.  Nothing can prepare you for the sight of Bagan (above),
the former capital and now a ghost city that stretches for twenty
miles along the Ayeyarwady.
-------------------
Page 2
[Photo in box -- Irrawaddy near Mandalay]
Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Hong Kong--these names evoke
images of ancient and exotic splendor.  They are living testament
to the preservation of imperial majesty and spiritual devotion in
the midst of modernity.  These enigmatic lands are often dreamed
about yet rarely visited.  Thailand and Hong Kong are equally
recognized for their traditions and cultural dynamism, whereas
Myanmar has absorbed the beset of its neighbors' cultures and,
poised between India and China, has developed a character that is
distinctly its own.  Of all the distant lands of the Orient, none is
more fabled than the vast and ancient country of Myanmar with
its quiet lakes and pristine beaches, winding mountain roads and
cool hill retreats, bustling cities and remote villages.
Until recently, this fascinating land has been hidden from the
world, ensuring that its beauty and charm remain unspoiled.
Now you can freely explore Myanmar, and there is no better way
to do so than aboard the deluxe M.V. Road to Mandalay, cruising
the legendary Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River through this
mysterious land.  From the deck, admire the opaline sweep of the
Ayeyarwady, its sandy banks dissolving into a lush green plain
dotted with jewel-encrusted temples and whitewashed pagodas.
Originating in the Himalayas, the Ayeyarwady is the chief
conduit for commerce and main artery of Burmese life, making
its way from north to south, from arid plains to a lush, fertile
delta.
The superbly appointed luxury river cruiser M.V. Road to
Mandalay is operated by the same company that restored the
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and inaugurated the equally
deluxe Eastern & Oriental Express and provides deluxe Western
accomodations heretofore not available in Myanmar.
The Ayeyrwady (Irrawaddy) River
The Irrawaddy, also known as the Ayeyarwady, flows from glacial
streams in the southern Himalayas and traverses Myanmar from
north to south over a distance of 1,350 miles.  A journey down this
river exposes the visitor to the depth and breadth of this "Golden
Land."  In mandalay, on the broad dry plains of Upper
Myanmar's capital, one can see the reminders of the Konbaung
dynasty--the last Myanmar dynasty--which dominated the 18th
and 19th centuries, as well as a flotilla of rice-laden boats.
Further south in Bagan (Pagan), 12th-century rulers utilized the
Ayeyarwady in a highly developed system of irrigation canals
which made possible the rice cultivation on which this
civilization was based.  During this "golden age," Bagan was
known as the "city of four million pagodas."  Seven centuries
later, thousands of pagodas and temples remain despite the
incursions of Kublai Khan and the natural erosion of the river.
On this Ayeyarwady journey, you will see daily life in Myanmar
in its beautiful simplicity; the tallest buildings are pagodas, the
favorite modes of transportation include oxcart and bicycle, and
friendly faces are adorned with the paste from tree bark rubbed
on a stone.  For years this land has seemingly been shrouded in
the mist; today a journey down the Ayeyarwady is a voyage back
in time to a place whose beauty and simplicity invariably moves
its visitors beyond words.
[Another box, italicized:]
The exotic appeal of Burma and the warmth and hospitality of its
citizens have drawn Western adventurers since the British
colonization of the country in 1826.  Today, Union of Burma, now
renamed Union of Myanmar, is emerging from four decades of
self-imposed international isolation.  Visitors to Myanmar today
will glimpse the Asia of forty years ago.  Within the last decade,
the government, wishing to preserve the nation's indigenous
character, has reverted to calling the country and the main cities
by their original Burmese names, which may cause confusion.
The former names and current names are listed below:
Former                  Current
Burma       ---- Myanmar
Irrawaddy   ---- Ayeyarwady
Pagan       ---- Bagan
Rangoon     ---- Yangon

-------------------------------------------------
Page 3
U.S. - Friday, March 1
Depart Los Angeles for Hong Kong on a regularly scheduled
flight, crossing the International Date Line en route.

Hong Kong - Saturday, March 2
Arrive in Hong Kong and spend the night at the Regal Airport
Hotel.

