Hinegyi Kyun of Maritime College

Hainggyi Kyun island, Haikyi island, or plain Hainggyi Kyun is a small island in Myanmar, outside in the Pathein river delta, position at Latitude 16.0 degrees north and Longitude 94 degrees 19.60 minute east, which branched out from the Irrawaddy river arteries and overlook southward into the Andaman Sea. Today, it is a Naval Base and the views are stunning. That’s about it really.

-------------------------

Her body may not be comparable to Roman goddess of Venus, who embodies sex, love, beauty, enticement, seduction, and persuasive female charm. But San San Win (loosely to mean budding bright) is twenty one years of age, about five feet six, single, fair, university graduate, loose long jet black hair, with dimensions a wee bit short of Venus, boobs cup size 34B, is still a beautiful contentious young lady, desired and wished by majority of men, young and old. Many a young lady, including grandmas and aunties also feels she reflects the young generation of girls of today, thus do support her wholeheartedly. Girls of today keep an eye on her and copy the styles of clothes she wears including her hairstyle, make up, face powder and the colognes that she uses. Such are the dilemmas of our fairer sex of today. She is on the national television programmes and on many advertisements from washing liquids to lady wears. From kindergartens to grand parents, her name is at their tip of the lips, and from wall posters to candy wrappers she smiles to you. Fans galore, you name it, she is there giving you her eyes.  Even in public toilets you cannot escape from her. From the urinals to the toilets, her name is scribbled or scraped into the paint and one cannot do the business without her name gracing down on us. No more privacy. Money must be pouring in like the monsoon rain. One wonders, does she lay golden eggs?

Acting is a subject where one has to have a talent within ourselves and no need for paper qualifications as such, here in Myanmar anyway, and presume the same elsewhere also. One can become an Actress or Actor and have a good relationship with directors and producers, but the fact still remains whether the public at large accept you or otherwise. Their popularity is measured in terms of ticket sold in cinemas and discs sold and or volume rented out by many discs outlets. This is not taking into consideration advertisements and commercials they make. Their peak of success is usually when they are at an age most desirable and exponentially declines when the dreaded age catches up and drag  them down, as there are numerous young starlets waiting in the wings, full of talent, to walk over with a smile. For an actress, this would be from around eighteen to low thirties. More realistically peaks around mid twenties when one’s flower full bloom turns for the reverse course. Their peak period is maximum six years, if they are lucky. For want of privacy and keeping their names confidential, no direct mention  or hints will be made in this article, not to hamper their existing careers. Older actors and actresses do retain their popularity, however as the Singaporeans would put it, ‘No fight, no fight’ with the blooming young actresses and actors in the limelight. Today, we witness from all walks of life, including university students to graduates, country flowers to shop assistants, wanting to be actresses and actors and be successful at that. They want to be deemed beautiful or handsome, as the case maybe and be the voted the best looking and desirable by the masses. This measured as stated, by cinema tickets and discs sold and or volume of discs rented out by the various outlets plus advertisements. The actresses sometime sings (if they are blessed with a voice) in marriage ceremonies celebrated in high class hotels and at stage shows, as an advertisement while making good money as well. If they can’t, they might perform in fashion shows and the likes. This profession is vulnerable, and most try to earn as much as possible while they can, when they can, understandably.

Ms. San San Win lives at no. 31 of Kan Tha Yar Road (meaning pleasant lake) in Kabar Aye area of Yangon. It is in the bracket of posh residential areas by a small lake. The houses there are quite well built, quaint and pleasant to look at with a comfortable compound. She is the second daughter with a younger brother of U Thaung Win, father, ex-civil engineer of the Irrigation Department and Daw Aye San, a diamond broker. Her eldest sister, Thuzar San Win, is married, who lives in Taunggyi town with her husband and his family. Younger brother, Kyaw San Win, lives at home, a Sales Executive with a local shipping company. These days, both the parents are her guardians, accountants and personal managers, making sure she undertake suitable parts and do commercials they see as good advertisement and all must boost her career. They also make sure she is well protected from men with desirable eyes and mouths dripping with saliva. Should there be any free time left in her busy schedule, she spends it doing some gardening work in the compound to ease her pressure and soothe her nerves plus a sort of exercise also. Time is fully utilized leaving enough hours for a good night sleep, so that her face does not have bags under her eyes at photo shoots and on camera while filming.

