Ko Lay Myat - Literary Traveler

A flash of gold

When we get to Mandalay, we have to visit Mandalay Hill. When we get to Monywa, we have to visit Sambuddha Pagoda. Yes... When we get to Muse, we have to visit the small border town of Shwe Li in China. We... We are Sayar Htet Myak, Wutthu To Sayar Azzatta, Sayar Maung Kyi Thaw (Kaulin) from Pyin Oo Lwin, reporter Thet Naing (Pyin Oo Lwin) and me. We went to Pyin Oo Lwin to attend the 99th birthday party of Daw Daw (Luthu Daw Amar), who has passed away recently in Mandalay. When we got to Pyin Oo Lwin, Comrade Myo Htut (Ko Ko Kyun Pwe) said that we would continue our journey to Muse and that he would be kind enough to drive us his brand new AD 30 (AD 30) car.

I gave it to him. Reporter Thet Naing became the driver Thet Naing.

When we arrived in Muse, writer Pyay (Say-2) and university student San Lin were waiting for us to have dinner at a restaurant called 19th Street. I also poured myself a whiskey bottle to challenge Muse Song. I don't know if it was because of the tiredness of the journey, the power of the whiskey bottle, or the warmth of the Chinese bottle. I fell asleep.. I didn't feel the taste of Muse Song.

On December 1, 2014, we tried to cross from Muse to Shwe Li through the Sin Phyu Gate. They tried to do so because they could easily get a six-night, seven-day permit by showing their ID card and paying 1,000 kyats, while I didn’t have an ID card. Here, Thet Naing showed his full journalistic skills. We all got our passports without having to pay, without having to show our ID cards, and without having to queue for passports. The person who helped us said not to reveal his department or position, but out of gratitude, I will just mention his name. U Hla Phone. (Excuse me.)

Although there are a few traders and tourists, most of them are young workers who go to work in Xiamen and Ruili. They easily get to Xiamen on the Chinese side, taking in the attention of young Chinese workers.

You can't see the ground... The whole place is paved with bricks. The buildings are also covered with cloth. There are beautiful palm trees on the platform. The situation makes you feel like you are being taken over by the entrance. If you cross over to Muse, the roads are narrow, littered with garbage, and the trees that grow wildly make you feel proud. I would like to say that this is the quality of the governments of the neighboring countries.

They exchange Myanmar currency for Chinese currency. Myanmar currency is 1,000 kyats, Chinese currency is 58.9 yuan (58.9 yuan). To take a taxi to Shwe Li, you pay 25 yuan per ride. The cars are red. The numbers are blue with white letters. The trucks have white letters on a yellow background. Although you can see small and large cars with Chinese license plates on the Muse side, it seems strange that you don’t see any Myanmar license plates on the Chinese side of Xia Gong. I feel sad.

From Xiagang, we crossed the bridge over the Shwe Li River and arrived at the outskirts of Shwe Li. The roads were wide. The roundabout was big. It was a pleasure to see a forest in the roundabout. Even though they are bordering each other, why are there so many differences between the two sides? Let’s just say it was a matter of inferiority. When we entered Shwe Li, the green trees on the platform were refreshing. The town was very quiet and peaceful. When we saw two young children, Thet Naing asked which side of the street was the food court. The children were from the Burmese side, their parents coming to work. The children, the women in the traditional Htay bibs, spoke Burmese.

As the children pointed, we walked along the market. We also found a betel nut shop. The betel nut shop had a beard. One kyat cost two ya. One kyat is equivalent to one yuan. In Yangon, it was only four ya for 100 kyat, so we can say that the price was the same. The restaurant also had fried vegetables, meat, and fish dishes on display, which looked delicious. We went in to eat there. I ordered fried beef and fried mustard. It cost 14 kyats (14 yuan). Azjatta, Maung Kyi Thaw (Kaolin), and Thet Naing did not eat meat and added three kinds of fried vegetables each for 10 kyats. The soda water was free. I thought they were Chinese. When I asked where they were from, they said they were from Bhamo.

After eating, Sayar Htet Myat asked if I wanted to buy a radio and we walked towards the market. There, we unexpectedly met poet and writer Win Tint Htun. When he saw me, he asked Maung Kyi Thaw (Kaul Lin) “Are you Ko Lay Myat?” and then he called me. I knew that Win Tint Htun was in Shwe Li, so I said Win Tint Htun. I don’t remember. If I don’t remember, they broke up after the 84th Uprising. It’s been 26 years. And the man who used to wear a short long-sleeved shirt and a red-and-white shirt with long pants and a jacket, I don’t remember much more. Later, as we talked, I caught the first image again.

