Not-so-great Britain

Tuesday January 25, 2011

CERITALAH By KARIM RASLAN

Malaysia can take a leaf from what’s ailing Britain today, though the challenges Malaysia faces are not so deep-rooted. If we wish to grow and develop, we will need to avoid the pitfalls of the British

THE Malay elite (including myself) have long viewed London as their second home. We’ve tended to see Britain through rose-tinted lenses – following in the footsteps of the nation’s founding fathers, Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak.

Karim Raslan

The pound sterling’s current depreciation has enhanced the love affair, as we’re now enjoying more bang for our buck at Selfridges and Harrods. For us, England is unchanging and unchanged: it’s what we want it to be because we’re not too interested in what it has become or is becoming.In reality, contemporary Britain is a society in crisis, slowly crumbling under the weight of mismanagement, its faltering economy and its misplaced post-Imperial ambitions – witness Tony Blair’s unconvincing performance at the latest hearing of the Chilcot Inquiry on Iraq. The facts are disturbing enough: 2010 inflation figures are mounting with Retail Prices Index at 4.8% and Consumer Price Index at 3.7%. Meanwhile, VAT (or sales tax) has been raised to 20% from this year.
As I write, unemployment stands at a staggering 2.5 million, of which 951,000 are accounted for by people under the age of 25 – that’s roughly one in five of the country’s younger generation. Moreover, these figures are set to worsen as the full impact of the coalition government’s austerity plans take root. With an economy wedded to consumption, an anaemic manufacturing sector and crippled finances, Britain’s once lavishly funded welfare state is no longer sustainable. Furthermore, despite the riots that roiled London last month, free tertiary education will soon be history – all of which will only worsen the country’s existing gap between rich and poor. It’s arguable that Britain’s class wars have been re-ignited by the collapse of the once booming property market.
With Central London prices insulated by foreigner-led demand in exclusive enclaves such as Knights­bridge, Chelsea, St. Johns Wood, the differences between the ordinary man-on-the-street and the wealthy are heightened. Indeed, last week’s launch of One Hyde Park – the luxurious 86 apartments developed by the Candy Brothers in Knightsbridge underlines Britain’s ironic situation: luxuriousness amid straightened circumstances.
London is fast becoming a hub for the global elite – Russian oligarchs, Arab oil sheikhs, Chinese and Indian billionaires – as an increasingly impoverished English population make do in the suburbs and economically blighted North, Northwest, Scotland and Wales, indeed almost everywhere except Central London.
All is not gloom, however.
Preparations for the 2012 Olym­pics will provide an inevitable boost to the national spirit as will the highly anticipated Prince William/Kate Middleton nuptials. Sadly, sports events and royal weddings don’t feed people or keep them in their homes as house repossession rates continue to spiral. At the same time, household disposable income (according to the retail analysts Verdict) is set to fall by up to 9.1% between 2010 and 2015. This gloomy prediction is mirrored by the situation on Britain’s high streets where the vacancy rate will surpass 15% this year, according to the Local Data Company. Smaller towns such as Margate and Rotherham are experiencing a vacancy rate equivalent to one shuttered shop for every three that are utilised.
Is there a fundamental shift afoot? Could it be that Napoleon’s nation of shopkeepers is no more? With the added impact of the Internet hastening the process, British high streets are changing forever as pawn brokers and betting shops replace banks, property agents and retail outlets. Even the corner pub is fast disappearing.
In the face of such challenging contemporary problems, history has become a comforting refuge. The Empire and the Second World War are lode stars amid the all-pervasive melancholia.
Indeed, the current box office favourite, The King’s Speech, a movie set in 1939 on the eve of war exemplifies the country’s backward-looking mood. Wallowing in past glories has permitted the British a momentary respite. They can forget about their present frailties and, indeed, mediocrity. Sadly, it’s also distracted them from the urgency to act – to confront reality and institute real, deep-rooted reforms.
So, as the Malay elite plan for their holidays in London, let’s hope they can see Britain’s weaknesses – its frailties in the face of global socio-economic changes. The challenges facing Malaysia are severe, if not so deep-rooted as Britain’s. Certainly, if we wish to grow and develop, we will need to avoid the pitfalls of the British.
Britain’s successive leaders have neglected to address their country’s lagging economy and are now paying the price as they scramble to rebuild their industrial capabilities.
Similarly, Malaysian leaders have to address our economic malaise. How do we adapt to a world where we are a mere minnow? At the same time, we have to end our version of the welfare state – the NEP. The combination of policies, while beneficial and laudable at first, has now become a real threat to our economic livelihood and our future. If we choose not to tackle the NEP, future generations will suffer for our present-day timidity.
Of course, all this requires real guts. Will we learn from Britain’s or will we be doomed to follow our former colonial masters into a slow decline?

