One day in the life of a local ...

Selling goods on the way up to Shwedagon Pagoda

in Yangon, Myanmar ...

Selling flowers

Yes, we are now in Yangon, Myanmar and we have already been here for a week! We are pleasantly surprised by how clean it is compared to anywhere in Cambodia.

Betal Nut paste is made on a daily basis for locals to chew on

During our two week ICO:  (in-country orientation), Kevin and I are staying in a nice Asian style apartment, which we share with 2 other Cuso volunteers.  As luck would have it, we’re just doorsteps away from the ‘wet’ market (wet meaning outdoor market) where fresh produce, from fish to vegetables, to an array of fruit is abundant.  What a treat!    

We've noticed, particularly in the  wet market, that many locals, young and old, have Thanaka on their faces and sometimes on their arms for sun protection.  The locals have told us that Thanaka, a yellowish-white cosmetic paste is made from ground bark; from grinding the bark against a flat, wet stone before it’s applied on their skin.  What’s more, they told us that it's a common distinctive feature in their culture.

Painting on the spot at the Hledan Wet Market

There are 8 of us volunteers taking part in the ICO, to learn about life in Myanmar: This includes basic Myanmar language, taking field trips to the pagoda, history, culture, food, the people: (home to 135 ethnic groups), and much more. Typically at noon,  we often venture off to local restaurants.  Due to a number of diverse ethnic culinary delights throughout the states and regions, Myanmar boasts a mélange of cultural striking food  infused in the Myanmar cuisine.  This includes Chinese and , Indian Asian food.   

By chance throughout our language training, our Myanmar language teacher introduced us to Mohinga, a traditional Myanmar breakfast that is tasty and cheap.  Mohinga is a fish based soup with rice noodles. Lime, cilantro and spices are optional and can be added to the Mohinga soup.  Oh Yes, during our spare time,  (when we’re not in ICO) together with our Cuso cohort, we’re exploring Yangon for more unusual tasty foods and interesting places to see!

More flowers

Pleasantly surprised, transport here in Yangon is orderly.   Motorbikes are banned. However, streets bustles with cars, local (private) buses, bicycle taxis. Consequently, there are times, most times it seems, that traffic stands literally still throughout the day; making it tricky to weave around cars to cross the road, because cars and buses can unexpectedly be on the move at any time.   Sidewalks are just as hectic and bustles with activities.  Food vendors and vehicles block sidewalks, and are used for parking leaving little room to manoeuvre around pavements.    

Thu Thu's wedding: Kevin and Kinsaw in their traditional Longyis

 Similarly, buses are no different to congested roads.  At first, Kevin and I took a taxi with our Cuso cohort to ICO.  On the third day, we decided to take a local bus to and from the Cuso office.  We thought if we left our apartment earlier than usual, we’d be ahead of ourselves and avoid the traffic jam.   Not so!   It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, local buses are jam-packed, and I mean jam-packed!  If the bus isn’t full, the bus waits – it could be as much as a 30-minute waiting period at any given bus stop – until the bus is crammed with locals.  However, we quickly got used to the overflowing buses, being packed like sardines.  After all, two extra bodies crammed in the bus like sardines didn’t make any difference to us or anyone else!  Joining the ‘madding crowd’, there was a day that Kevin and I took a chance and jumped on the overflowing bus whilst it was still running.– lol.  

Thannaka wood is made into a paste and applied on faces and arms for sun protection

Elsewhere in Yangon, on the weekend, we took a rickety train to and from Hledan Centre where we're staying .  The train was full on the way to the core of downtown; there were no seats to be had until the second last stop.

Throughout our first week in Yangon, we found the Myanmar people to be friendly, humble and helpful -we often come across smiling  ‘Thanaka’ faces with a chorus of hellos 'Mingalaba' in the Myanmar language.  People will also stop to speak to us, to practice their English with us.  We also found that we're getting by easily, despite the little English Myanmar people have.

In terms of temperature, though it's almost the end of the dry season, it's unbearably hot and muggy.  There’s been times that we’ve had a down pour in the evening that will last for about an hour or two to cool things down, at least, for a little while.

Dried fish

We have another week of ICO: orientation and language training before we are whisked away to our placements: Nay Pyi Taw for us - where my placement is.  Though we are still a little apprehensive about what we will find there ...  We have decided to be open minded, and think positively with our new adventure! 

Water station

That is all for now.  In the meantime here are photos of one day in the life of a local in Yangon and at the Shwedagon pagoda that we visited with our Cuso cohort and our Myanmar language teacher.

Wishing you fun reading and lots of laughter  for May ...

Shwedagon Pagoda

More later ... :)