熊眼看世界

緬甸軍人在街上巡邏

這是冰窖熊下榻的那所由副總司令擁有的酒店

劉姥姥遊大觀園 (赤腳遊金塔寺)

泰國：全國同穿黃色來慶祝泰皇七十歲生辰。對！包括了男人。

今年的澳門 CEE ，將於十二月二日(對！是十二月二日)，即是這個星期六舉行，請大家懇切地為「阿哥」祈禱啦！因為……佢「瀉」呀！

今次講員除左「阿哥」，仲有阿唐、Handsome Joe、Alex…. 等等！大家請努力為他們祈禱，澳門既 GDP 就快高過香港，袋口有多 D 錢，當然會送多 D 學生留美啦！

「非以役人，乃役於人」我地支持你！

剛剛發現，原來新來的學生中，不少原來都開左 Xanga，真正係「日光底下無新事」，冰窖熊 Subscribed 既 Xanga 已經增加至 121 個，正如冰窖熊有一天和肥波記的分享：「Xanga 已經成為一個人際平台 (Relationship Platform)」。

更叫人丈八金剛摸不著頭腦的是，緬甸位於泰國北面，與泰國接壤，傳統文化宗教信仰都極之相似。可是，兩國之間的分別卻是那麼的明顯，曼谷和仰光，簡直是一個天一個地，曼谷新機場的設施，比起香港成田等國際一級機場雖然還有點距離，但已足夠把仰光比下去，設施簡陋得可笑，感覺好像時光倒流三十年的中國那樣。

緬甸由軍人政府統治，軍人政府完全操縱整個國家的經濟，主要基建均由各軍方領袖所持有，職位越高，持有的利益就越大。冰窖熊下榻的 酒店是當地最平宜的外賓級酒店，屬緬甸的副總司令所擁有。它旁邊有一所更高級的五星級酒店，是仰光之最，屬總司令擁有。在緬甸，職位越高，所佔的國家利益就會越多。

研究政治學的都知道，帝王制度出現最重要的原因，是國家需要一隊 Standing Army 「經常集結的軍隊」，以保護國家利益。帝王 by definition　就是國家軍隊的最高領袖，他不單統領軍隊，更擁有「想要攻打誰，就攻打誰」的宣戰權，基本上整個緬甸政府，都是圍繞著軍權系統衍生 出來的，權力來源還是來自槍桿子。明白了這個關節，再回頭看緬甸。我們只要把總司令的名號改為「皇帝」，把軍方權貴都改「貴族」，緬甸，就變成了不折不扣的帝制國家。

想到這裡，冰窖熊才恍然大悟，原來，幾十年來的英式殖民統治並沒有真正把西方的政治思想帶到緬甸，帝王制度一直控制著這個國家，當英國人離開後，軍隊取而代之的上場，用的雖然美其名是共產主義，可是內容卻是不折不扣的帝制。當然，軍人政府和傳統帝制還是有點分別的，帝制是子傳孫，孫傳子的世襲，軍人政府卻是槍桿子出政權，誰控制了軍隊的就可以坐上這個大位，同時，由於不是世襲，即使坐上大位，子孫將來也未必有機會，可以享這個皇帝福，因此，誰坐上了大位都會盡情搜括，因而做成了這個結構性的貪污問題。據當地人介紹，緬甸人民貧窮的生活方式，是「貧者貧，富者富」，軍人執政後，排擠了探懂經營之道、掌握緬甸經濟命脈的華人，然後閉門鎖國，大施愚民政策，不理政務，只管貪贓枉法，以至物價飛漲、貨貸失序。

現代化 (Modernization) 為西方社會帶來大量財富，也把大部份農民提升為比較富裕的中產階層。對於那些沒有真正經歷現代化洗禮的國家，現代化帶來的高質生活，卻加深了貧窮和富裕的差別：「貧者越貧，富者越富」。貧者繼續安步當車，住其百年如一日的漏水古老木屋，吃最基本簡單的食物，穿其傳統衣服；富者，卻住西班牙式別墅、吃 Pizza 漢堡包、看衛星電視、開最新款的寶馬朋馳，外人看不過眼，當地人卻見怪不怪。現代化 (Modernization) 加劇了貧富之間的距離。

相比緬甸，鄰居泰國的情況就要好得多，泰皇雖然也有獨裁的一面，但對人民卻比緬甸的軍人政府要溫和得多，人民在寬鬆的環境下，有較大的空間發展。二十多年的努力，泰國各地，包括最落後的泰東北(即孔敬一帶)，已經不同情度地現代化起來，緬甸卻依然在農業社會上原地踏步。民智閉塞自然易於讓管理能力低的軍人政府來統治，軍人政府這招閉關愚民的政策看來相當有效。昂山淑姬的甘地式抗議，用來對付傲慢的英國紳士還可以，對著這些土槍桿皇帝，註定是對牛彈琴，一廂情願。

