Nomadic Republic

Gansu / Qinghai Journey 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:13:00 +0000

On 5th April 2012, I will begin a two-week journey to the remote southern part of the Chinese province of Gansu (甘肃省), and if time allows, the eastern part of neighbouring Qinghai Province (青海省).

I will begin my journey by flying to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, where I will spend 1 1/2 day visiting a few archaeological sites that I did not cover during my 1995 work visit. It would be most refreshing to see how this important Southwestern metropolis has transformed in the almost 2 decades since my visit.

From Chengdu, I will fly to Lanzhou (兰州), capital of Gansu, from where I will make my way to Xiahe (夏河) County in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 甘南藏族自治州, at the fringe of the Tibetan Highlands. I will also visit the famous Labrang Monastery, one of the six greatest monasteries of the Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism. From Xiahe, I will move on to Langmusi (郎木寺), a small one-street town that has emerged in the past decade as a backpacker magnet, renowned for its beautiful rustic Alpine scenery and idyllic Tibetan nomadic lifestyle. I will do a quick tour of the winding streams of the Yellow River at the Maqu (玛曲) plains, the photos of which often appear on tourist brochures. Then I will head north to Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture 临夏回族自治州, inhabited by not only the Muslim Hui Chinese, but also other Muslim ethnic groups of obscure Central Asian/Silk Road origins such as Dongxiang, Baoan and Salar. If there is time, I will head for Xining (西宁), capital of Qinghai Province, where I would do day trips to the Qinghai Lake 青海湖 (Kokonor) and Taer 塔尔寺(Kumbum Monastery), another of the great Gelugpa monasteries. I will end my journey in Lanzhou before I return to Singapore.

Next Gathering: 11 May 2012: Tibetan Beauty of Sichuan ; Sud Tirol

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Friday 11th May 2012

Networking @ 7:30pm
There will not be any potluck this session, but do support our venue sponsor by patronizing the cafe here.

Presentation @ 8:15pm
Brief Moments - Sud Tirol (Italy) - by Guohua

The Tibetan Beauty of Sì Chuān

featuring Kangding, Dege and Ganzi (Daocheng)

By Shirley Hsieh & Catherine Cheong

@ Campers Corner
www.camperscorner.com.sg & www.facebook.com/camperscornerstation51

51 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187969

PLEASE NOTE YOUR ATTENDANCE BELOW,
so that the organisers have a rough idea how many people are turning up.

Andaya Talks on Black Portuguese Eurasians & Sexual Relations & Stranger Kings in Southeast Asia

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:58:00 +0000

ANDAYAS TALK AT THE PERANAKAN MUSEUM 3 APRIL 2012

LEONARD ANDAYA: PORTUGUESE EURASIANS

About the Topasses of Timor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topasses

May or may not have real Portuguese blood.

Important military force who moved from Nusa Tengara & Makassar to Oecussi in East Timor. Oecussi was first Portuguese settlement in Timor which remains the enclave of East Timor surrounded by Indonesia today. Powerful military, Catholic spiritual and economic force that later even fought with the "proper" white Portuguese colonials later on. Appropriated Portuguese imperial reputation for own regional imperial ambitions.

BARBARA ANDAYA: SEXUAL RELATIONS AND STRANGER KINGS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Long history of Southeast Asian hospitality to visiting traders by providing women. Not as prostitutes but as temporary wives that helped to:

- Build bridges with local businesses

- Trade and sell merchandise in local markets

- Negotiate local bureaucracy

For locals, the practice:

- Build/cement international trading links

- Diversify DNA

- Brings wealth and prestige to the families (even kings and chiefs offer daughters to captains, while common men offer daughters to lowly sailors)

- Brings access to foreign merchandise

- Children from such marriages ("half castes") are multilingual and excellent interlocutor to international trade; also valued advisors to rulers

Foreigners tend to stay for several years. During term of temporary marriage, no extramarital affairs. Marriage allowed to be dissolved if trader leaves country for good or greater than 3 years.

Practice broke down by 17^th/18^th century when too many traders arrived.

Traders no longer behaved like good sons-in-laws but treated women as prostitutes. Domestic violence. Shorter voyage timing also meant no need for long term relationships. Half castes now despised.

But shadows of tradition remain in the form of Isteri kontrak - contract wife – in Jakarta.

