2008
Setting Out for Day 2
17 October 2008
First day of the Festival is over- a heady experience indeed. Just about to set out for Day 2 – the warnet (warung internet) to send off my email, here opens early!
Great panel sessions and a very delightful 'In Conversation' with Vikram Seth – though the Australian moderator who interviewed him, Edwina Blush (!!!) decided to take the line of flirting with him throughout which he took in good part, but it embarrassed us, the audience. We got some great insights into his writing though, and a lovely story about the beginning of An Equal Music. Mostly concentrated on his novel in verse though, and some on A Suitable Boy - which I must read at long last – now I have time in my life for 1500 page novels!!
The first panel on globalisation “Britney Spears meets Osama Bin Laden” had Father Frank Brennan and a crusty old-school Aussie journalist, Cameron Forbes on it, (his book Under the Volcano on Bali I just read last week.) Interesting that Brennan picked up on the word God in Sanskrit in the title theme of the Festival – God, Man and Nature – would never have come up in an Australian context, but here in Bali the word god is in daily use for every situation.
Great panel sessions and a very delightful 'In Conversation' with Vikram Seth – though the Australian moderator who interviewed him, Edwina Blush (!!!) decided to take the line of flirting with him throughout which he took in good part, but it embarrassed us, the audience. We got some great insights into his writing though, and a lovely story about the beginning of An Equal Music. Mostly concentrated on his novel in verse though, and some on A Suitable Boy - which I must read at long last – now I have time in my life for 1500 page novels!!
The first panel on globalisation “Britney Spears meets Osama Bin Laden” had Father Frank Brennan and a crusty old-school Aussie journalist, Cameron Forbes on it, (his book Under the Volcano on Bali I just read last week.) Interesting that Brennan picked up on the word God in Sanskrit in the title theme of the Festival – God, Man and Nature – would never have come up in an Australian context, but here in Bali the word god is in daily use for every situation.
Late afternoon I went to a book launch of a Canadian book, Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibbs- set in Ethiopia- translated into Indonesian as “Lilly” –a first Canadian -Indonesian translation! The Canadian ambassador was there – had a good chat with him before I found out who he was. Also with Camilla. They gave me a copy of the book in Indonesian. It was held at a lovely boutique hotel called Uma – with Canadian wines and delicious canapés served.
And Tony Wheeler of Lonely Planet is back – he was at the first festival – and with him a young man who is travelling round Southeast Asia “on a shoestring”- using that Lonely Planet’s first Guide of 1975!!! A great way to compare travel of over 30 years ago with now and what is still visible and locatable in Ubud from those days. I couldn’t resist telling Tony that I was in Ubud five years before he was, in 1967, staying at the Palace in a little hut with the necessary letter of introduction to the Tjokorde!! ) Needless to say it was a very nostalgic session for a lot of us old Bali hands in the audience.
I did not make it to the Opening ceremony on Wednesday night – way too hot to face the crowds – spent the time catching up with Pam Allen from Tasmania in a swimming pool instead.
Slipped away for an hour to see Jasmin - who is a lot better and enjoyed playing with Daddy and "Noni" (me) at last. Josh was really keen on taking the semi-derelict house of the murdered guy, but thank god that Gabrielle, when she was taken to see it last night, has said no! So this evening she will see the other one that I think in scale, style and location will be much better - though they will keep looking this week.
Must fly – the shuttle up to where the festival sessions are being held awaits.
And Tony Wheeler of Lonely Planet is back – he was at the first festival – and with him a young man who is travelling round Southeast Asia “on a shoestring”- using that Lonely Planet’s first Guide of 1975!!! A great way to compare travel of over 30 years ago with now and what is still visible and locatable in Ubud from those days. I couldn’t resist telling Tony that I was in Ubud five years before he was, in 1967, staying at the Palace in a little hut with the necessary letter of introduction to the Tjokorde!! ) Needless to say it was a very nostalgic session for a lot of us old Bali hands in the audience.
I did not make it to the Opening ceremony on Wednesday night – way too hot to face the crowds – spent the time catching up with Pam Allen from Tasmania in a swimming pool instead.
Slipped away for an hour to see Jasmin - who is a lot better and enjoyed playing with Daddy and "Noni" (me) at last. Josh was really keen on taking the semi-derelict house of the murdered guy, but thank god that Gabrielle, when she was taken to see it last night, has said no! So this evening she will see the other one that I think in scale, style and location will be much better - though they will keep looking this week.
Must fly – the shuttle up to where the festival sessions are being held awaits.