Photos from wanglinhui

via Google China Blog

The chart above is some search traffic stats of Google China on May 19. 

Look at the timing of the lowest point. 

China held 3 minutes of silence for the victims of SiChuan earthquake at 14:28, May 19. 

Most of the Chinese netizen have given their regards to the victims over the net voluntarily.

China’s netizen have never been more unified.

不过这个城市有很多令人惬意的地方。

这是一个凌乱却又处处充满平和的城市。

吉隆坡城市规划有太多的失误，这些问题直接影响到每个人的日常生活。吉隆坡人也许对这些问题都习以为常了，偶尔能听到他们的抱怨，却很少见到他们的烦躁。

一次我们从唐人街坐出租车去时代广场，很短的距离。司机一面开着车在狭窄的路上穿行一面告诉我们，路上有一个大商场在搞促销，直走大路会很塞车，要绕小路转个大弯。

虽然小路上的车不是非常多，但路上的行人，小贩很多，汽车要左躲右闪，开得很不顺畅。换在广州或深圳，司机早就开骂了，天南地北，各路司机有各路骂法。但我们这个吉隆坡司机并不太介意，只是小心地开着车，还不时给我们解释吉隆坡的一些情况。

大叔的手搭在方向盘上，随意的打着拍子。车里冷气机吃力的振动，车外是繁乱的喧哗，我听不到音乐，看到大叔心里唱着歌。

东南亚四季常绿，物产丰富。一套短装可以一年穿到头，不会冷死；肚子饿了有象手臂那么粗的香蕉填肚皮，实在不行捡两个椰子砸开就是一顿了。

“躺在椰子树下，听着海浪声，吹着海风，晃晃悠悠就是一天。”

懒惰，不思进取，这是跟我们儒家传统的不断奋斗完全相反的一种生活态度。

当然，这种慵懒会让人感到效率低，让我们已经很习惯变化的人觉得停滞不前。不过这种随遇而安的态度给当前充满压力，唯利是图的社会带来点点平和，使得人与人之间更有人情味。

在广东每次去到另一个城市，一下长途车，总有很多热情的司机围上来，当你回应不坐他们的车的时候，就马上黑下脸来，转身而去，要不就拉着人，非让你坐上他的车不可。

在吉隆坡也能遇到很多拉客的司机，只是他们没有对人那么强迫。我试过好多次在拒绝了他们的服务之后，还向他们问路，这些司机也不计较，很和善，详细，耐心地给我把方向讲清楚。

去年在深圳我去看双年展的时候，也尝试着向一个拉客未果的司机问了一下路，这位大哥也是很和善，详细，耐心地给我把方向讲清楚。只是后来我按他的指引朝左转弯直走了10分钟觉得不对再问两个人后才明白自己被人耐心地忽悠了一把，悻悻地掉头。

在吉隆坡我还有幸没给拉客司机糊弄过，尽管我厚着脸皮铁着心问了很多次拉客未果的司机大叔。

没办法，吉隆坡的路太乱，而且基本上路标都不靠谱，实在不得不多问路。

视觉功厂里陈列的几个罗马金人跟我在新加坡闹市区看到的类似–很多时候这些表演已经融入生活，成为景致的一部分了。我在深圳的东部华侨城也看到过好多金人，形似差不多，不过更像是一种摆设。也许时间久了，大家习惯了，会变得更自然些吧。

倒是想起一件有趣的事情。

记得那天给一个金人拍照的时候，见到有个女的对金人那镀过金后金亮浑圆的后臀很好奇，不由自主地走过去轻轻地摸了一下。金人立马变活，回过头来，瞪着眼睛，还要保住脸上的金妆，只能低低地喝着，

“摸什么摸！只能看，不许乱摸！”金人屁股摸不得的。

那个女的愣了一下，却也不怕，只是捂着嘴在笑。

这就是我们那受了委屈，而犹带余怒的金色艺术家。

以后金人前面都应该挂个牌子，
“眼看手勿动！”

