Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Summerland

 

A Summerland Hotel on a Yemeni island called Socotra. No (large) rock in any sea left unexplored by the contemporary beach-loving tourist. White family with kids in the pic entering a Toyota SUV for the airport after UAE & Saudi exchanges spoilt a holiday and threatened stranding. The waters there in the Red Sea might catch a turquoise tinge certain times of year, offer refreshing breezes, a malooga & hummus to die for. 


NB. Melbourne currently 40 degrees, with the interior 3 - 4 - 5 degrees warmer.





Saturday, January 3, 2026

Blasted

 

Denizens would understand. The Norwegian Nobel winner Fosse couple years back would understand. One needed to be somewhere; the existential condition. In Sing that meant once or twice a year in a mall, even for orang with the phobia threatening dear life. A number of pretty young girls. The couple post-pubescent CHIJ Convent girls in their uniforms tainted by the locale. To an interloper the Filipina biz wives in the window corner were an unknown specimen. No mystery why this particular table on the aisle was vacant again. Slovenian Slalom, shortly to be published in an ok mag up in the States, was penned precisely there, beneath the A/C vent, with the robot behind gathering cups. Actually, on closer inspection, it appeared it was piping wrapped in alum. foil and the two vents either side were responsible for doing the damage. In the rainy season a freeze like that was particularly dangerous. Topi replaced to cover the scone. The Mainland tissue seller gotten himself indoors finally made you smirk. Expected to ignore the white guy, particularly crowned with authentic panama, turned out not the case at all. On the contrary, bold as you like. Not only does he stop 12 – 15secs, but what the fellow proceeds to do is drop his stock on the edge of the crowded table with a audacious slap. Wet larger pack atop the other. Then the victory sign 3, max 4 inches from the nostril. An understanding grin could not be suppressed. Unfortunately, that concession was lost on the sod. Under 50, slight, a lad in former years. Eyeballing. Sometimes the purchases lagged before the customer finally wilted; after all, $2 was hardly too much to get the nuisance outta your space. In G. Serai the Viets or Malays would never push the envelope like that, certainly not with a white. Where this chap hailed from shrinking violets were trampled. Even Mr T. could not have helped begrudging acknowledgement. Jackie Chan mean streets; substances younger days, possibly. An article in the morning’s paper reported the hardness over there that was resistant to the recent more enlightened liberalisation in sentencing. Post-colonial hangover would not surprise. Unlike lotta places, the Chinese knew their history. Closing the technological & armament gap so rapidly, the Yanks were well & truly screwed.  They would be ruing their Anglo-centrism here very shortly.