it is an honor and a pleasure for me to be here this evening to tell you about
be here this evening to tell you about
be here this evening to tell you about our book traveling the world for
our book traveling the world for
our book traveling the world for National Geographic and to share with
National Geographic and to share with
National Geographic and to share with you some of the adventures of my late
you some of the adventures of my late
you some of the adventures of my late husband Tom era crombie the handsome
husband Tom era crombie the handsome
husband Tom era crombie the handsome couple on the cover are Tom and I
couple on the cover are Tom and I
couple on the cover are Tom and I somewhere in the Swiss Alps the summer
somewhere in the Swiss Alps the summer
somewhere in the Swiss Alps the summer of 1962 tonight I will share some
of 1962 tonight I will share some
of 1962 tonight I will share some personal stories and my lovely daughter
personal stories and my lovely daughter
personal stories and my lovely daughter Mari will read quote from the book we
Mari will read quote from the book we
Mari will read quote from the book we open the book with a my favorite quote
open the book with a my favorite quote
open the book with a my favorite quote of Tom’s the most satisfying journey is
of Tom’s the most satisfying journey is
of Tom’s the most satisfying journey is one that is shared indeed he not only
one that is shared indeed he not only
one that is shared indeed he not only shared his adventures with me and our
shared his adventures with me and our
shared his adventures with me and our family and friends but with the millions
family and friends but with the millions
family and friends but with the millions of readers of National Geographic
of readers of National Geographic
of readers of National Geographic magazine he brought awareness of the
magazine he brought awareness of the
magazine he brought awareness of the beauty of other cultures and customs in
beauty of other cultures and customs in
beauty of other cultures and customs in nearly 40 years of travel Tom worked on
nearly 40 years of travel Tom worked on
nearly 40 years of travel Tom worked on all seven continents with stories from
all seven continents with stories from
all seven continents with stories from the far corners of the earth his
the far corners of the earth his
the far corners of the earth his fascination with the Middle East began
fascination with the Middle East began
fascination with the Middle East began with his first overseas assignment the
with his first overseas assignment the
with his first overseas assignment the country of Lebanon Lebanon was a
country of Lebanon Lebanon was a
country of Lebanon Lebanon was a Mindbender despite research beforehand I
Mindbender despite research beforehand I
Mindbender despite research beforehand I arrived with a mindful of cliches that
arrived with a mindful of cliches that
arrived with a mindful of cliches that so many Americans seemed to harbor about
so many Americans seemed to harbor about
so many Americans seemed to harbor about the Middle East
the Middle East
the Middle East camels wealthy desert sheiks veiled
camels wealthy desert sheiks veiled
camels wealthy desert sheiks veiled women oil wells belly dancers armed
women oil wells belly dancers armed
women oil wells belly dancers armed conspirators old men smoking water pipes
conspirators old men smoking water pipes
conspirators old men smoking water pipes Persian carpets in Lebanon you’ll find
Persian carpets in Lebanon you’ll find
Persian carpets in Lebanon you’ll find all of these and more except for the oil
all of these and more except for the oil
all of these and more except for the oil wells if you look hard enough but they
wells if you look hard enough but they
wells if you look hard enough but they are lost amid the luxury hotels green
are lost amid the luxury hotels green
are lost amid the luxury hotels green valleys terraced orchards the latest
valleys terraced orchards the latest
valleys terraced orchards the latest European fashions traffic jams crowded
European fashions traffic jams crowded
European fashions traffic jams crowded universities snowy mountain peaks and
universities snowy mountain peaks and
universities snowy mountain peaks and splendid ball deck with the finest Roman
splendid ball deck with the finest Roman
splendid ball deck with the finest Roman ruins outside of Rome itself gourmet
ruins outside of Rome itself gourmet
ruins outside of Rome itself gourmet restaurants museums international
restaurants museums international
restaurants museums international bankers and waterskiing on the
bankers and waterskiing on the
bankers and waterskiing on the Mediterranean Beirut have been called
Mediterranean Beirut have been called
Mediterranean Beirut have been called the Paris of the Middle East it’s all
the Paris of the Middle East it’s all
the Paris of the Middle East it’s all that and more whatever your heart
that and more whatever your heart
that and more whatever your heart desires in those days you could find it
desires in those days you could find it
desires in those days you could find it in the heady mix of Europe and the
in the heady mix of Europe and the
in the heady mix of Europe and the Orient
Orient
