'Freedom' is a word you hear a lot and it's sometimes difficult to understand what it means in practice. This afternoon, I get an insight in what it means for people and how it is a natural human instinct.

I walk to my local railway station, about twenty minutes away and pay my 100 kyats (8p) for my 45 minute journey to downtown. The taxi would cost 5000 kyats, so I am living within my allowance today! I walk for hours around the area and chat to an English couple from Cambridge, who are on a year long travel adventure.

I walk past the British Embassy on the appropriately named, 'The Strand' and on past a number of decaying old colonial buildings. I take some photos of local people, who all give me permission willingly and end up in the park adjacent to Sule pagoda.

Its then that I have a converastion with a young Christian man who explains what is different now from 5-6 years ago. In 2010, the park was in a very bad shape, overgrown, and people were discouraged from gathering. Groups of more than five were against the law established by the military government. There was a charge even to enter the area and officials were on hand to observe things. As a foreigner, I would have been viewed with suspicion and people would have been wary about approaching me.

Fast forward to 2016, and the park is renewed with help from the EU, and grassy areas, plants, shrubs and fountains now provide a great atmosphere.
Its free to enter and people are here in great numbers on a Sunday afternoon, most with mobile phone cameras!
The atmosphere is light and carefree. Families with young children play and youngsters do the things that youngsters do. The monks walk alongside the local people and engage in conversation.

You can almost touch the sense of 'freedom' in the air and feels good.