{TWC:} Or SPGs in SG

Sgtravelcafe: Guatemala & Copan Ruins of Honduras by Trisha & Kelly / DR Congo: Danger Zone by Iris

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 04:04:00 +0000

Friday 13th April 2012

Potluck & Chat @ 7:30pm
Just bring a small box of pastries, or a packet of noodles for about 3-4 people,
or a bottle or 2 of soft drinks.

Presentation @ 8:30pm
Brief Moments - DR Congo: Danger Zone - by Iris
Guatemala & Copan Ruins of Honduras:

Special Guest: 18 Rabbit & Rosalila
by Trisha Sng & Kelly Cheng

@ Wee Cheng's place
11 Pemimpin Drive, #07-03, Marymount View, Singapore 576148

Take the circle line until Marymount Station, and get out via exit A. Face North on Marymount Road and walk ±400m past an overhead bridge, and past Shunfu Road until a 2nd overhead bridge, which you cross to find Marymount View, at the corner of Marymount Road and Pemimpin Drive, just opposite Shunfu Estate.

Or park your car at your own risk on the roads outside, or at Shunfu Estate across Marymount road.

Click on MAP, or type "Marymount View Singapore" on Google Maps or your iPhone4.

PLEASE NOTE YOUR ATTENDANCE BELOW,
so that the organisers have a rough idea how many people are turning up.

ARI Conference: The Art of Neighbouring – Old Crossroads and New Connections Along the PRC’s Borders 1-2 March 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:29:00 +0000

ARI Conference: The Art of Neighbouring – Old Crossroads and New Connections Along the PRC's Borders 1-2 March 2012

I attended this interesting conference the past 2 days. More details at: http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/events_categorydetails.asp?categoryid=6&eventid=1209

Knew little about the whole discipline of Borderland Studies till now. Some of the facts I learnt are:

1) There is an Association of Borderland Studies.

2) Mongolia's key "Third Neighbour" Diplomacy. 25% of Mongolia's armed forces are participating in UN Peace Keeping. Concept of Fortune Sovereignty – sharing Mongolia's mineral wealth with all nations. Mongolia's tradition of giving horses to visiting foreign leaders, which amused George W Bush.

3) Mongols have no problems with Kalmyks, Buryats and Hazaras. Antagonism or tension between Mongols and China's Inner Mongols because the two are too close and too alike. Latter seen by former as too crafty and cunning. Mongols also maintain a distance as any closeness to latter could mean potentially losing independence of Mongolia.

4) The former upper class of Russia's Blagoveshchensk (tends to be Soviet era's preferred professionals and managers of state-run enterprises, now poor) is Moscow-oriented and few have visited China's Heihe. The rich entrepreneurial class travels frequently all over China, speaks Mandarin, is interested in Chinese culture and whose young nurtures hopes of working in MNCs in Shanghai or Shenzhen. Few Russians and Chinese are keen on romantic relationship with each other. Blagoveshchensk puts up barriers to Chinese visitors whereas Heihe attracts (i) Russian visitors from Blagoveshchensk, (ii) Chinese visitors wanting a glimpse of Russia. Blagoveshchensk waterfront is deserted. Heihe is along waterfront, with shops, skyscrapers, tacky bear statues and kiosks that look like Russian dolls.

5) Tumen area is not very successful as a regional cooperative zone because Russia and North Korea see that as a Chinese idea to gain sea access, which is indeed what the Chinese wants. Chinese-Koreans are emerging as a key regional mediator in Dongbei. They are (i) running DPRK special zones on the borders, (ii) helping South Korean MNCs run business across Dongbei. Chinese-Koreans are ethnically closer to North Koreans but culturally (in terms of contemporary culture) closer to South Koreans. South Korean stereotypes of Chinese-Korean: Dirty, cunning, irresponsible, but both sides now increasingly rely on each other.

6) Russian Koreans have hardly any role in the region because they are monocultural – totally assimilated with the Russians. This concurs with my observations in London – the Russian-Koreans do not hang out with Asians. They are closer to the Russians and ex-Soviets.

7) Many Amdo Tibetans move to and fro China and India, for English schools, trade, pilgrimage, etc. The Chinese have some suspicions but welcome a number back as "Overseas Chinese". Many return to China because they found that the Tibetans-in-exile aren't as traditional as those in China. Many returnees actually become anti-clerical after felling disillusioned with the politics and "corruption" among the monks-in-exile, which is something not many Westerners would want to admit. Many also returned to China in order to take advantage of the rise of tourism and growth opportunities. Some run hotels and tour operators and quite often have become rich. However, post-2008 Lhasa Riot tension has curtailed much of such movement. Chinese bureaucracy has also become less hopeful that returnees would support Chinese rule in Tibet.

