I have grown to love my community where I have been living for the past eight months. They are warm hearted and friendly people and I want to celebrate my impending departure with them.

With the help of my local Myanmar friends, we agree a sum of money to buy all the ingredients to cook mohinga for everyone on the street. They refer to this an an act of donation.

They also make a banner and put up balloons plus lay out tables in the street.

It is a great atmosphere as the opening time approaches. My good friend Zaw is there to meet me and my local colleagues from my office journey up too. Finally, my group of VSO friends arrive and let the party begin!

The children are especially keen to tuck in - some have their hair dyed in readiness for next week's Thingyian new year water festival.

I make a speech in Myanmar language which I hope is understandable. I tell them that I will always remember them.

The local people seem genuinely thrilled to have foreigners as guests in this part of the city. This is a society which has been oppressed for decades and foreigners viewed with mistrust and suspicion. Despite the way the population has been treated, they retain a sense of dignity and generosity of spirit.

For us all, it is a special occasion and for me, a fitting way to say farewell to such lovely people here in Myanmar.