Morning Nostalgia

When the sun rises, it looks like a big bright orange circle in the east horizon. It is shining over the river and the paddy field. The sky is usually clear and brightly blue. There is a little hut in the field where the farmers live. There are some buffaloes greeting the sunrise out in the field. Coming across the river is the morning breeze carrying the smell of some dried fish put out by the farmers. If it is rainy season, it just carries the smell of refreshing water vapors. In winter times, the fog would be lying around the brim of the horizon, looking very much alike a thin white veil. The mornings are always youthful and energetic.

Morning breakfast is always varied. From steamed sweet rice with the graded coconut on top to Burmese traditional Moent-hnin-khar ( rice stick noodles in the fish soup), there are so much varieties to choose from street vendors. Coffee and tea shops are everywhere, where they serve hot plain tea for free as much as one wants. People carry their own shopping baskets and walk to street markets every morning for their groceries. The street markets could be very colorful, noisy and interesting. It is the place where people socialize and exchange current news, affairs, gossips, and all sorts of events that draw their interest the most. It is not surprising to see the stray dogs fighting over the trash can or a beggar sleeping by the side of the street. Markets are filled with fresh meat, poultry, variety of fishes, vegetables and fruits, snack foods, and freshly cut flower shops. Buyers and sellers bargain constantly for anything and everything. Reaching to the agreeable price is the establishment of their good relationship. It is a way of practicing public speech and merchandising skills.

Everytime I get a chance to see the bright orange morning sun, it touches my heart to vividly remember those youthful mornings with lively noises, the smell of morning snacks, and refreshing fragrances of the freshly cut flowers.