If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may complete the Proxy Nomination Form below and fax it, no later than 28th April, 2006 to the Secretary, Nisha Dobberstein at 2093 6213.

REPORTS   FROM   PREVIOUS   EVENTS

EXPLORERS MORNING
Monday, 13th February
MUSEUM OF ASIAN ART

Hidden away in the 750 acre campus of the University of Malaya is a treasure trove! On 13th February a small group from Explorers was initiated into its secrets. Housed in an unassuming and partly hidden three-storey building is Muzium Seni Asia - the Museum of Asian Art. It is an outstanding collection Southeast Asian art befitting what is widely recognised as most prestigious university in Malaysia.

MCG's host was the curator Abd. Aziz Rashid, who guided us personally through the collection. Aziz explained that the museum is divided according to floor space. Malaysian items being located on the ground floor, the ceramic collection on the first floor, and Islamic art on the top floor. The starting point was a collection of wood carving items. Here we saw some examples of traditional Malay carving that use floral and fauna as inspiration. Alongside this was a display of masks made by the Mah Meri and Jahud, Orang Asli, the indigenous people of Malaysia.

The museum's ceramic collection is outstanding, and for those not familiar with the general history of ceramics and pottery in Southeast Asia this museum offers a good introduction. The three Swankhalok pottery manhunt elephants are the first items the visitor sees of the collection. These figurines were produced at what is now known as Si Satchanalai the major Thai kiln centre in the 14th and 15th Centuries. There are only five such complete elephants known to be extant - and three of them are in this museum!

One complete wall display of the ceramic collection is devoted to kendi. These are traditional drinking water containers that are produced throughout the region. Usually they have a bulbous body and two openings but characteristically no handle. Often they were used in ritualistic ways but the unglazed-fired clay was popular because it was eminently portable and efficient at keeping the contents cool. The museum's display is extensive being the largest in Malaysia and a rival to the largest known collection in Indonesia.

We were shown ceramics from shipwrecks that illustrated the path of trade routes of the Japanese, Chinese and Arabs of the 11th Century and the significance of Timor as an essential port of call to obtain fresh drinking water. Then there was the pottery of Ban Chiang. These are wonderfully and highly distinctive potteries from the Bronze Age culture of Northern Thailand, which with its simple patterns of reddish lines and swirl motifs appears deceptively modern.

Next we were introduced to kraakware, a type of Chinese export ceramic produced for approximately a hundred years from 1560 to 1650. They were made mainly for Portuguese and Spanish traders who were able to sell these to an eager European market who enthusiastically responded to the opportunity to purchase items from the exotic location of China.

But the ceramic collection was far from exhausted there was Khmer stoneware, Ming porcelain, Celadon, Tz'u-chou a Chinese stoneware with its special thin white glaze, and Temmuku pottery produced by the Chinese for the Japanese tea ceremony.

We were all intrigued by the Martaban jars, huge stoneware jars that were used as transportation jars which are very difficult to date --all are thought to have been produced in China. The Museum's collection has come from Sabah and Sarawak where these jars have become family heirlooms and are used by the Ibans for the rite of the secondary burial.

After viewing the ceramics from behind glass we were then given the opportunity to handle some items. This was so we could feel the weight, the texture and also the tone when the piece was tapped. It is rather a nerve-wracking experience holding a valuable museum quality item in your hands - this is not for the faint hearted.

with Abd Aziz Rashid concluded with showing us just a tantalising sample of the Museums collection of textiles, which number over five hundred. The core of the collection is songket, the famous Malay fabric hand woven with gold thread, but we were also shown pua from Sarawak and some rare pieces woven with Islamic script.

The general consensus was that one visit was insufficient to absorb all these treasures. Fortunately, this Museum is open to the public during the week and half day Saturday - and there is no admission charge - so we all have the opportunity to explore this little known museum.

Dianne Cooper

JAPANESE GIRLS ' DAY
Wednesday 1st March, 2006

Daisaku Robata Restaurant was the venue for what proved to be an extremely lively and informative talk on various aspects of Japanese culture and tradition.

Leila Plante lived in Japan for eight years and whilst there made full use of her time and is now an enthusiastic diplomat for all things Japanese. Leila began by giving an explanation about the tradition of Girls' Festival otherwise know as Hira Matsuri. This festival is held on the third day of the third month of the traditional Japanese calendar. Prayers are offered for the growth and happiness of girls. The festival originated as a way of warding off evil spirits, dolls acting as charms.

Japanese families set up displays in their homes consisting of a set of tiered steps on which are placed dolls; the Emperor and the Empress being placed on the topmost step, the lower tiers displaying three maidens, three men, Samurai and musicians. Leila mentioned that it had taken her three years to collect her own dolls, two of which she had bought along and kindly passed them around the group for closer inspection. The dolls are brought out of storage in mid February but are put away as soon as possible after the festival as it is believed that any delay in doing so will cause a delay in the daughters getting married. Even today little paper dolls are released on the river to carry away sickness and bad omens.

Leila, her two 'assistants', Junko and Sube San, who proved to be much more, had set up a display of Kimonos, gowns and accessories. We all sat around a table with a sunken floor, and had good views of the sumptuous clothes in Leilas' collection. Two volunteers were chosen to model the Kimonos, they both did a wonderful job, obviously enjoying the experience and looking grand.

The Kimono has been worn in Japan by men, women, boys and girls for over two thousand years. The style size and cut of the Kimono is standard, the difference being in the colour and quality of the cloth. Prices vary according to the quality, but a wedding gown could cost as much as US$50,000. Leila herself was wearing a Yukata, a summer Kimono which was made out of cotton. The Yukata is comfortable to wear and can be used as nightwear. It is the only Kimono that can be worn without shoes. Leila had hand sewn the Yukata herself. All Kimonos are hand sewn and all the sewing is in straight lines.

