Summer Train

Back to Antwerp again. Three month from blogosphere is like two weeks on the road or one whole year away from home. I left for Vienna toward the end of August, knowing it means farewell to Zomer van Antwerpen: 58 days of music, theater, circus, film, zomerbar…every single day, with of without the blessing of the sun. The whole city – in fact, the whole Flanders region falls into summer mode.

For the first time I felt guilty to stay home. Say tired to Gentsefeesten. Not to party till dawn. Not to celebrate the warmest season of northern hemisphere.

But you never know what is going to happen next summer, or next day (weather in Antwerp); I just couldn’t resist jumping into the summer train. I traveled north up from Vienna to Prague then south bound to Bratislava. My return flight is from Vienna; that means I have to travel further south from Bratislava to Budapest and then north up again.

In the end I missed the legendary one-hour-or-so Vienna – Bratislava train, but nonetheless I had a marvelous round-trip journey. Needless to mention: the European IC (Inter-city) trains are punctual, smooth and the landscapes are wonderful in these regions.

Vienna – Prague train journey. Highly recommended: Kate Nash +
Bauchklang through your ear plugs…

Wouldn’t want to embarrass myself giving historical narration or analyze architecture style of cathedrals as such; nor how Filippo Brunelleschi change the perspective of paintings forever, akin to that little big push Constantine I gave to Christianity, extending empire and perhaps, helping the humanity at large. There’s a hole in my history knowledge: Big part of it being European history and tradition.

Pity thing is one can hardly recall, and definitely no way to record every moment of the journey. You either missed the right moment for your shots or letting an inspiration slipped out of your mind. It’s a matter of that few seconds: You choice is either camera with 0.00001 sec start-up time or get ready to write on your arms, metro tickets and obviously maps.

Post-journey (at least for me) writing depends a lot on the seemingly insignificant notes when you are still trying to figure the street name. Or like myself, I also built it on photo memory – in the memory stick, that is.

It sounds stupid enough to hold the camera all the time; so sometime I just stroll, observing, trying to capture & feel the moment: such moment that might reappear months or years afterwards – with God’s wiling it will be in another post. Or it just becomes part of memory, nothing more and nothing less.

Ichthys - Jesus Christ The Son of God The Saviour

The starting point of my journey is Brussels - I remember the excitment of weeks-long holiday, expecting good weather and feeling rusty with my my old 3.2 MegaPixel faithful. Things (or my photos!) changed dramatically later with a 10.2 MegaPixel plus 10x Optical Zoom but that's another story.

Okay, Brussels feels more like a city compare to Antwerp – pardon me, from where I am and travelled before, you’ve gotta have enough high-rise to call yourself a city. If it’s odd the have century old landmark next to full-glazed high-rise, it’s even better to paint a fish skeleton in between them.

One of the two ‘fishy’ paintings that I notice during my 48 hours stay in Brussels, as well as first discovery of two ‘high-level’ (well, almost 10-storey I'd say) art painting throughout my summer journey.

Next one comes in Vienna – here lies the forces of attraction of Hitler to The Art of Painting…

My Belgium Weekends...part of ;p

Approximately 2 months later - I gradually found my own rhythm of everyday life. But this is no Discovery Channel; learning process can be both exciting and frustrating. Frustrating, when you want to write something but found no words for it…

So, I'll have my bollekes and we shall start with usually cheerful weekends. Especially May’s weekend – I remember sunny days, good friends, unforgettable journey and great moments…

First stop: Somewhere near Waterloo.

Voluntary organization usually held their activities away from city – somewhere so quiet and peaceful that you don’t border to remember the name of that place. Like somewhere near Waterloo. I usually pay attention to the road sign…and thanks to Napoleon; ‘Waterloo’ is very catchy. Moreover, it does not sounds French at all.

Most new comers will realize soon enough that Belgium is first divided by two languages, into two region; Northern Flemish-speaking region and Southern-French speaking Walloon region. Of course it’s common to find someone who speaks Flemish and at the same time French, but usually not the other way round.

