Sunday, October 26, 2008
Preah Vihear Temple
Well, well, the conflict which lasted for almost a half a century has resurfaced again. Yes, the territorial dispute over the ownership of Preah Vihear Temple - Thailand and Cambodia. First, here's a few facts:
Preah Vihear was built in the 11th century at the North of Cambodia. In 1962, the International Court of Justice had already given Cambodia the ownership of the temple, but recently the 2008 Thailand-Cambodia stand off started again. In June this year, Thailand once again is trying to claim Preah Vihear for her own. Not only is this dispute limited to the Preah Vihear Temple, but instead it has "extended westward towards Ta Moan Thom complex between the Thai Surin province and the Cambodian Oddar Meancheay province." (Wikipedia - 2008 Cambodian-Thai stand-off) Not only that, but there has been dispute over oil and gas resources within what they call a Overlapping Claim Area, spreading over 27 000 kilometres of maritime territory.
WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING??? I thought we were family? We are ASEAN aren't we? so WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING???
So far, there are 3 killed and 3 wounded in Cambodia, and in Thailand - 2 killed, 11 wounded, 13 captured. The brothers of ASEAN are fighting a war, but aren't we all friends? The 10 countries of ASEAN undisputedly have this strong bond which allows for us to work together for a better future. Cambodia registered the Temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in January 2008, without Thailand's approvation. But cant they see the Preah Vihear Temple as a monument of SEA? Yes. no doubt we are talking about countries here, but why look at the competitive edge of Cambodia, rather than acknowledging the fact that there is such a beautiful place in SEA and feel proud of it? ASEAN was made not only so we could have somebody to rely on, but also to HELP on another, and in the process APPRECIATE one another and thus creating PEACE throughout the region. So is this all for nothing now?
It is the railways which connect us. Well, it is time which heals a broken heart, but it friendship which breaks boundaries, breaks culture, and brings us all together in one place one region.
7:32 PM
Friday, October 24, 2008
The Philippines recipe.
::::::::Relyenong Alimasag::::::::
6 pcs female crabs or big crabs
1 tbs chopped kintchay or parsley
1 finely minced onion
3 finely chopped tomatoes
2 beaten egg
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
salt and pepper
Boil crabs. When cooked, take out white meat and set aside along with crab house. Sautee garlic until brown, then add onions and tomatoes. After a while, add crab meat. Cook for 5 minutes then season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle parsley on top. Fill up the crab house with sauteed crab meat and dip in the bowl of beaten egg. Pour more egg onthe top and deep fry in hot oil. Best served with catsup or sweet & sour sauce.
Mmhmm... *yumyum*
http://www.camperspoint.com/article.php3?id_article=120
8:35 PM
Religion in The Philippines
Glancing at the structures lining the pavement, I noticed a majestic building and later got to know that it was a church. The filipinos are very fervent catholics, and most possibly is the country which has the most number of catholics in Asia! Religion was another aspect whereby the Spanish and American influenced the people of The Philippines - like the early explorers spreading their beliefs to the conquered lands.
The Filipinos believe that everything which happens to them is due to the actions and decisions of God and their saints, in addition, they faithfully celebrate every fiesta and festivals annually. They follow the traditions of all catholics to have a "holy week" to commemorate the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross, even having reenacments of the scenario of the crucification and resurrection, adding to the sad and solemn atmosphere of this time.
John 3:16 For God so loved the World that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
7:26 PM
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Horse Spirit
Trudging down the streets, briefcase in one hand, camera in the other, I admired the cobbled streets and towering buildings overhead. I was not paying attention to the ground when I suddenly felt a sharp stinging pain at my right sole. The thin flip-flops are not the most protective footwear you would wish to use when venturing into unchartered territory - in this case, was pieces of glass strewn on the ground. A small piece had found its way into my flesh and a scream was inevitable when I removed it. Well, I guess how great it would have been if only I had been "possessed by the horse spirit".
