BAGAN Enlightenment

‎"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine." -Thomas Jefferson

And so the four of us, plus one local teacher, defied  authorities and Saturday duty and went to our 8-hour trip to Bagan by bus. And the Principal gave in saying we needed this trip for us to be enlightened.  It is said that every Myanmar should visit Bagan  and without going to Bagan you cannot say that you have visited Myanmar.  Mingalabar (pronounced as Minggalabah, which means Greetings!) from the Golden Land! We walked where the earth angels have trod, enveloped in a thick fog, under the morning sun, climbed temples for enlightenment with the four winds, and with glad and light hearts, we watched the sunset from about 30 meters above the ground with wondering awe.

                                  Bagan with over 2000 Pagodas and Temples in upper Myanmar

Ananda temple is considered to be one of the most surviving masterpiece of the Mon architecture. Also known as the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples.

Thatbyinnyu means "omniscience" which the Lord Buddha attained on becoming enlightened.  So I guess we got the answers to our questions here =)

Dhammayangyi Temple is noted for its massiveness. The name "Dhammayangyi" as interpreted by scholars, means "The Light of Buddha's Teaching."

While the sun sets...

This was the best trip I have ever had in Myanmar with Amabel, Cheryl and Espe. Miss ZinMin is very cool to join us in this trip. And here is our never ending fun pictures in the Land of Pagodas. Myanmar people lived in these lands for centuries but unfortunately as with everything in Myanmar, the military started clearing them in 1990. Who would have thought I would be here after 22 years?

Parang Living Room nyo lang a :)

Espe's  enlightenment :)

Holding on for our dear lives

Avoiding the Police Officers, hahaha!

THE FOUR GALS : THE ENLIGHTENED

Amabel and I

Yangon Market

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." - MArk Twain: The Sawyer Abroad

And it's true. I have known Amabel years back in Thailand. A spirited and a witty, funny woman. I liked her then. But being with her in Myanmar is totally liking her to the highest level. And because of our travels together that I am certain that our friendship extends the boundaries of Burma. it is always sad to leave a place to which one knows one will never return. Such are the melancholies of du voyage.  Perhaps they are one of the most rewarding about travelling. And the things I saw in Myanmar, I have seen with the traveller's eyes. And the people I have known, I have come to love. But Myanmar is never an interesting place for me without Amabel and the 2 more gals: Espie and Cheryl. I want to share our travel pictures exclusive of just Amabel and I. We want to make good time, but for us now this is measured with the emphasis on "good" rather than on "time"...

One weekend in AMARAPURA: City of the Immortals.

U Pain Bridge: The oldest bridge in Myanmar

Traveling in other countries is especially fun because others often attribute your differences to the less-stigmatizing idea that you're like this only because you're a foreigner :)

Falling in love is easy. But staying in love is very special.  And this couple found a very special love.

A little imagination goes a long way in Myanmar

RAIN is coming on our way!

It dawned on me, that it is romantic to just sit on the bridge and just talk about nonsense  with the love of your life, while waiting for the sunset.

They are Peter, James and John, their English names.

These pictures were taken at Mem-Yo.  It is just about 2 and a half hours drive from Mandalay City. They say it is cold all year round. So we brought our magic 'pashmina' this time just in case we shiver. :)

The secret to youth is to fill your mind with beauty!

I suppose that every wanderer started in a garden somewhere. So few of us are born into motion.

Foreign lands never yield their secrets to a traveller. The best they offer are tantalising snippets, just enough to inflame the imagination. The secrets they do reveal are your own - the ones you have kept from yourself. And this is reason enough to travel, to leave home.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do... Explore. Dream. Discover.” 
― Mark Twain

The trees grow silently.

black and white

A wise man travels to discover himself.

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.

I didn't know that the world could be so mind-blowingly beautiful.

In the empty immensity of earth, sky, and water, there she was, incomprehensible, firing into a continent.

I don't want to understand you

These pictures have nothing to do with my post. Just a random picture taken by my friend during one of our travels. I also do not know the guy =)

I don’t want to understand you anymore. Behind your smiles, hides a sharp, poisonous fang that kills slowly.