P.S. Will be indulging a little bit of nostalgia and British monarchy tonight. Many thanks to my friendly DVD peddler in Econsave! - The King's Speech, a multi-award nominee....

Interlok controversy

Tuesday January 25, 2011

ARTICLES OF LAW

By BHAG SINGH

When a word used is found to be offensive, the circumstances surrounding its usage and the community involved need to be considered.

ONCE again a controversy has erupted arising out of a word in a book that some see as offensive and unacceptable, while others see it as harmless. Those who complain and object to the use of the word in the book are concerned about the negative implications and effect of the word. After all the Oxford Dictionary gives its meaning as a person who is not acceptable to society and is avoided by everyone.

However, the use of the word deserves a more detailed consideration. As was said by Raja Azlan Shah many years ago as the judge in the case of Public Prosecutor v Ooi Kee Siak & Ors: “A meaningful understanding of the right of freedom of speech under the Constitution must be based on the realities of the Malaysian society”. Of course, his lordship was concerned about a case relating to sedition as was Ong CJ in the case of Melan Bin Abdullah who pointed out that our concept of sedition went beyond the common law concept and our law gives a new and perhaps highly artificial meaning to what used to be considered as a seditious tendency.

And some 40 years ago, when speaking of the broader aspects of the Constitutional Amendment Bill relating to Sedition, the then Prime Minister was concerned with this aspect and had said that “the amendments are intended to remove certain sensitive issues”. The now 91-year-old novelist Datuk Abdullah Hussain, who has more than once been declared Sasterawan Negara, in an exclusive interview with Mingguan MStar said he wrote the novel some 40 years ago and explained his reasons and intentions as well as sincerity in writing the book, including the context in which it was done. He explains that the word pariah is not used to belittle or insult the Indian community. His statement that the book was written with care and sincerity and in the hope that the novel would become a point of reference for society, is not doubted.

Good intention

I do not think that anyone would take the view that he meant to belittle or insult the Indian community. It needs to be accepted that what was written was with good intention, and in honesty and sincerity, with malice to none. The book has obviously been around for some 40 years with no one having complained about it. However, 40 years later at a point in time when the book is made a text to be read by all Form 5 students, it has given rise to con­­tro­­­­­versy. So what is the problem?

It is here that the matter takes a different complexion involving different considerations. The generation to which the novelist belongs and the time and circumstances in which it was written were different. There was then real interaction between the different races which had mutual respect for one another. Despite the serious and valiant efforts of our leaders to promote racial harmony and good relations, the population has, due to a variety of factors and policies adopted, whatever the wisdom or otherwise, become racially more polarised.

There is a bigger pool among the young and not-so-young population who have not been adequately exposed to individuals of different races or religions. There are many young people who for much of their lives have not even set down to have a cup of tea or coffee with a person of a different race or religion. Therefore, what is at issue here is a generation that does not have the same understanding or attitude towards each other, when they are of a different race and religion. Hence the ability to appreciate or understand the spirit in which the novel seeks to convey the messages, is somehow missing.

While the subject at hand arising out of the use of the word “pariah” needs to be carefully dealt with, it is also naive, on the part of those justifying its use, to merely rely on the dictionary meaning of the word. Dictionaries are after all meant to give the basic and possible different meanings that a word can convey. However, when the word is used in a particular context, its importance is not only in the dictionary meaning which one chooses but the message that is conveyed in the context of its use. The same applies to phrases.