动则罚款1000。

这次短短一天吉隆坡之行尝试了吉隆坡的LRT（轻轨），KTM（火车），和出租车，深刻地体会到混乱的吉隆坡交通，效率低下的城市管理。

比如说，吉隆坡的轻轨系统据说是由两个不同公司建设的，各自按自己的喜好实行不同的标准。最让我头痛的是，有时候换线时居然要出闸，过个马路，再进闸。我以前去吉隆坡背包行时对此中的麻烦就有所领教，所以这次要坐车前先问个明白，确定不需要换线时才选择搭轻轨。

吉隆坡的出租车很便宜，但是你要学会不打表讲价，而且要忍受无时不在的塞车。吉隆坡的塞车很大程度上是由错误的城市规划造成的：吉隆坡的市中心集中了太多的购物中心，银行，和办公大楼。吉隆坡的道路设计也常常让人莫名其妙。我们从Mega Mall出来，要坐车绕着Mega Mall两圈才能离开。

新加坡每个公共场合通常对重要的建筑物都有明确的指示。在地铁站和汽车站这样的地方经常还有附近地带的地图。到了吉隆坡才感觉到新加坡人是给政府宠坏了。到了吉隆坡一切靠自己。要不自己凭着感觉走，要不看太阳找方向，要不多动动口到处问问。

我们要找的KTM站是在一个4星酒店后面，到了酒店了找不到任何指示，只好不停地问人，绕到酒店后面，一条高速公路横在面前。远远看到马路对面一个地方像是车站了，左顾右盼，愣是没有一个指示牌，也没有一个人可以问。只见左边远处有一横跨高速路的巨大广告牌，广告牌后面隐约有人走过，朋友说那应该是人行天桥了。做好往回走的打算去到跟前绕过广告牌才能确认是天桥。谢天谢地。走过去，买到票，又要往回走一段天桥才到我们的站台。那时正好是中午，又累又饿，身体快要被热带的太阳蒸干了，剩下半条命，远远地看到一列火车晃晃过来，心中窃喜，准备着在火车里的空调里喘口气。朋友随口问了旁边的人一句，想确认一下，谁知道原来这条线上跑着两趟车，我们要去的地方要下一趟车才能到。看着这趟车过去了，庆幸之余，大家又骂起娘来了。买票的时候没有人提醒一下，没有人在广播里提示一下，只是在线路图上简单的标出蓝绿两条线，天晓得哪趟车是我们要坐的？

–你自己的事情，自己想办法。这就是我从吉隆坡的城市管理获得的最明确的信息。

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1. 要多带些药，拉肚药，感冒药，退烧药，一般用得上的药；
2. 要多带些卫生纸；
3. 千千万万不要贪吃印度街边小吃，不然要拉肚N天；
4. 不要喝酒店的自来水，要喝外面的矿泉水；
5. 最好自己带床单，枕头套。

看来情况严重。我原来想德里怎么也是印度的首都吧，也许有点大意了，原来只打算打一个包包的Gadget，再加两件衣服。感谢朋友的关心。不过要带床单，枕头套是比较困难的。宁可带个大点的本本。

朋友还建议我到印度买张电话卡，用那边的网络会便宜点，一张卡只要300卢比，算到来7美刀，而且是打入免费的，比国内的便宜。听起来不错，不过他又加了一句，网络信号不是很好。

前几天另外一个朋友也给我讲了好几样注意事项：

1. 到了德里就在机场内订出租车，不要坐机场外的出租车；
2. 不要搭理走过来跟你介绍东西的人；
3. 小心行李。

这几点有点象国内，不过朋友说，印度比较不那么暴力，偷东西多，不怎么抢。

不管如何，到了印度再说。

期待印度。

PS: 刚刚收到另一个朋友的提醒，In general, the trick in India is (the same as China) to look as if you know  everything and are confident about yoursurroundings. If you look like a tourist they will try to take advantage of you.

