Reflections from Myanmar Trip

I just got back from a one week holiday from Myanmar last Sunday morning. Friends were puzzled that I was actually on a vacation to such a backward country. "What's there to see?", most raised their brows and asked me. Here's what I gained from this trip:

Appreciation of a nice, clean house to go back to everyday.

The above picture is actually home to a family.

Appreciation of being born in a safe and clean country.

Appreciation that our children can be brought up

with good food, toys, education.

There are kids I could not bare to watch with dirty clothes

and eating whatever they could find.

Realization of the importance of finding peace deep within myself.

There are people so poor financially and yet so rich in spiritual peace.

Such can be seen from the many faces with genuine smiles.

Appreciation that we have clean and safe drinkable water piped to our houses.

There are people who can't afford to have even a toilet or bath room.

Showering means splashing of cold icy water

right in front of the house wrapped in sarongs.

Seeing the effects of Nagris. This huge tree got uprooted.

I am thankful to have good public transport and safe to take.

This is the way people go to work or anywhere everyday.

I realized how spoilt I am for choice of good, clean food. And variety, too.

There are people who can't afford to talk

about cleaniless or variety when income is an issue.

I am thankful that I have a good job with decent pay check

to bring home every month.

There are people who get less than SGD1.00

for carrying loads up and down a slope each leg lasting 45min.

It was not the usual kind of vacation that anyone would take but I am glad I did. Many friends came back from vacations with feelings of not wanting to come back. I came back eagerly. I felt so blessed that I have such a beautiful country to come back to.

Thanks to all who crossed my path in Myanmar.

You have given me the gift of counting my blessings.