Promoting the concert in yet another Tamil newspaper

Me in the national Tamil paper promoting the Concert in KL, Malaysia

Giving my speech at the end of the Summer Camp

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia....again!

So glad to be back and straight into yet another festival, Thai Pussam...glad I didn't miss this. Taking place at the enormous Batu Cave at the top of a hill just on the outskirts of KL, the cave, a temple to the Lord Murugan, brother of Ganesh.

The story goes that Shiva, Murugan and Ganesh's father, was given a mango, but out of kindness and genorosity he decided to give the mango to his wife, but she couldn't bring herself to eat it with her two children around, so she decided to give it to them, but as there was only one mango and 2 children she set a competition and the winner would get the mango. She said to her 2 children that the first one to go around the world 3 times woud get the mango. Murugan who was fitter than Ganesh and who flew around on a peocock, jumped onto his peacock and set off flying round the world, Ganesh however was not as fit had no peacock to carry him and couldn't get very far so he decided to walk around his parents 3 times. His mother was so happy she gave him the mango. When Murugan returned he was so angry at his mothers decision that he left all his possessions and left home for the hills of South India, where he lived alone for the rest of his life with with his wife and children.

So the Tamils who come from South India worship Murugan and walk to the temple up the hill carrying milk and and other offerings to him. Also to represent the giving up of material posessions and as penance for having their wishes granted, many of the worshippers went into a trance and had hooks stuck into their backs. When in this trance they have spirits of different gods entering their bodies and they are unaware of what is going on, their faces change and they become really powerful looking and strong, eyes bulging, tongues sticking out really far, fierce angry looking....the hooks in their backs have ropes tied to them and people pulling really hard on the ropes, but there is no blood and they don't seem to feel any pain. Others had spikes and metal rods pierced through their faces, all dancing to the drum beat or walking like giants. These people from poor Tamil families were flooding in through the gates of Batu Caves in their thousands and millions every day and night non stop over 6 days.

I was there helping on the Tamil Foundation stall collecting money for the Tsunami victims, but after 4 days and nights it just started driving me crazy, all those tranced out crazy pierced people, dancing wildly to the hypnotic drum beats...had to get out of the place!!!

Even the Hare Rama Hare Krishnas had got a stall there and the Brama Kumaris, trying to save all the sinners.....

So had to get myself a Hare Rama Hare Krishna Bhajans CD to listen to!! very chillin'


Well started working full time with the Tamil Foundation...a very proactive and worthy charity organisation working to help the poor Tamil families in Malasia, particularly through improvement of the education of the children in the not so good Tamil schools.

But to start with I was given the task of helping to organise a huge concert for 20 000 poeple at a venue where Sting was in concert the previous week, Staduium Putra, Bukit Jalil. My role was to coordinate the whole program, working with 30 artists and bands, organising the publicity, advertising, posters, banners, selling tickets, VIP's, informing the press, press releases, food and beverages, photographers, stage contractors, lighting and sound contractors, Red Cross, security, volunteers for ushering etc.etc A bit of a huge project!!! Hoping to raise RM1 million for Tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.

Then they are sending me to Sri Lanka beginning of March, with the funds to coordinate the distribution and work with the other aid agengencies there......RM 1 million.....maybe I'll be diverted to the Carribean...beach, cocktails, sunsets......only joking!!!! Anmyway will be meeting lots of hunky Tamil Tigers with their AK47's. Can't wait.

My birthday was very special, they don't normally have cakes or cards...but for me.....they got me a lovely surprise personalised cake, sang happy birthday in their lovely Indian accents, I was sooo chuffed.

More festivals...this placed is just party town with no alcohol!! Public holidays: 1st Feb City Day for KL only, 9th 10th Feb Chinese New Year, 11th Muslim New Year.

Spent Chinese New Year with a chinese family...friends from Melaka....lovely time was had..alcohol, Chinese and Indian food and chocolate and luxury house with duvet and air conditioning and washing machine!! Heaven!

So apart from that, moved into the half constructed rooms above the office, but for me this was luxury...having my own room, with no mosquitos or rats or cockroaches, only ants! Even a hot shower!!!!

Badminton in the streets, roti chanai, motorbiking round the city, 'rounding with that damn fella', Thai massages....for the excited Tamil boys, dancing: waltz, ceroc, meditation, arguing with the chauvinist womanisers!, Bharat Natyam, Tamil lessons, out with my mad girlie friend, Elan clubbing!

All my messages from the children

Me and my kids at summer camp

Thai Pussam festival