Join in the fun!
My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy a bit of what I learned and see some of what I saw.
|
|
I’d never seen tobacco like this. |
The Cigar Factory seemed to be women’s work, and while they worked, some enjoyed a cigar.
The woman wearing pink took a lot of smoking breaks. |
See what I mean?
I don’t smoke, so the aroma in this building wasn’t all that great for me.
|
Answers to B: What do you know about Began, Burma?
F 1. Began is a landlocked city in the middle of Burma. (It’s on the Irrawaddy river.)
F 2. Began was founded in 1942. (It was founded in the 2nd century.)
NOW what do you know about cigars?
T/F 1. The Burmese facial feature is called a cheroot.
T/F 2. Some Burmese cigars are rolled in dried banana leaves.
Answers tomorrow. 🙂
Hats Off Corner Welcomes Alex Cavanaugh
Toinette Thomas says
Nice photoes. You learn something new all the time; who knew about Tardigrade.
J Lenni Dorner says
Love the post. Great work!
I never knew cigars came from there.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Thanks, everyone!! Tomorrow is the big day.
Michelle Wallace says
Well, I'm super-late!
I've been sooooo pressed for time, but hopefully I'll get back into regular A to Z blogging mode by tomorrow…
Great C-post!
Alex's book comes out tomorrow!
*waving*
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm reading all of your comments each day, but, as you can tell, I can't get back to each person to tell you how much I appreciate your stopping in to say hi. I can't even respond to some of your thoughtful comments. But I do enjoy reading them. Here's to another letter and another day.
Glad Alex shared this space on C day. Hope you've pre-ordered his book.
Nadine_Feldman says
God, I hate the odor of cigars! Funny, I seldom think about women smoking cigars, yet here they are. So interesting.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – how fascinating to be able to see a cigar production unit – I suppose the workers could so easily get hooked on cigars … and that smell must have been a shock to you – I wouldn't like it much now ..
I too think probably both are true … cheers Hilary
Mark Koopmans says
Hey Lee,
I never knew you lived in Laos 🙂 WOW!
Have you ever blogged *that* adventure??
PS… I'm guessing both questions are true 🙂
Scribbles From Jenn says
Great pictures. Everything I know about cigars I learned from this post. 🙂 Sounds like it was a wonderful trip.
Scribbles From Jenn – Visiting from the A to Z Challenge
Tammy Theriault says
Wow. Some wacky tabacky. Cheers Alex!
Shannon Lawrence says
Too funny that she enjoyed the cigars so much. Hey, if you're smelling them all day, anyway, why not imbibe?
Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger (大哥) says
I reckon number 2 would be true. But yeah, I can't stand cigarette smoke so I wouldn't hang around long in a place like that either!
Dan Brown A-Z
worddancewoman says
What a nice foray into a land I have never seen and know little about. Thank you, I will definitely be back to see what else I can glean. (Plus I have to find out if I'm right about the banana leaves)). The photos are so nice…. happy A to Z! Jeri visiting from storytellingmatters.wordpress.com
Suzy says
No idea about the questions I guess I could cheat and find out but I'll just take a guess 1=F 2=T
Interesting theme and love how you present it.
Dropping by from the AtoZ Challenge
Suzy at Someday Somewhere
Shooting Stars Mag says
Oh gosh, I'm not sure I could stand the smell for long either. But interesting post!
Heather R. Holden says
I don't blame you for not liking the smell of that cigar factory. I wouldn't like it, either!
Matthew MacNish says
Whoa! Crazy cigar factory photos.
Arlee Bird says
I have never associated Burma with cigars or tobacco for that matter. I'm going to guess the banana leaves answer since I associate cheroot with something else that I don't rightly remember.
Alex is on fire for April! And I don't mean like a cigar.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
A Faraway View
Beverly Fox says
I'm with you- I wouldn't have been up on the smell in there, either!
Congrats to Alex on his forthcoming release!
Helena says
Hello, Lee. And Alex–I am so looking forward to the release of Dragon of the Stars. You also made me check out the tardigrade. Talk about a freaky creature!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Helena, isn't it wild?
Birgit says
I don't think I could take it in there either. I think I tanked at the last quiz:) So this time I say False to the first question but true to the 2nd. I have to look up this animal as I have never heard of it. Glad to know more about the Kargrandes and how nice to see Alex being talked about here:)
Nicole says
I vote True for #2 about them being rolled in banana leaves. If that turns out to be so, I think it's kinda cool. In all my life so far, I've rarely seen a women smoking a cigar. It's always something that's been associated with (or at least I've associated with) old, rich men on Yachts, lol. Needless to say, the photos are an interesting sight. The factory looks peaceful and comfortable….if all factories and workplaces were like that, we'd probably have a happier, more productive population 🙂
~Nicole
A to Z Challenge Co-Host
The Madlab Post
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
Lee, I'm guessing here but I'll say. #1 is false and #2 is true.
Alex, I've never heard of that creature but the scientists must have tortured it to learn all that.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Sadly, I'm sure they did, including sending it into space.
Lexa Cain says
I had no idea they made cigars in Myanmar. I love the pics! I think #1 is F; #2 is T. Great feature on Alex and his new book. Those Kargrandes have whetted my appetite for SF – it's amazing they were based on a real creature that can live through being frozen and boiled. Yikes! Wishing Alex much success! 🙂
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Lexa, just amazing such a creature exists.
J.H. Moncrieff says
I'm allergic to tobacco smoke, so I wouldn't have lasted a second in there. It's always interesting to observe other cultures and the way people make a living, though.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Thanks, everyone!!
