One day Ko Htin Aung called me
Asking whether what I would be
Doing for three days starting next Monday
As a close friend of his is visiting from UK
I said I would be free reading and writing
I’m also ready to host him to his liking.
(The Kuching City)
Thus I welcomed him at the Kuching Airport
Without ever seeing him in the past or photo shot
Accompanied by Saw Aung Hla Win and a sign board
Bearing his name scrawled across it to support
Our welcome to him whether seen before or not
We’re Burmese and it’s enough speaking a lot.
(The Kuching City India Street Market)
As passengers came and gone from the landed planes
No one winked at us and sign board the same
Chinese Malays Bidayus and Ibans walking out the gate
But no shadow of a brown Burman in the shade
Saw Aung Hla Win said Burmese used to come out late
True, he appeared last, tall and dark, but a smiling mate.
(The Kuching Main Golden Mosque)
“Good morning, Saya”, he greeted me
“Good morning and welcome,” I replied easy
“This is Dr Win, my friend,” I introduced briefly
They shook hands, said “Glad to see” and smiled sweetly
Dr Win took his luggage and headed to the car
We exchanged pleasantries walking behind but not far.
(Kuching Cat Museum L to R: Dr Sidney Tin Htut, Dr MMN)
Dr Win dropped us at my abode first
He had to go to medical school for work
Where our wives are also teaching staff
I carried his luggage and gave him a room fast
He was glad to be alone that will be his own
I let him rest and recuperate for some time alone.
(Dr Sidney Tin Htut in front of a Cat Family Statues)
I then took him to the center of the Kuching City
Along the clean roads lined with green trees
On the side of fast flowing snake-like Sarawak River
He was impressed with the colorful green shade givers
Forming the boulevards and street gardens
People were resting, chatting and enjoying the Eden’s.
(The Rock Road Seafood Restaurant)
(Dr Sidney Tin Htut and D Khin Tun inside the Seafood Restaurant)
(L to R: Drs Nan Ommar, Lucy Kyaw Mya, Saw Aung Hla Win)
(L to R: Dr Khin Tun, Dr Sidney Tin Htut, Dr MMN, Dr NOM)
He was amazed by the sculptures of cats Found every where in the City named after that Most striking being two big cats surrounded by smaller cats
(Dr STH in the Cats Museum)
It looks like a family enjoying their chitchat or acts
We stopped the car and stood one by one for photo
It was almost difficult to get a photographer to get us duo.
(Drs MMN and NOM in the Cats Museum)
In the evening I took him to Rock Road Restaurant
It’s famous for authentic seafood and embodiment
Of style, aura, flavor and fame of being the best in town
That has served most visiting dignitaries all along
From former Premier Mahathir Mohammad down to all
It includes the visiting presidents and ministers that fall.
(The Top Spot Seafood Shop)
He was introduced to Drs Lucy and Nan Ommar dear
Also Dr Khin Tun, a friend of him known over thirty years
We six enjoyed the food and fun with some beer
He was glad every one was cordial and courteous clear
It was a well-spent night making every one an old friend
A friend’s friend is a friend among the Burmans a god-send.
(The City of Kuching near Our Apartment Building)
The next day Lucy gave us Mohinga
To entertain the new friend as in Burma
He ate a lot as well as I and my better half
Fried gourd and onions made it first class
We praised the cook of so good a Burmese cuisine
He was glad he had been treated like a long lost relation.
(Dr Sidney Tin Htut at the Damai Beach)
(At the Entrance to the Damai Beach)
Then we drove to the Damai beach
A few miles away and easy to reach
He was happy seeing the scenes so green
It’s like he was fresh and has never been
To this sort of sea, scenery and solitude
It’s his luck he could enjoy it with fortitude.
(Entrance to Cultural Village)
We led him to the “Cultural Village” on foot
There are seven races built in group
Chinese, Malay, Melanau, Bidayu, Iban etc
(Signposts for the Cultural Village)
That dwells in this island for so many years
Now living in harmony with one another
It’s a lesson we must take to rebuild Burma.
(The Melanau House)
Then we entered the theatre to enjoy the dances
Performed by various tribes to entertain with trances
Various ethnic groups presenting each typical act
The audience was enchanted with awe so much that
Applause and whistles governed the acts through out
It’s a most memorable day for all of us enjoying aloud.
