Fed up of walking past Insein Road's countless phone shops, staring at adverts reading 'perfect selfie', 'selfie master' and 'selfie king', James decides to leave his flat in Yangon and commence a nine-month journey round Myanmar, eager to discover whether the country really is as diverse and turbulent as he has heard.
Before he leaves, Shwe Ei, his girlfriend, prepares him for conversations with probing policemen and bribeable immigration officers. Then her palmist tells them that James, a white Surrey atheist, will become a champion of the Muslim community and that Shwe Ei means nothing more to him than casual sex...
These awkward predictions are followed by a shaky first few days as James gets interrogated by immigration officers desperate to show him the best restaurant for a pennywort salad. Leeches crawl up between the tiles of his bathroom in Paradise Guesthouse and pariah dogs turn rabid at the smell of him. Travelling off the beaten track simply isn't cracking up to be everything he had expected, and he soon finds himself wondering: did I make a terrible choice in leaving Shwe Ei to travel?
Before he leaves, Shwe Ei, his girlfriend, prepares him for conversations with probing policemen and bribeable immigration officers. Then her palmist tells them that James, a white Surrey atheist, will become a champion of the Muslim community and that Shwe Ei means nothing more to him than casual sex...
These awkward predictions are followed by a shaky first few days as James gets interrogated by immigration officers desperate to show him the best restaurant for a pennywort salad. Leeches crawl up between the tiles of his bathroom in Paradise Guesthouse and pariah dogs turn rabid at the smell of him. Travelling off the beaten track simply isn't cracking up to be everything he had expected, and he soon finds himself wondering: did I make a terrible choice in leaving Shwe Ei to travel?
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Nonetheless, James carries on, determined to see his journey through to the end. His travels take him from the empty and unspoilt beaches of Dawei, where phosphorescent plankton sparkle beneath moonlit seas, to the rarely visited Naga hills, where he receives a hostile reception from armed tribesmen.
To realise his journalistic aims, James talks to people from all walks of life and delves into the country’s intriguing politics. This includes examining how drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle is skewing voting patterns and researching the impact of foreign-backed industry projects on the Rohingya genocide.
Yet as the complexity of Myanmar reveals itself, James' attachment to the country wavers. He even finds himself disputing firmly established narratives about Myanmar, including whether the civil wars are really being waged in the name of federalism. And as his journey draws to an end, the question begs: which Myanmar has he 'found'?
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Enhanced by detailed maps and stylistic illustrations, which were produced by Chuu Wai Nyein, a renowned artist from Mandalay, In Search of Myanmar is ideal for prospective travellers to Myanmar as well as for those already living in the country.
Not only does it provide an accessible and engaging overview of the country's fractured political landscape, it includes a glossary of local terms as well as a timeline of important events in Myanmar since World War Two, making it a helpful travelling companion.
For readers seated far away from Myanmar, James' vivid natural descriptions, nuanced cultural insights and hilarious, often bizarre travel vignettes are sure to involve you in the many quirks of life in the land of golden pagodas.
Don't forget, you can buy the book here. Or, if you'd prefer to preview In Search of Myanmar before spending any squid, why not download the first chapter for free?
A crumble of rocks, followed by an enormous splash: Ronnie the Rhino has tumbled over Cliff Edge!
At the deafening din, everyone at the watering hole jumps out of their skin. In the ensuing chaos, four animals put the wrong skins back on - and panic when they don't recognise themselves!
That leaves it to Ronnie, the instigator of all this confusion, to work out who is who and put things right again - if he can...
The Great Animal Mix-Up is a picture book written by James Fable and illustrated by Benedict Flanagan. Composed in rhyming couplets, its repetitive, riddle-based narrative involves children actively in the reading, while its playfully existential themes ensure adults are kept entertained as well.
Ben's quirky, full-page illustrations not only engage readers but enhance the book itself, adding a visual element to the riddles. We are currently seeking representation for our story.
The Great Animal Mix-Up is a picture book written by James Fable and illustrated by Benedict Flanagan. Composed in rhyming couplets, its repetitive, riddle-based narrative involves children actively in the reading, while its playfully existential themes ensure adults are kept entertained as well.
Ben's quirky, full-page illustrations not only engage readers but enhance the book itself, adding a visual element to the riddles. We are currently seeking representation for our story.
Bird is always hungry, and juicy bugs are always biting Buffalo. So Buffalo agrees to let Bird ride on his back and eat the bugs that bother him.
They make the perfect team, until Bird starts building her nest on Buffalo's back - without asking! Buffalo cannot believe it:
'I'm not the ground, a rock or a tree,
How dare you build your nest one me!
Fly away, Bird. We're finished, we're done,
Find somewhere else for your nest-building fun!'
Buffalo subsequently sets about trying to find a new friend to eat the bothersome bugs, while Bird looks for somewhere else to build her nest. But Stork's bill hurts Buffalo's back, and Bird can't find anywhere appropriate for raising a chick. It's obvious that the two are only right for each other. But can Bird find the courage to say sorry, and will Buffalo forgive her?
The Bird and the Buffalo is a picture book produced by James Fable and Benedict Flanagan. Aimed at children aged 2-7, it was longlisted for the international Key Colours Award 2018. We are currently seeking representation for our story.