Victor Hugo’s House

On our last day in Paris, we visited Victor Hugo’s house. It is in the Marais district at the Place des Vosges, said to be one of the most symmetrical squares in any city. There was a small ticket counter but entry was free, though a printed ticket was still required and up the old grand staircase we went …

You may know Victor Hugo as the author of the novel Les Misérables, which became a modern-day popular musical. He was also the author of Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) which was published in 1831 which also became a much-loved Disney cartoon feature. One consequence of the novel was to bring about the restoration of the cathedral which today is a “must-see” in the city of lights.

Victor Hugo lived here from 1832 to 1848. In the apartment are collections of drawings, paintings, and documents. There is a room filled with Chinese furniture and ornaments. There appears to be a “rigidity” about the household, but that was how people of means lived two centuries ago. Victor Hugo did not always live here for he later spent, due to his political views, several years in exile in Jersey, and finally settled with his family on the channel island of Guernsey.

After saying farewell to Victor Hugo, we went back to the flat we had rented, collected our luggage and boarded to Eurostar back to London. (Where we later strolled down Portobello Road and the house George Orwell lived! More about him in another post …)

I Wrote A Letter

I recently found out an old friend’s address from another friend. Well actually both pals are old school mates from 27 years ago. I also discovered, and it really made me laugh, was that my old buddy did not “do computers”.

What does this mean? He, I assume, does not use computers of any kind. No word processing. No spreadsheets and certainly no internet. That means no email and you can forget about Facebook and Twitter.

How refreshing it is to find someone who doesn’t use computers!

Does this guy belong to another age, I hear you ask, one not far removed from the realm of dinosaurs? I don’t think so. It’s a matter of choice. Why follow the crowd? Why bunny hop in the same direction? Why fall off the cliff like so many lemmings? Exactly what this metaphorical cliff is I can’t tell you.

Anyway, I wrote my friend a letter. I saw black ink tangling its way across a page. My handwriting didn’t seem too bad. It was wonderful to pen such a letter. I can’t recall the last time I had done so. Perhaps it was in the days before email. (I think I sent my first email across the internet around 1997 and the first web page I downloaded was the Star online which took many minutes to appear).

The letter will get there in about a week or so. Hopefully, I may get a reply in 3 weeks. This is indeed something to look forward to. No instant communication. No instant gratification. This is real snail mail. Time itself slows.

Do you have any friends that “don’t do” computers?

A Bit of Publicity

I had a bit of publicity this past week.

There was an article in the NST about my new encyclopedia. Hopefully, with the publicity, the bookshops should stock more of the book now. I was a bit disappointed that some shops only had 1 or 2 copies hidden away in the children’s section. I think only MPH One Utama and MPH Mid valley have a good number of copies. Also Kinokuniya have brought in more copies. So if you can’t find them in the shops do ask the sales assistant.

There was another article in the Star, with the focus on my short stories and novels. I was too candid there and gave away some of the plot of my new novel. I aim to finish it by the end of the year … if I’m not too busy blogging or distracting myself that is!

So you see, I haven’t just been relaxing and eating and meeting up with friends on my fleeting KL visit. I even appeared on RTM’s Breakfast on Two, NTV7 and Astro Awani. I was on radio too with BFM.

I’d like to thank the good folks at National Cancer Society of Malaysia for organising it all. They kept me very busy!

I was going to write about my trip to Paris, but I’ll do that another day.

Nothing Like Being Home + Radio Interview

I’m finally home after 5 weeks away!

It’s felt like a long time. I suppose it’s because I visited so many places: KL, Penang, London, Bromley, Paris, Eastbourne and PJ. I’ve also met so many people, too many to list here in fact (but I’m waving hello to you folks). And I’ve done so many things.

In Queensway, I had a lovely dinner with Kak Teh and her husband (who wrote growing up in Trengganu under the pseudonym Awang Goneng). Kak Teh also interviewed me for radio and you can find the full interview on her blog.

My book talks went very well and I’m so glad to have met some of you. I had some posters of the encyclopedia printed and these proved extremely popular in the quizzes.

The last 3 days in KL were particularly hectic: 3 TV interviews and 1 radio interview, 3 press interviews and 1 magazine interview. The interviews were organised by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (who’ll be receiving RM5 of every encyclopedia sold). On top of that, I got to catch up with old and new friends. So it’s been busy.

I’ve got lots to tell you guys about.

But I’m so glad to be home … there’s nothing quite like it.

See You At Borders and MPH

I’m doing a couple of Book Talks this weekend in KL.

I’ll be at MPH Mid Valley followed by Borders Curve on Sunday 14 June.

I’ll be chatting about my new book, History of Malaysia – A Children’s Encyclopedia. You’ll find out why it took me 5 years to complete it. I’ll discuss the writing process and how different it was from writing stories or standard non-fiction.

What’s more, as it’s a self published book, you’ll also find out about how you too can self publish your own work.

The times are:

2pm – 3pm MPH Mid Valley
4pm – 5pm Border Curve

Please do come to either or, if you’re really keen, both!

RSVP is not required. Just come along with your friends and relatives.

See you there!

More Unique Malaysian English Words

With the help of fellow blogger who commented on my last post on this subject, we can expand our list on Unique Malaysian Words:

“tackle” – to pick up, flirt with, go all they way with a member of the opposite sex (or same sex depending on your orientation!)

“attached” – place of employment. e.g “Where are you attached?” which means “Which organisation do you work for?”

“MC” – means “on sick leave”. MC is short for “medical chit” or “medical certificate”.

“terror” – means great, cool or proficient as in “That fella terror you know, he can chat up all the girls.”

“fella” – means “fellow” which is a reference to a male person.