In the adjacent compound at no.33, U Mya Mu live with his parents, who are green tea leaves merchants. Father, U Aye Mu and mother Daw Yee Yee has been at it for at least more than twenty years. They can forecast the prices correctly and sells or buy sacks of tea leave. There are a variety of leaves, from different regions and according to supply and demand, disposes it with a healthy margin. They have yet to be proven wrong. U Mya Mu is a lecturer of Maritime English at the Mercantile College. It is a pre-sea college for cadets and also conducts courses for all shipping licenses from the lowest sailor rank to Master and Chief Engineer positions. The college is situated in down town Yangon (Rangoon), beside the river. U Mya Mu enjoys reading and does research on the Internet, mostly on shipping matters. He is not a fan of Myanmar videos or films and songs except for some of Lay Phyu’s and does not care much for television either. He loves golden classics by Dire Straits, Supertramp, Simon and Garfunkel, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Tyler and a few more. He has got a younger brother and his family are supporters of local television shows, while he rather spends his time alone in his room reading or surfing the Internet or listening his type of songs recorded on his laptop. Any free time he can spare during sunlight hours are spent in their compound nurturing to guava, mango, jackfruit, papaya and rambutan trees. He does not care much for flowers or other trees, which does not yield eatable fruits because he believe it’s a waste of good land. The trees in their compound also give shade to their roof and compound during the hot season, which is invaluable as all can sit outside and be protected from the unbearable hot sun. The difference in temperature can be one to two degrees from the surroundings.

U Mya Mu day starts from eight or nine in the mornings, only during weekdays, depending on his classes and may give over around five or six, not every teaching day, mind you. On such days, afternoons are free but too hot to venture outside and the department office is also hot but less. He utilizes the time in the library browsing literature from other disciplines and brush up on latest international statutes and regulations relating to his subject of Maritime English. He remains a single view he sees no worthy life’s partner to choose from his college or from the outside world. Most of the teaching staff are also matured singles, maybe they also has not met a worthy man yet. This is a very personal matter and no one passes any comments while they do make judgments with their eyes and gossip from behind. There are a total of over 500 pre-sea cadets in the college and they can prove to be quite a handful but all are eager to serve onboard the seven seas as soon as possible.

On a Friday afternoon, a short meeting was held by the Principal, all teaching staff were informed that a group of movie making team will be in the college for a week from Monday to camera shoot senses for their film entitled ‘ From land to sea ’ and all are to assist and allow them access to classes, laboratories and plus simulator rooms. Timing wise, to take place from nine to five only. The Principal want this to be a success, as this will be a kind of free advertisement for the Maritime College and also cast a good image to the public at large.

Come Monday morning, the director with his film crew had a walk around the college compound and visited various theaters and simulator rooms while passing comments among themselves. By lunchtime, the film team gathered into the cafe and there was where U Mya Mu met Ms. San San Win for the first time in the flesh. She looked much thinner and has a smaller posture than her appearances on television. She was wearing a simple blouse and an htamein, nothing out of the ordinary. He did not manage to speak to her, but just placed his order for cold lemon drink and took his class in theater one. About two hours later, on his way out, she stopped him and explained that tomorrow she would like to have a film shoot at the theater one and she will be acting as a tutor, taking a class. The story line is a Second Mate, played by a young handsome rising actor, falling in love with a college tutor, while studying for his Mate and Master ticket. She was in tow with her guardians and the director who wore shades and in blue jeans. They all looked older than him. Next morning, Ms. San San Win was all done up. She seem to look much fuller (boobs and bum) with her face painted for their cameras, in tow with more people including her hair stylist and make up artist who is a man dressed up in a lady outfit, funny he thought. After they have done with their business, he got chatting with her guardians and learnt that they are actually neighbours. Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

For the rest of the week, the film crew was everywhere, from rooms, theaters, workshops and even the loos were not spared. He did manage to speak to Ms. San San Win, a total of twice, each time about two minutes, maximum. By Sunday, while U Mya Mu was working in his compound, she came onto their lawn with guardians in tow. She was really interested in his fruits and he also introduced them to his family. They all talked under the shade of the trees and his mother offered them grown organic ripe mangoes, freshly cut and prepared ready to be eaten. He said to himself in his mind, that he much preferred in her original self without the artificially added on things. She had her ipad with earphones on. She was a beautiful sight, an original, slim and looks more of an ordinary girl from next door and not the actress, read and seen in photographs of journals and magazines.

