He was laughing because of the way we met. I was carrying a Burmese phrase book in what is known as the 'Indian market' - a street market not far from the very center of Yangon - and tried a phrase on him trying to buy a cold drink. His eyebrows went up and he shook his head, I showed him the phrase, he said it, I tried to repeat it - several times, always getting a correction. Finally, he said, "I speak some English, you know" and everyone burst out laughing. I told him I needed to take his picture so I could tell the story.