I was traveling with my French and Nigerian colleague to a seminar – Working In Conflict Area – an unofficial visit from the International Secretariat members. I like traveling with Stan – with his beloved guitar around him, he is always in joyful mood and I don’t have to stuff my ears with digital wave. So when Stan is firing his flamingo, I took a picture of him at somewhere he said “Feels like French.”

For me this feels like ‘the moment’ - Welcome to Braine-l'Alleud!


From where I am, Flemish Region is one of the most English-friendly regions in Europe. Even so, in Antwerp, I feel shy to speak in English: my second – or more like fourth or fifth language. So no questions about it: One should have less expectation when you’re in Wallonia Region.

But like how I navigate the town of Namur, Antwerp Stadhuis/City Hall produce a perfect map – tourist friendly convenience or for some critics, effectively reduce human contact to the minimum.

The other picture from Wallonia Region that I have that worth sharing it here:


Castle high above the hill, overlooking the waterways and the old town of Namur – distinctive features of many other European cities. Today, that once the most strategic defense post is perfect for a pre-summer walk, have beers and enjoy the view on top of the hill.


Back to Flemish Region, I enjoy cycling to a small town called Boom.

Some 10 miles away from Antwerp city centre, Boom once a town with blooming brick industry. But for those who traveled here on the second weekend of May 2008, Boom is synonymous to Mano Mundo festival.

After the unforgiving cold and wet months, what people craved for is nothing but nature, sunny skies, beers and entertainments. And Mano Mundo is designed to provide just that.


For a minute I thought it was only a giant two-day music festival: Tents, stages, camps big and small were built surrounding the green landscape to host music of various genes. But I soon realized that this is a one-stop entertainment festival: There's Chinese calligraphy, Indonesian massage, capoeira, strong Moroccan mint tea, magic show, flea markets…

All these, complimented with two days of beautiful sunshine. Couldn’t escape the festival, I got pretty tanned afterwards.

Leaving Boom, we cycle pass some empty streets, seemingly deserted town. Not like its much different compare to Antwerp city after, say 1800 hrs. But somehow I feel eerie, so I peddle past it right after my final shot of this church. You guessed: a robust brick structure.


Now let’s move up north, where Belgium gets part of the precious North Sea coastline. Looking at the map you can almost sense the outcome after series of historical events, when both Dutch and British were dominant seafaring powers.

For a while I thought that big chucks of land beyond Knokke are Belgian soils – but surprisingly the Netherland owns much of the Western Scheldt, flowing out to the North Sea. Ironically, together with Ostend, Knokke makes me feels more like home – back to the real city, high rise and modern landscape.

That faithful coastlines...how much longer can they sustain our needs?

In Knokke’s World Press Photo Exhibition, both Prasant, my new Nepali colleague cum professional photographer, and myself can only stare the 2007 World Press Photo of the year in disbelieve.


No, not me. Yes, that one - the "Tired soldier in some bunker" in the US-lead war in Afghanistan.

Obviously the photographer does more than that picture, and all credits to him and his hard, risky effort. What really surprises us is the amount of war and famine related photos displayed in the exhibition. All these prized photographs come with stronger emotional attachment than ever, making them extremely provoking and powerful. Or depressed?

Anyway we certainly found ourselves happier at the Ostend seaside, although you can’t really swim in any of those. If the unpredictable weather around this region is why holiday makers prefer the coastline along Mediterranean Sea, this could well be the second. A huge and long coastline as well – must have been hard to defend during the war period - remnant of cannon bunkers - I wondered if anyone would notice it.

Granted, there must be some well preserved seaside, or one can swim in a pool overlooking the sea view. Summer is well on its way - the season when European spends more than they should – so you’d better have some resorts waiting.


But we are not really holiday makers – we walk, talked, enjoy the sun shine and barbeque back in the apartments, 15 minutes walk to the seaside. That’s what this trip is all about.