Why? you might ask. Basically, that prevents you from hurting yourself even when trampling continuously on numerous shards of glass. Kind of like a supernatural power, eh? I could just remember the scene in the video which was shows to me in class last month; the dance, the music, the whip, the buckets of water... If you are still giving me the confused look, ok, I'll explain :D
Well, it all started with a dance, if I was not wrong, it was being held at a void deck of a random HDB flat during a certain Malay festival. It all started with about 6/8 female dancers kicking it off with a rather interesting opening, which somewhat resembled a rooster (according to me), I am not exactly familiar with the malay traditions because the dance was possibly was about the various animal spirits? I do realise that the Malay hold animals and nature in very high esteem that there is a dance specially to demonstrate the power of the animal spirits, and not forgetting the tal of Gunung Ledang whereby the people dared not enter the forest for fear of the tree spirits - another kind of deity - therefore reinforcing the point of their respect for the spirits of nature.
Being possessed by the horse spirit, the men also became very very strong, withstanding the multiple whippings of the others involved in this event. Perhaps the whippings were to chase out the spirits? But altogether, I was freaked out. =X
Regarding the remark I said before, the people, being possessed by the horse spirit allowed them to walk effortlessly on glass, SUPERMAN!!! with a bit of the blank stare into space. Looks like the strength and steadiness of the horses in real life are reflected in the ability of the men to overcome many obstacles, in this case - walking barefooted on glass, a feat normal Man would fail to perform. WOAH!!!
Anyway, it is Day 6 already, and today, it's free and easy.
2:33 AM
Friday, October 17, 2008
western influences
The Spanish and Americans, I must say, has a very strong influence on the Filipino's mindset. First was the marriage tradition, and now, it even ventures into the territory marked "beauty". Yes, believe it or not, the Filipino feel that white is beauty, although they have naturally tanned skin. That is why even the children are taught this from a very young age and are cajoled into using bleaching and whitening cream or products for their skin, even being strongly encouraged to stock up on anti-pimple and anti-blackheads face cream to ensure that their skin is white and beautiful. This mindset is from the Spanish and Americans as they practised ethnocentrism and believed that their race was superior, therefore reinforcing the point that their skin colour was the most beautiful.
9:12 PM
Formalities in the Philippines
Ok... I know i'm rather young for this, but I am going to talk about the traditions of (drumroll----------) courtship. :D cheer up, well for the girls at least. It is kind of similar to the Spanish and Roman Catholic traditions, and this shows the influence of other countries - especially the western powers towards the southeast asian countries because of the colonisation during the 1500s - therefore explaining the similarities between the countries.
ok, moving on to the lesson proper (haha just kidding), the tradition is that the girl's are not allowed to go to the boy's home, but instead, it is only right if the boy visits the girl's home and be formally introduced, and hopefully gain the parent's approval before anymore "advancement" can be made. The decision of the parents and crucial, as divorce does not exist in The Philippines. Let me quote from the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo:
divorce is "un-Filipino, immoral, unconstitutional and a danger to the Filipino family"
So there, the pride of your marriage.
However, I am afraid that by disallowing divorce, the suffering spouse would have to put up with the other's nonsense. But I guess that's why Filipinos are such strong and brave people, taking setbacks as they are, as the pampered always crumble under pressure. However, do not misunderstand that I think this cases happen a lot in The Philippines. haha. OR that just means that Filipinos are the most loving couples. <3 awwww...
7:20 PM
oooohh.. interesting
This is going to be a short post. So that there is impact. here goes...
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS THE THIRD LARGEST ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD BECAUSE OF THE AMERICAN COLONISATION!?!?!?!?!?!?
there. you feeling "impacted"?
7:03 PM
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The DOs and the DONTs
DAY 5
Well, time really flies and it is already day 5, and today I have a culture lesson with the Filipinos. Firstly, we learnt the basic etiquette of the Filipinos, which proved to be rather surprising to me, as a Singaporean, where almost everybody is straight-forward and does not care too much about tradition. But here goes!
Lesson 1:
do not wear sandals when attending important events
Ok, this is kind of common, but should not be taken for granted, even in Singapore. If you ask me, I've seen many toes peeping out from under those thin straps of flip-flops which to me, are an even worse case than sandals. Perhaps in the Filipino culture, I was rude to show your toes, or possibly your feet during an important event as the foot was normally associated with a pungent smelly odour. So, sandals, having the holey nature of theirs, were not acceptable. The natives or even during capitalism and industrialisation, anybody, regardless of social background, are expected to arrive at the event prim and proper with a formal attire. The covering of unsightly feet and revoking odour is most likely a sign of respect to not only the host of the event (to show that the person appreciated the event and took it seriously) but also the others attending it.
