Back from the Golden Land (Myanmar)

After a weekend in Myanmar, it feels great to be back in Singapore. Everything is efficient, air-conditioned, modern, new, English-speaking and comfortable (Sorry I'm spoiled by modern technology). But that said, Myanmar was definitely an amazing experience where I learned so much about a country that is stereotypically viewed as hostile and dangerous. The people there were just incredibly nice. In contrast with most other SE Asian countries with developed tourist industries, people here want your business, but if you're not interested, they don't get all nasty. There isn't that sense of always needing to have your guard up against scammers. It will definitely be interesting to see what Myanmar would be like in a couple of years when/if the country becomes more open and develops a stronger tourism industry.

Mike Montesano, a Yale alumni with connections to people in Myanmar, introduced us to people that just made the trip 100 times better. Firstly, Aung Aung and Zar Zar (an engaged couple who studied in Singapore before), took us around for most of the time we were there and just made everything so much easier and more authentic. We even took the local bus where the usher basically yells to people on the street and at each stop herds people into the bus. The bus jerks around every 5 seconds and sometimes don't even have real seats (basically wooden boards). We even saw a bus that broke down and had to have some people get off to push the bus.

At night, Myanmar basically closes down super early. At around 11pm, most places are closed (even bars) and the streets are almost pitch dark. The only illumination on the streets come from small street stands. Apparently, its really popular for Myanmar men to sit on the streets until the wee mornings drinking tea (they just call it tea, but oftentimes its tea + milk, almost tastes like boba).

Another highlight of the trip was going to an organization called Myanmar Egress (which kind of means - way to freedom) and meeting Nay Win Maung. He is highly involved in trying to build up the Myanmar government institution economically, politically and socially, from the inside out. Although there is a lot of criticism that he is working for the government, his philosophy is very pragmatic. He desires to see democracy develop in Myanmar but wants to achieve it through pragmatic reform of the government from within rather than a complete overthrow. He is accepting of compromises in order to slow move towards a goal. Meeting with him was basically an incredible crash course in Myanmar politics that gave us an inside perspective. Definitely SUPER COOL! :D

Schwedagon Pagoda

Royal Lake (Karaweik Hall on the right)

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