Time to Visit?

A couple of good articles I found online today, both relating to the bleak prospects for tourism in Myanmar (Burma) for the rest of this year:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/Business/12Oct2007_biz10.php
http://www.guardian.co.uk/burma/story/0,,2188260,00.html

I also received a couple of more e-mails from Burmese friends that work for travel agencies in Yangon. One woman wrote: “I would like to say thank you for your letter. Anyway, how are you these days? Here it’s a little rough on business especially on tour agencies, but we are hoping to come around soon and everything will be back to normal. For us, we are turning to local trips for the moment especially for honeymooners, as wedding season is coming up really soon.”

The man who wrote wasn’t nearly as optimistic about salvaging business at his company. He even asked if I had any translation work or article assignments he could do in order to earn some extra income. But he’s lucky; he still has a job. Many travel agencies, hotels, and restaurants are laying-off staff already. These people are hurting in so many ways. Please encourage any travelers that you know to consider visiting Myanmar in the months ahead.

05:33 AM PDT Permalink |

Reports from Myanmar

The reports I’m getting from people in Myanmar are slowly resuming. Many people I know in Myanmar don’t use e-mail, so I don't expect to hear from them immediately. But it’s the ones that I’m regular contact, ones who I haven’t heard from yet, that I remain very worried about. A travel agent in Yangon sent me this update today:
“After 10-day interruption of Internet in the country, restricted usage of Internet is now allowed at NIGHT time (from 11 PM till 04 AM). Thanks so much for your message and warm regards. We truly appreciate your care and thoughts at this moment. Describing what's appeared on the media and sharing comments in the e-mail message is not advisable at this stage due to poor privacy. Please forgive me for not being able to elaborate more. I hope you understand. Please rest assured that we are fine and stability has gradually been restored here. We received a lot of cancellations. Even people who booked for January 2008 have cancelled.”

Another friend, based in Southeast Asia, surprised me with the fact that he had flown over to Myanmar for a quick visit last week! This is what he had to say:
“I had no trouble getting a visa. I think the embassy here simply hadn't gotten any instructions to stop issuing visas, so they kept on doing it. After Yangon I travelled up to Bagan and Mandalay, but nowhere else. Bagan was totally peaceful, and Mandalay almost the same, though there had been some demonstrations there the week before I arrived. No trouble talking to people at all. Go ahead and visit, because people are suffering economically from the lack of tourism revenue.”

Speaking of which, I sent an e-mail to friends yesterday that was basically a plea for people to go and visit Myanmar, and do it soon. There are so many locals that are going to be economically devastated by the sudden drop in tourism that it’s important for some sort of tourist flow to resume as soon as possible. From reports that I’m getting, it is absolutely safe for tourists to travel around the country, and even in Yangon.

One woman, a Burmese native who now lives overseas but still visits her family in Yangon often, had this to say about encouraging tourism:
“I wholeheartedly agree with the position taken by Don. I have always been a supporter of tourism to Burma. For people to learn to change they need to know and understand what they are striving for. Tourism gives the human contacts and perspectives that even the Democratic Voice of Burma TV program can't replicate. In Burma, the majority of the Burmese opinion is ignored not only by the junta but also by the opposition. Majority of the Burmese inside Burma did not want any sanctions but their voices were never heard. The fact that many photos and videos came out of Burma were the results of limited economic progress that has happened compared to 19 years ago. We need more Burmese to be aware of what they can do, what they need to do, and we need more tourists to act as witnesses. So please go if you are thinking of going.”

And yet another reply, this from a friend that works in Yangon, and who recently travelled around the country with her parents (who were visiting from overseas):
“You know, you've written exactly what I think as well. They really do need more tourists right now. In Inle and Bagan where I was last week you could see the difference already. Okay, it is low season but still, it was very quiet. Empty or almost empty hotels. In Bagan I saw only two other tourists. In Inle a few more, but most boats were tied up to the dock. Unfortunately most tourists were part of a package tour, herded along and staying on the lake somewhere in a fancy resort.”

