BURMA
An artical I wrote for The Messenger (Mum's Church magazine) Nov-Dec 2007
Five months into my Southeast Asia trip four years ago, I visited Burma - a place I knew nothing about. Although travelling alone at that point in my journey and living one day at a time going to unknown places was becoming routine, I was still tinged with apprehension.
I was pleasantly surprised and touched by the sincerity of the Burmese. Everyone from storeowners to air force pilots were always ready with a friendly smile, happy to help and share their experiences. English is widely spoken – a legacy left by the British – so we had no trouble communicating.
I coined the phrase ‘I made a monk friend’, for wherever I went a Buddhist monk always approached me. I think they felt some connection to my shaved head! They showed me around and shared their thoughts; in exchange I helped them with their English, which was already very good! My strong interest in Buddhism grew through these interactions with the Monks and interesting discussions about some of the key principles of Buddhism.
The whole country came across as a magical land. It may be the isolation from the rest of the world as it was free from the typical multi-national corporations and fast-food chains, offering a welcomed escape. Or it may be the breathtaking view of the vast land with majestic golden pagodas towering above treetops and glistening through the misty fog at dusk from the window of my guesthouse, which made me feel like I was in a mysterious and timeless place.
Burma has a very special place in my heart. It was one of many countries I visited in Southeast Asia, but it is one that I have since returned with much joy in March this year.
Burma has been suffering under a strict military dictatorship rule for years. Recently, the government increased fuel prices drastically, affecting the livelihoods of many Burmese. The monks are protesting against this through peaceful demonstrations but the government is undertaking unnecessarily brutal measures to end these protests, resulting in many deaths and injuries of monks and civilian protesters.
I hope the current situation, especially with the Monk’s heavy involvement, will garner support internationally for countries round the world to put pressure on the Burmese government to end the violence, despite their ban on the media to report it. The people need to be free from such a terrible regime.
By Dan Kerson
Edited by Penny Pun
Five months into my Southeast Asia trip four years ago, I visited Burma - a place I knew nothing about. Although travelling alone at that point in my journey and living one day at a time going to unknown places was becoming routine, I was still tinged with apprehension.
I was pleasantly surprised and touched by the sincerity of the Burmese. Everyone from storeowners to air force pilots were always ready with a friendly smile, happy to help and share their experiences. English is widely spoken – a legacy left by the British – so we had no trouble communicating.
I coined the phrase ‘I made a monk friend’, for wherever I went a Buddhist monk always approached me. I think they felt some connection to my shaved head! They showed me around and shared their thoughts; in exchange I helped them with their English, which was already very good! My strong interest in Buddhism grew through these interactions with the Monks and interesting discussions about some of the key principles of Buddhism.
The whole country came across as a magical land. It may be the isolation from the rest of the world as it was free from the typical multi-national corporations and fast-food chains, offering a welcomed escape. Or it may be the breathtaking view of the vast land with majestic golden pagodas towering above treetops and glistening through the misty fog at dusk from the window of my guesthouse, which made me feel like I was in a mysterious and timeless place.Burma has a very special place in my heart. It was one of many countries I visited in Southeast Asia, but it is one that I have since returned with much joy in March this year.
Burma has been suffering under a strict military dictatorship rule for years. Recently, the government increased fuel prices drastically, affecting the livelihoods of many Burmese. The monks are protesting against this through peaceful demonstrations but the government is undertaking unnecessarily brutal measures to end these protests, resulting in many deaths and injuries of monks and civilian protesters.I hope the current situation, especially with the Monk’s heavy involvement, will garner support internationally for countries round the world to put pressure on the Burmese government to end the violence, despite their ban on the media to report it. The people need to be free from such a terrible regime.
By Dan Kerson
Edited by Penny Pun
posted by Dan @ 9:20 PM
<< Home