印度我还没去，不过这位朋友对中国的理解非常到位。

多谢拉！

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更有趣的是squareCircleZ指出了在这个短片里他曾经历过的日本文化。

1. 一个很小的住宅或房子，里面堆满了东西
2. 一大堆光盘和录像带
3. 木地板
4.  蹲厕（要蹲着解决问题的）
5. 日式泡浴间（日本人洗澡要先冲干净再泡一下）
6. 小题大作

中国年轻人家里也很多CD、VCD、DVD，不过很少录像带。第4点跟中国比较象，不过中国开始越来越多抽水马桶了。

算不算恶搞？

的确是小题大作，也确实是有创意。

新加坡的总统府叫 Istana，Istana 在马来文是“宫殿”的意思。新加坡总统府开放日就叫 Istana Open House。

新加坡总统府通常在新加坡国庆节或者其它的一些重要节日期间会开放给公众参观，公众可以通过新加坡总统府的网站上查到具体开放时间。

前天是 Istana Open House，天气不错，于是就跟康康他妈带着康康去 Istana 逛了一圈。

大门 （The gate)

Istana 位于新加坡商业中心乌节路的一头，就在Plaza Singapura的旁边，从外面看来并不很大。

新加坡国徽（Singapore national emblem）

开放日对新加坡本地人免费，对外地人收新元一块。其实并没有人查证件，基本上是自觉交费。

艺术展（Some arts）

艺术展 2（Some arts 2）

新加坡政府提倡艺术，很多地方都可以见到小型的艺术展，总统府也不例外。

草坪（Lawn）

这样的草坪令人心旷神怡。

整个总统府位于闹市中心，占地约100英亩。

City view

又是一个大草坪，在这里还可以看到新加坡的金融中心。

总统府（The Istana）

走过两个大草坪，终于看到总统府 Istana。Istana建于1869年，1995年进行过大的翻新。

来张清楚点的。

总统府里展有新加坡从各个国家收到的礼物，不过我们的康康对总统府外的喷水池更感兴趣，没有进去。

从大门走到总统府里面挺累的，我们在那里见到很多工作人员架着高尔夫车到处跑，康康看见了也想坐。

我看见一辆大一点的开过来，上面有空位，于是就上前拦住，问那工作人员可不可以给我们的康康坐一下。谁知道到他连着说：“Sorry！Sorry！”摇着手，晃着脑袋就开过去了。

我正嘀咕着：“怎么那么没礼貌？没看见我们这里的小瓜要坐车吗？”

后面又来了一辆更大的车，正招手要拦下来，看见车上有个慈祥的印度老人穿着本地的休闲服，也给我招手：

“怎么这人跟新加坡政府各接待处挂着的纳丹总统那么象？”

车开过去，后面跟着两个仪仗兵，一步一踏脚的跨了过去。

原来真的是纳丹总统！

康康把他的车队给拦了下来。

只可惜没有坐上车。

世界杯过了，离北京奥运还有两年。和朋友闲聊的时候谈起中国有什么运动有机会入选奥运正式项目。听说武术比赛过了北京奥运就要撤，没有什么希望。想来想去，赛龙舟似乎有戏。

原以为龙舟是中国独有的，谁知道朋友从印度卡拉拉邦（Kerala）旅游回来告诉我，印度也有龙舟赛。

朋友没有照到印度龙舟，只好在Flickr上找了一些照片充数。

Look at that spray.jpg

Originally uploaded by ToreaJade.

根据卡拉拉的旅游网介绍，他们管龙舟赛叫做Vallom Kallies，龙舟叫Snake Boat（蛇舟）。龙舟赛是为庆祝一个叫Onam的丰收节而举办的。

他们也有一段关于龙舟的神话故事。

The stately snake boats of Aranmula form part of a hoary temple ritual. In days gone by, it is said, bandits once plundered a small boat carrying offerings to a Krishna temple. Lord Krishna, goes the legend, appeared before the distraught devotee in a dream and advised him to build larger boats which, when rowed by a hundred to hundred and fifty oarsmen, could glide swiftly and outstrip any pirate, and so the speedy chundan or snake boat was designed. This legend forms the basis for the snake boat races and boat festivals of Kerala.

原来印度龙舟是按照神旨托梦造来打强盗的，跟咱们屈原的版本有所不同。

仔细看一下，除了没有龙头、赛手黑一点外，印度龙舟跟中国的龙舟很像，但没有打鼓的，所以赛手划桨的节奏也不很整齐。

总体感觉一样，“人多力量大！”

Women boaters.jpg

Originally uploaded by ToreaJade.

