Came across a dvd of Callas interviewed by Lord Harewood. Great and revealing it was. And they still don’t have any of her operas here in the shops.
I bought a Pilger film War on Democracy. Sickening to hear an arrogant ex CIA man commenting on the murder of some people in one of the countries of south America saying “500! That’s nothing in the battle for democracy!” or something like that.
I was deafened night after night during the French film festival by the overloud surround sound adverts showing mainly US trailers, bing bong bang, killings, explosions, heroic defenders of the US ad nauseum. Shows Americans are a terrified people still surrounded by Red Indians as Slessinger Jr explained in a book written 40 years ago.
The French films were great and we saw Hunting and Gathering, Sseraphine, Crime is our Business and Saint Cyr. What was impressive was the audience - 40 cf to the miserable 7 last year.
A Malaysian film Sell Out was also on but we did not notice it until I stumbled across it in a blog which reported that it was highly commended at the Venice Festival. Too late! It was discontinued the day we tried to buy a ticket. Will have to wait for the dvd.
Saw a “pipa duck” sign at Rangoon Road, had no idea what it was until when we got to the hawker complex next to Island Plaza. Very well done and a new discovery in taste. But why “pi pa”? Apparently after the shape of the Chinese lute.
At the next table was a man who was dark skinned but puzzled; he was reading a Chinese newspaper. Alone with a cup of coffee and a small bottle of beer, Sitting there doing nothing, staring into space. Was he waiting for a friend? When we were just about to leave the chicken rice woman joined him. She was about to eat her late dinner, a plate of rice, a cup of what looked like soup and as well as a bowl of ice kachang. She must be his wife. And what a dinner!
The itch that tormented me for more than a year has gone. The skin specialist here, and he is one of he best, told me to cover up all day because my skin is a very dry skin and sensitive to ultra violet rays. This meant anti hystamine pills, ointments, special lotion for baths and no more swimming in the sea - the deadlist blow of all.
I am also no longer sleeping 12 hours a day and instead do 11. It must be that the effects of the concussion caused by my falling from my bike for no reason at all is losing its effect. I suspect it is also the cause of my false palsy which causes bits of food to go down the wrong way causing severe and prolonged coughing - even a slight vomit - to get the intruder out of the wrong tube. My surgeon tells me this partial paralysis of the region of the throat is due to brain damage.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
French film week and rambutan
Went to the first of the French film week films, a delightful comical light touch to an Agatha Christie murder mystery with the title, Crime is Our Business
WL was here for two days. I haven’t seen him since he left for Canada in 1974. He was one of the early political prisoners, interned by the British under the predecessor of the ISA on St John’s Island in 1951.A very brave man. When he set up his clinic in KL gangsters demanded protection money. He refused. They smashed his glass front and did the same on the second refusal. They found this guy too tough and left him alone.
The old rambutan tree, probably planted by the first owner in 1962 and cut down some ten years ago when the trunk had gained the mature girth of a coconut tree. It had put out fresh branches which formed a screen between us and next door when we came and is now producing fruit, not as prolific as when it was young but more than we can consume. Its super iar bar (coconut meat) and no loot k’ark (clean peeling) shows that the man who planted it knew his rambutan well.
Tat Thong’s grandson, from Hong Kong, visited and brought us a box of Wife Biscuit, a round thing containing lotus seed paste. Delicious! In return we gave him some mangosteens and some of our super rambutans. He has never eaten mangosteen in his life.
SC came and we went to a new Thai place called The Thai Garden run by a woman from north Thailand and married toa Pole. Adeline joined us at 11 pm and we showed her and SC the heartbreaking “Running” (about the cruel plight of Myanmar refugees here made by Suaram, the human rights organisation) and first three chapters of Water Margin only, because it was already 2 am. Adeline brought a bottle of 15 yr old Grouse whisky. I told SC about the “White Tiger”, which she borrowed.
Meeting an old friend from Ipoh, a first generation from a pioneer immigrant tin miner, I was not surprised to find that his reaction to my saying that the UN found China as one of the biggest exporters of Chinese women for sale. His reaction: that’s very small compared to the huge population. His reaction to the news that three woman had committed suicide because they had no food: they always like to take their children with them when they go. (In fact they were Indian women all over 40 years old). No pity at all, although a devout Catholic. Was that typical of this country? Seems so, if we take the audience at the filming of “Running”. At comment time, no one spoke sympathetically or with pity although they were young and “liberal” folk: Questions like “how do you know how many are criminals?” “Why don’t they take it up with Burma” suggested hard heartedness form the floor that I couldnt tolerate. SO I made a long comment on how Austria looked after 3 million refugees after the war when they themselves were short of food and how cruel we were in treating these people though we were a mixture of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam Hadari. It was clear from the floor that, that we are still sick with mahathirism, reflecting his infamous battle cry: “Shoot the boat people!”.