One simple example is the word “village”. Would it be offensive or acceptable to say to someone: “Go back to your village!”? In some countries, a village is a backward, unhealthy and un­­­­­­­­­­pleasant place to stay in because of the poor quality of life. On the other hand, in certain countries, a village is a pleasant, healthy and prestigious place to stay in. Thus the same statement used in one country or in one society could be a source of insult or embarrassment, and in another a reason to feel pleased and proud on hearing of it. The same is true of the word “prostitute”. As a noun, it is used to mean a person who has sex for money. On the other hand, as a verb, it refers to a person who uses his skills and abilities to do things that help in earning money but other people do not respect the person because such a person is capable of doing something better.

Conclusion

Therefore, the controversy that has arisen is something that our leaders need to address in the context of the circumstances of our own society. Its use may not necessarily be technically seditious but there are numerous legal provisions in codes, laws and regulations which seek to prevent use of words that are otherwise offensive. It is hoped that our leaders in their wisdom will be able to have this grievance addressed in a satisfactory manner. After all, the complaint is not about the existence of the book but its use as a text for a generation whose mindset is different from that which existed at the time the book was written.

In doing so, it would be good to bear in mind the words of Tan Sri Ghazali Jawi during a debate in Parliament some 40 years ago: He said: “What needs to be discussed are the opinions and ideas which can create a just society in our beloved country. We need to bring forth ideas to overcome this problem in the interest of our future generation. We do not want the future generation to jeer at the present one because we have failed to provide a firm footing for them.”

The ballad of Amoi and Thangachi*

We finally collected the framed picture from Ms Loh's shop. Over the years, we have seen Ms Loh mature and prosper from a petite 17 year old girl who started working as a clerk in a shop which made photo frames and mirrors. After learning the nooks and corners of the business while working in the same premises over the past 10 years, she has finally opened a new shop after renting a shop lot in a new housing estate. Ms Loh is now running the business with her husband also giving a helping hand. She seems quite excited about the business and we wish her all the best for her boldness in entering the field shark eat shark world of business!

Ms Laxmi who also completed her studies at the same year as Ms Loh. Not performing as well as she should to continue her studies; she started to work as an assistant nurse in a clinic. Over the next 10 years, she got hitched, started her family, become a mother of 3 children but remained put in her place of employment (her employer is so nice!), performing the same job but with more experience but a leader among her peers. Her salary has increased marginally to commensurate her years of faithful employment but she sees herself at a sort of dead end. She would probably be doing the same job till she decides to call it quits.

Here you can see the different paths taken by two individuals after secondary education. One has become an entrepreneur of sorts whilst the other remains contended with her simple job. We have seen many Ms Lohs and Ms Laxmis in daily lives.

People who are not bold enough to improve their living standards or are constantly expecting handouts from the others or living on self-pity will and are always complaining that the Government is not doing enough to help them or that the community is not doing enough to help their ethnic group. At the end of the day, the western movies’ words of wisdom come to mind – ‘a man got to do what a man got to do’.

*The controversial Beatles' last No. 1 song in the UK. Recoreded in 1969 by Lennon and McCartney while Harrison and Starr were on leave! Lennon played the guitar and McCartney played drums! Several US radio stations declined to broadcast the song because of what they saw as sacrilegious use of the words Christ and crucify in the lyrics:

The release of this song marked the beginning of the end of the era of the Beatles!

Christ, you know it ain’t easy,

You know how hard it can be,

The way things are going,

They’re gonna crucify me.              "

Interlocking horns over 'Intelok'

