Need for Speed at the Malaysian 2007 Grand Prix

The 2007 Formula 1 Grand Prix season started off with a bang this year. The second racing event in the circuit was enjoyed in Kuala Lumpur as Malaysia hosted the 2007 Grand Prix at its Sepang International Circuit course during the first weekend in April.

Included in the Grand Prix Formula One Racing Championship in 1999, the Malaysia circuit, hosted at the Sepang racecourse near Kuala Lumpur, is fast becoming one of the most popular events in that part of Asia. Since their first year in the F1 racing circuit, the Malaysian course has offered drastic changes in weather to challenge F1 drivers, as well as a 56-lap, 5.54 km racecourse filled with hair-raising turns and straight-aways that beg for speed.

The Sepang racecourse, built in 1998, has become the guiding design of subsequent F1 racetracks around the world, and has led the way to offering a major global event that attracts thousands of visitors every year to this exotic country filled with charm, grace and history. Sepang is known to be one of the most technical circuits in the Grand Prix circuit, and its combinations of tight turns and straight-aways make it one of the most exciting courses for both drivers and spectators.

The racetrack, a mere 3.5 kilometers from the New Kuala Lumpur International Airport, is easily accessible by taxi and can be reached within a ten minute drive. Shuttle services also transport passengers back and forth as well, but most visitors opt to stay at least a few days to enjoy the atmosphere and amenities that Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia have to offer.

This year’s race saw Fernando Alonso crossing the finish line first for the McLaren-Mercedes racing team, and hot new rookie Lewis Hamilton, whose debut in the Australian Grand Prix in March 2007 saw him taking third, followed Alonso across the line to finish second in an exciting, heart-stopping race that had crowds at Sepang on their feet.

The roar of engines and the smell of hot rubber and warm asphalt drifted over the thousands who came to witness the exciting race, which saw Alonso maintaining an almost nine second lead over Hamilton the later half of the race as onlookers watched with wide-eyed excitement and cheered for the efforts of other racers, including Kimi Raikkonen, who finished third for Ferrari.

After Australia, the F1 site at Kuala Lumpur offered racing fans not only a drastic change in temperature, but sights as well. Malaysia, offering a quaint combination of modern amenities and architecture with simple Asian charm, provided domestic and global visitors with a different view of the world as seen by Malaysians. The capital city of Kuala Lumpur welcomed global visitors to the event with open arms and tasty treats that delights the palate.

Keep an eye on the McLaren-Mercedes racing team comprising of Alonso and the rookie fast making a name for himself in the F1 world, Lewis Hamilton, in upcomin Grand Prix as both give fellow racers a fast, exciting run for their money.

Book reviews: My Life as a Fake, by Peter Carey

My Life As A Fake by Peter Carey is a strange, multi-layered journey through a man’s past, his artistic inspiration and his products, both illusory and real. Christopher Chubb is Australian and a budding poet. He resents the privilege of a certain litterateur and so he decides to nail him. An apparently genuine but actually bogus set of poems is supplied and adjudged significantly more than competent. The agent publishes. The material is fake. Chubb is accused and stands trial for his sins against artistic identity and integrity.

Some years later John Slater and Sarah Elizabeth Jane Wode-Douglas visit Kuala Lumpur. Slater is an accomplished poet who has hobnobbed with anyone worth hobnobbing with, Eliot, Pound, Auden, etc. He also something of a lady’s man on the side. Sarah is an upper crust girl who developed a liking for other girls at school. Aspects of her origins are a matter of some conjecture, however. Slater seems to have played a role. Her present is clear. She is the editor in chief of a miniscule literary journal devoted mainly to new poetry. In Kuala Lumpur she discovers the story of Bob McCorkles fabled poetry, the fake created by Christopher Chubb.

Chubb is resident in KL and has been so for several years. He has a bicycle repair shop, but still writes his own doggerel. Sarah meets him and dismisses his work as dire, derivative at best. McCorkles poems, however, are blissful and she tries everything possible to get her hands on the material so that she can publish it. The problem for her is the fact that McCorkle is apparently an invention of Chubb, so the only way that she can get near to the material is through him. The Australian is now a poor artisan with ragged clothes and tropical ulcers. He speaks English strongly peppered with bits of Malay and plays hard to get. The only way that Sarah can access the McCorkle poems is to suffer Chubb’s life story, its fantasies, inventions and questionable realities.

