The Last full day in Myanmar

The next day was not so early start. Mass was at 7.30 followed by a relaxed breakfast. Today I was being taken to the cultural village. I didn’t really want to go but sister Ann had set her heart on taking me there saying that everyone like it. But I knew from first hand that they found it a bit boring. Really all it was different houses and implements that the different states of Myanmar used like the Shans, and Kochins. The state run tourists attractions are a joke really, for the people who run them get so little money that they do not put in the effort and who can blame them. The different houses are actually used by those who look after them as real houses when the ‘Theme Park’ (again I us these words very loosely indeed) is closed. One of the regions shown is in the mountains so they have built fibre glass mountains with a little bridge over a small chasm. It seems that this is the highlight of the locals visit here. As it turned out the the place was quite full I was the only foreigner there. Another thing that is quite amusing is if they have a camera at all it will be a really old one. Sister tells me that most of the time there is no film in it anyway as it is too expensive to buy.

The trip to the cultural park and back was much more interesting because it was out of Yangon into the deprived areas. What people have to live in is awful and there no wonder why the mortality rate over here is so high. Some people have to live cheek to jowl in absolute hovels and when the rain hits them they have to contend with the mud and dirt. It must be a nightmare for those living under those conditions. And what keeps going through ones mind that this is all happening because of the greed of the few. The sisters try to the best of their ability and resources to relieve the poverty of a few, but it is only a few. The world doesn’t seem to care because there is no oil and no celebrities go there. We can do our bit by raising the profile and the plight of these poor people. But it does no good when articles are written that semi-gloss over what is really happening.

At the end of the day all the sisters come out for a meal with me. We go to the thousand coin restaurant which is owned by a catholic and we get a good deal. Not only that Sister Marie the superior makes a deal with the restaurant owner that the convent driver will pick up all the left overs for the pig they are fattening to sell to get them money for Christmas. And on top of that the restaurant owner is persuaded to buy the pig when it is ready. I thought it was quite funny really as the restaurant owner was supplying the food to fatten up the pig she was eventually going to buy and gave us a discount on the meal we had! These nuns certainly now how to get things out of nothing.

Back to the convent and packed up my things then a knock on my door. Father can you post this when you get to Thailand and they kept coming by the end of the evening a had a sackful of mail. I exaggerate but there was a lot. The Burmese are never sure that their mail gets through for not only is it censored but it make never make the censor as the postee might take the stamp and resell it on the black market. Anyway I finally make it to bed and sleep.

Next morning it is another early start and at breakfast sister Marie and Ann say they want to come to England. They have to go to the five yearly general meeting of the order in Rome, which is paid for by the American wing of the order. Therefore while they are in this part of the world they would come to England. I thought that would be a good idea as then they could tell at first hand what they are trying to do and also what is happening to their beloved country. As I leave the convent everyone comes out to wish me a good trip to New Zealand which is my next stop after a couple of days in Bangkok.