Back in Nepal, Prasant-ji is still looking for his elusive best picture. Oh I know that feeling, and it we both know it will keep coming. As long as we have enough O2.

This razor-sharp picture below (in fact, all the last three photos) separates my point-and-shoot camera with his DSLRs.


Mean while, our friendship can only grew stronger...

Antwerp, Antwerpen

Tens of frying pans when all you need is just a good wok - one week into european life I found myself in the exact moment - 'the moment' that I've experienced it for many times in my mind - but going through it out here is a different story altogether.

I keep stirring it keeps spilled all over but hell, I still have my fried rice in the end. Rice, cooking oil, garlic, ketchup, salt, white pepper, eggs, porks - all comes gradually, so does the taste of my dish.

Forgive me but as much as I enjoyed it, I had too much bread-butter-jam-cheese-ham-tuna kinda combination. Not for all the meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner - anyway. So until I get my hands on some really nice home-cooked Belgian cuisine, I will continue to stumbles in the kitchen.

Regardless, beautiful Antwerp city has been treating me well so far, even so from my wonderful colleagues at SCI International Secretariat.

Here, at least for me, the often regards as over-used term within the movement would falls back into line: Decision making policy, coordination structures, volunteer drains, unrealistic plans, consistency, over-dependency, euro-centered...and a long list of practical procedures.

However, as one could have figured out, it is the yard stick of transperency, democracy, accountability and liberty as defined by different individuals, the most difficult to manage. Sometime it gets them some-where but everybody, no-where.

Cultural difference? Over-rated!

But alas, this is by nature, human. Suprisingly I enjoyed it - big part of it is because I am not working alone here, that getting a bigger picture of things free your minds.

The office St Jacobsmarkt 82 is within 10 minutes walk from central station, a chinese grocery shop, cinema, Mier pedestrianised shopping street and if you can keep up with the pace of ever changing Antwerp weather - a basket ball court.

Halfway to the station - Katten straat P7 where I stay now, post office, key-maker, kebab + fritters aka junk food. Now that I have my bicycle, that 5 - 10 minutes can mean something really, really different. Next week, though, I should really get you guys the picture of spiderman crawling on the wall opposite of our office.

For now, you can see me working under a huge attic windows - this made me stop complaining about climbing up the stairs.


Volunteers maybe but a job is still a job - a day would start and 8 hours here seems shorter than those in Malaysia. Probably because of the cold weather - but it's spring!

That means even at 8pm, the sun would cast a long shadow over my body at the basketball court - so long it almost reach the Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady, a stone throw away.

So, I am still tasting Antwerp and probably Europe at large - no promise but at least, what I see is what you get as long as I have time to write :)

Warmest regards to my blogging you-know-who buddies!

One week later...

As promised...


Of course Spidy is always there, one week or one year, be it rainy or sunny saturday like today. Now I think no one will ever miss the entrance door to our office...

Have a nice weekend everyone!!!

We Are the BOSS

You already know the result of Malaysia's 12th general election - in brief - first simple majority in 50 years. But the rhetoric process does not end here. In fact, there are even more debates in mass media, so much so that we hardly know it really means. This is merely the first wave of "tsunami".

Say, if a well-known social-political writer would "mis-read the mood of the country...(12th general election) an epochal contest", what can normal rakyat can preceive, as one only chat about it over cup a of teh tarik?

So let's seized the moment in the words of some witty Malaysian columist and Yang Berhormat - while I can finish my teh tarik!

*** *** ***

"Without their two-thirds majority, the Bariasn MPs lose their free hand to amend the Constitution...it will be protected for at least four years..."

"Let there be no confusion between what teh Opposition chooses not to do and what they are simply unable to do (Opposition presence in Parliament is not enough for them to form the executive)"

"...(new faces in Parliament that belong to intelligent, capable people) an injection of intellectual content in legislative deliberations, rather than the usual slinging matches that our parliament is so shamefully infamous for (no more bocor commnets!)."

