“IT does not matter how much they cost,” said 26-year-old May Soe Htun. “I’m never reluctant to go to the palmist.”

She said she often goes to find out about challenges or changes in her future.

Going makes her “feel excited” and she “waits for the predictions to come true”.

Having your fortune told by someone reading your palm is popular in Myanmar.

During a visit to a pagoda, you can stop in at a palmist’s stall, decorated with a simple chair or bench, table and mats, and have your future told to you in about 30 minutes.

Daw Aye Aye Aung, 35, said that she is not an extremist, but goes and “takes their advice and instructions”.

“Generally men do not go and see palmists to discuss love, marriage or education,” said 45-year-old businessman U Aung Thura. “We discuss our businesses.”

My grandmother believes in palmists, astrologers and sometimes psychics.

I too like palmists’ predictions – when they are positive. My first experience with a palmist was with a famous one in Yangon.

My grandmother and I went to ask which university I should attend. My grandmother wanted me to choose the Institute of Medicine, but I wanted to go to the University of Foreign Languages. We could not agree, so we decided to cast my fate into the palmist’s hands.

I thought he would look eccentric, but he turned out to be a plain-looking man in his 40s.

His office was also very different from what I imagined. It was an air-conditioned room with a shelf for Buddha statues, a big bookcase, two sofas and table with a photo of his family on display.

My grandmother explained to him why we were there, but – despite my predictions – he did not automatically agree with her. “Oh, good!” I thought.

A young man in his 20s assisted by brushing black ink on both my palms and then stamping my imprint on the white paper. The palmist looked at the paper and asked my birthday and place. I was very excited to hear his predictions, but it felt like I had to wait for hours. I sat on the couch with my grandmother, waiting eagerly for his response, and she whispered to me, “If he says that you should join the Institute of Medicine, you must. No complaints at all, you see!”

The palmist started his predictions. “Your line of success is very clear, so you will be successful in every field.”

I gave him a big smile.

“According to your lines,” he continued, “it seems that you prefer subjects concerning with arts more than with sciences. You like an easy going life, but on the other hand, you are very afraid of being poor. You don’t like tiring work.”

“Yes, yes, that’s right,” I enthusiastically agreed.

He looked at my grandmother and said, “Sister, I think your child shouldn’t join the Institute of Medicine. If you force her to join, it will be a waste of time and energy. I am sure she will never become a doctor. I can predict well. She is interested in learning languages, and she will succeed in the fields where her language skills can be applied. Let her join the university she likes.”

I was ecstatic. Deep down I knew that I would never become a doctor. Now that my grandmother’s own palmist predicted it, there would be no more arguing between us.

“But your line of heart is very complicated,” he said. “It seems that you will be cheated on if you have a boyfriend. Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Oh, no, no, Saya!” I practically shouted.

“Good, thamee, if you have no boyfriend, I suggest you try to stay away from love affairs. You would be very unhappy in those affairs. You’d better not marry until the age of 28. You’d better not have a boyfriend until the age of 28, OK?”

“Yes, Saya, yes!”

My grandmother was speechless.

On the walk home all she could do was echo the palmist’s words on love. “Take care, you have to take care and not have boyfriends. Otherwise you’ll be in trouble.”

“Yes, yes.”

Since that time I have enjoyed going to palmists and psychics. It’s nice to hear pleasant words and wonderful predictions about my future. Whether or not they come true, it is a joy and relief to hear them.

Because of the palmist’s prediction, I attended the university I liked and became a reporter. If I have free time, I will visit the palmist again and ask him whether I will become a successful and famous reporter. And hopefully, his prediction will please me.