Burma: I was there
Sorry for the lack of updates recently. Have been traveling and swamped with work since I’ve been back that I’ve not had time to write anything else.
Went to Myanmar for work - which was supposed to happen earlier this year before Cyclone Nargis happened, and the experience was an eye-opener.
The photo on the left was taken on the first evening I was in Myanmar - on the west coast, at Ngwe Saung. It was desolate, there were only one family, and us, at this massive resort. The coast stretched for kilometres and there was an untouched beauty to it, with waves breaking on it so clean it would have been a surfer’s paradise anywhere else in the world. But because it was so isolated, it was all the more beautiful. We drove a back-breaking six hours on really bad roads that had been ruined by relief trucks carrying tonnes of goods for the cyclone victims. It was worse than riding a horse for hours (and I used to go horse-riding in England when I was studying so I know) we were bumped around safari-style and the driver we had must be a hamilton fan because he still kept up the speed and didn’t care much for the potholes on the road and sent us flying, heads hitting the ceiling of the car, about every five seconds.
We finally reached one of the jatropha plantations we were visiting (more on that later) and after that, we had to drive on long, winding cornwall-esque roads which made me feel really nauseous for one and half hours before reaching the resort where we were staying.
And when we reached there, the sun was just setting over the horizon on this long, beautiful beach - it made the rough journey worth it.
I will write more on my trip but there are a few observations I’d like to put on record:
There are so many misconceptions about the country - and so many misunderstandings about how it runs, and its people.
Burmese people are one of the most peaceful and contented lot I’ve seen for awhile - not such a bad thing, it might seem, for these people who have mostly escaped the full brunt of capitalism as we know it.
The sanctions hurt no one but the people - the junta don’t care for it, but the local people depend on foreign investment, better paying jobs and tourism to help uplift their poverty.
I am more convinced than ever, that Asean’s policy of inclusion regarding Myanmar is correct. There are many mainstream media critics who like to adopt a self-righteous tone whenever they discuss Asean’s inclusion of Myanmar. But having been there, I’m more convinced than ever that exclusion would only plunge the country into further isolation, with no reprieve for their people.
It was refreshing to be there for the five days - I was missing first-world comforts but in a way, it was liberating to be without it. It was also nice to see people being contented with their lot, and not running the rat race and chasing the dollar. The financial crisis had no effect on the atmosphere of the country and after one day, with no mobile signal whatsoever in the country, or communication to the outside world at large, I was beginning to feel like going back to basics isn’t such a bad idea after all.
I would encourage anyone who’s ever been interested to find out what the country is like to visit it as soon as they can. Forget what people say about boycotting the place. It’s a safe, very cheap for tourists, and you can boost local trade by travelling and eating everything local. The experience will be much more enriching than say, one weekend shopping trip to Hong Kong will ever do for you. And really, you can’t talk accurately about the country unless you’ve been there.