Rummaging through the CD’s at the music shop I was delighted to see a collection of Julius Katchen ( I had been hoping they would do his Brahms Works of which I have the complete LPs but alas this is the only one I found consisting of a collection of works by various composers. From the accompanying booklet I learnt that this great pianist died when only 42 of a mysterious illness and was American (I’d always thought he was Hungarian for some reason) I listened to his playing of Rorem’s Sonata No 2 and was swept off my feet by the Tarantella. The gentle Nocturne was dedicated to Billie Holiday. The Tarantella and Balakirev’s Islamey, on the same CD, truly show off the piano’s grand range of sound, as Chopin does.
Dandin: Tales of the Princes. Written 1300 years ago in sanskrit this is now available in Penguin classics. Great stories which show a different culture from the Greeks and the Chinese.
You will find Darwin’s Origin of Species fun. I will extract a few stories from his letters which are as exciting as cowboy stories.
After a night of heavy rain I went to the computer ad found it rather cold. I looked at the thermometer, it was 86F! Shiver!!!! But it’s hot again and we are being fried alive.
WL was here for two days. I haven’t seen him since he left for Canada in 1974. He was one of the early political prisoners, interned by the British under the predecessor of the ISA on St John’s Island in 1951.A very brave man. When he set up his clinic in KL gangsters demanded protection money. He refused. They smashed his glass front and did the same on the second refusal. They found this guy too tough and left him alone.
The old rambutan tree, probably planted by the first owner in 1962 and cut down some ten years ago when the trunk had gained the mature girth of a coconut tree. It had put out fresh branches which formed a screen between us and next door when we came and is now producing fruit, not as prolific as when it was young but more than we can consume. Its super iar bar (coconut meat) and no loot k’ark (clean peeling) shows that the man who planted it knew his rambutan well.
Tat Thong’s grandson, from Hong Kong, visited and brought us a box of Wife Biscuit, a round thing containing lotus seed paste. Delicious! In return we gave him some mangosteens and some of our super rambutans. He has never eaten mangosteen in his life.
SC came and we went to a new Thai place called The Thai Garden run by a woman from north Thailand and married toa Pole. Adeline joined us at 11 pm and we showed her and SC the heartbreaking “Running” (about the cruel plight of Myanmar refugees here made by Suaram, the human rights organisation) and first three chapters of Water Margin only, because it was already 2 am. Adeline brought a bottle of 15 yr old Grouse whisky. I told SC about the “White Tiger”, which she borrowed.
Meeting an old friend from Ipoh, a first generation from a pioneer immigrant tin miner, I was not surprised to find that his reaction to my saying that the UN found China as one of the biggest exporters of Chinese women for sale. His reaction: that’s very small compared to the huge population. His reaction to the news that three woman had committed suicide because they had no food: they always like to take their children with them when they go. (In fact they were Indian women all over 40 years old). No pity at all, although a devout Catholic. Was that typical of this country? Seems so, if we take the audience at the filming of “Running”. At comment time, no one spoke sympathetically or with pity although they were young and “liberal” folk: Questions like “how do you know how many are criminals?” “Why don’t they take it up with Burma” suggested hard heartedness form the floor that I couldnt tolerate. SO I made a long comment on how Austria looked after 3 million refugees after the war when they themselves were short of food and how cruel we were in treating these people though we were a mixture of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam Hadari. It was clear from the floor that, that we are still sick with mahathirism, reflecting his infamous battle cry: “Shoot the boat people!”.
Rummaging through the CD’s at the music shop I was delighted to see a collection of Julius Katchen ( I had been hoping they would do his Brahms Works of which I have the complete LPs but alas this is the only one I found consisting of a collection of works by various composers. From the accompanying booklet I learnt that this great pianist died when only 42 of a mysterious illness and was American (I’d always thought he was Hungarian for some reason) I listened to his playing of Rorem’s Sonata No 2 and was swept off my feet by the Tarantella. The gentle Nocturne was dedicated to Billie Holiday. The Tarantella and Balakirev’s Islamey, on the same CD, truly show off the piano’s grand range of sound, as Chopin does.
Dandin: Tales of the Princes. Written 1300 years ago in sanskrit this is now available in Penguin classics. Great stories which show a different culture from the Greeks and the Chinese.
You will find Darwin’s Origin of Species fun. I will extract a few stories from his letters which are as exciting as cowboy stories.
After a night of heavy rain I went to the computer ad found it rather cold. I looked at the thermometer, it was 86F! Shiver!!!! But it’s hot again and we are being fried alive.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tree cafe and tongkat ali
I must tell you about this sea food place along Weld Quay, popular with artists both sides of the causeway. Some call it the Tree Cafe because of the old tree at the entrance. It has an enormous variety of fish, prawns and crabs and the pork kegs are excellent.
C has a problem with her legs which sometimes need a blanket to keep warm. I asked her to try tongkat ali coffee which has stopped the knife pains in my once broken leg and saved my friend's life when he was poisoned by an enemy agent in the jungle during the guerrilla war. She SMS to report that her legs are now warm and comfortable.
KH has bought a motorised lawnmower which annoys Mango next door who runs up and down barking at it furiously. He once got through the gate and got lost and was brought back by a Malaysia My Second Home woman who had it brought to her by the temple people down the road. She traced the owner via the licence tag and came in her car to make sure that she was was going to deliver him to his proper home.
