Belinda: When I first started getting bio info on you all I saw was your accomplishments as a writer. I have only heard your music. Do you, in fact, play a guitar?
San: Yes, I do. I play an acoustic guitar. I would like to create my own instrumentals. My debut instrumental album titled “Acoustic Recital” came out in 2024. A mini-album with my lyrics recently came out in early 2025.My music career is only three years old because I decided to be an acoustic guitarist in early 2023 while I started writing career in 2000.
I have published over a dozen English books including “Reading a George Orwell Novel in a Myanmar Teashop and Other Essays” “An English Writer (novel)” “A Shirt and Other Poems” and my recent one is a publication of Penguin SEA and its title is Yangon Days.
Belinda: I don’t think you’ve ever posted written work in GAS. At the end of these question please post at least two of your best poems.
San: No, I don’t. But, my instrumental appeared in GAS 20.
Belinda: Which came first, the writing or the music?
San: Actually, the music came first because I began playing the guitar when I was in my middle school days in 1987. I learnt to play the guitar firstly from my neighbor who had an acoustic
guitar. He taught me some basic chords such as C major, A minor, E minor and G major. Using those chords, I could play some Myanmar songs. Later, in our three-month long summer holidays, I took up a short guitar course with Ko Myo Sint to whom I came to know through a music instruments rental service in an uptown ward. KMS was a lawyer by profession, but he could also play the guitar well. He taught me the basic rhythm patterns and more chords. Luckily, when I was in my high school days in 1990s, I had a classmate who was interested in playing classical guitar and we became close friends. We met often at his place, practicing and playing classical guitars. Through him, I came to know Salai Zalyan, the legendary bassist of ACES music band and we both studied music with him. Also, we learnt playing the guitar from Ko Myo Tun, another legendary lead guitarist of The WILD ONES music band. In fact, I had another guitar instructor whose name is Aung Ko Ko who taught me music notations, and music theories. That time, heavy metal was very popular among youths and I had a great admiration for those speed guitarists such as Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Richie Sambora, etc. Not only heavy metal, I also like rock, Spanish, blues and jazz too..
Belinda: I read that you are a translator. What languages do you translate to and from?
San: Yes, I am a bilingual writer. My native tongue is Myanmar and so, I translate Myanmar works into English and English into Myanmar.
Belinda:Yangon, Myanmar seems to influence your work a lot. Is this the place of your birth and where you still live? Have you traveled and worked in other countries? If so, where and what did you do?
San: Yangon is my birthplace, and I live downtown in which there are many heritage buildings. And famous international writers such as Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham, H.G Wells, Pablo Neruda, George Orwell, etc visited and lived in Rangoon (the former name of Yangon). Those literary luminaries are my inspiration. I haven’t traveled other countries.
In 2013, I participated in a literary project called H2 project organized by British Council and I became a short story writing instructor to conduct a short story writing workshop. Later, the first time ethnic short story book both in Myanmar and English was published locally and in U.K in 2015. In the meantime, I became a licensed tour guide after attending TTS (Tourism Training School) in 2018. Since then, I showed people around literary spots in downtown Yangon in which there are many heritage buildings. I feel quite happy to show people around those places. At the same time, I worked locally as a freelance contributor for local newspapers, journal and magazines such as Myanmar Times, Myanmore, My Yangon Magazine, Home and Service Journal, etc.I also submit my writings to literary magazines in the Asia Pacific Region, UK, and U.S such as Asia Literary Review, Kitaab, Mekong Review, Borderless Journal, etc.
A MONTH AWAY FROM MAY
Heat comes uninvitingly,
even more blatantly, patronizingly,
though rain should be amiably let in.
There is no choice,
as vox pop say,
It is best to accept what it is.
What will be for those
who could not afford A.C fully on,
who live in destitute and distress?
Blaring, prickling, scorching,
sweating, suffocating, nuseating,
cursing, swearing, complaining, withal condemning . . .
But, it is still in May,
just sporadic rumbling, thundering,
just signs they are.
Rain seems still far away,
though it’s only a month away,
to usher in a monsoon paragon damsel.
TO THE MAN WHO LIVED IN 29TH STREET
He who loved Yangon streets, not because Fraser’ city’s plan,
Nor Lord Dalhousie’s dreams; simply, he fell in love with the
cosmopolitan city.
What he found in it was amazing, he said to his best friend,
That there are treasures hidden in these streets,
Digging those up when he had a chance.
Among other things, authors like Rudyard Kipling,
George Orwell, Pablo Neruda, Paul Theroux, Ludu Sein Win,
And Aung Cheit
Inspired him greatly while he was living in Yangon.
He really loved the literary life, and being an author,
He even managed to finish his doctorate in creative writing.
He walked freely in the maze of streets, wide and small,
Slinging his red bag on his left shoulder, with his panama hat,
his Apple laptop and quick-to-smile expression,
Making friends with locals, no discriminations towards age or
gender,
He loved chatting, joking, philosophizing, and venturing,
A true global citizen and down-to-earth personality.
In his neighborhood in 29th Street, he was known as “Mr Bob”,
And well-liked by his friends and peers, showing their
willingness,
And comfort in his association; they saw humor in him, and
a quick wit,
He made their existence more meaningful and strengthened
their identity.
To them, he was a sensible, true man.
Among his fascinations were Art House movies,
Also, Raymond Carver’s books; he had a liking for old books,
Post-cards, and posters which he managed to revive again,
On the stagnant walls of residents, expats and locals alike,
With his creative sense, and human touch.
Among his many successes is “Walking the Streets of Yangon”,
Which has become the Bible to those who like to explore the
city’s life,
He embossed his name in the city of Yangon, fully living in it,
Never wasting his time, always exploring and discovering,
He is remembered, not just on 29th Street, not just in Yangon.
