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| At the Entrance to the "SINGAPORE ZOO". |
Began my Marathon solo backpackers trip from Mumbai airport on “Egypt Air Flight Ms 968” on Wednesday 17th October 2007, the plane taking-off to Kuala Lumpur at approx 1400hrs, a delay of 1 ¼hrs due to “Plane traffic congestion!”. The plane had a total of a mere 50 to 60 passengers on board and I wonder as to the profitability of “Egypt air” on this route in its 75th year of operations in the airline industry. Reached Kuala Lumpur at approx 2200hrs, a ultra modern fascinating airport considered one of the World’s 3 best Airports. The airport terminal is a “Jig-saw puzzle” to a newcomer and thanks to my frequent overseas travels managed to guide my way through “Immigration,Customs” later purchasing a “Moto GP Ticket @ 100Rm(Rs1300approx)” in the airport itself. Exchanged U.S Dollars to the local currency at the airports “Foreign Exchange counter @100 U.S $’s = 336 Rm” and was also surprised to see the “Indian Rupee” being traded “Officially”. I belonged to the “100$’s permissible” foreign exchange allowance generation prevalent up-to the late 1990’s and the “Indian rupee” was never “Officially traded” until the 21st century,hence, its really an experience and privilege to have experienced the different “foreign Travel and Currency regulations” regimes of our country. From the airport caught a taxi @65Rm(Rs850approx) to Puduraya bus terminal in Kuala Lumpur, the taxi ride was approx 1 hr commuting at 90 to 100Km/hr.All the roads in Malaysia are on par with the “Sepang racing circuit”, a real delight in driving, no potholes, no uneven roads, all roads are broad and spacious, hence travel distances by road are comfortable and a pleasure. Reached Puduraya at approx 2330 hrs and booked a bus ride to Butterworth[30Rm approx Rs 390] the town for Penang, thanks to my “Internet study” of touring Malaysia and a helpful cab driver.Taxi charges are exorbitant by Indian standards as also the disadvantage of touring alone regarding travel fares[65Rm shared by 4 passengers=Rs 212 only!] .In Malaysia all public transport is air-conditioned hence the 5 ½ hrs journey to Butterworth was a pleasure in spite of 5hrs “jet lag’ from Mumbai to K.L and a 1 hr taxi ride to Puduraya, a total of approx 12 hrs continuous travel. Reached Butterworth at approx 0530 hrs on Thursday(18-10-2007), had local breakfast of “Roti/curry” and tea at a “dhabba” type stall run by Indian descent Malaysian Indians. Boarded the Ferry at approx 0630 hrs,the largest ferry I boarded in my entire professional shipping career, real vintage model, the size of half a football field and akin to a “Ro-Ro V/l” it had alighting and departure ramps on fwd and aft sides .On reaching Penang ferry terminal boarded a taxi[10 Rm approx Rs 130] who guided me to a motel , “The Friendship motel”[38Rm/day = Rs 500 approx] situated in Georgetown, the main heritage precinct of Penang city. Georgetown, the capital of Penang is a typical colonial Chinatown with all important museums and monuments within walking distance, hence after a warm bath ,changed my clothes and as usual began my backpacking tour of Malayasia. Fort Cornwallis , named after gov gen of India Lord Cornwallis by Francis Light, the discoverer of Georgetown is a landmark heritage sight in close proximity to the city Hall, Victoria memorial clock tower, St George’s Church, Little India, China Town and various other tourist locales. Later in the afternoon walked to Komtar tower(65 storey bldg), tallest in Penang and caught a bus for “Penang Hill" from the Komtar Bus depot, a journey of approx 3o mins to Penang hill train station. Having toured almost more than one country in every continent on an average except the Arctic and Antarctic I always have the tendency to compare identical country’s or similar tourist locations, hence “Penang hill” was an identical replica of “The Peak” in Hongkong. Penang hill is Malaysia's first hill station(830m[2730ft] ht) and a beautiful model of the “Rain-forest vegetation system”, dense forest greenery covering the hills and slight drizzle of rain, a truly hikers destination. Took the funicular 2 bogey train (1922 model) to the hill, a real scary ride since the track gradient is absolutely steep akin to a slide and and to reach the peak it requires a change of 2 trains, the same applies in the descent from the peak.Sadly, photographs that I took of Penang on my vintage Nikon RF reel camera were lost for posterity and nostalgic memories, reasons mentioned later. Penang hill had the common on-off drizzle rain
,excellent weather and I explored part of the hill visiting the bird park where for the first time I saw parrots and other birds being fed on bread and not on fruits or vegetables as in other zoo’s. A real practical educative experience to me, a wild-life and pet enthusiast.At the local food mall had the tallest ice-cream of my life, akin to a paper Dossa with a masala of vegetables and fruits added to the ice-cream, a local Malay specialty.In the afternoon at approx 1300 hrs caught the return train from Penang Hill to the bus terminal and boarded the bus to Georgetown Museum. Buses in Malaysia are computer assisted making the drivers job a bit easier in traffic congestions, a technology I witnessed for the first time in my life. Penang Museum akin to the Bhau Daji Lad Museum (Byculla, Mumbai) has a detailed history of the discovery and progress of Penang and the prominent citizens and communities who developed the state. The comparisons between a museum in Mumbai , my home city ,and Penang(Malaysia) is unavoidable since I myself have and is a “History connoisseur” having secured a distinction in “History” in the I.C.S.E exams 1975,proof of a photographic memory for facts and dates.Hence my passion for blogs with utmost details of facts recorded for posterity reading.After the museum visited “Fort Cornwallis”, the first garrison fort of the British East India Company in Malaysia , a large fortified compound and different replica chambers . A few Mynahs and parrots were kept in the precincts of the fortress and for the first time in my life witnessed a “Talking Mynah” with an amazing “HUMAN MIMCRY VOICE”, unbelievable until seen and heard. The mynah responded to my whistles, akin to “Mittoo” but his “Human Voice” was akin to listening to a human rather than a bird. I witnessed a "TALKING MYNAH" for the first time in my life and long association with pet birds, no wonder most of the parrots and mynahs are becoming extinct in the wild due to the “Pet Trade”. Later in the evening visited “Little India” and felt the feeling of being in either Anna Salai Road or Paris corner in Madras rather than Penang in Malaysia! Reminded me of my own childhood in Mombasa(Kenya) which in 1960’s resembled “Little Gujarat” in certain areas, complete with garba and Dandiya! Had dinner on a “banana leaf” at “Shushi Banana Leaf Restaurant”, the menu being “Thosai/mutton” which is the same as “sada Dossa/ Mutton”. Dossa is called Thosai in Malaysia although the preparation is the same.Travel being the best education besides literature is a proven fact.
