| Stories by Steve
Van Beek |
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These are my stories about Thailand, Asia, and rivers
which have been published in numerous print and online magazines;
others appeared as chapters in books. I hope you enjoy them and,
perhaps, learn something new. And come back later; we’re always
adding new ones.
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These stories have appeared in a variety of publications
over the years. Some of the links are to the original stories,
others to stories reproduced here.
Lizard Loony. The
first story I ever wrote for commercial publication. It
appeared in Sawasdee Magazine, THAI’s inflight in
1978.
Gridlock in Bangkok circa
1836
The Heavenly
City of Dusit Thani
Thailand’s
Royal Cities
Birthday Suits
Altered While you Wait. A story with a variety of titles.
In Salon, this story about sex change operations written
under the semi-anagrammatic byline Karl B. Vetas was called
“Bangkok’s
Got a Brand New Bag”.
Walk Across Thailand in a Day. Appeared on the Tourism Authority of Thailand website.
Lost in the Mangrove. A village in the mangroves shows how it is possible to reverse ecological damage and create a healthy, prosperous environment. First appeared on the Tourism Authority of Thailand News Room website.
Mae Chaem, the Hidden Valley of the Seven Temples. A pocket of culture in the northern hills. First appeared on the Tourism Authority of Thailand News Room website.
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Embracing everything from ancient cities to remote
regions untouched by urban values, Asia holds 55% of the world’s
population. Embracing a vast number of ethnic peoples and
languages, it is a tapestry of sensations and experiences.
Savor this sampling of its diversity.
Letter from Ladakh. First appeared in Salon Magazine. (PDF)
Beware the Supple Fingers of Saigon. First appeared in Salon Magazine. (under the pseudonym of Karl B. Vetas).
The Terai: Waiting for the Rains (Appears in the book, Travelers Tales Nepal).
String of Pearls (Appeared in Travelers Tales San Francisco). OK, it’s a bit of a stretch to call it “Asian” but, as you can see from the text, it relates. |
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Rivers have fascinated me since boyhood and formed the focus
of much of my recent writing. Waterways provide access to
remote areas untouched by roads, enabling me to observe people
unobserved, rather than as they have been altered by the outside
world. In most instances, riverbank dwellers are not expecting
someone to travel by water and most often don’t even
look in my direction. This enables me to see them as they
are; the moment they spot me, their behavior changes and I
become part of their daily equation, altering who they are.
First Descent. Also appeared in Salon Magazine. It relates the story of a Sino-American journey down a portion of the Mekong River in 1995.
The Power of One.
This tale of the continuation of the previous journey, undertaken
in 1997, appeared in the Explorers Journal of the Explorers
Club in New York City.
Sin the Buffalo Man.
Appeared in Discovery Magazine, and in Travelers Tales Thailand.
It is also a chapter from my book, Slithering South.
Hot Topics. Another chapter
from Slithering South.
Cargo Class
Through the Heart of Laos (Appeared in Escape Magazine).
The River Mild. This
is a slightly updated version of the story which first appeared
in the San Francisco Examiner.
Water of the Heart.
First published in Discovery Magazine.
The Moods of the Mekong. Two aspects of the Mekong River as it flows through Thailand. First appeared on the Tourism Authority of Thailand News Room website.
A Wild Ride through Phang-nga. A crazy run down a southern river. First appeared on the Tourism Authority of Thailand News Room website.
Gift of Life, The Chao Phraya River. Thailand's primary river system has fueled its growth and linked its people. First appeared on the Tourism Authority of Thailand News Room website.
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