U Thaung Win, her father commented, “ Should you be free after the water festival, we shall be much honoured and appreciated if you can be her guardian, as we trust you and my daughter, San San Win feels at home with you too. I have to accompany my wife on business to Dawei for about two weeks and we need someone that we can trust.”

Before he could open his mouth and counter, his mother said, “ No problem. By that time his college will be closed for the summer break. He shall love to do that. Just let us know by phone and he’ll be ready.”

With that said, the contract was finalized. They all continued sharing experiences into the evening, while sampling a jackfruit ‘hard’ flesh and a freshly cut guava. They talked into the evening till the sun was no more. He just watched San San Win and enjoyed taking in her simple original beauty. He was truly flabbergasted, and never felt like this before. She and her parents took leave only when the mosquito squadrons, dived down onto their legs to savour their sweet blood.

After the water festival, U Mya Mu accompanied her to Pago town for a film shoot at Shwemawdaw Pagoda. They were driven in an air-conditioned van. He sat beside her quietly. Apart from the driver, there was no one else. The only word for it was comfortable.

She said, “ Thank you for being my guardian. I feel at peace with you. You have no airs or being pretentious, which I like. In my world, everything is make believe and I myself create this make believe for my audience.”

“That’s alright. I enjoy being with you. I also get to visit places of interest free of charge including free dining.”

U Myat Mu said smilingly and pressed her soft left hand with his while giving a slight squeeze as a sign of comfort. With her right hand, she put it on top his right hand and held it. He liked it and there it remained until the end of the journey at Pago.

San San Win changed her clothes in the van in front of him. No sign of discomfort or shyness hinted by her, of course he did turn his back as a sign of respect to her privacy. With her wardrobe assistant, shooting began in earnest. He liked her fairness of the skin and no sign of blemishes as far as he can make out (before make up). He had lunch together with her alone by the side table of a café below the Shwemawdaw Pagoda. She knew a lot about current songs and their Myanmar singers. Myanmar movies, discs and stage shows are at the tip of her fingers. After making her make believe world, she resorted back to her old self. With all the artificial things taken off and her hair and face were rid of make up, it was a joy to see her natural beautiful self once again. On the way back, she placed her left hand on the middle of the seat, which he held with his right and she squeezed it tight. They talked and told jokes until reaching home. He felt the journey was shorter on the way back.  

They saw more of each other and she would come over nearly every evening. His parents and she got on really well. At times, she would also join dinner with them. He was her partner for dinners she needed attend and be her chauffer also. This being his additional task which he relish and enjoy. Even though there may be no dinner invitations, they would venture to a quiet Chinese restaurant and share a meal, which needed no pretences and be their selves. Driving back slowly, she would lay her right hand near his body, and chat on things they unable share with others. On her parents return, U Mya Mu continued his duties with her consent, and carried on his guardianship till his teaching time in August, when her parents took over again as usual.

During the rainy season, filming slowed down and she did more of commercials and advertisements and had more time on her own. She still comes round in the evenings and demands that he takes her out during weekend alone, without her guardian parents. They enjoy each other company and would share jokes and laugh their time away. They already were a courting couple for around six months when she made a comment one evening on their way to a Japanese Restaurant,    

 “ We are so different, come from separate worlds, and yet we seem to hit it off. Our houses are so close and yet we were so far away, if not for the filming at Maritime College, we would have never met.  May I call you Ko Mu and you can call me just plain San. Is that alright?”

“ Surely San, stranger things has happened in this world. Have you not heard opposite poles attracts? I am ten years older than you, and yet I yearn to be with you, I could not believe myself on this. So, what is the problem?” Ko Mu shot back bemused.

San smilingly replied, “ No problem, just making a statement. Who would believe such an attraction could happen? I am happy, but are you?”

“I surely am. I am forever thankful to the one who thought of an idea to film in our Maritime College. Do you know that we are known as inhabitants of ‘Hinegyi Kyun’ among ourselves?” Ko Mu resorted.

