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
Who are you to write about it?
I’m defending my right to write about the “other” on Caroline Allen’s Art of Story Writing blog. http://artofstorytelling.wordpress.com/2014/01/15/who-are-you-to-write-about-it/ Caroline is a writing coach with an interesting approach to releasing and allow our creativity to bubble out. Her online writing course is starting in February. Do go over there to see what she’s all about.
A Singaporean Identity – Constance Singam, the epitome of true grit
For me, Constance Singam the Singapore feminist and civil society activist, is the epitome of true grit Brought up in a patriarchal South Indian Catholic household, almost promised off to a Kerala Indian boy in the next village when she was twelve, married for love soon after her first job to an older man and … Continue reading
Mid Autumn Spotlight on Marina Bay Sands
Sarah Pannir’s spotlighting Marina Bay Sands today, the Mid-Autumn Festival I campaigned against this casino development. Since its completion, we’ve had more problems with addicted gamblers, under-age commercial sex and tourists who drop in specially to commit crimes in our suburban housing estates. But, Sarah is right. Like any seductress, Marina Bay Sands is beautiful and beguiling. … Continue reading
Trade the high-flying life for this …
We’re just back from remote Lugu Lake, Yunnan China where a friend traded in her high-flying high-stress corporate lawyer’s life for this: – the view from her front window – a handcrafted tribal living room – and time and more time to look back at her choices and write all about it. It was a … Continue reading
Great book, mixed feelings – Burmese Lessons and Loves
It’s been almost two months since my visit to Myanmar and I’m still caught in the Burmese web. I’m not the first to be captured by the country. There was Rudyard Kipling, Amitash Ghosh, Emma Larkin… Now there’s Karen Connelly. I’ve just put down her book Burmese Lessons: A True Love Story. It’s brilliant, you need to … Continue reading
Earth Hour – What we can learn from Myanmar about switching off
In Myanmar, they’ve been switched off for 50 years. It makes for a slower pace of life and a more crafty approach to manufacturing. Don’t let’s talk about productivity though…
Singapore budget 2013 – Be careful what you wish for, you have to live with it
Singapore’s 2013 budget certainly tries to give Singaporeans what they’ve been clamoring for: Stricter limits on foreign labour, carrots and sticks to increase local productivity, a more progressive tax structure, more measures to cool house and car prices. But when we get what we ask for, we also get the consequences: The devil’s in the … Continue reading
Reader and Writer - Praying Woman - Gardener - Foodie 