I’ll say it again: go now! The Burmese people need the financial and moral support of foreign tourists.

03:13 AM PDT Permalink |

A bit of Bangkok … and more Myanmar

I’ll step away, if only briefly, from my recent Myanmar fixation, with a few Bangkok notes. But I’m so consumed with thoughts of Myanmar lately, that I don’t expect that condition to subside anytime soon. Two weeks ago I was invited to my friend Jan’s birthday party at Elefin, a Thai restaurant and coffee house on Sukhumvit Soi 1. I had never been to Elefin before and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was: tasty food and coffee, excellent service, and attractive décor. Also in attendance was Jeffrey Wachtel, Waddy Wachtel’s cousin. Who, you might ask? I suppose you would have to be a fan/student of 1970s/1980s American rock music to know about Waddy Wachtel. He was, and still is, one of the more famous studio musicians around. He has played with the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Warren Zevon, James Taylor, and Jackson Browne. Cousin Jeffrey reports that Waddy recently completed a tour with Stevie Nicks. Meanwhile, Jan the travelling man is getting ready for his next trip; off to Taiwan later this month.

Earlier this week, I received e-mails and text messages from my friends So Peng Thai and Chamrong in Cambodia. They were both shocked to hear the reports about monks in Myanmar being beaten and killed. Like in Myanmar, monks in Cambodia are highly respected figures.

Another Cambodian resident, Dave Perkes, was in town this week. Dave runs the Peace of Angkor Villas in Siem Reap, one of the finest and best-run hotels in town. Dave was returning from his first trip through Laos, an experience that he enjoyed immensely. Earlier this summer he attended the annual world music festival in Sarawak, Malaysia. Like Laos, he loved the festival and the rainforest surroundings and plans a return trip next year.

Of all the comments about the current Myanmar crisis, one of the most accurate assessments came this week from Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s Prime Minister. Responding to calls for Myanmar to be ousted from ASEAN (the organization comprised of various Southeast Asian countries), or to be subjected to additional sanctions, Lee Hsien Loong had this to say:
“It is better (for Myanmar) to be inside the family than outside. So ASEAN will continue to engage Myanmar, as we encourage and help it to move forward. We have to be mindful of the realities of the situation. First, sanctions against a regime that is ready to isolate itself are more likely to be counter-productive. Second, the military, as a key institution (in Myanmar), has to be part of the process of any lasting solution.”

And that is the cold hard reality. Despite the world’s outrage at Myanmar’s military junta, the Tatmadaw aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Like it or not, if you want socioeconomic changes in Myanmar, they are the ones you are going to have to deal with. One hopes that Aung San Suu Kyi will take advantage of the crack in the door that the junta has opened (in the form of an offer to hold talks) and is able to negotiate something, anything. Would that not be better than nothing at all? But all I’ve heard thus far from the opposition and political analysts is a chorus of skepticism in regards to the junta’s sincerity in holding such talks. But shouldn’t the opposition be trying to take advantage of even the slightest opportunity for dialogue with the junta? It has to start somewhere and this offer, even with the conditions set, certainly represents a start.

01:45 AM PDT Permalink |

Communication Breakdown

Light seeps in. A crack in the clouds. I finally received some communication from Myanmar today; a phone call early this morning from a friend in Yangon, and then an e-mail from another friend in Yangon. Also in the inbox was a forwarded e-mail from yet another Yangon acquaintance. They all report that they are safe and sound, but very uncertain about the situation. One of them wrote:

“internet connection is given only at midnight !!! who knows why !!! anyway, lucky to have contact with all my friends ... our business take free fall !!! less hope! i am disappointed about all situations … i don't feel good.”

12:22 AM PDT Permalink |

Better Times

About two weeks ago I was planning on a final photo roundup of my last trip, just before the crackdown on demonstrations in Yangon began. Needless to say, I didn’t feel that posting trip photos was my highest priority at the time. But I’ve been so depressed and dejected by events in Myanmar this past week that I wanted to do something to remind me of better times; the tranquil places, bright smiles and happy moments that I encountered so often during my travels around the country.

