It's the 12th day of raya and being a weekend there are open houses everywhere, including right at my front neighbour's house (a single mother with three young kids). But I was not invited, understandably as we hardly know each other except for the early introduction when I first moved in and the occasional hi and waving from our cars or driveways. But isn't open house meant for everyone! Anyway just as well I was not invited; I would not have tolerated the food with the current state of my stomach. I had food poisoning last Sunday night at Bandung and it had taken so long for my stomach to settle back. I also skipped a wedding luncheon invitation today at my (again) front neighbour of my Putrajaya house. I had even loaned them my garden compound for the occasion and had ensured Mehbob cut the grass and cleaned up the garden yesterday. Well my brother Wes and his wife did attend the luncheon, in a way representing me as well. I hope my absence did not offend them.
Last Friday, the fourth day of raya I flew to Bandung with my loyal travel companion Hoong Po for what was supposed to be a 6 days holiday. I really should have trusted my first judgement, that Bandung was not a great place to visit. My first visit there was in 2004 only for 2 days and I did not like it at all. Against all odds, I decided to give it another go and it proved to be AGAIN, disappointing and rather a disaster with the food poisoning! So instead of coming back on Wednesday I flew back on Monday, forgoing two night paid hotel accommodation and having to pay penalty on my airfare! Hoong Po stayed on and was in Cirebon that disastrous Sunday. I did not want to join him on that long drive to that hot, sweaty place and just as well as it took him a marathon 9 hours to get back to Bandung the next day! And there wasn't much for him to do to pass the days till Wednesday either.
On the positive side, today spent a few hours with maestro artist Yusof Ghani who invited me to jointly paint with him at his studio in Shah Alam. Wow, what an experience that was. The results are the two paintings here. The green/brown one is his though I started with the base and outline. The other one is mine with some instruction from him. The subject/theme is mine - for me always the same subject - ALLAH! I look forward to more painting sessions with the maestro.
My darling cucu Kuca who turned two years old two weeks go had her birthday party at her kampung in Lancang, Pahang today (I'll visit her next weekend when things are quieter). As a present I gave her a painting of flowers by an autistic female artist which I bought at the MCAT (Malaysian Contemporary Art) art exhibition of autistic artists at MATIC in July. Although it is still early, hope this will inspite her to love art like her atok.
2 comments:
Salam Roem,
Hope u had a nice Raya. Its a pity about ur spoilt trip to Bandung. I do hesitate to travel during the raya holidays to areas where u can easily get Muslim food cos the 'real' cooks would be on leave.
Not that I have traveled much during those times (family comes first) but if some day I do choose to do that I would prolly select a place where the normal cooks would still be working!
I like the painting u posted on ur page. I have read about u appreciating the arts before but I was not aware that u do dabble in it. Way to go!
This weekend I have spent quite a bit of time online cos I am not feeling well enuff to be up and about. Facebook and blog reading allows u to 'feel' that u r part of the world, albeit a cyber one!
Hope that u get well soon! If that is going to take more time, just get online and update ur blog!
J
Salam and Selamat Hari Raya to you June. Sorry to hear you are not feeling well, hope you get better soon. My tummy finally settled down after 5 days and I am very cautious of what I consume now which is difficult given the number of open house invitations I get. Anyway I got my food poisoning from a Japanese restaurant in Bandung! I am pretty sure it was from the salad with mayonnaise dressing - I hate mayonaise (they go bad very fast)and God knows why I took it that night. I usually eat in the hotel whenever I am in Indonesia and again God knows why I ate out that night. Que sara sara, as they say.
Well, I do dabble in painting a little though not for some time now being so busy. That occasion to paint with Yusof Ghani was was such a precious and inspirational experience. Glad you like the result.
Take care and keep your spirit up.
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