Heartfelt thanks

The Star, Thursday March 31, 20

Last Tuesday evening I was walking towards a crowded pasar malam in Sungai Petani, and it started to rain slightly. Not wanting to get wet, I rushed to buy a few things my wife had asked for.

In my haste, I apparently dropped RM50 somewhere. I did not realise it until a middle-aged Indian man came from behind and handed me the money, saying that I had dropped it.

I checked my wallet and true enough, I was short by the amount.

I was stunned but quickly thanked him. He just smiled and walked on with his wife and son.

He could have taken the money and I would not have realised it.

But this man had a beautiful heart.

I did not get his name, but to this Indian man, thank you very much. You are a true Malaysian whom everybody can be proud of.

A. HASHIM,

Sungai Petani.

Myanmar: The Streets of Yangon pictures

Aerial view approaching Yangon International Airport

Though small with only three departure gates, the new Yangon International Airport is surprisingly modern and well-organised

The road from the airport to downtown is probably the best road in Yangon. Though there are no traffic jams in Yangon like in other big cities around the world, driving is almost impossible for a foreigner due to lack of road signs and street names

In front of the Parkroyal, a popular hotel among tourists. There is also Traders Hotel nearby

Most buses and taxis are old and in very bad conditions but most people have to rely on them for transportation. Notice the absence of motorcyles on the roads- motorcycles are prohibited in Yangon

Men attending to a bus which broke down in the middle of the road

In the city, people live in one-bedroom flats in 4-7-storey buildings without elevators. They have to climb the steep, narrow and dark staircases. Often more that one family cramp in one unit.

Most men wear these simple sarongs with black or dark-brown sandals

A busy street in the downtown

Hawkers selling food on a sidewalk

Hawkers use low plastic chairs and small tables for their customers

A floating restaurant on Karawait Lake

Myanmar is known for its cheap but high quality gems such as jades

A gated residential area- not many can live here

To the poor, these are what they call home...

A road near a market in the outskirt of Yangon

Streets and buildings are poorly lit at nights because there is not enough electricity in Yangon. People use generators as a back-up if they can afford

Some people make their living going through rubbish at dumpsites looking for sellable items, days and nights. Some even look for discarded food there

Young Buddhist monks going around asking for alms

Though the majority of the people are Buddhists and pagodas are everywhere, there are also mosques like this in the Muslim area within Yangon

Trishaws operators waiting for customers

You don't see any policemen in Yangon because crime rate is low and you can walk freely without worrying about snatch thieves and robbers. They said they could even sleep with their doors wide open