Trip Report III
I didn't asterisk phrases giving the sense of each paragraph this time. If anyone actually misses them, let me know.
It's the 12th July and I'm listening to the relaxing music of Helen McCrimmon with the soulful sounds of Peter Stacey playing in the background. I've got CDs by Helen McCrimmon, Peter Stacey (his mention above refers to his sax on Helen's CD), David Brinsmead & Ben Fink/King Clam (apart from Third Day, who I don't know personally). Talking of musical collaboration, the bass player on Helen & David Brinsmead's albums is Chris Patchett. Actually everyone involved in the making of both of those albums is a friend of mine as are most of the musos on Ben's.
My last comments about Australianisms were went to be directed to those who aren't native Australian speakers; and Prabhasa plays Badminton, not tennis.
Eating with hands again: apart from the other stuff, it's fun and you get to engage your sense of touch with your culinary experience.
Terengannu: The orders given from on high to every police station there is not to enforce any of the religious laws under any circumstances, even if they're charged with contempt of court by the religious authorities; which is encouraging, but it doesn't stop the religious authorities from using their own police. They have turtle watching there, which would have been nice to see. Now the papers are saying they're only going to enforce the Hudud laws on non-Muslims voluntarily. I can't see too many people volunteering to be flogged and thrown in prison for drinking. The Hudud prescribes stoning to death, amputation, or whipping for theft, robbery, illicit sex, false accusation of illicit sex, drinking liquor & apostasy. Qisas, or the law of retribution, says murder or causing injury results in a punishment of similar nature to the crime ("an eye for an eye" etc.). Some people are actually calling for crucifixion for apostasy.
If you've received a postcard from me, maybe you could keep it and when I get back I'll throw that long talked about Indian night, put my Tamil cooking skills to the test, get out my Jippa & put some Ragas on the CD player, pull out my pictures from the trip, and you can get a squiz at each others postcards and learn how to eat with your fingers.
In case you're wondering why I seem to have spent more time in Kuala Lumpur (KL) in Malls than anything else and none sight seeing, I've done a couple of tours of KL previously, seen rubber tapping, the pewter factory, the creepy-crawly factory (ash trays etc. with your worst nightmares embedded, such as scorpions & spiders), the batik factory, the national monument, the palace (which we couldn't go into), the national mosque, the old railway station (which I've seen from the inside on numerous occasions), the national museum (twice) and the Batu caves (although you can't go in the bottom cave with all the Hindu gods now, which is one of my most vivid memories of the visit when I was 7), and the KL Tower (you can't go up inside the Petronas Twin Towers). I've been to Malacca twice and checked out the old fort both times, seen the area with Buddhist temples, Hindu temples and churches a stones throw from each other (and yes, I went inside), seen a house set up in the traditional Malay style as a mini-museum with all their traditional clothing, ate Malaccan food (the combination of Malay & Chinese developed their own style, which used to be only found in Malacca, but there's a Malaccan restaurant in York St. behind the QVB in Sydney now), and seen the Dutch ship twice (but it was closed both times). I still plan to visit the national library and cultural centre and go out to watch fireflies on my next visit, not to mention Penang. I've heard the zoo in KL isn't worth seeing at the moment.
I've discovered that generally the less I spend on transport, the more people I talk to, and not knowing things (where to go or what 'ada orang' means on a toilet door) is a great conversation starter (it means occupied)(as in, I asked someone beside me what it meant, I didn't get into an accidental sudden quick heated conversation with the person inside :> ). Caught the night train to Johor Bahru (JB) and there were a group of backpackers doing a trip from Bangkok (BKK) to Singapore in the bunks next to mine. Got a couple of conversations out of that. Maybe I should add bring some light reading to my travel tips. If you do want to read it, someone else will. Also it's easier striking up conversations with people who are on their own.
On computers again: as I mentioned, Anu & Jega's was having various problems including not finding the hardware drivers at startup and re-loading them each time, and I hadn't taken any pictures until the last couple of days of being there so I didn't try and download the pictures from my camera while I was there. At Prim & Kuhan's there was no USB support; and now here at Sri & Eeswary's the camera isn't working (to download pictures anyway). Turned out the batteries were flat. Here's a little trick: I've been using this camera with flat batteries for over six months, just taking them out and swapping them around when-ever it stops working. So now it's worthwhile checking out , or if you can't see all the folders that are there (photos is a sub-set of briefcase). Sometimes I log on and some or all of the folders containing the photos are missing, in which case try the other address or try logging back in again.
