He asked, “How’d you end up here?” “The wind swirled and lifted me into a tree.” “Oh my, how long were you stuck in the tree?” “Days! What about you?” “A fly-away branch broke my arm.” “Hey, you guys think you had it bad. My insides turned outside.” The others gasped. “I know, it was…
Princess Ratani stood next in line to rule, but the walls of the palace suffocated her. Her parents arranged her marriage. Ratani longed to be free. On the night of her betrothal, she donned commoner’s clothing and slipped through the gates. Walking along the road, the earth trembled. An elephant approached with a disheveled young…
This post is a continuation of the saga of my lost passport from last week. Before the consulate could process my application for a new one, I was required to fill out a police report. Taking a thirty-minute bus ride and a twenty-minute walk, I arrived at the Tung Chung Police Station. When I finished…
Her mama told Nara to stay below deck. She peeked through a tiny window at the people on shore. Their singsong voices drifted as they greeted one another, as vendors hawked their wares in the colorful market. Will this be the place? Returning to sit amongst her sisters, the gentle bobbing of the boat and the…
Having lost my passport for the first time in thirty plus years of living overseas, I felt disgruntled making my way to the consulate to apply for a new one. The trip from my flat took nearly two hours. It involved a bus, a boat, a train and lots of walking. The last bit included…
It was time for her children to return from school. Walking toward the front door, Lydia glanced at the mirror which hung in the hall. Instead of seeing her reflection, an image appeared of the ramshackle house she grew up in. It had been demolished years before. Moving closer to the mirror, she spied a…
Lily’s father placed a basket amongst the grass beside the river. Lily felt her mother’s hand holding onto hers. The lights danced along the river. “Why so many, father?” “Each light is the soul of a warrior who gave their life. They are making their way to their final rest at the end of the river.”…
One more shot of whiskey. One more pill to swallow. I can quit anytime. Until the pain rushes in. “No more self-help books, just do it.” He gives me another chance. I can quit anytime. Until I remember what I long to forget. “This isn’t what I signed up for.” He shouts as…
After visiting with a long-time friend, I hadn’t seen in years, I wandered through the malls in Tsim Tsa Tsui waiting for my daughter to get off work. I’m not much of a shopper, so instead, I looked around for interesting doors. I didn’t find what I was looking for, exactly, but found what I…
It’s been six years since I traveled from Hong Kong to Outer Mongolia. Arriving at Chinggis Khaan Airport, long-time friends waited in the concourse to welcome me back to Mongolia. The wonderful reunions made me wonder why I stayed away so long. The people are incredible and the land is amazing. Besides seeing friends, one…
Tuya saunters through the grass watching the herds grazing. Her daughter, Sarnai, gleefully dances along beside her. “Mommy, I’m hungry,” yanks Tuya from her dream. The cruel winter had taken their herds and her husband. She and her daughter were forced to move to the city. With little money, Tuya must choose; buy food or…
When the Nadari walked through the Shimmer, they brought us knowledge of other worlds. They healed our sicknesses and cleaned our earth. They engendered our trust and we gave them the power to rule. But they are nothing as they first appeared. They were sent to destroy humankind. They built us up to consume us….