Malaysia Penang has a minority population of ethnic Indians of Tamil Ancestry and temples, mosques and churches exist in close proximity proving the cosmopolitan nature of the country, Malaysia being an Islamic country. Tamil music was blaring in “Little India” and Hindi film posters common in video shops with actor Rajnikant being the movie Badshah, besides, shops had all the commodities available in Dadar in Mumbai. After a nights sleep at the motel , packed up for return journey to Kuala Lumpur on Friday(19-10-2010),having a “Breakfast” consisting of “Halwa fish/Squid curry/Rice” for approx Rs 80 at a restaurant opposite the motel, real cheap and tasty. Penang is famous for its culinary delights of various communities and cultures besides being affordable. Walked all the way to “Komotor bus depot” and boarded the 1100 hrs bus to k.L[30Rm].I had kept my camera and writing pad on the bus top rack shelf, the common bus absolutely crowded.Had taken photographs of “Penang Bridge”, the Worlds third longest bridge besides photos of the suburbs of Penang, a rapidly developing city with skyscrapers replacing old buildings and according to my opinion only Georgetown might exist as an old heritage town in the near future. Reached Kuala Lumpur at approx 1700hrs and in the hurry to catch the next connecting bus to Puduraya totally forgot my camera and writing pad in the bus. This camera had been my companion in sadness and happiness since 1988,having purchased it at the "Singapore airport Duty-Free Shop", hence the emotional loss was unbearable although this type of camera was outdated in the “DIGITAL Era” of 21st century photography. I intended buying a “Digital camera” in Singapore and keeping this vintage camera as a “Museum piece” souvenir. Destiny had other plans and hope the camera is in good hands and my absentmindedness decreases in future.Prior to the camera I have lost a few Ray-Ban sunglasses and umbrellas . In K.L checked into Nanyeang Hotel situated in the heart of China town in Petaling street at 50Rm/day[rs650/day approx].Kuala Lumpur is a bustling metropolis as are all major city’s and akin to Mumbai there are lots of street hawkers and “Counterfeit Designer Goods” are the wares of most of these hawkers.A strange contrast, some of the World's largest authentic designer shopping malls coexisting with the World's greatest counterfeiters of clothing and consumer items in the World.
On Saturday(20/10/07) woke up at 0600 hrs, showered and went to “KLCC” by bus reaching “Petronas Towers” at approx 0730hrs for the free trip to the 41/42 floor “skywalk”. The queue was long yet managed to get the first allotment into the tower lift for the first batch tour at 0900hrs.There was a brief instructional 3-dimensional movie on the “Petronas Tower” history prior to boarding the lift to the 41/42 floor. How it feels to be on the 41/42 floor? Reminds me of late Indian satire writer Busybee’s (Behram Contractor’s) articles of his fictitious very rich friend on the 21st floor, just breathtaking and beautiful. “Petronas Towers” has 88 floors but the lift is run upto the 83rd
Floor and has a massive capacity and vertical speed, stupendous engineering technology.Purchased a souvenir of the "Petronas Towers" at the souvenir shop situated on the ground-floor of this fascinating structure. Later went to a departmental store near Berjaya Times Square area and purchased a “Pentax Optio E40” digital camera of 8.1 Megapixels quickly learning the basic operations from the salesgirl and inaugurating my camera with a “Self portrayal” . Berjaya Times Square is Malaysia’s largest shopping mall with a "World Park theme[Indoor theme park]” for kids as also the World’s largest bookstore, “Borders”photographed a collection of classic bikes exhibited outside the Mall as the 2007 Sepang Moto Gp was in progress.Viewing these massive "Horse-power bike Monsters" gave me a complex of being a "Moped Rider” with my “125cc Bajaj wind” back home in Mumbai!These “Monster Machines” which might cost lakhs in Indian rupees would also be un-ridable on Indian roads and traffic conditions, where even my "125 CC Bike" finds difficulty attaining speeds of 60-80Km/Hr. In the afternoon went to “Batu Caves” by bus and it was raining partially ,hence the foot of the hills had got flooded.Climbed the 272 steps bare-feet up the hill, thanks to my physical fitness exercises. The caves are a Hindu religious site and there are also numerous other caves in these hills akin to tunnels.
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| In "BATU CAVES" with a "Giant Iguana". |
Went on a “Guided Tour” into one of these caves called the “DARK CAVES” reasons being obvious as these caves could cause psychic fear in claustrophobic people. The charges for the tour were 35Rm[Rs455] and we were just two visitors, an American and myself.I honestly experienced the dangers of “Self-Exploration" without a guide since the caves were pitch dark without a torchlight the only sound being of rain water gushing and a few bats screeching. Adventure tourism or false macho pride can be fatal in unexplored territory as demonstrated by our guide when he switched off the torchlight and asked us if we could find our way out of the caves without his assistance, something not only scary but next to impossible without serious injuries.This simple adrenaline inducing tour of "Dark Caves" made me a humbler person in the field of "Solo-backpacking", realizing the importance of "Local Guides" and "Home-work study" of a tourist location prior to visiting it. Reached Puduraya in the evening, strolled around the area as most of the “Tourist locations” are situated within walking distance.Savored some road side Malaysian delicacies and did window shopping as usual, the ultimate formula of "Budget backpacking tours".
POLINI MALAYSIAN MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX :-[ Sunday 21/10/2007] Got up early on Sunday morning and proceeded to Pasar Seini Station which was approx 10 mins walk from my hotel and caught the train to KL central a distance of 1 stop[1.20 Rm]From Kl central caught the airport kl Express to kl airport terminal[35 Rm] and further a shared taxi [20Rm] to “Sepang racing Circuit”.My main purpose for visiting Malaysia was to personally experience the “SOUND EFFECTS” and “VISUAL THRILLS” of a “MOTORCYCLE GP” of “INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION” since I personally have survived 9 motorcycle falls with two of the falls deceiving death. It was akin to a personal pilgrimage to celebrate life and not mourn for death, death being as inevitable as taxes.Hence I didn't mind spending on an expensive travel itinerary as well as tickets, since traveling “SINGLE” is atrociously expensive in foreign country's.