AJ Lauer says
I know nothing about cigars! Other than that they sometimes smell pretty good, and other times absolutely awful. That's cool that you toured the factory. I do love to explore different countries.. 🙂
~AJ Lauer
an A-Z Cohost
@ayjaylauer on Twitter
Empty Nest Insider says
I never knew that cigars were rolled in banana leaves. My grandpa looked like George Burns, and never went anywhere without a cigar in his mouth. He even went swimming at the beach in Miami once, and when he came out of the water his cigar was still miraculously lit! Great photos! Yay for Alex!
Julie
DEZMOND says
I didn't know you lived in Laos! How very exciting!
T. Drecker says
Interesting pictures, and I had to laugh about the lady in pink. Guess she has the right job.
I'm going to google Tardigrade now – my son is going to love this! Good luck, Alex!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
It's a freaky creature.
David P. King says
Interesting! I wasn't aware of such a creature.
That factory is smoke'n busy! 🙂
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Now you know! And yes, we will give Jo full credit for the inspiration.
Peaches D. Ledwidge says
Don't like the smell of cigar, either.
Congrats to Alex.
Caffe Maggieato says
LOL on the pink lady always taking cigar breaks. She must love her job a lot and the perks that come with it! I'm gonna hazard a guess and say it's rolled in banana leaves.
Didn't know about Tardigrade. Lovely trivia/tidbit. Just a few days to go. Good luck with the release, Alex!
Spacerguy says
Dragon of the Stars sounds awesome. I'm so curious now.
DMS says
I have never seen tobacco like that either.
So excited for Alex! Wishing him the best of luck. 🙂
~Jess
Tyrean Martinson says
Love your theme, C. Lee! I've never seen tobacco like that, either.
Way to go to Alex!
Medeia Sharif says
I'm looking forward to Alex's books.
I don't smoke, but cigars smell better than cigarettes to me.
J.L. Campbell says
Never seen tobacco like that either.
Hey, Alex. You and the Kargrandes are making your way around the blog world!
Chrys Fey says
Smoke always gets to me, so I don't think I could go in there.
A Tarkabarka Hölgy says
I don't smoke or like smoking at all, but I think cigars do smell better than cigarettes. Not great, but better.
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary – Epics from A to Z
MopDog – 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary
Patricia Lynne says
I think I'll pass on the cigar factory. Family with lung cancer and all, ya know.
~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
Stephanie Bird says
Thanks for sharing this new information from your personal experience and travels. I can't help but feel badly for the women. Cigars? Ugh.
Stephanie Bird says
Thanks for sharing this new information from your personal experience and travels. I can't help but feel badly for the women. Cigars? Ugh.
Helen Hollick says
That was really interesting – thanks for sharing! My post today is C for Cider With Rosie…. and Cats… ( I'm number 590 on the list) and so far enjoying the fun!
Jeremy Hawkins says
Cigars and Alex' books for everybody!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
That made me laugh!
Jennifer Hawes says
How exciting to live abroad at one time. The pics are so intriguing. Can't wait to see more!
Mina Burrows says
The aroma would be too much for me too.
And I'm totally curious About the Kargrandes! Go Alex!
~Sia McKye~ says
Some cigars have a nice smell but for the most part, ugh. I know I couldn't work in or be around a factory like that. Would drive me nuts.
Tardigrades are weird looking but they sure are survivors. 🙂
Sia McKye Over Coffee
Natasha Duncan-Drake says
Cigars put me off smoking for life – tried an old butt I found in an ashtray at a young age and was absolutely positive I never wanted to try that again 🙂 I've never been as put off by cigar smoke as I am by cigarette smoke though – it doesn't smell quite so bad – not great, but not quite so hideous.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Haneen I. Adam says
I can't handle cigar smoke too. I feel sorry for the women. Huh! what Alex said about smoking banana made me crack. And I'm over excited about his book, the premise is so good 🙂 besides I never heard of Tardigrade, wow!
"Haneen/I Will Never Give you Up (479)"
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I am here to amuse!
Glad you are excited about the book.
Mary Aalgaard says
Cool photos. The smell must be overpowering.
Play off the Page
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Thanks, everyone!
Jo, they are freaky looking creatures. But they made for great inspiration.
Jo says
I am claiming original inspiration. I blogged about them in 2013 and you commented "And that creature is bizarre! I wouldn't have believed it was for real either." Just emailed you.
Jo says
Interesting about Burma. I don't think I would want to visit the cigar factory either. Not very healthy.
Alex, I blogged about the tardigrade a while back, a fascinating critter but ugly, boy are they ever.
Bish Denham says
Well, I know #1 question is false. But #2? Personally I can't imagine smoking a banana leaf, though of course in the 60s there was something about smoking banana peels (they call it mellow yellow…) so who knows, maybe they DO roll cigars with banana leaves.
The Kargrandes sound very interesting, indeed.
Donna McDine says
I definitely would not be able to handle the cigar smoke. Awful smell.
Congratulations to Alex! Lee, Great BIG shout out to our fearless leader of the Muffin Commando Squad. I sent an email to Alex about a suggestion for the A-Z bloggers check in with him. I'd love to hear your thoughts! I'm in Boston the next two days completing a whirlwind of six college visits and will be checking-in off and on. Catch up with you later.
L. Diane Wolfe says
That would be an overdose of tobacco.
That is the best clue yet about the Kargrandes.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Interesting. Looking forward to the answer to your questions, because I haven't a clue. And soon we'll know the answer to the Kargrandes. Yay.
Sarah Foster says
I don't like the smell of cigars, either! Great pictures, though. 🙂
Christine Rains says
Great tidbit about the Kargrandes. Alex's book is fabulous! Have a happy Easter. 🙂
Natalie Aguirre says
Too bad the women smoke and have to breathe that in all day. Loved seeing your pictures.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Thanks, Lee!
I couldn't stay in that building long either.
And I believe they are rolled in banana leaves. Smoking bananas is a joke, but there it might be real.