Swine in the Year of the Monkey

lo hei — tossing yusheng at this time of year (a noodle, prawn & veg. salad) produces lots of pictured pollies in the newspaper – the President of the Republic and his wife pre-eminently, shown with the deserving, the elderly and other fringe groups. The fixed camera-smile of this pair and the look of interest casting over displays and ceremonies is beginning to irritate one must be frank. Last night coming out from Feidu an altar on the corner lorong holding the usual incense sticks, candles and oranges, perhaps there was a large "bomb" pomelo, but also a richly glazed long pig laid flat like a resting cat. Perhaps 7-8 kgs if not more. A sudden dart after such a term in these Muslim communities. Granddad Pavle got rich on the trade in swine from over the border in Herzegovinia, over the back hills through Krivosije where grandma Ruza was born — at a guess 5-6 hour hike. Returning with the herd must have taken the live-long day. Father Lazar and his older brother Petar were later sent by the old patriarch and after the war and the dispersal of the family Petar went himself a few years. In a village near Trebinje old Pavle had established business partners who sometimes came across to Montenegro themselves, announcing their arrival from the side of Bastik hill above the houses. During CNY here the swine must be imported from Thailand or Burma, shipped from southern China perhaps; the Chinese operations in Malaysia would likely be insufficient. A long term of feasting here and in the region, still numerous Chinese outlets closed up over a week later.