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| CLASSIC DESIGNER BIKES AND THE FANS AT SEPANG. |
Arrived at the “Sepang Circuit” at approx 0830 hrs ,an early bird as the crowds were just trickling into the venue.Visited all the “MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURERS STALLS” and had my wishes fulfilled in personally viewing and feeling some of the World's best motorcycles and also photographing these magnificent machines for posterity and memories. The “WARM UP LAPS” began from 0940 onwards ,beginning with the “125cc bikes” and the crowds gradually began increasing into the “Sepang Grandstand Stadium”, ultimately reaching approx 45,000 as quoted by the press.This crowd was minuscule compared to the 1,30,000 crowd at Valencia on Sunday(4/11/07) which I watched back home in Mumbai on television with the same participating competitors.This proves that “MOTO GP" is a very popular spectator sport in Europe, America and Australia with only Japan amongst the Asian country's for its definitely a “First world sport”, besides being life-threatening. The festive carnival atmosphere reminded me of the Indian Derby at Mumbai. Akin to horse-racing, professional motorcycle-racing is an elitist sport with a “Racing track” bigger than a “race-course” and millions of dollars involved in staging the events.The same track is also used for "Formula -1 Car races". Tragically, there was no “Official gamboling bookies” and “Ladbrokes”[Internet] had Casey stoner @ 2/1 and honestly I could have recovered my trip expenses since I would have bet Casey although Valentino Rossi is my favourite motorcyclist for his showmanship and flamboyance ,a la Franco.Dettori in horse-racing. The terminologies used in horse-racing and professional motorcycling are identical , “Paddock” being a common word for both sports. Akin to jockeys all professional “Moto Gp motorcyclists” are small in stature and lightweights besides being in the prime of youth as “Reflexes” decrease with age. “Harley Davidsons” and the other “Cruising bikes” can be driven upto “ drivable old-Age” since it is only driving skills and stamina that is required for these bikes.Saw these majestic bikes for the first time in my life in Kuala Lumpur ,akin to viewing “Rolls Royce's and Vintage cars” in Mumbai, owned by “Playboy Dare-Devils” and part of the “Moto GP Road Show”. The “Sepang Moto Gp” was the second last of the “Moto Gp -Racing season -2007”, the last being at Valencia which was won by Danny Pedrosa, the local hero Casey Stoner coming second and the flamboyant showman Valentino Rossi quitting the race in-between as he was riding with a broken hand injury suffered during the qualifying round. “Moto Gp” is definitely a “television sport” with “Biker Gangs” patronizing the stadiums to have a grand carnival of “Mobike fashion parade” and “Money Extravaganza”.
The races themselves are better when viewed on television since the television camera's give close-up views of the riders and the entire race.In the “grand-stand stadium” the racing track is divided into two symmetrical halves, hence the other half has to be watched on the giant stadium television screen. The “Grandstand” gives a close view of the starting grid and the “Motorcycle paddocks” as also the feeling of a audience and all the cheering that makes live viewing a pleasure .Elite “Biker Gang” spectators with their expensive bikes and bike fashion are a fascinating side-show to the MotoGP akin to couture fashion visible on the Indian derby.
The speed of the Moto Gp bikes makes them almost invisible as they whiz past and the noise deafening ,even to a ship's engineer, with most spectators wearing “ear-Plugs”, hence the reason for “Moto Gp race-tracks” being situated outside the city precincts in the airport vicinity. The cost of professional motogp equipment can be gauged from the fact that “safety helmets” and “safety riding suits” costs Rs 30,000 each approx compared to the Rs 500 helmets that the average motorcyclist commuter uses in India. Spent a hectic day at the Sepang race-tracks tasting a variety of food and soft drinks. On Inquiries learnt that the “Motorcycle Moto gp” is not as popular with the common Malaysian public as is the “Malaysian Formula -1 Car Races”.Hence “Common public bus” transport was not arranged from either Puduraya or Kl central for the “Motorcycle Moto gp” since train transport is a luxury beyond the capacity of the average tourist let alone the “Working class Malaysian”. The “Formula -1 Car Races” is being held from 23 to 25th Nov a 3-day event akin to “Motorcycle GP” and the ticket rates are also the same, only the cost of travel to the venue might be cheaper. The cheapest ticket for the “Moto gp” was 10Rm(Rs 130) but the cost of traveling to Sepang circuit from Kuala Lumpur would amount to a minimum of 56Rm(Rs 740 approx each way )or 112 Rm(Rs 1480 return fare!!), .Hence the detrimental economics for a average common motorcycle fan traveling to the circuit is easy to fathom. Departed from the stadium after the penultimate race which Casey Stoner won comfortably with no competition in sight and the great Valentino Rossi finishing a mere fifth, a fact that age might be catching up with him as he is 28 yrs compared to Stoner who is only 22 yrs in a sport where fractions of a second decides winners.
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| At the "KAWASAKI STALL" in "SEPANG". |
REFLEXAS AND JUDGEMENT can mean the difference between winning and losing since most of the machines are equally balanced.
P.S: The income of the top “Moto Go Superstars” can be estimated from the simple fact that Valentino Rossi agreed to pay 28 million U.S $’s (Over Rs 100 crores!?)in taxes to the Italian Government in February 2008, an unimaginable sum in Indian sports barring cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s income. Arrived at Puduraya bus terminal at approx 1800 hrs and wanted to depart to Singapore but couldn't get a ticket hence spent the night at the hotel and decided to go to “Genting Highlands” the next morning. Monday morning(22-10-07) Caught the “Genting express bus” to Genting hills a pleasant journey and as usual there was a slight drizzle and along with the evergreen rainforest's the scenery was soothing. “Genting Highlands’ is Kuala Lumpurs hill-station located 1800 metres above sea-level and one and a half hours drive away.One can feel the change in climatic conditions akin to traveling from Mysore to Ooty hill-station in South India. Since it was raining the entire climb to the hills was through a cloud of mist.Later had to board a "Cable-car" to the hill, one of the longest "cable-Car Rides" above the scenic rain-forests below with a mist of drizzling rain,one of the most beautiful sights I have witnessed in my travels. During my foreign tours have been thrice on “Cable cars" to date, the first being in 1983 to “Gibralter hill” in Gibraltar while sailing on “M.V Karnataka" as 5/E/O,one of the benefits of employment in the "{Mercantile Merchant Navy".The second instance was in 2005 at “Ocean world” in Hong-Kong , a private tour, and the third was to “Genting Highlands(Malaysia)", a large gap of over 24 yrs between the first and the latest “cable-Car ride. The “Genting highlands” cable car ride was the most exciting and visually breathtaking because it was the longest as well as most scenic of all my “Cable-Car rides”, akin to floating in the clouds due to the mist on that particular day. On reaching “Genting Resort” found out that all the “Outdoor Thrill rides” had been canceled due to poor visibility and drizzling rain.Having visited “Disney world, Hongkong” didn’t miss this particular “thrill ride” since they were identical as “Genting Highlands” is Malaysia's “DisneyWorld” situated on a scenic hill-station akin to Ooty in India. Visited the world-famous “Genting casino”, a replica of the numerous casino’s in Macau and crowded with gamblers akin to the casino’s I visited in the capital of gamboling, Macau(China). Gentings main glamour and popularity according to me could be its excellent climate ,although only a few kilometers from warm and humid kuala Lumpur as also its scenic natural forest beauty in a landscape dotted with “palm oil and rubber plantations”. Since I couldn’t enjoy the “Thrill rides” decided to visit the “multiplex cinema” at Genting and saw the 1045 show of the “Bourne Ultimatum[10Rm]", a movie that compensated the thrill rides. Later had a lunch consisting of rice, squid curry and vegetables with a cold drink and a bill of approx 14 Rm(Rs 185 approx).Roamed the entire indoor resort consisting mostly of children's games , shopping malls and eateries.
