Everyday Things

I have resolved to post to my blog more often. Shorter entries, more often. Otherwise I will forget what I have done here! A few weeks ago, I went to Kuching for five days. That's in Eastern Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. They don't make shrunken heads there anymore (they used to! I saw pictures in the museum!), but they do hunt with blowpipes. In the jungle, that is. Not in Kuching.

So the best thing there (out of many good things) was the Cultural Village. If you ever get the chance to go, you must. Go early. We arrived too late in the day and did not see everything they have. The ethnic dances were fantastic, though!

I have photos from the Kuching trip on my Flickr site.

Another thing I wanted to make sure to remember is Sepet, a new Malaysian movie that everyone here is talking about. It's a very sweet love story, and what's best about it is that it's a real Malaysian story about everyday life here. The link goes to the blog of the director, Yasmin Ahmad (see also her previous post about the national censors giving her a hard time). The movie also has its own promotional Web site.

I know it will not be easy for Americans to see this movie, but it's so enjoyable, I had to mention it. What's more, it is making Malaysians very happy when they see it -- like a fresh breeze blowing through the land. I think the people here are tired of the old paternalistic ways. I think they are really on the road to becoming a developed nation in 2020.

This is just my opinion as an outsider, a visitor in their country. But I think the public is more advanced than the government is. I think the government does not give the people credit for being as smart as they are.