Hong Kong/Bangkok, Thailand - Sunday, March 3
Depart from Hong Kong and arrive in Bangkok.  After clearing
government formalities, meet your Gohagan & Company travel
director and transfer to the deluxe Hotel Shangri-La.
Officially named Krung Thep ("City of Angels"), Bangkok is a
spirited city which "leaves a permanent and fragrant impression
on the mind of the visitor."  This afternoon's exploration of the
city confirms that, despite its modern adornments, Bangkok
remains very much a Thai city.  Begin your sightseeing with a
visit to Wat Po, the oldest and largest wat (temple) in Bangkok.
Within the temple, covered in gold leaf with mother-of-pearl
ornamentation, is Thailand's largest reclining Buddha, so
positioned to illustrate the passing of Buddha into nirvana.
Continue on to the Grand Palace, one of the most beautiful
buildings of the Siamese court.  See the individual palaces named
for their different uses: the Throne Hall, the State Reception Hall
and the Coronation Hall--each richly decorated in its own style.
Within the compound is the colorful Wat Phra Kaew, or Temple of
the Emerald Buddha, which contains one of the most important
Buddha images.  Meet your traveling companions at tonight's
welcome reception.

Bangkok - Monday, March 4
Bangkok is often called the "Venice of the East" and this
morning's optional excursion offers a close-up view of the
colorful parade of Thai daily life as you travel by longboat along
some of Bangkok's klongs (canals).  Continue to the Jim
Thompson House, an assemblage of traditional teak northern Thai
houses transported and reassembled to serve as home for the
American millionaire silk magnate who revitalized the flagging
Thai silk industry following World War II.  The afternoon is free
for you to explore Bangkok further on your own.

Bangkok/Ayutthaya - Tuesday, March 5
Today's optional excursion travels to Ayutthaya, the capital of
Thailand from 1350 to 1767.  En route to this island city built at the
confluence of three rivers, see the magnificent ruins of the old
city: visit Wat Yai Chai Mongkol with its massive ruined chedi
(monument) and War Mongkol Bopitr, with its huge bronze seated
Buddha.  Continue to Bang Pa-In, King Rama's summer palace,
before returning to Bangkok by way of a cruise down the fabled
Chao Phraya River.

Bangkok/Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)/Mingun - Wednesday,
March 6
A short flight takes you to Mandalay, the present capital of Upper
Myanmar and former capital of Burma prior to British rule.
During a concise city tour, visit the Shwe Nandaw Kyaung
(Golden Palace Monastery), still in use as a monastery and see the
Royal Palace, now known as Fort Mandalay.  Then transfer to the
deluxe Orient Express owned and operated river ship M.V. Road to
Mandalay for embarkation.  Cruise to the nearby ancient river
city of Mingun.  Acessible only by river or oxcart, Mingun is
home to one of Burma's most ornate pagodas, the Hsinbyume
Pagoda, as well as the world's largest (87 tons) uncracked bell.  As
you sail upriver, see Buffalo Point, the main transit point for teak
which is floated down the Ayeyarwady.  The surrounding hills
and valleys are dotted with frangipani and bougainvillea
blossoms as well as hundreds of monasteries, temples, stupas
(domed Buddhist shrines) and caves all dedicated to Guatama
Buddha.  Re-board the ship and cruise past Mandalay, viewing the
splendid tableau of hillsides dotted with pagodas bathed in the
twilight.

Sagaing/Bagan (Pagan) - Thursday, March 7
Located across the river from Mandalay, Sagaing is regarded as
the center of the Buddhist faith in Myanmar, and is renowned for
its spectacular pagodas and monasteries in which reside more
than 3,000 monks.  From Shin Bin Mar Koi Hill you can enjoy
panoramic views of the serene landscape.  This working artisan
colony is also known for its silversmiths and marble sculpting.
Re-board the ship and cruise to Bagan (Pagan).  Your cruise
along the Ayeyarwady River will provide a candid glimpse of
Burmese culture, for the river is the hub of life and commerce
for these people.  See bamboo floated down the river, animals
crossing the Ayeyarwady at odd angels and fishing vessels with
sails billowing in the haze of central Myanmar's expansive flood
plain.  The ship will berth next to the city center for easy access
to the pagodas.