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| "GENTING HIGHLAND" hill-station of Malaysia. |
At approx 1600 hrs caught the bus from Genting to kuala Lumpur and in Kuala Lumpur visited the "Little India" area and akin to Penang felt transferred into an Indian city, did a bit of window-shopping and also some shopping of clothing and later returned to the hotel and caught the 1800 hrs bus to Singapore from Puduraya @ 30 RM.The bus happened to stop at a roadside restaurant cum department stores named “Lucky Garden” for toilet relief and snacks.Spotted the largest freshwater fish I have seen outside an aquarium being kept with other large fish akin to pomfrets in the restaurant pond.On inquiries learnt that it was approx 8 yrs old and not meant for human consumption but kept as a “Pet” hence its unique size. Its an oriental practice famous in Hong-Kong to cook fish freshly caught from a “Breeding Aquarium” or “fish breeding ponds” hence this particular monster fish was lucky to survive the cooking utensils and I have its bizarre photograph with bright eyes. On reaching Johor Bahru had to undergo custom and immigration formalities on the Malaysian border and later after crossing the “JOHOR BRIDGE” had to undergo customs and immigration on the Singapore side of the border, a painful and tedious process as luggage had to be carted from the bus to the customs terminal and back. Bus driver was of Tamil Indian origin and the pay-scales of skilled workers are nothing to write about but Malaysia has managed to create a middle-class society while reducing the poverty gap.I did’t observe a single beggar in Kuala Lumpur although poverty visibly existed in the form of personal amenities. Malaysia has world-class roads and also one of the World’s highest road fatalities, a strange paradox since speeding at speeds of 90km/hr and above at an average has its own drawbacks akin to 30 to 40km/hr average on Mumbai roads with its world famous “Monsoon Potholes”! Reached “Farrer Park”, the location of Singapore’s landmark sailors and Asian shopping complex “Mustafa Shopping Centre” in the “Little India-Serangoon road vicinity”.Managed to get accommodation at 40 S$’s/day(1 s$ = Rs 27 approx [ Rs 1080!]) really expensive as the only amenity was a “Freezing A/C!”.That's a “Backpackers budget” accommodation in in one of Asia’s costliest city’s. In 1987 our ship was in Singapore for a month for “Dry-Docking’ and I remember having a fantastic work cum leisure holiday getting to know the city as much as Mumbai on “Indian sea-farer wages”, one of the “Perks” of the shipping Industry. The same stay as a "Back-packer tourist" could cost me lakhs of rupees in 2007!“Join the Navy and see the World” was the mantra of young shipping yuppies upto the “shipping reformations” of the 1990’s where “Dry-docks” rarely exceed a week and “Port stays" a day or two. Singapore’s cost of living has grown faster than the “Real estate prices” in Mumbai City, atrociously expensive to a "average Indian traveler” or a “Indian ship wages sea-farer”, although I am out of touch with Indian ships sea-farer wages of 2007. On 23/10/07(Tuesday) got up at 0600hrs as usual and proceeded to the World famous “Singapore zoological park”, my second visit since 1987 and the first since the establishment of the “Night safari Park”. Singapore has a large population of Indian origin citizens with “Tamil” being one of the official languages besides English is the official spoken language, hence finding one’s way along with tourist maps is not difficult compared to Japan , Korea or even Thailand. Got the 130 nos bus to Ang Mo Kio bus terminal from “Farrer Park”[1.30 s$’s tkt] a long journey compared to Singapore’s geographical size and from there the connecting bus nos 138[S$’s 1.40] to the Singapore zoo a total journey of approx 45 mins or more which by taxi would have cost me a fortune. Reached the zoo at approx 0800 hrs and purchased the “combo ticket 40s$’s” for both the zoo and the Night Safari and was one of the first visitor's to enter the zoo at 0830 hrs reminding me of the days at “Veermata Jeejabhai Bhosle Udyan(Victoria Garden or Rani Baug), Mumbai” in the 1960’s and 1970’s where I knew the location of all the zoo exhibits and the tickets were 5 paise! Singapore Zoo has maintained its status as a model for zoological wild-life conservation by creating artificial fences and tropical forests which gives the visitor the impression of being in a “Wild-life national park” rather than a “Caged zoo” . Its preferable to visit the “Singapore zoo” instead of the African Savannah or the Indian jungles for the "Budget Wild-life tourist".Sighting of wild-life in forested national parks is rare, a and a tourist has to stay for a few days to actually sight a tiger in a Indian wild-life reserve. I have visited the "Bandipur", "Mudumulai" and Nagarhole" wild-life sanctuaries in South India and never ever saw an elephant or a tiger during my 'Single day Excursions" to these forests. The ultimate actual viewing of “Big game” is only possible in zoo’s like Singapore in an “Artificial location” rather than in its actual home, the natural forests.
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| World famous celebrity Orangutan "AH-MENG" at "Singapore Zoo". |
Was extremely lucky to pose with “Ah-Meng” the oldest Orangutan in the zoo, being 47 yrs old and having posed with numerous tourists including myself in 1987 and today in 2007( 20 yrs gap) and akin to Tarzan’s “cheetah” is a “zoo icon”. Post Script: Ah-Meng expired on Friday(8-2-08) of old age(48 yrs or 95 yrs in terms of human equivalent years).Alagappasamy Chellaiyah, Ah-Mengs care-taker since 1971 allowed me the luxury of photographing this unique celebrity zoo star although I didn’t know at that time that “Ah-Meng” had posed with International celebrities like Prince Phillip, Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Illusionist David Copperfield as also a face in the crowd, Rudolph Furtado !