"...some practical aspirations that brought along more intangible type of hope...it showed that our vote counts; we the people hold the power."

"Democracy is an ongoing process, and if we value it we must continue to take part in that process."

"...for one in a long time, there is hope taht a non-ethnocentric form of politics and a truer democracy is appearing in our country." - Dr Azmi Sharom, law teacher, columnist

"...Umno is less used to rejection and its supporters are having trouble adjusting to not being completely in charge." - Joceline Tan, columnist

"We have an image problem and we have not been able to get rid of the perception of nepotism, corruption and cronyism. The perception is so strong that we find it hard to answer when people criticise us. It would be foolhardy not to make drastic changes. For example, it would be suicidal to bring back Samy Vellu." - Datuk Shahrir Samad, re-elected Johor Baru MP

"...before this, they (the Opposition) staged such demonstrations against the government. Now as the new government, they should know what it feels like," - Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, Penang State Umno liaision committee secretary

"...any act of revenge will not only cause looses to Penang but also to the whole of Malaysia." - Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, re-emphasizing his points while lauded Prime Minister's decision to carry on with all major Federal Government projects in Penang

"If there is self appraisal, I think gone would be the days of taking things for granted, the highhandedness and rhetoric. I would also look forward to more decorous conduct and less of what I call cockerel behaviour."

"(On constitutional amendment) I don't see any obstacle if the amendment was not self-serving to the Executive but was for the general good of the people..."

"This will be a challenge for Barisan MPs...Oppositino MPs were already supporting their debate points with data and sound reasoning."

"(On whether Barisan MPs would be more willing to vote for their conscience now) The practice of being beholden to the Whip is too ingrained...don't expect anything so drastic." - Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim, senior Barisan parliamentarian, ex-defunct Semangat 46

"(Election result)...shows that we're heading more towards a Malaysia that is suitable for all Malaysians regardless of race and creed...the political debate must revolve around policy issues rather than sentiments." - Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Malayia Think Tank director

*** *** ***

Well there will be more to come - there are internal bickering within both the Ruling and Opposition - let's just wait and see.

In Malaysia, we never fail to entertain you.

Voting Season aka Amazing Race Malaysia

Barely couple of months ago I read Zaid Ibrahim's "In Good Faith" - owner's of Malaysia's largest lawyer firm, have his own publishing company and most of all, one of the most outspoken BN backbencher.

Halfway through his book I am puzzled: How could this guy still fit nicely on one of our 219 parliament seat? Sure enough, Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru) has since been, dropped* from the BN line-up for upcoming General Election.

Some people don't get to wait till the elcetion day, 8th March, to know their 'score'.

Good news is he will now focus on social and charity. Malaysian has not lost a talented and outspoken leader. But slowly and progressively extending his business (as far as I know, laywer firm) overseas, I wonder, how long our Boleh Land can keep him?

Who knows he will be another Karim Raslan, who just came back from Indonesia (just?) to write about coming election? Now I know why Marina Mahathir's (sounds familiar, huh? :p) family outing to Indonesia send shivers down my spine. Both stayed out of politics for some apparent good reason: Politivirus infections.

Some of my friends lament that having no other choice, Malaysia is still the best country to earn money and make a living, regardless our cultural background. We just have to be patience, have high tolerance and perhaps, close-many-eyes; particularly on certain government policies.

But it's sad to see after 50 years, we barely passed the social intergration test. We can and need to improve, for the sake of Malaysian's future. With prejudice, over dominance and distrust in the team, you can't move forward effectively as a unit. Others will take advantages on us. The vicious cycle continues.

Unfortunately from the way it goes now, we are far from the level that will have someone like Kevin Rudd to say, well, 'sorry'. Nor we have voter believes in their power: We can vote-out whatever (I mean whoever) we vote-in (Parliament-lar)**. This is another social cycle - as long as money tree grows, have stable lifestyle, business secured; all will do. Anything can.

