Even after all these years of living in Myanmar, I still
find this country and this city fascinating. Maybe it’s the rawness of the
landscape – rough and bare – contrasted with the vibrancy of people who laugh
without hesitation and manage to sparkle whatever their surroundings or
resources that draws you in.
There is almost nothing I love more than exploring different
streets and sections of this mesmerizing city. You never know what you might
find around any corner….
This morning I went out to exercise, although I’m still
getting accustomed to the streets in the new neighborhood we recently moved to,
and I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going or where I would end up. That’s nothing
to worry about here where the only danger to be found is if you get too close
to a street dog that has found scraps for food.
I left our apartment building, jogging on foot. I ran a few
blocks, turned a few corners and found myself in the middle of a bustling
market.
The markets here are the congregating place for people –
kids run between the legs of the people in the crowded street chewing dried
fruits and sugared candies; the moms discuss the outrageous prices of the
vendors and brag over their latest finds; the men sit on short, plastic stools
reading their newspapers and spitting betel while trying to look impatient
(although in actuality they love seeing the comings and goings of the people in
the market too.)
The ambience of the market is difficult to describe with its
variety of sounds and smells. As you walk through you get a waft of fragrance
from the flower vendor mixed with the pungent smell of raw fish being hawked in
the next shop and the aroma of incense that floats through the aisles like a trickling
stream through the countryside. There are the shouts of salespeople calling out
their prices competing with the sound of Asian-style music with its combination
of flutes and drums. There are monks chanting quietly and men on loud-speakers
advertising events and promotions.
It’s chaotic and lively and colorful, and I love it!
I tried to capture it all with a short video clip captured
on my mobile phone as I walked through this morning. It’s only a small glimpse into
the bigger picture, but I just wanted my friends and family to have some sense
of experiencing it all. Better yet, come see it for yourself!
