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"These are not ordinary times: the events that mark them are not easily accommodated in the deliberately prosaic world of serious prose fiction." Recently came upon this wonderful Amitav Ghosh article on how global warming defies literary fiction. theguardian.com/books/2016/oct…

No-one is asking for this #MyanmarTourism gnlm.com.mm/tourism-model-…

The King Chili (Capsicum chinese Jacq). Aka Raja Chili, #Naga Chili, Naga King Chili, Ghost Pepper … King of all the chilies, in fact King of all the Spices. One of the hottest in the world with an SHU of over 1 million. Best taken raw, dipped in salt and nibbled tentatively.

This is going to be good. I will be with Alex & Lev talking about their new project “The Last Burma Star” on the Sunday at Chalke. Do drop by #WW2 #BurmaCampaign

With Senti in Yaongyimchen of the Phom Nagas. Took us to a cave where his forefathers hid from headhunters. It’s all Phom here, but Senti said sheepishly, “we used to headhunt each other in those days.” Christianity came relatively late, 1949. Until ‘99 there were skulls on show

Among all states, Assam recorded the highest tree cover loss between 2001 and 2024, losing 3,40,000 hectares-far above the national average of 67,900 hectares. #India #forest #GlobalForestWatch nenow.in/north-east-new…

To equate the Awami League with the Nazi Party “is both to trivialise the enormity of the Nazi crimes and distort the reality of #Bangladeshi politics.” David Bergman highlighting the dangers of outlawing major political forces in a polarised society in The Daily Star

Up in the hills at Changlangshu with the Konyak Nagas of the Mon District of Upper Nagaland. Eangba of the Biodiversity Management Committee is our host, showing us the work they are doing protecting and restoring forest and educating the young. Time to visit a gunmaker as well.

When the Rev. Scott entered the #Naga Hills in 1869 armed with Bible & faith “he was met by twelve naked warriors with spears poised.” He took out a violin and began to sing. “Entranced, the men dropped their spears and shouted for more.” Lovely nugget here from William Dalrymple

“March 1971 was the most horrible month of my life.” So wrote Archer Blood, U.S. Consul General in #Dhaka in March 1971. That was the month that the West Pakistani forces launched Operation Searchlight and initiated the #Bangladesh Liberation War. thedailystar.net/opinion/periph…

Two nights with the brilliant Phejin #Konyak at her tea estate. I’ve been lucky to enjoy many views in #Nagaland. But these are the best. Never before had I appreciated the Naga Hills. Phejin is the best person to walk with, considering her book on the last tattooed headhunters.

Sampan’s Book Club continues with Amitav Ghosh's "Wild Fictions." This is a recently published collection of articles and conversations on subjects that have obsessed Ghosh over the last twenty-five years: climate change and the environment; human lives, travel and discoveries.

I will be speaking about tea, samosas and Kolkata’s favourite noodle dish in Kolkata tomorrow.

Video taken from the heart of the wild where humans are banned from entering, but this plastic bottle has reached somehow. We casually throw plastic bottles, polythene covers, plates, cups etc in our towns, cities and villages, etc but won't realize that the environmental forces

Snooping around the Livestock Breeding & Veterinary Department in Insein, #Yangon. 50 years a training school and now government office. 100 years old this year, it was opened on the 13th February, on the day that (the later) General Aung San was celebrating his 10th birthday.

Sunday 15 June Sampan Travel has a Speaker Series event with K S Nair on Bangladesh 1971. As well as looking at his excellent book on 1971 “December in Dhaka”, we’ll talk about the wider context: the Cold War & relationship between Nixon & Mrs Gandhi. Contact for details.

Absolutely thrilled to make the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year shortlist. Thanks to all who voted for Hunted. I'd love it if you could all vote for it again! (If we win, I'll buy you that dress/jacket/faux fur coat you like.) Vote for Hunted 👉 bit.ly/VOTETOP25

Sam & Suren are back in Calcutta in Abir Mukherjee’s latest in the Wyndham & Banerjee series out this November. And Sampan Travel will also be in Calcutta, with Abir, on our Death on the Brahmaputra journey in January 2026. Come join us.