(Malay Dancers Greeting the Audience)
At the final closure of the acts dancers invited
Certain people in the audience to join the set
English, Chinese, French and Malays headed
I prodded him to go and fetch the actresses
He jumped and accepted my suggestion
He danced with ease in perfection.
(Testing the Blow Pipe Arrows)
(Dr STH Taking Part in the Cultural Dance)
He later said he was relieved of his sorrow and regret
It had been unsettling him since his wife’s death
He is now a widower wanting a solitude and redress
For his inability to fulfill his wife’s request that
He tried to live a normal life without her after her demise
Only now he finds solace and peace of mind as alive.
(The Cat Museum)
In the evening he took us to the “Top Spot”
For dinner and damage control of his rot
That has been brewing before coming to Kuching
Now he is happy and hilarious again pulling
(Dr Tin Win Patronizing the Lobster Dish and Midin Leaves,(Dayin-Gauk Ywet)
Jokes and funny stories to make his life worth
We say “You are our friend and you must take us”
He was gratified and glad so greatly as much
Oh, a friend’s friend is a friend for Burmans as such!
Dr Maung Maung Nyo
24.2.2010 (Original)
(In Commemoration of Dr S.T.H.’s Visit to Kuching)
Once in a life’s time A father’s pride a mother’s joy Marriage of Ei to Aung signed We celebrated it in style.
It was the 31st of December Cold only in the early hours Otherwise as hot as equator We were sweating in the parlour.
We’ve been sweating since day 18 When arrived from far away Kuching As we hustled for every thing From delivering gifts to seeing Friends and elders near and dear to us We invited them to the reception, ”a must”.
Bride and groom saw us several times Asking this and that to determine Whether their dresses are good Whether the cut and color will suit Marriage ceremony and background They were excited and thrills abound.
Groom’s parents invited us too To measure and wear the dresses due To be worn at the marriage ceremony Parents of both sides wearing similarly Mother and mother, father and father equal It’s to denote the union of two families as fair.
So we have been used up Going about in several suburbs Talking with old friends and staff Paying homage to the elders en mass Attending the lunch and dinner parties We really have no time to stand and study.
However, on the morning of marriage Many invited friends came in entourage Tekkatho Sein Tin was the first to arrive Followed by the golfers of groom’s side Energetic engineers exchanging enthusiasm They wished bride and groom in eternal union.
Then come the doctor crowd Greeting each other aloud Wishing the newly wed a blissful life They greeted us as student like.
First Dean of IM2 Colonel Ko Ko Gyi arrived With Mya Mya Sein, his brave and beautiful wife He was over 84 years of age and still going strong We thanked him profusely for coming along.
Later Rector of IM2 U Myo Thwe and wife Also came to grace the ceremonial rite So was Dr Thein Nyunt or Nyunt Wai, Katha He has not been well with early throat cancer He is like brother to me and bride’s godfather He loves as his own our two daughters.
The octogenarian author Paragu appeared With his cane and a companion follower He said Ei is like his own granddaughter He could not miss the occasion for any order.
Retired minister Colonel Win Tin Accompanied by his wife Ni Ni Tin Graced the occasion with pleasure They're glad to see Ei in bride's attire.
Bride and groom walked down the stair stand Accompanied by bridesmaids and best men Friends and spectators applauded with smiles A hotel guest exclaimed the scene so fine He requested to take a photograph with him We all consented, commented and posed with grin.
Bride and groom walked to the door again They stopped in front of a mounted frame It was Dagon Taryar’s poem written fresh Hailing their marriage and wishing success He is now 91 years of age still able to write It’s great omen for Ei and Aung’s life.
When Ei and Aung walked the aisle All the guests greeted them with smiles They said bride was beautiful and bright Groom was fortunate to have her for life.
Master of Ceremony started the occasion By reading the names of newly weds and relations Then, Nyunt Maung San ad wife graced it By exchanging the rings and bouquets mix To bride and groom as a sign of bliss The ceremony was declared finis.
Food was then served systematically A new Chinese menu cooked authentically Pork fish and chicken mix Guests had to eat with chop sticks.
The ceremony and dinner ended without a hitch It took exactly two hours from start to finish Bride groom and their parents were glad Long awaited ceremony has thus ended They now have time to rest and relax They may now go about to refresh.
Marriage of a progeny is a parental duty One has to perform it duly “Men may come and men may go” But marriage goes on for ever or so We are glad we have fulfilled our duty well Ei is satisfied and to her children she’ll surely tell!
