Dear MCG members
It is not too late to sign up for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 9 th of May.
The AGM is usually a short meeting during which the Board of Management is elected and our audited financial accounts are presented. We do need to ensure that we have a quorum of members attending so that the AGM can proceed, so please do come and support us.
This year we are hosting the AGM at the Royal Selangor Club. Mr. Chris Syer will give a talk on the history of the Club, with particular focus on its role as a hub for the British colonial community. He has a wonderful photo collection too. Following this we would like to invite you to join us for lunch in the club rooms. What a perfect way to spend a morning!
On the 10th we will participate in an ancient ritual, the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Many will have heard of this but few have the opportunity to experience and learn of the symbolism of this ceremony. On the 17th we will have a talk by Percy Vatsaloo who will speak about Thai textiles. He has revived and reinvigorated Thai silk textiles and helps the weavers in a village in Northeastern Thailand.
On 24th May we take a trip out of KL, to the port of Klang to visit a Spice Factory. Remember that the spice trade was an important part of the economy for hundreds of years and it is still vital. Following the tour we shall retire to the Royal Selangor Yacht Club for lunch.
On 29th May, Cheryl Hoffmann will tell us of her experiences at the Kadazan Rice Festival in Sabah and on 31st May the Museum Volunteers of Malaysia will guide us through the National Museum.
This is my last President's message after two years in this role and writing the monthly addresses to you. I have indulged in a bit of nostalgia, and re-read many of the past newsletters and I am astounded at the range of interesting events and activities the MCG has organized. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my wonderful fellow Board members and the many other volunteers who have contributed to ensure that my time in this role has been a pleasure and an honor. Thank you all. Best wishes, - Sunita Varlamos PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
MCG ANNOUNCEMENTS MCG
24TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
REPORTS FROM PREVIOUS EVENTS
The door opened to an Aladdin's cave of precious textiles: we had arrived at Marie-Christine Tseng's home. The walls, furniture and seats were draped with exquisite hand loomed textiles from Sumba Island. southeast of Bali.
Sumba is a small island in the Lesser Sunda archipelago, with approximately 400,000 inhabitants. Historically significant, Sumba was frequented by regional traders including the Indians, Chinese, Arab and Malays for centuries, as it offered a safe harbour, and the opportunity to trade gold, ceramics and silver for sandalwood and horses. .
In the 14th century, Sumba was under the rule of the Javanese kingdom of Majapahit, however internal wars between rival communities influenced society more than any external force. Today 8 ethnic groups have been identified, who share common ancestors, similar rites and values and language. The small unit of social structure is the family group, usually numbering 5-11 individuals. A number of family groups form a clan, with about 250 people in total. Each clan has its own Rato; a man responsible for prayers and communication with ancestors. It is important to note that clan families can be spread over a district or even half the island. Clans are patriarchal, and linked together by marriage.
Society is divided by ranks, similar to the Hindu caste system. All levels of rank are represented within a clan, and mutual support of each other is key to social success. Royal families are known as Rajas, while the noble families who hold the economic power are known as Marambas. Further down the class system are the Kabihu, free men who support the Marambas. Finally, Atas are slaves; usually bonded to a family for labour, or marriage.
Hereditary power was not recognised in Sumba; the Raja was the person who held the state treasure. Despite a predominance of Christianity and Islam on Sumba, ancestor worship continues to be integral to the culture. .
Alliances and gift exchanges formed the basis for trade between groups, on ceremonies, marriage funerals. These were the only occasion when clans could get food or goods from outside their own clan. Goods traded included forestry products, rice, horses, and ikats.
Central to Sumbanese culture, legend tells that the island of Sumba is anchored between the sky and the sea by a bundle of threads that only the ancestors can see. Accordingly, weaving is not carried out in the centre of the island for fear that the invisible threads would be worn off, and the island would go wandering.
The Main textile produced on Sumba is called Ikat, a specific dying and weaving method. The warp threads are tied onto a loom, and the design is draw on the threads. Bundles of thread are then tied tightly together, to prevent dye from being taken up on the covered sections. The yarn is dyed with either indigo or kumba ( a reddish dye) and after drying, the yarn is very carefully rearranged on its original location on the loom. Using a back strap loom, the weft is then incorporated to make a complete piece.
Many icons are seen in the Sumbanese Ikat, including figurative, schematic and foreign designs. Ancestors, horses, deer, chicken, birds, crocodile, crayfish, and turtle are all featured.