And it’s a story that comes and goes to and from Australia. It progresses through Indonesia and peninsular Malaya. We visit Penang, sup tea in the E and O as Chubb pursues McCorkle, his own now demonic invention, across south east Asia. His alter ego becomes something real, something apart from himself.

The book is packed with literary references, but is in no way academic. There is a strong sense of place, with the sights, sounds and smells of Kuala Lumpur oozing from the page. The only aspect missing is the taste, and in Malaysia

Travel Asia – A Popular Choice for Travelers

The largest as well as the most populous continents in the world – Asia is a land of diversity with a multitude of geographies, cultures, and people. Occupying an area of about 9% of the total area of the earth’s surface, Asia is home to more than five billion people.

In other words, Asia consists of more than 60% of the world’s overall population. As a tourist destination, Asia boasts of a feast of attractions in the form of traditional cities, ancient monuments with superb architecture, museums and art galleries that throw light on the history of the place, incredible wild life, scenic mind blowing attractions, and attractions that are a blend of both east and west.

There are also a range of vibrant attractions, covering action packed beaches, bargain shopping areas, and exuberant nightclubs. Equally remarkable is the sumptuous cuisines available here, each of which is a representation of different cultures. In fact, the world’s majority of tourist attractions are found in Asia. Discussed further in this article are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Asia.

The continent of Asia is home to such incredible destinations as India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Philippines. Asia has such a great number of attractions that even a year is not enough to explore them all. For those who want to explore a range of rich culture and topography and at the same time interested in recreational pursuits, then one of the most suitable options would be to take a tour to India. Stunning beaches, gorgeous monuments, ancient temples, and lively cities, all sum up the attractions of India. Attractions, among many others, in India are Red Fort and Qutab Minar in Delhi, Taj Mahal, one of the world’s seven wonders, Khajuraho Temples in Madhya Pradesh, Elephanta Caves in Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad, and Kerala’s backwaters.

For those interested in exploring the pristine beauty as well as the ancient wonders, perhaps the greatest of all attractions in Asia would be China, which boasts of such lively destinations as Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing, all of with loads of mind blowing attractions. Most popular among the attractions in China are the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Potala Palace, West Lake, and Mogao Grottos. Another much sought after tourist destination in Asia is Japan, which is acknowledged as the Land of the Rising Sun. It features attractions such as Nara Park, Kyoto’s Higashiyama area, Kin Osaki, Himeji Castle, and Takayama in Gifu. With attractions such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is also an incredible spot in Asia.

Popular countries in Asia also include the Kingdom of Thailand, which is probably the number one tourist destination in South-East Asia. What that set apart Thailand from other spots in Asia is its breathtaking natural beauty, stunning temples, gorgeous island destinations, stupendous monuments, healthy cuisines, and above all presence of amicable Thai people.

Just few among many of the attractions in Thailand are Bangkok, the capital city; Ayutthaya, which is much famed for its Gothic ruins; Chiang-Mai, bestowed with the title ‘Rose of the North,’ Krabi, which is a paradise for enjoying a range of water sport activities; and Pattaya, one of the best resorts in Asia. Also, a tourist spot in South-East Asia is Singapore, which is an island destination situated at the Malay Peninsula’s southern tip. Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore Discovery Center, Little India, and China Town, are some of the Singapore’s landmarks.

Southeast Asia also contains incredible destinations such as Indonesia – the largest archipelagic nation in the world; Malaysia, with attractions like Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya; Philippines, with more than 7000 islands; and Burma, which is the largest country in Southeast Asia. Other top places of interest in Asia are Sri Lanka – an island destination located off the southern tip of India; Afghanistan, with a rich as well as complex history; Maldives, which consists of more than 1,000 coral islands in the Indian Ocean; Uzbekistan, one of the most popular destinations in Central Asia; Kyrgyzstan, which is probably the most popular tourist spot in Central Asia; and Bangladesh, which has to its credit a number of ancient palaces, magnificent Buddhist shrines, and beautiful monuments.

In short, Asia is truly a dream destination for every traveler.