“What is the hidden meaning of  ‘Hinegyi Kyun’, I don’t quite get it?” San raised the question.

“ Well first, Hinegyi Kyun is the name of an island out in the Pathein River delta. It is now a Naval base. Second, ‘Hine’ is a word in Burmese language to mean passed the time, thirdly, ‘gyi’ is to mean big or old, and last but not least, fourth, ‘Kyun’ is directly to mean an island. Therefore double meaning denotes, island of old timers or spinsters’ island.  Slang meaning, teaching staff of Maritime College is made up of old hags.” Ko Mu explained and squeezed a sarcastic smile.

San laughed and said, “ I get it now. How people get such out of this world ideas I’ll never know. Are you going to enlighten them about our affair?”

Ko Mu much amused added, “Of course not. We are not in a habit of discussing such private matters. However, let them watch for themselves how things develops.”

They both had a good giggle and proceeded to their Japanese meal. San San Win preferred down to earth man with a simple respectable job. A man older than her matured enough to be leaned upon and be relied too. Her knight in shining armour, if you like. Even though she herself is an actress, she does not go for actors. Clothes, hairdos, handsomeness, style, this profession does not attract her. Popularity is just a passing moment in time and not permanent, and nothing to be raved about. She herself is doing it for the money because it is good and she possessed a figure that is commercially attractive and just happens to be drifted into it. She is more of a realist in such matters, and does realize that this crazy yearn for her by the masses is but a passing phase. 

As for Ko Mu, San represented the youth he’s been searching for. He knows that this youth is but a passing in time, but he is making the most of it. She to him is real simple beauty that he admires, not the artificial image she draws with her make ups and added on foams she represented in films, on television, the advertisements in the streets and the smiling face on food wrappers. To him, she is just a girl from next door. Pure and simple. A girl who is small in stature, slim, fair with smallish boobs and don on spectacles to do some serious reading. She is an educated lass who is just lost for the time being, in the sea of movies, videos and commercials, which he does not care for very much. He loves the young girl who would come across to his compound and help him with his watering and pruning the trees with tender loving care (TLC). While she tries to be religious, she is very much a novice compared to his mother. She would join his mother at times to do some meditation when she can spare an hour or two. Ko Mu has tasted food that she cooks, rather basic but acceptable. She tries to please him on the things he likes. That is already enough for him, and he asks no more and happy to grow old with her. He does not like seeing actors holding and kissing her, but he takes it with a pinch of salt. After all, they are making scenes of make believe and it was just plain work, nothing more, he consoled himself.

During breaks from college he would take on his role as her guardian and accompany her wherever it may take him. His and her family does not interfere in anyway. On his Thadinkyut break, he accompanied her to Inlay Lake for some film shooting. They put up at a hotel on the lake. The weather was utterly cold. His room was next to hers. They would talk into the night and on such a night, he held her tight under the blankets in the coldness of the room. The rooms did not have any heaters except for his arms and his heated body, which kept her warm, she felt safe and protected. They kissed and they both sang the sweet music of love. While he conducted the orchestra, she enjoyed the music to the brim. They played the music time and again throughout the night. They cannot spare a moment to admire the clear full moon outside the window or listen to the fishes coming up for air in the lake below, nor can appreciate the monks chanting drifting in from the shoreline. Came breakfast time before the shooting of the day, they sat in the dining hall next to each other, ready for a hearty meal.

The waitress asked him, “ How would you like your egg Sir?”

Ko Mu demanded, “Two half boiled eggs and lots of toast, a pot of black coffee and a glass of grapefruit juice, if you please.”

The waitress repeated his order, “ Not one but two half boiled eggs, the slices of bread and grapefruit juice are by the side table, you may enjoy the self made toasts to your heart’s content as it is free flow, and your order for a pot of black coffee, I’ll see to it straight away.”

Then turning to San she enquired, “ Ma’am, anything for you?”

She slowly said, “ Also two half boiled eggs and a cup of coffee, thank you.”

The waitress noted it on her small pad, then turned away and headed in the direction of the hotel kitchen.