He took me to the small room he rented. It was about 400 square feet. But he paid 600 yuan a month. His wife is Kachin, a Chinese-speaking person. He has a son and a daughter. The children are now students at a Chinese university. They are at Guizhou University. Win Tint Htun Khai was so happy to see me and talk to me, he couldn’t help but pretend. We took memorable photos, had coffee. We talked about the past, the present, and the situation. If we talked, we wouldn’t have talked for a month.

I could only stay in his room for 45 minutes. Then... I went out to the bookstore. They kept me there for six nights, seven days.

He keeps inviting me to come and stay. I'll see you when I go. He won't come anymore. If he comes,

Of course it is. But he has to deliver this report, that report. He is not the kind of person who would do such a physically demanding job all his life.

While walking through the bookstore, I saw a large jade market. Our country's jade is connected to the world.

The place where it is sold. There is also a large open space where people often hold parties and relax in the evening. The wide open space between the tall buildings is truly relaxing. And there is also a kindergarten. Children are playing under the shade of the trees in the wide open space, free and happy. I think those who grow up in that environment will also have free thinking and a love of freedom. The Communist Party Office of Ruili is also magnificent.

The bookstore sells stationery downstairs. The bookstore sells books upstairs. Every famous book in the world is already translated into Chinese. China has not only caught up with the world, but has even reached the forefront. Oh my... The party and those who want the country to develop are taking the lead. Our country is being ruled by greedy dictators. We all have to work hard to develop our country.

Win Tint Htun hired a taxi for the return trip. While talking to the taxi driver, Win Tint Htun said, "Pee Bi Chinese Ngai Khaik." Chinese Ngai Khaik refers to dark-skinned Chinese. When we arrived at Xia Gong, we exchanged Chinese yuan for Myanmar currency . It cost about 20,000 kyats for five people to go to Shwe Li. The taxi ride was worth it, and we had to eat, so Thet Naing was worth it. (I mean, worth it is cheap.)

As I crossed the border from China back to Burma, I felt a burning sensation in my heart. Even though it was winter, I don't know if I would be afraid to cross again in the summer. In any case, communism is better than dictatorship.

Timely newspaper

From Sai Su to the village

The poet Su Thit Ni, who is a native of Thit Township and lives in Yangon, invited me to come along because the Myanmar Writers Union and Thit Township were organizing a recognition ceremony, so I was thrilled. That's right. Thit Township is not just any town. It is the city where the famous literary figure Pee Moe Ning was born. Isn't it the city of Brigadier General Kyaw Zaw, who was famous in the military and politics? As poet Aung Khine Myat said, Thit Township is the city where great people have emerged.

On 14-12-13, at 6:15 am, we left for Thitsa town by regular bus. As scheduled, we left from the bus terminal near Thakin Mya Park at exactly 6:15 am. Those who came with us were

Saya Kyi Naing, Khin Maung Zaw, Aung Khaing Myat, Moe Lay, Su Thit Ni, Zaw Tin and I, poet Soe San Thit from Sawbwa Gyi Kone, poet Kyaw Kyaw Pyaw from Taikyi Myo. Our strength is nine in total. We were the largest on the trip to form the union. We were no more than four when we went to form the union. This is because we don’t want the locals to be burdened with responsibilities. This trip is sponsored by Su Thit Ni, so it seems like they are happy to come and join us.

We arrived in the small town of Thitse, just 77 miles from Yangon, at 10:30 a.m. When we arrived in Okkan, Su Thit Ni had called, and there were young local writers waiting at the bus stop on their motorbikes. I didn’t like the Chinese motorbike culture spreading across Myanmar, but I was relieved that it was a good thing because it made it easier to get to the villages. We were taken to the home of Zwe Than Shin (Thirty). Zwe Than Shin (Thirty) is a retired teacher who writes articles for the Daily Wave.

We were welcomed with a delicious and famous thirty-one-hundred-gram cake prepared by the monks on our arrival. As delicious and famous as the thirty-one-hundred-gram cake was, it was a treat that we will never forget. Both we and those who attended ate the cake and the ceremony began. First, the Myo Mi Myo Fa, who has written about the thirty-one-hundred-gram, Dhamma Sukha Monastery, and the miraculous events of the Dhutanga Shara Sayadaw U Nana in Attharatha Magazine and Wizza Magazine, gave the opening speech.

He is the sole donor of the Pi Morning Museum, built in the house where Master Pi Morning was born. He has also built a bathroom and toilet for those who want to write in the museum. He invites us to write. In addition, the Pi Morning Library is located in the garden of Bo Sein Tan...