Malaysia The Asian Beauty

The splendid country of Malaysia stores a rich stock of diversified heritage, traditions, and culture. The vivid mesh of different religious and racial backgrounds that feature the heritage of Asia in Malays, Chinese, and Indians and the cultural marks left by the Thai, Portuguese, Dutch, and English make Malaysia one of the most beautiful countries that celebrate plurality and diversity.Beach ResortsThe Catai beach in Langkawi Island is another top beach. While most of the coves are privately owned, it still does not stop for tourists to enter this beach scene. The Datai beach is one of the best crescent beaches in Malaysia with excellent diving sites that rival the best beaches in Asia.Sights in Kuala LumpurThe Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is one of the largest bird parks in South East Asia. Tourists to Malaysia that go to its capital marvel at the different display of birds in such an urban place. The National Mosque shows off the Islamic tradition of Malaysia to its Asian neighbours. It houses a grand hall that can accommodate a lot of Muslim worshippers, which is also a main reason for the influx of tourists.

2008 Beijing Games Torch Ceremony Clouded by Continuous Protests

This past Sunday at the archaeological site Olympia – near the Temple of Hera the 29th Olympic Games Torch was lit. This was the beginning of the five-month journey towards the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games which will begin on August 8th.

The first torch bearer will be the Athens 2004 taekwondo medallist – Greek athlete Alexander Nikolaidis who will have the task to take the torch throughout Greece over a period of six days. Luo Xuejuan, China’s Olympic swimming gold medallist was the second bearer, taking the flame from Nikolaidis. The Greek athlete will then hand it over to the Chinese Olympic officials at the Kalimarmaro Stadium.

Despite the high security measures; the event was clouded by the interference of two pro-Tibet demonstrators who were carrying black flags. Also, other three members of the Paris-based press freedom group were displaying a banner with the symbol of the Olympics transformed into handcuffs a clear attempt of disrespect for the national symbols. All activists were detained by the police but later on released on bail.

Afterwards they were interviewed and stated the charges were “absurd and senseless”. Reporters Without Borders said: “We were in no way attacking the Olympic spirit or Greece,”. “We were simply protesting against the policy being carried out in China during this period of intensifying repression.”

Despite the unusual oppositions Chinese climbers will carry the Olympic torch to the 8,444 metre summit of the highest mountain in the planet – The Everest. This is certainly a challenge not only for the climbers but the unsettle situation which is being lived at the Tibet does not make it any easier. In the past days the capital city of Tibet – Lhasa has been hit by continuous riots as the people who live in this land claim independence from China.

The torch’s 137,000 kilometres journey involves more than 27,870 torchbearers who together will covered five continents and 134 cities. It is expected that along the way there will be more protests pro-Tibetans around the world. Some of the places which are awaiting the torch and at which there will be additional ceremonies are: Almaty, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, London, Paris, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Dar es Salaam, Muscat, Islamabad, New Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Canberra, Nagano, Seoul, Pyongyang , Ho Chi Minh City , Hong Kong, Macao, Tianjin and once again Beijing.

Jacques Rogge – President of the International Olympic Committee stated at the ceremony “Today will lead to the opening of the first ever Olympic Games in China, where one-fifth of the world’s population is longing for them.” “The messengers will be citizens, young or old, able or disabled, athletes and members of the Olympic Movement, who are all eager to promote what each one of us can contribute to a better world,” he said.

Indonesia A Hidden Treasure Trove

With its incredible diversity, India is a feast for the senses for people around the world, with its colour, character, philosophy and organised chaos. All my life I have revelled in this and considered myself very fortunate to be a part of it. However, it has made my search for such diversity and vibrancy elsewhere much harder.

Having planned some time off to travel last year, my wife, Sophia, and I narrowed the list of places we wanted to visit to South America or Indonesia; and when a good friend related fascinating stories from Indonesia, it seemed like a sleeping giant that the world knew little about so we decided to go and see it for ourselves.

Consider some of these facts: The largest archipelago in the world with about 18,000 islands, Indonesia stretches along the equator for more than 5,000 km. Almost 60% of Indonesia’s land is forested and it has more than 500 volcanoes 12% of which are still active! The fourth most heavily populated country in the world after China, India and the United States with close to 250 million people, comprising some 300 ethnic groups who speak an estimated 600 languages and dialects.

