LIlian the Israeli

Read an interesting article by Tunku Aziz today - in the Sunday Times. He wrote mainly about corruption - international corruption but I was more interested in it because of his trip to Israel. He had been invited by an NGO to give the keynote address at this international anti -corruption conference in Israel. But because of our government's policy of not recognising Israel he had a lot of difficulty getting a visa from Israel. They gave a lot of problems and finally he had to get the NGO to endorse him or he could not attend the conference. Even then he was still given the 100% check at the Immigration department upon entry, complete with body search (imagine a middle aged man standing naked and checked by others - how humiliating!). After his speech he wasn't questioned about his views on corruption - the Israelis wanted to know instead why Malaysia refused to have any diplomatic relations with them. Our diplomatic guy's answer was that he did not represent the Malaysian government, so could not answer for them.

When I was in Singapore last December I met these two Israelis. They seemed nice people - a young man and woman selling an Israeli facial lotion. I bought a moisturiser which Rizal paid for. Anyway to get back to the Israelis, they asked me too why they were not allowed to enter Malaysia. Maybe its time out government changed this - we should have diplomatic ties with Israel, if only to protest against their treatment of the Palestinians.

As for Tengku Aziz - the Israeli guy who asked him about Malaysian relations with Israel told him that many Malaysian politicians had kept money in Israeli banks. I'm sure he's telling the truth and all Tengku Aziz could say was that maybe that guy should contact the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency. I think our politicians, with a few exceptions ,are all just empty drums - "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." I bet few realise the need to be friendly with a powerful Israel, rather than be enemies. And the Palestinians are not innocent too - not by any reckoning. In fact some of the more serious fracas have been instigated by them. Of course my sympathy is with the innocent bystander who is not even aware or involved with the war. They are the ones who are suffering!
Talking of Israeli friends, when I went to a course organised by the American Academy of Higher Learning I met an Israeli girl called Lillian. I really can't remember her last name but we became rather good friends. We talked about the Israeli war with the Palestinians although many people didn't consider it a war because it was so ongoing. She had even been in the army for two years as part of her National Service and she had taken part in some border patrols. She said that as a whole many Israelis had nothiing against the Palestinians - its just a govt or political thing. I asked her about the camp massacres that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s and she said that had not real answer to that. I think we are a tool of our govts - just as many Americans are used by the US govt, or more particularly Bush. Lilian and I shared a lot of things in common. She was married and had two daughters, she's a teacher who is now working with the Israeli Education Ministry and we both share a love for books. She sent me an Israeli textbook for High School English and I noticed that the level is pretty high. She said that the status of English is Second language. Probably its a true second language, not like in Malaysia where we only say its a second language but its actually a foreign language.

Revisiting Jakarta

Tugu Monas

The day in Jakarta was spent sightseeing. Of course we also did a bit of shopping, what woman won't? - but nothing like what we did the first time I came here four years ago. Then, I really went all out - of course at that time I was still working so money was no problem.

Anyway Jakarta has'nt really changed all that much, except maybe for one or two more shopping malls? We visited the old Tanjung Kelapa jetty where schooners used to stop. It's still used by small boats - huge to me anyway - and we saw boats from Sulawesi and the other islands unloading goods on the dock. Its not very big but there were at least seven or eight fairly large schooners anchored. As can be seen in the picture above, the port is still busy.

Aside from that we finally went to the Monas Park where the famed Tugu Monas stand proudly. The park itself is beautiful, with lots of trees. The guide told us that it's at least a few hectares in size and it takes a few hours to run around the park's circumference. I really love the huge old trees - makes the park look like its a little wood. We in KL are so unfortunate in this regard - we don't have a single large park to compare! Taman Tasik Perdana is so small in comparison although I'd say that it is definitely better maintained. And Tasik Titiwangsa Park is in danger of disappearing in the concrete jungle. It used to be a beautiful place for jogging - some parts of it still is - but much of it has been "renovated" to include buildings and oh so many other concrete things which we dont really need!

Jakarta - once we overlook the dirt and dust - is a beautiful city. Especially the areas around the Tugu Monas and the roads near the government offices. Many of the buildings remind me of Washington DC - wide tree lined roads and gardens on both sides of the roads. Its a place worth visiting, if only they take better care of their monuments.

Bandung

March 26 - 29 we were in Indonesia. Although we landed in Jakarta, we decided to go to Bandung first. From Jakarta to bandung the trip took us about 5 hours! This was because of the bumper to bumper crawl which we encountered the moment we left Soekarno- Hatta Airport. We were met by a couple of pleasant young men - our guide and the driver, Pak Uhu and Pak Roshikin.

Although it was a long trip, the journey was fairly pleasant and interesting. We stopped at the same rest area where we had coffee last year with Bu Lasteri. There was plenty to keep me occupied too - I had my latest Nora Roberts and Shasha was also reading her book. We arrived in Bandung early in the evening, around 8pm and after checking in and a light meal went to bed early.

This is my third trip to Bandung and this time around I didn't really find the things there great. Funny how after the first time, I find that I like Bandung not because of the shopping but more because of the quaintness of the city. I love the old tree-lined streets, the Dutch colonial houses with their steep roofs and the gardens. No doubt all these are not well maintained but that is the fault of the Indonesian government. Its a shame actually - they have all these beautiful monuments but they are allowed to rot and mould. But still parts of Bandung are really beautiful and appeal to the romantic in me. We stayed at a beautiful but old hotel called the Savoy Homann. The hotel has a very European ambiance - we had breakfast at the Garden Cafe which is set in a kind of square in the centre of the hotel. The palm trees and flowers make you feel as if you are eating outdoors when actually the whole setup is indoors.

We were in Bandung for only one day and had a quick round of shopping at places like Rumah Mode, Diaz and Cascade. I think I like Cascade best though did not really buy anything except a pair of jeans for Sarah and her bag pack from Le SportSac.

Late in the evening afternoon we went back to Jakarta and this time around the trip was slightly better. The road was less congested although the first part of the journey (from Bandung) the roads itself was bad. Not that there were potholes - but because it was a concrete road (not macadamised) it was very hard and bumpy and it felt like we were riding a horse. That was my impression anyway.