“The sun set, but set not his hope:
Stars rose, his faith was earlier up…”
These lines by R.W. Emerson come to mind every evening as I see the setting sun in Yangon. Not only is it a breathtaking sight, but also because Yangon is one place that shows promise of progress. A quiet walk by the lake, admiring the mild ripples of the water and the dying sun rays, I remain mesmerized at the beauty of nature that surrounds me. And makes me remember, how appropriate Emerson’s words are for me-each day the sun sets, but hope remains eternal, and by the time the stars come up, my faith in goodness and beauty is up long before.
Yangon is catching the world’s eye as the gateway to Myanmar, and as its commercial capital, the place to consider living in, for all those eyeing a customer base of 52 million people. It has been home for 20 months now, and every single day, I admire its natural beauty, the silver lakes, golden pagodas, the flora and fauna, and above all, the sunrise and sunsets.
Every evening, the sky is a riot of colors, sometimes in shades of grey and blue, and often enough in bright shades of red and orange, almost as though blazing embers are hidden on the horizon. Irrespective from where you see it, with domes of golden pagodas, Inya Lake, the Yangon river, or just the city’s skyline, this is beauty unsurpassed. It is difficult to turn away till the sun goes down, and as the city plunges into darkness, a solemn quietness and calm seeps into the very depths of my being. Every single day, I wonder why I have never felt this before. Obviously because, no other place has this aura of peace that is so conspicuous here.
Every other city that I have lived in, has been beautiful too, but too crowded, the pace of life too fast, and noise of manmade conveniences making it difficult for us to think and observe. Yangon, is indeed, far from the madding crowd, not less crowded in parts, but with many an oasis of tranquility that serve as balm to tired minds and bodies. As of now, concrete structures do not obstruct the city’s skyline, till now lined with tall tropical trees.
Myanmar is also called the Land of Buddha, with Buddhism the most popular religion. It is here that thousands of foreigners come to begin their spiritual journey, and those already on the path, keep returning for a taste of the peace and tranquility that they have devoured before.