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Myanmar: A Memoir of Loss and Recovery traces two journeys: a geographical journey and an inner journey. Judyth Gregory-Smith, the author, travels alone around Myanmar over several years and gradually comes to terms with the illness and death of her husband, Richard. They had first visited Myanmar, then called Burma, in 1987. Their passions were travel, nature, birds, other cultures and each other. They were on leave from the Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea. "Wouldn't it be good to see what my opposite number is doing in the Embassy in Burma?" Richard had asked. This in Richard-speak really meant:
"Wouldn't it be good to traipse through steaming jungles and fetid swamps to study Burma's rainforest birds?" But Richard's opposite number arranged civilized visits to the Strand Hotel, the Shwedagon Pagoda, Pegu an ancient city, Pagan with more than 2,000 pagodas and Mandalay the last royal kingdom. No swamps. The powers-that-were permitted a visa for only two-weeks, but that was enough for them to fall in love with the country. They vowed to return. And Judyth did. Alone. Richard died in 2001.
Myanmar: A Memoir of Loss and Recovery is a series of geographical and historical journeys. It also charts the author's passage of recovery and self-discovery. With five words of Burmese, she travels alone throughout Myanmar visiting not only the well-known pagodas, monasteries and royal cities, but also isolated villages, farming communities and schools. She uses cheap public transport, stays at affordable family-run hotels or guesthouses and buys from family-run businesses. This way her money goes directly to the local people, who are rich in culture but poor in material possessions. She set off to explore Myanmar and hoped to find herself along the way.
The author's other published work includes Sulawesi: Ujung Pandang to Kendari and Southeast Sulawesi - Islands of Surprises as well as numerous travel articles in magazines and newspapers.
"Wouldn't it be good to traipse through steaming jungles and fetid swamps to study Burma's rainforest birds?" But Richard's opposite number arranged civilized visits to the Strand Hotel, the Shwedagon Pagoda, Pegu an ancient city, Pagan with more than 2,000 pagodas and Mandalay the last royal kingdom. No swamps. The powers-that-were permitted a visa for only two-weeks, but that was enough for them to fall in love with the country. They vowed to return. And Judyth did. Alone. Richard died in 2001.
Myanmar: A Memoir of Loss and Recovery is a series of geographical and historical journeys. It also charts the author's passage of recovery and self-discovery. With five words of Burmese, she travels alone throughout Myanmar visiting not only the well-known pagodas, monasteries and royal cities, but also isolated villages, farming communities and schools. She uses cheap public transport, stays at affordable family-run hotels or guesthouses and buys from family-run businesses. This way her money goes directly to the local people, who are rich in culture but poor in material possessions. She set off to explore Myanmar and hoped to find herself along the way.
The author's other published work includes Sulawesi: Ujung Pandang to Kendari and Southeast Sulawesi - Islands of Surprises as well as numerous travel articles in magazines and newspapers.