Final Blog of Trip to the Far East, Monday 17 August

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:21:00 -0400

FINAL IMPRESSIONS!!!

These are not deep, intelligent, political nor meant as anything more than very personal impressions. Do not look to me for a round-up of Asia’s past and future.

I have met so many people. At one dinner, I was so sure this lady’s husband is the choir trainer she told me about the day before - or was she the one two days before?? - that I ventured forth to him at a break in the conversation, and intelligently asked him about his choir, smiling at my conversational gambit ( and I of course have a professional interest here). He looks utterly blank. Oh dear… Not the choir trainer he, but an accountant for Mercedes Benz. Damn – the choir trainer was the other lady's husband.

It has been odd returning to an older world where smoking is still allowed in public places. I also see cigarette adverts, and as it is not that long since we had them in England, it surprises me that they already have become a curiosity to me.

The trains in Colombo have been an eye opener – no rules at all about railway lines and walking on them – but I am told that there is no significant accident rate except for suicides (just like our London underground). The main point is that the Colombo population actually have this transport to get into their city. This is a very serious lack in Indonesia, particularly Jakarta.

As an examiner, I have once again realised that music as a language is universal – I forget that the candidate does not really speak English until the Viva Voce when I ask questions on the music. There were some confused faces in certain parts of Indonesia, though I have to say that here in Colombo where I write this final blog, the standard of English is good – and the educated locals do use English between themselves.

Janet Lill, our examinations guru at the LCM, thought, I am sure, she was sending me to the hottest places she has yet sent me. Not so, Janet. Yes it has been extremely steaming and humid some days, but the hottest ever was Cardiff in early July 2003. I simply could not walk anywhere, and could not escape the dripping wet humidity. I don’t think the Welsh are really in to air-conditioning as yet. That was the week when Gravesend reached over 100 farhenheit.

My saddest moment: I was in a local market in Indonesia, and there were two lovely little children about six years old holding bags and asking me something, I knew not what! Anyway, I wanted to give them some money. NO, said my host. I asked her later about this, and she said the bags were for them to carry my shopping in the hope of a few hundred Rupia – say 3 to 4 pence in our money. I would have gladly given them 100,000 (£6 or so), and think of their lovely faces, and their poverty, every day. The people I know who think they are poor (myself sometimes!) just do not know what the word means in terms of these countries, lively and energetic as they seem. Of course, we in the west have serious problems in communities, but the problems I have seen out here I have never seen in Europe. But as I have said in previous blogs, many of these people still have good families – they cope somehow, and some will be happier on this earth than the west’s richest.

My biggest surprise: having a note in my pocket (Indonesian Rupia 1000) which is worth just six pence.

My greatest treat: the day out in the hills above Jakarta, and the fabulous views of tea plantations.

My most colonial moment: The Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, once for dinner, once for High Tea. My daughters told me NOT to bring my grandfather’s pith helmet on this trip, but I now realise that this would not have turned a head in this great hotel, of the past and the future. The roll of guests is legendary, including Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Edward Heath, Vivien Lee, Trevor Howard, and even my old acquaintance Mark Tully. Well, the list goes on, but this was really something. I told the lady host that sadly one of our own most historic London hotels had recently been completely gutted – the Savoy. All history there now gone, I expect. Haven’t been to see yet.

My worst experience: NOT the robbery, that was just an interesting day. No, it has been lack of exploring on foot, feeling happy just walking on the roadside or the beach. I have spent my whole time in places where I am the only white man, and have felt insecure walking around and exploring. I usually travel in Europe, and noone can tell me apart due to colour. They can and do here! And yet I know most of them mean no harm. But I do feel stared at…This has been a new experience for me.

Shall I come again? YES

Examining Tour Blog 2009

Final Blog of Trip to the Far East, Monday 17 August