Two pedicab drivers read a tabloid newspaper by the roadside

Pedicab drivers reading tabloid newspaper

Although I saw many cars driving around, I did not get the impression that they were very busy. In central Yangon, some cars were carefree on the roadways, others were quietly parked on the side of the road, and pedestrians were walking freely on the sidewalks. No one seemed to be in a hurry. Perhaps that is why the two bicycle cab drivers in the photo seem to have too much free time on their hands. Not many customers show up. Both drivers parked their bicycle cabs at the side of the roadway and were reading newspapers.

Since the spread of smartphones, the number of people reading books and magazines, which used to be so common, has decreased considerably. Most people are enjoying playing games or watching videos on their smartphones, no different from those in Japan. I used to see people reading all over town to the extent that I thought all the people in Myanmar were addicted to the printed word, but now, eight years after my last visit, such people have become an endangered species. The custom of reading is quickly disappearing.

The two drivers seem to be an endangered species. We do not know what articles they were reading. In any case, they were reading the newspaper so intently that they did not raise their eyes even when pedestrians passed by them.

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