A Friend’s Friend is a Friend among the Burmese!

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

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)