8) The direct HK airport ferry transfers to Pearl River Delta ports are meant as transit points for (i) PRC citizens with rural hukou who cannot set foot in HK unless they join package tours, (ii) Nationals from countries in Africa & Middle East who cannot obtain HK visas. The transfers allow them to use HK Airport without officially entering HK.

9) China has built many roads leading to remote border communities adjoining Nepal. This has great impact on Nepalese communities living next to the Chinese border. Such communities were previously remote and cut-off from mainstream Nepal by tall mountains. Now they trade actively with Chinese communities across the border. They sell medical herbs and timber, in exchange for manufactured goods. The language on both sides of such borders are the same – Tibetan. No problem. No customs checks in most areas. Locals cross freely without documents. It's a lifeline for them. Thorough border checks only on Friendship Highway linking Kathmandu and Lhasa.

10) These scholars found that locals in Mustang are excited about new highway being built though recent Al Jazeera documentary suggests that locals are more concerned about possibility of Chinese traders and influence, plus local support for the Tibetan cause. Martin Saxer said that many of these communities were once cosmopolitan and were centres of trade before the border shut down after the fleeing of the 14th Dalai Lama. In fact, even today, they were not completely cut off. A Mustang ritualist he interviewed has a son who's a sushi chef in New York and he wanted the son to return to take over him.

11) Two Chinese special zones in Laos: Golden Boten City and Golden Triangle City. The former has now been abandoned (or largely so): http://www.economist.com/node/18744577 The latter tries to cultivate a more wholesome image, with agricultural projects. Both have trappings of Chinese state, including use of political language/terminology (e.g., Ling-dao or leader), Chinese signs, RMB, uniformed security, etc. Former run by HK resident and latter by a Macau resident – but both were originally PRC – from Fujian and Dongbei respectively.

Brief mention of the Myanmar Kokang and Wa Special Zones. Both has suffered decline or even conquest by Myanmar Government. All failed examples of attempts by former drug lords or warlords to transform their wealth into more legitimate looking businesses albeit with PRC characteristics and trappings of state power. All have support of PRC local county governments but such support can collapse overnight if the Central Government feels that they may compromise Chinese international standing.

TWC suggests some parallels with tax heavens in the Caribbean, e.g., BVI and Cayman Islands, which are hybrid or forgotten political remnants of past empire now attempting to serve businesses or individuals seeking regulatory arbitrage.

12) Burmese Muslims such as the Indian-looking Rohinyas might be seen internationally as oppressed and poor refugee peoples, but many have in recent years moved to Yunnan and prospered in the Myanmar jade trade, especially in Ruili/Baoshan areas. Transnational, hold Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Saudi passports. Chinese allow them to stay and run jade shops, though they tend to send children daily to schools in Myanmar. Speak all the languages of neighbouring countries. Many have epic stories of being chased out of Arakan homeland, across to Bangladesh, India and re-enter Myanmar from the far north, then China. China open to them. Benign. Muslim communities in South Asia and Malaysia can be unfriendly to Rohinyas but the Huis of China welcome them to their mosques. China has become a sanctuary if not paradise to them.

13) Anxiety on Sino-Indian border over opening of border at Sikkim. Story of Indian ghost soldier "border baba ghost" who warned about war and materialism. Shrine taken care of daily by soldiers and even Chinese soldiers had seen him. Chair left for him at Sino-Indian border meetings. http://soumenpurkayastha.suite101.com/the-ghost-soldier-on-duty-a374225

14) The divide between different categories of Chinese: The Constructors (建设者) who came with the Bingtuan (兵团) – PLA soldiers who settled after the conquest by CCP and all "opportunistic" late-comers. Even among the Constructors, there are those who say that they are with Bingtuan Spirit and consciousness (觉悟), and others who do not. Examples of those who do not ("the Subalterns") may include some of the 8,000 Hunnanese girls who went to Xinjiang to work but ended up being persuaded to marry men of the Bingtuan, some of whom were much older. In 2007, amidst the Urumqi riots and rising tension, films were made about the heroic Bingtuan and the women sent to marry them – 八千湘女上天山 (8000 Hunnan Girls Going to Tian Shan http://ent.sina.com.cn/f/v/bqxnshtsh/ ) and 戈壁母亲 (Mother of Gobi). TWC: I wonder what are the perceptions of the Bingtuan of the oldest group of Han population in Xinjiang, i.e., the 10% of XJ population that was Han before the arrival of the PLA.

