Myanmar, a country where freedom of expressions is non-existent, the fear of the people over the government’s regime dominates the air of their breath, a place that is untouched by any means of modernization -- be it in the form of iphone, blackberry, Starbucks, Mc Donald’s, skyscrapers, etc, and yet… a place where sincere, genuine and warm smile of the locals can be found in every corner…
I spent 24 days there.. going from one place to another, spending time chatting with the locals, marveling the beauty of some of the world’s most beautiful Buddhist temples, making friends and hanging out with Buddhist monks, being invited to sleep in Buddhist monasteries and wake up very early in the morning, sipping uncountable cups of hot green tea served in every tea house, people’s house and monastery, witnessing traditional festivals that have been around for years, and.. the most important was.. spending time with myself, trying to listen to my heart with lots of distractions from my crowded mind…
In those 24 days, I spent a week in Yangon and Kyaikto Mountain, a week in Mandalay and ancient cities around (Sagaing, Amarapura, Inwa, Pyin U Lwin), five days in Inle Lake and five days in Bagan. It was nice and perfect. Of course it would have been nicer to spend more time in Myanmar, but the tourist visa only allows visitors to stay 28 days maximum in the country and I had to fly to Indonesia to open 3 more “Taman Bacaan Pelangi” (Rainbow Reading Gardens) in three remote villages in Flores… So, even though there were still many places to explore, I had to say goodbye to the lovely people there. But, I would like to use the the idea of “haven’t explored the beaches in Myanmar” as an excuse to return this interesting place…
I learned many things about life during this trip. I learned about patience, flexibility, the art of giving, happiness, and also trusting my inner feelings. It is amazing that I learn more things about life in such a short travel journey than a-two-months of living in a big city and sitting in front of my laptop in the office. I am also always fascinated by the fact that so many things happen when I go on holidays compare to the same amount of time I spent in the office. I think when we work full time, time passes by just like that *snapping my fingers*. We wake up early in the morning and before we realize it, it’s already bed time. We do not have enough time for ourselves to contemplate, to listen to our inner self, to listen to our heart that it is unnecessary to buy those material things that we do not actually need, only to buy a “temporary happiness” to substitute our dissatisfaction, etc etc… We are too busy to even sit still, do nothing and think, “Where am I in this life? In what stage I am now?”
This is why I love traveling so much. And traveling alone enables me to explore more of not only the places, the people, the culture, but also… myself.
And with regard to my trip in Myanmar, I also learned that the dictatorship of the government regime, the cruelness, the meanness and the inhuman treatments practiced by the military officials to its people do not make the people of Myanmar lose their sense of humanity, their sense of loving every living being on earth, and their sincerity and purity… Every people I met during my trip there has been so kind, greeted me with their innocent smile and treated me with their warmest heart. Despite the ill treatment they received from the people who hold the power, the people of Myanmar continue to live their simple life with a big heart, continue to be friendly to everyone who crosses their life paths, while keeping their hope that one day everything would change. They’re looking forward to the day when they could breath the air of freedom. And I wish that their flame of hope will always glow… even though sometimes it is only a dim… but at least it is still there… Again, this trip taught me a lesson on how to keep my hopes alive… no matter what the circumstances are…
Just like one of Bon Jovi’s songs… “Keep the faith!”. My heart goes for the sweet Burmese people out there… keep the faith, keep the spirit, and keep your hope alive!
I learned many things about life during this trip. I learned about patience, flexibility, the art of giving, happiness, and also trusting my inner feelings. It is amazing that I learn more things about life in such a short travel journey than a-two-months of living in a big city and sitting in front of my laptop in the office. I am also always fascinated by the fact that so many things happen when I go on holidays compare to the same amount of time I spent in the office. I think when we work full time, time passes by just like that *snapping my fingers*. We wake up early in the morning and before we realize it, it’s already bed time. We do not have enough time for ourselves to contemplate, to listen to our inner self, to listen to our heart that it is unnecessary to buy those material things that we do not actually need, only to buy a “temporary happiness” to substitute our dissatisfaction, etc etc… We are too busy to even sit still, do nothing and think, “Where am I in this life? In what stage I am now?”This is why I love traveling so much. And traveling alone enables me to explore more of not only the places, the people, the culture, but also… myself.
And with regard to my trip in Myanmar, I also learned that the dictatorship of the government regime, the cruelness, the meanness and the inhuman treatments practiced by the military officials to its people do not make the people of Myanmar lose their sense of humanity, their sense of loving every living being on earth, and their sincerity and purity… Every people I met during my trip there has been so kind, greeted me with their innocent smile and treated me with their warmest heart. Despite the ill treatment they received from the people who hold the power, the people of Myanmar continue to live their simple life with a big heart, continue to be friendly to everyone who crosses their life paths, while keeping their hope that one day everything would change. They’re looking forward to the day when they could breath the air of freedom. And I wish that their flame of hope will always glow… even though sometimes it is only a dim… but at least it is still there… Again, this trip taught me a lesson on how to keep my hopes alive… no matter what the circumstances are…Just like one of Bon Jovi’s songs… “Keep the faith!”. My heart goes for the sweet Burmese people out there… keep the faith, keep the spirit, and keep your hope alive!