So, the curious cat in me, even though by the Chinese zodiac I am a tame rabbit, took the better of me to indulge in a little of culture. Anyway, myriad of folks of different walk of life have had their 2sens' worth of input of this topic. Ministers are having emergency sittings to discuss it, attention seekers are burning the book (like the Chinese did in the Cultural Revolution), aspiring politicians rather spend a night in jail than hanging around Batu Caves fulfilling their religious vows and so on and so forth.
I am talking about the introduction of the book 'Intelok' for the Form 5 Malay Literature. This book was actually written way back in 1971 by a Malaysian laureate, Abdullah Hussain. Nobody had heard (at least I have not) of him since this brouhaha. Most Malaysians know A. Samad Said and Shanon Ahmad, but Abdullah who?
Literature has never been my forte since school. 'The 20,000 leagues under the sea' and 'King Solomon's mines' that I studied  in school did and still appear Greek to me even though it was meant to be for English Literature! Tamil proverbs say, 'Appreciation of arts and culture comes only after a full stomach'.Hence, with a background like Rifle Range Boy's, one should not expect him to appreciate the finer things in life! With affluence comes appreciation of arts, culture and couture!
Right.
So , I finally laid hands on the said book to have first hand experience to understand the ruckus that it had created. It is actually an average book with no so high in the scale of literary value. I tend to compare it the last Malaysian laureate's  penning that I read in 1998, 'Shit...' by Shanon Ahmad, a political satire on the then Prime Minister's cabinet. Imagine, reading an author's artistic skillful rendition and personification of the human excretion and its passage via the alimentary canal over and over again in a 100 over paged little book!

[Warning: Spoiler alert]

The book is basically made up of 4 chapters.

The  first chapter introduces Seman. At death bed, he hears his dying father’s dark secret. His father mentions that their seemingly well to do family is actually in tatters, financially speaking. (This gives a new meaning to the phrase ‘mention in the passing’!) Seman is well versed in reciting the Koran but actually an illiterate to Roman scripts. He soon discovers that his house, farm together with its animals and produce belong to a shrewd Chinese shopkeeper (Cina Panjang) in a nearby town who shows him some documents that his father had borrowed large amounts of money. Cing Huat, who appeared warm and cordial when his family used to take groceries from the shop earlier, now demands for the land to be leased to others to make more money. Seman, infuriated, almost goes amok and leaves the village with his mother mysteriously. 

The second chapter dwells on Cing Huat (a 10 year old lad) and his father who had to escape the clutches of poverty in Southern China. After repeated failure of crops, the latest being locusts’ attack on the padi fields, they migrate leaving the mother and sister behind after seeing a fellow villager becomes successful in the land down south. The story narrates their escapade of venturing new towns, the high seas, motion sickness and finally their final destination, Singapore. Description of the journey details their peculiar eating habits of the Chinese like eating locusts, liberal vivid description of hanging pork meat in the port town of Amoy, their liberal consumption of cheap alcoholic brew, cheating and gambling. The zest for better life sees Cing Huat and his father perform many menial jobs like trishaw pulling, night soil attending, working day and night in a restaurant and any other way just to earn money to send back home. After many ups and downs, they managed to buy over a sundry shop. Their business prospers with their dedication. His father has a mistress, indulges in opium and subsequently succumbs to his addiction. Cing Huat inherits the shop and becomes a nasty businessman due to the bitter experiences he endured in his life. Cing Huat is actually the Cina Panjang mentioned in Chapter 1. By this time, you get the feeling that the book is becoming very racial in outlook. Unnecessary detailing of pork in its text is evident. During the wedding dinner, for no obvious reason, the author writes about pork filled dumplings. Throughout Chapter 2, Caucasians are only referred to as ‘Syaitan Putih’ (White Devil), from the ship captain to Cing Huat’s father’s customers in Singapore. Everybody (other than Malays) is referred as kuai (ghost) – Malai kuai and Indo kuai.  A lot of racial stereotyping and profiling is clear. Chinese appear suspicious about everybody, including their own flesh and blood. They are made uncomfortable with Chinese of different dialects (Hakka, Kwangtung, and etcetera). They glorify the Chinese education system and their motherland repeatedly. Cing Huat’s second son, Yew Seng,  (many years later) is reprimanded by Cing Huat for not following his family traits but rather found solace in mixing with his Malay neighbours, fearing that their laziness will inflict him as well! Chapter 2 ends with a family feud where Yew Seng accuses the father of being inhumane for depriving Seman of a roof over his head. Yew Seng then runs away from home.

