A little bit of green helps

The view from my hotle balcony in central Yangon

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I was just in Yangon this week for three days and when asked on leaving by an Australian friend in Bangkok for my impressions of the place, I shared that
"I was impressed by the friendly people, wonderful temples, good shopping, cheap food, good beer and its quaint historical setting."

I found my short time in Yangon, even if for meetings and work, to be refreshing.  It was because of all that I just shared but much more.  There was one central life giving aspect to the whole positive experience that I left out of my list that I shared with my Aussie friend.  It was the green of the place.  After a Bangkok with all its concrete structures and massive buildings, the green hits you in the face and is simply a breath of fresh air. 

Yes, Yangon has suffered from a lack of investment over the years due to bad military rule.  Yes, it is somewhat shabby looking and lacking in infrastructure.  Yet it still has so much to offer.  It has a quaintness due to its history and it has its own beauty that you would never want to lose.  It definitely has not suffered from over or bad development as yet.  Hopefully, it never will. 

Yangon with all its lovely parks and lakes and many trees is a picture of green.  It is this little bit of green that stays with me as a lasting impression of Yangon today, even if somewhat congested and in the midst of great development projects.  It is this green that gave me life.  I loved it.  What more can I say?