Project
Myanmar, Dreams Of A Home.
I have longed wanted to do this: dig out all the old polariods,
scan it, give an interesting caption and host the images
up on my website. Laziness prevented me from doing this.
And if it wasn't an email from one of my travel forum friends
asking me on views on Myanmar, my photos would have been
still be hidden in one corner of my storeroom.
It
has been almost 5 years since we went to that trip. 5 years
is not distant past, but all I can remember all the daily
trips back to Yangon from Hlaing Thar Yar, and my fuckin*
diarrhea towards the end. I looked up on my diary to recall
the stuff that I had done. Some were important, some weren't.
Some were stupid, some were kind. I was there for a purpose.
It was holistic, but not achievable, I would say. Though
not exactly what I wanted, but i DID gathered some valuable
lessons in life.
Special
thanks to my friend for taking most of the photos. Most
photos were taken early when most were asleep, in the comfortable
air-conditioned rooms of YMCA, Yangon (46th Street). Special
thanks to the group who accommodated me with my drinking
and enduring with my cynical comments. Special thanks to
Bb. Enough said.
Did
these pictures invoke memories during YOUR Myanmar trip?
Hope it does. That was the purpose anyway. |
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Finally,
our Myanmar Airlines flight is ready for departure (delayed
for nearly 6 hours). Excited as we were, we had a picture
taken in front of the immigration counter in Changi Aiport
T1 (never would I have thought that this will one day be
my office). A MUST for all expendition groups. It simply
had to be the first picture. |
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A picture
of Lucy and Bb, taken on the flight. We were to transit
in KLIA. The group was having fun, some were playing cards,
some were talking. I was pissed off and in the mood for
sulking after a can of beer or two. |
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Midnight,
4 Dec 00. Our first meal in Myanmar, Nasi Brayani. It was
slightly different as compared to the usual we had: the
chicken was mixed and cooked with the rice. Not too bad,
though I didn't touch the chicken as I was a vege. The meal
shows the intense Indian culture embedded in Myanmar. I
would later discover that the Chinese had a huge influence
as well. |
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After
days of buracreacy, the group finally "moved"
into Hlaing Thar Yar, a village that is roughly an hour
away from Yangon. We were supposed to work on Village 11
which was adopted by YMCA Yangon. It was a huge pity that
we weren't allowed to stay on-site, and robbed us of our
chance to interact with the villagers and probably ourselves.
Rules also state that we had to wear gloves and boots, so
that our precious bodies will go unscathed. The group were
seen here forming a human chain to transport cement for
the foundations of the houses. |
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It was
very typical to see women and girls applying Thanakha on
their faces. It is a face powder, made from some tree with
medical properties to ensure one's face is smooth. I think
it cured acne as well (mine at least). And Burmese kids...
they were always ever willing to pose for photos. |
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The group
were split into 2 sub-groups. One is to "build"
a house for a YMCA teacher (the one on the picture), the
other for a very old lady. "Build" was in quotes
because we did nothing much except for hitting some nails,
carrying some timber. Some of us did question why these
houses were rebuilt, when there were worse houses lying
around (e.g on the left). I don't recall the answers given. |
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The evening
sun of Hlaing Thar Yar, Myanmar. I dreamt of you and me,
running against the winds on the dried padi fields. You
were with a straw hat, i was a poor lad. Life was free.
Life was good. |
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Some of
the guys were on the sky, nailing the zinc roof to the planks.
The villagers gave me some betel nuts which I chewed with
ease. It gave me a sense of well-being. Working hard had
never been easier. |
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We took
a picture with the villagers and the almost--completed house.
It was not big but still comfortable. We didn't do much
among these 5 days (based on the date of the picture), but
no doubt it was satisfying and enriching for our souls. |
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A typical
morning in a Yangon park near YMCA. A man was meditating
on 2 bricks, an activity that requires intense concentration. |
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