nice girls vs angry birds, a photo from Bago, South

Photographer's Note

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I arrived in Bago, comming by train from Yangon.2 hours/ 1$ in the upper class.
Most tourists visit Bago by a daytrip.This is the reason why there are only few hotels/guesthouses in the city center. And these are in a very bad condition. I prebooked a big room in a motel( with pool) about 4 kilometers away from the railwaystation. An extreme thin man maybe 60-65 years old offered me to drive me there with his bicyvle rickshaw ,but I was concerned about his health, because it was about noon and very hot and denied.
Estimating the age of asian people is very difficult for us westeners. I guess vice versa , too.
Then Myo, a young man offered my to drive to my room with his scooter. There I invited him for a cold drink and he offered to show me the highlights of Bago.
He picked me up the next morning and we had a wonderful day.
Myo speaks very good english and is a fantastic guide.
At day 2, I asked him to show me some nice places where the day tourist don`t go.
He had to think about a few minutes and then we drove to some temples and pagodas in the periphery of Bago, a rubberplantation and a monastery where many western tourists stay 1-2 month for meditation.
Day 3: I explored Bago by bicycle and enjoyed the pool .
Day 4: Myo picked me up again and invited me for dinner at his home. We have seen many more places of interest for me as a forreigner, small markets, a primary school, where the kids, teachers and I had a lot of fun, a wedding and a voodoo priest at a ceremony of exorcism. Finally we bought some beer and drove to his home . His wife had prepared a fantstic local vegeterian dinner with many side dishes.
It was such a peaceful and friendly atmosphere and I felt very, very comfortable.
On my I pad I showed the family photos of Mandalay,Sittwe, Mrauk U,Inle lake,……
Places where they have never been.
And finally “angry birds “ for the girls.
I donated this wonderful family about 40$ for the repair of the scooter`s front light,schooluniforms and books for the children.
Myo and his wife have two daughters (red dress). He adopted the other two girls from his sister.
Their parents died at a bus accident when they have been very young.
This Photo shows the girls and Myo`s parents
I add two ws Photos.
I visited Myo and his family two years later again.
To get in contact with locals and seeing and learning much more about a culture is for me much more worth than taking photos of the touristic highlights.
I´m still in contact with Myo and send his family sometimes a few dollars.

holmertz, ikeharel, Royaldevon, jhm, Ilonka1974, jemaflor, PaulVDV, ricardomattos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (103694) 2020-12-17 4:58

Hello Ronny,
As photos they are like taken from a family album and in a way of less interest to TE members. But they show glimpses of ordinary life in an ordinary family's home, much less "exotic" than those usually visited by tourists, so in that way they have a value.

My strongest memory of Pegu is actually the train ride back to Rangoon in the evening. My 3rd class coach was almost entirely made of wood and the floor was covered with hay. There was no electricity so the only light was from candles "glued" to the backs of the benches. It was a terrifying idea that one candle knocked over by accident could turn the entire coach on fire in seconds. I spent the journey standing by a door, ready to jump out, with some chance of survival, rather then being burned to death.
Regards,
Gert

Royaldevon (86520) 2020-12-17 7:25

Hello Ronny,

This is a very heart warming story, revealing joint trust and friendship between you and this delightful family.

I wonder, had the children ever seen a tablet before? They seem totally engrossed in it but, then, most children of that age would also be fascinated!

Your photographs, though relatively personal, are well worth sharing on TE, for they show details of a Myanmar family, their dress and home.
Your photographs are sharp, and colourful, though the lighting was probably not bright.
Along with your notes, this is a very interesting series.

I once visited poor, village schools in Pakistan and though we took pens and pencils, erasers and felt-tipped pens, in abundance, as well as coloured paper and exercise books, we still collected lots of books (on our return) and posted them to the schools, for the conditions were quite Dickensian!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

Silvio1953 (223027) 2020-12-17 8:16

Ciao Ronny, nice scene with cute children, excellent clarity, splendid light, fine details and wonderful colors very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Tue (93530) 2020-12-17 10:38

Hello Ronny,
A great family portrait with the man and woman on both sides of the group of girls, all gather around the tablet computer. Only one of them noticing you taking a picture. Good colours and lighting also.
Lars

jhm (211738) 2020-12-17 10:57

Hello Ronny,

My English is not good, but I've read your note, I've real much admiration that you a gives gift for the four girls, also the parents still take two child being, what a splendid family, maybe must people out of our country this read, certainly them children, and you back after two year this is fantastic.
My congratulations Ronny.
Wonderful sharpness family picture.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

foxy (3527) 2020-12-17 11:20

Hello Ronny,
It's wonderful story - the beginning till the end.
You met a stranger as a guide , as the days went by, the friendship is bond , the hospitality he and his family showed to you is priceless. Clearly shown in these photos esp the WS1. Yeah, you do look very comfortable and the happy bunch of smiling girls , they're more interested in the 'angry birds' except one girl with a rabbit headband. One thing for sure, they all have 'thanaka' on their cheeks.
Surprisingly, you were not wearing longyi like Myo:-)
What you're giving is not much in $ but it meant a lot to him and his family. That's show , you've big heart.
I know that Myanmar is beautiful and interesting country but what's put me off , the ongoing conflict of Rohingya people.
Thanks for sharing this pleasant family.
Loong

