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
It’s reprehensible! Here’s what we can do –
Yesterday I posted a Reuters report about how the Rohingyas, stateless Muslim refugees escaping from ethnic violence in the Burmese state of Arakhan, were apparently being spirited from Thai border camps and held for ransom or trafficked. “Horrifying! Reprehensible!” my fellow Tribewriter Kathleen Caron commented. “If the Thai govt won’t do anything, why doesn’t the UN step in?” she asked. … 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
The Difference between Religion and Spirit – A look through Burmese Lenses
Someone told me yesterday I was getting too religious and hence difficult to get along with. That certainly caused me to go look in the mirror and consider my shortcomings. I was hoping that deeper spiritual growth would mean a kinder gentler me. Obviously, this person didn’t think so. Possibly, in my pursuit of beauty, … Continue reading
Easter – Now the green blade rises
We found a strangler fig growing in a corner of the bathroom, in a tiny space between the wall tiles and the frosted glass sun-roof. From down in the shower stall it looked like one tiny leaf. When we got the ladder and climbed up to check we found a full grown plant with 6 … Continue reading
Reader and Writer - Praying Woman - Gardener - Foodie 