Mark commented that when he knew me (he's been out of Australia for several years) it would have taken me weeks to put together an email as long as the ones I keep sending out. I remember I used to love email because I could give an intelligent reply to something without people knowing it took me 2 weeks to write, which was usually a couple of paragraphs. On the Wednesday before I left Australia I saw professor John Dwyer (my CFS specialist, the top guy in Australia and one of the best in the world), and he threw some more light on what's going on in my body. My immune system is like an army with no leadership; it's fighting itself and the rest of my body and wasting huge amounts of energy doing so. There are certain immune cells that tell the others what to do. A few years ago I had very few, now I'm just somewhat below normal. It's as I get more of these cells that I'm getting better.
I continue to eat ridiculous quantities of food. I can't say I'm eating like a horse because no horse ever ate this well. On the other hand I'm walking more than I ever have in my life, so maybe I'll end up not gaining or losing weight, but being a bit fitter with more muscle bulk than fat (I hope). So much for that thought (it's now 18th July, By The Way [BTW] this email is almost in chronological order). I'm blowing up like a balloon. Time to cut back on the eating.
On Thursday night I got the night train to JB and remembered my uncle Sri telling me last time to make sure I got a bottom bunk as there's heaps more room - as I climbed into my tiny top bunk. Actually I've been told before about getting the airport limousine from KL airport and not the private taxis as well. I've now been ripped off by taxis 4 times, and although only 1 of those was in a private cab (I didn't get those after the first time), the proper taxis only take me for a few ringgit, not the RM 50 the private cab got out of me above the airport limousine price. I'll have to get into the habit of making sure they have their meter on every time I get into a cab. What's really annoying about it is I sometimes tip more than they rip me off for if I get a good conversation (I always tip, having driven cabs however briefly & found it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, although I did have CFS and was just coming down with non-specific liver disease, just after Rama died, at the time). A good conversation and they'd have made more than by not switching their meter on and I'd feel good instead of angry. Don't know how I'm going to handle Egypt. From the sounds of it I'll not only need prayer about not getting ripped off, but also not to get too angry when it happens.
Got into JB Friday morning and had a rest before going to where my uncle works and joining him for lunch, then coming back and doing some computer stuff. Did some shopping when he got in and we all went out for dinner. Saturday and I did some computer stuff in the morning, then we (uncle Sri, auntie Eeswary & myself, as well as Eeswary’s cousin Sivalingam, his wife & their son) drove to Kluang, got a bite to eat and went to the reception. By the time Siva's son & I got a bit lost finding the hotel, then Eeswary & her cousin in law got a bit lost, then they had given Sivalingam's son & myself a room with 1 double bed, we were 1/2 an hour late. Then Eeswary forgot her purse, Sri got a bit lost getting out of town, then he forgot his present, and we were a bit over an hour late to the reception, which was at a really nice place with a waterfall in the background. After everyone left we went back into town and went to a cafe. Sunday we went out for breakfast, then Sivalingam & his family went back to Singapore and Sri, Eeswary & myself dropped in on Paramasivan's house for lunch with the bridal party and some of their friends. Sri & Eeswary went back to JB & I stayed on. Uncle Param (who is actually my dad's cousin) & I went visiting in the evening. Monday Paramasivan took the day off work and we took it easy and went visiting in the afternoon/evening with some of my dad's old school friends. Tuesday I went out to the palm oil plantation where he works, saw his clinic, the palm oil crusher, the banana packing, and we went visiting some of auntie Jennie's friends (she is also called auntie Janaky) in the evening. Wednesday I rested and caught the bus back to JB in the evening. Today (Thursday) I was going to go to Singapore but I was so tired after going out to the palm oil plantation even though I got a lot of rest that day and on the days around it that I decided Singapore was too much, so I stayed home & put the photos on the web and worked on this email.
I love catching up with people who knew my dad before he got his tumour. When I was 1 1/2 a tumour started growing in his head which caused temporal lobe epilepsy, so before I had gotten to know my dad as he was he suffered a permanent change to his personality, so I keep hearing about this man from my mum and his old friends and relatives who I didn't have the chance to get to know. This is why I don't see his death as tragic, he was so sick for so long and now he's free to be himself, and I will get the chance to get to know him as he is, without the effects of the tumour (indeed, without any of the detrimental effects of this world). That I bonded with him before it happened is evident in that I always had a closer relationship with dad then Rama did, who was born after he had already changed.
This afternoon I'll get my ticket on the Saturday morning train to KL if possible. Although the night train in a bottom bunk is good as you sleep your way there I'd like to see the view from the train. Failing that (it's a very popular train), the Friday night train. Saturday is Tara's birthday, so I'll get to see a few people I haven't seen in a while. Sunday I'll catch up with Suren & most of Monday will be spent in BKK, settling in to the Youth Hostel, checking out the area & finding the best ways to and from the centre of town.
