MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 499: FREEDOM FOR GLITTERING GOLD

MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 499: FREEDOM FOR GLITTERING GOLD

drove down a dirt road

narrow, winding and thrill of

spectacular sight

 pearls glitter in sun

awesome Adriatic Sea

around walled bastions

shelled for seven months

siege, survive empire throne games

since medieval

walk high city walls

war miseries on limestone

street, over- priced climb

Note:

Our bus took a narrow country dirt road to detour. We drove in between houses with orchards, with skill to give way to pass. On the high ground, we saw the enchanting town from afar. The Adriatic Sea glitters like gold; no wonder it was honored as a “pearl”. Dubrovnik has survived under the rule of six empires and seven month of shelling by both Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers.  It treasured freedom more than gold. It has separated from Yugoslavia and become part of Croatia. The population has dwindled from a high of 49 thousand in 1991 to 26 thousand in 2019. It’s main earning is tourism.  It cost 28 Euro to climb and walk the city walls. The tour already provided a cable car, and, of course the view is different, but not under a hot sun for two hours. We sat in a shaded bar with a cool beer, and watched the drama nearby, including a couple of wedding. I am uncertain whether the residents here have found their new freedom or glittering gold in tourism trade.

Many pictures were copied and pasted from the web, for they are better than mine. Thanks. There’s no commercial value or gain for me.

POEM TRANSLATION ECHOES 492 WITH NOTES

POEM TRANSLATION ECHOES 492 WITH NOTES

SOUL OF SARAJEWO

（萨拉热窝之魂）

misty dreamy world

朦胧梦幻界

houses perch on terraced hills

屋子落在梯田上

clear river image

清澈河流图

still shimmering sound

平静闪光声

Variegated tree crowns

美觀杂色的树冠

cap mountain ranges

遮盖的山脉

rage ravishes peace

狂怒压和平

hate shatter serenity

宁静被仇恨攻破

mass mindless murder

盲目的谋杀

rage ravishes peace

狂怒压和平

hate shatter serenity

宁静被仇恨攻破

mass mindless murder

盲目的谋杀

Note:

We passed through majestic sceneries along the way.  Before arriving to the city of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina, we saw expanding fields of cemeteries of varied culture, and bullet-holes of buildings. We had good cuisine at a local restaurant. I looked at my reflected image in a long mirror. What I observed was selected pictures of The Siege of the City, or another city called Srebrenica. It was a bloated lunch and too heavy for tourists to understand the suffering and mass killing to our city tour. So far we have learned that President Josip Broz Tito was a more respected dictator in the Balkan. After his death in 1980, contending states and cities declared Independence, resulting in ethnic cleansing and genocide, with thousands of death. Yet the US instigated Independence everywhere in Asia and Middle East, mainly to stay as a supremacy power. They instigated the Muslims in Xinjiang, Buddhist in Tibet, the Hans in Hong Kong to cede away from China for “freedom and democracy”.  The Hong Kong youth have much to learn from history, nationally and internationally. Bigotry, racialism and poor understanding of geo-politics could be disastrous. I think it is best for every culture, race and religion to live in peace and prosper our neighbors. This is also for our own betterment. What a shame that many leaders, including our own, could not break out of their shell of frozen mindset.

MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 498: BAFFLING BALKAN TOUR

MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 498: BAFFLING BALKAN TOUR

waddle and wind through

narrow  twined cobbled alleys

between stone buildings

Kotor kitties laze

on squares overlooking cliff

tower and churches

vain to hike up steps

steep hills hug charming inlets

tourist trot past scenes

heritage sighted

eyes visited but not heart

souvenirs to show

Note:

Kotor has three UNESCO Heritage sites, but we only visited one, and partially. We saw the cliff to the mountain top, but did not climb the steep 1355 steps to view the majesty of the waterfront and mountains. It would take 2-3 hours for return journey; not counting time for photography and rest in between whisky, coffee and pee.  The other two sites were not in our itinerary.  Group tourism is liked riding a horse to view the scenes along the road. We were in the bus for 3-6 hours daily; often arriving late in our hotel, without enjoying the facilities and landscaping in each, unless we deprive some sleeping hours.

The history was baffling: Roman, Ottoman, Communists and local wars; strange borders, currencies and small population and governance. There are lessons for us to learn. Racial divide and fight will get us nowhere; same with migration and religious and cultural intolerances.

MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 497: COUNTRY CUISINE

MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 497: COUNTRY CUISINE

creative cuisine

cordon bleu for all dishes

culinary art

cook with loving heart

fine portion pleases palate

tongue tangle in taste

home hummus to whet

fresh, grilled salads with yogurt

baked meat pies as main

relaxed ambience

décor of bygone era

ravishing review

Note:

We have an excellent simple lunch at Era Villa, Tirana, Albania. Our Balkan guide, Helis Veizi from Landways ,is an Albanian with a Masters in Philology; he is very knowledgable and go all his ways to help, together with Justin Yeoh from GTT. All the way I gave my thumbs up for their services and friendliness. I take this opportunity to thank all the chef and waitors for their excellent services. They were rated 4.5 to 5 out of 5.

POEM TRANSLATION HAIKU ECHOES 464, WITH NOTES

POEM TRANSLATION HAIKU ECHOES 464, WITH NOTES

FLASHES IN THE BUSH

（閃爍灌木中）

flashes their Morse code

閃爍其電碼

rival ruses and play ploy

对手诡计玩花招

bling bling in the bush

闪光灌木中

sound of cicadas

蝉群的声音

row and rock across river

划船摇滚穿过河

caught courting couples

抓说爱男女

cup her in both hands

双手杯著她

blinks and wriggle her behind

闪烁，扭动她身后

o, dazzling display

啊，刺眼显示

Note:

In a country obsessed with sex, flashes in the bush evoke many associations. Female fireflies are more attracted to fashier and faster shine, a phallic symbol for unzipped flies. The bling bling dig into female fantasy of masculine vigour. In their natural habitat, mangroves by the riverlet, one enters a territory of fairy lights, abuzz with mating activities. In Malaysia, there are no predators, so no death, only sex. The play ploys have been dramatized by our local politicians, in gay politics, whether real or faxed.  The sounds of cicadas invite a sensurround of primitiveness, with rocking and rowing in the boat. Here, we use it as simple transport to watch the flashing flies on their twigs, disturbing courting couples in their act. No offence was ever intended, unlike those holy guys who liked to hide and seek, catching consenting adults who enjoyed their cheap entertainment in the wild. This is the infamous khalwat, or isolation, that are newsworthy. However, for the innocent ones, it’s fun to capture and cup a fly or two in the palms for close inspection, and to release them again.

POEM TRANSLATION HAIKU ECHOES 460 WITH NOTES

POEM TRANSLATION HAIKU ECHOES 460 WITH NOTES

mesmerizing sight

迷人的景象

water fall splash from vortex

水从高涡旋落下

soothing cascade sound

柔情瀑布聲

circular conduit

循環的管道

verdant trees on terraces

梯田碧绿的林叢

fresh and fragrant  breath

清香新氣息

panoramic plan

全景的計劃

trains transport from terminals

轻轨运输乘客站

pass jewel jungle

跨過珠寶林

scintillating lights

闪烁的灯光

catering, cuisine and clothes

餐飲、烹饪和美衣

drove dreamy desire

驱动梦幻欲望

strange Singlish seeking

尋怪星英語

calm city in oasis

平靜城市在綠洲

shine in weary world

闪耀疲惫界

Note

About two thousand trees and more shrubs are replanted in this garden. This reminded me about KLIA, Malaysia’s “Forest in an airport”. Changi was constructed from open parking land; whereas KLIA and KLIA 2 were from former agricultural land. It was voted as world’s top best airport, but KLIA was not even in the top 50.

It is indeed a mesmerizing sight, five floors above and another five floors below ground – a forty meter height. However, it is not a natural waterfall, but water fall splashing down from the vortex. In an age of machines and technology driven, we need to remain as human beings watching modern wonders. Luckily we were there before the crowd. We could see hidden conduits pipes around the circular garden, and the cascading sound of water. It was soothing and calming to seat on the terraces, with the in and out breath, with fragrance of flowers and plants impinging on the nose. Rails ferry passengers from other terminals to Jewel at Terminal 1, hopefully they can find their way back, for the signs are all in English.  The night view, with the scintillating lights, and the stars above the sky, was idyllic, but I did not stay long enough to enjoy. The control tower can be seen just outside the Jewel, but does not serve as a panopticon, but CCTV cameras are everywhere for our safety. A canopy is sighted at the roof top for the kids to enjoy, with the guardians sipping their drinks. There are too many branded goods to lure the eyes and pockets. It is indeed an oasis in a cultural desert, neither east nor west. I have observed long queue (mainly the younger generations) for unhealthy western food and drinks, movies; kids reading more from western writers than their own writers or regional.