Chapter 3 is the chapter that has got a lot of people excited, creating a mountain out of a molehill. The excerpt of the infamous verse goes like this…                                 

SS Rajula

 “……..Di dalam kapal ini dia tidak susah. Sebahagian besar daripada penumpang dek yang bersama-sama itu dapat bercakap dalam satu bahasa sahaja, bahasa Tamil. Mereka yang dari arah ke utara sedikit bercakap dalam bahasa Malayalam atau Telugu, tetapi hampir semuanya tahu bahasa Tamil. Malayalam dan Telugu pun berasal dari satu rumpun bahasa Dravida. Satu perkara besar yang membuatkan mereka senang bergaul kerana mereka tergolong dalam satu kasta Pariah. Mereka tidak perlu takut akan mengotori sesiapa kalau bersentuhan. Mereka juga bebas bergaul. Tempat di dalam kapal itu tidak teratur. Mereka terasak-asak seperti kambing……”

The third installment is the story of Maniam. After facing financial difficulties in Kerala, India, he heads to Malaya leaving his young wife back home. He lands in Penang and works hard as a coolie in the harbor, diligently sending money back home. He later hears from a new arrival that his money never reached his wife and due to poverty, his wife remarried a rich man who in fact was supposed to hand the money to his wife! Hey, this sounds like the story line of the Tamil movie, ‘Koondu Kili’ – the only movie where Tamil movie legends MGR and Sivaji acted together. If fact, many of the scenes narrated in ‘Intelok’ seem to have Indian movie flavor in it. Feeling distraught and embarrassed by the devastating news,  he moves down from Penang to the Peninsular and gains employment in a coconut plantation and marries the daughter of his foreman, without revealing too much about his marital history. Things were going fine till one of his former acquaintances lands up in the same plantation. (Coincidences, Tamil movie or what?).  He spilled the beans on his previous marriage and added more masala to it that Maniam had willing absconded from his ailing wife. A quarrel ensues and the plantation community decides that Maniam should leave.  (More melodrama…) So Maniam leaves his gravid wife (he had sow his oats earlier!) in the care of his father in law.  As Maniam leaves the estate,  he is assaulted by his enemies but is rescued by Seman’s father. A special bond starts. They become good friends, work together for some time before parting ways. Three years on, Maniam’s wife, now with a son (Ramakrisynan) discovers his innocence and there is a possibility that she could have committed suicide!

Merdeka!

The final chapter is basically the story of how these 3 characters becomes intertwined -  20 years on, Maniam helps Seman and his mother to get a job in a plantation; Yew Seng (Cing Huat’s second son) gain employment in a tin mine and joins Anti Japanese resistance force to free his mother land from foreign invaders. He later joins the Communist to rid of British off Malaya; Seman marries a rich bride and his reputation in society is restored; Ramakrisyna (Maniam’s son) becomes a police officer to restore peace and order in the country. The Japanese occupation of Malaya in World War II unites the various races in the country and after their departure; the call for Independence grows louder with various inputs from various communities.  Just like a melodramatic Indian movie of the 70s (e.g. Sholay, Yaadon Ki Baraat, Haathi Mere Saathi), a lot things happen in the last chapter. The characters in the story resigned to the idea of Malaya as their Motherland. They take pride in running the country and integrating with other races. Yew Seng, realizing his wayward ways, turns into a turncoat, double-crosses the Communists who are later apprehended by Ramakrisyna and his team. The book ends with Seman, Yew Seng (who had an above-knee amputation in his endeavour to expose the enemy) and Ramakrisyna planning a trip to the capital city to usher the Independence of their young nation. This chapter alone nullifies all the negative connotations that the author had earlier publicized.

 One has look at the bigger picture, rather than looking with rather jaundiced eyes at the small trivial issues. There are more negative things written about the Chinese but we do not see them raising an issue –does this denote maturity?  The feel good feeling that seeps into the story may act as lubricant for its readers to appreciate the sacrifices that our forefathers had done for our present prosperity.