Blessings,
Joe Krishna Mithiran :-)
It's the 12th July and I'm listening to the relaxing music of Helen McCrimmon with the soulful sounds of Peter Stacey playing in the background. I've got CDs by Helen McCrimmon, Peter Stacey (his mention above refers to his sax on Helen's CD), David Brinsmead & Ben Fink/King Clam (apart from Third Day, who I don't know personally). Talking of musical collaboration, the bass player on Helen & David Brinsmead's albums is Chris Patchett. Actually everyone involved in the making of both of those albums is a friend of mine as are most of the musos on Ben's.
My last comments about Australianisms were went to be directed to those who aren't native Australian speakers; and Prabhasa plays Badminton, not tennis.
Eating with hands again: apart from the other stuff, it's fun and you get to engage your sense of touch with your culinary experience.
Terengannu: The orders given from on high to every police station there is not to enforce any of the religious laws under any circumstances, even if they're charged with contempt of court by the religious authorities; which is encouraging, but it doesn't stop the religious authorities from using their own police. They have turtle watching there, which would have been nice to see. Now the papers are saying they're only going to enforce the Hudud laws on non-Muslims voluntarily. I can't see too many people volunteering to be flogged and thrown in prison for drinking. The Hudud prescribes stoning to death, amputation, or whipping for theft, robbery, illicit sex, false accusation of illicit sex, drinking liquor & apostasy. Qisas, or the law of retribution, says murder or causing injury results in a punishment of similar nature to the crime ("an eye for an eye" etc.). Some people are actually calling for crucifixion for apostasy.
If you've received a postcard from me, maybe you could keep it and when I get back I'll throw that long talked about Indian night, put my Tamil cooking skills to the test, get out my Jippa & put some Ragas on the CD player, pull out my pictures from the trip, and you can get a squiz at each others postcards and learn how to eat with your fingers.
In case you're wondering why I seem to have spent more time in Kuala Lumpur (KL) in Malls than anything else and none sight seeing, I've done a couple of tours of KL previously, seen rubber tapping, the pewter factory, the creepy-crawly factory (ash trays etc. with your worst nightmares embedded, such as scorpions & spiders), the batik factory, the national monument, the palace (which we couldn't go into), the national mosque, the old railway station (which I've seen from the inside on numerous occasions), the national museum (twice) and the Batu caves (although you can't go in the bottom cave with all the Hindu gods now, which is one of my most vivid memories of the visit when I was 7), and the KL Tower (you can't go up inside the Petronas Twin Towers). I've been to Malacca twice and checked out the old fort both times, seen the area with Buddhist temples, Hindu temples and churches a stones throw from each other (and yes, I went inside), seen a house set up in the traditional Malay style as a mini-museum with all their traditional clothing, ate Malaccan food (the combination of Malay & Chinese developed their own style, which used to be only found in Malacca, but there's a Malaccan restaurant in York St. behind the QVB in Sydney now), and seen the Dutch ship twice (but it was closed both times). I still plan to visit the national library and cultural centre and go out to watch fireflies on my next visit, not to mention Penang. I've heard the zoo in KL isn't worth seeing at the moment.
I've discovered that generally the less I spend on transport, the more people I talk to, and not knowing things (where to go or what 'ada orang' means on a toilet door) is a great conversation starter (it means occupied)(as in, I asked someone beside me what it meant, I didn't get into an accidental sudden quick heated conversation with the person inside :> ). Caught the night train to Johor Bahru (JB) and there were a group of backpackers doing a trip from Bangkok (BKK) to Singapore in the bunks next to mine. Got a couple of conversations out of that. Maybe I should add bring some light reading to my travel tips. If you do want to read it, someone else will. Also it's easier striking up conversations with people who are on their own.
On computers again: as I mentioned, Anu & Jega's was having various problems including not finding the hardware drivers at startup and re-loading them each time, and I hadn't taken any pictures until the last couple of days of being there so I didn't try and download the pictures from my camera while I was there. At Prim & Kuhan's there was no USB support; and now here at Sri & Eeswary's the camera isn't working (to download pictures anyway). Turned out the batteries were flat. Here's a little trick: I've been using this camera with flat batteries for over six months, just taking them out and swapping them around when-ever it stops working. So now it's worthwhile checking out , or if you can't see all the folders that are there (photos is a sub-set of briefcase). Sometimes I log on and some or all of the folders containing the photos are missing, in which case try the other address or try logging back in again.