“Ah-Meng” as an “Animal star” akin to “Tarzan star” “Cheetah” the chimpanzee commanded a massive fee of $’s 2,275 per hour for film shoots.
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| Myself with "Ah-Meng" at the Singapore zoo. |
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| "Ah Meng's" Caretaker Mr Alagappasamy Chellaiyah |
Singapore zoo has been successful in breeding the World's first polar bear in the tropics and i was fortunate to witness the mating of a pair of mouse deer in the open air walk through tropical forests. A visit to Singapore’s zoo should be a mandatory visit to all tourists in Singapore.
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| With a "Shetland Pony" at Singapore Zoo. |
The oldest zoo exhibit is an Aldabara tortoise named "Astove” being 65 to 70 yrs old and according to me their most graceful exhibits are the “White Bengal Tigers” and the best artificial forest creation, “The walk through Orangutan freeway” something unbelievable as you see Orangutans walk on artificial rope-ways above your head. Witnessed all the “Animal Shows” conducted by the zoo, a trend imitated , copied or original in Thailand, Hongkong and Malaysia amongst the Far East Country's visited but still not introduced in any Indian zoo.According to my opinion, would rate the “Mysore zoo” and “Alipore Zoo, Calcutta” amongst zoo’s comparable to “FIRST WORLD ZOOLOGICAL PARKS”. Strange, Mumbai City, home and industrial base to some of the “WORLD’S RICHEST PEOPLE” has a pathetic “Botanical garden cum zoo(Rani Baug)” and its time that a new zoological park is built in a new location with the “Victoria Garden or Rani Baug” existing as a common mans zoological gardens. I am commenting on the sad degradation of “Veermata Jeejabai Bhosle Udyan(Victoria Gardens)” since it was my childhood recreation area during our residence in Byculla beginning in 1968 and from having “Chimpanzees, a giraffe and tigers” amongst its rare exhibits it has in 2007 only imitated the natural enclosure fences of “First World Zoo’s” but has degenerated rapidly in endangered animal exhibits as well as zoo breeding conservation. Many species including India’s national animal, the tiger would become extinct in the wild , their only chance being in zoo’s and its sad to see that the progeny of “Mohan”, the World’s first white tiger discovered in Rewa are flourishing in foreign zoo’s being prime attractions and revenue whereas India’s premier city Mumbai doesn’t have a single tiger in its zoo, let alone breeding endangered species, a sad comment, reasons best known to authorities managing the zoo’s. My childhood and youth in Byculla with “Victoria gardens” being my “Second home” fueled my interest and dedication to “wild-life” and its conservation, hence “Victoria garden or Rani baug” now named “Veermata Jeejabai Bhonsle Udyan” along with its Bombay now Mumbai museum , the "Bau Dhaji Lad Museum” will always have a special “SENTIMENTALITY” in my memory inspite of visiting World famous and better zoological parks in India as well as the World. Spent the whole day at the Singapore Zoo and was surprised at the cost of living in this first World Asian city with ordinary tea costing 2s$’s( Rs 52 approx!) akin to Hong-Kong, Malaysia although costlier than India proved a bargain compared to Singapore’s cost of living. Subsisted on “Kentucky fried chicken” the cheapest restaurant in the zoo premises with a “combo lunch” costing approx 6 to 7 S$’s and by the time I left the zoo at 1830 hrs(Closing Time) was as familiar to its topography as I was with my beloved “Rani Baug” although a World of difference in quality and exhibits. All the zoo landscapes in the “Singapore Zoo” are man-made and “Fresh water” akin to a waterfall flows continuously throughout the “animal enclosures” unlike “stagnant Water” in majority or all of the zoo’s I have visited, hence the “natural environment” feeling, both, for animals as well as humans.
A notable aspect is that each and every animal in the Singapore zoo is “ADOPTED” by “Multinational company’s” or even private individuals, paying for their maintenance and in turn receiving “world-wide Publicity” , besides the zoo mints money as an “Entertainment Zoo” something they do not teach at “Harvards Business School of Economics”, the economics of converting Zoological parks as blue chip Industry’s of public welfare. Tuesday was a “Working day” and yet both the “Day Zoo” and “Night Safari” were “House-Full” and at 40 S$’s(R s 1100/person) entrance for both the parks it doesn’t take an economist to figure out the profits generated. I am still baffled as to the reasons for “Indian Business conglomerates” avoiding the installation of a “PRIVATE ZOO” in Mumbai?
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| "WHITE TIGER ENCLOSURE", One of the best in the World. |
After closure of the normal zoo at 1830 hrs went over to the “night Safari zoo", Singapore’s invention in the field of zoo exhibits at night in their nocturnal habitat. Walking through the zoo the entire day had made me haggard besides I am no “Spring chicken” at the age of 47 and hence I opted to view the “Night Safari” through a tram ride. Prior to entry to the “Night Safari” viewed a “Tribal dance show with flame throwers” and a “Wild-life show” inside the “Night Safari stadium”. Hyena’s, raccoons, owls a python and a host of trained nocturnal creatures were made to do their usual tricks to a “House-full” audience, a vast majority being Indian tourists including myself. After the “Nocturnal Night Safari Show” waited in the queue to catch the tram for the viewing and it was definitely a new experience to me, viewing wild-life in artificial dim lights akin to a “Full Moon night”.The extinct “Sumatran tiger” was a prized zoo exhibit and the entire feeling was akin to having a moonlight walk in a jungle. Completed my tram ride and left the “Night Safari Park” at approx 2130 hrs as I didn’t want to miss the “Public transport” ,for taxi’s would be beyond my “backpackers budget”, besides, I was also physically exhausted.The “Combo Zoo Ticket” is valid for a month, hence my advice is to see the “Day Zoo” and “Night safari” on two different days if a person has the time and the wealth for a long “Tourist stay” in Singapore. Reached “Serangoon road” at approx 2300 hrs, went to “Mustafa” and purchased a “Backpackers kit”as a memory of my shipping travels as well as struggles, a genuine “backpackers life” of travel , work and unmarried status, the eternal gypsy .During 1987 I had been to “Jurong Bird Park” ,a place frequented by tourists and newly married local couples for “Marriage photographs” amongst the “walk-In- aviaries” .Decided to sightsee “Sentosa Island” the next day with my “Backpacker budget economy”.