15) Chinese stereotypes of Vietnamese traders: Cunning, irresponsible, crafty. Many Chinese businessmen claimed that they have been cheated by Vietnamese and yet have no choice but to continue to trade with them. Some even said they should "punish" Vietnam militarily. But is this a fair comparison? More studies needed on Vietnamese perception of Chinese. TWC: Interestingly, during my days working in a China company, the Vice-Chairman's son had spent many years as an engineer with a Chinese industrial group in Vietnam and he said the same about the Vietnamese. Since the same has often been said about PRC businessmen by other Asians, I suspect that business ethics and practices of PRC and Vietnam are probably quite similar and some PRC businessmen cannot get over the fact that the Vietnamese sometimes beat the Chinese in terms of craftiness.

16) An environmental and animal rights movement is rising in China. This is a good sign.

17) More than 50% of married Dai women from the Menglian Dai-Lahu-Wa Autonomous County (孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县) in Pu'er Prefecture move to Hat Yai or Dan Nok on Thai-Malaysian border to work in massage parlours. Red light district with people from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and other parts of China, but few Thais. But these Dai women do not see themselves as sex workers but providers of companionship. They speak Thai in the open to avoid detection but speak Mandarin to Chinese-Malaysian men to promote intimacy and relationship. Not clear immediate sexual transaction but complex emotional comradeship. They seek long term relationship with these men during which the men may put the women up in an apartment in Hat Yai or even money to build a house in China. There is no attempt to lie to the Malaysian men about the marriage status of the women. In fact, that status makes them more attractive as personal confidante. This is what Chris Lyttleton calls "Entrepreneurship of Intimacy".

Some of the women have become so well-off that they run hotels and shops using money earned from such relationship. They often spend 5-10 years in Southern Thailand during which the same Malaysian men had special arrangements and then return to their homes in China. Some Malaysian men even visit them regularly in China. The phenomena have become so embarrassing to local county authorities that they no longer issue passports to Dai women between 18 and 35 years old. Since then, Dai women who leave their counties tend to bring along their daughters who were below 18 years old so that they can also eventually participate in the same "trade". Dai men do not typically work overseas. Some Dai men are quite happy to receive remittances from their wives overseas while a few instances of bitterness have been reported – Lyttleton admits that more studies of the family impact of this "trade" has to be done.

9 Mar 12 Gathering: Mongolia by Kevin; Kruger NP by Kieran

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:41:00 +0000

Friday 9th March 2012

Potluck & Chat @ 7:30pm
Just bring a small box of pastries, or a packet of noodles for about 3-4 people,
or a bottle or 2 of soft drinks.

Presentation @ 8:30pm
Brief Moments - A Drive Thru Kruger South Africa - by Kieran Goh
Mongolia: Tracing the steps of Genghis Khan

from the Gobi Desert to Hovsgol Lake

by Kevin Dinh

@ Campers Corner

51 Waterloo St Singapore 187969
http://www.camperscorner.com.sg
https://www.facebook.com/camperscornerstation51

PLEASE NOTE YOUR ATTENDANCE BELOW,
so that the organisers have a rough idea how many people are turning up.

Sgtravelcafe: 5th Anniversary Celebration & Session

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:45:00 +0000

ALong on Iran

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:12:00 +0000

Yusheng, and Opportunities for Regional Cooperation

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:50:00 +0000

Yusheng, and Opportunities for Regional Cooperation

In 2010, I made a Facebook post seeking views on Singapore's intangible cultural heritage but nobody responded. Therefore, I am amazed at how the issue has suddenly come alive and is now being reported in some newspapers as a formal proposal for yusheng to be listed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage programme (ICH).

The heated passions and the interest that have been aroused by this issue, together with the KTM Rail Corridor and Bukit Brown issues, do indicate that Singaporeans care a lot about our heritage and identity as a nation.

It is important, at this point to revisit the UNESCO World Heritage scheme and its relevance for Singapore.

The UNESCO World Heritage Convention is an international treaty that seeks to identify sites around the world which possess outstanding value to humanity and commit signatory nations to protect and preserve these sites. It is widely acknowledged that world heritage status often result in significant rise in tourism numbers and receipts, why explains the interest many governments have in the programme.