Sarah Boucaut
JAPANESE GIRLS' DAY
MCG members were greeted by yukata-clad Leila Plante at the Shangri-La Hotel Japanese restaurant for a celebration of Hina Matsuri, the Japanese Girls' Day Festival on March 7th. (A yukata is a summer-weight cotton kimono.) Leila's eight years in Japan left her with Japan in her soul, and this is the third year she has shared her enthusiasm with MCG.
She talked about Girls' Day, when families with daughters display a set of dolls, arrayed on a stepped platform. The Emperor and Empress are on the highest step, with their attendants, musicians and ministers on the steps below them. Parents pray for the happiness and growth of their daughters, but, if the doll display isn't put away immediately after the March 3 rd festival, superstition states that the daughters will not get married in the coming year.
Then Leila talked about kimonos, while assistants Hiroko Imai and Michie Akiyama dressed Monika Sader in a kimono and Cathy Weston in a yukata. When dressing in a kimono, first to go on are tabi---white socks with a split toe----because once the kimono is on, it's difficult if not impossible to bend over to put the socks on! Since Monika wore the kimono over her clothes, a few layers of underwear were skipped, and she started with the silk under-kimono, then the kimono, wrapped left over right, and a wide obi tied around her waist with a box bow in the back. The kimono was orange and black, with a pattern of chrysanthemums.
A kimono with long sleeves is worn by an unmarried woman, while married women wear kimonos with shorter sleeves . Kimonos are reserved for special occasions: weddings, Coming of Age Day (a January celebration for all young people turning twenty that year,) Shichi-Go-San (7-5-3, a festival for girls aged three and seven and boys aged three and five,) and tea ceremonies. Kimonos can be very expensive garments; they are hand sewn and frequently made of handcrafted silk, and must be stored carefully . For children, there is a shortcut: obi with a pre-tied bow.
The yukata is a simple version of a kimono, usually made of brightly printed cotton, and frequently worn at the summer O-Bon festival and at hot spring resorts.
Leila then moved to another mainstay of Japanese culture, ikebana. She quickly demonstrated a flower arrangement according to the rules of the Sogetsu School. She first cut the stems under water (to prevent air from entering the stems) to precise heights. The shin element, representing heaven, is tallest and is put in the kenzan (the spiked base) at a 15° angle from vertical.; the soe element, representing earth, is shorter and is at a 45° angle; the final element, hikae, people, is shortest and leans at 75°. It is important that the flowers are looking up and at each other, and one should never be afraid to strip extraneous leaves from the stems for a better composition. With the rules (and a bit of magic,) in no time at all, Leila completed a lovely arrangement of pink chrysanthemums and greenery.
We then adjourned to the restaurant for a lunch that featured a variety of Japanese cuisine.
Minna Schwarz-Seim
Laos – Travel Tips Inge Kopp Zell took us on a fascinating journey into Laos with her slide show presentation and informative talk. They traveled by road from Vientiane to Luang Prabang via Vang Vieng taking in the scenery, witnessing village life, wet markets and meeting the friendly and curious people of Laos. In Vientiane they visited Wat Si Saket, Wat Si Muang and Pha That Luang. At That Luang they were witness to a ceremony of a young monk being ordained. Other points of interest in Vientiane include Buddha Park, Haw Phra Kaew, Lao National Museum, Patuxay. Talat Sao Morning Market, That Dam, Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan and Wat Sok Pa Luang.
The next day they began their road trip to see the temple of Jars. Taking Route 13 North towards Luang Prabang via the Plain of Jars, arrived at Nam Song hotel at Vang Vieng, a backpacker's haven known for treks to small limestone cave temples some of which are difficult to access. Transport was an eventful rough ride on a small tractor pulling a 2-wheel carriage, sometimes through shallow rivers. The Plain of Jars: is a large group of historic cultural sites in Laos containing thousands of stone jars believed to be funerary urns, scattered throughout the Xieng Khouang plain. There are more than 400 sites, but only 3 sites are open for viewing, many surrrounded by craters where American bombs fell during the Vietnam War. Visitors are advised to stay on designated tracks to avoid land mines.