Wednesday(24/10/07) was another hectic touring agenda having woken up at 0600 hrs as usual, bathed and took off to “Farrer park station” and caught the train to “Harbour station” . From "Harbour Station" walked into Vivo city shopping mall(level 3)to board the newly built “Sentosa express” train to Sentosa Island. Viewed the construction of “Singapores Gambolling Casino’s” whose completion is scheduled for 2010, a massive construction project while enroute to the Sentosa Terminal . At Sentosa purchased the “Combo tourist ticket” for approx 34 S$’s which allows the purchaser visits to selected museums, natural parks, joyrides and movies. As I was early at Fort Silosa point I decided to walk along the “Silosa Beach” and was astounded at the cleanliness of the beach which lies at the mouth of one of the World’s busiest shipping ports with ships “PARKED” within a mile off the beach akin to Mumbai’s “P&V shipping Channel”. Swimming on these beaches is permitted with artificial hillocks built by hotels close to the beach and the sand was pollution free from either waste or oil traces, a tribute to the stringent laws imposed by the Singapore Govt against sea-pollution .After roaming the beach caught the free internal “Sentosa Shuttle Bus” and went to “Imbeah Lookout” one of the entertainment cum leisure points in Sentosa island. A ride in the revolving “Carlsberg Sky Tower”, Asia’s tallest observatory tower was akin to traveling to the “41st floor lift” of “Petronas Tower” in slow motion with a breathtaking indescribable view of Singapore, its “ship parking harbour” and Malaysia! After the “Carlsberg Skytower” ride went to the “Sentosa Cineblast auditorium” to view a “4-Dimensional movie” being a “Movie addict” and to experience the latest technology of the “Movie World”.
“Sentosa 4-D Magic Theatre” was worth the ticket money , a mind-blowing display of “3-dimensional movie” along with “Physical special effects” where your chair vibrates , air along with water jet spray is released on each individual viewer depending on the movie scenes. The movie screened was a “Pirate Movie” named “Captain Lucky” ,no connection to my late pet dachshund bitch “Lucky”.The cartoon was absolutely hilarious and entertaining, “Paisa Vasool stuff”, a new encounter in movie viewing lasting approx 15 to 20 mins. After the movie, went and saw the museum depicting the history of Singapore titled “Images of Singapore” and later the “Merlion”, Singapore’s symbol. Next, caught the “Shuttle bus” to Silosa point and visited the “Fort Silosa Museum” built in 1880’s and one of Singapore’s oldest surviving architectures besides the world famous “Raffles hotel”. “The Fort Silosa museum” is a grim reminder and presentation of World war-2 artifacts and the Japanese occupation of Singapore and Malaysia as also the “P.O.W” sufferings in the construction of the infamous “Bridge on the River Kwai” in Thailand/Burma. India’s history is inevitably linked with Malaysia and Singapore as Lord Mountbatten presided over the surrender of the Japanese army in Singapore, beautifully depicted in a “Wax House” titled “The Surrender Chamber”. This visit refreshed my history reading and it was nice to observe that “21st century Singapore” has preserved a bit of its ancient heritage even though the memories might be humiliating and degrading for a country that is today a model of rapid “Capitalism” and “Economic Progress" in the World, let alone Asia.
Next was my departure from “Sentosa Island” by shuttle bus to “Harbour Front” bus depot and from there a bus to “Raffles Place”It was a bus- ride through the heart of Singapore's commercial area , Tanjog pagar shipping wharfs and massive skyscrapers. “Raffles Plaza centre” akin to the “Taj Mahal intercontinental(Mumbai) “ is a recent skyscraper addition to the “Raffles hotel” designated as a national monument and built in 1887, being one of the few oldest hotels in Asia. Comparisons are inevitable to a global traveler and the “Raffles Hotel” has a lot of similarity to the “Classic Taj Mahal,Mumbai”, except in its design and spaciousness. Surprisingly the “Classic raffles Hotel” is absolutely spacious with fortress type walls and huge ceilings typical of ancient buildings, a sheer luxury in 21st century space cramped Singapore city. Strolled through the hotel and finally camped at the “Long Bar” for a taste of Singapore's famous cocktail invention to the World, “The Singapore Sling”. Famous writers who have stayed and written about “Raffles Hotel” have been Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham and Rudyard Kipling hence “Hinglish Aspiring Author” yours truly felt a sense of being in the presence of “Hallowed Ghosts”! Another humorous anticlimax of the “Raffles Long Bar Lounge” was the free serving of “groundnuts” as snacks along with drinks and the waste shells of the “groundnuts” had to be thrown on the floor of the bar.This bizarre hotel custom is a strange paradox and tourist attraction for a country fascinated with “City Cleanliness” and imposing huge fines for littering. I was absolutely perplexed and inquired with the lounge steward if littering on the hotel floor was permissible and he humorously replied that I would be fined for non-littering the hotel as this was a part of the hotels “Bar Etiquette!”. The “Singapore Sling” cost me 23 S $’s(Rs625), not costly for a “World Signature cocktail” .Strangely ,I found Singapore's 5-star hotels cheaper than Indian 5-star hotels including the World famous Raffles, especially if the average cost of living and earnings of both the country’s are compared. From Raffles went into a Chinese open air restaurant akin to “Bade Miya, Mumbai” situated on the street opposite “Classic Raffles Hotel” and had a decent budget meal. After the meal progressed onto my “walkathon” aimlessly wandering about with casual road inquiries and passed through “The Singapore Cricket Club”, today a British legacy and catering to other sporting activities as the sport of cricket is almost non-existent to local Singaporeans, main sport being “soccer”. The local “Singapore Turf club” accepts bets only on "International Soccer” and “Horse-racing” and not in “International Cricket” although it has a large expatriate population of Indians.I feel “ One Day Cricket” a better “Betting sport” than either “Horse-racing” or “Soccer” and definitely much safer than “Day-trading” on any “Stock Market” let alone the “Indian stock market”.