The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.is an offshoot of the world heritage scheme, and its key focus are, according to UNESCO, "traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts."

Singapore is neither a signatory to the World Heritage Convention nor the 2003 Convention on ICH, and as such the issue of Singapore attempting to list a Malaysian intangible cultural heritage does not arise.

UNESCO emphasises that "the importance of intangible cultural heritage is not the cultural manifestation itself but rather the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted through it from one generation to the next." Such heritage is meant to give us "a sense of identity and continuity, providing a link from our past, through the present, and into our future."

UNESCO explains that the scheme is meant to be inclusive, and "does not give rise to questions of whether or not certain practices are specific to a culture." Countries are often encouraged to seek joint listing of intangible cultural heritage. Since the UNESCO ICH inception in 2003, 267 "elements" belonging to 142 countries have been listed as intangible cultural heritage, of which 10 are joint listings, which include, the following:

* Mediterranean cuisine: Joint listing by Greece, Italy, Spain and Morocco

* Nowruz festival: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Turkey

* Language, Dance and Music of the Garifuna: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras & Nicaragua

In the case of falconry, twelve countries as diverse as Belgium, Morocco, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia jointly applied for listing and succeeded in the efforts.

What are these implications for Southeast Asian nations?

This region has, since time immemorial, been a region of transcontinental trade and cultural exchange. The peoples of this region have frequently intermarried with each other, and have demonstrated enormous capacity to adapt other cultural practices into their own value systems. In numerous cases, the marriages of different practices have resulted in a fascinating range of cuisines, crafts, traditions and performing arts that continue to evolve today in a dynamic fashion.

Peranakan culture, which is the marriage of Malay-Indonesian and Chinese cultures manifested through cuisine, material art and traditions, is a good example of this exuberant cultural exchange in historical Nanyang, particularly in Singapore, Melaka, Penang, Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan.

Frequent trading and cultural exchanges between the cities in the region further enriched the communities that lived in these lands and have produced a cosmopolitan hybrid that is still a sense of pride among Singaporeans, Malaysians and Indonesians. This suggests a great opportunity for a joint application of these nations for UNESCO ICH inscription of this unique culture and cuisine. The success of this application would signify a celebration of a shared heritage and would help foster ties among the nations

Also often mentioned by anthropologists as unique to the region are the colourful rituals of the Nine Emperor God Festival, a festival unknown in China but elaborately celebrated among Taoists in Phuket, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The festival is already officially acknowledged by the governments of Thailand and Malaysia as a key representation of local culture and traditions. A joint application of this festival to the UNESCO ICH would be an excellent example of cooperation between Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

This then brings us to the question of whether yusheng would qualify for ICH listing. Yusheng as a dish is originated from neither Singapore nor Malaysia. In fact, the concept of eating raw fish salad exists in many forms from the southern tip of Argentina to Zamboanga in the Philippines. What is unique about yusheng is the tossing of the salad to signify community bond and goodwill, and a hope for peace, happiness and prosperity, all qualities highlighted as UNESCO ICH criteria.

The tossing of yusheng as a focus of community spirit and bond makes it an intangible cultural heritage of both Singapore and Malaysia. However, yusheng at the current stage, due to its relatively recent invention and evolution, probably does not satisfy the UNESCO criterion for a heritage element to have been "transmitted from generation to generation". We do not know if the significance of the yusheng toss of today would survive in the future. This means that, even if the yusheng toss can be considered an intangible cultural heritage of Singapore or Malaysia, it does not qualify as a UNESCO ICH.

I believe that the listing of yusheng is premature. Those interested in the listing of yusheng should come back in 100 years time to see if the yusheng toss is still practised with the same spirit. If it does, then that criterion may be satisfied.

The debate on whether yusheng is Singaporean or Malaysian distracts people from the real issue, which is to find ways to preserve and promote our historical and cultural heritage. I hope this affair would instead sets us off thinking what constitutes our heritage, how to preserve it and whether we can use the UNESCO ICH as an opportunity to promote regional cooperation and celebrate our shared past, present and future.

