From England, Bob went on to Asia for a book launch in Phnom Penh, an anthology of short stories in the Noir City series, entitled Phnom Penh Noir. http://www.phnompenhnoir.com/index.htm
Happily, some people read the book. The best review of Bob's story came from a Cambodian reader who posted this review:
"Then there is one story I like the most. It's a serial killer story set in Siam Reap, written by Bob Bergin. The title of the story called: A Coven of Snakes. Bob created a very solid detective story that integrated very well into Cambodian history and its culture. I don't want to tell much about the story: Be prepare yourself for a very beautiful Cambodian classical dance that you never heard of. After you read the story, I think you would never forget that dance. I am not sure if you want to see it on your own eyes, but it's a very powerful erotic dance, a dangerous one." Santel Phin, KhmerBird.com.
Bob also spent time working on projects in Bangkok and China - and in Columbia University's rare book and manuscript archive in New York. But those are stories for another time.
Bob’s neighborhood in Bangkok where a Hindu festival was in full swing. Love the pink bus.
Guest House outside Kunming, China, where Ho Chi Minh, and King Sihanouk of Cambodia, among others, were guests.
The royal palace in Phnom Penh where King Sihanouk was lying in state.
The temple on a hill for which the city of Phnom Penh is named.
Book signing for Phnom Penh Noir at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Phnom Penh
Book signing for Phnom Penh Noir at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Phnom Penh
French film director (The Killing Fields) Alain Joffre, one of the authors in Phnom Penh Noir, at the book launch.
POP-UPS: Banana Tree did a mini Pop-Up at the Big Flea in November.
If you missed it, there's another one coming very soon! We are negotiating for a great space on King St. in Old Town Alexandria and hope to have definite dates before long. As soon as we have the time and place locked in, we'll send out an e-blast to everyone. STAY TUNED
Our first Banana Tree-at-large Pop-Up Sale has come and gone. It was a great success and loads fun to see former customers return and to meet many new ones at our Del Ray location. We had press coverage from the Washington Post, the Gazette Packet and the Del Ray Patch. The big sellers were the painted wood Indian water pots, coffee tables and our benches made from converted Indian swings. Stay tuned for our next “appearance”, planned for the fall. Date and place will be announced on the web site.
“Pnom Penh Noire” a collection of Cambodian-themed mystery stories to be published later this year will launch in October in Phom Penh. Bob, whose short story, “A Coven of Snakes” is included, is planning on attending the Cambodian launch with his fellow authors .
Sadly, our friend and literary giant, Barney Rosset, passed away earlier this year. Barney was the founder of Grove Press and of Evergreen Review, a legendary literary magazine, still in publication on the web. Tributes to Barney, including one from Bob, are at http://www.evergreenreview.com/b/
Further on the literary front, three of Bob’s published stories are now available in kindle and nook format. Titles and links are listed on the site in Banana Tree Press.
Banana Tree’s First Pop-Up Sale
We’re excited that we have a place and date for our first Banana Tree At Large Pop-Up Sale
2727 Mt. Vernon Ave. Alexandria, Va. 22301
May 5-29
Tel: 571 212-0065
We’ll be in the Lofts of Del Ray building, a great new addition to “the Avenue” on the corner of Mt. Vernon and Raymond. We’re presenting an all new shipment from India, everything 30-50% off what you were paying when we were at 1223 King St.
The Banana Tree team is reuniting for the sale and is looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones.
Check Info about our current Pop-Up Sale
See you there!
Literary News
Our resident author, Bob Bergin, has been busy wielding his pen. His article on OSS and Free Thai Operations in World War II Thailand, which appeared in the journal of the Center for the Study of Intelligence, received the Center’s Studies in Intelligence Award for “an outstanding contribution to the literature of intelligence.” click here for link.
The current issue ofAir and Space Smithsonian magazine and its on-line publication features Bob’s interview with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) General Han Decai and his attempted shoot-downs of Taiwanese/American U-2s in the 1960s. click here for link.
Bob’s short story, Coven of Snakes has been selected for inclusion in Phnom Penh Noire, a collection of short stories by internationally-recognized writers on Southeast Asia, available later this year. Bob is currently working on several fiction and non-fiction projects as a result of his travels to Thailand and China earlier this year.
In the Works
Coming soon to a Kindle or Nook near you.
From Banana Tree Press:
CHASING THE INTRUDERS
The Combat Career of Chinese MiG-15 Ace Han Decai
By Bob Bergin
Chinese PLAAF pilot Han Decai was 17 years old when he started flight training. Six months later he was sent to the Korean border – to fly against the Americans, the hottest fighter pilots in the world. He shot down five Americans, including a leading American Ace. He was 19 years old, the youngest jet fighter Ace in history.
