It didn’t take much for a group of intrepid writers to jump at the chance to join me at Burma’s inaugural Irrawaddy Literary Festival early this month. It must have been one of Asia’s best kept secrets when I heard about it in late November and I thought a couple of people might join me, but when nine writers took up the challenge I was thrilled.
Knowing festival patron and esteemed guest Aung San Suu Kyi would appear was inspiration enough. In what manner we didn’t know, as the festival program still hadn’t been released as we caught our planes.
The list of authors joining Daw Suu (as she is respectfully known in Burma) was impressive though: Jung Chang, Vikram Seth, Pascal Khoo Thwe, Caroline Courtauld, Jocelyn Dimbleby, Rory Stewart, Victor Chan, Rupert Arrowsmith, Rory Maclean and many more, plus a line up of 120 Burmese authors and scholars including Thant Myint U, U Thaw Kaung, Pe Myint and poets Pandora, Zeyar Lyn and Nyein Way.
We were not dissapointed and reported back to each other throughout Day 1, breathless with excitement at what we’d seen and heard. To be in the presence of writers whose work you have always admired is one thing, to catch the pearls of wisdom they offer about life and writing is another.
And then of course there are the surprises: like listening to George FitzHerbert talk about the Tibetan bard tradition, joining Burmese poets for a sunset poetry reading, meeting Burmese short story writers, some of whom, having been in and out of jail, joked that their writing was much more creative under censorship.
On Day 2 an hour before Aung San Suu Kyi’s session, we joined a long queue wound around the terrace of the Hotel Inya Lake, where the festival was held. When it dawned on us that despite our efforts of coming all this way, we wouldn’t get in, no-one stamped their feet or cried, but sat down outside and listened quietly to the broadcast talk. Our patience was rewarded when at its conclusion, Daw Suu came out especially to speak to us.
To be in her wise and graceful presence, knowing her past sacrifices and sensing the struggles ahead, was enough inspiration for a lifetime.
When she spoke of how important books and literature were to her during her 15 years of house arrest, we remembered why we must write. And when with characteristic selfless grace she said:
“Through books you learn about yourself. You find out your own troubles are nothing compared with others,” we knew once again we had found the inspiration to write.
The intrepid nine (and me makes ten), carried on to the plain of temples at Bagan to continue our retreat in earnest. Once more I found it such a privilege to listen to and work on writers’ stories, all so different, each so uniquely compelling in voice and content. As on all my trips, I was inspired and moved not just by the stories, but by the bravery of those telling them. It is no easy feat to put yourself on the line, as Daw Suu teaches us, but that is what writing ( and living a courageous life) demands.
View pics from the Burma trip on Flickr here.
We will go again next year, see link below, let me know if you want to come.
Booking Now
March 9-16: Fiji Island Writers Lab
April 15 – May 26: Meditating On Memoir, Sydney, a six week course, for memoir and fiction writers.
June 6-16: Sacred Song, Sacred Story, Fes, Morocco (in conjunction with The Fes Sacred Music Festival).
Oct 7-15: Backstage Bali (inc 5 days at Ubud Writers Festival).
Nov 24 -30 : Mekong Meditations Luang Prabang Laos.
Jan 9-21, 2014: Moroccan Caravan (with optional extra week).
Feb 2014, Temple Writing In Burma (dates to be confirmed).
Participant Comments
‘I’m a bit of a groupie for Jan’s workshop travels – I’ve been on a few of them now and I wait for the time when the place is not quite so stunning, the group not quite so stimulating, the whole experience not quite as mesmerising as the last, but it hasn’t happened yet. Jan has a sixth sense for choosing places at a prescient time that heightens each journey and her recent Burmese trip including the first Irrawaddy Literary Festival crowned by the presence of Aung San Suu Kyi was a one off.’ Jennifer Moore.
‘Often it’s the spontaneous decision that’s the best . And so it was to take Scarlett, my granddaughter, to Burma for Jan’s Writers’ Course. All the stars were aligned. A brilliant three days in Rangon at the Inaugural Irrewaddy Writers Festival with the added excitement of Aung San Suu Kyi – Live as Patron of the Festival. Stimulating guests like Vikram Seth. Then on to Bagan where our Course proper began. A fabulous group of eight women participated in the course. Jan planned it perfectly with time to write, time for sight-seeing and time for sharing feedback. Jan’s meditative technique was invaluable as was her encouragement to feel free to experiment. She was also tireless in making sure that we all had visas, were comfortably housed and that our writing received her individual attention. Her general knowledge of Myanmar, Buddhism and her love of food was a huge bonus. I had the extra delight of 4 days in Mandalay and Inle Lake – an unforgettable experience. Thank you Jan.” Hilary Linstead.