I guess this idea of the covering of feet is rather prevalent in Southeast Asia countries, which includes Thailand, as mentioned before during the visit to the Thai Grand Palace, where I was not allowed to fold up my sleeves. They also did not allow visitors with sandals to enter. Hmm... interesting and very very logical.
Lesson 2:
When organising a function, make it a point to invite the other party 3 times
Basically, the tradition of the Filipinos to reject the first two invites, and for the host to invite again for the third time so as to guarantee that the invitation is genuine. To the locals, the act of insistence proves a person's sincerity towards something. So next time, I shall send 3 invitation cards out at the same time, so that 2 will be rejected and the other accepted, and it would be dont very quickly. :D Hey wait... that's way not sincere enough.
Lesson 3:
hand gestures
Did you know that the "O.K." sign means "money" to the Filipinos? That is why using a "thumbs-up" hand gesture is always more preferable when you are saying O.K. to them. Possibly, showing the "thumbs-up" expresses your happiness and willingness to help the other person, or to agree with him/her, and being polite.
I have just realised that most of the traditions in the various countries are all centered around the expectation of politeness and respect of the people in that area.
5:15 AM
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Philippines
DAY 4 ------- destination no. 2 The Philippines
Sitting in the train, I remembered what my maid told me - she was from The Philippines. The people in the village, the parents dont do nothing when there are no farming activities, but the children however were expected to demonstrate the utmost respect and responsibility to any elder who happened to visit. And of course, do all the housework they could possibly do. Perhaps, it was discipline, but for me, I'd rather pass, in other words, I love my life in Singapore. The children there were brought up for hard work, nurturing their diligence and determination for the future endeavours, and last but not least the ability to do house chores, as a form of helping their parents. Their parents on the other hand, chat and have small get-togethers during these times.
Living in a modern society, I am used to parents passing their things down to the oldest child in the family, thinking that the oldest was most probably the most mature and the most deserving. But in the village Philippines, it is a whole different story. The farmland is given to the youngest son in the family. That was quite an eye-opener to me.
Speaking about relatives, my maid's husband complained that her cooking had become almost tasteless when she took a short visit back home in June this year. Well, it seems to me that the Filipinos, like the Thais, have a strong liking of superbly salty food! That was what my Mum and I first realised when we got our maid, on the first day of trying her cooking. We almost could not swallow, simply because of the fact that the taste of salt stung our tongue just as we placed the food into our mouth. It was indescribable, its taste was out of this world, it could only be described plainly and straight to the point as overly salty, extremely salty rather. Ahhh... no wonder the shocked expression on her face when my aunt taught her how to cook our first homecooked dish (my aunt lives just two floors above me, and so she comes down to cook for us everyday except weekends and public holidays... haha. just jesting); my aunt didnt ask her to put salt. She said "Mam, no salt?!" with a confused expression. So now, she has improved tremendously. And now her husband thinks her cooking has deproved. Well, that says a lot about the food of The Philippines, salty, salty and salty. I sure hope to find something which suits my taste buds xD
2:06 AM
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Goldenmile plaza
As a lie on my hotel bed, I cannot help but reminisce about my trip to Goldenmile Complex, which was the Thai enclave back in my hometown Singapore. The shopping centre, the people working were Thai, the words were Thai, the food sold were Thai, and the atmosphere, almost Thai. The smell, very Thai indeed as the smell of salted fish and... well frogs, filled the air as soon as I walked into the mall. We made our way up to the supermarket and we given the task of finding 5 thai words, and to figure out their meaning. Exploring my surroundings, with my group, I witnessed a landslide. Well, if I may correct myself, a landslide of salted fish.
It was just the entire mountain of salted goods was on the verge of collapsing onto any unwary passer-by. The love of salted food must be very prevalent among the Thais; they are the ones with the most versatile taste buds, I must say - from the hot and sour Tom Yam, to the terribly salty.. well, salted fish. The smell grew stronger by the moment, getting more pungent with every step I took. The air was now concentrated with the scent of preserved food. The food items looked brown, and erm.. interesting, as I would describe it.
