Flippy in Myanmar

    By nicky nainglin

    Flippy in Myanmar cover image

    18 Jun, 2024

    a cartoon bear in a military uniform standing in front of a city street with a dog and a man on a bike, cloisonnism, a character portrait, Cao Buxing, official art

    Flippy, the war veteran bear from Happy Tree Friends, found himself in the heart of Yangon. New surroundings, new experiences, and a new life awaited him.

    a boy standing next to a giant bear in a street with a woman in a green shirt and a man in a green shirt, art & language, a storybook illustration, Colin Middleton, official art

    His first encounter was with Kyaw, a local boy who was intrigued by Flippy's uniform. 'Are you a soldier?' Kyaw asked with gleaming eyes.

    a cartoon bear in a military uniform standing in front of a building with a golden dome in the background, sots art, a character portrait, Beeple, official art

    Kyaw took Flippy to the Shwedagon Pagoda. Flippy was in awe of the immense golden stupa, it was unlike anything he had seen before.

    a boy and a bear standing in front of a building with a pagoda in the background and a man in uniform, sumatraism, a storybook illustration, Basuki Abdullah, official art

    Kyaw explained the significance of the pagoda, 'It's believed to house relics of four previous Buddhas.' Flippy was fascinated and moved by the spiritual fervor.

    a boy and a boy in military uniforms are standing in front of a market with a bear on the sidewalk, serial art, a storybook illustration, Cui Bai, official art

    Next, they visited a local market. Flippy was overwhelmed by the array of colors, smells, and noise. It was a sensory overload.

    a boy in a military uniform standing in front of a fruit stand with oranges and other fruits in baskets, socialist realism, a storybook illustration, Cui Bai, promotional image

    Flippy tried some local delicacies, and even though the taste was unfamiliar, he enjoyed the experience. He was starting to appreciate the beauty of a different culture.

    a bear and a dog are standing in a room with pictures on the wall and a man in a military uniform, serial art, a character portrait, Cao Zhibai, official art

    Days turned into weeks, and Flippy was settling down in Yangon. His apartment was adorned with memories of his adventures with Kyaw.

    a cartoon boy in a military uniform standing in a living room with a teddy bear on the floor and a window behind him, serial art, a character portrait, Cao Zhibai, official art

    One day, while cleaning his apartment, Flippy came across his old dog tags. Seeing them triggered his PTSD, making him anxious and edgy.

    a boy in a military uniform holding a teddy bear in a bedroom with a teddy bear on the floor, sots art, a character portrait, Du Jin, official art

    Flippy decided to visit Kyaw. Seeing his friend's troubled state, Kyaw listened to Flippy's worries. His simple empathy was comforting to Flippy.

    a boy in a military uniform is holding a bear in a living room with a couch and a table, sots art, a character portrait, Byeon Sang-byeok, official art

    Kyaw's family welcomed Flippy with open arms. The feeling of belonging and the warmth eased Flippy's anxiety. He realized he had found a new family in Yangon.

    a boy in a military uniform standing next to a dog on a lake at sunset with a boat in the background, sots art, a comic book panel, Chang Dai-chien, official art

    Flippy and Kyaw spent the evening by the river, watching the sunset. The calmness of the river mirrored Flippy's newfound peace.

    a boy in uniform sitting next to a bear on a rock near a river with boats and houses in the background, serial art, a character portrait, Chang Dai-chien, official art

    Flippy looked at Kyaw, 'I never thought I'd find a home away from home.' Kyaw smiled, 'Sometimes, home isn't a place, it's the people.'

    Flippy in Myanmar

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