女赛手。

Long view.jpg

Originally uploaded by ToreaJade.

Drill time.jpg

Originally uploaded by ToreaJade.

I saw quite a number of new construction projects going on when I visited Tg. Pinnang recently. Building new houses, I reckoned it was a good indicator for local economy.

Who will build new houses without extra money? If the economy is not growing, what are these new houses for? Furthermore, new construction projects bring in more jobs for local people.

“NOOOO…” A big no and frustration, “Nobody wants to invest after the new labour law.”

The Indonesian new labour law was implemented in 2003. It went too far to protect the workers and was being abused by the workers, according to this businessman. During the time I was in Indonesia, there was some big protests against the revision of the labour law. The Indonesian government expected the revision would bring in more investment into the country.

“Oh, but I find so many new buildings in town this time.” I asked.

“That’s not because of good economic.”

Since the President Wahid (1999-2001), the Indonesian government has started loosing the restrictions on Indonesian Chinese. The Chinese communities in Indonesia are more comfortable to spend now.

This reminded me the horrible and disgusting Jakarta Riots of May 1998. Many Indonesian Chinese were killed; women were mass raped; many shops were looted and burnt. (See some pictures here. Reminder: Some of the pictures were not taken in the roit, but from other incidents of Indonesia.注意：该网上的图并不全是98年印尼暴乱的。)

Tg. Pinnang has a large percentage of ethic-Chinese; it is close to Singapore; it has not experienced any big riot during that time. In fact, it was a safe harbour to many Jakarta Chinese businesspersons.

Still, many Indonesian Chinese there are living in fear.

They have already accustomed to such fear years after years.

They just feel a little bit relief now.

Foreigners, including Chinese, Indian, American, British, and Australian, can get a Visa-on-Arrival at the custom of TG. Pinang. (See the picture above)

The Visa fee is US$ 10 for 7 days and US$ 25 for 30 days.

That’s much more convenient for travellers. I had to pay 70 Singapore dollars and queue twice to get a visa before I came to Indonesia one year ago.

拿中国护照的可以到了印尼海关再办落地签证。10美元7天，25美元30天。挺方便的。

码头（Port）

The two buildings in front are bird nest houses, houses for swallow. Local Chinese people build the houses for swallow and collect the nests. Swallow’s nest is an expensive invigorant in Chinese society.

前面两座是燕屋，用来养燕子收燕窝的。

还是燕屋(Bird nest house 2)

TG Pinang说是一个省会，但看起来跟中国的一个小县城差不多。

市中心街道1（Downtown Street 1）

市中心街道2（Downtown Street 2）

市中心街道3（Downtown Street 3）

路牌（Guidepost）

Interestingly, the street name is written in Indonesian and Arabic, though I did not see one single Arab there.

大商场（The Mall）

超市（Supermarket）

超市2（Supermarket 2）

很多地方都能看到中国商品。

Chinese products are penestrating the Indoesian market. Though the reputation of the Chinese products are not so good there, I have seen Chinese electronic appliances, motorcycles, packaged snacks, etc. selling on in TG. Pinang.

当地报纸1（Local news paper 1）

当地报纸2（Local news paper 2）

仅有的有关中国的新闻，上海国际摩托车赛。
That is the only news about China I could found on the news paper.

富人家(Some rich families’ houses)

中等人家（A middle class)

穷人家1(A poor family 1)

穷人家2(Poor family 2)

穷人家3(Poor family 3)

The Indonesian Gini coefficient is around 0.33, which is lower than many Chinese cities. But the wealth inequality is much more obvious than that in China.

In TG Pinang, a maid’s (domesitc worker) salary ranges from 30 to 60 Singapore dollar(S$). (US$20 ~40) Much lower than that in China. A man working in a factory can bring home S$100 every month. An experienced degree holder can earn S$400 to S$1000 a month.

表面看印尼的贫富差距比中国要明显，虽然它的基尼指数跟中国比并不高。

TG Pinang是位于明丹岛（Bintan Island）上的一个镇。明丹岛的面积两倍于新加坡。它有很漂亮的海滩，也有一个很不错的度假村和高尔夫球场。不过我这一次没有去。

TG Pinang sits in the south of the Bintan island. It has some beautiful beaches and a nice resort.