緬甸的苦難，不單是軍人集團的惡，也是制度帶來的惡。極權，真可惡！

緬甸的巴士

仰光街頭的生果檔

「緬甸中央銀行」 (緬甸最著名的佛寺，這座金塔共用了三十六噸黃金打出來的，人民的血汗錢都存在這裡。)

METS 神學院慶祝學生大樓落成的特別大餐，主菜是水烹乳豬，是他們清晨四時所殺的小猪。

一般百姓居住的簡陋房子

菜市場上的小販

緬甸窮是人所共知的，按照聯合國的排名，它是亞洲最貧窮的十個國家之一，和尼泊爾可以說是難兄難弟，正是「海軍鬥水兵」。

尼泊爾窮，冰窖熊是理解的，尼泊爾位於喜瑪拉雅山，地處苦寒之地，寸草不生；自成一國，交通不便；資訊閉塞，民智未開；尼泊爾，確有其貧窮的原因。緬甸卻不一樣，緬甸處於熱帶，天氣雖然比香港熱，但土地肥沃，盛產各式水果，米糧充足，再加上緬甸出產名貴的寶石和翠玉，長久以來富甲一方。殖民時代，在英國刻意經營下，五十年代更曾經是亞洲最富裕的國家，首都仰光更被稱為是東方明珠，那時的香港還不過是個小型的轉口港而已 。著名的旅遊勝地 Mandalay Bay ，不是在 Las Vegas, 而是在緬甸。緬甸於六十年代獨立至今已逾四十年，冰窖熊此行在緬甸所見一切，可以用四個字來形容，就是「時間停頓」。整個國家，好像睡了四十年那般，即使在仰光這個緬甸最先進的城市，給冰窖熊的感覺，就好像是冰窖熊孩提時代坐火車遊上水那樣「落後鄉下」，這種感覺，年青的大家大概不太可能理解的。

冰窖熊在緬甸時，住的是四星級的大酒店，出入的不是由西方國家而來的旅客，就是當地有財有勢的「顯貴」，冰窖熊在酒店吃到由緬甸當地所出的木瓜西瓜水果，比泰國出產的更甜更肥美，在當地「顯貴」才有能力消費的超市，冰窖熊也可以找到一切日常生活產品食品，如果冰窖熊只是一名遊客，大概就會以為，緬甸是西方傳媒所攻擊的受害者。可是，當冰窖熊每天離開美麗的酒店區，到 METS 神學院所在的貧民區參觀時，冰窖熊才發現真正的緬甸：一家幾口在破爛的木屋生活，面對經濟嚴峻物資缺乏是他們每天都要面對的現實，一般工人的收入，只是當地人生活開支的三份一左右，根本不夠支付，於是，家家戶戶都忙於養豬養雞來幫補生計，政府只會騎在人民的頭上，用盡各種方法來「搵錢」，貪污變成是社會的正常行為，生活中不可或缺的部份。

很多人以為中國農村窮，冰窖熊卻告訴大家，緬甸尼泊爾等國家，比中國的農村還要窮得多。一台在八十年代出產，早已在香港台灣等地被淘汰，一文不值的殘舊影印機，賣到緬甸來卻叫價三千美元，比最新的型號還要貴；一百五十美元，就有一台 Desktop 電腦，是的，就是那些被我們當成是垃圾的 386 Windows 95 電腦 ；一台只有在廢車場在找到，又殘又舊的八十年代豐田七人VAN，叫價是美金一萬五千元，在緬甸，那是一般人民可以買到最好的車了。這樣極端的抬控物價，根本不可能在中國出現。當然， 當權的政要權貴才不會開這樣的垃圾，冰窖熊在仰光市中心，就見到過一輛二零零六年最新款的寶馬 X5 SUV，車上所有玻璃，包括前面的擋風玻璃，都 TINT 成黑色的。當地的司機告訴冰窖熊，那輛寶馬是屬於軍人政府裡的 VIP ，它行車是不用守任何交通規則的，任何汽車行人被它撞倒都要算是自己倒的楣。

作為一隻認真思考的熊， 冰窖熊禁不著問一個嚴肅的問題：為什麼一個物產如此豐富的國家，會淪為與窮鄉僻壤如尼泊爾為伍呢？

十一天的亞洲旅程終於完結，冰窖熊昨天晚上回到洛杉磯的家，最開心的是可以重見熊媽媽。接下來是最痛苦的 JETLAG 適應期，今天早上就要上課，時間卻正值是香港深夜，冰窖熊累得連眼皮都張不開，唉！也不知道是甚麼原故，大概是心理作用吧！由亞洲回美國時的 jetlag ，較由美國去亞洲的來得強勁！真痛苦！

等冰窖熊適應時差後，再和大家分享這次行程的經歷吧！

Today is the 3rd day in Myarmar. We attended the openning ceremony of METS new dorm building, a brand new two story building. Thanks God for giving them this wonderful gift. METS for sure is growing. Churches begin to know of its good quality and start to send students to METS. The demand is huge. The new dorm building is already being used fully. No more space left. Seems like they need to expand pretty soon.
In Myarmar, Buddhism is the national dominated religion. It is very difficult to evangelize here. I am teaching “Mission and Evangelism” tomorrow. Almost half of the material igloobear prepared does not fit the situation. Thanks God that Rev Chu is around so that igloobear can brainstorm with him….:)

METS has a wonderful choir. With very limited equipment, Igloobear did some recording work this afternoon. Igloobear is thinking to release a giveaway CD for them…”The voice of Angels”… That’s the title I am going to give..will be good for Christmas gift. Stay tuned.

