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Strategies & Market Trends : Asia Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Worswick who wrote (7832)	1/8/1999 3:20:00 PM
From: Paul Berliner	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9980

I'm glad someone read it. It's quite encouraging that the gentleman in the story is trying to make it back to the top - there is no doubt in my mind that should the same loss of wealth ever occur in this country that most would rather take their own lives rather than face the humiliation he is braving.

To: Worswick who wrote (7832)	1/8/1999 9:36:00 PM
From: Stitch	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9980

Good Morning Clark, On a misty, warm day in Kuala Lumpur as compared to your "crispness". Can you believe it Clark. I am tending my tomato plants as you gaze out, through frosty windows, at frigid landscapes. I hope Mary's goats are warm enough. I believe it is true that many people are completely out of touch with what has happened in Asia. I also think it is true that there are extreme danger signals on the horizon. It has kept me from being fully invested at a time when I clearly, could have made a lot more money, however. I sometimes think I am too close to it all to be an effective and dispassionate observer. I see truth in both yours and Lawrence's comments actually. The two of you just clash because of your delightful old world charm, (alas, a dying art my friend) and Lawrence's biting and tactless comments. I have to confess I think you are both brilliant people. On a side note, an anecdote from Malaysia. I think I have written about the cops here in Malaysia on this forum before. They are corrupt beyond imagination. The most recent revelations in the Anwar trial is only one small story. I think people are beaten and summarily shot all the time. In a country where there is very little gun ownership, the police shoot and kill suspects all the time, always in "self defense". Well, in any case, I drove from Kuala Lumpur to Penang recently. Normally, on this major highway, speed enforcement is done by radar and camera set ups. You receive your summons in the mail. They went to this system primarily because if they used traffic stops no tickets got issued. The cop would simply accept a bribe. We are fast approaching the Hari Raya holiday here. On this particular drive I noticed four speed traps in which the police were waving down speeders. I was actually stopped at one but was let go when I argued that I was not speeding. I also made it clear I was not going to pay a dime to anyone. Rather then issue a ticket they just let me go. It is common wisdom here that as the holidays approach, more and more "traffic enforcement" occurs so the police can line their pockets with bribes in preparation for the gift giving and feasting they will be doing. Based on what I saw and experienced I believe it. We are also in the midst of the Puasa (fasting)that occurs for one month period of Rahmadan before the Raya. The practice is to take nothing by mouth from approximately sun up to sun down. I rise early and so am sometimes out in my garden before the light of day hits. From all over I can hear and smell the activities in the neighborhood kitchens. Pots are banging and the rich smell of curries float in the pre dawn air, mixing with that odor of dew dampened plants. After a larger then normal breakfast the Puasa starts. All day the devout will reflect on things aided by an empty stomach. Then, in evening, buka puasa (literally "break fast") will draw family members together to feast on special tid bits. These can be sumptious meals. Frequently the breaking of fast is done at special dinner parties, where there is much prayer and reflection. The truly devout will not even have swallowed their own saliva during the day so this is a good time of the day for all observers of Islam. I have baked peach cobbler for two Muslim neighbors, as sweet things are a special feature of the Buka Puasa. The cobbler got thumbs up from both sides of my fence. We in turn, have received rich, thick curries, floating in chili laced oil. So rich I cannot begin to finish even a small portion and so fiery tears come to my eyes. The bottom line of the Puasa and Buka Puasa regimen is that many of the muslims I have spoken with tell me they gain weight during this period of fasting. Things are often not as they seem old chum. Eh? Best, Stitch