While teaching at schools overseas for twenty years, Burma was one of my most favorite destinations. After arriving in Asia, Burma was my first destination. It's where I discovered lacquerware, giraffe women, Thanaka, got the very worst haircut of my life, and discovered a delightful "Cinderella" story. I first went to Burma in the early 90s just after it opened to the West. The Burmese people were very friendly and so hungry for anything from the outside world. I traded every stitch of clothing not on my back for lacquerware and other treasures. I have never had that kind of experience…mehr
While teaching at schools overseas for twenty years, Burma was one of my most favorite destinations. After arriving in Asia, Burma was my first destination. It's where I discovered lacquerware, giraffe women, Thanaka, got the very worst haircut of my life, and discovered a delightful "Cinderella" story. I first went to Burma in the early 90s just after it opened to the West. The Burmese people were very friendly and so hungry for anything from the outside world. I traded every stitch of clothing not on my back for lacquerware and other treasures. I have never had that kind of experience anywhere else. My best treasure was a huge vase, as wide as my outstretched arms in a circle. The shopkeeper said it was made by his father, who had recently died. I said he couldn't sell it; he had to save this heirloom! But, the man wanted to sell it to me. I bought the vase for five dollars and a backpack. He knew I would treasure it. He also knew I would send him photographs of the vase. (Of course, I did.) My favorite place in Burma is Bagan, a UNESCO Heritage Site stuffed full of historic pagodas of enormous size. It is where you get your lacquerware while in Burma. There weren't many tourists in the area when I visited. So, while I climbed around the pagodas (taking limited photos in the days of film photography), I was easily discovered by a charming kid, about eight years old, who wanted to hone his English skills. Aung Aung was delightful. He had to meet many, many people in Bagan. I was just one among the crowds. But, for my travel experience, he was a highlight in Bagan. I even looked him up again four years later. When I left Bagan, Aung Aung and his mother met me at the hotel to send me off. They presented me a golden lacquerware vase that I have treasured ever since. I never heard from him after that. And, I always wondered what happened to this kid. Decades later, in a world the with Internet, I located my long-lost friend. I'm very pleased to dedicate this book to Aung Aung.Hinweis: Dieser Artikel kann nur an eine deutsche Lieferadresse ausgeliefert werden.
When you have traveled as much as I have, and your focus is on people and murals rather than resorts and spas, you gather stories along the way. In my previous book, Cooking Disasters, I shared some of the spectacular events that required a bit of divine intervention in order for me to survive. But, in this book, there are no close brushes with death or violent wrecks, no more rogues with knives or angry witch doctors, and -- thankfully -- no more bouts of malaria. I learned very quickly that those were the kinds of stories not to write home about. Fortunately, I also have several stories that don't require any guardian angels. They're the ones I could write home about. Yes, I've had some remarkable moments in my journey. One of the tales that you'll read about happened in Namibia. When I told my friend Abdelhadi that I was going there for a mural project, I said, "It's a once in a lifetime event." He was quick to correct me. "No, this is another in a series of Phillip Martin occasions that happen to nobody else but you." I think he was right. I have been blessed everywhere I wander. I've met the most gracious people who have opened their doors and hearts to a wandering artist. After you read these tales, you may also agree with my friend Abdelhadi.
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