Mystery 'sex change' has curious flocking to Myanmar monk
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HLAING THAR YAR, Myanmar (AFP) - Thin Sandar, a chicken seller in Myanmar, had always dreamed of being a man. When she inexplicably grew a penis last month, the 21-year-old treated it as an awe-inspiring omen -- as have the thousands of stunned villagers who have traveled to a pagoda to see him.
"On the morning of the full moon day of June 21, I noticed my thing (sex organ) was not the same as before," Thin Sandar, who now goes by the male name Than Sein, told AFP in an interview at his home.
"And my breasts disappeared," Than Sein added. "So I called out and showed it all to my mom and dad. It was very strange."
Strange enough that he has attracted significant attention in this deeply superstitious country, where the unexplained can quickly be exalted to hold powerful spiritual significance.
People privately concede Than Sein is a hermaphrodite. Several medical experts have examined him, and he awaits test results from the central women's hospital.
But few have come forward with a medical explanation of the transformation as they await an official report by the health ministry, whose experts have also examined Than Sein.
"We can not say right now if she has really undergone a sudden gender change," said a township official who declined to be named, adding that Than Sein's birth certificate shows that he was born a girl.
"It can be confirmed when we receive the report from the health ministry, although some medical checkups have shown her to be a true man," he added.
Hermaphrodites, also known as intersexuals, are often born with ambiguous genitalia, or have both testicular and ovarian tissue in a single person.
Medical doctor Aye Sanda Khaing put it in layman's terms in a local journal: "Her penis appeared at the site of her clitoris," the doctor was quoted as saying.
Regardless of the official findings, local villagers and other curious Myanmar nationals are flocking to the Aung Myay Thar Yar pagoda, in this new satellite township 19 kilometers (12 miles) from Yangon, to see Than Sein for themselves and make donations to him or the temple.
Up to 400 gather at the pagoda each day, often in a courtyard under colorful umbrellas to ward off the sun's rays, waiting for the chance to talk with and touch Than Sein.
"I have never heard of anything like this, so I came to see him," 21-year-old housewife Thandar Win told AFP.
"If I was not married, then I too would want to become a man!"
When word spread of Than Sein's transformation, locals raced to his home to see for themselves. Authorities, sensing a possible security hazard -- and, perhaps, an opportunity -- hastily arranged for him to be moved to the pagoda to accommodate more visitors.
Than Sein appeared comfortable with the sudden attention in the new surroundings. Wearing a checkered longyi, the traditional Myanmar pants commonly worn by men, he sat on a rug in the pagoda's side building, flanked by his parents.
"I was so happy," father Kyaw Htay, 46, said about his son's developments. "I wanted other sons so they could offer themselves as Buddhist monks, but I had only two daughters."
Occasionally Than Sein stepped out to talk with excited visitors, who shook his hand, stroked his arm, and wished him well.
A Myanmar state television crew has already interviewed him and awaits the military junta's permission to air the broadcast nationwide.
As he waits for the final test results, Than Sein said he firmly believed he had been transformed, and would enter the monkhood for a period of time and seek spiritual contemplation and guidance before deciding whether to marry and raise a family.
"Whenever I went to the pagoda I prayed to become a man in my next life," he said, referring to the Buddhist concept of rebirth.
"Now I'm happy because my dream won't have to wait until my next life, it's already come true."
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Interesting.
Act of God or genetic change/mutation? -
No...the 'gal' has one extra male chromosome i think....she is a hemaprodhite...Originally posted by M©+square:Interesting.
Act of God or genetic change/mutation?
Read somewhere b4, u may be surprised some tall beautiful models are hidden males to....they have the outer appearance of a female....but no ovaries/womb...their penis is undeveloped and hide inside the body...when she had puberty the penis definitely come out
haiz....going into monkhood and believed 'she' turned into a man.....that's superstition already....think 'she' will be revered as a goddess if it was in the olden days.... -
but why the genes wait until so long before they start to grow male reproductive systems?shouldn't it be during puberty time??
