Category: A Minimalist’s Memoir

Good morning, Vietnam!  The dinky plane bounces off the runway. At the Dalat Palace, in the former French colonial hill station, Catherine Deneuve in Indochine haunts us over high tea. Next, an exciting but terrifying bus ride to the coast to Nha Trang. To relax, we rent bathing gear and soak in a barrel of mud. Small…

New locations for Maple Bear were scouted. And, research of Nairobi preschool market conducted, albeit using harmless subterfuge. Raj played our son-in-law while our other partner wondered aloud: Who am I supposed to be? “Uncle Saurabh”, we told him. After passing by the Westgate Mall, I foolishly downloaded Terror at the Mall. Horrific nightmares ensued. Surreal dinner on…

“It’s good you will be staying for three nights.”   Mohammed, the concierge at Marrakesh’s Le Meridien spoke calmly. The cranky business travelers apologized. Our road to Morocco had many potholes.  The puddle jumper flight delayed from Lisbon. Rush school tours in Rabat and Casablanca. Eid al Mubarak sightings: a sheep riding shotgun in a taxi;…

We had just touched down in Londrina, Brazil. Never heard of Londrina? Neither had I. Before Maple Bear, all I knew about Brazil was soccer, military dictatorships, and The Girl from Ipanema. We travel carry-on so were the first to exit. A Maple Bear logo was our greeter’s giveaway. She only saw the President and…