The holidays reminded me an interesting complaint from my cousin.

My cousin lives in the US. We visited her family during the Christmas’ time and stayed in her house for about a week. One day, we talked about her company, she told me, “I can not say ‘Merry Christmas!’ in my office now, so I am able to say a few more times to you.”

“It’s still the biggest day of a year, and public holidays in America, right? How do you greet with each other in the office?” I wondered.

“Well, we can ONLY say ‘Happy holidays!’” she sounded a bit annoyed.

“Merry Christmas!” or “Happy holidays!” sounds no different to me.

“Maybe she does not like the company.” I thought.

I got it straightened out after I followed my Cousins to their church’s silent night party.

There were some performances and dramas in the party. The kids played very hard on the stage, but they were short of training. At the end, the priest made an impassioned, powerful speech about the birth of Jesus, which, according to his message, changed our life, made strong impacted on the peace of the world, contributed to the development of humankind and so on. I just joined it for funs; I did not pay much attention. But, I got to know one important point. (The priest effort did not waste his time on me.)

The birth of Jesus = Christmas; Merry Christmas! = Happy birthday to Jesus!

So, there is a big difference between saying Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Imagine John’s birthday party. Nobody is allowed to say, “Happy birthday to John!” When making a toast, friends can only say, “Best wishes to you!”

Isn’t the majority Christian in the US? Why do companies prohibit staff from greeting “Merry Christmas!” in the office? Concerning this, I sent an email to another American friend,

PS: While more and more people in China celebrate the Christmas, it is really strange to me that many friends in the US can not say Merry Christmas at work. That is another interesting thing I learn here.

He made a fast and short reply,

P.S. – In the US, Christmas is both a religious and commercial holiday, whereas in Asia it’s pretty much a commercial holiday. Though mostly Christian, the US has people of many religions – and to avoid offending those of Jewish, Muslim, or other faiths that do not celebrate Christmas as a religious celebration, many people say “Happy Holidays” instead – to cover everything.

I see! They want to achieve religious harmony. (Harmony is the big keyword of China’s current media.) Religion is very sensitive in the US too. While not allowing to say “Merry Christmas!” does take care of some other religions’, many people’s feeling, it restricts the freedom of Christian.

Such enforcement does help maintain religious harmony in many circumstances. There are too many examples in Singapore.

For example, students are not allowed to bring articles with strong religious symbol to schools. A few years’ ago, a Malay family in Singapore sued the government for this, because their daughter were not allow to wear scarf in the school. After lost the case, they transferred their daughter to a school in Malaysia.

Also, to avoid segregation, Singapore government strictly controls the proportion of different races in the HDB, the public housing of Singapore. Chinese, Malay, and India must share a certain proportion in every HDB block. For instance, when the number of Chinese resident reaches the limit in a HDB block, no Chinese can buy a house in this block even though there is a house for sale by other race.

Such enforcements sacrifice certain groups’ interests for the benefits of bigger communities.

It works in Singapore. You can see different races say hello to each other occasionally; you can find children of different races mix together on the playground near the HDB blocks.

Strangely, it was in Malaysia that I felt the truly so-called harmonious society in the first time. (The Malaysia tourism slogan “Truly Asia” does make some sense to me.)

Few years ago, we were backpacking in Kuala Lumpur. We went to its Chinatown for some cheap bargains. Like those in many other Chinatown, the sombrous lane was full of people, with shop keepers shouting for business and shoppers bargaining for exotic T-shirts or fake citizen watch.

Most of Chinese in the Chinatown speak Cantonese. Suddently, a loud “X你老母！…” in Cantonese (Kind of Fucking…in English) behind shocked us, while we were searching the way out. We looked back immediately, and saw a local India scolding a Chinese in perfect Cantonese! The Chinese was obviously not the rival. He stepped back, moaning away.

I have seen a harmonious society in this quarrel.

I think in a truly harmonious society, every member appreciates the similarity and difference between one another and everybody shares the happiness of “Merry Christmas” freely. Even when there is a quarrel, every member can quarrel in each other’s language without going into a bloody war.

It seems KL achieves this without using much enforcement.