Jason Yoong - The Third Helper in Malacca

Jason didn't wanted to be photographed, which is surprising as he's handsome and has an intelligent look. Anyway, no portrait but some pictures from the city he loves - Malacca
Jason knows his stuff. Jason's history of Malacca came with dates, people's name and even the names of various treaties that have been made over the centuries. This went well beyond the average person. He knew the date that the Chinese temple was built, when the Dutch arrived and the start and end period of British military rule and many, many more things.

He even told me that a Chinese junk from 600 AD was discovered in 1999 off the coast of Java and speculated that the Chinese have been at the very least, trading in this area since those times. He also added, to my admittedly stretchy knowledge of Cheng He, that he was chosen because he was a Muslim. This would make trade negotiations between the Chinese and Javanese/Malay easier because Muslims see other Muslims as brothers and are able to relate to them better and quicker.

As we talked more Jason shared with me his views on modern Malaysia and in particular Malacca. He said “I believe that our forefathers wanted integration (between the races) and I think it has worked, especially here in Malacca. Malacca’s a unique case as this integration and mixing of races has been going on for five hundred years. Malacca’s too small a place for the races to remain separate.”

I then asked Jason, what makes this mixing of races so success, he said “Respect for each other is what’s brings us together” then he stopped and thought about it more “What’s the most important thing…… Yes, it’s respect!”

Jason was very proud of Malacca’s UNESCO’s status and felt that even people in Malacca didn’t really know what an achievement this is. He wants more people in Malacca to understand this. I really enjoyed talking with Jason. He knew his stuff and he spoke with passion. The next day at the museum on Malacca’s history I was more enthusiastic than normal about a place’s history and I believe that was thanks to Jason.

Interior of a Nyonya House - Baboon House in this case


I was getting hungry, so I said “Jason, I’m hungry. Can you recommend somewhere for me to eat?
“Can you eat spicy?”
“Yes, well, a bit.”
“Jonker 88, still makes traditional Nyonya food.”
“Can you recommend a dish?”
“Baba Laksa, do you want spicy or sour?”
“I’ll go for spicy.”
“Be quick, they close at five.”
Jason gave me the card for the place. That’s was the last time I saw Jason but our conversation will last a long time in my memory. Also on his business card it has 'Melaka Intangible Cultural Heritage', perhaps that's another reason why Jason's history is so good. He's certainly the right man for the job.

Meetup and one new Stranger

Thanks to Leon and Pieter for coming on Sunday, and off course Thalassa for being the host. Pieter came for Lina, as she had to go to the Hague for University.

Pieter is the chef for Petit Four, a restaurant at Klaasstraat 23B. We've met before when he was persuading people to come to his restaurant. He did a good job because I went there the next day.

Pieter outside Milk and Cookies

Venlo Strangers - Day four

These are photos from day four and the final day of this stage of the project. I'll think up some new questions and change a few things around. Thanks to everyone who participated so far. I learnt a lot about the Dutch and Limburgers. If you want to get in contact with me (if you want an electronic copy of your photo) - you can me email on christopher_rawlins@yahoo.co.uk

Wendy

Wendy had just finished her shopping and was about to cycle off. She has excellent English and was very smily. She goes most years to London, mainly to go to the shops.

Me - What are Dutch people like?
Wendy - Ignorant,
M - I havent' hear that one before. Why do you say they are ignorant?
W - Because they don't listen to other people. They believe that their opinion is the best, there's no need for them to listen.
M - Are you a Limburger?
W - Yes
M - Are there any differences between Limburgers and other Dutch people?
W - Yes, we are bourgondisch, more so in the south, which is where I'm from. We love to eat and drink. We love partying.
M - What do you enjoy doing?
W - Daytrips, going out to the park with my 16 month old daughter, mmm, travel and off course shopping.


Evelien and Joost

Evelien and Joost were fun to talk with and they seem to know someone at Milk and Cookies.