Part 1 Bali the island of the Gods!

As a first time visitor to Indonesia, I was excited as well as a little nervous. Its a massive country, spread over thousands of kilometres. So like India, yet so unlike India, with its endless islands forming a chain along the equator.

Indonesia to me was a slightly incomprehensible mix of a remarkably beautiful tropical paradise and danger; with communal troubles and civil disturbances, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and earthquakes. During our trip we hoped to find a fascinating reality that lay between those two opposing themes.

The excitement stemmed also from the fact that we had a month to spend there exploring these marvellous islands; home to active volcanoes, spectacular beaches and unique wildlife, like the Komodo dragon.

We started our trip in the relative comfort of the well developed tourism infrastructure on the island of Bali. In fact only thing that was difficult was trying to get a reasonably priced flight from New Delhi, as we had left it so late! Everything worked out finally and an uneventful Malaysian airlines flight later through Kuala Lumpur, we landed in Bali at Denpasar airport. The landing was spectacular as the plane comes down close to the white sandy Jimbaran beach; as you fly in, all you can see is the sea coming closer and closer until a few seconds before touch down the runway is suddenly visible.

As Indonesia has recently relaxed its visa regime for Indians, it was possible to get a visa on arrival as an Indian passport holder, it is still a novel experience to travel to countries and get a visa on arrival! Laos, Thailand, Hong Kong (interestingly enough one needs a visa for China though), Cambodia and Maldives are a few of the others.

It was a hassle free experience and one can straight away see the advantages it brings to tourism and business travel. This is even more important in light of the Indian Tourism Boards efforts to push a similar proposal through for visitors to India.

Having pre-arranged some budget accommodation in the nearby beach town of Sanur, we hired a taxi to get us there. Balis excellent tourism infrastructure made it an easy and painless process, we didnt even need the Indonesian we had been learning, a language much easier to learn than many.

Bali, appropriately called the island of the gods is an excellent example of the religious and cultural diversity which exists in Indonesia, and consists predominantly of Hindu communities. By contrast the island of Java, where the capital Jakarta is located, is predominantly Muslim and the island of Flores (where we headed to later in our trip) is mostly Christian.

The widely spread islands with their mix of peoples, cultures and religions means that Indonesia has faced a similar problem to India in terms of language. Bahasa Indonesia is the national language but interestingly has faced similar challenges in many parts of the country to that with the adoption of Hindi as the national language in India. Indeed in Bali, Balinese is widely spoken.

The Balinese worship the various gods of Hindu mythology and are all as familiar with the Mahabharatha and the Ramayana as many Indians are. Each house is in fact considered a minor temple, adding further to the astounding statistic of some 20,000 temples on this small island of no more than two million people.

Offerings are made twice daily to the gods of the house and to the gods honoured in small shrines everywhere. As you drive around Bali, the sight of women carrying rice-and-flower offerings on banana leaves is common. Indeed, the word Bali, dating from the 9th century, means “offering.”

Sanur a rather sleepy town, that had begun to lose its charm through its efforts to pander to all kinds of tourists. Our sense of discovery, lead us to search for the real Bali and we headed to a small island, Nusa Lembongan, about two hours away by boat.

Nusa Lembongan is one of 3 islands that sit across the Badung Strait on the Southeast coast of Bali along with Nusa Ceningan & Nusa Penida. These 3 islands are somewhat impoverished, relying on seaweed farming, cattle and other low-return activities, with tourism the brightest light on the horizon. The boat ride across the Badung Strait was smooth to begin with, but as we had been warned, the straits are extremely deep and there is always a large swell in the middle –finely illustrated by the teenage girl sitting behind us unable to keep her breakfast away from the fish!

Although we had to get off at the main jetty, we had made up our minds to make our way to Mushroom Bay, an amazing white sand beach which we had spotted from the boat. Getting there meant either taking a small, but expensive, motor boat taxi, or hiking with our heavy back packs up and downhill for a couple of hours.

Of course, having decided on the water taxi option, we couldnt find one until a booming Australian drawl asked if he could help. Indeed he was the owner of the water taxi company who had been living on Nusa Lembongan for years. Mushroom Bay was every bit as pretty close up and we booked ourselves into some Balinese style lodging for a few nights.

