Monday, September 7, 2009

Prelude No. 4 (in F#-minor) OR the longest night

20-08-09 OR Keluar

It was late afternoon when I landed in Brunei Darassalum, and the setting sun had transformed the South China Sea into a golden meadow. In the distance, I could see the mist of a tropical rainforest. Ah! Borneo. It's good to be back. I do not usually subscribe to mysticism or spriritualism, but this place is, simply, magical.

Do international airport terminals transcend political geography? Did I ever set foot in 'Brunei'. The answer doesn't really matter. Brunei International Airport is essentially an octagon filled with security guards and jewellery. What a rich place. So much money. Paul McCartney was right. Abba, too.

Also, my plane got blessed. Thanks. Tirimasu! Quarter past the hour, every hour, is prayer time in Bangar Seri Begawan. What a racket!

During the flight, I had planned to read S. Pinker's The Language Instinct and prepare notes for my ecology report, but instead I did neither. I did, however, complete Robert van Kuik's immigration card. Who the hell is Robert van Kuik? All I know is that he was born in the Netherlands on the 18th of February, 1932, and was on his way to Bankok. His vision was not so good so he asked me to read the immigration questions aloud. He was not very dexterous, either, so I had to write the answers too. Also, he didn't appear to be all there - a few wavelengths shorts of the proverbial red light (as they might say in Amsterdam) - so I answered most of the questions for him. He's probably in jail now.

I also watched the Princess Bride. Not by choice (but secretly, by choice). Anne Hathaway makes me swoon. Also, I wonder how many films portray the transformation of a shy, mousey girl into a beautiful, confident woman? At least a million.

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