When I read about Myanmar being an “impoverished country” where the people are treated “like slaves” I cringe. That’s not the country that I see when I visit. Sure, I have a warped tourist’s perspective of life in Myanmar, but I’d also like to think that my experiences have gone beyond that of the typical tourist and that I’ve seen some slices of real life. I’ve had the privilege of being invited into people’s homes and taken on excursions off the beaten tourist track in many areas of the country. And nobody, not a single person, has ever taken me aside and pleaded for help, asked me to get them out of the country, or complained about being tortured or beaten. That’s not to say everyone is happy, because obviously that’s not the case. But I also think it distorts the picture of Myanmar to say that life is wretched for everyone. If you believe everything that the media reports, you would think that most people in Myanmar are akin to political prisoners and have to put up with hellish living conditions.

Okay, things aren’t exactly rosy around Myanmar these days, most especially in the wake of last week’s horrific crackdown. Pockets of poverty still riddle the country, healthcare is almost non-existent, infrastructure is horribly lacking, and the military continues to commit outrageous human rights abuses. As the recent protests have shown, there is much unhappiness with current conditions, but for the most part the masses keep their discontent under wraps. To the casual observer they seem happy. Certainly the people of Myanmar have this amazing ability to resiliently bounce back from all the adversity they are dealt with and go about their daily lives as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened. They take care of one another; they sing and smile and laugh; they work and worry and worship; they play games on the streets and sidewalks; they warmly welcome visitors. It’s one of the safest and most friendly countries I’ve ever visited. But then again, I’m an outsider and don’t have to live there. I’m sitting here in my comfy bookshop in Bangkok while the citizens of Myanmar --- especially in Yangon and Mandalay --- have to pick up the pieces and hope for the best. What happens next for these special people?

A charming girl in Mingun who wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon, just east of Shwedagon Pagoda.

Muang Soe Tint, at his newly re-opened Misan Restaurant in New Bagan. The restaurant was previously located in Old Bagan.

It never stops: building even more pagodas in Bagan.

Vendors at the morning market in Nyaungshwe.

Myint Swe’s son in Mandalay shows his flower arrangement.

Novice monk at his monastery in Nyaungshwe.

Young vendor in Mingun with the distinctive thanaka paste on her cheeks.

Young boy selling wooden bottle openers in Bagan.

Waiters at Aye Myit Tar restaurant in Mandalay.

Friendly village women in Bagan.

More of Bagan’s many ancient pagodas.

12:54 AM PDT Permalink |

Where is Par Par Lay? … and other concerns

What has happened to Par Par Lay? According to news reports last week, Par Par Lay and three other people in Mandalay “were arrested after leading a group in offering alms to monks.” The well-known musician and comedian is a member of the famed Moustache Brothers troupe in Mandalay. Besides the fame he and his “brothers” have garnered as a local tourist attraction in recent years, Par Par Lay gained a bit of fame when he was mentioned in the film version of “About a Boy.” This wasn’t the first time that Par Par Lay has run into trouble with Myanmar authorities. He and fellow Moustache Brother Lu Zaw spent nearly six years in jail after making anti-government jokes at a 1996 rally. Among Par Pay Lay’s “offensive” remarks was this gem: “In the past thieves were called thieves, now they are known as government workers.”

In an AFP wire service article, published in September 2005, the third Moustache Brother, the slang-loving Lu Maw, said that he escaped being arrested at that time because he was “in Mandalay, watching the family, holding the fort. That’s why Lu Maw was off the hook.” While Par Par Lay and Lu Zaw were in prison, Lu Maw and his wife continued to perform shows at their home.

Here is another excerpt from that AFP article:
Unlike Aung San Suu Kyi, who has called for a tourism boycott to deprive the military rulers of foreign currency, Lu Maw passionately welcomes tourists. “Tourists take photos of forced labor in Myanmar. That’s why there is no more forced labor in Mandalay, Inle Lake, Bagan,” he said, referring to some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. And just as Lu Maw credits international pressure with the early release of his brother and cousin, he is certain the only reason the Moustache Brothers have not been jailed again is because of foreign interest in them. “I need your help, I need your assistance. With your help, we stay alive.”