After Korea, Han went on to pursue U-2s and low-flying intruders from Taiwan. He was assigned to senior commands, was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed vice-commander of the Nanjing Air Command, one of the most important posts in the Chinese air force.
Based on the only interviews ever given to an American writer by a Chinese combat pilot and senior PLAAF officer.
Fall 2011
Crocs in Bangkok!
Did you know that Thailand is the world’s biggest breeder of crocodiles? Over 700,000 live in the kingdom, with seven major farms in Bangkok’s outskirts. As recent flood waters washed over their pens, some decided to leave for the big city. News reports had thousands loose and heading for Patpong.
The government assigned experts; croc farms offered bounties. Crocs were rounded up, much the worse for wear.
The Thais are quite casual: “We have klongs (canals),” a farmer said. “ We have lived with crocs since ancient times. We know how to handle them.” From photos of beat-up crocs on the web, apparently they do.
The literary journal, Evergreen Review, fall issue, also published Bob’s short story, set in Bangkok: A Delicate Beauty
Leatherbound Newsletter, “that sifts through best valued ebooks”, has included Tracking the Tigers(see Banana Tree Press) on its most recent list.
News of a non-literary nature
Monique’s time this fall has been devoted to creating the web site. When not at her computer she could be found upside down in yoga class
Or arranging flowers with her Ikebana group.
Charlie Sabin’s time-lapse photograph of the FDR Memorial was published in the Washington Post Metro Section in September. When not traveling the world with his wife Carla, Banana Tree’s former manager, and his camera, Charlie photos Banana Tree treasures for the web site.
Summer 2011
Web site update:
We’re still at work on the new web site, hoping to launch later this month if all goes smoothly. Progress was halted in June when Monique left for five weeks in Burma to help a restaurateur friend redecorate her four restaurants.
She shares highlights from the Rangoon project:
Opening a Restaurant in 25 days in Burma During a Monsoon
It’s late June and I am in Rangoon to help a restaurateur friend decorate her new restaurant. Three hundred guests have been invited to the opening in 30 days time. We are starting from scratch. The location is a recently vacated house which must be completely transformed into a restaurant. That’s me, dwarfed by the statue of the chinthe in Mandalay.
A two story open-sided structure, dubbed, “the pavilion” is underway in the garden for diners who prefer al fresco. It’s not quite ready…..
There is construction material, tables, chairs, office furniture, merchandise from my friend’s lacquer and rattan showroom, piled in every room and in the driveway. It’s hot and unbelievably muggy.
Thirty carpenters and electricians are at work. They are dressed in longyi, the Burmese sarong, barefoot or in flip flops. Ten computers power the office but there is one ladder on the premises. It doesn’t matter because it’s never used. The preferred method is to construct a pyramid of furniture to the desired height. I love this guy’s tool belt.
Our ace in the hole is the mural painter. He’s fast, cheap and can copy anything we show him. We scour art books for designs to complement our themed dining rooms: Burmese, Chinese, Thai and Balinese. Here he is painting in the rain with his assistant wielding the umbrella.
Some of his work in the Bali room.
It pours rain every afternoon. I’ve never experienced downpours like this in my life. It’s like standing under a downspout and it goes on for hours. The carpenters soldier on in the monsoon rain. Not the electricians, however, who are holding up the whole crew.
We have a blessing ceremony with eight monks who are offered lunch in return. It doesn’t seem to help the slow progress.
It’s two days before the opening party and the driveway and pavilion are still littered with debris. Will we finish in time?
The new gate arrives and is installed the morning of the opening party.
Tables and chairs are moved into place in the pavilion with the electricians still hanging wires in the ceiling.
Opening night. We did it ! The entrance to the pavilion
The welcoming area
The Chinese room
The main room
Everyone is celebrating. The waiters finish off the beer after the guests have gone and pose for pictures with me.
If you would like more details of Monique's time in Burma, click on "25 days in Burma" in "Travel and Culture"
Spring 2011
The closing sale at our Alexandria store
was featured in the Washington Post Sunday Style. The turn out was overwhelming (as those of you waiting in line the first day know only too well!). We officially closed on April 8, even though some of you were still digging through boxes till the bitter end. A heartfelt thank you to all our faithful customers for 25 years of patronage. It’s truly been a pleasure to serve you.
Our conversion to a web-based business is progressing. We can't wait to announce that "it's done" The goal is
for you to be able to buy from the site with a mouse click. Because we will
have a limited furniture selection on the site, we are working towards
periodicaly importing a shipment of furniture for a limited-time sale.