Behind that laughter lies the bitter thoughts of wrath.  You cover your intentions with soft-spoken words with potion to destroy.

Your plated good deeds accumulate high interest of hate and detest.  You loathe gossip but the irony of it sustains you.

You keep your animosity to people who hurt you; in return you hurt them back, not realizing you are inflicting the same pain to yourself. It is obvious that you don’t know that there is no excuse for bad behavior.

 You, who give the impression of not hurting a fly can in fact draw hundred of swords in one breath and have the ability to shatter dreams. 

You, who preach charity but never practice it. You to me are likened to a hydra, petrified by the very eyes of Medusa so you seek refuge to Olympus. And you mistook your gods’ feigning support as a sign of you being divine. Wake up. Because you never will be. 

You have lost your reason and have taken the wrong path. You have taken lies for truth and hideousness for beauty.

You marvel if, owing to strange events of some sorts, frogs and lizards are actually magical creatures, or if roses began to smell like stagnant water; so I marvel at you who exchange heaven for earth.

I don’t want to understand you.

dream - catcher

Good Morning picture. There, finally had the courage to take a picture first thing after
 I opened my eyes in the morning and post it.

My dreams carried you to me and I to you

through portals that stay open

lighted by the blue moon that whispered the magical words

softly, like a kiss, that floats in the air

embracing you, embracing me

My dreams carried me to you

like a river following its path to an endless possibility

like the stars that know its course

like a pebble being tossed about

and yet leads to a road that goes on and on

My dreams carried you to me

with the sight and smell

that  brings me back to our world where

the unspoken truth understood

where the melodies familiar

where our hearts meet

 My dreams carried me to you

and that Eden lives inside you and breathe Creation

 to endless gardens and twinkling stars

where we live in joy forever

You in me, and me in you.

Myanmar, Samsung and I

I love full moons. And Mandalay has made me appreciate it  even more. Almost every full moon is celebrated with a festival in Myanmar. And I commited these holidays into memory. If there are  two things I like about Myanmar,  it is these full moon festivals and its sunsrise and sunset. Personally I think it is picturesque and captivating. I am positive that we get breathtaking view of the sun wherever part of the world we are. But here, It is usually  the first thing you’ll ever notice. I just regret I did not bring my camera to capture this beautiful thing that makes me want to wake up early every morning. But the snapper in me finds a way – Bless the android phones J

Time doesn’t fly here.  Most of the time I get bored. Maybe because I don’t have anything else to do here. However mundane my life has become, I have learned to use it to my advantage. I get the chance to really re asses, think, and plan my next move. Good news is, I can’t wait to start! But at the moment, I am going to enjoy Myanmar. Here is the checklist I need to do:

1.       Sneak-swim at Sedona Hotel’s inviting pool (non-members are not allowed)

2.       Hike Mandalay Hill and nearby hills J

3.       Go to Bagan

4.       Visit Golden Mountain in Yangon

5.       Put Thanaka on the face  the same ways Burmese do

6.       Take Pictures

7.       Walk around the Mandalay  Mote

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

I wrote the one above about 2 months ago and it is still saved in My Blogs file. As I read it again, I was amazed to see how I am fulfilling everything in my check list.  I still have to go to BAGAN and to the GOLDEN MOUNTAIN though. Though I brought my camera now with me, I am hoping to take more pictures and to travel more around Mandalay. I have to take a picture of myself  with Thanaka on my face too!

I must admit that when homesickness kicks in, I long to go home in an instant. But the incredible part is that I don’t feel that so forlorn anymore being in this country.I think because I set my mind to be happy. And personally, I think each of us should really make a radical change once in a while in our lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which we may previously never have thought of doing, or been hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of whicch may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.

As much as we would like to bolt for home as quickly as possible, sometimes it is therapeutic to unleash the  adventurous spirits hiding in the still deep. Home will always be there. We will always long for home. That is certain. But once in a while we have to leave home and bring back with us new discoveries. Otherwise, we see ourselves right back to the same situation which we see everyday and thus fail to discover all the wonderful things that God has placed around us to discover. I'm not saying we have to be nomadic. And I don't want to be one. What I am saying is we just have to have the courage to turn against our habitual lifestyle and take the opportunity to revolutionize our life and move into an entirely new realm of experience. 