The woman who bought No 1 down the road is very friendly and says she will visit us when she moves in after renovation is done. Always chit-chats when she parks her car near our gate. Latest we learn from her is that the doctor at the corner is moving to KL and is asking for $2 million for his house! The recession hasn't yet hit house prices yet you can see.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Pizzas and a rabbit
Certain rumours about Ingolf and morbid curiosity led us to his pub down the road Although a Tuesday it was full but lucky us, “John” gave us the big table in front which was “reserved” but unoccupied. “John” because when they come to work at Ingolf and they adopt English names; you never will know their real names. What is good about Ingolf is that the shop next door sells Williem II cigars and they are fresh. We spent a pleasant few hours there trying out the special German spaghetti with meat balls and had stout with cigars watching the other tables like old busybodies. At the next table four old English couples were enjoying wine and beer and happy conversation. I thought they were drinking a wee bit too much.
H Lay’s parents were crushed in their car when a man driving very fast jumped the road divider and went smack into their car. Mother had concussion and has just been discharged after hours of talking nonsense. Father is still in hospital with a broken arm and hip. The fire brigade had to do a lot of hacking to free him. A passer-by took a photo of the helpless father in the wrecked car and it won a prize of $50 from The Star. H Lay I discovered worships Wunderlich as I do so, I played one or two CDs for her. I also discovered that she has never heard of Bolet or Roget.
I wonder if you have heard the new woman pianist Yuja Wong and the new violin wonder boy, Sergey Kachatryan. Going through Edward Said’s collection of essays ‘Music at the Limits’ I find that in the comment on pianists in middle age he was highly critical of Azhkenazy.
A neighbour lost her pet rabbit and dropped a note into our letter box to ask that we keep a look out for it. The darling rabbit eventually found his way back home. The rabbit is lucky. My experience is that when they get lost they are killed at once by dogs
I have just heard that Mohan Appaduray, the Kuantan lawyer, has died. As I could not attend the court reference being in KL, the daughter has asked my to write something which I have done. The death brings back memories of happy whisky hours with him and Ten Chin Yong, his boss and later, partner. One of the things I recall is the eccentric Mr Justice Hashim being angry with a taxi whose noisy diesel taxi shattered the silence of his court. He had the police drag the poor man to the magistrate’s court. Fortunately for the fellow , those were the days ofudicial independence. The magistrate, ignoring the background of the story, found the taxi driver had done no wrong and acquitted him. Hashim, on being told of the outcome, just shook his head and is reported to have said "cheeky fellow!"
Those who have heard about the story of the Three Kingdoms but have delayed reading the fat volume will find the summary by Li Lienfung of a mere 160 pages a great introduction to the story She does translations of the poems as well. She finds Liu Bei a crafty and dishonest man. She also gives a bit of the background to the story, giving snippets now and then of real history.
In KL at the Park Royal Hotel I enjoyed the wood fired pizza which did not have that overwhelming tomato juice flavour that pizzas in Penang are impregnated with.
H Lay’s parents were crushed in their car when a man driving very fast jumped the road divider and went smack into their car. Mother had concussion and has just been discharged after hours of talking nonsense. Father is still in hospital with a broken arm and hip. The fire brigade had to do a lot of hacking to free him. A passer-by took a photo of the helpless father in the wrecked car and it won a prize of $50 from The Star. H Lay I discovered worships Wunderlich as I do so, I played one or two CDs for her. I also discovered that she has never heard of Bolet or Roget.
I wonder if you have heard the new woman pianist Yuja Wong and the new violin wonder boy, Sergey Kachatryan. Going through Edward Said’s collection of essays ‘Music at the Limits’ I find that in the comment on pianists in middle age he was highly critical of Azhkenazy.
A neighbour lost her pet rabbit and dropped a note into our letter box to ask that we keep a look out for it. The darling rabbit eventually found his way back home. The rabbit is lucky. My experience is that when they get lost they are killed at once by dogs
I have just heard that Mohan Appaduray, the Kuantan lawyer, has died. As I could not attend the court reference being in KL, the daughter has asked my to write something which I have done. The death brings back memories of happy whisky hours with him and Ten Chin Yong, his boss and later, partner. One of the things I recall is the eccentric Mr Justice Hashim being angry with a taxi whose noisy diesel taxi shattered the silence of his court. He had the police drag the poor man to the magistrate’s court. Fortunately for the fellow , those were the days ofudicial independence. The magistrate, ignoring the background of the story, found the taxi driver had done no wrong and acquitted him. Hashim, on being told of the outcome, just shook his head and is reported to have said "cheeky fellow!"
Those who have heard about the story of the Three Kingdoms but have delayed reading the fat volume will find the summary by Li Lienfung of a mere 160 pages a great introduction to the story She does translations of the poems as well. She finds Liu Bei a crafty and dishonest man. She also gives a bit of the background to the story, giving snippets now and then of real history.
In KL at the Park Royal Hotel I enjoyed the wood fired pizza which did not have that overwhelming tomato juice flavour that pizzas in Penang are impregnated with.
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