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Date: 4th May 2013
The Nomad reckons, “When ill luck begins, it does not come in sprinkles, but in showers.”
Now I know why you had me show you around Shanghai and not the other way around...me with an attitude \"It\'ll be right mate\". I reckon its something you did in a past life! And then there was Jennifer...patience of a Saint...all becoming clearer now. Looking forward to the next episode...with a sort of grey feeling your fortune may not improve...hope I\'m wrong.
From Blog: We May Have Made a Big Mistake.
The Nomad reckons, “When ill luck begins, it does not come in sprinkles, but in showers.”
Now I know why you had me show you around Shanghai and not the other way around...me with an attitude \"It\'ll be right mate\". I reckon its something you did in a past life! And then there was Jennifer...patience of a Saint...all becoming clearer now. Looking forward to the next episode...with a sort of grey feeling your fortune may not improve...hope I\'m wrong.
From Blog: We May Have Made a Big Mistake.
Date: 1st May 2013
Thanks
Good to read your articles, though I seldom comment. Mari and I recently toured NZ as well, and enjoyed it enormously. Met you in the Andamans post tsunami, then Mari and I had just met, 3 years later we were visiting the Togians, on your advice. Didn't make it to the Sudan though, maybe in the future. I've really enjoyed following you and your family, keep it up, you prove travel doesn't have to end with children.
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
Thanks
Good to read your articles, though I seldom comment. Mari and I recently toured NZ as well, and enjoyed it enormously. Met you in the Andamans post tsunami, then Mari and I had just met, 3 years later we were visiting the Togians, on your advice. Didn't make it to the Sudan though, maybe in the future. I've really enjoyed following you and your family, keep it up, you prove travel doesn't have to end with children.
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
Vantage Point
I will be visiting Bora Bora later this year and I'm interested in knowing from what vantage point or place you took the sunrise over Bora Bora. I'd like to view the sunrise from that place. Thanks.
From Blog: Guilty Pleasures
Date: 21st February 2013
Your comments on Delhi
I hope Delhi will never have to suffer the likes of you again. Not even for the convenience of extending your visas. Ugh.
From Blog: War and relief in serendipity
Your comments on Delhi
I hope Delhi will never have to suffer the likes of you again. Not even for the convenience of extending your visas. Ugh.
From Blog: War and relief in serendipity
Hes so big now!
Its hard to believe this is the baby that you brought to the philippines, or i may be mistaken
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
That is indeed that baby!
Incidentally, in the next blog I will write about his return to the Philippines... I just have to get around to writing it;-)
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 29th January 2013
I would like to add something intelligent
But I fear I will fail, so I won't... Especially since I see we are now moving into the field of physics, with all this talk of seeing is changing ;) In that regard I say, everything is relative, it fits nicely into all of this.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
I would like to add something intelligent
But I fear I will fail, so I won't... Especially since I see we are now moving into the field of physics, with all this talk of seeing is changing ;) In that regard I say, everything is relative, it fits nicely into all of this.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 30th January 2013
Relative
And a matter of power, who has the right to decide
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Relative
And a matter of power, who has the right to decide
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 29th January 2013
AND AFTER
And after the authentic cultural dances...they changed from their authentic cultural dress...and put on their authentic denim jeans & T-shirts...and went out on the town with their friends...can't get more authentic than that!
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
AND AFTER
And after the authentic cultural dances...they changed from their authentic cultural dress...and put on their authentic denim jeans & T-shirts...and went out on the town with their friends...can't get more authentic than that!
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 30th January 2013
Fair dinkum comment, mate.
The origins of this term came from the Victorian Goldfields where Chinese workers used the term Ding kum to confirm a deal that is honest and true. 'Din gum' meaning ‘real gold’ in Chinese
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Fair dinkum comment, mate.
The origins of this term came from the Victorian Goldfields where Chinese workers used the term Ding kum to confirm a deal that is honest and true. 'Din gum' meaning ‘real gold’ in Chinese
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 29th January 2013
The conclusion is...
the search for authenticity is futile. I heard somewhere that no scientific observation is accurate as the mere act of observing influences the results.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
The conclusion is...
the search for authenticity is futile. I heard somewhere that no scientific observation is accurate as the mere act of observing influences the results.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 29th January 2013
Exactly...
If people believe that a mixture of cultures is no longer authentic and that any culture 'tainted' by ours is no longer authentic, then logic dictates that the tourists' quest is a doomed one. As their mere presence in seeking leads to those very cultural changes, hybridizations and contaminations (at least in their mind) they deplore.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Exactly...
If people believe that a mixture of cultures is no longer authentic and that any culture 'tainted' by ours is no longer authentic, then logic dictates that the tourists' quest is a doomed one. As their mere presence in seeking leads to those very cultural changes, hybridizations and contaminations (at least in their mind) they deplore.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 28th January 2013
Well, let's see how many cultures were killed in Malacca...