Me - Can you tell me something about the Dutch character?
Joost/Evelien - People are different from different parts of the Netherlands. The main one, is between the north and the south. There are three main rivers that divide the country, the Maas, the Rhine and the Scheldt.
M - What are people like from the North?
E - Direct
J - Blunt
M - And what about the south?
E - They are 'bourgondisch', how do you say that in English? They love good food, wine, to party.
M - Are you Limburgers?
J & E - Yes
M - Are you also different to other Dutch people?
J & E - Yes
E - Especially in the south, they're very hard to get in touch with. In the north we are more open-minded.
M - I enjoy photography. What do you enjoy doing?
E - Me too, I don't have much time now, I love painting too.
J - Running, drinking beer
E - He brews his own beer too.
M - Really, like which ones?
J - I've done 5-6 so far. The results are usually surprising.




Dominic

I met Dominic in Hapas. He was chasing after his energetic daughter. He was very charming and full of jokes.

Me - What's the Dutch character? For example, some would say that the British drink too much.
Dominic - Yes, we like to drink too.
M - Are there any differences between Limburgers and other Dutch people?
Dominic - Yes, we are more 'bourgondisch'; more like the French. We enjoy ourselves more.
M - What do you enjoy doing?
D - Playing with my kids.

Wendy

Wendy was the 20th and last person for this part of Venlo Strangers.

M - What are Dutch people like? For example, people think that the British are polite, quiet or now drunks.
Wendy - Yes, people are different of course, but in general, they're simple, direct, and not polite, not like the British.
Me - Are there any differences between Limburgers and other Dutch people?
W - Yes, we are different. We are not like the northers, not so direct, we are..., how do you say in English?
M - causal, laidback
W - Yes, that kind of thing
M - What do you like doing?
W - Horseriding

Venlo Strangers - part three

Femmy

Day three in Venlo and I first bumped into Femmy and her co-worker. They were on their lunch break but they still gave me some time.

Me - What are Dutch people like?
Femmy - They are cautious with strangers but more welcoming once they get to know them.
M - Are there any differences between Limburgers and other Dutch people?
F - Yes, I think Limburg has an inferiority complex. They feel looked down upon by the people from the Randstad, you know the four big cities in the Netherlands. We are more like France, Belgium and even Germany. People in the Randstad consider us to be foreign.

M - What do you like to do in your freetime?
F - I like to go out drinking with my friends?
M - Is that beer or tea?
F - These days I don't drink beer everyday, more often it's tea.


Martel

Me - Hi, I'm doing a project where I ask strangers some questions and then take their photo. Is this ok?
Martel - Well, I don't have much time.
M - Ok, there's only four questions, just give me a one word answer. My first question - What's your name?
Martel - Martel
M - Can you tell me some about the Dutch personality?
Martel - Open-minded
M - What's different about Limburgers?
Martel - Not open-minded
M - What do you like to do?
Martel - Art

Martel, I can't read your web address - www.galeri-elaly.com (that's how I read it but it's not recognised)


Leon

Leon owns Purity Photography, a place where you can get professional studio portraits taken. He's friendly and I believe he's great at his job.

Me - Is there a difference between Limburgers and other Dutch people.
Leon 'Yes, there's a difference. People in Amsterdam are very international. There's a big difference, it's like two groups of people in this country.

M - What do you enjoy doing?
L - This, photography. I love it. And traveling, unfortunately it's expensive, so we can't do it that often. This picture (of a monkey) was taken in Bornea. We went with the WWF (World Wildlife Fund)

Renee - for some reason, I forgot to take your photo - sorry







For some reason, I forgot to photograph Renee, I believe it was because I was taking notes (for once).

Me - Can you tell me something that's typical about Dutch people?
Renee - They pay for themselves. They are self-centred (I believe Renee meant self-reliant)
M - Are you a Limburger?
R - Yes, but I study in Rotterdam at the moment.
M - Are Limburgers different to other Dutch people?
R - Yes, they're sweeter. We care more about other people. Here, everyone knows each other. In the rest of the Netherlands, it's me, me, me.
M - What do you like doing?
R - I'm at an art academy, I love drawing, building things, art stuff
M - Buildng things, do you mean sculptures.
R - Yes, I could't remember the word, thanks

Max


Max and Lucas were shooting a mini-video with an Indian theme. They had an Indian model and were shooting in one of the main shopping streets in Venlo. They're at the university and they really like the Dutch.