For a start, bug some friends, along with trusted male friends (you don't know when you will be needing some male intimidation, or just having  them around is pure fun - you know, THEM, being hilarious and all, hehehe) and hit the road. Drive around. Maybe you'll see that familiar road with a different eye from now on. And drive more, with your companion holding a map, or a GPS inside your car, or trust your google map or just asking your way around.  Then you'll know what I am talking about. It's worth it even when you get lost :)

a.real.sad.story

while i went through my files i found this. well, you may be in the same situation. it could happen to you and me. read on.

15.oct.09

He asked me,  “How would you feel if i tell you that I want out of this relationship? And what would you do?”

I said: 

I would feel betrayed of course. I will cry a lot. I will ask you why and how it happened. I will ask you if there is someone else. I would prefer to hear you say YES rather than saying No, there isn’t  someone else, but then the truth is there is a ‘she’ standing next to me.  I  could curse you, would probably say the F word.  But if you’re sorry that you hurt me I will ask you to give ‘us’ another chance. If you still love me.  If you want to give it one more chance. But if you don’t,  I will not spend my lifetime making you love me wholly.  I would rather cry now than later when we are married you’d cheat on me. I am not going to keep you.  Because if I mean that much to you, you should have known my worth.  But think very hard.  Think what you are going to miss when you let go of me. Think of  the long years that we have been through. Think  over and over again.

Then he said, “I’m thinking what I’m going to miss if I don’t  tell her that I love her”.

Me:  “You are telling me that? In my face? Come on Jonas be serious.

Jonas: Of course I am sorry it has to end this way. I love you but my heart beats faster for her. I don’t want to cause you  pain by telling you more. You made me happy, I swear! But she completes me.

ME: Did I not complete you?  Maybe you just got excited and that you mistook that excitement for love. Did you get bored?  Ten Years Jonas! Do you want to put that away in just a snap?

Jonas: No Venus. I loved her the moment I realized that I am not just infatuated. I realized that I love her

when  everytime we speak I can be myself and that I am not thinking to impress her. I knew I love her when i began to think of her most of the time, particularly the last person I think when I close my eyes. I love her when she speaks my name. I thought I am not that guy for her. But thinking that way, it would really make me not that guy. But I want to be the man for her.  For years I convinced myself that there  is no way that we could be a couple. But the more I tell it to myself, the more my heart cries for her. I loved her for long I did not notice. I have lived my  whole life not realizing that what I’m looking for is right in front of me. I want to be there for her. 

ME: Jonas,   I mean every word I said. I am not the type of a woman who throws things.  Maybe I could slap you.  I would let you go, now that I know that someone else is the reason of your everything. Although I admit that it is painful, I don’t like to be the second best. I deserve to be happy with the person  who thinks am the one for him. But if there is still a little love left in you, I would cling to that and make you love me again.  But I am not your girlfriend. I can not assure you that she would do the same. As a friend, I hope you choose the one who could make you happy. Do not think of anyone else. Just you and that person.

Jonas: I’m torn. I don’t want to hurt her. But I love Maya.

ME: it’s your call.

She is Maya. He is Jonas. You bet it’s not their real names.  They were neighbors, went to kinder together, have the same alma mater,  both good looking. They have different friends growing up but shared common friends when they were young adults. She is introvert and he is the oposite.   He is INC. She is a Christian. They are good friends.  Maybe even best friends. Maya had 3 past relationships  and is currently dating a wonderful guy.  Jonas seem to be happy in his  10-year old relationship.  So when Maya told me that he is in love with Jonas, I don’t know what to say. She said it just happened and she has no plans of telling him. She is the type of girl who waits. But then, most of us do. That was a year ago and now she is engaged to Paul. Finally!