Mind you: I didn't mention the what-cycle was that. People have their rights to choose so we can only respect that. It's a simple math and process of evolution. If we are not there, so be it. Malaysian defeats all odds and survived somehow. Ask any Malaysian. Malaysia sure Boleh!

So, this is how some of us know their 'result', even before 8th March get started.

Do come back in 24 hours; I shall post some nice pictures of devotees in-trance; Like what happened to most politician and their aides now.

I would rather stay away and awake like KR and MM (not that MM that YOU know in Japan, haha) - but not away from casting my vote, of course.

But eh, when's the last time I saw and talked about Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (BN-Padang Rengas) again?

Alamak, dah lupe lar... (Alamak, I had forgotten about it...)

(Almost) 24 hours later...(picture as promised :p)


I think I don't need to explain in length about Thaipusam. Nowadays even Ponggol gets the well deserved attention in all major newspaper.

But it was a special Thaipusam this year. The picture above says it all (up to you to interpret-lar hehe...).


Then, I am with my tripod, zoom nicely into a busy swami-ji and a devotee. Silly me: I took to many photos, and at the same spot; so much so the semi-trance devotee pointing at me. Others, advise me to move away (especially with that camera). But how the hell she spots me there? Her eyes are hardly open, let alone the angle which puts me beyond her vision.

My Indian friend later explained that I was blocking the 'energy' that flows around or towards her - like someone standing infront of your fan, perhaps? How could you not chasing him away?


It's a beautiful night - returning to my apartment for a night walk, I took the picture above. The moon has come to a full.

Had I prayed, for the best of Malaysian...

Post March-8 update:
* Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim has since been elected as Law Minister in Prime Minister's Department - one of the few surprises when Pak Lah announced the new cabinet line-up.
** Thank godness I am wrong again. My prayer was answered :)

Journey Far West

Ever since my trip to Japan & China I’ve always wondered when my extreme-west journey is. For some reasons, both Japan & China has been extreme-east for me – partly their geographical location and partly their culture influences.

Born and raised in Malaysia, I was told that I am a Chinese and naturally, I behave like one. Lucky me I lived in a small village, hence the interaction with other races became more like a daily chores that you can’t missed, or avoided. Over time we get used to it. We assimilated to each other’s way of living, talking, eating – our culture that we brought from our ancestors – our mind has taken it up or else things would have been really difficult (for me).

That’s when life throws you another big question: Even my dad found little connection to Hainan, Southern China where grandpa came from. So, where do I stand? Do I really know China, or of being a Chinese? Hainanese? And, does it really matters? Because when I was in China, I was like “Oh, this is definitely not me. Not us. Not Malaysian.” How true, and difficult – because we may not want to end up like, say, American Chinese. It’s not resisting. But maybe it will finally arrived – just a matter of time.

I met some Japanese friends in Malaysia first – but to see them in their own aparto, joining their public bath, picking up the ball in their park etc. actually offers a totally different perspective of how you view your friends, and probably of you to them. You’d never know how you will react to certain things - no matter how prepared you are – until your life crossed path with it. I realize this back in Hunan province when I was chewing a piece of snake meat that tastes like chicken. And I like it (I mean the subsidiary to chicken!).

As rest assured that we, all of us here, are heavily influence by western cultures and values at different levels. In this sense, Malaysia is particularly outstanding in this region. For instance, and maybe second only to that of our separated toe, Singapore; English is a language that we speaks almost naturally – we have English papers, radios, Hollywood movies, rock bands, borrowed words to Malays languages, etc. I suddenly felt lucky because my mother language didn’t use alphabets.

Perhaps other than the late Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr. Lim Goh Tong, majority of the successful business and political figures here are well-educated in the West – from our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman to Karim Raslan. You could tell. They don’t write half-cooked English like yours truly. And I always thought these kinds of people will forever change the face of Malaysia. We can’t live as jaguh kampung (a.k.a. hero from a village) or have that kind of policies forever.

So with that kind of thought, I took my flight to Sofia. As much as I can offer, there are still more to learn, understand and take action.