This would be an opportunity for us to reconnect face-to-face with our
customers as well as offer you a chance to see and purchase our very popular
furniture. We will be scouting for a convenient location for the sale which
we hope to schedule later in the year. Think closing sale prices with all
new selections!
In addition to our signature items which will be on sale on the web site, we plan to add a well-edited selection of jewelry, bags and scarves. Monique is in the process of searching out special sources.
On the travel front, Monique spent most of February with friends in Bali. She shared a beautiful villa with fellow Indonesian old hands, soaking up Ubud’s art and culture. Among the memorable moments was a royal cremation ceremony and being the only non-Balinese at an annual village temple fair. Check out Monique in her go-to-cremation outfit. Starting mid-June, Monique will be on assignment in Burma to decorate two restaurants, one in Rangoon and another in Pagan. She is looking forward to working on location and incorporating western design with Asian aesthetics.
Bob’s travels earlier this year took him to Bangkok, Kunming and Shanghai, where he interviewed military and political figures for his writing projects. One of Bob’s short stories is in the current issue of Evergreen Review, a leading literary publication in New York.
Banana Tree Press! Coming soon as part of Banana Tree’s expansion on the internet. Many of you have enjoyed Bob’s books and you have spoken fondly of our newsletter which we wrote faithfully for many years. Banana Tree Press will offer digital publications on history, culture, art and the American experience in Southeast Asia and China.
ProposedComing titles:
Buffalo Tails, short essays on life and culture in Southeast Asia.
Tigers & Spies: An Adventure in History, the Flying
Tigers, OSS, and Free Thai operations in WWII.
The AVG Flying Tigers, a collection of
interviews and articles on the American Volunteer Group.
The Operators, a collection of interviews and essays on OSS operations in Southeast Asia and China.
Get your kindles ready!
Summer 2010
The Washington Post Express featured Banana Tree in March in its Style section. “this longtime Zen den loads a serene, jute-carpeted space with antique and new pieces from Thailand, India, Burma and Vietnam, including silk pillows. Buddha statues in sizes from tiny to fit-for-a-temple huge, and architectural fragments (from $99 each) that look exotic hung on loft-apartment walls.”
To help our customers through these tight economic times, we’ve set aside a section of Banana Tree for mark-downs. Discounts are substantial: 25-70%. We renew the offering often because pieces move quickly. Check out the bargains.
Monique was in New York in April for the annual Asia Week. She visited the Arts of Pacific Asia Show and numerous Asian art and antique showrooms throughout the city. The auction at Sotheby’s was astonishing: magnificent pieces falling under the hammer for tens of thousands of dollars every few minutes, many returning to China via collectors or dealers.
Bob was further afield earlier in the year: in Bangkok and Kunming, China on the trail of yet another story about aviation in Asia and OSS activities during World War II. His recent article on China’s H bomb pilot appeared in Air & Space Magazine and on the Museum’s web site. It was picked up by hundreds of web sites, USA Today and the NewYork Times which put it on its weekly must read list.
Bob’s latest novel, Spies in the Garden is hot off the press. In this tale of war and espionage, young journalist Harry Ross is sent to Rangoon by “Wild Bill Donovan”. His primary mission is to establish an espionage network and monitor the effectiveness of America’s first covert operation, the Flying Tigers. When Rangoon falls to the Japanese, the action moves to Kunming as does Harry’s stable of sexy and resourceful agents.
Spies in the Garden is on sale at Banana Tree, (come Thursday or Sundays if you want to meet the author and get an autographed copy) in book stores and on the web at Amazon. For more on Bob’s published writing, see his author page.
Bob’s latest novel, Spies in the Garden is hot off the press. In this tale of war and espionage, young journalist Harry Ross is sent to Rangoon by “Wild Bill Donovan”. His primary mission is to establish an espionage network and monitor the effectiveness of America’s first covert operation, the Flying Tigers. When Rangoon falls to the Japanese, the action moves to Kunming as does Harry’s stable of sexy and resourceful agents.
Spies in the Garden is on sale at Banana Tree, (come Thursday or Sundays if you want to meet the author and get an autographed copy) in book stores and on the web at Amazon. For more on Bob’s published writing, see his author page.
Banana Tree’s First Pop-Up Sale
Alexandria, Va. 22301
Fri/Sat: 10:30-8:00 p.m.
Crocs in Bangkok!
The closing sale at our Alexandria store 
The Washington Post Express featured Banana Tree in March in its Style section. “this longtime Zen den loads a serene, jute-carpeted space with antique and new pieces from Thailand, India, Burma and Vietnam, including silk pillows. Buddha statues in sizes from tiny to fit-for-a-temple huge, and architectural fragments (from $99 each) that look exotic hung on loft-apartment walls.”