Jonas called to tell me about her wedding. And I told him that I already knew and happy about it.  Imagine my surprise when he cried and told me that he loves her! I was stunned. And again I don’t know what to say.  Was it my fault not telling Jonas about how Maya felt for him 2 years ago? Or was it his fault not telling Maya?  Or could it be Maya’s fault?  He said that  it just happened.  “What  should I do?” he asked. What should I tell him? Should I keep my silence?. He asked me, “If you are my girlfriend, how would you feel? And what would you do?”

My job is to let them talk. I made up a story telling them both to meet up and ask the other what was it all about.   

The next email I got from both of them is not at all like what we see in the movies.  Jonas got the worst break-up, then admitted to  Maya about his feelings. Maya  can’t call the engagement off. Paul will be devastated. But  jonas emphasized that his gf was devastated too. It is obvious that they love each other. Maya wrote: Marrying and loving a person are two different things. It is possible that the one you love the most is not the person you married.

I was sad.  Because everyone deserves to be happy. At least Jonas got to tell the girl  of his dreams that he loves her.He is now free of the could-have beens and the what if’s, had he chosen to keep his silence.  And Maya,with tears in her eyes asked Jonas “Why only now? I have been waiting for this moment to come. Can we sacrifice those people who love us so much?”  if I were on her shoes, I don’t know how to tell my fiance about it, too. But If It happens to me, I will choose the one who can make me laugh and can talk about everything over and over again, because he will continue to do so for the rest of my mortal life. Because there will come a point in a married life that the only precious thing you can hold on to is laughter and a feel good conversation. Most people fail at whatever they attempt because of an undecided heart. Should I? Should I not? Go forward? Go back? Success requires the emotional balance of a committed heart. When confronted with a challenge, the committed heart will search for a solution. The undecided heart searches for an escape. A committed heart does not wait for conditions to be exactly right. Why? Because conditions are never exactly right. Indecision limits the Almighty and His ability to perform miracles in your life.

When Maya stood up and head for the door, Jonas  said, “you’re all worth it Maya”.  But Maya  never looked back.  Well, she should have.

Till We Meet Again

She was the first person who was very nice to me when I was assigned in the Treasury Department 15 years ago. She was patient enough to teach me.  She was one among the few with genuine smiles.  She said she would like me to be her daughter-in-law and she will give me all her jewelries J.  That I politely declined with my warmest smile. Her son and I are purely friends and that we don’t see each other differently as lovers do. But she said, “Never mind the spark, it will come later.”  But young as we were and very idealistic, we gave importance to LOVE. She stopped asking me to be her daughter-in-law when her son married the girl of his dreams. That was when I became comfortable joking around her and calling her Mommy Ems J  I  cannot remember but I think I spent almost a year in  LGU Victoria and worked in a bank afterwards then moved to Manila to practice my teaching profession.  That’s when I met the man of my choice and saw less of her. There was one time when I introduced him to her when we were both in Victoria for the holidays. She said, “nagwap gwapo met ay anak ko a nga adayu” (my son is far more good looking than your bf). I just laughed and told her that he is also Ilocano and understood what she said. She did not take it back, instead she told him that she really liked me to be her daughter-in-law.

Whatever private opinion they have about her, I couldn’t care less. They say she was very frank and straightforward and offended some, I remember her as the gentle woman who smiles so sweetly. Who did not offend any single soul in their entire life, if I may ask? Who did not become a bitch even for a while? But She is not perfect. And so are we. But to many she remains to be the graceful and cheerful lady of the Treasury Department. I remember her courageousness and bravery. I admire her convictions. Her colleagues will remember her selflessness. Her smiles will remain in my memory. Her battle against cancer has ended. Her frail body  surrendered  to her illness. She may not be as beautiful as she was during her hay day, but her heart is beautiful. I will remember her fondly. I remember I told my cousin that I would like to see her. She said I better not if i will just cry. They know that it’s hard for me to suppress my tears and Manang Emy doesn’t like to see anyone crying. Because surely she will not just cry.

She is Manang Emy to everyone. And though she was not really my mother-in-law, I am glad that once in this lifetime we were in-laws in our unique ways. May you rest in peace Mommy Ems. Till we meet again.