In Goldenmile complex, live eels wre being sold there. To me, they were utterly disgusting and slimy and gross, but to my friends, well, just about the opposite. At first I thought that eels were usually associated with Japanese gourmet, but it turns out eels were also "appreciated" in Thai food, probably the reason why they were sold in even a normal supermarket, and I specialised Thai supermarket at that. The tank was half filled with water, with about 60 eels squirming inside? Notice the choice of words. Well, if you still do not feel the seizure, I'll provide you with some visual aid.
HOWS THAT? yes.
With that last thought, I drift slowly off to sleep.
8:02 AM
Thai culture
DAY 3 -- A lesson from the Thais
Well, as a fan of dancing, I decided to be daring and try out a Thai dance, which is very, very daring indeed.
Upon reaching the class, the teacher greeted me. Being not very acquainted with Thai, I stumbled with words, and I spoke incoherently, almost sounding like "sla-wai-dee". The teacher started laughing. Well, I guess that was definitely the most brilliant first impression I could have left her. Embarrased, I covered my face with my straw hat - the weather there was scorching - and made my way to my designated place, and started the lesson.
The first crucial movement which must be learnt was the art of the bending of the wrist, whereby the entire hand must be flexed backwards to form an almost perfect semicircle. Right... and so my story begins, and so does the pushing.
My instructor demonstrated. Yes, I could see that amazing curve of her wrist. Yes, yes beautiful, I'll just watch her. Yupp, that should be it. Yes, it was beautiful. Then she turned to me and said "ลองดู (long doo - try it)". Ahh well.. let me see about that. But no, she had already grabbed my hand, and bent it back. The pain surged through my lower arm as she stretched it backwards even further. Still smiling, she said gleefully "แบบนี้ แบบนี้ (bàep née - like this, like this)".
I winced and nodded my head vigorously to assure her I understood. Haha. She is still rather adorable, I must say. I tried, but I was sure she was not impressed, but nevertheless, she knew I was trying my best, and she continued on the teaching. Next is what I call the "bum sticking-out" movement. Well, as its name suggests, I was about sticking your butt out, and at the same time crossing arms in front of you, flexing your fingers backwards, and resting your left foot on your heel, with your toes pointing towards the sky. Yes, overwhelming for a first-timer I must say.
I attempted the "bum sticking-out" movement, not very successfully I must say. My right foot was getting tired, as it gradually grew weak and my left - it was needless to say - muscles were strained, and I felt myself give way, lost my balance, and fell straight onto the floor. Looking on the bright side, I did not break my nose. I steadied myself and struggled up, with the help of the teacher, with her sighing as she aided my..my..my return.
6:06 AM
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The Grand Palace
DAY 2
The visit to the home of the beloved Thai King ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช (Bhumibol Adulyadej) awaits me. From far I see the towers of the palace, a colour of pure egg yolk, gleaming in the Sun, with heads like spears reaching out to the sky, as though connecting with the Gods above. It is this striking Thai traditional architecture which captures the attention of many from all over the World. As I took a step into the palace, a monk, draped in a huge piece of cloth of an orange-brown shade walked up to me and signalled for me to fold down my sleeves. It was not allowed in the palace; the visitors all had to be dressed appropriately for the visit. I guess this is an act of the utmost respect the Thais hold for their King and His Household. The holiness of the Grand Palace was overwhelming, as the buildings surrounding me were decorated with the various Gods and deities of the Thais, again painted in a royal gold colour. The majesty of the palace showed me the importance of the Thai King in the people's eyes as I proceeded, I could not help but stop to take photos in the Grand Palace.
Like a sword that pierced the sky, the Thai structures towered over its counterparts,
full of the essence of Thailand, the domes like a huge barrier, encompassing the whole of Thailand within its safe boundaries. I remember the Thai statues which I had seen before, and realised that the crowns of the Grand Palace buildings resembled the crowns of the deities which the Thais worshipped. Perhaps they believed that their King was a Godsent and was just like their Gods, standing tall and mighty. They placed their King in high reverence and he was just like a father to them, a loving father of Thailand. The Gods, the Lord Buddha - 95% of Thais are Buddhist - were looking over him, and all of Thailand. The Muslim religion holds the second largest percentage of 4.6% of the population, followed by Catholicism or Christianity which makes up 0.75% of the population.