Lucas


Me - What are Dutch people like?
Lucas - Open-minded, friendly.
Max - Yes, tolerant is the word. You cross the border and the culture is different. We're only five minutes away from Germany here, but there's a big difference.
L - Yes, in the university in Germany if you have a deadline. That's it. No work handed in, no score. But here it's much better. You can say, it's my birthday, can I hand it a day later, the professors will agree.
Max - Yes, they are much more humane here.




Lina

Lina was working in a restaurant that I had lunch in. She has excellent English and later I saw her on the street and stop her, despite being short of time, she helped out. Lina is from the Hague.

Me - What's typical about the Dutch character?
Lina - They are open-minded, they don't take bullshit well and they are direct.
M - Are there any differences between other Dutch people and Limburgers?
L - There's a big difference. We like apple pie, they don't, we have cold food for lunch, they have hot. Other Dutch people are more direct, whilst here, they are politer. They are more laidback here. Also, I really have to listen hard as their accent is very different to what I'm used to.
M - What do you like to do?
L - creative things, meeting new people, I really like writing, the arts.

Strangers in Venlo - Day two

Gerry

It was a cold day in Venlo but the streets were much busier than Tuesday, especially where the Saturday market is held.

I went to the Limburg Museum at first, since one of my questions is about the Limburg character, I thought this is a must go place.

I met Gerry there, who volunteers one day a week to work at the museum. She's originally from Overloon - Noord Brabant and she knows about blogs because her daughter runs a blog too. Gerry also introduce me to a new Dutch word 'ruimdenliend'.

Me - 'Can you tell me something that's typical of the Dutch?'
Gerry - 'Yes, they're friendly and ruimdenliend, how do you say that in English? They don't mind what other people do.'
M - 'They're are open-minded'
G - 'Yes, they're open-minded, it doesn't matter whether you are a woman, gay, black'
M - 'They let people be what they want to be?'
G - 'Yes, they let people be what they want to be.'

M - 'How are Limburgers different from other Dutch people?'
G - 'They are 'bourdondisch', they like to eat and drink, they like to enjoy themselves, but this is more so in the south.'
M - 'Do you think this is a true reflection on the people in Limburg?'
G - 'Yes, but less so here. It's more in the South.'

Unfortunately, Gerry won't be here on Sunday but she might send someone else along.

Kaber at his shop


Kaber owns a Doner Kebab store in the big market square. He's laidback and friendly.

M - 'What are Dutch people like?'
Kaber - 'They're very kind people.'
M - 'Do you think there's any difference between Limburgers and other Dutch people?'
K - 'There's a difference in the language and the accent but other things, mmm, no not really, mmm, well, they're kinder.'

Rick and Floor outside Cafe Central


I met Rick and Floor in the square outside the townhall. I was surprised at the name 'Floor' and Rick did say that it's the same spelling as the 'floor'. They both like meeting up with friends and Rick is very into his sports, especially hockey and tennis.

M - 'How would you describe Dutch people?'
Rick - 'They are open to their friends but less so to strangers. We don't go up to people and ask them questions like you.'
M - 'I think most British people don't do this either.'
Rick - 'Ok, yeah, we are not like the Spanish, Italians and Greeks, they're open to everyone. They talk with everyone.'


Rick and Gerry also did a Limburg pose, which made me laugh.

Strangers in Venlo

Thalassa from Milk and Cookies


Finally started to meet some strangers in Venlo.

This time I want to meet at least some of the strangers again, so I needed to a find a venue. I decided to go with Milk and Cookie, at Parade 22, Venlo. This is where I met my first Venlo stranger, Thalassa. Thalassa opened Milk and Cookies with her business partner last June.

Thalassa is from Southwest Netherlands, she graduated last year and ever since has been hard at work at Milk and Cookies. She's very approachable and easy to talk with.

Me - "What's a typical Dutch characheristic?"

Thalassa - "Oh, that's 'nuchler', you know?"

M - "No"

T - "Mmm, sober, in the sense of common-sense. We do the right things and get things down"

M - "I understand that Limburger's are different, how is their character different to the rest of the Netherlands?"