Mark commented that when he knew me (he's been out of Australia for several years) it would have taken me weeks to put together an email as long as the ones I keep sending out. I remember I used to love email because I could give an intelligent reply to something without people knowing it took me 2 weeks to write, which was usually a couple of paragraphs. On the Wednesday before I left Australia I saw professor John Dwyer (my CFS specialist, the top guy in Australia and one of the best in the world), and he threw some more light on what's going on in my body. My immune system is like an army with no leadership; it's fighting itself and the rest of my body and wasting huge amounts of energy doing so. There are certain immune cells that tell the others what to do. A few years ago I had very few, now I'm just somewhat below normal. It's as I get more of these cells that I'm getting better.
I continue to eat ridiculous quantities of food. I can't say I'm eating like a horse because no horse ever ate this well. On the other hand I'm walking more than I ever have in my life, so maybe I'll end up not gaining or losing weight, but being a bit fitter with more muscle bulk than fat (I hope). So much for that thought (it's now 18th July, By The Way [BTW] this email is almost in chronological order). I'm blowing up like a balloon. Time to cut back on the eating.
On Thursday night I got the night train to JB and remembered my uncle Sri telling me last time to make sure I got a bottom bunk as there's heaps more room - as I climbed into my tiny top bunk. Actually I've been told before about getting the airport limousine from KL airport and not the private taxis as well. I've now been ripped off by taxis 4 times, and although only 1 of those was in a private cab (I didn't get those after the first time), the proper taxis only take me for a few ringgit, not the RM 50 the private cab got out of me above the airport limousine price. I'll have to get into the habit of making sure they have their meter on every time I get into a cab. What's really annoying about it is I sometimes tip more than they rip me off for if I get a good conversation (I always tip, having driven cabs however briefly & found it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, although I did have CFS and was just coming down with non-specific liver disease, just after Rama died, at the time). A good conversation and they'd have made more than by not switching their meter on and I'd feel good instead of angry. Don't know how I'm going to handle Egypt. From the sounds of it I'll not only need prayer about not getting ripped off, but also not to get too angry when it happens.
Got into JB Friday morning and had a rest before going to where my uncle works and joining him for lunch, then coming back and doing some computer stuff. Did some shopping when he got in and we all went out for dinner. Saturday and I did some computer stuff in the morning, then we (uncle Sri, auntie Eeswary & myself, as well as Eeswary’s cousin Sivalingam, his wife & their son) drove to Kluang, got a bite to eat and went to the reception. By the time Siva's son & I got a bit lost finding the hotel, then Eeswary & her cousin in law got a bit lost, then they had given Sivalingam's son & myself a room with 1 double bed, we were 1/2 an hour late. Then Eeswary forgot her purse, Sri got a bit lost getting out of town, then he forgot his present, and we were a bit over an hour late to the reception, which was at a really nice place with a waterfall in the background. After everyone left we went back into town and went to a cafe. Sunday we went out for breakfast, then Sivalingam & his family went back to Singapore and Sri, Eeswary & myself dropped in on Paramasivan's house for lunch with the bridal party and some of their friends. Sri & Eeswary went back to JB & I stayed on. Uncle Param (who is actually my dad's cousin) & I went visiting in the evening. Monday Paramasivan took the day off work and we took it easy and went visiting in the afternoon/evening with some of my dad's old school friends. Tuesday I went out to the palm oil plantation where he works, saw his clinic, the palm oil crusher, the banana packing, and we went visiting some of auntie Jennie's friends (she is also called auntie Janaky) in the evening. Wednesday I rested and caught the bus back to JB in the evening. Today (Thursday) I was going to go to Singapore but I was so tired after going out to the palm oil plantation even though I got a lot of rest that day and on the days around it that I decided Singapore was too much, so I stayed home & put the photos on the web and worked on this email.
I love catching up with people who knew my dad before he got his tumour. When I was 1 1/2 a tumour started growing in his head which caused temporal lobe epilepsy, so before I had gotten to know my dad as he was he suffered a permanent change to his personality, so I keep hearing about this man from my mum and his old friends and relatives who I didn't have the chance to get to know. This is why I don't see his death as tragic, he was so sick for so long and now he's free to be himself, and I will get the chance to get to know him as he is, without the effects of the tumour (indeed, without any of the detrimental effects of this world). That I bonded with him before it happened is evident in that I always had a closer relationship with dad then Rama did, who was born after he had already changed.
This afternoon I'll get my ticket on the Saturday morning train to KL if possible. Although the night train in a bottom bunk is good as you sleep your way there I'd like to see the view from the train. Failing that (it's a very popular train), the Friday night train. Saturday is Tara's birthday, so I'll get to see a few people I haven't seen in a while. Sunday I'll catch up with Suren & most of Monday will be spent in BKK, settling in to the Youth Hostel, checking out the area & finding the best ways to and from the centre of town.
Blessings,
Joe Krishna Mithiran :-)
posted by Joe at
Friday, July 12, 2002
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