The film "The King and I" was banned in Thailand because it was an act of disrespect to their King, and it was considered blasphemy. How great is the faith of these Thais towards their King.
And as I walked on, I realised that the Grand Palace was not only a shade of Gold, but had also included the colours, which are so often related to Thailand. Green, blue, and the textures of wealth now graced the outside of the buildings. It seemed that the Thais were fond of a certain rectangular shaped structure, whereby a person could look in through large hole on the four sides, and the roof was pointed with its edges curved upwards into the sky. It was, I could say, an icon of Thailand. I found my hand finding its way to my camera and I could not help but take a snap.
This is Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace.
The jewels and various stones bestowed upon the walls of the Grand Palace, make the experience even more breath-taking for the visitor like me. The Grand Palace is more precious than any gold or silver in the eyes of the Thais. The doors of the palace, tinted by the gold and the carvings of the Gods, gazing down lovingly at the people. The doorways, with columns resembling a dragon's tail adorned the building. The tail high in the air, perhaps as a sign of power and superiority, as like the Chinese, who believe that the dragon is the highest of all animals - mystic creatures as I may correct myself. Again, there was the urge to take a photo.
3:04 AM
Thailand
DAY 1
The train screeched to a halt and the old lady who was sleeping against my shoulder jolted awake. The rain has stopped. I gather all my belongings placed on tbe floor and alight from the train. The cool breeze blew past my face, causing a chilling sensation on my skin. The air encompassing me felt different from that of Singapore; it was no more the scent of bak kut teh, but rather the aroma of tom yum (ต้มยำ) which wafted into my nose. That smell, more often than not replaced by MSG in Singapore retains its original flavour here in Thailand. Tom yum, the exciting hot and sour tangs which you learn to love when you taste of this dish, the ingredients are plentiful: lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, shallots, lime juice, fish sauce, tamarind, and crushed chili peppers. The taste of Thailand, so strong in the air. The folks around here get you into the atmosphere of happiness of joy, for I have not alighted in the urban heights, but instead the rural area of Thailand.
The locals read many scripts, but it seems to me that the "Tham" is the most prestigious one deemed by the locals and their religious leaders. I was greeted by a warm สวัสดี (sa-wat-dee), and bowed back in reply. The village life was focused mainly on agriculture as farmers perspired under the hot sun, hands tanned and coarse with the hard work they had experienced throughout their lifetime. Those are the hands that give us our food, those are the very hands which would be precious to hold.
It was dinnertime, and the table was laid. I was introduced to a dish called ขนมจีนน้ำยา (Khanom chin namya), which was a kind of rice boiled noodle accompanied by a huge variety of strong sauces, which is eaten with fresh leaves and vegetables.
Even though the village life is hard, the คุณย่า (koon yâa - grandmother) is still grinning, inviting me to eat more, her smile etched deeply in my skin and in my memory, it is no wonder Thailand is called the land of a thousand smiles. I feel comforted. It's on to a good start. Tomorrow, I am going to the royal palace, a total contrast to the village, and I am all ready.
1:50 AM
Welcome
Welcome; Selamat Datang; ยินดีต้อนรับ; bati; hoan nghênh to my RSP blog.
I am a traveller, a wanderer, one glancing from inside the train, following the railway which connects us all. And what is this railway you may say? Well, time heals a broken heart, but it is friendship which breaks boundaries, breaks culture, and brings us all together in one place one region.
During this journey I shall be bringing you through the different cultures and religions of the south-east asian people; our very own neighbours, as I learn more about their life, their beliefs and their home...
The monotonous ticking of my watch is getting irritating. The delay is unbearable as i see the scenery around me whizzing past. I am advancing towards the friendship, so close I could almost taste it. But no, not yet. I am going to reach my destination soon. My heart pounds as i glimpse some raindrops pattering against the window pane. That would not stop me;
destination no. 1 - Thailand.
1:12 AM