Tan Wee Cheng

捞鱼生与促进区域合作的机遇

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:31:00 +0000

捞鱼生与促进区域合作的机遇

我2010年在面簿上征询网友关于我国是否有哪些非物质文化遗产的意见,一年多来都没有人回应. 所以, 我对各媒体这时突然报道这个话题, 甚至一些马来西亚媒体宣称我正式提议把 "捞鱼生" 申报联合国教科文组织非物质文化遗产感到迷惑。

公众对捞鱼生、马来亚铁道和咖啡山等课题所积极发表的言论，显示了新加坡人确切关心我们的文化遗产及国家认同感。

新加坡不是2003年联合国教科文组织非物质文化遗产公约的签署国，所以新加坡试图把马来西亚的非物质文化遗产申遗的问题并不存在。教科文组织规定此公约是包容性的，对成功申遗的非物质文化遗产是否是某个文化专属并不感兴趣。事实上，非物质文化遗产清单有10个是由多国联合提交成功申遗的，其中包括希腊，意大利，西班牙和摩洛哥联合提交成功申遗的地中海饮食文化。

东南亚自古以来是横贯亚洲的贸易和文化交流的地区。这地区的人民及外来族群经常互相通婚，并以巨大适应与包容的能力将自己和外来的文化习俗与价值观融合在一起，并在民俗、饮食、手工艺品，传统表演艺术是各领域形成了一种迷人的特有现象。

土生华人文化融合了马来西亚、印尼及中国的美食，物质艺术和传统文化，这是一个很好的例子.几百年来，南洋各大城市、如新加坡，马六甲，槟城，雅加达，泗水和棉兰之间的文化交流，已进一步丰富了这地区人民的物质与文化生活，至今这仍然是新加坡，马来西亚和印尼之间的自豪。如果各国可乘绝佳机会成功联合申遗，将有助于促进国家之间的紧密关系与人民之间的往来及地区共同感。

丰富多彩的九皇爷节日仪式是东南亚华人特有的民俗庆典。这节日在中国找不到，但200多年来在泰国普吉岛，槟城、吉隆坡和新加坡的民间，以成为地方文化和传统文化的象征性代表，并得到泰国和马来西亚政府的肯定。如果新加坡、马来西亚和泰国向联合国教科文组织成功的申遗这节日将是三国之间的合作的很好例子。

捞鱼生是否符合教科文组织非物质文化遗产的申遗规则？鱼生作为一道菜的起源并非新加坡或马来西亚。其实，吃生鱼的概念在世界多地区存在，近有菲律宾三宝颜，远则阿根廷南端。新马地区捞鱼生的独特意义不在味道，而是这仪式显示了社区及民间的凝聚力及对未来的期望。这也符合教科文组织非物质文化遗产的部分标准。

捞鱼生可说是新加坡和马来西亚的一种非物质文化遗产。然而，在目前阶段，由于其发明和演变史比较短，并不满足教科文组织申遗所必具备的代代相传准则。捞鱼生所包含的那种民间凝聚力与意义，是否在100年以后还存在，目前还是个未知数。这意味着，即使捞鱼生可说是新加坡和马来西亚的一种非物质文化遗产，它不一定成功申遗。所以我相信，捞鱼生申遗还为时过早。

不幸的是，许多人对捞鱼生是否是新加坡或马来西亚专有的辩论更感兴趣,这种毫无意义的辩论，却使我们忽略了目前更重要的工作 - 就是如何保护两国的历史和传统文化遗产。我希望这事件可让我们思考一下：到底什么是我们的文化遗产、如何维护它，并通过申遗促进区域合作及民间交流。

陈维政

Sgtravelcafe: Kyrgyzstan Feb 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:41:00 +0000

Uzbekistan presentation poster

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:38:00 +0000

Sgtravelcafe: 5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION & GATHERING

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:53:00 +0000

Saturday 11th February 2012

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION & GATHERING

Door Opens at 5pm for socialising

Panel Discussion: Latin America @ 5.30

Panelists: Colin, Justin, Kelly & Trisha

Potluck Dinner

Food, drinks or snacks. This is a special occasion. So maybe something special to celebrate.

Presentation @ 8pm
Brief Moments –

(1) Iranian Tales - by Ah Long

(2) Kyrgyzstan by Dorothy

UZBEKISTAN
by Cheng Li

Dress code: ETHNIC COLOURS!

Come in your most exotic ethnic costume or headdress, and make this an exciting and memorable session for all.

@ Wee Cheng's place
11 Pemimpin Drive, #07-03, Marymount View, Singapore 576148

IMPORTANT: The Feb session will be held on a Saturday, not the usual Friday. Also note the time difference.