I totally agree with that logic, and I think that’s an excellent reason for encouraging more tourists to visit Myanmar. Flood the country with more tourists; busloads of group tours and hordes of individual travelers. Once things calm down in Myanmar, go and visit. Support the people!

I received this note from another friend that travels to Myanmar frequently. He has many friends in Kyaing Tong (Kengtung), a town in Eastern Shan State, not far from the Golden Triangle area near the Thailand and Laos borders :
“I've been in touch with friends in Kengtung, no problems there. My wife has a brother in Yangon, and she has been in contact with him, and he is OK so far. Hope they come to some sort of peaceful resolution to all of this.”

Another frequent visitor, one who has also conducted group tours to the country, sent me this very thoughtful response:
“Yes, we have been devastated by the events. What started with hope has all but dissipated. But I doubt if this will be the end of protests. Of special concern is that we have not heard a single word from any of our Burmese friends since Saturday. Some were too open in their goverment criticisms when they wrote to us earlier in the week, despite our entreaties not to send us their candid thoughts. But because we haven't heard from them now, we especially worry. What especially strikes me is how the Burmese are reminded that staying there is a career dead end. How can that country ever prosper if their best and brightest all leave?

“I have never dared say a word questioning Daw Suu, but last year a friend at a Singapore goverment think tank complained that she was recalcitrant, and as much a hinderance at negotiating a settlement as the generals themselves. Today, surprisingly, I read the same thing in the Sydney Morning Herald. And I noted on the Mizzima website couched criticism of her saying she was too Western in her thinking that the generals could peacefully be brought to task. Perhaps there will be pressure on both sides now, but I am not hopeful. As for tourism, I think that is dead in the water for a minimum of a year. As for us, we won't pull our next tour until we survey the safety issue. Politics will not be our consideration, as we know how much locals depend on our tourism dollars. And even if our tour doesn't go on in March, we will probably go ourselves. Please don't despair. I know it is painful, but for the people's sake, we must not give up hope entirely.”

That’s not the first criticism I’ve heard about “The Lady” and her unbending ways. She is obviously respected and admired by millions of people around the world, but at this point you have to stop and wonder: has she become an obstacle to the Myanmar people’s hopes for change and democracy? Or, does she remain their guiding light, their only hope?

The writer of that last e-mail also makes a good point about the politics of tourism. Sure, a portion of your tourist dollars will go to the government, it’s unavoidable to a certain extent. But savvy travelers can control that amount and can do much to funnel cash directly to needy locals. The Myanmar people absolutely want more tourists to visit their country. Not only do they desparately need the income (especially in the coming months, in the wake of this latest crisis), they also crave the moral support. Isolation and further economic sanctions will not be helpful to them.

12:20 AM PDT Permalink |

Psychotic un-reaction

I’ve been grumpy and in a daze lately: showing up for work each day, but spending most of my time surfing the net and searching for news about the latest developments in Myanmar. With no e-mails coming in from people I know in Myanmar all the information I get is culled from media reports. So many emotions float to the surface as I read the accounts: uncertainty, sadness, outrage, helplessness. Reports I read in today’s newspaper say that Ibrahim Gambari, the UN’s special envoy to Myanmar, was flown to Lashio yesterday. Another report said that he went all the up to Muse, which is on the Chinese border. Why would they send him to either location, both of them quite remote? What’s he going to do, go on a trek to a hill tribe village? The article I read said that the government was holding “a workshop with a group of journalists” in Lashio, but that scenario sounds equally bizarre. What journalists, and from where?

