The Tropics

The "inter-monsoon" -- the hottest part of the year here, just north of the Equator. Many people carry umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun.

Last night on TV, on a live show that comes on about midnight, they had some British band members who are here to play in the Force of Nature concert (tonight) to aid tsunami victims (warning: the Web site opens only in IE). One of the guys had big red blisters on his face (ouch!). He fell asleep by the pool at his hotel.

The host asked what the famous phrase is, something about only mad dogs and Englishmen ... go out in the midday sun.

That's the first time I heard the second part. Really, I only know the phrase as the title of a Joe Cocker album (that's my generation, what can I say?).

So of course I went to Google, and further enhancing my education about Malaysia, I discovered the lyrics to a song by Noel Coward (slightly before Joe Cocker's time). Here's a little snip from it:

"In the Philippines they have lovely screens to protect you from the glare./ In the Malay States, there are hats like plates which the Britishers won't wear./ At twelve noon the natives swoon and no further work is done,/ But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun."

Today being Friday, it is quite true that after noon, no further work will be done! People leave work by noon and are supposed to return by 2 or 2:30 p.m., after prayers, but really you can't count on seeing anyone until 3 at the earliest, and even then, if you don't have an appointment, don't expect to find someone in the office. (This custom is compensated for with working Saturdays, of which there are at least two each month.)