Life of a Thai Heel: Flying to Yangon

After 3 years of flying nearly every week in my last job, I discovered that I am the type of flier that just likes to sit there. Absorbed in my own thoughts. If you think about it, flying really is one of the few times that you have to really be alone. These days, some airlines do offer internet - but it's still at the point where not too every flight does. There are no distractions. Unless you decide to open your work computer while in the air, most of your stress is - literally - 30,000 feet below you.

Many people in the business world talk about the importance of networking - and I'll be the first to admit, flying (especially during the Monday, Thursday business hours) is a great way to network. But, for my 'vacation' in Myanmar - count. me. out. I love just sitting on a flight and having personal time. No one to talk to. No stress. No responsibilities for those moments in the air.

So, when I sat down, ready to depart from Bangkok to Yangon, you can only imagine how I was feeling when the guy next to me starts getting really chatty.....

My seat neighbor's name was Tem - born and raised in Bangkok, and a self proclaimed entrepreneur. He is starting a music company in Myanmar (sees it as being something similar to Sony?) and is investing in power plants there. He also helped start the first Dean & Duluca store in Bangkok, and he is investing in the construction of what will become the tallest building in Thailand. Definitely an accomplished guy - he said he always knew he wanted to work hard now and retire early. He said he has no time for girlfriends and just enough free time to have hit up the Full Moon Party four times (I guess this answered my question about whether or not local Thai people go to the Full Moon Party... apparently some go multiple times over!).

We talked the entire flight (it was about an hour and a half, so it's not actually that impressive). He gave me some Myanmar business advice, though:

If people tell you that you can't do something - think about their advice. Don't ignore it. But, if you still believe in the idea after that - just work even harder
Myanmar, in his opinion, will experience a boom in the next ten years. Get in early. He thinks that if I start a janitorial services company (apparently finding good maid services there is tough) or a restaurant chain called "Kate's Burgers" (also, the locals apparently love Western food, but do not have many options today), I could be a millionaire soon....again, that's Tem's opinion :)
Start young. Take advantage of things you can take advantage of before you have too many other life commitments
Work hard. Do not shy away from working hard, it will likely be worth it

At the end of the flight, I walked off thinking about the things he said. I also walked off thinking that maybe I should talk to more people on flights.... you got to love free life advice.

Pictures from Yangon below. Still a lot to be developed - but moving pretty rapidly!