Northeast Taiwan: Jiufen, Keelung & Yeliu (九份，基隆，野柳)

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:37:00 +0000

On the Treacherous Suao-to-Hualien Road (苏花公路)

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:52:00 +0000

The famous 118km Su-Hua Gonglu, or Suao-to-Hualien Road, is a breathtaking but treacherous highway perched along spectacular cliffs of the Northeastern Taiwanese coast. Many workers died building this highway and a number continue to perish every year due to falling rocks and landslides that continue to plague this road even today. We began our journey in the pretty county city of Hualien, famous for its mochi desserts and sunfish, passing quaint fishing towns and indigenous villages, through a massive storm, reaching the prosperous fishing port of Suao at 3pm for a late seafood lunch, before returning to Taipei via Ilan City.

Taroko National Park (Taiwan) 太魯閣國家公園

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:46:00 +0000

Puli, Wushe & Cingjing Farms, Taiwan (浦里/霧社/情境农场)

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:30:00 +0000

A drive around the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan:

Puli (埔里鎮) in Nantou County is the geographical centre of Taiwan, and an important gateway to the renowned Sun Moon Lake. Destroyed in the 1999 earthquake, the this agricultural town was rebuilt and today boasts an impressive Buddhist monasterial complex - Chung-tai Chan Monastery (中台禪寺) - and the paper Dome, an eco-tourist educational centre. We had a nice Hakka meal in the town centre and spent some time at the enormous monastery, before heading for Wushe and the Cingjing Farms.

Wushe (霧社) is a small highland town which was centre of a major anti-Japanese tribal uprising, the Wushe Incident of 1930, which has since then become the subject of a box office film, Seediq Bale, in 2011. Founded as a Japanese model highlands garrison town, it is today a highway stop where tourists stop by briefly at the Wushe Uprising Memorial Park.

Cingjing Farms (清境农场) - an vast area along a mountain highway resettled in the 1950s by Yunnanese anti-communist guerrillas and refugee Kuomintang soldiers based in northern Myanmar and Thailand. Once a pioneer agricultural region that resemble the settlers' mountainous old homeland, it is now a booming tourist attraction and highlands resort region. Many urban Taiwanese come here to experience the cool climate, try Yunnanese cuisine and stay in hotels built in fanciful pseudo-European architectural styles.

Greater Taipei: History, Symbols & Other Random Images

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:35:00 +0000

Taipei Impressions 台北印象

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:22:00 +0000

From a magazine: 台北印象最深的，不是101大楼的流光溢彩...台北保存了不少上了年份的老房子，但都收拾得干净利落，不觉得破败，反而生出了如母亲般慈祥的感觉。不少异乡旅者去了那里，找到了故乡已经丢失的街景。

人望着这片绿地咋舌，在寸金如土的台北市，竟然有这么一大块宝地，难道就没有开发商（有兴趣）...这里可是台北的肺叶啊，肺这么可挖？我不禁慨然，原来台北是一座会呼吸的城市。因为会呼吸，所以更鲜活，想要寻找人性的诗意栖息地。因为会呼吸，所以更努力思考，将值得留下来的，保护下来。

Taiwanese hospitality (II)

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:19:00 +0000

Taxi driver is cooking local specialty tonight and asked me to pick up a bowl at guesthouse entrance later, so that I can compare restaurant and home version. THAT is hospitality.

Beigan Island of Matsu Islands

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:19:00 +0000

Red Wine Fried Rice of Matsu

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:14:00 +0000

Getting drunk on fried rice? This is rice fried with red vinasse, the pulp that is produced after the distillation of baijiu, or Chinese rice wine. The Matsu islanders use red vinasse to prepare all sorts of dishes and foodstuff.

Nangan Island of Taiwan's Matsu Islands

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:12:00 +0000

Matsu Islands which officially belongs to Fujian Province's Lianjiang County - yes, officially according to the governments of both China and Taiwan, but controlled by Taiwan ever since the Chinese Civil War.

The Local Govt HQ. it says Govt of Lianjiang County, Fujian Province. Well, it's the govt-in-exile aka Taiwanese controlled. The Lianjiang county on the Mainland has a population of 600,000 while the Taiwanese controlled county on Matsu Islands has only 9,900 inhabitants.

A poster in Matsu

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:03:00 +0000

This poster in Matsu says: Let us use beauty to change the pugilistic world together.

Matsu Islands - Taiwan

noreply@blogger.com (Tan Wee Cheng) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:02:00 +0000

The blue dot is Matsu Islands. The purple dot is Taipei.