Breakfast by the beach is a luxury for anyone and we certainly indulged at the rather aptly named but predictable Bali Cafe. There was a sense of exclusivity to Mushroom Bay which was only disturbed at about mid-day for a few hours by day trippers from mainland Bali. We spent that time exploring the island and the first time around decided to do a walking tour. Incredibly greenery, and some stunning beaches, were our reward although after a while the humidity made the walk more of an effort than we would have liked. And, of course, temples and offerings were everywhere.

The next day we decided to explore a bit further by hiring a motor cycle, with my wife bravely (according to her!) agreeing to ride pillion. The roads were not great and extremely steep in places, but off we set off. It is hard to lose ones way around the island and we made it to the other side of the island, stopping off to admire the views and when stopped by friendly inquisitive children.

Our plan was to visit the other two neighbouring islands, if possible, and were told we could drive our bike across a narrow bridge. The bridge was indeed narrow but what worried us even more was the approach ramp – a small miscalculation of a few inches and the probability was that we would miss the bridge and land in the sea. As not-so-brave adventurers, we decided that I try it alone without my passenger. Success!

Driving through Nusa Ceningan, it was apparent that the island was much poorer than Nusa Lembongnan; the difference was tourism. Residents of Nusa Ceningan survived mostly through sea weed farming and when the trade wasn’t going well they had a difficult life.

We stopped at a site where there were clearly plans to build a resort. Most of the structure and layout were in place, but now had been left to rot. As we were enjoying the views and thinking, how wonderful it would be to resurrect the resort, and would it ever be feasible, a man appeared from behind the buildings and came over. Suddenly worried that we were trespassing and that there was no other soul in sight, we tried to apologise and move away. But he was very friendly and told us about the plans for this place and how it had all gone wrong when his foreign business partner decided to pull out when tourism in Bali went into a tailspin after the bomb attacks several years ago. At last our few phrases of Bahasa Indonesia had come in useful! That, with English and body language had helped us communicate.

Having had a relatively quiet and relaxed introduction to Indonesia we were ready to make our way back to mainland Bali and get intrepid in pursuit of the Komodo dragon and to see whales in the remote village of Lamalera, in one of the eastern most parts of the archipelago.

Top Holiday Spots

Indonesia

The name Indonesia has its roots in two Greek words: “Indos” meaning Indian and “Nesos” which means islands. It is an appropriate description of the archipelago as there are estimated to be a total of 17,508 islands, of which only about 6,000 are inhabited, stretching for 5,150 km between the Australian and Asian continental. The main islands are Sumatra Kalimantan), Sulawesi Irian Jaya), and last but not least Java. The nation’s capital, Jakarta, has a fascinating and significant history

Climate– Indonesia’s climate is definitely tropical. The main seasons are summer, winter and monsoon; it is devoid of autumn and spring.

Culture– Indonesia is rich in art and culture which are intertwined with religion and age-old traditions. The basic principles which guide life include the concepts of mutual assistance or “gotong royong”. Religious influences on the community are varied  from island to island. Indonesia is rich with culture with 250 – 300 ethnic groups live here.

From graceful court and temple dances to charming folk dances and boisterous play, the performing arts of Indonesia offer an astounding range of types and styles, shadow puppeteer is famous.

Cuisine– Fish features prominently in the diet as fresh, salted, dried, smoked or a paste. Coconut is found everywhere. The staple food traditionally ranges from rice corn, sago, cassava to sweet potatoes.

Hot spots—Indonesia is a mix of beaches, forests and cities- Amlapura, Bali Barat National Park,  Irian Jaya, , Java, , Jakarta, Baluran National Park, Karimunjawa Islands, Kalimantan (Borneo), Gili Islands, Gunung Rinjani (Mount Rinjani), Kuta, , Pulau Bunaken, Rantepao, Tanatoraja, , Sumatra, , Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (Great Bukit Barisan Forest Park), Harau Valley, Jangga Village, Kerinci-Seblat National Park, Lingga Village, Medan, Mentawai Islands, Ngalau Indah Caves, Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon), Padang, Pandaan Beach, Pandi Sikat, Parapat, Samosir Island, Siberut Island, Sipiso-piso Waterfall, Taman Hutan Raya Bung Hatta, and more.

