KL International Tattoo 2007

Can you believe it? I came to Stadium Merdeka twice on, 7th September and 8th September 2007, to see this spectacular event! Mentang-mentanglah anak askar… semangat patriotik!

(And hey Acob a.k.a. Mr. Dazed and Confused, nice to see you there after so long… what a pleasant surprise!)

In conjunction of Malaysia’s 50th Independence Anniversary, the Malaysian Armed Forces (backbone of Malaysia’s defense) in collboration with the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia proudly presented the KL International Tattoo 2007 at the historic Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. 13 other countries had also participated in the event - Australia, France, Korea, Brunei, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Philippine, Thailand, Jordan, United States, New Zealand and United Kingdom. 

The show on 7th Sept 2007

The show on 8th Sept 2007

Fiery Flowers In The Sky

In honour of the 50th Merdeka, the Ministry of Tourism of Malaysia hosted the biggest celebration in the country, the Malaysia International Fireworks Competition (MIFC) which was held for 2 weeks at Putrajaya International Convention Center. Five big countries partook in the competition - Canada, Japan, Italy, Australia and last but least, Malaysia.

Yes, on the 31st August 2007, my friends and I high-spiritedly went to Putrajaya to check out the MIFC. Yes, we were amongst the crowd of approximately 100 thousand people who came over to PICC to see Team Japan showing off their masterpiece that night. And yes, we were also among those people who had lined up for almost 2 hours to get into one of the dirty, filthy, shit-filled portable toilets. Gross! I swore to God, I would never ever use any portable toilet again in my life!

The incandescent displays started at 12 midnight due to Merdeka countdown and lasted for like 25 minutes. Well, I was expecting for some music during the Team Japan’s fireworks show, but so unlike Team Italy, the only music we could hear was the explosive sounds of the massive firecrackers. However, the Japan’s non-musical firework show, at the end, spectacular!

I believe there are six common colours in fireworks - white, yellow, red, green, blue and amber - which are made using specific checmical compounds. Deep blue and purple are the most difficult colours to create as they have very narrow bands on the colour spectrum. Blue and green are actually considered the most dangerous colours to produce, speaking of which, one of the greatest challenges to the pyrotechnicians.

They Get Better As They Get Older

Who says you need to get stoned in order to give the best in your performance on stage? Look at these old folks at Gala Seni Serumpun event. By listening to their voices last night at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur, I wondered - do people sing so much better when they get so much older. AND they don’t smoke pot before or in between shows.

With my other-half just a heartbeat away, we sat back and enjoyed the melodious voices of the veteran entertainers’ and the fresh voices of the new comers’ from Malaysia and Indonesia, blending beautifully with each other.

Clockwise (top to bottom): Azlina Aziz and Nassier Wahab (MAL), Nassier Wahab (MAL), Ernie Djohan (IND), Fredo (MAL)

Clockwise (top to bottom): Wirdaningsih and Ratih Purnamasari (IND), Zally Hussain (MAL), Anita Sarawak (MAL), Titiek Puspa (IND)

Clockwise (top to bottom): Bob Tutupoly (IND), Ahmad Jais (MAL), Farahwahida (MAL), Mawi (MAL)

Clockwise (top to bottom): Acha Septriasa (IND), Irwansyah (IND), Azharina (MAL), Elly Kassim (IND)

The gala was organised with the cooperation of the Malaysian National Broadcasters’ Association, the Indonesian Film Artistes’ Association and the Malaysian Malay Chamber of Commerce, in aid of the National Cancer Council and Seniman’s Welfare Fund. Creatively, they crafted the event in such a manner that the Seniman would present the Anugerah Bintang Seniman to nine Indonesian artistes for their contributions to regional entertainment while the Indonesians would present nine Malaysian artistes with the Anugerah Seni PARFI. Fauziah Ahmad Daud (Ogy) and Wirdaningsih were the emcees of the night. Among the VIPs seen in the hall were Information Minister Dato’ Zainuddin Mydin, Dato’ Jins Samsudin, Dato’ Yusof Haslam, Dato’ Aziz Satar, Dato’ Rahim Razali, Sarimah, Mariani (Saloma’s sister), Rosnani Jamil, Umi Kalthom and Indonesian actress Yenie Rachman.

Bob Tutupoly sang ‘Widuri’ and he sounded exactly like the late Broery Marantika. He sang perfectly well that he almost brought me close to heaven. There were also Dato’ Shake (MAL), Shawn Bahrin (MAL), Trio Bimbo (IND) and Roy (MAL), who came out energetically on the stage. Call me old-fashioned chic… like I care so much, but that actually shows I have a soft heart inside to really know how to take pleasure in evergreen music.