Curious Encounters of the Human Kind - Myanmar (Burma): True Asian Tales of Folly, Greed, Ambition and Dreams (Volume 1)

What do jumping cats have to do with Buddhism’s Middle Path? Did Orwell really hate everyone in Myanmar? How did Myanmar’s ruling junta use white elephants to consolidate their power? Will a synagogue caretaker’s improbable dream ever come true? What arrogance drives western travelers to seek the “unknown”? And why should you never disrespect the nat spirits who guard a sacred forest? This is Myanmar (Burma) as you’ve probably never imagined, full of curious people, startling happenings, and unexpected moments of humanity and introspection, giddiness and solemnity, avarice and ambition. his book is one of five volumes in the Curious Encounters of the Human Kind series, featuring Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Himalaya, and Borneo. One reviewer said these books embody "The humanity of Somerset Maugham, the adventure of Joseph Conrad, the perception of Paul Theroux, and a self-effacing voice uniquely his own." Another reviewer said the books reflect "The spirit of Kipling in contemporary Asian journalism." Yet another reviewer notes that the "Curious Encounters start out as intelligent travel writing, exploring hidden corners of Asia and characters very much out of the ordinary. But this series works on a more complex level: Sochaczewski frequently zooms in and out of left field with a curious tangent, a sensitive reminiscence, a provocative opinion, a new way of looking at events that are already beyond most 'normal' travelers' tales."