The Family Reunion 2010

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

We come to Sydney every year
Sometimes twice or thrice so dear
Thank the UNIMAS for supporting us
It has paid us to travel enough.

Sydney is far away from Malaysia
We have to fly about seven hours
From Kuala Lumpur to Sydney
We enjoy it without any timidity.

We have flown for about eleven times
Our daughters welcome us with warm smiles
Our hearts leap up whenever we see them agile
Children make the parents' lives worthwhile.

This time Ei and hubby saw us at the airport
They drove us in their car past Kingsford
To reach Yupar’s house in Maroubra
She was waiting by cooking Mohinga.

It’s the second of May we arrived here
It’s sunny and warm the weather is clear
Although cooler than in Kuching where we live
We’re comfortable with the weather as it is.

Nan and I went to the East Gardens the next day
The sun was shining and weather fine to feel gay
We’re no strangers to Sydney as we stay
We’ve been here since early 2000 without fail.

Yupar has bought everything in her kitchen
May May has only to clean and cook them
In Burmese-style cuisine they like since young
All of them join the dinner to cheer us with fun.

Nan Ommar cooks most of the time
I cook sometime one in nine
Once I cooked the crabs bought by Yupar
They applauded my curry as being super.

They would take us to nearby malls and marts
For strolling, speaking and shopping not to idle us
They would buy scarves, shoes and souvenirs as gifts
They give us generously forgetting the word thrifts.

One day we went to the East Gardens
It’s a magnificent mall so big and grand
Many marts, movie theatre and all utility offices open
It’s a one-stop shopping mall complex to commend.

We went to the Circular Quay on the third Sunday
We had to take a taxi as no buses ran that day
As the half-Marathon contest was done that morning
We enjoyed our trip around the Opera House fawning.

It’s a wonderful view to see the Harbor Bridge
At the backdrop of the Opera House on the cliff
Clear blue water and sky sandwich the sailing ships
We’re happy taking photos with high spirits.

We then went to a Chinese restaurant in Kingsford
Where Yupar and Ei have lived together with comfort
Ei and hubby still living though working elsewhere
Food is plenty and neighborhood is good there.

Yupar foots the bill for feeding us today
Aung orders all kinds of food for her to pay
Roast duck, pork ribs, fried fish, prawns and broccoli
Watercress, warm watery soup completes the meal.

Ei had already paid for our lunch in the Bagan Shop
A Chinese Burmese Restaurant at another stop
All dishes there were sweet like the Chinese
They bear the Burmese name only to be Burmese.

But the decorations there were authentic Burmese
From a water color painting to a gold-embroidered piece
That has an elephant and people renowned as Buddhists
They’re roaming the country before they robe on as novices.

A friend or two spoke on the phone
They wish to see me at their homes
But I have no time for such luxury alone
I’m enjoying my family reunion only at home.

Dr Maung Maung Nyo
17.5.2010 (original)

Note: UNIMAS = Universiti Malaysia Sarawak in Kuching, Sarawak,
Malaysia