Bagan (Pagan) - Friday, March 8
Today is devoted to discovering the ancient kingdom of Bagan,
one of Myanmar's earliest cradles of civilization and one of the
world's great archaeological sites with 2,000 religious structures
spread out on the plain.  Royal temple-building (according to the
Buddhist tradition) secured merit for a king and his subjects,
gaining them an easier path to nirvana.
During this morning's orientation tour see the impressive
whitewashed ruins of the Ananda Temple, a masterpiece of Mon
architecture (1091), and the famous Shwezigon Pagoda, housing
an impressive collection of relics of the Buddha and a collection
of traditional carved statues of nats (spirits), which are
worshipped to this day.  Sir James Scott, a British colonial officer
who studied Myanmar history wrote of Bagan: "the whole space is
thickly studded with pagodas of all sizes and shapes... you cannot
move foot or hand without touching a sacred thing."  Many of the
temples are made of red brick which contrasts with scattered
trees that puctuate the landscape.  Savor a stunning sunset on the
Bagan plain as the light basks the rose-red ruins.  After dinner,
enjoy a delightful performance of Burmese marionettes.

Bagan (Pagan)/Yangon (Rangoon) - Saturday, March 9
This morning, fly from Bagan to Yangon, formerly known as
Rangoon.  En route to the hotel, enjoy a city orientation tour of
Myanmar's present capital.  Drive down broad boulevards and see
the Yangon City Hall, interesting because of its unusual blend of
colonial architecture with a hint of Burmese; the High Court
Building, which was built by the British in the Victorian style;
the National Museum, noted for the Lion's Throne--a 27-foot-
high wood structure with intricate gold inlay and lacquer work;
and the unusual Sule Pagoda, with its octagonal shape and golden
facade.  After checking in at the Hotel Summit Parkview, spend
the remainder of the day at leisure.  Gather at the hotel for
dinner this evening.

Yangon (Rangoon) - Sunday, March 10
Continue your Yangon exploration at the almost magical and
mystical Shwedagon Pagoda.  This impressive architectural gem,
with its golden dome and massive stupa, enshrines several hairs
of the Lord Buddha and is the object of pilgrimage and veneration
for all Buddhists from near and far.  See shaven-headed Buddhist
monks in their saffron-colored robes studying the life and
teachings of Buddha in open-air classrooms.  The afternoon is
free for you to explore Yangon on your own.  Dinner is included
this evening at a local restaurant.

Yangon (Rangoon)/Bangkok/Hong Kong - Monday, March 11
This morning, fly from Yangon to Hong Kong via Bangkok.  After
settling in at the deluxe Island Shangri-La Hotel, relax or explore
Hong Kong on your own this afternoon.

Hong Kong - Tuesday, March 12
The City of Hong Kong is the intersection fo the mysteries of the
Orient and Western capitalism, forming the commercial hub of
Southeast Asia.  Examine this vibrant city beginning with this
morning's visit to the Tsui Museum of Art, the first private
museum in Hong Kong.  Its extraordinary ancient Chinese
artifacts include an outstanding collection of Chinese ceramics
ranging from painted pottery of the Neolithic period to the
imperial porcelain of the Qing Dynasty.  Then enjoy a private
visit to Hong Kong's exclusive China Club during a tour arranged
solely for our group.  Designed with motifs widely used in the
1930s, the elegant China Club provides the setting for a lecture by
a local authority on the upcoming changeover in governance
from the present British colony of Hong Kong and anticipated
changes when control reverts to the Peoples Republic of China in
1997.  A visit to Aberdeen, a floating village, will amaze you as
thousands live and conduct business aboard sampans in the
harbor.  Spend the afternoon at leisure.

Hong Kong - Wednesday, March 13
Enjoy a full day to explore Hong Kong and then attend this
evening's farewell reception in the hotel.

Hong Kong/U.S. - Thursday, March 14
Depart from Hong Kong this morning for the U.S., crossing the
International Date Line en route, and arrive today.
----------------------------
GENERAL INFORMATION includes the following disclaimer:
RESPONSIBILITY: Thomas P. Gohagan & Company and the
sponsoring association act only as agents for the passenger with
respect to travel services.  We can assume no responsibility nor
liability in whole or in part for any delays, delayed or changed
departure or arrival, missed carrier connections, loss, damage,
weather, strikes, acts of God, circumstances beyond our control,
force majeure, war, quarantine, political conditions, criminal
activity, expense, accident, sickness, injury or death to person or
property, or mechanical defect, failure or negligence of any
nature howsoever caused in connection with any
accommodations, restaurant, transportation or other services or
for any substitution of hotels or of common carrier equipment
beyond our control, with or without notice, or for any additional
expenses occasioned thereby.
 ... Upon payment of a deposit, tour participants indicate
acceptance of the above terms and conditions.

Travel arrangements by:
Thomas P. Gohagan & Company
224 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 220
Chicago, Illinois 60605
(312) 922-3002