Video #1, In a family home, Yangon
Video #2, nuns collecting alms, Yangon
Video #3, Betel nut stall, Yangon
Weathered sign, side street, Yangon
Side street, Yangon
Nuns gathering alms, Yangon
Building front with washing, side street, Yangon
Service with typewriters, side street, Yangon
Magic hour lighting, Yangon
Outside a police station, near the riverfront, Yangon
FROM THE FIRST HOURS, Yangon revealed itself as a unique and compelling place to visit. Apart from a number of obvious sightseeing destinations, it was the streets, teeming with life, that were such a powerful draw.
The first video also reflects a wonderful encounter i had, only 5 or 6 hours after arriving in Myanmar. While walking down 29th street, i wandered into a tiny, dimly lit shop, in search of a cold beer. One of the customers, who spoke some English, asked if he could help. When i told him, he took me to the end of the block and there was a sort of beer garden, on the sidewalk and across a busy street. The gentleman declined however to share a tall bottle of cold Myanmar brand with me but invited me instead to come to his home. While i emptied the bottle he called his wife on a cellphone. Soon we retraced our steps up the dimly lit and narrow street to the shop and nearby was his home – up a steep staircase that led to a colonial era apartment. His wife and six year old daughter were waiting upstairs, in an immaculately clean living room That was how i met Kyat Baha Dur and his family. While there he played a few songs on his cellphone and soon the whole family was dancing. I couldn't believe the warmth and spontaneity of the occasion, one of the highlights of the whole six week, three-country trip.
It turned out the family belonged to the minority Hindu worshipping community. In fact the father was a school teacher who taught Hindi in a private school. The family's forefathers were originally Nepali, i was told, and must have arrived here many generations ago, when this part of the world belonged to British India. After my visit, the host put me in a friend's taxi and soon i was back at the Peaceland Hotel, safe and sound in slumberland, likely before 10 pm too.
The second video clip reflected a typical sight on the streets of Myanmar – nuns collecting alms – in neighbouring countries i only saw monks doing this.
The final video clip shows a betel nut stall. Apparently betel nut leaf is consumed by 40% of men and 20% of woman, according to a Burmese government survey. I saw "Kun-ya" sold everywhere in Yangon, especially on street corners.
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