********** ********* **********
Okay, let’s finish that of inner struggle and move on to something more cheerful, perhaps. I’ll roll up some pictures, and the vivid memory follows…



Our meeting venue, Hotel Club Vladaya situated in a magnificent 85 ha park, Southern slope of Liulin Mountain. About 100m a.s.l., it’s amazing that this heaven is just some 12km from the centre of Sofia. But this is no Lapland so I am glad that the sun rise around 0730 hrs, instead of 1100 hrs – just enough time and light for a morning walk (and photos) before my breakfast. My note says it is around 2 oC – but without windy gust it feels like comfortable 15 – 20 oC.

Walking out from the double door to the patio, I instantly make friends with a local – a beautiful “man’s best friend”. She left thousands of foot prints before me; her presence simply washed away that little uncertainty that I have on this alien landscape. For first couple of morning I would stroll within 300 yards from the building compound – that’s how far she follows. By the time I am “strong” enough, I would walk extra 500 more to take this picture: Hotel Club Vladaya nestled in Liulin Mountain – without my faithful new friend.

Occasionally the owner of the hotel would travel out, probably getting more food supply for 40 over city-monkeys. The road freezes over the cold night, making it nearly impossible to move on wheels – thanks to that I know now what Daniel can do with some ashes, if you don’t feels like chaining your wheels. They probably use it to clean wok like my mum did – but splashing it onto the floor is the last thing we’d think of.

After breakfast we would stick on the chair for the next 5, 6 hours. The meeting was boring yes but if you have delicious meals and timely tea break in between, things are pretty well balanced. In fact this is first overseas trip (I never had business trip-lar) that I ate very fine local dishes, complete with appetizers and desserts.

And if the tea is not good enough, we’ll have Hungarian-Chinese language lesson in the meeting…a brief one, anyway.

Thanks to Vanya’s smses I manage to buy my Sofia-Plovdiv bus ticket. Initially I was delighted to finally found the bus station after walking for a hour or so but to my surprise, all ticketing country labeled with Cyrillic writings (and of course)! Beautiful things about Vanya’s sms is not only it clearly state which counter & platform (number) I should buy and board the bus, I should also look for 'COFNA-PLOBNB' which is close to 'Sofia-Plovdiv' in Cyrillic, except you have to reverse the letter 'N'. Interesting. It’s like doing a treasure hunt in Sofia, ended up in Plovdiv.

And then there was these toothpicks on the table of a traditional Bulgarian restaurant - I was having dinner with Vanya and few other AIESEC members of Plovdiv. They are surprise to see a Malaysian here, but even more curious on the taste of coconut cake. My ‘toothpicks surprise’ turned theirs when I use it to spear the coconut cake – good thing is they picked it up fast enough just in time for the next surprise – durian cake. To their disbelieve I told them the real durian smells stronger (and taste better), and it’s Malaysia’s King of Fruits.

I spent my final morning in Old Town of Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe ruled by the great Thracian before their fall to Roman Empire. Even till today Bulgarian kept unearthing Tharacian treasures. My guesthouse is just a stone throw away from the famous Hisar Kapia archway, once the heavily guarded original gate to the old town. Today parents sent their kids to kindergarten crossing the archway on daily basis.

My Bulgarian friends are delighted when I said I like their country. I would felt the same if they (or anyone) visit me here, and after I showed them the Malaysia that I know - the good, bad or ugly.

More like how I missed the last morning in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Merci, Bulgaria!

Now that I have the reputation as a slow-blogger, I decided to post something really quick and brief before all the memories washed away. More over it shouldn't be such a case when you wanted to say "Thank You" :-


Daniel at work


Snowy Vladaya


Beautiful morning at Plovdiv old town

Not planning to elaborate this post, all three pictures represents ;-

People that I met whom I am grateful and honours to spend some time with,

Amazing places which I visited during my short stay (not forgetting the food!), and

Old and new Bulgaria - complementing each other, so well!

Merci, Bulgaria!