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The 'gal' may not even develop puberty yet......is there any info that she has period b4? I dun think so....Originally posted by stellazio:but why the genes wait until so long before they start to grow male reproductive systems?shouldn't it be during puberty time??
Probably due to malnutrition she had a late puberty.....thai/myanmar pple dun really have very distinct male/female differences
this is when her transformation takes place....read newspaper in China also got few cases....'gals' growing mustasche and the parents then know they are boys... -
My question is - God's decision?Originally posted by laoda99:The 'gal' may not even develop puberty yet......is there any info that she has period b4? I dun think so....
Probably due to malnutrition she had a late puberty.....thai/myanmar pple dun really have very distinct male/female differences
this is when her transformation takes place....read newspaper in China also got few cases....'gals' growing mustasche and the parents then know they are boys... -
my answer: i dunno....trying hard not to go too quick into the concept of 'fallen world'.....Originally posted by M©+square:My question is - God's decision?
what do u think? -
No la. Just discussion.Originally posted by laoda99:my answer: i dunno....trying hard not to go too quick into the concept of 'fallen world'.....
what do u think?
Laoda. You very cute. haha.
Let's not presume we have all the answers only God does.
But these issues are real and in the face.
Hearty discussion is good. There isn't really a need to bring out the word and speak on your stand.
Well. I believe it's God's creation. -
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/BornHermaphrodite/
same topic, with pics of transformation..facial appearance only... -
I would love to discuss the hermaphrodite part, until I saw that Myanmar is a a) country whose majority of the population are Buddhists b) and that the article was discussing the transition of the party in particular from secularhood to Buddhist monkhood
And then the topic starter to discuss hand of God in this whole affair?
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haha....i believe....there is a reason why 'she' is born like dat.....Originally posted by M©+square:No la. Just discussion.
Laoda. You very cute. haha.
Let's not presume we have all the answers only God does.
But these issues are real and in the face.
Hearty discussion is good. There isn't really a need to bring out the word and speak on your stand.
Well. I believe it's God's creation.
dunno that reason though...
dun want to generalize too much now...trying not to..
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i think the myanmar gal also like that....got both male/female organs...Originally posted by Misogynist:http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/BornHermaphrodite/
same topic, with pics of transformation..facial appearance only... -
So is this some sort of anti buddhist thread?
Who is next to feign appearance and says no, they feel their words dont hurt because of their beliefs rather than other beliefs count?
WHo who? -
Mac ah.. please state purpose of thread CLEARLY.
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He alredi did
Act of God or genetic mutation..... -
Tempted to quote verses. Decided to keep it general.Originally posted by sillyme:Mac ah.. please state purpose of thread CLEARLY.
Apologies if i wasn't clear and This thread may have cause disturbance to some forumites.
This thread is totally catered for those who wish to post their personal opinions. Nothing theological and religious because no one knows the answer.
What i'm asking is. (in my opinion)Since God has created men.
Did God create her(in the case above) with this change planned within.
Or
Did something happen along the way?
If this is still unclear. MOD can close topic liao.
Cheers
p.s Don't call me MAC lah. Call me apple.
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I would call him Einstein.....
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I call you Larry (Bird)Originally posted by laurence82:I would call him Einstein..... -
oei, Disastrous Hairstyle Man......Originally posted by M©+square:I call you Larry (Bird) 
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Bird's hair disastrous or you're talking about me?Originally posted by laurence82:oei, Disastrous Hairstyle Man...... -
Originally posted by M©+square:Bird's hair disastrous or you're talking about me?
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Not really into him.......Originally posted by laurence82:
Sometime i wonder why did i choose this nick. -
Einstein symbolises a lot of things
Logic, need for change, tenacity, crankiness, the genius in everyone.... -
Ah.. I agree..Originally posted by laurence82:So is this some sort of anti buddhist thread?
Who is next to feign appearance and says no, they feel their words dont hurt because of their beliefs rather than other beliefs count?
WHo who?
I thot it's utterly disrespectful to another religion.. If you guys want to talk about Hermaphrodites, why not do it in "Chit Chat"?