Orient that is Beirut that was Lebanon in 1957
that is Beirut that was Lebanon in 1957
that is Beirut that was Lebanon in 1957 the Paris of the Middle East the land of
the Paris of the Middle East the land of
the Paris of the Middle East the land of milk and honey the trance career was
milk and honey the trance career was
milk and honey the trance career was about to change back once more in
about to change back once more in
about to change back once more in Washington I found Melville Bill
Washington I found Melville Bill
Washington I found Melville Bill Grosvenor very pleased with my efforts
Grosvenor very pleased with my efforts
Grosvenor very pleased with my efforts in Lebanon pictures and words and he had
in Lebanon pictures and words and he had
in Lebanon pictures and words and he had scheduled the story for the coming April
scheduled the story for the coming April
scheduled the story for the coming April what’s more he called me into his office
what’s more he called me into his office
what’s more he called me into his office to announce my promotion to national
to announce my promotion to national
to announce my promotion to national Geographics foreign editorial staff a
Geographics foreign editorial staff a
Geographics foreign editorial staff a prestigious team of writer photographers
prestigious team of writer photographers
prestigious team of writer photographers that as the name would imply handle most
that as the name would imply handle most
that as the name would imply handle most overseas assignments the most
overseas assignments the most
overseas assignments the most interesting ones by far
interesting ones by far
interesting ones by far Tom’s ability to adapt to any situation
Tom’s ability to adapt to any situation
Tom’s ability to adapt to any situation made him a Renaissance man along with
made him a Renaissance man along with
made him a Renaissance man along with his curiosity ability and guts he made
his curiosity ability and guts he made
his curiosity ability and guts he made for the perfect Geographic field man
for the perfect Geographic field man
for the perfect Geographic field man early in his career National Geographic
early in his career National Geographic
early in his career National Geographic Tom did a story on ice fishing we
Tom did a story on ice fishing we
Tom did a story on ice fishing we decided he decided that is there
decided he decided that is there
decided he decided that is there and be a fish eyes view he had designed
and be a fish eyes view he had designed
and be a fish eyes view he had designed an underwater housing for the camera we
an underwater housing for the camera we
an underwater housing for the camera we drove out on the ice where he tied a
drove out on the ice where he tied a
drove out on the ice where he tied a rope around his waist and made his way
rope around his waist and made his way
rope around his waist and made his way into the icy water the result an amazing
into the icy water the result an amazing
into the icy water the result an amazing view of a family hoping to catch a fish
view of a family hoping to catch a fish
view of a family hoping to catch a fish my job was to get him back to our warm
my job was to get him back to our warm
my job was to get him back to our warm hotel room driving in the car I couldn’t
hotel room driving in the car I couldn’t
hotel room driving in the car I couldn’t help but burst out laughing
help but burst out laughing
help but burst out laughing Tom looked like a walrus in that black
Tom looked like a walrus in that black
Tom looked like a walrus in that black diving suit with his big moustache
diving suit with his big moustache
diving suit with his big moustache covered with icicles he did not
covered with icicles he did not
covered with icicles he did not appreciate my sense of humor some of the
appreciate my sense of humor some of the
appreciate my sense of humor some of the photographs from this assignment
photographs from this assignment
photographs from this assignment resulted in magazine photographer of the
resulted in magazine photographer of the
resulted in magazine photographer of the Year award three years earlier well in
Year award three years earlier well in
Year award three years earlier well in Milwaukee he had earned the newspaper
Milwaukee he had earned the newspaper
Milwaukee he had earned the newspaper photographer of the Year award tom was
photographer of the Year award tom was
photographer of the Year award tom was the first to win both Awards he loved a
the first to win both Awards he loved a
the first to win both Awards he loved a challenge every assignment presented him
challenge every assignment presented him
challenge every assignment presented him with something new and he embraced that
with something new and he embraced that
with something new and he embraced that challenge the ability to handle any
challenge the ability to handle any
challenge the ability to handle any situation can save your life while
situation can save your life while
situation can save your life while you’re in the field
you’re in the field
you’re in the field Tom had developed a reputation around
Tom had developed a reputation around
Tom had developed a reputation around the office for his many accidents
