Bangsawan Naga Chini

Last night I watched an opera called Bangsawan Naga Chini at Panggung Sari, Istana Budaya with Belle of the Party.



We got complimetary tickets from Tony Eusoff, a good friend of Belle of the Party, and a friend of mine too, who played Aria Chakra a peace envoy from Kemboja Sari in search of Kota Gelanggi but was stranded in Paya Chini.



That was my first experience watching a bangsawan, a traditional Malay opera that was once called wayang parsi.






Main casts were Ako Mustapha, Jehan Miskin, Tony Eusoff, Serina Redzuwan, Zuliana Abd. Aziz (Jue), Yalal Chin (BCM), Ebby Yus and Juhara Ayob.

It's a story of how love for one woman, Puteri Mayang Sari, brought about war between two men, Arus Putra and Gempita Sakti who are twin brothers.



The opera subtly reflects the reality of today's life intertwined in myth and legend.

My question is, if love is pure and beautiful, how can it bring about so much hatred, pride and prejudice? Love should bring peace - not war.



Nobody really gains from war…

Kampung apa yang susah dicari?

Banyak-banyak kampung kat Malaysia, kampung apa yang susah dicari?



Jawapan nya ada dalam gambar :)

Seperti kata kawan aku yang jumpa signboard ni, "Jauh perjalanan, luas pemandangan."



Dia jumpa signboard tu dalam perjalanan dari Kuala Kubu Bharu ke Rawang masa nak panjat Gunung Ulu Semangkuk dengan isteri dan kawan-kawan lain.



Gunung Ulu Semangkok terletak di kawasan berhampiran Fraser's Hill. Sesiapa yang pernah ke Fraser's Hill pasti perasan terdapat satu rumah penginapan sebelum sampai ke gate untuk naik ke Fraser's Hill dipanggil Rumah Rehat Gap. Pendakian ke Ulu Semangkok bermula dari trek berhampiran rumah rehat tersebut.



Gunung Ulu Semangkok bolehlah dikategorikan sebagai gunung yang mudah. Tak pasti pulak berapa ketinggiannya. Ada dua puncak kat situ. Satu dipanggil Puncak Gap, satu lagi Ulu Semangkuk.



Oh ya ini ler kopitiam kegemaran aku bila pergi ker Frasers Hill. Kalau dulu makan di resthouse kat gap tu memang sedap tapi sejak tukar pengurusan baru, tak sedap ler.

Kalau dah ke Gunung Ulu Semangkok, jangan lupa singgah berkelah di Air Terjun Sg Chilluing kalau turun gunung tak lewat. Air terjun Sg Chiling merupakan satu lagi destinasi rekreasi yang cantik.

Why Disneyland Not Interested in Johor

Recent conversation between President of Disneyland International and his Senior Vice-President of International Marketing:

So what's the latest on the international front?
Let's see. Yes, we have an enquiry from Malaisher.
Malaisher? Where's that? In Thailand?
No, that's somewhere south of Thailand. Small country, shaped like a banana.
Okay, what do they want?
They are interested in setting up Disneyland there.
Oh really? That must be near Hongkong. How are we doing in Hongkong?
Oh Hongkong is fine. That's because the weather in Hongkong is great, very conducive to outdoor action for the whole family.
What about the weather in Malaisher then?
Blistering hot, up to the thirties. Then they have two monsoons, six months apart.
Hmm, go on.
And when it rains, the place floods like hell. Cars washed away, trees uprooted, landslides.
You're kidding.
No sir. I've got a report here that says only 4 days ago an Indonesian community was washed away by a landslide.
Indonesian community? I thought you said Malaisher?
Oh yes, but they have hundreds of thousands of illegal workers, mainly from Indonesia.
What's the crime rate like in Malaisher?
Pretty bad. Snatch thieves, children kidnapped and killed ... last week a little girl was found dead. And the crime rate is expected to go up.
Expected to go up? Who said that?
The police themselves. They threatened to let the crime rate go up if the government sets up a commission that all of them don't like. See, it's here on the Net.
They even circulated that kind of threat on the Net?
Apparently a dumb corporal did it by mistake.
Tell me more about the police there.
Well, a report here says last week there was a peaceful demonstration against some tariff hikes and the police bashed them up, beat the hell out of them. I've got pictures.
Sounds brutally efficient.
Not really, cos last month there was another demonstration; this time against a forum that was being held in a hotel, and the police couldn't control that crowd. They actually asked the people in the forum to go home.
What more can you tell me about Malaisher?
Let's see ... oh yes, they produce fake DVDs by the thousands and actually sell them openly.
Gee, that bad huh? Well we can't let them touch our merchandise then, can we?
No sir. Oh, one more thing. They support Iran's nuclear program.
Tell me you're kidding!
No sir, they just had a regional meeting and their PM declared his stand. It's all in their on-line news.
Alright, listen. I've heard enough. We are not sending Mickey Mouse, period.