The Luck of the Buddha
How working overtime and the Buddha saved my life
I am prompted to tell this story following a recent post by a fellow food blogger. The original post was about the recent tragic plane crash in Phuket, Thailand and how the author sticks with Asian good luck charms in tandem with sensible precautions before embarking on her many travels.
I suppose my good luck charm is my wooden Buddha which I bought during my days living in the English Lake District. I have a thing for the figure of the Buddha, the image captivates me and exudes a sense of peace and tranquility even during my darkest hours spent in a tiny staff bedroom after a fourteen hour shift.
I came across a dealer of Asian artifacts based in Manchester in the north west of England who had a beautiful wooden Buddha imported from Malaysia. I was immediately struck by it but as a hard up chef de partie couldn’t afford it. The dealer offered to keep it until pay day and I agreed to return. A date was set but the week before I was meant to go I had to work my days off. The dealer kindly agreed to send the Buddha figure through the post and four days later I received it.
Seven days later, on my intended day off the shopping centre where his shop was located was blown up by the IRA.
The inspiration behind this story is Karen Coates, whose wonderful blog has been a great source of information and a personal reminder of eating and travelling throughout South East Asia. Karen is a correspondent for American Gourmet magazine as well as the author of a book about Cambodia in the aftermath of its terrible suffering. You can read Karen’s thought provoking words and see husband Jerry Redfern’s stunning photography at www.ramblingspoon.com.
So this post and picture is for Karen, a symbol of peace against a backdrop of senseless violence, a poignant reminder for the Burmese military as Buddhist monks go about their peaceful protests.
Miles
amazing story !
Also I checked out the Rambling Spoon website, great site, not surprised you recommend it !
You should photograph buddhas wherever you can and build a gallery of the most interesting ones.
Best
Rod
September 26, 2007 @ 9:29 am
Rod,
It is a fabulous site, only thing is I keep wanting to return to SE Asia-Karen will cost me a fortune!
Miles
September 26, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Miles,
There are parts of Japan that provide a similar feeling of serenity for me. I once spent a day in Kamakura and will never forget the place my friend took me to for lunch - cherry trees in full bloom, too beautiful for words.
I also took a peek at Karen’s fabulous site and will revisit tomorrow for a proper look.
It may be late and I’m not hungry but have a sudden craving for Singapore noodles … close your eyes everyone, can you smell the frangipani trees?
Cid
September 26, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
Cid,
I have just missed out on a trip to Japan this year, it is a fascinating country. Take time to read some of Karen’s earlier posts, there are authentic recipes, thought provoking stories and first hand accounts of life in South East Asia. Karen and Jerry are the ‘real deal’ they have travelled and lived with local people, foregoing the luxury of five star air conditioning for a roof under the stars.
They deserve due respect.
Miles
September 26, 2007 @ 11:22 pm
Miles,
Thank you for posting this story, and for such kind words about Rambling Spoon and the work we’re doing.
I’m writing from Vientiane (and I confess, I’m sitting in a very pleasant air-conditioned cafe). Last night, the vats were alive with people and prayers beneath the full moon. It was utterly peaceful. But we all know what Burmese monks were facing in those same hours. Thinking about it gives me flashbacks. In 1998, in Cambodia, I was covering an election protest led by monks when the cops showed up. I got caught in a stampede and watched (from beneath a pile of monks) as officers beat many with their batons. I call myself a writer, yet I don’t really know how to describe such a horrible scene.
September 27, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Karen,
I can’t believe you’ve gone air con!! I would love to visit Vientiane, look forward to reading your upcoming posts.
The latest news from Burma is disturbing with shots being fired at the protestors and a Japanese journalist shot dead. A costly reminder of how lucky we are to live in a democracy.
Enjoy the rest of your travels.
Miles
ps Your kitchen looks great, by the way!
September 27, 2007 @ 5:04 pm