the office for his many accidents
the office for his many accidents he survived a chartered plane crash a
he survived a chartered plane crash a
he survived a chartered plane crash a cable car accident in addition to his
cable car accident in addition to his
cable car accident in addition to his many automobile escapades in northern
many automobile escapades in northern
many automobile escapades in northern Saudi Arabia when we were working on the
Saudi Arabia when we were working on the
Saudi Arabia when we were working on the Franken sales frankincense trail story
Franken sales frankincense trail story
Franken sales frankincense trail story we came across the ruins of the old
we came across the ruins of the old
we came across the ruins of the old Hejaz railroad built in 1902 carry
Hejaz railroad built in 1902 carry
Hejaz railroad built in 1902 carry Muslims to Medina remember TE Lawrence
Muslims to Medina remember TE Lawrence
Muslims to Medina remember TE Lawrence better known as Lawrence of Arabia he
better known as Lawrence of Arabia he
better known as Lawrence of Arabia he and his men had blown up the trains and
and his men had blown up the trains and
and his men had blown up the trains and demolished the station’s during World
demolished the station’s during World
demolished the station’s during World War one left as it is if it had happened
War one left as it is if it had happened
War one left as it is if it had happened yesterday
yesterday
yesterday we took many photographs of course when
we took many photographs of course when
we took many photographs of course when the images of the train laying on its
the images of the train laying on its
the images of the train laying on its side hit the desk of the director of
side hit the desk of the director of
side hit the desk of the director of photography Bob Gill kheh
photography Bob Gill kheh
photography Bob Gill kheh he declared oh my god
he declared oh my god
he declared oh my god Abercrombie’s done it again and this
Abercrombie’s done it again and this
Abercrombie’s done it again and this time it’s a train
my first trip into the Middle East was
my first trip into the Middle East was to Saudi Arabia in 1965 I was fascinated
to Saudi Arabia in 1965 I was fascinated
to Saudi Arabia in 1965 I was fascinated with that part of the world as a woman
with that part of the world as a woman
with that part of the world as a woman traveling with her husband I had no
traveling with her husband I had no
traveling with her husband I had no problem the men often invited me to join
problem the men often invited me to join
problem the men often invited me to join their coffee ceremonies and dinners as
their coffee ceremonies and dinners as
their coffee ceremonies and dinners as well
well
well the women were friendly and curious but
the women were friendly and curious but
the women were friendly and curious but it was difficult for me because my vocab
it was difficult for me because my vocab
it was difficult for me because my vocab your arabic was a limit to about 10
your arabic was a limit to about 10
your arabic was a limit to about 10 words if I was able to haul out my
words if I was able to haul out my
words if I was able to haul out my cameras by spending time making pictures
cameras by spending time making pictures
cameras by spending time making pictures they seemed to understand and cooperate
they seemed to understand and cooperate
they seemed to understand and cooperate they were far more curious about me
they were far more curious about me
they were far more curious about me because back then there were few foreign
because back then there were few foreign
because back then there were few foreign women visitors we are going to make a
women visitors we are going to make a
women visitors we are going to make a trip into the empty corridor the rouble
trip into the empty corridor the rouble
trip into the empty corridor the rouble kali
kali
kali a desert the size of Texas where no one
a desert the size of Texas where no one
a desert the size of Texas where no one lives
lives
lives Tom’s goal was to find the famous
Tom’s goal was to find the famous
Tom’s goal was to find the famous warbird meteor
warbird meteor
warbird meteor right with other explorers had been
right with other explorers had been
right with other explorers had been searching for for years we traveled in
searching for for years we traveled in
searching for for years we traveled in our Land Rover south to the edge of the
our Land Rover south to the edge of the
our Land Rover south to the edge of the desert where we visited the Evora tribe
desert where we visited the Evora tribe
desert where we visited the Evora tribe famous for their tracking skills
famous for their tracking skills
famous for their tracking skills we loved the deserts and our visits with
we loved the deserts and our visits with
we loved the deserts and our visits with the Bedouins their hospitality is
the Bedouins their hospitality is
the Bedouins their hospitality is unmatched that evening after dinner Tom
unmatched that evening after dinner Tom
unmatched that evening after dinner Tom and the Sheikh exchanged these words Lin
and the Sheikh exchanged these words Lin
and the Sheikh exchanged these words Lin and I feel much like nomads ourselves I