It’s hard to get further off the beaten track than Lashio, a town in the northeast part of the country, on the road that leads to the China border. Lashio is where the train tracks (from Mandalay and other points further west) end, so it does get a trickle of curious backpackers throughout the year. But it strikes me as a very odd destination for a UN envoy whose main objectives are to meet with the Junta and encourage dialogue with opposition political parties. Lashio is so remote that I doubt any of the citizens there have any inkling of what’s going on in the rest of Myanmar. And that's pretty much how most of this ethnically diverse country operates. Most of the people go about living their lives, ignore the government, and don't worry about what is happening in the rest of the country. Regardless of why Gambari was in Northern Shan State, he reportedly was flown back to the new capital of Naypyidaw and finally sat down to talk with Than Shwe today. Please, please, please let there be some constructive progress to come from this meeting.

One would expect international outrage at what has happened in Myanmar this past week. And yes, there have been the expected critical comments from governments around the world, along with support for the Myanmar monks and citizens in the form of protests in many cities around Asia. But when I go and check my e-mail inbox the absence of supportive notes and outrage over the situation in Myanmar is most distressing. My friends and family know that I visit the country often, and that I have gotten to know many people over there, so I’m puzzled at the silence. Don’t they care? I certainly don’t expect everyone to share my passion for all things Myanmar/Burmese, but you would think I would get more than a handful of notes of concern. I certainly do want to thank those kindred spirits that have shared their hopes and fears with me. Your thoughts are very much appreciated. I realize that people have their own lives to live and most are too busy to worry about an obscure country in Southeast Asia. Sadly, Myanmar just doesn’t rate high on the concern meter for people that drive SUVs and vote for politicians named Bush. Perhaps they are concerned about more relevant matters: the latest exploits of Paris Hilton and Michael Vick, the playoff chances of the New York Yankees, or what color curtains would look best in their kitchen.

06:02 AM PDT Permalink |

Mandalay Monks

Buddhism remains the heart and soul of Myamar, and monks are its most visible proponents. Besides being agents of faith, the monks have become symbols of change for the people of Myanmar as illustrated by their bold marches in several cities around the country this month. “The monks are the ones who give us courage,” one protester was quoted as saying this week.

It’s those brave monks that I continue to worry about this week, especially after hearing news of recent monastery raids and beatings in Yangon and Mandalay. It’s inexcusable to treat Buddhist monks in this manner, and I curse the authorities responsible for this disgrace. But as much as it angers me, I know the people of Myanmar are even more enraged by the mistreatment of the monks.

Venture down to the southwest corner of Mandalay, away from the chaotic main streets of the central city, and you will discover of a pocket of tranquility in the presence of many active Buddhist monestaries and old pagodas. Lines of red-robed monks walk the dusty roads throughout the mornings and afternoons, making alms rounds or just venturing out into the community. The largest monestary in town is Ma Soe Yein Nu Kyaung, home to over 2,700 studious monks. I’ve met many monks in this area over the past two years and I wonder if some of them were involved in the recent protest marches. Above all, I hope they are safe and have not been among those rounded up and jailed. My thoughts remain with these gentle souls.

08:57 PM PDT Permalink |

Yangon: scenes before the assault

I keep reading --- and seeing in a few rare cases --- reports of the Army crackdown in Myanmar this week. Especially disturbing is the news from Yangon. Beatings, arrests, killings: a living nightmare unfolds. I love this city and am distraught to hear about the horrors that have been inflicted upon its citizens this past week.

I keep thinking about Yangon as if was just two weeks ago when I was there: so pleasant, so peaceful, so friendly … so normal. What the hell has happened? I remember a vibrant city, full of delightful sights, smells, and smiles. In memory of better times, here is a photographic look back at the wonderful people and the good side of life in Yangon. I fervently hope that normality returns to the city very, very soon.

12:34 AM PDT Permalink |

A Wish for Peace … and Change

The people of Myanmar are waiting ...

02:59 AM PDT Permalink |

The Horror

I’m horrified by the reports of protesters (and in one case, a Japanese photographer) in Yangon being beaten and killed by soldiers yesterday. While the number of casualties so far is thankfully quite low, it’s still a senseless tragedy that this has even happened. It’s hard for me to believe that the turmoil is all taking place in the same beautiful city that I was visiting exactly two weeks ago; strolling along the the lively streets, popping into teashops, chatting with locals. Everything was remarkably calm and normal. I find it absolutely mind-boggling that the government’s reaction has escalated to this level. I keep hoping that peace and calm heads will prevail, but at this point I have no idea of what will happen next.

