Southeast Asia. April 18, 2017
The final leg of our sabbatical travel took us to Southeast Asia. By far the most exotic part of our year long escapade, this last segment was centered around Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia. Flying Eastbound from Dallas through Dubai and pampered on the way there by Emirates, we met Ann and Rocco in Bangkok. From there, we immersed ourselves in the rich and diverse cultures of Indochina. Starting with the "Amazing" Myanmar, we discovered the "Surprising" Vietnam and concluded our tour with the "Charming" Cambodia.
A two-minute trip memento of these memorable times.
For four weeks straight, the four of us kept up a steady pace without a break. Admiring immense beauty and witnessing places anchored in ancient traditions, we traveled in the past and managed to maintain our close friendship in the present.
Thanks to Joëlle and Juan, Pierre embarked in this journey to Asia in the excellent company of a very interesting Italian man, Tiziano Terzani. Terzani is a great raconteur and expert of Southeast Asia. In his book, A Fortune-Teller Told Me, that Pierre took with him for the trip, he tells his story. Having been warned by a Hong Kong fortune-teller not to risk flying for an entire year, he decided to take the old Chinese man's advice seriously. Being the Far East correspondent and a journalist for the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel, this was not an easy proposition. To his relief, his editors immediately recognized the opportunity this unique prophecy presented to them: Tiziano would travel by foot, boat, bus, car and train throughout Asia and the magazine would publish his story. A different kind of story!
What first looked like a curse for Tiziano became a blessing for all!
In every places and cities that he visited, Tiziano sought the advices, some wise, some otherwise, of the best fortune-tellers in town. The rich descriptions of his many consultations with various soothsayers, sorcerers, monks and shamans gave Rocco and Pierre plenty to fantasize about as we travelled the remote places of Burma, North Vietnam and Cambodia. It even led Pierre to seek the advices and blessings of two separate monks in Siem Reap and experience in a very personal way the world of occultism.
For the story, it is important to note that the prophecy saved Tiziano from an air crash. On March 20, 1993 a UN Helicopter went down in Siem Reap, with fifteen journalists on board. Among them was the German colleague who had taken Tiziano's place. Fortunately they all survived the crash!
Tiziano Terzani became the fifth member of our travel team. The invisible companion who painted many moments of our trip with the rich colors that only a wise and experienced guide and friend could provide.
As we headed back to the States, we brought back in our suitcases the vivid memories of our encounters with the amazing people of Southeast Asia.
