Celebrating diversity in Kuala Lumpur

Band welcoming wedding guests

Recently a taxi driver asked us how we liked Malaysia. I told him that I like the food. His comment? "You won't live long enough to eat all the good food we have." I also mentioned that the sidewalks are terrible. His answer "you can't have everything." Right on both points.

What makes life here so good the inclusiveness of Malaysians. Last weekend we talked with an Iranian who has lived here for 4 years. She agreed that it is an advantage to be an expat and watch the politics and not feel responsible. Malaysians allow expats to escape nationality-based communities. Because of the friendships she has made she is not sure that she will leave..

During Ramadan and the month leading up to it, things were slow, but once Hari Raya (Eid) wound down things picked up. One Friday we attended an Indian dance workshop at the Temple of Fine Art conducted by Sonai Singh. Rows of young dance students sat on the floor - it was fun to watch them move forward and closer in unison to make more space. Her major theme was that dancers had to reach into themselves not imitate classical dances. She used animal analogies to suggest how one could develop his/her self as a dancer: crows for efficiency in grooming, cranes for patience, dogs for alertness, monkeys for curiosity/openness, and horses for willingness to break away from the known. Later we did eye and head exercises and learned enlarge our eyes, lift our eyebrows and knit them together, and head bobbing! So our mind and our bodies were engaged. We thought that what we learned would add to the Sunday performance by the Sutra Dance Foundation. It probably didn't, but the dances were mesmerizing - I would go ahead and see the same dances again

Groom's Mother

The next day we went to a wedding. The celebrants were Malaysian Indians, the ceremony was Catholic, and the reception was a 9-course Chinese banquet - complete with an MC and entertainment. At the church we were greeted by a percussion band and the groom's mom. Apparently seating on the bride's side or groom's side is not customary. So we sat in a place with a good view. The cathedral was vast and offered plenty of options. The bride was tall, slender, and stunning. She loved the camera and the camera loved her back. The wedding was a typical Catholic wedding with a Mass. The guests were given small vials with a soap solution and blew bubbles at the bride and groom as they left the church. I helped pass the vials out to people behind us. Some one asked if it was an American custom. I have no idea - it was new to me.

The other part of the percussion band

Flower girl and page boy  The color of the day was lilac

We wore Indian dress to the wedding and reception - incredibly versatile, cool, and works well on aging bodies. Thoroughly satiated with tasty food we skipped the last dish at the receptions and headed to the train station. As we crossed the street a motor cyclist called out "Satu Malaysia" (one Malaysia). It is the Prime Minister's slogan to emphasize that all Malaysians no matter what their race are part of the nation. The slogan raises political hackles (a disconnect between what is said and what is done), but on this night it felt right.

The man seated next to us at the reception alerted us to free bi-monthly cooking classes at the Korean Cultural Centre. The next scheduled class was cooking bimimbap, a favorite of mine. We RSVP'ed and went. The chef assembled the bimimbap and another recipe. There were no handouts, instead there were furious note takers and photographers in the audience. As the chef completed each step a group gathered in front of her and started snapping. At the end  we ate the dishes. I sat next to two Malaysians – one of Chinese descent and the other Malay. After I left, they continued talking about about international travel opportunities.

Diversity and fusion are not limited to Asian food or celebrations. This week we went to a benefit concert of a Malaysian choral group.. The evening opened with the national anthem and ended with the Battle Hymn of the Republic. One of our favorites was The William Tell Overture (by a choral group no less with one tenor singing the cymbal part). Familiar to Americans of a certain age as the theme of The Lone Ranger. They did a number of show tunes - it felt like watching a toned down version of the Tony's. For the first time we felt a twinge of homesickness.

 In Malaysia every one has a color, people dress whatever appeals to them, everyone's holidays are acknowledged. On the ground diversity can be celebrated.