In Myanmar: Feeling vulnerable, being helped
Sometimes trips don’t start well My outbound plane to Myanmar left 15 minutes late. Then we circled for nearly an hour over fogged-in Yangon Airport. A French woman pushed at me in the immigration queue. At the foreign exchange counters, they wouldn’t let me change more than one $100 bill. Lining up to get my bags through … Continue reading
Reading in Myanmar: They were five
No pictures, just some words describing a scene while waiting for a flight in the domestic terminal at Yangon Airport. They were five Off the plane Crossing the airport hall In jungle green In control – the tallest A ranger hat slouched over his head Protecting a face already turned to stone On the right flank – the … Continue reading
Reading in Myanmar: Text and sub-text
I was reading in Myanmar. It was my time, my panel appearance at the Irrawaddy Literary Festival with Canadian literary prodigy Karen Connelly. We were to be speaking about my novel As the Heart Bones Break. We ended up speaking about Myanmar. Not of course in so many words… But as I learnt last week … Continue reading
In Myanmar: Rock and wonder!
Words can’t describe this natural wonder seemingly balanced on a hair (Buddha’s apparently). The Golden Rock of Mon State – It’s a miracle! Where is your favourite rocky place? Do share a link to a picture. BTW – I also like the 12 Apostles on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road
In Myanmar: Union Day among the Karen
I spent February 12, Myanmar’s Union Day, among the Karen. Union Day celebrates the signing of the Panglong Agreement between the majority Burmans and the minority ethnics to struggle together for an independent Union of Burma. The meaning of Union remains contested among the minorities. Indeed the Mon and Karen minorities were not even original signatories. But … Continue reading
Myanmar: A Karen Landscape
I stole 2 days before the Irrawaddy Literary festival to visit Karen State and Mon State in South Eastern Myanmar. Here are my first impressions of Karen State, from the initial sight of Zwekabin Mountain (the state landmark), past a village to Hpa An, the state capital situated on the banks of the great Salween River. Pictures … Continue reading
6 MEKONG DISHES I’LL MISS
Every 16th day of the Lunar New Year, Heart Guy and I travel to his family home in the Mekong Delta to commemorate his mother’s death and celebrate her 96 years of life. This year, he’ll be going on his own as I’ll be at the Irrawaddy Literary Festival in Mandalay talking about As the … Continue reading
New Year Flowers and Fruits
New Year’s about new beginnings. Ten days before the New Year, I trim our “Mai” trees to encourage them to bud. This means picking all the leaves off the trees and then trimming away the overgrown branches so the blossoms that appear can be admired against a beautiful frame. Our largest “Mai” is 8 feet tall … Continue reading
Reader and Writer - Praying Woman - Gardener - Foodie 