Sound night and film night
Posted by: Fats in: Fats, Vitamins & Minerals > Burma 2004I just survived a grueling day-1 of the sound workshop - there were 9 people, too many - and I’m going to try and finish everything off in two days - so tomorrow we should be able to finish editing all the soundworks.
Today I had to get up extra early - I set the alarm at 4:30AM because I knew my hosts were leaving at around 5. I just thought I’d be around to say goodbye to them - they left a letter for me on my computer in the library just in case I didn’t get a chance to see them before they go. It was good that I was able to see them.
Then as soon as they went off, BY asked if I wanted to have some traditional Burmese breakfast – of course I said yes, and a few minutes later he came back with moke hingar (maw hee ngah) which is vermicelli, gourd fried with flour, some chili and a really strange smelling olive green-colored soup with all sorts of spices and pork and other meats. The smell actually reminded me of dog meat - or the bladder of goats - and I was a bit scared of getting sick because BY bought it from the streets. I seem to have survived that one too - and it was actually quite good, especially the mix of vermicelli and fried gourd with chili.
Anyway, I finished off day-1 of the sound workshop at around 4:30PM today and got some rest and waited for LES to come over and pick me up for dinner. He invited me to join him and his friends over at his apartment. The right tomboyish Kachin girl was there as well as the other young fellow who played the violin (I met the violinist earlier at the apartment when I went there with the photography resource person from Singapore. We also I met when LES came to the center one evening with three other young people who were interested in photography and art).
A couple and their son was at the apartment too - the guy was a neuro-surgeon who was educated overseas, the lady was also a doctor. I also met this young lady who is correspondent for AFP. Then two young people from the NLD came - they were very close to Suu Kyi. LES’s father was also there – both have rather strained relations and LES is trying to build a better relationship with a father he did not see for many years. Then afterwards LES’s cousin came with his wife and son - they are muslim. The wife’s name had a somewhat western name, and she was named such because her mother was Christian, but her son is Mohammad, a really smart 11-year old kid who kept on looking at me! Then soon enough people started talking about Suu Kyi and NLD and politics and China and the sanctions and the Asean meeting yesterday in Vietnam.
Everyone spoke in Burmese and sometimes LES translated for me and the doctor couple spoke in English for me and so I was able to discuss some things with them. I also had a nice chat with the muslim family.
Then after a really wonderful Kachin dinner prepared by the students, LES showed this VCD entitled “Who Really Killed Aung San” which was produced by British researchers about the history and circumstances of Aung San’s assassination.
Sitting there with these group of people, talking about Suu Kyi and the military government, I felt like nearly 20 years ago when I sat together with some family members watching (underground) video of the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr - the assassination and the failure of the snap elections eventually led to the People’s Power Revolution – would things change in Myanmar too?
After the film, we watched this Graceland concert by Paul Simon in South Africa. Of course in Myanmar, it’s impossible for people to express/communicate anything in art or poetry or music or dance without the approval of the military government. Even in the offices, I was told, people are not allowed to talk about Suu Kyi.
It was past 11:00PM when I got back to the center, the muslim family had asked me to hitch a ride with them, and the young man from NLD also hitched along. I gave them brochures and calling cards of the center and invited them to visit some day. When I got home, BY and the carpenter and this other fellow were all watching this DVD film through the computer plugged to the TV - I wonder if our hosts allow them to watch at all. I guess now, since I remember our host telling me that everytime they leave and come back all the computers are busted! 
Then BY asked if I’d like to have this coconut noodles for breakfast tomorrow. Another traditional Burmese breakfast - I was a bit hesitant, but I’ve always been adventurous with food so I said yes.
I should rest now - it’s another whole day tomorrow of the sound workshop. Looks like I won’t be able to do any of the writing after all since there’ll be lots of work and lots of socials to attend to. An artists group have invited me to join them for dinner next Saturday evening - this is after another web design workshop – and KMZ and her husband is also inviting me for lunch or dinner on a weekday. Then I need to go out with YN and maybe BY to buy some cheap cotton fabric for the Singapore exhibition, as well as visit the Shwedagon pagoda and Botathaung in Yangon. However, again, I am too tired to sleep …
Presentation for Sound Art Workshop PDF 509kb.