and I feel much like nomads ourselves I
and I feel much like nomads ourselves I said our Land Rover is our camel I went
said our Land Rover is our camel I went
said our Land Rover is our camel I went on while you move from place to place to
on while you move from place to place to
on while you move from place to place to find rain and grass we travel constantly
find rain and grass we travel constantly
find rain and grass we travel constantly looking for stories and photographs
looking for stories and photographs
looking for stories and photographs I caught a slight smile so why in all
I caught a slight smile so why in all
I caught a slight smile so why in all his name why would you want to venture
his name why would you want to venture
his name why would you want to venture further into this dangerous desert for a
further into this dangerous desert for a
further into this dangerous desert for a foreigner it’s especially dangerous he
foreigner it’s especially dangerous he
foreigner it’s especially dangerous he persisted and in the end it’s a journey
persisted and in the end it’s a journey
persisted and in the end it’s a journey to nowhere the Sheikh finally gave in
to nowhere the Sheikh finally gave in
to nowhere the Sheikh finally gave in and find his nephew jobber to lead us to
and find his nephew jobber to lead us to
and find his nephew jobber to lead us to the water meeting right and most
the water meeting right and most
the water meeting right and most important to get us back travelling for
important to get us back travelling for
important to get us back travelling for four days in the intense heat 120
four days in the intense heat 120
four days in the intense heat 120 degrees up to 140 degrees our backup
degrees up to 140 degrees our backup
degrees up to 140 degrees our backup truck had a leaky radiator draining our
truck had a leaky radiator draining our
truck had a leaky radiator draining our precious water supply tensions were
precious water supply tensions were
precious water supply tensions were growing when jabra pointed and fed it’s
growing when jabra pointed and fed it’s
growing when jabra pointed and fed it’s just over the next dune he had led us
just over the next dune he had led us
just over the next dune he had led us directly to the crater the biggest iron
directly to the crater the biggest iron
directly to the crater the biggest iron meteorite ever found in Arabia lay at
meteorite ever found in Arabia lay at
meteorite ever found in Arabia lay at our feet shaped roughly like a saucer it
our feet shaped roughly like a saucer it
our feet shaped roughly like a saucer it measured four feet in diameter and two
measured four feet in diameter and two
measured four feet in diameter and two feet in the center a little quick
feet in the center a little quick
feet in the center a little quick geometry put it at two and a half tons
geometry put it at two and a half tons
geometry put it at two and a half tons years later in 2007 when I was in Riyadh
years later in 2007 when I was in Riyadh
years later in 2007 when I was in Riyadh well the the Saudi government had an
well the the Saudi government had an
well the the Saudi government had an exhibition
exhibition
exhibition of Toms photographs I was surprised to
of Toms photographs I was surprised to
of Toms photographs I was surprised to find the Whopper meteorite on display at
find the Whopper meteorite on display at
find the Whopper meteorite on display at the entrance of the new National Museum
after Tom’s first pilgrimage to Mecca he
after Tom’s first pilgrimage to Mecca he wrote while I was in Saudi Arabia I
wrote while I was in Saudi Arabia I
wrote while I was in Saudi Arabia I wanted to cover the Hajj the pilgrimage
wanted to cover the Hajj the pilgrimage
wanted to cover the Hajj the pilgrimage to Mecca non-believers are not permitted
to Mecca non-believers are not permitted
to Mecca non-believers are not permitted to enter the holy city but the year
to enter the holy city but the year
to enter the holy city but the year before I had embraced Islam I joined
before I had embraced Islam I joined
before I had embraced Islam I joined three million of the faithful from all
three million of the faithful from all
three million of the faithful from all around the world to complete the
around the world to complete the
around the world to complete the pilgrimage to Mecca I was one of the
pilgrimage to Mecca I was one of the
pilgrimage to Mecca I was one of the lucky Westerners allowed to photograph
lucky Westerners allowed to photograph
lucky Westerners allowed to photograph the passionate celebration the power and
the passionate celebration the power and
the passionate celebration the power and beauty of the Meccan experience needs no
beauty of the Meccan experience needs no
beauty of the Meccan experience needs no translation Tom wrote in his Arab
translation Tom wrote in his Arab
translation Tom wrote in his Arab history article the sword in the sermon
history article the sword in the sermon
history article the sword in the sermon published in 1972 of his touching
published in 1972 of his touching
published in 1972 of his touching experience in all maota in a Sylvia
experience in all maota in a Sylvia
experience in all maota in a Sylvia Union he had been visiting a mosque
