SEA Tr3: Emails

Preliminary Emails guide my Dharma Path

(HW pp. 1>3, 11-29-13, Friday, 0.4 hr.)

It seems that the Divine Order has arranged things so that I should come to JAVA. Martin Nga somehow read some articles on my website. These scribblings evoked an urge – a divine urge to be sure. Following the impetus, coming seemingly from nowhere, he contacted me via Email. Attached to his correspondence was a magnificent picture of a port with colorful boats.

Martin: January 4, 2013

Hi,

Just a note to say I enjoyed reading your writings.
I have similar interest in History/SEA, China, American politics etc
Now based in Johor Bahru, Malaysia opposite Singapore, Stayed in Jakarta 1989-2002, Wife from Lampung, South Sumatra. Travel often to China and SEA countries.
Attached picture taken a few months back in Palembang; Musi river bank of Chinese influenced junks – water trucks ferrying passengers and goods up river. Visited the old Srivijaya sites of Bukit, Seguntang etc.

brgds,
Martin Nga
Malaysian-Indonesia-China

I responded politely a few days later.

Me, January 7

Thanks so much for your encouraging words.
And what an incredible picture! The colors are so rich that I thought it was an oil painting at first.
Lucky you to live in that part of the planet.

regards from the don creature

He replied shortly thereafter.

Martin: January 9, 2013

Hi Don,

It was taken with just a 5mp Blackberry!
Getting it oil painted in Saigon.
Traces of history. Picture this spot in Palembang- thousand over years, The Chinese monk I-Tsing was here. Chola Indian navy occupied. Admiral Cheng Ho caught the Chinese pirate king here. Malaysian sultanates ancestor-Parameswara originated here, etc!
A picture tells a thousand stories!
If have the opportunity, you should visit Yogjakarta, central Jawa - near to Borobudur, Prambhanan and Dieng Plateau etc sites, and cradle of Indonesian civilization.
Glad to host you if you ever back to Malaysia/Singapore.

best regards,
Martin Nga

"The finger points to the moon, but the finger is not the moon; neither can words express the truth!"

Blown away by the beauty of the picture, I showed it along with the correspondence to my wife, Laurie. She noticed that Martin had offered to host us in Java and urged me to take him up on his offer.

Me: January 17, 2013

Greetings Martin Nga,

My wife & I would love to take you up on your offer. For many years we have wanted to visit ‘Yogjakarta, central Jawa - near to Borobudur, Prambhanan and Dieng Plateau etc sites, and cradle of Indonesian civilization’. Palembang is also of interest, as well as Bali.
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