Joint effort 1949 Thomas Cup

My final verdict for the uproar on this book is there is nothing to get upset about. Of course, he could have omitted a few unnecessary parts. Of course, the Ministry could have chosen other books of Malay language with literary value. You can also say that the 17 years olds may not be mature enough to look at the bigger, but that is precisely the reason in learning Literature – to mature one’s mind. This book brings forth to our minds our prejudiced past with its discriminative policies with no feelings towards peoples’ feelings!

Multi-ethnic 70s Malaysian team

We sneered when the ulamaks in Iran passed a decree on Salman Rushdie’s head when he published the ‘Satanic Verses’ and when some crackpots demonstrated after the Norwegian caricature of Prophet Mohammad. It would not take long for the same ridicule by others for our recent actions. 

Unfriendly Welcome!

The eyes of a killer?

The past two events over the past two months really leaves a bad after taste in the mouth. I am talking about the Cameron Highlands bus tragedy killing 28 Thai tourists and the ruthless mauling of a Irish voluntary helper  by two mongrels in an organic farm in Penang. Just as fast the news was publicized, the predictable knee-jerk type reached its climax.  Most Malaysians are lull to these responses (no sense of deja vu here!) as these actions and reactions are so predictable. Comments like 'we would look into the matter', 'no stones would be left unturned', 'the findings would be made public' or 'a royal inquiry would be set up' are sine-qua-non as press statements of officials after a national catastrophe. It has been going on from the days of Highland Towers tragedy and will go on. Just like the croaking of toads after a torrential rainfall, silence would fall after the crescendo and it can quite deafening at times!
Just like that it is now status quo, tourist bus will still ply the Thailand to Cameron Highlands route and the organic farm will still prosper will the fallen blood droplet of an Irishman!

Waltzing Matilda

Just like in Edinburgh, I found the workers in Melbourne showing great dedication in their work (profession), (i.e. if and when they decided to work). In Edinburgh, (whilst gazing out my window between my preparation for my exams), I was particularly impressed to see how the sanitation department employees, i.e. rubbish collectors, actually placed the lid back on after disposing off the garbage and also putting back the bin at its designated place. This is a far cry from what we have in Malaysia, where blue collar workers of crony owned companies originating from third world countries of the lowest rung of the ladder trying to impart their brand of work ethics here. Evidence of the garbage truck having done their round need not be guessed as it and its workers would have left an apparent trail of evidence - bits of trash strewn around, garbage bins and lids all over and 'aroma' from leachete left dripping from the truck to deodorize the Taman!

Over Great Ocean Rd

In that aspect, I was totally taken by the enthusiasm shown by a Greyline tour bus operator, Daryll, who took us on trip along the Great Ocean Road off Melbourne. Carrying a passenger load of 60, he single-handedly swerved along the winding coastal road whilst giving a complete running commentary all along, stopping at selected photo shoot areas, doing a head count after passenger alighted the bus after each stop, and even preparing Aussie tea with eucalyptus leaves for morning tea. And the best part is his commentary was not just for the sake of imparting information. It was laced with clever witty lines with lots of historical and even medical stuff that a Malaysian would not expect his average bus driver to know. He was narrating about the construction of the coastal road (Great Ocean Road). At a time when economy was down just after the first World War, many disillusioned Australian soldiers returned with what would be termed today as post traumatic stress (I did not expect this from a non-medical personnel). To stimulate the economy, this soldiers were sent off to work on the great roads. The evening gathering over the fire and catharsis provided a kind of group therapy to these sufferers. Of course, this story was laced with many funny anecdotes and smart remarks to last over 1hour. In between his story he would interrupt with information of sunken ships and the events that led to its sinking, about somebody's grave, how it was supposed to be relocated but the road went on his grave anyway, about the Twelve apostles and so on and so forth.

Twelve Apostles?