Later in the afternoon proceeded to the lodge by bus and at approx 1600 hrs packed for my trip to Malacca via Johor Bahru catching a bus to Johor Bahru(2S$’s ticket) and as usual the harassing “Custom –Immigration formalities” on the “Singapore-Malaysia border” reaching Johor Bahru within an hour. At Johor Bahru caught a taxi (10 Rm) to the main bus Depot and from the depot, a bus to Malacca(10 Rm), a journey of approx 21/2 hrs. Reached Malacca at approx 2200 hrs and caught a taxi(15RM) whose driver took me to a moderately priced lodge named “Sunny’s Inn” @ 25RM/Day without A/C, .It was a neat and good place when compared to the prices I paid at other lodges barring “Friendship Motel” in Penang which had free “Internet” facilities to lodgers and A/C. To a sea-farer Malacca is a legendary port with the World’s largest shipping Traffic passing through the “Straits of Malacca” as also the infamous piracy prevalent to this day in 2007 ,whereas the legendary pirates “Black Beard” and ”Captain Kid” to name a few are history. Piracy in the 21st century is confined to African and Asian ports as also “Duplication Piracy”, the latest scrouge of company’s world-wide in terms of revenue lost due to spurious product imitation.Proof that the word “PIRACY” has innovated along with society and scientific progress! Malacca is akin to a “One horse town” of cowboy or pirate movies on first impression as all buildings are less than 2 to 3 storeys and ancient are structures , the roads narrow and “One-Way” with only a few new skyscraper bldgs, the most famous being “The Equatorial Hotel” which was walking distance from my lodge.
On 25/10/07(Thursday) got up early as usual and took a detour of “Malacca town” which has all the important tourist sites located within walking distance.First, reached the ruins of “Porta De Santiago”, Malacca's signature landmark built by the Portuguese in 1511 as a fortress and has a history of self-destruction by various “colonial powers” in their conquest of Malacca finally falling into the hands of the British. Went climbing to the “Church of our Lady on the hill” built in 1521 by the Portuguese who were the first Western power to conquer Malacca and later renamed “St Pauls Church” by the Dutch in 1753. The Dutch also built their own Anglican church named “Christ Church” in 1753, the oldest protestant church in Malaysia and wonder if “Christ Church",( Mumbai)” has any connection with its Malaccan diocese. St Francis Xavier was initially buried in St Pauls church in 1551 and later his body was transferred to “Bom Jesus Church, Goa”. St Pauls hill offers a magnificent view of Malacca, most significant being the prototype of the Portuguese sailing v/l “Flor De La Mar” used as a “Maritime Museum” .
St Pauls Hill was converted into a “Burial ground” by the Dutch and houses ancient gravestones as also a combined “Dutch and English graveyard” situated at the foothill of St Pauls ruins, most significant being a skull and dagger gravestone, the coat of arms of the pirates.
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| "MELAKA(Malacca) City as seen from "ST PAULS HILL". STRAITS OF Malacca was once dreaded for "Sea Piracy". |
Viewing a genuine “Pirate Graveyard stone” quenched my thirst of “Pirate history” and recovery of the tour cost akin to finding “king Tut’s Tomb” or “Captain Kids treasure” since I am a “History buff”. Shipping was and still is my profession although due to various circumstances and destiny have at present become my own “Asset Portfolio manager!”, a hobby that became a “bread and butter” business.
Malacca could have the largest number of museums situated within a circumference of 2 to 3 Kms for any Asian port city and almost every second “Heritage structure Bldg” has been renovated and converted to a museum. After visiting the 16th and 17th century graveyard next visited the Replica of Malacca’s Sultanate palace and its beautiful gardens with the famous quote “He who rules Malacca has Venice by the Throat” ,stressing the importance of Malacca’s strategic sea location in the ancient shipping World. Spent the day visiting museums and later went to “Jonker Street” known as the antique street, a real educative experience in the “antique and curio” Industry. I realized the worth of our own antiques and curio’s collected between two generations of sea-farer's, dad and myself. Visited the “Islamic museum” since I am mostly an Anglophile historian and got to know about the “Malaysian Sultanate” and their power struggles and the saying “History repeats itself" is true for any civilization and religion, Hindus, Christians and Muslims.Malacca has various cultures, Malays, Chittys, the Baba’s and Nyonyas and the Portuguese and this can be felt as one tours the city and visits its heritage locations akin to being in Panjim(India) or Macau(China), a strange unique mix of western and eastern cultures .Visited “Bukit China (China hill)” approx an hours walk from Christ Church and the largest “Chinese cemetery” outside China, a quiet absolutely deserted place.
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| Strolling the scenic "U.N.E.S.C.O Heritage City" of MELAKA(MALACCA). |
Situated at the foot of “China hill” burial ground was the modern day graveyard of the country's majority population, Muslim graveyards. Malacca educated me on the cultural differences as well as similarities between various communities and religions.
After visiting all the communities burial grounds visited “Hang Li Poh’s well” situated at the foot of “China hill” which has a mystical as well as treacherous history being built in 1459 and never supposed to have dried. This is the oldest well that I have seen and even today the well never dries, truth is stranger than fiction. In the evening visited the “Custom Museum” with a display of confiscated smuggled contraband and methods used for detection as well as concealment! A pool larger than “Olympic size” swimming pool was functional and on inquiry was told that foreigners were allowed to swim, charges being 2Rm,, hence decided to go for a swim the next day. Strolled through the huge malls built under the “Proclamation of Independence ground stadium”, absolutely empty since it was tourist off-season.My personal opinion is that Malacca has developed an excess of shopping malls and “Curio-antique shops” compared to its consumer market and I hope the same fate doesn't befall Mumbai’s shopping malls , but then Mumbai has a huge local buyers market totally independent off tourism.
Visited a local internet café (1 Rm/1/2 hr) to keep track of Indian and International news and the Stock markets, later having dinner with a Carlsberg beer(14Rm). At night at 2030 hrs attended a “Sound and Light Show”, the first of its kind in S.E Asia similar to the Pyramids of Giza, Acropolis at Athens and the Red Fort in New Delhi. The show was conducted at the stadium grounds in front of “Proclamation of independence celebration Bldg” which depicted the history of Malacca through the ages upto the present day.Friday(26/10/07):- Next day got up early as usual and observed that “Tai-Chi” is a very popular early morning exercise amongst Malaccan Malaysians akin to Hong-Kong where I experienced it as a “Tourist demonstation” by Hong-Kongs premier tai-chi master.The exercises follow the same rhythm of “taped Music” with participants gracefully dancing in slow motion to “Kung-Fu Sequences” as in Hong-Kong. Visited the “Stamp Museum” and educated myself on “Postal Stamp and letters history” later visiting “Stadthuys” built by the Dutch in 1650 and converted to a museum , a real saturation of “Museum visits” within a short span of time. Later strolled through “Jonker Street” a real antique street, a replica of Europe in Asia and a reminder of the the influence of the Portuguese, Dutch and British on Malaccan society through the ages.
