raoul-mp-myanmar-2011

the beginning

2011-08-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

In October 2009 Raoul & I travelled throughout Myanmar. One day while exploring we came upon this little compound full of children. They beckoned us in with sign language and we were brought to meet the Head-Monk. After a long wait, an english speaker was found and we could communicate. We discovered that the Abbott had started this primary school and home for orphans after Hurricane Nargis hit the Delta region of Myanmar in 2008. It was very apparent that they were hard-up financially as they explained that they survived with daily food donations and not much else. We decided that we wanted to help them and so we held a 'Special Burmese fundraising dinner' at Hibernia in April 2010 to launch our project. We also put a notice in our Art Gallery explaining our project so any 'Friends of Hibernia' could participate with a donation if they wished

the beginning

2011-08-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

our return

2011-08-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

In September 2010 we returned to Myanmar with the money we had raised. Our first task was to change the donated money into Burmese Kyats. There is no regular banking system in Myanmar, so at Yangon's central market we searched out a moneychanger. Since the largest currency note at the time had a value of approximately 1$, we ended up with a large sack of money! By that evening we were on the bus traveling south.

With no telephone at the orphanage, our un-anounced arrival was a surprise and it was heart-wrenching to see how excited every-one was to see us return. Once again we found ourselves in the Abbott's room.

We tried to explain about the donation/sack of money we had for them but the language barrier made communicating impossible. So we made our exit, decided to make friends with our motorbike taxi man who could speak Basic English and returned with him as our interpreter.

During our time in Moulmein, we went daily to the orphanage for them to get to know us better and for us to acquaint ourselves with their customs, lifestyle & schooling. We saw the rudimentary conditions and knew that we did not need to ask for an explanation of how they would spend the donated money. There were too many ways to choose from.

our return

2011-08-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Children

2011-08-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

During the Anguilla tourist season 2010/11, we continued to receive donations and in June we returned for the second time. It was so satisfying to see that they were making progress, the children looked healthier, and they had just installed an electricity generator.

the children

2011-08-02T11:26:00.000-07:00

Daily Life

2011-08-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

Every day we would spend time there. One morning we arose at the crack of dawn to accompany the children on their daily walk throughout the town to collect their day's food.

daily life

2011-08-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

the future

2011-08-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

The money donated is used towards improved diet, extending the education offered to include "Middle School level, building repairs, a guaranteed wage for the teachers, an electricity generator, computers and the possibility to be able to take care of more orphans.

The costs in Myanmar are low, so the smallest donation is welcomed and goes far. Because of your help, these orphans can have a basic education and a healthy childhood so they will be able to support themselves in a dignfied way when they grow up. On behalf of the children on Pylonchanta, we would like to say "Thank-you for your help".

The future

2011-08-02T10:06:00.001-07:00

2011-08-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

Today

"Many of the things we need can wait but the child cannot.

Right now is the time.

His bones are being formed, his blood is being made and his senses are being developed.

To him we cannot answer 'Tomorrow'.

His name is 'Today'.

help

2011-08-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

A month in Myanmar

2009-12-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

In September we flew to Myanmar for one month. After a certain amount of debate on whether or not to go, we decided that to visit as a “traveler” and not a ‘tourist’; by sleeping, dining, traveling & shopping only in small locally owned establishments, it would be benefiting the ordinary people.

It was one of our best trips ever and any-one who wishes to visit Myanmar in this fashion should definitely do so. The people are very friendly and really eager to meet foreigners.

The people

2009-12-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

Our first impression was of the friendliness of the people, their calm approach to life and their generosity.

scenery

2009-12-01T10:44:00.000-08:00

Burma is a very rural country, quite underpopulated and unspoilt.

public transport

2009-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

The transport options were pretty diverse and you definitely had to be in no hurry.
Push bikes, wooden public buses that dated back to World War 2, horse drawn carts, and even the traffic lights were unusual!

gold & gems

2009-11-24T13:48:00.000-08:00

It was fascinating to learn about their gold and gems industry when we visited gem cutters studios, a "gold leaf" makers home and Mandalay's Jade Market.
The men manually hammer the pure gold into finer than paper thin leaves and they still cut the tiniest gems with unprotected saw-wheels.

dining options while moving around

2009-11-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

The food was tasty with Chinese and Indian influences.

While we were moving from town to town, the choice of what to eat became limited, so we went according to "when in Rome........." for better or worse....

On the river boat journeys that lasted two days we became even more stuck for choice.

The children

2009-11-24T13:21:00.000-08:00

The children were smiling and cheerful and fun.

Orphans

2009-11-24T12:49:00.001-08:00

Many children become novice monks and nuns. Some are orphans and others are put in the monasteries by parents who are too poor to take care of them themselves. They are brought up and given schooling by the monks and nuns.
We visited one such orphanage and met with the head monk who explained about his orphanage. For their everyday needs they get offerings from the village, but their building was badly in need of repair. They were trying to fix it up themselves, but had no money to buy any materials. We donated what we could at that time, but before we return to Burma next summer we plan to organize a special Burmese dinner event at Hibernia one evening as a fundraiser for this orphanage.Here are some videos.....

The monks

2009-11-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

We met Monks everywhere. They were very friendly could often speak english. They gave us much of their time & even took us around on the local bus to visit secluded temples, a Nunnery and a Pali school. It added a lot of enjoyment to our trip & we gained better insight into the Burmese culture and the country's dificulties.

The Nuns

2009-11-24T11:41:00.000-08:00

One often hears about the Burmese monks, but as well as the 500,000 monks in Burma, there are about 200,000 nuns. They have a few less rules but basically lead a life similar to the monks; living in nuneries, meditating, collecting alms, studying Pali, etc...

Golden Buddha of Maha Muni

2009-11-24T11:19:00.000-08:00

The most important temple for the people of Mandalay is The temple of the Golden Buddha of Maha Muni.The Maha Muni image was cast in metal but the "lumpy" appearance (now almost 15 inches thick)of the lower part of the statue today is due to the generations of devotees who have adhered offerings of small squares of gold leaf to the image that only men are allowed to touch.

Ceremonies

2009-11-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

The ceremonies were very much a part of everyday life.

Buddist scenes

2009-11-24T10:30:00.001-08:00

#1. All auspicious places have a pagoda or shrine.
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#2. Already under restoration.........the biggest Buddha statue in the world is still unfinished.
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#3.In the Banyan trees on the streets, you often see small shrines, with Buddhas & statues of spirits. They have offerings cigarettes, flowers, coffee & incense.
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#4.The "Golden Rock" is covered in gold leaf offerings and rests precariously at the edge of a cliff looking as if it might tumble if given a good push.
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#5. On auspicious days, the full moon etc.. many cash offerings are made to the temples and
are pinned up in public.