Malaysia

The Malay Peninsula has thrived from its central position in the maritime trade routes between China, India and the Middle East. It is shown on early map with a label that translates as “Golden Chersonese”; the Straits of Malacca were referred to as “Sinus Sabaricus”. The two distinct parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both West and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to often densely forested hills and mountains. Putrajaya is the newly created administrative capital whereas the capital city isKuala Lumpur. Georgetown, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Alor Sar, Malacca Tow, and Klang are the major cities.

Climate– It’s hot and humid year-round in Malaysia .

Culture– Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society, consisting of 52% Malays and other indigenous tribes. With Malays, Chinese and Indians living side by sideThe music, art, food, dance, architecture and general day to day living are influenced by all three to some degree, creating some of Asia’s most fascinating sounds, sights and tastes. Malaysian traditional music is heavily influenced by Chinese and Islamic forms, it is based largely around the gendang (drum), but includes other percussion instruments. The country has a strong tradition of dance and dance dramas, some of Thai, Indian and Portuguese origin. Other artistic forms include wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre), silat (a stylised martial art).

Cuisine– There is a great variety; spicy Malay Food, a seemingly endless variety of Chinese food, exotic cuisine from North and South India, as well as Nyonya and Portuguese Food.

Hot spots– Malaysia’s love of Western-style is abundantly clear in its big cities, Kuala Lumpur, Penang etc. Malaysia boasts some of the most superb beaches, mountains and national parks in Asia. Cameron Highlands, Batu Caves, Lake Gardens ,Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Taman Negara National Park

Vive Les Chats! Australian Football Expatriate Life

Paris is a truly wonderful city. There may be none more beautiful or with more character in the world. However, as an Aussie, one vital ingredient tragically lacking in the host of entertainment this city has to offer, is real footy coverage, which does not exist at all.

The “Frogs” don’t know what they are missing! I’m not talking about the world venerated soccer variety or those super-padded, over-paid, U.S. gridiron heroes and especially not that “throw yourself at the turf” game they call rugby. I’m talking real footy here, the great Australian game which is without doubt the best spectator sport in the world by a mile and a half.

I shouldn’t have read Buddha’s biography I suppose. It has only made my thirst for footy and the Cats’ brand of the great game in particular, more intense. Though I was grateful when David (one of my five brothers living in Geelong, who I keep annoying for Cats replays) brought it over to me in Paris a few weeks ago from “Sleepy Hollow,” along with some videos of recent Cats games.

While I was intent on watching the videos our “free-loader” visitors wanted to get out and see the sights of Paris, the magnificence of the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, grandest of all the worlds’ Grand Avenues and Saint Chapel, where glorious tall stained glass windows surround you. But hey, I had my priorities sorted out; I just wanted to settle down with a baguette, a bottle of French red and watch the footy.

I needed to update my memory banks with a “footy fix.” I needed to get to know the players again, catch up on all the excitement, the skill and raw talent. Follow those super-fit and dedicated sportsmen, playing the most skillful game on earth. But no, Wendy dedicated shopper and very dear sister-in-law that she is and Denise my supposedly Aussie, but footy-apathetic wife wanted to go shopping in Paris. Women. As someone once said, we sure do love them, but who among the male species can ever understand them?

Denise and I had been living in Paris for almost two years. While the experience had been fantastic and we were thoroughly in love with the City of Light, enough is enough mate.

French cable TV carries endless, absolutely dead boring, English cooking shows (ye olde BBC) plus a plethora of even more mind-numbing house and garden decoration shows, news and…darn little else.

CNN repeats the same old, same old, hour after hour and on French TV they speak their exquisite language at a zillion miles an hour and detest the English language with a passion. They would never understand the complexity of the footy anyway.

My memories of growing up in Geelong with footy as the Welsh family staple diet were triggered by Bhudda’s writings. Like so many other Geelong kids, we played footy every chance we had. At school, for the local club, in the street and the back lane, anywhere we could. Our six sisters often made the backyard team as well – just to make up the numbers, mind you.

We lapped up all the footy culture we could and it will stay with us all our lives, no matter where we are. It is something that resides in my bloodstream along with a fair dose of Bordeaux by now. Hey, this is France after all !