Throughout the demonstration, questions fired at Leila and her helpers were ably answered by the trio, everyone being very enthusiastic and interested. It was fascinating to hear about all the traditions and why things were done in a certain way. We realized how much there is to wearing one of these wonderful gowns. The neck, for example, is thought to be the most 'sexy' part of the body and it is very much the done thing to leave a little touch of white of the undergarment showing around the neckline for the pleasure of the men.

The Kimono should be worn on a 'flat' body so the waist has to be padded out with a towel. Eva, one of our models, had to have two towels for padding. What a compliment! The Obi (waistband) was tied by Sube San, a professional and gentlewomen. Sube San said that she went to classes for two years in order to learn how to tie the Obi. The process certainly looks very complicated but it is so beautiful once done. It was agreed by the group that it was so time consuming to get dressed in a Kimono that it would show great honour and respect if someone came to one's home in one!

Today in Japan, unfortunately the wearing of Kimonos is dying out; they are only worn on the most formal of occasions. Many young girls prefer to spend the money on other things rather than on a wedding Kimono.

At lunch, a traditional Japanese meal served on individual trays, Leila was on hand to guide us through all the food. Meanwhile Sube San, patiently showed us how to make Origami dolls, the Emperor and Empress, and watched as our clumsy fingers endeavoured to create something that she had done so beautifully. Many of us went home with our own little reminder of Japanese Girl's Day.

Grateful thanks go to Leila, Junko and Sube San for all their hard work and for making the morning such a success. I, for one, am very keen to visit Japan at the first possible opportunity, (and re read 'Memoirs of a Geisha'!)

Linda Clark

Chapter I and II
Mayada, Daughter of Iraq: One Woman's Survival under Saddam Hussein by Jean Sasson

For February, both groups chose to read the book, Mayada, Daughter of Iraq by Jean Sasson. This is the true story of Mayada al-Askari's life in Iraq and her imprisonment under Saddam Hussein as told to the author once she escaped. Sasson had met Mayada on a trip to Baghdad in 1998 when Mayada had served as her translator. They became good friends and kept in touch until Mayada disappeared in 1999. She had been arrested for allegedly printing anti-government material at her printing company and was taken to the much-feared Baladiyat Prison. There she was interrogated and thrown into a tiny cell with 17 'shadow women', women in the darkened cell who were no guiltier than she was and who were being severely tortured. Sasson manages to weave in with the painful descriptions of cruelty and hardship, stories of Mayada's privileged life including encounters with Saddam Hussein, Iraqi history, and life stories of her fellow prisoners. Although Mayada's story has a happy ending as she escaped to Jordan with her children, the unclear fates of her cell mates are a painful reminder of how many innocent lives were cut short by Saddam Hussein's regime.

Generally the groups found the book depressing to read with the horror stories the shadow women had to tell and the descriptions of torture. However most members did not have prior in-depth knowledge of Iraq's history and found this aspect interesting. Also, the continued problems of bribery and corruption that still exist in Iraq became quite clear. Several questions were raised however: For example, since Mayada was fluent in English and a winner of several awards, why didn't she write her own story? Most found Jean Sasson's style stiff and uninspiring with a polyanna coating on some of the prison experiences. Secondly, why didn't Mayada leave when
her mother did - - just how naïve could she be? What did Mayada gain from this book, was she paid? Few would recommend this book because if someone were truly interested in Iraqi history, there are probably much better resources available. Although the book was lack-luster, the discussions were wide-ranging, from the Holocaust to Abu Graib to 'the cartoons', Shiite-Sunni relations, wearing the veil, stratification of Arab societies, and the psychopathic behavior of those who become too powerful. Even if a member doesn't like a book, the discussions are always fascinating thanks to our enthusiastic members.

Joanne Mahendran

LIBRARY REPORT

Purchase: 1421" Voyages: Fact and Fantasy by Captain P.J Rivers (2004) (RM 42.75).

No other activity since last report: either donations, borrowings or returns

Joanna Adamson

NEWSLETTER

You can submit articles, artwork and photographs to the editor at mcgevents@yahoo.com with ''newsletter'' in the subject line.

Please submit all articles for the May Newsletter by April 8.

Stories are edited for reasons of clarity, space or accuracy of expression. The opinions expressed in the MCG newsletter are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily those of the MCG.

Jaishree Balasubramanian

Wait List
Events Planning follows a policy of booking places for events on a first come first served basis. If an event becomes full then a wait list is created and participants will be informed as soon as possible if a place becomes available.

Payments

• For most events monies are collected on the morning of the event itself, unless otherwise stated.
• It is thus important that you come with correct change on hand. For clarifications please call or email a member of the Events Planning team.
• MCG is not responsible for reservations and/or payments sent to any person other than the Events Planning member identified as the contact person for the event.

Cancellations
If for some reason you cannot attend a programme when you have reserved a place please let the Events Planning Team know as soon as you can. Cancellations received within less than 48 hours are only eligible for a refund if the vacancy can be filled from the wait list or if the person can find another member to take their place.

Refunds
Refunds can only be given if EP has 48 hours notice of a cancellation. Please note that some events have a cancellation time of longer than 48 hours, which will be indicated in the description of the event.

Eligibility
Please note that all events, apart from the monthly lecture are for members only, unless otherwise stated.

Event Participation
Members are kindly requested to arrive promptly for events. Please turn off your cellular phones and refrain from talking during lectures and presentations.

Eligibility
Please note that all events, apart from the lecture, are for members only, unless otherwise stated.