Luang Prabang – the old capital of the Kingdom of Laos, is located on the Mekong River about 425km north of Vientiane. A World Heritage site and considered the jewel of Indo China, the old quarter has the largest concentration of temples and is best seen on foot. Places to see include Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham) which houses the crown jewels of Laos, Wat Manoram built in the 14th century has 6 meter high bronze Buddha, Wat Xieng Thong considered the most beautiful Buddhist temple in Luang Prabang, the 328 step steep Mount Phousi (Sacred Hill) for the sunset, Wat Wisunarat houses a collection of Buddha statues and religious artifacts. Other points of interest include Kuang Si Falls, Wat Aham, Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham, Wat That Luang, Wat Wisunarat and Wat Xieng Muan. Travel to Laos: Both Vientiane and Luang Prabang have international airports. Lao airlines fly from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi and Siem Reap. Aparna Nanavati BOOK CLUB REPORTS Group
1 Trespassers on the roof of the world is a wonderful piece of historical writing. Set in the 19 th and early 20th centuries, it begins by introducing the reader to Tibet's stupendous geography, goes on to tell the story of "the Indian Pundits" who were trained by their British masters as spies and in the techniques of reconnaissance, surveying and navigation. With the information collected by these heroic men, the British cartographers were able to fill in the blanks of the little known region of Tibet. The trials, deprivations, ingenuity, determination, and courage of these early explorers for the benefit of their British masters is truly commendable. Hopkirk breathes life into these heroes long forgotten who never received the recognition they so richly deserved.
The Pundits were followed by explorers, all wanting to be the first to reach the Forbidden city of Lhasa. Annie Royle Taylor was bent on carrying the Gospel to the Dalai Lama, Henry Savage Landor chose to make a living by seeking out the world's more outlandish spots, and Maurice Wilson set out to conquer Everest. The book is filled with stories of heroes, villains, episodes of extreme endurance, triumphs, weird encounters, bandits, hermits, and flamboyant madmen and women!
In addition, Hopkirk tells of the legendry Sir Francis Youghusband who fought his way into Tibet and coerced the Tibetans into signing the Anglo-Tibetan Convention, which later proved to be an embarrassment to the Whitehall. The book ends with the invasion and occupation of Tibet by China.
Before we began our discussion, Nisha showed us some pictures of her trip to Lhasa and we listened to some beautiful singing by a young Tibetan singer. We "played" the medicinal Tibetan singing bowl which is supposed to heal through sound and vibrations.
The group enjoyed the book and for many of us it offered a new perspective and insights on Tibet and the Tibetans.
Hootoksi Tyabji
The Hamilton Case is not a thriller or a mystery though it has a murder, but more significantly the book seeks to explore the mystery of the influences both in history and culture of Sri Lanka at the turn of the 20th century.
Michelle de Kretser, through her beautiful and captivating writing, has woven a story around protagonist Sam Obeysekere and his family. The descriptions of Sam's youth in Ceylon, the island's terrain, Sam's socialite mother Maud and Sam's unfulfilled dreams has been presented in a fascinating manner.
Some of this book club members found the book depressing especially since the main characters in the dysfunctional Obeysekere family are mostly depressed people. However, everybody enjoyed the language and descriptions, especially De Kretser's description of the heavy tropical forests surrounding Sam's ancestral home in Lokugama.
The story revolves around the members of the Obeysekere family; a Christian Sinhalese family that considers itself more British than than the British. De Kretser describes how the family's decadent lifestyle leads to financial ruin, how Maud the socialite mother brings emotional ruin to her children by her flirtatious behaviour. Her son Sam Obeysekere, the protagonist, alienates himself from not only his family and the world but himself as well. An English tea grower Angus Hamilton is murdered on his way back to his estate. The police suspects a pair of coolies, but Sam points to a British subject. Sam thinks the British were committed to 'fair play' but Sam's miscalculation in the Hamilton Case essentially determines the course of his life.
Jaishree Balasubramanian
NEWSLETTER REPORT You can submit articles, artwork and photographs to the editor at mcgevents@yahoo.com with ''newsletter'' in the subject line.
Please submit all articles for the June newsletter by May 8.
Stories are edited for reasons of clarity, space or accuracy of expression. The opinions expressed in the MCG newsletter are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily those of the MCG.
Jaishree Balasubramanian BOOKING POLICY FOR EVENTS Reservations Wait List Payments Cancellations Refunds Eligibility Event Participation Eligibility Your co-operation with the Booking Policy would be much appreciated by the Events Planning Team.
PLEASE NOTE that the information in this website has been gathered informally within the group and reproduced privately for members' enjoyment only. There may be inaccuracies and these publications are not designed for commercial use. Anyone intending to make formal or outside use of MCG material is requested to contact the President | Events
| Newsletter | Book
Club | Library | Explorers
Group | ©Malaysian Culture Group, 2005. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
