West Lake Culture of Romance

上有天堂,下有苏杭 There is heaven above, and Su-Hang below… and it is here in Hangzhou, China, where I returned after a three-year absence. Truth be told, this was the heaven I needed after the past three years. Eight days of quarantine bliss, where the only voices I had to deal with were my own.  A perfect recipe to re-enter a country where I had spent…

Angels in Nepal: One Year After the Earthquakes

Peering out the makeshift door of her corrugated metal shelter, Parathi lets the warm, soft rays of the sun tangle up around her welcoming in another day. A gentle breeze rocks the entranceway of their shelter providing a soft melody for her two autistic children sleeping peacefully behind her. The few minutes of silence brings a smile along with a chance to relax before…

The Abyss and a New Year Renaissance

The long and winding road of this past year has finally reached its end. I feel broken. Exhausted. Started the year as a kid, climbing mountains ready to attack the world, and now I’m an old goat with barely the energy to take another step. Standing here on the precipice of the Lunar New Year, staring across the dark chasm leading into the Year of…

Perspectives of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka.  No doubt a beautiful country.  The lowlands are surrounded by the blue waters of the Indian Ocean rhythmically rolling onto white sandy beaches of the island. The central highlands, a jungle of green where a cool temperate climate offers a perfect environment for Sri Lanka’s billion-dollar-a-year tea industry. Lush tea plantations scattered throughout the picturesque scenery. Nestled within the highlands is the city…

The Sparrow and The Red-Crowned Crane

A small sparrow was weaving her way down along the tree line, darting in-and-out of its branches before quickly changing directions and taking a steep dive over the riverside grasses.  With a slight shift of her body she then swiftly rose again, up over the treetops. The morning air lifting her higher and holding that crispness of winter that she found so refreshing.  It…

The Fishermen’s Lore: What Lies Beneath?

As with the morning sun, slowly I rise out of bed and slip on a new day without a sound. The scents of algae, spices and humidity rise above the fading dreams of last night and I savor the moment.  Looking out at the pre-dawn sky I prepare my coffee, anxious for the day to begin. Wandering down a path, I climb into a thin,…

The Endurance of Tacloban: Heart of the Philippines

Violent winds swirl the dark, ominous thunderclouds overhead. The pounding waves crash onto the rocky shore and the roar of the Pacific Ocean makes its intention clear: thrash anything in its path. With electricity in the air, I am oblivious to everything except the power coming my way as rain beats against my face, sucking me into the depths of the storm. Ever since…

Men in Management – Myanmar and Beyond

“Progress isn’t made by early risers. It’s made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.”  ~Robert A. Heinlein What more needs to be said?  This is a perfect quote. For us men, we take to heart the point of “while appearing lazy, we actually accomplish a lot.”  A thought I toasted many a beer to during travels in Myanmar with our…

The Art of Devotion

Devotion inspires one of the purest sets of emotions, capturing love, loyalty and deep feelings of excitement that I do not think can ever be understood beyond our own personal experiences. In the world around us, so much devotion towards deities, lovers, children and nature, all linked to our desire to better understand. Devotion in its pure form is absolutely awe inspiring to witness….

Dreams Between Dusk and Dawn

 “There is a road…between the dawn and the dark of night and if you go, no one may follow, as that path is for your steps alone.”  ~ Jerry Garcia The wisdom of Jerry Garcia resonates with me as the wrathful fingers of winter turn into the chilly, wet hands of spring.  I search for my path.  A place to watch and dream from afar; to…