Union he had been visiting a mosque
Union he had been visiting a mosque there the Sheikh told his guests that
there the Sheikh told his guests that
there the Sheikh told his guests that Hajj Omar tongs Islamic name had been to
Hajj Omar tongs Islamic name had been to
Hajj Omar tongs Islamic name had been to Mecca and Medina a devotion denied by
Mecca and Medina a devotion denied by
Mecca and Medina a devotion denied by Soviet policy to all but a token few
Soviet policy to all but a token few
Soviet policy to all but a token few people began to press against him to
people began to press against him to
people began to press against him to kiss his hand
kiss his hand
kiss his hand some stroked his coat then touching
some stroked his coat then touching
some stroked his coat then touching their faith to whatever blessing might
their faith to whatever blessing might
their faith to whatever blessing might rub off hard till Maher had to leave
rub off hard till Maher had to leave
rub off hard till Maher had to leave choking back tears my favorite country
choking back tears my favorite country
choking back tears my favorite country will always be Oman the Sultanate of
will always be Oman the Sultanate of
will always be Oman the Sultanate of Oman for me the highlight was a
Oman for me the highlight was a
Oman for me the highlight was a mussenden Peninsula a rugged area
mussenden Peninsula a rugged area
mussenden Peninsula a rugged area separate from the rest of the country
separate from the rest of the country
separate from the rest of the country reachable only by air or boat the rugged
reachable only by air or boat the rugged
reachable only by air or boat the rugged area had a unique culture living as they
area had a unique culture living as they
area had a unique culture living as they had for
had for
had for centuries well supertankers just
centuries well supertankers just
centuries well supertankers just offshore through the streets of hormones
offshore through the streets of hormones
offshore through the streets of hormones brought oil to ports around the world
brought oil to ports around the world
brought oil to ports around the world I couldn’t stop photographing the women
I couldn’t stop photographing the women
I couldn’t stop photographing the women especially this image of a masked woman
especially this image of a masked woman
especially this image of a masked woman almost made the cover of the online
almost made the cover of the online
almost made the cover of the online story as you can see from these images
story as you can see from these images
story as you can see from these images of Oman it is one of the most colorful
of Oman it is one of the most colorful
of Oman it is one of the most colorful and friendly countries and Oman will
and friendly countries and Oman will
and friendly countries and Oman will always have a special place in my heart
always have a special place in my heart
always have a special place in my heart because it was a gateway assignment that
because it was a gateway assignment that
because it was a gateway assignment that led to other assignments for me
led to other assignments for me
led to other assignments for me including the frankincense Trail where I
including the frankincense Trail where I
including the frankincense Trail where I was designated photographer I was
was designated photographer I was
was designated photographer I was especially happy to be back in Oman to
especially happy to be back in Oman to
especially happy to be back in Oman to start the frankincense trail story we
start the frankincense trail story we
start the frankincense trail story we had experienced over and over the
had experienced over and over the
had experienced over and over the ceremony of lighting the incense burners
ceremony of lighting the incense burners
ceremony of lighting the incense burners passing it around for you to wolf the
passing it around for you to wolf the
passing it around for you to wolf the vapors into your hair and clothing the
vapors into your hair and clothing the
vapors into your hair and clothing the perfume of ancient times I believe Tom
perfume of ancient times I believe Tom
perfume of ancient times I believe Tom spirit is on his impressive body of work
spirit is on his impressive body of work
spirit is on his impressive body of work and in the millet minds of the readers
and in the millet minds of the readers
and in the millet minds of the readers who followed his travels and his
who followed his travels and his
who followed his travels and his countless friends he made along the way
countless friends he made along the way
countless friends he made along the way we’ll leave you with a quote that says
we’ll leave you with a quote that says
we’ll leave you with a quote that says it well if I even add one plank to the
it well if I even add one plank to the
it well if I even add one plank to the bridges of understanding between
bridges of understanding between
bridges of understanding between countries I feel my mission was
countries I feel my mission was
countries I feel my mission was accomplished thank you for coming
accomplished thank you for coming
accomplished thank you for coming you
”
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