First, the Malays destroyed the culture of the aboriginal inhabitants of the Malay peninsula. Then it was either the Hindu Hinda raj (Indian) or descendent of Alexander the Great (European) founder of Malacca who destroyed the culture of the Malays. And once it became a trading center, the cultures of the "...Chinese, Moors from Cairo, Mecca, Aden, Abyssinians (Ethiopians), men of Kilwa (Tanzania), Hormuz (Iran), Parsees (Indian Zoroastrians), Turks, Christian Armenians, Gujaratees, men of the kingdom of Deccan (central India), Malabars (south India) and Klings , merchants from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Bengal, Siam (Thailand), Malay, Cambodia, Champa (central Vietnam), Cochin China (southern third of Vietnam), Chinese, men of Brunei, Timor, Java, Palembang (Sumatra), and the Maldives" who destroyed the culture. This was followed by the destruction wrought by the English, Dutch, and Portugese in the 16th century onwards. And finally, the culture of not only Malacca, but almost the entire civilized world was destroyed by the American culture of movies, music, clothing, and fast food restaurants; and the dominance of the English language. I make that 30 cultures destroyed in Malacca. In another few centuries the dominant culture will look back on the culture of Malacca of today just as we are looking back at the culture several centuries ago...as authentic. I prefer to think of this blend like you described "Nyonya cuisine, which for the uninitiated is combination of Chinese, Malay/Indonesian and other influences into a unique blend, also known locally as the cuisine of the Perakanans, “descendants”. The 30 cultures did not destroy, but created a unique blend. I agree, however, that when you are in the midst of a cultural takeover, we regret the passing of the previous culture. I regret the impact that the American culture has had on the world, just as I regret the passing of the American culture of earlier generations. I also agree that tourists can accelerate cultural decline. I recently visited Thailand after having been away 25 years. I was aghast at the changes to their culture. Twenty five years earlier the Thai celebrated just a few events for themselves (Songkran in April, Loy Kratong in November, etc). Now there were celebrations almost every weekend for the tourists, and the dances and costumes used were glitzed up to appeal to the tourist audience. That's why when I was in Fiji and ran across a dance celebration by Fijians for Fijians, with me and a friend as the only foreigners, I felt that I was seeing an authentic cultural event. Anyway, I look forward to seeing Ali's response to the question you didn't raise in KL, but did here!
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Well, let's see how many cultures were killed in Malacca...
First, the Malays destroyed the culture of the aboriginal inhabitants of the Malay peninsula. Then it was either the Hindu Hinda raj (Indian) or descendent of Alexander the Great (European) founder of Malacca who destroyed the culture of the Malays. And once it became a trading center, the cultures of the "...Chinese, Moors from Cairo, Mecca, Aden, Abyssinians (Ethiopians), men of Kilwa (Tanzania), Hormuz (Iran), Parsees (Indian Zoroastrians), Turks, Christian Armenians, Gujaratees, men of the kingdom of Deccan (central India), Malabars (south India) and Klings , merchants from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Bengal, Siam (Thailand), Malay, Cambodia, Champa (central Vietnam), Cochin China (southern third of Vietnam), Chinese, men of Brunei, Timor, Java, Palembang (Sumatra), and the Maldives" who destroyed the culture. This was followed by the destruction wrought by the English, Dutch, and Portugese in the 16th century onwards. And finally, the culture of not only Malacca, but almost the entire civilized world was destroyed by the American culture of movies, music, clothing, and fast food restaurants; and the dominance of the English language. I make that 30 cultures destroyed in Malacca. In another few centuries the dominant culture will look back on the culture of Malacca of today just as we are looking back at the culture several centuries ago...as authentic. I prefer to think of this blend like you described "Nyonya cuisine, which for the uninitiated is combination of Chinese, Malay/Indonesian and other influences into a unique blend, also known locally as the cuisine of the Perakanans, “descendants”. The 30 cultures did not destroy, but created a unique blend. I agree, however, that when you are in the midst of a cultural takeover, we regret the passing of the previous culture. I regret the impact that the American culture has had on the world, just as I regret the passing of the American culture of earlier generations. I also agree that tourists can accelerate cultural decline. I recently visited Thailand after having been away 25 years. I was aghast at the changes to their culture. Twenty five years earlier the Thai celebrated just a few events for themselves (Songkran in April, Loy Kratong in November, etc). Now there were celebrations almost every weekend for the tourists, and the dances and costumes used were glitzed up to appeal to the tourist audience. That's why when I was in Fiji and ran across a dance celebration by Fijians for Fijians, with me and a friend as the only foreigners, I felt that I was seeing an authentic cultural event. Anyway, I look forward to seeing Ali's response to the question you didn't raise in KL, but did here!
