Fact or fiction: The story of eel’s blood (sounds like a Shakespearean curse). A generation ago on Inle Lake, the fishermen grew eels in coffins. Eels are, evidently, not only a delicious source of protein but their blood, mixed with alcohol, is a particularly hearty aperitif. The fatter the eel, Read More
EB Lande
Shan State – Burma 2
Flying on the ATR 72-500 French made 70 seater from Mandalay to HeHo (pronounced something like Hellhole) there are no seat assignments and we are told that we will have to fight the Chinese for seats. Our response – they are no match for us Jews). In fact, there are Read More
The Road out of Mandalay – (Burma 1)
The Mandalay (International) airport was recently built by a Burmese general to be near his hometown rather than the large commercial centre and former royal capital of Mandalay. During the airport’s construction the general stole half the concrete intended for the runway and hence it can’t land heavy international jets, so Read More
Good-bye Tokyo; Hello Bangkok
January 3-4. Tokyo Max leaves for the airport, sadly, and Sash treats us to a quick tour of the Ambassador’s residence, a gorgeous mansion untouched in the war that became General MacArthur’s headquarters. D and I then head to the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park. By now I am tackling Read More
Japan Impressions: (Stereotype Alert!)
Observations: (Warning: Contains gross generalizations bordering on stereotype) An excess of cuteness: Furry animals, bunnies, cats and a general obsession with adorableness that extends to clothing. Grown women dress like little girls pretending to be hookers going to a tea party; crinolines, thigh-high stockings, short shorts, super-high platform shoes. Dogs Read More
Edo Museum and Sushi Wars
Wednesday Jan. 2, 2013: Sunny and dry. Sash heads back to work and we spend the day with Max, finding our way on the subway to the Edo-Tokyo Museum – an enormous complex relating the history of Tokyo over the past 2,000 years with dioramas, recreations, artifacts, film clips, re-enactments. Read More
New Year’s weekend. Tokyo, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto.
Friday Dec 28 Tokyo. Overcast, but warmer. D and I explore midtown which, although an office area, does not seem to get going until 10 am, when a wave of young office workers (salarymen) in black suits and white shirts floods through the underground shopping center and people queue up Read More
Tokyo Day Three
Dec 27. Thursday Sunny and cold – about 40 F Detlev and I explore the compound – one of the only residential embassy compounds in the world (the other is in Saudi Arabia) and Sash arrives back for an early lunch. We head to Raponggi Hills for an American lunch Read More
December 26. Wednesday. Day Two.
Dec 26. Up very early and follow Sash to the US Embassy where we can’t walk on the same side of the street (reminds me of the Lefortovo prison in Moscow in 1974 and this is not a good comparison). We have coffee nearby and Read More
Tokyo Day One
December 25, Tuesday. We land in an almost empty Narita airport on Christmas midafternoon where Sash greets us with his uniquely impish smile and we venture into Tokyo by Skyliner and subway arriving at rush hour (no holiday here) at Akasaka station and in just Read More