Politics . . .
There is a lot of politics going on in Burma that an outsider should not get involved in - Burma is one of those countries where political opinions are best kept to oneself.
In Burma, use of the Internet and mobile phones is illegal. This is the government's way of controlling the information entering the country. Even access to equipment such as laptops is illegal - the country is so poor that many could not afford such a piece of equipment.
I saw many young women queueing for their rations. They were standing so close together that I thought they were lesbians! *laugh* The girls stand close together so another person cannot jump the queue by pushing in.
The girls here are very young, some have barely reached puberty and are doing some very hard work.
There is a lot of critique by Amnesty International, of Burma's use of young girls to provide maintenance for the roads.
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Religion . . .
I think most of the Burmese are extremely religous people. Some say they are Buddhist fanatics.
Just as for some people here in Australia, Christianity is their way of life. Likewise, the Burmese revolve everything in their lives around Buddhism or Buddhist principles.
Therefore, many of the Burmese are so oppressed by religion.
If the people were to suddenly have a change in government, from a military government to a ruling governed by monks, then this change would happen overnight.
No Burmese can walk pass a statue of the Buddha without saying a prayer.
I also noticed that there were many rules about the practising of buddhism amongst the Burmese. There were particular ways of placing one's feet or order of which something is done.
If there was no Buddhism, life in Burma would be very basic.
Early every morning, you can hears the bells with the arrival of these monks. It is a signal for the locals to come out with money, food or whatever, to give these monks. Remember, one of the vows monks take, is the vow of poverty - they have to rely on the donations of locals to feed and clothe them, otherwise grow and produce their own products. In Buddhism, it is a Buddhist's duty to also provide for the monks. It helps them to reach Enlightenment.
I saw these monks in Yangon. They come from various monastries.
The nun you see in the middle, is wearing her habit on her head. The piece of cloth that a nun wraps around herself, is sometimes folded and used as a hat for protection against the heat of the sun.
See the 3 figures to the right, at the base of a temple?
They are meditating to the sun!
I took close-up photos of each of them, and later asked them if it hurt their eyes to stare at the sun all day. I was told that it did not! They sit there from sunrise, to sunset, meditating, and only change positions as the sun changes position. Otherwise, they just sit there and meditate. They meditate every single day except when cloudy. Amazing!