Ilonka1974 (10307) 2020-12-17 11:26

Hi Ronny,
Your gift to a family in need is worth following.
The world would be a lot different if people helped each other.
Great appreciation for your attitude.
Beautiful photos and interesting note .
Best regards,
Janusz

emka (158932) 2020-12-17 12:15

Hello Ronny,
Fantastic story. I am sure that Myo will also remember your visit forever. For me, contacts with locals are also very important. It is why I liked the idea of Couchsurfing so much. But after the first spontaneous years, this site lost his charm. But I still remember my many guests from all over the world and also my hosts. It was very interesting to see how they live, what the think and so on. Other things related to this are the languages. I usually learn the most important phrases in the local language, whatever it is. Even say 20 words are very helpful and people look at you differently and are friendlier. Even now, I try to learn a new language before my trip just after the New Year.
I also spent a night in a hotel in Bago. I visited some nice places beside the Gold Rock, but I do not remember at the moment. Do you remember the other photo site, Photopedia? For my picture of Palmyra, I got such an Ipad. Maybe this one is also from them?
Of course, it is great that I can SEE you in Workshop.
Best regards MAlgo

lousat (140046) 2020-12-17 16:21

Hi Ronny,your adventure was really great. Meeting locals who take you to visit places that tourists ignore is always great. You can get to know the real local customs and traditions, as well as the houses and the cuisine, as happened to you at the end of this beautiful experience. Three photos from his house, a perfect complement to your story. Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

CMJC (5115) 2020-12-17 22:39 [Comment]

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jemaflor (148306) 2020-12-17 23:07

Hi Ronny,
Well photographed these girls, interesting photo well made, perfect sharpness and colors, good photogenic attitude, tfs.

PaulVDV (63530) 2020-12-18 11:18

Hello Ronny,
On my tour in Myanmar long time ago I didn't travel by train.
At the time, travellers were advised to give as little or no money as possible to the state, but to travel by private buses or pick-ups.
Of course you had to purchase the visa. As a result, you could never travel in the country without paying anything to the state of Myanmar. At the time it was possible to avoid the compulsory exchange of dollars in tourist money at the airport. No idea if that system of Burmese money (kyat) and tourist money (I forgot the name) still exists?
I understand the difficulty of estimating the age of a Burmese person.
At the time of my trip, I was in my early 40s and I remember that the average life expectancy in Myanmar was not much higher. A few times I had contact with someone who looked much older than me but turned out to be younger. I found it so sad that Burmans I estimated in their 60s turned out to be younger than me. It was also a difficult confrontation for these people.
I admit I also like to visit famous monuments and touristic highlights. But travelling in a country where you can have contact with the inhabitants is so much more rewarding.
That's why I like these pictures very much.
The smile of the girl in the center (third girl from left) in your main photo is so endearing.
The thanaka on the cheeks makes it extra charming.
Best regards, Paul

ricardomattos (17600) 2020-12-20 6:56

Hi Ronny,

Li sua nota e para mim estas fotos tem um valor inestimável. As meninas são verdadeiras princesas e me sensibilizei com a história delas ( as adotadas ). Agora todas são irmãs. Realmente a convivencia mais proxima da cultura e de uma família como esta vale muito mais que belas fotos. Você tem um grande coração e espero que esta família seja muito feliz.

Parabéns e um grande abraço

Ricardo

ChrisJ (172436) 2020-12-20 23:28

Hello Ronny,

I am not up to date on all the latest play station and video games so I guess angry birds is a computer game. A good daily life scene of the smiling girls and the watchful father in the bg. Tfs!

mkamionka (75197) 2021-02-06 11:47

Hi Ronny,
lovely photo and a great note. Yes it makes a huge difference if you can help a concrete person over there, not a foundation, I have a feeling most foundations steal the money... What you do is a beautiful thing to do. Your note is certainly very inspiring, and I appreciate you sharing it.
I have quite a different approach to everything.
First of all I was born and raised in a poor country and poor family. Obviously it has evolved now and the poverty in Asia is a completely different story, however I actually feel I know personally so many people in my home town who desperately need help. Last year my friend from childhood set his flat on fire and jumped out of window, he was not able to pay his bills or find a job. A great person who was taking care about his sick father. But this is just one example.
I feel guilty of not helping these people. In Poland there are many inequalities, people in big cities have a standard of life like in the west, people in small towns and villages, live poor lives. That is one aspect. Another: many people travel around to meet people and learn about how they live. I had a chance to live in some quite international environments, culture melting pots like Los Angeles. I met so many people of different cultures and stories. But I am still fighting to ensure a better standard of life for my family. So my interest in other cultures has dropped, I have to focus on earning bread for the family.
Another aspect: also because of the places I lived in, I became more sensitive to the beauty of the world, landscapes, architecture. This is the best way I can relax. So when I go somewhere, I don't search for how people live but rather want to visit some beautiful spots, these memories keep me going through relatively grey daily life.
Anyway, I share that not to argue which approach is better but to show that people may have various reasons to travel, different story of life, experience, and may appreciate various things there.
M