Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING
stake in the hospitality industry. This latest resort had the additional
advantage of Western management and expertise in comfort, decor,
and service, or so the brochures proclaimed.
This management came in the robust form of a Swiss German ex­
patriate named Heinrich Glick, who knew what amenities appealed
to foreign tastes. As the longboats drew to the dock, uniformed boys
in matching green-checked longyis welcomed the passengers and
speedily unloaded their luggage. Names were called out, cottage
numbers quickly assigned, and the designated bellhops grabbed keys
attached to small floats. The bellhops earned their keep solely from
the generous tips that Western tourists gave, and each tried to outdo
the others in carrying the greatest amount of luggage.
Heinrich appeared on the dock. When I first met him years ago, he
had been a handsome man, with thick, wavy blond locks combed
back, a smooth voice, a sophisticated air, and a Teutonic jawline.
Now he was portly, with a pouchlike neck, thin legs, sparse hair, pink
peekaboo scalp, and Windex-blue eyes rimmed in red. He wore a
collarless white shirt of loose-weave linen over yellow washed-silk
trousers.
“Welcome, welcome,” he saluted his guests. “Welcome to para­
dise. You’ve had a pleasant trip, I trust. A bit brisk, ja? Brrrrr. All
right, then, go admire your rooms, and after you are settled in, please
join me in the Great Hall for a toast with bubbles.” He gestured be­
hind him, toward a tall wooden building with many windows. He
looked at his watch. “Let us say noon-ish, with scrumptious lunch to
follow. Run along now and freshen up.” He shooed them away with
his hands as if they were a flock of pigeons. “Ta-ta! See you soon.”
My friends and their bellhops scattered toward the various oiled
teak walkways that fanned out from the dock like the legs of an in­
sect. Cries of delight echoed as they approached their accommoda­
tions: “This is more like it.” “Just like tiki huts.” “How cute is that?”
The bungalows were indeed rustically charming.
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