I was at the “G” with dad and a hoard of other Welshes in ‘63 when the mighty Cats beat Hawthorn, and I cried with sheer joy. I was also there at Kardinia Park on the Sunday morning to bury the hawk. I cried again. Great times for a twelve year old.

These fond memories came flooding back, when I eagerly watched those tapes in Paris and read Bhudda’s story. I realized yet again what a great tradition we have in this game and what heroes the dedicated guys who play it are. I also realized just how much these traditions mean to me and what I have missed out on over the years we have lived overseas.

I wondered how many people in Geelong really appreciated what they have. A lifestyle most people in the world would envy, in a country still seen as at least a lucky country, if not THE luckiest with a sporting tradition and sense of fair play that reverberates around the world.

My career in the oil industry had led us to live overseas and we wouldn’t give back a minute of it, but I still miss my footy!

Singapore was our first exciting posting, but alas, Australian football didn’t stand a chance of making it onto Singapore TV screens. Mr. Lee Kwan Yu didn’t want his people corrupted by such unhealthy western influences. Jakarta (surprisingly, to some) was much more liberal. In the early 90’s we received the “VFL Match of the Day” live on TV Australia. It was great to lie by the pool and watch it, with a Bintang (Indonesian beer) in hand and an eager houseboy ready to bring another when required.

The following year we couldn’t pick up any footy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dr. Mahitir was still peeved with the then Australian Prime Minister Keating for his ill-considered “recalcitrant” remarks directed (correctly) at the amazingly smug and arrogant Malaysian Prime Minister.

We were living in New Orleans, Louisiana, in ‘95 when the Cats made the Grand Final against Carlton and were ecstatic to find a live telecast on U.S. cable TV. It was broadcast late on a Friday night in New Orleans. Denise even made small Aussie meat pies. I hunted down adequate supplies of Fosters Lager and convinced some (somewhat reluctant) American friends to view the spectacle. We even dressed our apartment in blue and white and had special t-shirts printed up for the occasion. Ah, what a party it was to be.

Well, it didn’t take long to see the Cats were in for a thrashing, our friends wilting from the power of real beer (Vs their watered down variety). We all ended up drowning our sorrows, in my case anyway, they simply enjoyed the beer. But at least we saw the game (such as it was) live. The Yanks thought the game was a free-for-all. All they remembered the next day was the beer and pies.

Alas, as the French do not want their airwaves or cables fouled by the dreaded “parley Anglaise” they do not allow the satellite dishes needed to pick up the signal in Paris. In fact, we couldn’t even pick up audio BBC clearly, even though it is just across the channel.

No doubt about it, Aussie TV is the best in the world. It must be. It carries loads of footy, free to air no less, to placate the fanatical fans.

Maybe the AFL will one day become the IAFL (the “I” being International) with teams from perhaps, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and The Pacific in the competition. Then we might get to see truly international coverage. I’m dreaming again. Or am I? I really do think the game has great international potential.

Yes, there is a lot to be said for the excitement of living in various parts of this wonderful world, but there are also great advantages in staying where your roots are, growing up with lifelong friends and enjoying the great lifestyle a city like Geelong and “Gods’ Country” Australia, offer.

If you intend to travel you should not miss Paris. It is a truly wonderful city, with great architecture, character, colour, love, life, audacity, vibrancy and charm, as well as the French, who make Paris what it is.

As for my footy, I’ll just have to try to be in Melbourne, at the “G” on that special day in September to shout my encouragement until I’m hoarse again and watch the mighty Cats bring home the flag.

Then I will reluctantly board yet another plane to return to expatriate life and a part of my soul will stay behind in Geelong, as it always does.

The French have a much-revered saying, which is always stated with heartfelt sincerity and patriotism, “Vive la France.”

This may still be the year of the cat (”chat” in French) so I say, with even greater reverence and lots more hope. … Vive les Chats!

Ron A. Welsh

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am lifelong avid follower of the Geelong Football Club after growing up in Geelong in South Eastern Australia. I have followed the “Cats” from 10 countries as an expatriate working in the oil industry and now work as a writer from Brisbane.

