So this is about a trishaw and then it is about other things too. When we settled in to Yangon I expected to one day own a trishaw. It just became a sort of mission to find and get one "for Lisa". When we settled in to Yangon I did not expect to be heading home the first week of April to teach remotely from home due to a global pandemic. But there you are, and we learn lessons from everything, or at least we should.
So this post is about some of those lessons
I learned that people from Myanmar look very comfortable and relaxed in trishaws. I will post more pictures later but I have seen men sleeping in their trishaws. I cannot even fit my hips in the passenger seat.
Here it is. Brilliant design, similar to other Asian countries but unique to Myanmar.
This was on the first ride home. We stopped for a beer and these guys had to check out the ride- "sweet wheels" I heard one of them say.
These were the directions that came with it. I found them helpful.
So I have learned to be patient. My dream was to take Lisa out on rides in the hood, go to breakfast, dinner, etc. It will happen I'm sure but not on my time schedule, that's okay. I'm learning that too. I had Luca take a few pics and couldn't decide on just one- so enjoy them all.
A future post: Innes' side hustle. Based on Jerry Seinfelds tv show comediens in cars drinking coffee. I would like to start picking up people on the road and talk Burmese to them. They would probably need coffee after that experience. Am working on the title. Suggestions appreciated. (also color votes)
And what have I learned from the Covid19 virus? I sure miss and love my friends and family, not that I needed a reminder. I think I will let my friend Greg weigh in on this one as he (as he usually does) says it best:
5 Things I have learned traveling the world, that is helping during the pandemic.......
1. Patience- When you travel it seems action packed, but there is a lot of waiting (planes, buses, trains, hotel check ins) just general sense of down time. Small things to pass time.
2. Not eating and drinking what you want when you want - Yes, we can still order out and go to the store, but trying to limit leaving the house as much as possible. In Tanzania, you know you can't go get a burrito down the street, same applies here, tonight I wanted to BBQ ribs but just didn't have the goods.
3. Rolling with the punches - Things are changing so rapidly and life is different right now. Same when you travel, shit happens out of your control and especially in a different culture you learn to adopt to your new norms and adjust on the fly, so much so at times people think we live there.
4. Being with someone you can stand - Although Kirsten Koehler and I do most things together, we still have other responsibilities and interests. When abroad, you are together 24/7 and you learn quickly when to let things go and how to get space (even in a tiny room). Kirsten always says that's when you know you can marry someone, by how you travel together. One has to pick the other up when energy is sliding.
5. We are all in this together - Sitting with locals or fellow travelers is my fav thing, finding out we are so much more alike than different (forget culture, politics, language and borders). A travelers sense of being one world and common bonds are strong. Yes, a lot of ass holes are not self distancing but in general we are in this together and good people, doing the right thing. Together will get through this crap.
Be safe.....