I have not received any new reports from friends in Yangon the past 24 hours, leading me to wonder if rumors of an Internet cut are true. And that’s one dilemma regarding news reports coming in from Myanmar: without the permanent presence of a “normal” international media contingent, what we are reading and hearing is coming from locals and so much of it is based on rumor, hearsay, and “unconfirmed” reports. Both sides of the conflict have the tendency to distort the truth and inflate (or deflate) numbers, making it almost impossible to obtain accurate information and verification about what is really happening in the country right now.

Earlier today I received a very kind message from an American friend, currently working abroad, who visited Myanmar a few years ago:

“I've been so crazy busy with getting my new life together in Germany that I only saw the news of Myanmar tonight. It makes me sad as I will always have a special place in my heart for this country. There is something so magical, so captivating about the country and the people. I hope that this results in change. I would hate to think of the people and the gentle monks suffering for naught. Please tell your friends that there are many people around the world that long for them to be free.”

11:03 PM PDT Permalink |

More Myanmar Updates

Despite media reports, not all is total chaos in Myanmar. The protests are apparently confined to certain areas, and daily life, although not quite so normal this week, continues for the vast majority of the populace around the country. Internet cafes remain open and I continue to get updates from people in Myanmar. Just got this note from a foreign friend working in Yangon:

“Picked up my parents from the airport this morning and we're heading towards Bagan today. All international schools at least are closed, though a few Burmese ones are still open. The roadblock near the person we can't mention is huge, but at the moment there aren't too many uniforms there and we could pass that intersection without any trouble. It is less quiet near the two places frequently mentioned ( most likely she means Shwedagon and the Sule Pagoda/City Hall area ) and there people have again taken to the streets. For the moment I have no more news except that the embassy people have had an emergency meeting yesterday. So far, outside certain areas, it seems fairly quiet. It is much more quiet on the streets though.

In another online news report today (from Irrawaddy.com) I noticed this:

Also in Mandalay, three members of the NLD, Tin Aung, Khin Maung Thaung and Myo Naing, and well-known comedian Par Par Lay, were arrested on Wednesday after they offered alms to monks.

That really hit home: I met Par Par Lay earlier this year. He’s a member of the famous Moustache Brothers troupe, a group that performs shows from their home in Mandalay each evening. They aren’t allowed to perform in public (after rubbing the Junta the wrong way with remarks/jokes they made during previous shows) so they are reduced to performing for only tourists. Par Par Lay served a previous jail sentence earlier this decade.

10:55 PM PDT Permalink |

The Hatchet Strikes

In an e-mail I received this morning, a Burmese friend in Yangon offered this succinct observation of the government’s reaction to the monk-led protests:

“We have a saying: A needle could have been used to take out a thorn, but a hatchet was used instead.”

09:46 PM PDT Permalink |

Tense Situation

My stomach is in knots, worrying about the current situation in Myanmar. Naturally, I fear that things could get very ugly if restraint is not practiced. I have many friends in Yangon, and throughout the country, and I worry for their safety.

I received a couple of e-mails this afternoon from friends in Yangon. One describes the current situation as “Very, very tense. Our school is getting closed down starting tomorrow. Don't know what's going to happen next.” Another local said that “It seems bad. I will write later. I don't know how long we will have internet … maybe they will cut soon.” I’ve been surfing online constantly the past few days, trying to get updates on the ongoing situation. Supposedly a curfew is now in effect for Yangon and Mandalay. Meanwhile, the world community is expressing its outrage at the situation, but most of the comments I read strike me as typical political rhetoric, and fail to really understand the dynamics of this complex and volatile situation. There needs to talking, dialogue, communication. Anything else is going to result in bloodshed.