Dazzling Malaysian Holidays

If you’re planning on a holiday in Malaysia this year, you’ll very likely enter a stunning country which is home to spectacular mosques, well-made green spaces and modern skyscrapers. With Kuala Lumpur as its appealing capital, this vibrant country has it all to attract you to it every year.

The following are some of Malaysia’s famous attractions which should not be missed by any tourist who wants to explore the true Malaysia.

Batu Caves

This tourist’s attraction draws a huge number of tourists and visitors holidaying in Malaysia. The caves can prove to be quite an experience especially during the Thiapusam festival.

Petronas towers

Petronas towers are a highly popular tourist attraction visited by a large number of tourists and visitors every year. Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, these are twin towers with an amazing structure that leaves many awestruck. A visit to Malaysia is always considered incomplete without seeing the Petronas twin towers. The sky bridge also presents a view worth capturing during your Malaysian holiday.

Mount Kinabalu

Located in the Borneo region of Malaysia, this tourist attraction is bound to get you enthralled with the beauty and the scenery offered by Mount Kinabalu. When on a holiday in Malaysia, mount Kinabalu acts as a great way to be able to spend some quality time with the family.

Terengganu state museum

For a great Malaysian holiday you must not miss the famous national museum of Malaysia. The museum is not just house to remarkable collections or artifacts, but is also known to be largest museum in whole of Southeast Asia. The museum has rich architectural value and holds different archaeological findings.

Langkawi Island

This island is rich in picturesque views, scenic beauty and Malaysian culture. When holidaying in Malaysia, make sure you visit this huge island for its view, history, beauty, and folklore.

Taman Negara National park

When on a Malaysian holiday with family, you must visit the world’s oldest jungle, spread over an area of 443 square kilometers. The park is a popular tourist attraction and has a lot of green, dense tropical rainforest.

Wayang Kulit

A remarkable shadow-puppet theatre, Wayang Kulit offers rich Malaysian culture and theater art to those holidaying in Malaysia. Best time to visit or holiday in Malaysia

Malaysia is rich with charming beauty and striking tourists attractions and can be visited throughout the year for a memorable Malaysian holiday, but from a tourism point of view the best time to visit would be the months from May to September.

A visitors guide to the Petronas Towers, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia – Part 1

“The Petronas Twin Towers was designed to symbolise strength and grace using geometric principles typified in Islamic architecture.”

The 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers was designed by Cesar Pelli and Associates and currently houses Petronas Corporate Headquarters. It is currently the 2nd most tallest building in the world after Taipei 101 in Taiwan. The Twin Towers symbolises strength and grace using geometric principles typified in Islamic architecture. It is located at the former Selangor Turf Club, a 100-acre site in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle.

Rising to 1,483 ft (451.9 m) like sentinels in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, this building cost a whopping US$1.2 billion. Completed in 1997, the Twin Towers are a striking glass-and-steel combination with floor plans based on an eight-pointed star.

The towers are joined at the 41st and 42nd floors (175m above street level) by a 192 ft-long (58.4 m) double-decker skybridge – linking the two sky lobbies and facilitating the movement between the two towers.

Getting There

By Bus

INTRAKOTA

Board from Star Hill at Jalan Bukit Bintang or from Jalan Chow Kit

CITY LINER

Board from Jalan Silang (next to Kotaraya Complex)

The drop-off points for these buses is Wisma Equity, Jalan Ampang (opposite the PETRONAS Twin Towers)

By Taxi

You can catch a taxi from anywhere around town to go to KLCC.

By Rail

Take the PUTRA LRT from Central Market (Pasar Seni) Station to KLCC.

Intrakota Bus – 23, 24A, 24C, 34A, 34D, 259, 270.

City Liner Bus – 176, 178, 182, 183, 185

MetroBus – 28

The PTT is easily accessible via taxi, bus or LRT. Board an Intrakota bus from Star Hill at Jalan Bukit Bintang or from Jalan Chow Kit, or a City Liner bus from Jalan Silang (next to Kotaraya Complex). The drop-off points for these buses is Wisma Equity, Jalan Ampang (opposite the PETRONAS Twin Towers). You can also take the PUTRA LRT from Central Market (Pasar Seni) or KL Sentral station to the KLCC station. Alternatively, you can catch a taxi from anywhere around town to go to KLCC.

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