They both looked at each other sheepishly and she gave him the Mona Lisa mystique smile. No more was said, and each dug into their breakfast in silence. The film crew was not inquisitive and the director was only interested in shooting a good film, while the producers are happy to make good return on their investments. A total of four days was spent at their hotel on the lake, and each night they played the same orchestral symphony music, and each movement was listened to with intense delight and pleasure. They were not sick or tired with repetition of the movements, they just played it over, time and again. He was thankful to the make up artist in woman’s clothes. He/she painted her face so well that sleepless nights did not show on her face. The only regret was while his room fully paid for, it was totally unused during the duration of stay there. After all, it was settled on the producers’ account, thus nothing to be worried about. On the trip back on the Yangon Airways flight from Heho, he sat next to her, starboard side in the third row.

She commented, “ I think it’s totally fair and to be frank with you. I cannot marry you even if you requested, and you haven’t I know. For the sake of my fans and audience, I think remaining single is better for my career till the last moment. No offence intended. Hope you will understand.”

Ko Mu closed his eyes holding her right hand in his and replied, “ Nothing to worry on that line my darling, I fully understand your predicament. As long as you are mine alone, I can wait. Remember the old Burmese saying? The best tea leave are only picked, when the picker walks slow and pluck the most tender ones. I aim to eat good tea leave (laphet thoke), and patiently wait. “    

With that said, both made their way back to Yangon, tired and fully drained. He thinks both their family are aware of their situation and remaining mum about it. There was nothing in magazines or journals and he was happy for her since these things can affect her short career. As the saying goes, she is making hay while the sun shined, and storing water when it rained. The teaching staff can gossip behind his back for all he cared. It does not worry him. Time will decide whether the teaching faculty is a Hinegyi Kyun or otherwise.

Ko Mu has been approached directly or through his parents, at times through brokers too, proposals of marriage, which he turned down. He believed that marriage ought to be coupled with sincere love, otherwise he don’t not see much point in it. Many a proposal was made offering their young daughter with much richness or beauty to be believed. Some stressed that no additional sibling, need to be contested for wills and sharing of wealth. Come to think of it, he just laughed at it. They really must be dying for a son in law while some wanted to continue their line of succession and hold on to their wealth in the process, keeping it in the family, as it were. He was not such a man, he rather remains unwed and be happy, other than be married and disgusted and unhappy for the rest of his life. Somehow, love and marriage never came hand in hand for him.

As for San, she already met her match and loves Ko Mu dearly. She found him to be understanding and patient. Utterly truthful, a man with simple tastes and no airs or pretences, which was important to her, as she is in the business of creating make believes. His love for her was enough and need not other things anymore. San knows she must carry on till her fan and audience base spiral downwards and becomes unviable and does not make economical sense to carry on. Until then, she must continue to generate money. San wants to buy a house or bungalow in a posh residential area in both their names as a wedding present to him, and start a family of her own. She also knows that Ko Mu is too proud to accept her offer. He rather live somewhere humble and call it his own. She shall have to find ways to deal with that. She also knows that living with his or her parents is not the answer either. San has saved enough money and bought a few pieces of land and invested in some businesses as collateral on suggestion by her accountants. Once married, she rather remains a housewife only and shut her old acting profession, cutting all ties with the business once and for all. San would like to start afresh a new chapter, a dedicated wife, to a simple lecturer. She just wants to grow old with him. No more, no less. This price she is willing to sacrifice on account of love for him.

At least four or five years still remains and that is a mighty long time. They both wish and hope that they able to pull trough and meet their wedding date. The test of time is the only hurdle left. Until then, U Mya Mu must still remain on the island of Hinegyi Kyun of the Maritime College.

Being a man of the pen, he is thinking of sending a short poem present for her Birthday next Tuesday titled ‘My love is eternity’.

I really want to grow old with you,

In sickness, health, cherish thee, I’ll do.

Test of time, I mind not and shall abide,

‘tis no problem, hand in hand, you by my side.

If music be the food of love, play on, Shakespeare wrote,

I’ll be in earth below six feet, love thee still, always note.

Physique love only not I give thee,

Heart of mine too, forever, from me.

So remain strong I pray,

My love is there every day.

Season may come, wither, fade, fly and go,

Promise thee, my love shall maintain its glow.

Time maybe endless,

So ‘tis my love for you also is boundless.

Day turns to nights and nights into days,

My love is eternity and never shall fade away.

I really want to grow old with you.