On the way back from the 12 apostles was time for dissemination of Australian culture. Before screening an Australian movie on the bus TV, he gave a 1 hour rendition of his interpretation of the truly Aussie song- Waltzing Matilda. Let me try to recall... (with Daryll's comment beside the lyrics)


Lyrics to Waltzing Matilda :Banjo Paterson

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me

Banjo Paterson's real name was Andrew Barton Paterson. He decided to change to Banjo Paterson as probably with a name like Andrew Barton it made an easy prey for his mates to bully him off his lunch box! Swagman is a travelling odd job helper in farm, like a rolling stone. He sat by a river (billabong), under a shady coolibah tree (native Aussie tree) singing while waiting for his kettle (billy) to come to boil. That is when he thought of a young maiden who actually cared for him many years when she finally married off to a rich land owner. He would always think of the warm dance (waltz) with his dear Matilda.

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong
Up got the swaggie and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me

Along came a sheep (jumbuck) for a drink. Our hero happily pounced on the prey and put in to his knapsack (tucker-bag)
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me

In another scene, a landlord come back home after a hard at work. He asked his wife the most common three words uttered by any hot blooded Australian man, "What's for dinner?!". The wife half heartedly replied, "As if you don't already know, we always have baked beef on Thursdays!". The man said, "But, I smell roast lamb! Are you not fooling me?" The landlord then knew the somebody had been feasting on his sheep. He jumped on his majestic horse, called in the local police (3 of them) and located our hero. "What's that in your haversack? You have come with me to jail" said the Sheriff.

Down came the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred
Up came the troopers One Two Three
Who's the jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
Who's the jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me.
Up got the swaggie and jumped into the billabong
You'll never catch me alive said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
In those rowdy early days of Australia, one would be hanged for stealing somebody else's animal. So our hero, in order to escape the police, he jumped into the river and drowned. His ghost, it seems still haunts the river. He can heard heard dancing the waltz with his pretty Matilda.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me.

That speaks so much about the level of dedication and pride shown by tourist guides in Australia (or at least Daryll of the Grayline). At the end of the journey, he quipped, "I have left some feedback forms for you to fill and my name is Daryll spelt with a double 'L', just like in the word excellent!"
A 10 hour journey well spent...

 

Southern Cross station after dark

Near Etihad Stadium

Overgrowth down under

Rememberance Park St Kilda Rd

Oz contribution in Emergency

@ Spencer St

Over Yarra River

The conquest - E&O Hotel

E & O Hotel

With the euphoric atmosphere of last week's Anniversary party still lingering in the air, let me just jot down a thing or two about the venue while it is still fresh on my mind.

E & O Hotel was officiated in 1885 with the merging of Eastern Hotel and Oriental Hotels, both built by Armenian Sarkies brothers.The brothers were also instrumental in the establishment of many hotels in the region including Raffles Hotel in Singapore. E & O boasts of being host to many notables celebrities like Rudyard Kipling (author of Jungle Book), Douglas Fairbank (silent movie star of the 30s), Charlie Chaplin (needs no introduction), Sun Yat-sen (Founding Father of Modern China) and many more.

In 1893, during a 10year celebratory luncheon, Sir Frank Swettenham (then the Resident General of Malay States) cracked a joke about the Sarkies brothers. ‘A little boy was asked by his teacher in Perak who the Sakais were, and replied that they were people who kept hotels.’ 

(The Sakais are one of the indigenous races of Malaysia.)

Just like the 'Spotted Dogs' in Kuala Lumpur (Royal Selangor Club), E & O was the favourite rendezvous for the ruling elites and their apple polishers (a.k.a. ball carriers) - i.e. locals with unabated zest to rub shoulders and hang out with their colonial masters and probably lived off their crumbs - while the rest of Malaya and the subjects of the Empire were busy living a living hell for self-rule!

When I was about 10 or so, my maternal grandfather was working as a driver in a mansion near this prestigious hotel. I remember my sisters and I were looking from outside the fence like refugee children at the merrymaking hotel guests during one Christmas eve. Funny how after 2 scores of years later, we are all on the inside of the fence in a merrymaking mood ourselves!

The 50th Wedding Anniversary is a symbolic one. It is an announcement that the descendants of maids, labourers and drivers have indeed come a long way since their great ancestors decided to take that tug boat to Malaya in search of better lives...

Arshak, Tigran, Aviet Sarkies (Clockwise from top)
Iranians of Armenian ethnicity