THE BOY FROM SHANGRI-LA

The Boy from Shangri-La

The new work from debut author

Farid Rifaat

Farid Rifaat (author)

This story came to me in the summer of 2015, not while I was sitting at a typewriter with a blank page in it, but while I was seated in my favorite chair reading a periodical. I have had things come to me before, like product design, furniture design, even comedy skits, but never a whole story. The story flashed before me like a high-speed film. It was like a meteor roaring by my window. It was loud and bright and forced me to pay attention. I thought not much about it until small strange things started happening to me. A TV news report about two 12-year old boys; the number 33 kept appearing, and one day on a bike ride, four Indian women in colorful saris walked across the bike path, forcing me to stop. These were all signs to me that I must write this book. Luckily, I can replay the story in my mind. I can go into the story, into the houses, into the kitchen, into the garden, and into the forest. I am with the characters but I am not seen or heard by them. I tried my best to write what I saw, what they said, what they were doing, and what was happening, like taking dictation. Many of the things that happen in this story, happened to me. Write what you know someone once said. For those who believe in numerology, the numbers 3, 6, and 12 have followed me through my life and appear throughout the book, but only if you look for them. A numerologist in the 1990s asked me my birth date, August 4, 1957, which she wrote as 8/4/57 and then said 12/12 and explained to me the significance of the 3, the 6, and the twelves, and the spiritual power of my birth location. The color and style of the book cover, I searched for it. The start of the book and the end, I crafted, as these are important to readers. The beginning is how I get you, the end is how I'll keep you. My name is Farid Rifaat. I was born on Sunday Aug-04-1957 at 3:15pm in Ismailia, Egypt. My mother is English with German roots. My father is half-Egyptian and half-Irish. So I tell people that I'm 50% English, 25% Egyptian, and 25% Irish, and yet I am totally Canadian. My manner is English, my passion is entirely Arab, and my sense of humour is Irish, but I've never been to Ireland. My family and I immigrated to Canada on May-01-1966 arriving on May 2nd. I describe myself as an Egyptian-born Canadian, but I also have dual citizenship. I don't practice religion but I do try to respect all of them. I had an Indian friend at school. I have been to Mexico but not India. I went to Spencer Valley. I played the clarinet for 7 years. I have had the tea service at The Empress and also Tea at the White House. I am an avid tea drinker, but I drink coffee too. I was a Cub Scout and then a Boy Scout and I won best campsite as troop captain. I do not own a compass and have never worn a whistle. My blood type is O positive. My memories are my superpower. I hope you enjoy this story which became my book. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done.

Rif & son Farid

Rif & son Farid at the Red Sea in Egypt circa 1961.
Photo taken by author's mother Pamela using Rif's Leica camera.

Pam & Rif @ Chinaman's Hat Oahu, Hawaii August 1991.

On vacation with Pam & Rif in Hawaii in August 1991, here at Chinaman's Hat, East side of Oahu. I drove a rental car from Honolulu to the North Shore with plan to drive around the island, but got lost. Stopped for a drink at Dole Plantation, lunch at Haleiwa, swim at Waimea, then drove all the way around the island back to Honolulu. This was the best day ever with my folks. We were like kids in a candy store. My young-spirited parents loved their breakfasts and the alfresco buffet at the Sheraton Waikiki with the Luau by the pool. They also loved the Ala Moana Center. (Pam RIP Jan-06-2020, Rif RIP Mar-23-1998)