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| View of a few shops on "JONKER STREET" of Melaka(Malacca). |
Malacca is truly an antique shopper's paradise. Many artifacts and authentic antique items are available at more than 15 antique shops lining the busy streets of Jonker Street, affectionately known as the "street of antiques" and is well known among the international antique collectors. The street is named Jalan Hang Jebat today. Along the streets, one can find houses built in the 17th century, still standing strong and housing generations of Malaccans.
Visited the “Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum” situated in Jonker street which is actually a private ancient residential house akin to the “Maharajah homes” in India .This residence is put on display for tourists by the present generation relatives, a classic method of income as well as maintenance of a heritage home. Penang also has houses and a culture of the “Baba’s and Nyonya’s” and Georgetown is almost identical to Malacca’s old city enclave. The “Babas and Nyonya’s” are Chinese of noble descent who migrated to Malaysia and married locals , having their own unique mix of Malaysian and Chinese culture. The local care-taker was the guide who explained the complete living structure of the house and its customs in ancient times to a group of tourists including myself and I realized the value of our very own “Johnson's dinner Set” at home, purchased by Dad, which was a “Family Heirloom” in the Museum house , used by the family for their meals.
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| "PUDURAYA FASHION STREET" in Kuala Lumpur at night. Notice "PETRONAS TOWERS" in the background. |
Reached Kuala Lumpur’s Puduraya bus depot at approx 0930 hrs and kept my suitcase in the “Luggage counter Depot@2 RM/Baggage/Day” and as usual proceeded on the usual “Tourist walk”. Inquiries and road signs led me to Dataran Merdeka[ Merdeka Square] .This is a heritage sight of Kuala Lumpur as Malaysia’s independence on 31 Aug 1957 was celebrated at this garden. The Royal Selangor club akin to Mumbai’s Bombay Gymkhana (Tudor Style) was originally built as a social and cricket club.Sadly, the sport of cricket is almost non-existent today although in Sept 2006 the "B.C.C.I" had sponsored a “Tri-Nation one Day cricket series” in Malaysia at the 4000 capacity Kinara academy stadium. The “Tri-Nation series" of India, Australia and West Indies was a total India sponsored television show with the players earning fat salaries as also the “B.C.C.I( Board of Control of Cricket in India)” through “Television advertisement revenue”.The game made negligible progress as a sport in Malaysia akin to trying to make “Soccer” the premier sport in India by getting “Brazil- Argentina –England” playing exhibition matches in India.
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| At Merdeka Memorial grounds in Kuala Lumpur. |
Visited the Kuala Lumpur Museum situated next to Merdeka Square and also saw the Sultan Abdul Samad Bldg built in 1897 and named after the state ruler and which has has a 41.2 metre clock tower. Walked all the way to the railway station and caught the “Putra LRT” to “KLCC” station alighting directly into one of the largest malls in my life and absolutely crowded ,unlike the malls in Malacca. Feeling absolutely hungry purchased some bread products and ate it on the move, window-shopping through various mind-boggling and cost-prohibitive shops. Visited the “KLCC AQUARIA” situated in the same building [28 RM] and akin to Hong-Kong and Bangkok Aquaria’s had “Walkthroughs” with some rare fish specimens. Saw the World’s largest fresh water fish, one of the largest frogs and a turtle named Manu which was rescued from being a food delicacy and has grown into one of the World’s largest fresh water terrapins.To a first time visitor this aquarium is definitely a “Must Visit” but to a global traveler of zoo’s, wild-life parks and Aquariums the “KLCC Aquaria” is another educative aquarium.
Had a stroll in “KLCC Park”, a huge ground as it was built on the former “Race-Course” of Kuala Lumpur and later walked to KL Tower grounds to visit the KL tower built in 1992 and the 4th tallest communication tower in the World. Free transport to the tower base from the grounds is provided in a “Mercedes Taxi”, but the price of 68 RM for the tower ride was beyond my budget, besides, I had visited the “Carlsberg tower” in Sentosa(Singapore) a few days back , hence repetition at such an astronomical price was sheer waste of precious hard earned money.
Walked my way back to Puduraya and did some “windowshopping” on the way, visiting “Central Market” and passed by a soothsayers shop whom pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck consulted in 1993, proving that the World is a small place and a “Global Village”. Dinner was had at the roadside Chinese Dhaba in Petaling Street , consisting of “Pork and beer” .Observed a “Bob Dylanasque” imitator singing pop songs to tourists and collecting money in the process, a common form of earning money in England in the 1980’s.
After dinner caught the train from Puduraya to KL Central station and from there the connecting “KL EXPRESS” train to the airport reaching the airport early at approx 2100 hrs. Departure lounge at KL airport was as usual confusing and somehow managed to find the queue for “Egypt Air Flight Ms-969” check-in –counter which was crowded as the flight was to Cairo via Mumbai. After “Checking-In” went over to the airport bar-lounge and had a beer with the last remaining RM’s[30 RM/Large glass Beer] also enjoying a panoramic view of the planes from the restaurant.Later caught the “Shuttle train” to the departure terminal at approx 2400hrs, a real complicated and sophisticated airport. Flight departure was on time(0040hrs) and unlike departure from Mumbai, the plane was partly full as Cairo was the last stop. Reached Mumbai airport at approx 0330 hrs and after completing the immigration formalities caught a taxi home(Rs 300 approx) , a long, exhausting, memorable solo backpackers trip had come to an end.
Travel and intermingling with people of various culture , races, creeds and personal opinions broadens a persons horizon compared to reading or viewing television as they can produce misconceptions on country’s and its people. Malaysia has been an eye-opener to me regarding the liberal culture of a developed Islamic society compared to the “Al Qaeda Image” of “Non-Tolerance” that most of the World including myself had of most Islamic Country’s. I myself have never been slotted as an Indian on introduction, mistaken for various other nationalities and also been questioned about my “English Fluency” although educated in India, especially in England in the 1980’s! Today India is recognized as a growing economic monolith along with China yet India’s cultural, social and religious diversity is not understood to the average foreigner brought up on the early media image of India being a land of the “Mystical rope Trick”, “Snake-Charmers”, “Occult Beliefs” and “Yogic sages” to name a few prejudices. Explaining the cultural diversity and complexity of India to Western foreigners was perplexing for they could never fathom how different religions , languages and cultures could co-exist in a single country with “Hinduism” as the main religion , akin to Malaysia having “Islam” as its main religion yet being secular or “Hongkong” existing as a “Independent capitalist city” within “Communist China”. As for me , born in Kenya, educated and domiciled in India, the World is my playground, money my toys!? A Pure “CAPITALIST” although not an “INDUSTRIALIST”!