A good example of “clueless” is the latest action by the grand idiot, George W. Bush, who has imposed yet more sanctions on Myanmar, or Burma as he calls it. Obviously, the word Myanmar has one too many syllables for him to pronounce easily. More sanctions? What is that going to accomplish at this point? But that’s typical of Bush-style diplomacy: call the country evil, impose sanctions on it, and don’t attempt to actually sit down and talk with anyone.

"Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma," Bush said in an address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Americans should be outraged that they have elected Bush as their president.

03:51 AM PDT Permalink |

Orphanage Road

For my second and last day in Nyaungshwe I had several options. I had wanted to go somewhere in the area where I hadn’t been before, a place such as Kakku (lots of ancient stupas) or Sagar (an old pagoda on the south end of the lake). After getting price quotes for both trips, I opted to stay in town. I wanted to visit the orphanage at Maing Thauk and this way I wouldn’t feel so rushed. This was my fourth trip to the orphanage, but the first time that I had attempted to negotiate the journey by road --- and on a bicycle, no less. I rented my bike from Golden Bowl Tour Services, run by a friendly fellow named Htein Linn. It turns out that he is also from Maing Thauk and knows the orphanage director, U Tet Tun. Htein Linn gave me proper directions to the village and ensured that both tires had plenty of air in them before I set off on my journey.

My legs were already a bit sore from cycling around Bagan and Mandalay, so I wasn’t sure if the trip to Maing Thauk would thoroughly wear me out or not. But thankfully, the road was pretty good and there were no steep hills to contend with, and I found the cycling to be most pleasant. As I cycled down the nearly deserted country road I marveled at the scenic surroundings: misty mountains in the distance, Inle Lake off to my right, fields of flowers, farms and rice fields on both sides of the road. For ten minute stretches I would not see any other vehicles or cyclists on the road. Occasionally I would pass a smiling child or an obstinate water buffalo, but that was about the extent of the acivity. The weather wasn’t too hot and there was no rain to dampen my mood. This was pretty much as close to bliss as I could imagine.

Unlike my last trip, when I arrived around mid-morning, I timed this visit so that I would arrive near noon, when the kids came back to the orphanage for lunch. Most of them go to schools in Maung Thauk during the day and return to the orphanage for lunch before heading back to class again in the afternoon. The meals are cooked by a volunteer, but the children are the ones that serve everything. Groups of kids take turns putting scoops of rice onto each plate and dishing out bowls of soup. Before digging into their midday meal they stand at the table and offer thanks (a prayer of sorts) for the nourishment.

The orphanage director, U Tet Tun, is a kind and dedicated man who does his best to assure that the kids obtain a good education and moral upbringing, as well as having a safe and comfortable place to live. Not all of the children, however, are orphans. Some come from very poor families in area villages and if it weren’t for the orphanage they would not be able to attend school. Naturally, taking care of these children this requires money, so U Tet Tun is also forced to tackle the task of fundraising. The orphanage has several local and international donors, but even those annual contributions are not enough to meet all the expenses that U Tet Tun and the orphanage incur. Nevertheless, he maintains his positive attitude and every time I visit I am inspired after talking with him.

In addition to making a donation to the orphanage, I had brought about 20 children’s books for the kids, along with pens, a couple of soccer balls, and some of those small wicker balls they use to play chinlon with (a game similar to takraw). Needless to say, my bicycle basket and backback were full to overflowing. In fact, I had to make some adjustments to my load a few times when things kept falling out of the basket. I managed to make it to Maing Thauk without tipping over, although for the last uphill stretch of road I dismounted and walked my bike the rest of the way. The only positive aspect to that incline was that it made the return trip down a breeze, literally.

The village of Maing Thauk gets a trickle of tourists, thanks to floating market days when boatloads of vendors arrive on the shore to sell their products, all of which makes for a most photogenic sight. However, the orphanage and nearby forest monastery are also worthwhile stops; that is if you don’t mind the additional uphill walk to reach their location. But if you do, you’ll be rewarded with the inspirational sight of U Tet Tun and a hundred grateful children (about 50 boys and 50 girls, living in separate buildings) who are doing their best to carve out a life on the shores of the great lake.

09:11 PM PDT Permalink |