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 29th January 2013
The (re)invention of culture
An anthropologist, and dear friend, told me a story about how she was once with an eldery Fijian lady in Fiji, who was complaining about western tourists who come to Fiji and parade about topless on the beaches there. They are disrespecting and destroying our culture, she said. Of course when missionaries first arrived in Fiji many years before, they were horrfied to discover the local indigenous women walking around topless, and put a swift stop to all that sinful behaviour. The same friend also recounts how she had her elderly mother over to Fiji on a vacation. After watching a lovely local song and dance performance in a small village her mother purred over how authentic it all was. She didn't have the heart to tell her that most of these songs are locally translated versions of old Protestant hymns brought over by those same missionaries. As for the Thais (re)inventing culture and tradition for a tourist audience...all cultural practices and traditions are invented, even those 'original' traditions that were invented before our time on this planet, and those that will be inevitably (re)invented after it.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
The (re)invention of culture
An anthropologist, and dear friend, told me a story about how she was once with an eldery Fijian lady in Fiji, who was complaining about western tourists who come to Fiji and parade about topless on the beaches there. They are disrespecting and destroying our culture, she said. Of course when missionaries first arrived in Fiji many years before, they were horrfied to discover the local indigenous women walking around topless, and put a swift stop to all that sinful behaviour. The same friend also recounts how she had her elderly mother over to Fiji on a vacation. After watching a lovely local song and dance performance in a small village her mother purred over how authentic it all was. She didn't have the heart to tell her that most of these songs are locally translated versions of old Protestant hymns brought over by those same missionaries. As for the Thais (re)inventing culture and tradition for a tourist audience...all cultural practices and traditions are invented, even those 'original' traditions that were invented before our time on this planet, and those that will be inevitably (re)invented after it.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 28th January 2013
Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.
And for those that resist; "I should conclude that our demonstration was as impressive as it was thorough."
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.
And for those that resist; "I should conclude that our demonstration was as impressive as it was thorough."
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 29th January 2013
There is hope, it is written...
"Alderaanians who were offworld at the time would later regularly go on pilgrimages known as The Returning to the remains of Alderaan. After the Empire wiped out a settlement created by surviving Alderaanians Ejolus, Alderaanians colonized New Alderaan which soon became a member of the New Republic..."
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
There is hope, it is written...
"Alderaanians who were offworld at the time would later regularly go on pilgrimages known as The Returning to the remains of Alderaan. After the Empire wiped out a settlement created by surviving Alderaanians Ejolus, Alderaanians colonized New Alderaan which soon became a member of the New Republic..."
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 28th January 2013
Brilliant metaphor!
This is why those truly searching for authenticity scour Italy in search of meals free of that dastardly tomato, and snub their noses at any dish prepared with the delectable spices of Malacca when outside the peninsula. Cultural homogeneity, indeed! Of course, to kill a culture presumes that cultures are static things, destroyed by change, rather than ever evolving and transmuted through contact, trade and tourism.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Brilliant metaphor!
This is why those truly searching for authenticity scour Italy in search of meals free of that dastardly tomato, and snub their noses at any dish prepared with the delectable spices of Malacca when outside the peninsula. Cultural homogeneity, indeed! Of course, to kill a culture presumes that cultures are static things, destroyed by change, rather than ever evolving and transmuted through contact, trade and tourism.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 29th January 2013
To kill a culture...
When we change, it's called progress; when they change by attempting to progress it's perceived as them losing their culture and themselves.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
To kill a culture...
When we change, it's called progress; when they change by attempting to progress it's perceived as them losing their culture and themselves.
From Blog: How Many Cultures Did You Kill Today?
Date: 13th January 2013
Wonderful writing!
And now I appreciate the $0.69 Big Gulp at every corner gas station in America even more.
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
Wonderful writing!
And now I appreciate the $0.69 Big Gulp at every corner gas station in America even more.
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
Date: 12th January 2013
Awesome
Good article to read. Keep it up!
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
Awesome
Good article to read. Keep it up!
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
Date: 10th January 2013
Circa 2013
You said back in 2011 that it would probably be circa 2013 before you got around to writing your own 'Rugby World Cup' entry - I'm glad we didn't have to wait too long after the New Year! Fantastic writing, loved the photos - and the other comments :-) Hope to see you back here for the next parade in a couple of years!
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
Circa 2013
You said back in 2011 that it would probably be circa 2013 before you got around to writing your own 'Rugby World Cup' entry - I'm glad we didn't have to wait too long after the New Year! Fantastic writing, loved the photos - and the other comments :-) Hope to see you back here for the next parade in a couple of years!
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
Date: 11th January 2013
It was with tongue-in-cheek when I made that prediction.
But when the year turned 2013 and I still hadn’t gotten round to it I felt obligated to pull my finger out! I had actually planned to write a lot more about New Zealand’s relationship with Rugby and more of the actual tournament itself, but the sands of time have clouded my memory of things, and all I seem to remember are how small coffees were;-) Doubtless we'll be back with or without Web Ellis!
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
It was with tongue-in-cheek when I made that prediction.
But when the year turned 2013 and I still hadn’t gotten round to it I felt obligated to pull my finger out! I had actually planned to write a lot more about New Zealand’s relationship with Rugby and more of the actual tournament itself, but the sands of time have clouded my memory of things, and all I seem to remember are how small coffees were;-) Doubtless we'll be back with or without Web Ellis!
From Blog: What's Wrong with New Zealand?
Where we've lived 
Maroon 
Beata and Tomek
Beata & Tomek
great read as always
totally enjoyed this blog with my morning cup of coffee:-) your writing is so good that I got angry with Ryan myself hahah Holidays to remember, no doubt!!! cheers, Beata
From Blog: We May Have Made a Big Mistake.