No Problem Mr. Walt: A Memoir of Loss Building a Boat Rebuilding a Life and Rediscovering Marco Polo's China

In 1989 When Walt Hackmans son was tragically murdered his world collapsed around him. Seeking peace of mind and a new beginning Walt sought to honor his sons memory by bringing to life a dream that his son shared with him but had long been delayed - to live on a Chinese junk. And the first thing: to build one. What followed was 5 trips to China in 4 years dealing with people of totally different customs and culture learning about Chinese history poetry and cuisine while learning Chinese and rediscovering the China that Marco Polo observed 800 years ago. The result was Mei Wen Ti an authentic Chinese handcrafted wooden junk made with exactly the same techniques as when Marco Polo eyewitnessed in the Yuan Dynsaty. While the junk was named Mei Wen Ti which was a pet phrase of the Chinese workers that means no problem Walt was met with numerous problems from the workers lack of knowledges of modern engines to not being able to find a shipping line to carry the junk to US. But he managed to get over the significant cultural barriers making unlikely friends achieving an improbable dream against all odds and built the Chinese junkthat changed his life forever. Filled with humor drama mystery and suspense this delightful memoir is interspersed with intriguing Chinese anecdotes poetry and recipes. Walts extraordinary journey to build a wooden boat ultimately helped him honor the beloved son he lost and sail new seas.www.mrwalt.com