In its search for national identity, it’s strange that the leaders chose Singlish (mixture of Chinese dialects, with Malay and English) over Queen’s English, resulting in fallen standard in both English and Chinese. Despite this, this small native thrives well among its neighbours.

MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 460: JEWEL JUNGLE

MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 460: JEWEL JUNGLE

mesmerizing sight

water fall splash from vortex

soothing cascade sound

circular conduit

verdant trees on terraces

fresh and fragrant breath

panoramic plan

trains transport from terminals

pass jewel jungle

scintillating lights

catering, cuisine and clothes

drive dreamy desire

strange Singlish seeking

calm city in oasis

shine in weary world

MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 295: LAST WILDERNESS

MALAYSIAN HAIKU/SENRYU ECHOES 295: LAST WILDERNESS

 

 

 

bumboats across straits

rustic charm of last village

rare wilderness walk

 

tame jungle wild boar

fowls and monkeys roam the trail

wander pass mangroves

 

mud mounds along way

wonder of eco system

unfold with tour guides

 

seagrass on sand bar

pet sea creatures at low tide

haunted heritage

 

POEM TRANSLATION HAIKU ECHOES 286

POEM TRANSLATION HAIKU ECHOES 286

 

TASMANIAN TRIP 6

（塔斯馬尼亞之旅 6 ）

 

first wilderness flight

首飛行郊外

over thick forest and moors

越過密林和荒野

of southwest lush park

南西園茂綠

 

low flying small plane

小机低飛行

clear rugged cliff and coastline

清澈崎岖懸崖線

safe landing airstrip

安全着陸道

 

saunter in the wild

漫步郊野中

boat ride to secluded beach

乘船到僻静海滩

hot coffee and cheese

熱咖啡奶酪

 

dehydrated tree

脱水的樹木

rescue in hidden relief

救援隐藏的缓解

nature work both ways

大自然双赢

 

speed boat to blowhole

快艇氣孔吹

raw sweet water from rapids

來自急流原甜水

sea eagles soar high

海鹰高空飛

 

lunch with pinot noir

午餐赏红酒

silent and serene seaside

 寧靜安祥的海邊

back in eight seater

回归八座位

 

four thousand feet high

四千英尺高

serpentine drive to summit

蜿蜒駕駛到顶峰

grand kunanyi

宏大庫蘭伊

 

pinnacle broadwalk

峰頂大道宽

awesome sight of sun and pipes

敬畏陽光和管道

freezing cold abode

冰结居所冷

 

Note:

Mount Kunanyi is the native name for Mount Washington. It was a windy 3 C when we reached there in before sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

POEM TRANSLATION HAIKU 285

POEM TRANSLATION HAIKU 285

 

 

   TASMANIA TRIP 5

（塔斯馬尼亞之旅 5）

 

tipsy wine tasting

嘗試醉酒品

coal and convict heritage

煤炭和罪犯遗產

ghost on Georgian bridge

喬治亞鬼橋

 

stroll on stolen land

漫步侵占土

colonial, church and court

殖民地、教堂、法院

modern majesty

現代的威嚴

 

drive to city dock

駛到市碼頭

devastating devil show

毁灭性的魔鬼展

rest at riverfront

休歇河边馆

 

arch and arts nearby

拱門藝術近

picturesque to wander

如詩如画的漂移

fish at frenzy wharf

鱼餐在碼頭

 

Note:

“Stolen”: from the natives.

“Riverfront” refers to Riverfront Motel, located on the city’s outskirts, with the Museum of Contemporary Arts nearby/

“Devil” refers to Tasmanian devil, a wild carnivorous marsupial, black fur creature. It was exhibited in the museum (free entrance), near the wharf. Hobart.

“Frenzy Fish” was a popular seafood restaurant, served fish and chips, beer battered fish heads, but we prefer Lucky Duck