Water of the Heart

“For 11 years, I lived in a stilt house on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phya River opposite the Grand Palace. Fascinated by river life, I sought information that, as it turned out, didn’t exist because nobody had traveled the entire length of the river. So, despite being a neophyte, I had a small teak boat built, took it to the headwaters on the Burmese border, and began paddling downriver. 58 days later, I entered the Gulf of Siam. I subsequently spent another three months paddling down the other three tributaries from source to sea, journeys that taught me more about Thailand than any reading or traveling I had done. My books reflect my conviction that to understand Thailand’s culture and people, one needs to understand the role of its rivers in their lives as well as the symbolic meaning of water.”

In this illustrated talk, celebrated author and photographer Steve Van Beek will share his unique perspective on Thailand’s history, culture, people, symbols, and evolution as a result of exploring its rivers.

Presenter

“Born in Portland Oregon, and educated at the University of Oregon, I travelled to Nepal in 1966 to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small village in its southern, Terai, region. After a third year in Kathmandu as the Peace Corps Resource Information Officer, I got itchy feet and hitchhiked west. After four fascinating months between New Delhi and Istanbul, I reversed direction and ended up in Bangkok, ostensibly to say “hello” to a Thai school friend in Bangkok. I intended to stay for two weeks but was caught in its grip and, in brief, neglected to go home. Aside from stays in New York and San Francisco, Thailand has been my base for exploring Asia and the world. Its hold on me is undiminished.”

COST: 350 THB