T - "I'm not from here originally, but I'm from the south, you know, below the 'river', and close to Belgium, so we are more like Limburgers. We enjoy life, we like to drink and eat. We are more 'bourgondisch', in the north they are more 'nuchler'.

Thalassa enjoys playing with creative ideas and concepts. Milk and Cookies is one of those concepts and her and her partner hope to build this concept by eventually opening more 'Milk and Cookies'.

Since she's working on Sunday, she'll be giving her invite to a friend. So, there'll be at least one mystery guess on Sunday.

Thea


I met Thea and Annie where Venlo has its Saturday market. They were heading towards town, my guess towards a cafe but I didn't ask. Thea did most of the talking because I have no Dutch and she has reasonable English.

M - What are the Dutch like?

T - Friendly, helpful.

Annie


M - And what about Limburgers?

T (ask Annie in Dutch) They enjoy life a lot. They love talking, they're good to guests and the carnival is big here. Everyone loves it.

M - What do you do for enjoyment?

T - We like going to cafes.

Frans from Pieter Breughel Art Shop


Frans is the owner of the Pieter Breughel Art Shop
, which sells modern paintings and sculptures. He's enjoyable to talk to, likes to play golf because it gives him pleasure and enjoys going out restaurants and for some drinks. He also wished me much success, which I liked.

Me - "Are you from Limburg?"
Frans - "Yes, I'm from Venlo."
M - "Do people from the Netherlands have a special characteristic? You know, like the British are considered to be gentlemen, they like to drink etc."
F - "They are humorous, I like English humour. Yes, the Dutch are friendly, and they're open-minded."
M "Yes, the British consider the Dutch to be open-minded that way so many of them like coming here. You're from Limburg. Do you think they are different to other Dutch people?"
F - "Yes, Limburgers like the good things in life, we like to eat and drink, we like to talk and there's the carnival too. Also, now means now in the north but here it could mean in 15 mins"
M - "Why do you think there's a difference?"
F - "Limburg is made up of a lot of small places. Each of those places has their own orchestra and carnival group."
M - "Yes, I kinda know this. In Stejl they have something like this, in English they're called 'Circle of Friends' and they have a red flag with a devil on it. I don't understand why they use the devil?"
F - "I don't really know either, you'll have to ask people in Stejl but they are well known and they're the only one like this in the whole of Limburg.

Travel without a Guide Book - Thomas

This is Thomas, my second guide to Melaka

Perhaps I ate the toast the wrong way. The man at the next table had his feet up and dunked buttered toast into milky tea. He looked very cosy, anyway, the toast was ok but not fulling enough, so I ordered some minced pork noodles from a guy called Thomas.

I liked himself straight away as he continued to chat in Chinese while I ordered breakfast. He also agreed to answer some questions after I'd finished breakfast.

Thomas, originally from Kuala Lumpur, has been retired for 15 years and now lives most of the time in Malaka but still also has a house in KL. He runs a small noodle stall at a coffee shop with his wife.

Thomas "It's more relaxing in Melaka, free time is concentrated into coffee shops as there's not much in the way of nightlife."

Me "What's do you enjoy about Melaka?'

Thomas "There's more good than not good. The people are friendier, you spend less and the races mix much more. Here, you always see Indians in Chinese places and Malay in Indian places and so on."

Me "Why does that happen more here?"

Thomas "I think it's because the communities are smaller here. In KL they all have big communities, so there's less need to go outside their community but here, because the communities are smaller, people mix more."


Thomas next to his noodle stall - food's very cheap here

Thomas really liked his life in Melaka. He recommanded that I should go to the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple as its the oldest Chinese Temple in Southeast Asia.







Woman burning incense sticks - in the week of Guanyin's Birthday

At the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, things were really busy. I talked to the woman (and her family) in the picture. She was here because on the following Tuesday was Guanyin's Birthday (the God of Mercy). She strongly recommend that I come here early on Tuesday morning.



Photos and memorial plaques for the dead

I meet another man called Thomas, and his family in the room with the memorial plaques for the dead. He had come to pay respect to his dead relatives. This place in the temple is replacing traditional Chinese graves as they're cheaper and they don't take up so much land. Thomas brought his young children with him so that they can learn more about their culture.

Birds being released at the Temple