Paying it forward - My SG50 post

0 Comments

So sorry for my lack of posts the past weeks.
I finally got a new adaptor for my mac charger - luckily my mac is still under warranty. It's still a baby. But I had to pay USD10 for a two-pin plug for Myanmar. So lame. Complicated process so I won't explain.

Also, I kinda fell a bit ill with flu and cough the past week and my voice still sounds stuck.

And... I am happy to say I've been considerably busy the past few weeks, which is another reason why I haven't been blogging. I don't know if you guys should feel happy for me because when I have too much time, I get to blog frequently for you guys, but when I don't... I can't. BUT YOU GUYS HAVE TO FEEL HAPPY FOR ME!!!

I'll try my best to keep up with my posts lah~

Anyway, I know you guys must be wondering what the most patriotic person on earth did in another place when she couldn't celebrate in her own home country eh?

I've been meaning to write this post but yes, now I can.

As my post title says, paying it forward - I'll tell you why. And of all days... SG 50, a series of fortunate events : )

So I didn't want my SG50 to be uneventful over here so I decided to head out on my own to explore a local market, which hasn't been explored by many tourists. Must be adventurous when in Yangon yeah. And I decided to take a train out.

While getting my ticket, I noticed a girl behind me who was following my every move. "a lost traveller", I thought. Definitely not from around here coz of her makeup. Mmm.. I wonder where she's from.

And yes, I'm gonna jump the gun. I had a strange feeling that she was.... Singaporean.

I asked her, "Do you need help?" The moment she opened her mouth, I had my answer. As luck would have it, and of all days, I had to meet my fellow countryman. For the whole month of July, I never met a Singaporean on my travels. Even up till now, I never ran into any luck of meeting Singaporeans on the road. In the first place, it's already difficult to find tourists, so meeting a Singaporean... on National Day.... Really, what are the bloody odds.

Of course, I had to ask, "WHY AREN'T YOU BACK AT HOME????" hahahah. Well, I don't remember her reason... But nevertheless, I helped her get to the railway platform to purchase her ticket.

While waiting for our train, we met a couple. The man was Malaysian, while the lady was Japanese. I initiated conversation with them. Turned out, we were all headed in the same direction but to different destinations.

After about 30-45 mins of talking at the platform and on the train, they decided to change route and follow me instead! I became the tour guide.

This is Thiri Mingalar Market:

A lady sleeping amongst a whole load of bananaaaas!

And here's Sherie! The Singaporean gal~ We had a bit of durian hehe.

And the couple we met.

Yoko was unprepared for the photo bahahaha.

I really liked all of them, they were laid back and we surprisingly shared a lot about ourselves even though we had had only met hours ago.

After that, the Singaporeans and couple parted ways so that we could head down for an SG50 celebration over at a Singaporean-owned pub. The atmosphere was all right, nothing much to report about. My mom sent me photos of my family and relatives celebrating at my crib with AWESOME FOOD. Nabeh, I was so jealous. And reading all those Facebook posts about how awesome the atmosphere was back at home... argh. But I didn't get homesick hahaha. Though definitely jealous that I couldn't soak in all the festivities together with them.

I'm not finished with my Singaporean friend and couple story because before we all parted, we promised to have another meal together because we enjoyed each other's company a lot.

So we met up for dinner the next day, before everyone else's flight back home.

What touched me was how the couple treated us to that meal. What I didn't tell you was earlier on, they treated Sherie and I to almost everything. I kept refusing but they kept insisting.

That night, I shoved money into Yoko's hand but she shoved it right back into my CHEST. Literally into my clothes hahaha because I kept running away. And here's the thing... we were all strangers, but they were so open and willing to pay and even asked us to come to Japan someday and told us they'd take care of us. I dunno how or why but I came to trust these people so fast. Mere strangers at the beginning but a friendship was forged. I get touched easily when people do these things for me. They didn't have to, yet they did. And there were no strings attached. What would they get from doing these things for me? Nothing. I am nobody to them right now. Yet, they were so kind!

Another reason was also because I felt jaded by how I hadn't experienced this sort of kindness from my own fellow Singaporeans living here (pretty disappointed with them). But they? They were different.

And I told myself to remember them. And to pay their kind act forward : )

Here's a photo to commemorate that evening. That's Sherie's Singaporean friend who has a business in Myanmar and joined us for the night.

After that, Sherie, her friend, and I went to a bar and this was the magnificent view of the Shwedagon Pagoda at night:

So. Freakin. Beautiful.

And I can't get enough of it. Ever.

Prettiest in the night.

At the bar, we talked a lot. About the business industry and all. I came to realise one thing... and I'll share with you guys what I think of businessmen some day. Yeah, it isn't something very pretty I must say.

When we had to go home, I haggled with taxi drivers for a lower price to take us. When none of the taxi drivers agreed to it, one suddenly stepped forward and said he'd take us. I knew he wasn't exactly very happy about it but I knew it was brave of him to do it coz he let his ego down when all his other mates didn't want to appear like they'd accept such a deal. (I, on the other hand, didn't want to settle coz I knew they were asking for too high a price -.- Not a tourist ok hello)

Once the other two alighted, I was the last to reach home and I decided to give the driver an amount higher than what I had haggled for - I gave him the original price. Coz I knew it was a damn brave thing for him to step forward. I told him, "you're a good man" and handed him the money. He smiled back and I hope he got what I said. But I'm happy to have been able to pay it forward, after what the couple did for us... Though paying it forward doesn't necessarily always mean in monetary terms.

My National Day, though wasn't spent at home, was filled with unexpected surprises. And it's always these surprises that make travelling all worth the while.

Before we all parted, I found out that Sherie has quite a following on her blog! So I met a pretty famous blogger ; ) Her blog is: http://sherie-saccharine.com

I must admit I haven't got down to browsing it yet, but I will! And she gave a blog entry on her travel in Yangon. I've got to read that one eh? : )

Alright, see y'all soon! Promise to write more. I've visited a number of art galleries recently unintentionally and met a few angmohs at the famous Pansodan Gallery who gave me a few valuable insights. Ya know, it's typical talking to an angmoh and learning a few stuff from them coz they always have whacky thoughts and think deeply about issues + have many opinions about issues. That's one thing I like about them. They can talk. And you can talk to them.

Also.. I've been going to church. Don't ask why I always end up going to church man. It's like New Zealand all over again when I went to church every single week for a few months. I think it's gonna happen here too. Is this a sign?!?!?! Good Lord, can I not overthink for once?

Haha, see you.