Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
190
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MALAYSIA IN POPULAR CULTURE
BOOKS
The H armony S ilk F actory,
b y Tash A w
(Riverhead Trade). One of Malaysia's most
talented novelists, Aw spins a tale about a
Chinese businessman in M alaysia at the
start of the Japanese Occupation.
A History of M alaysia,
by Barbara Wat-
son Andaya (P algrave M acmillan). This
easy-to-read book explor es some of the
most impor tant themes in M alaysia's his-
tory, from prehistory to present day.
Into the H eart of Bor neo,
b y Redmond
O'Hanlon ( Vintage). This funny trav el-
ogue follows two inexperienced travelers as
they attempt a r ugged trek into the deep-
est forests of Sarawak.
Kalimantaan,
by C. S. G odshalk (Aba-
cus). This is a w ell-researched fictional
account of a colonial adv enturer who
attempts to r ule Borneo, loosely based on
the life of Sir James Brooke.
The Long Day Wanes: A Malaysian Tril-
ogy,
b y Anthony B urgess ( W. W. Norton
& Co). Written by the author of
A Clock-
work Orange,
these three novels mirror the
author's experiences as a B ritish civil ser-
vant during M alaysia's transition to inde-
pendence.
Malaysia: A Pictorial History,
by Wendy
Khadija Moore (Editions Didier Millet). A
gorgeous coffee table book, this fantastic
collection of illustrations, photographs,
and artwork makes reading about history a
joy.
The mix of cultural influences in Malaysia
is the r esult of centuries of immigration
and trade with the outside world, par ticu-
larly with Arab nations, China, and India.
Early gr oups of incoming for eigners
brought w ealth fr om ar ound the world,
plus their o wn unique cultural heritages
and religions. Furthermore, once imported,
each culture remained largely intact; that
is, none hav e tr uly been homogeniz ed.
Traditional temples and churches exist side
by side with mosques.
Likewise,
traditional art forms
of vari-
ous cultures are still practiced in Malaysia,
most notably in the ar eas of dance and
performance ar t. Chinese opera, I ndian
dance, and M alay martial arts are all v ery
popular cultural activities.
Silat,
originat-
ing fr om a mar tial ar ts form (and still
practiced as such b y many), is a dance
performed by men and women. R eligious
and cultural festivals are open for everyone
to appreciate and enjo y. Unique ar ts and
traditions of indigenous people distin-
guish Sabah and Sarawak from the rest of
the country.
Traditional
Malaysian music
is v ery
similar to I ndonesian music. H eavy on
rhythms, its constant dr um beats under-
neath the light r epetitive melodies of the
stringed gamelan (no r elation at all to the
Indonesian metallophone gamelan, with
its gongs and xylophones) will entrance
you with its simple beauty.
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Claim to Fame
Famous Malaysians include sexy Bond girl Michelle Yeoh, bestselling feng shui
author Lillian Too, and shoe guru Jimmy Choo.
