3 Lessons I Learned from Burmese

I know very little about Myanmar. I am lucky to have had the chance to travel to Myanmar for work last year. It got me wonder how is the culture of Burmese and how does the country looks like before I travelled. I’ve heard a lot about the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda and the friendly Burmese from my fiance. It turned out to be true, I gained unforgettable lessons while travelling through Myanmar. Here are my top 3 lessons:

GRATITUDE

Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia with a population of 55 million people. A half century of military dictatorship in Myanmar, it has officially ended in 2011. The Burmese had been through hell and endured the worst. I was told that in the past they speak cautiously and always have to watch their backs in case “someone is listening” due to dictatorship political system.

Daily life of Burmese also reflected 24.8% population lives below poverty line (vs Malaysia poverty rate at 0.4%). Many Burmese force to leave their spouse, children and elderly to earn a living in foreign counties. Despite all the hardships, they remain resilient and optimistic. The positive outlook on life that Burmese taught me to be grateful for the lives we have been given, stop dwelling on the madness of materialism and "first world problems" which most we created it. A great realisation for me on how lucky we are to be born in economically and politically stable country, we should not take things for granted. Gratitude changes everything, be content with what we have.

LESS IS MORE

After decades of isolation from the world, what we noticed from the daily life of Burmese is interesting unique. Longyi sarung and slippers are popular among Burmese, Thanaka yellowish cream is a must to apply on the face especially for the ladies. The elderly relax enjoying tea at the hawker stalls, whereas the young ones strolling on the streets. Thousands of people set up stalls in the walkways selling street foods, clothes, slippers, fixing umbrellas and sewing machines.

Most of the daily trading in cash and almost no credit card you can find. It was fascinating to see some rich Burmese carry plastic bag that full of cash, and yet they do not shop a lot to maintain a happy life. From them I learned "less is more" and the simplicity of living a happy life.

HUMILITY

Myanmar is one of the most devout Buddhist countries in the world, also known as the “land of pagodas”. From the breathtaking ancient Bagan pagodas to magnificent gold Shwedagon Pagoda, there are countless of pagodas in Myanmar. The pagoda plays an important role in the daily life of Burmese, worshippers visit pagodas every day to offer flowers and prayer since the ancient times.

Burmese are extremely polite and humble, we often greeted with warm smile and friendly hello. I wasn’t religious but I totally agree the importance of having faith and humility in our life. "Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues." - Confucius

My first Myanmar trip has given me profound and unforgettable experience. The uniqueness of the country makes it worth visiting again. If you are thinking about a trip to Myanmar, I hope you will experience an eye opening journey fill with gratitude and happiness like i do.