Igloobear will leave Myarmar tomorrow evening after speaking in the seminar. It will be a 9 til 4 seminar. Tough job!

Glad to see you again! Civilization! (and be able to talk to Bear Mom once again!) Truly miss bear mom’s voice.

Today is igloobear’s second day in Myarmar. After nine hours of sleep last night, igloobear’s jetlag is 50% done now. Igloobear only felt the jetlag once before dinner (3AM Pacific Time). Thanks for your prayer…:p

Today Rev Chu, Mrs Cheung and igloobear attended the graduation ceremony of METS. This is a bi-annual event. There are totally 15 students from 05 and 06 Classes. More than 400 people attend this event. I was asked to assist Rev No Tham Sum on putting the “hoods” on the students. What an honor!

This event was held in a hundred-years-old Baptist church. This church building is located at the center square of Rangon. It is next to the City Hall. Just like HK, Myarmar was a colony of UK. So the city planning is basically a “western” style. The church is next to the city hall. As one of the oldest churches in Myarmar, this church is famous. That’s reason why Rev No Tam Sun had rent it to host the ceremony.

This afternoon is the only “free” time we have for sightseeing. We visited the famous “golden-top” temple. Myarmar people are very lovely. Their faith is simple but “dedicated”. They donate alot of money to put gold on the temple top. The dark side is: they are worshipping a wrong deity and the whole nation is comsumed by this religion. Education, welfare and medical expense are way too low. Their public education system is lousy. Rich people here send their kids to private schools instead. The same thing is happening not only in Myarmar but India and other developing countries. Such a desperating story. Igloobear miss my little bears!
WCCM is working closely with METS. Beside the bible, Myarmar church has NO other Christian translation works. So all the seminary students must improve their English first before having the real meat. You can imagine how inefficient it is. We are thinking to support them so that they are spare labor to start some translation works. It is until today igloobear realize how lucky we Chinese Christians are. We have so many good Christian classics translated in Chinese available. It truly is the blessing from our Lord. Not every church in the world has this privilage.
Travel without Bear Mom is lonely. But seeing the work of God on the fireline is exciting.
It rapidly shape my understanding of him and I deeply convicted that my service to Myarmar would ultimately help building the Kingdom. Meanwhile, folks, please call Micky when you have time, and tell her: “Add Oil! igloobear miss you” for me. Thank you.

After 25 hours of flights, Mrs Cheung and I finally arrived Rangoon. 3 out of 4 briefcases arrived Rangoon with us. Unfortunately, Mrs Cheung lost her personal case. The new Bangkok airport is lousy. At least 4 to 5 travellers lost theirs in our flight.
Well, the good side is: all 130lb commentaries are arrived safely. No question asked. Thank you for your prayer.

Because tomorrow will be the graduation ceremony of the METS and Mrs Cheung has lost everything literally. She went to the most expensive shopping center in town call “North Point Shopping Center”, to do some shopping. The stuff here are cheap. Just 50 cents an Oral-B toothbrush. Yes, USD. a shirt is just $2…. Well, it is cheap through our US people’s eyes. But extremely expensive to local people. A college graduate can only make 20USD a month or forty toothbrushes a month… can you imagine that?
Myarmar is a very interesting country. The phone call here is expensive. It costs me $2.5 per minute to call US. Yet the internet charge is relatively low. Just $2 per hour charge. Not bad at all, huh? In fact, I am typing this blog in hotel’s business center. $2 per hour…great!
I am extremely sleepy right now. It is 2AM Pacific time and is 5PM Myarmar time. To overcome the jetlag, I have to stay awake until tonight. Sigh! poor igloobear!

I really hate traveling alone without Bear Mom. Well… technically I am traveling with Mrs Cheung and Rev Chu. but the experience is simply different. I miss you, Bear Mom. Staying home and taking care of the little bears alone is a tough job. So folks, igloobear is asking for your help, when you see Bear Mom, tell her that “Igloobear miss you, Babe!”.

Talking about the work, our hotel is next to one of the largest temple in Myarmar. This golden top temple is huge and famous. Each year, buddhist bring tons of gold to decorate the temple. According the stat, there are more 60 tons of gold in this temple. All the money went to the temple and military. Dooming faith, dooming country…sigh!

Myarmar need the Lord! Please pray for this country and pray for our trip. We still have days of works to be acomplished. I am going to teach a seminar on Monday. Mrs Cheung and Rev Chu will preach in the graduation ceremony tomorrow.

Lord! save me from the jetlag!