“outstation” – means “out of town” as in “she’s gone outstation”. I wonder if this is a relic of our colonial past.

“member” – a friend e.g “He’s my member lah”. This is certainly not a reference to a male organ!

“next [insert day of the week]” – as in “next Monday” which means the coming Monday plus one week. In Australia and perhaps the UK, “next Monday” means the coming Monday. Confused? “Next Monday” in Malaysia equals “Monday week” in Australia.

Well, that’s the list so far …

Care to contribute more Unique Malaysian English Words?

And the Winners are …

Congratulations to my 5 winners!

The have not only won a copy of HISTORY OF MALAYSIA – A CHILDREN’S ENCYCLOPEDIA for themselves but also an extra copy for their school.

To all those who have entered, thanks for your efforts. I wish all of you could have won. Really, I do!

There may be another competition soon, so do keep an eye on our official website. Or, if you just have to grab hold of one, they’re available at all good bookshops … and if you don’t see it on the shelves just ask the friendly sales assistant!

And the winners are …

CARRIE TENG WAI YEE
 

who goes to S.M.K. CONVENT BUTTERWORTH, PENANG

NURUL AFIQAH BINTI YAHAYA
who goes to SEKOLAH RENDAH KEBANGSAAN KAJANG UTAMA, SELANGOR

ANDREW MAH YEE SERN
who goes to SMK SERI BINTANG UTARA, KL

SYED AZHARUL ASRIQ BIN SYED AZHAR
who goes to SEKOLAH TINGGI KLUANG, JOHOR

NAZNIN IDRIS,
who goes to SMK SG. BUAYA, RAWANG, SELANGOR

A copy of my encyclopedia will soon be sent to you and also your school.

Once again, congratulations. I do hope you’ll enjoy the book!

An Ancient Lie Detector Test

Some where along the old road between Melaka and Port Dickson lies Pengkalan Kempas.

Here you’ll find the Ordeal Stone. Here’s how it works. If you put your arm into the hole in the centre of the stone and then tell a lie, the hole will tighten painfully around your arm. I was there a few months back and am afraid to report that I didn’t dare find out if this ancient lie detector test really works.

Beside the Ordeal Stone are the famous Sword, Spoon and Rudder. Megaliths are found all over Negri Sembilan but these ones are special because they’re carved. They’re more than 600 hundred years old and maybe of Hindu origin. No one really knows the function of these megaliths or, as the locals call them, “Living Stones” or “Batu Hidup”. They’re quite mysterious and, to me, appear quite powerful.

If you’re ever somewhere between PD and Melaka, I urge you to drop by and take a peek for yourself. They’re something special. I reckon more people should visit this historic treasure. It’s also a great place for tourists to visit.

Have you been?

Together Through Life

If you don’t play Bob Dylan or are not really into him this album’s for you.

Why?

Because “Together Through Life” is so accessible. It’s a completely different Dylan album. The songs are succinct. The album is short. The elegiac, subversive, contemplative lyrics are absent. In its presence is sheer music. You feel your foot tapping and your hips swayin to its seductive rhythm.

This is the sort of CD you might hear in classy boutiques or hip wine bars. Dylan has come out wearing his leopard skin pillbox hat and has swapped his whisky jar for a glass of Champagne. And the thing is, whatever you think, he doesn’t give a damn.

This is Bob Dylan not being Bob Dylan.

This is Bobby being “the song and dance man” he quipped about all those years ago. Little did we know that the poet singer-song writer was being serious. Surely this isn’t the same guy who gave us “Blowin’ in the Wind”, “Mr Tambourine Man”, “Desolation Row”, “Hurricane” and “Like a Rolling Stone”?

This takes his last album “Modern Times” one step further along the blues road. With all that shaking going on, something had to give and here his incisive lyrics were swept aside to allow the music to come through.

It’s easy listening stuff but that don’t mean it’s bad stuff. Not surprisingly, it shot to UK’s number one spot. It’s music for the masses. But it’s good stuff too.

Many devoted Dylan fans aren’t going to be too happy with this change in direction. But unlike when Bobby went electric, not many of his fans will want to be left behind.

First of May

I’ve always liked the old Bee Gees’s song “First of May”.

I first heard it as a small boy. “When I was small and Christmas trees were tall …”

My father was then about my age today.

Last weekend, on 2nd May, he would have turned 84. He passed away six months ago. In that short time, he missed many global events like Barack Obama and the GFC. He missed many national events like the passing of his elder brother and the ascendency of the new PM. Many more such events will pass him by. We all miss him. We miss his opinions on current affairs. And of course his laughter, smile and twinkle in his eyes.

My papa used to joke that the public holiday on 1st May was to celebrate his birthday the next day. He always used to have a party to celebrate his birthday. It was not because he felt this day was such a momentous day, but rather it was his way of “giving” to his friends and relatives. He loved parties. He loved bringing people together. He loved playing host.

Tun Mahathir had this to say in his blog: “He lived life fully. I do not think we will find people like him any more … I feel much saddened by his passing. I have lost a good and loyal friend”. Tun Mahathir used to come to almost all my papa’s Hari Raya parties and my father, in turn, regarded him as a true and loyal friend. Such friendship is a rare and special thing.

My father was a very generous man. Not just in money but in spirit. He was always very positive and never had a negative thing to say about anyone … even those he knew had cheated him. What a guy …

Of course, like all people, my father had his weaknesses … but with my papa, it only added to his playboy charm!

I will always liked that Bee Gees’s song.

It’s a sentimental number and, with its simple tune, I used to sing it to my children when they were babies.

It appropriately ends with … “Guess who’ll cry, come First of May.”