Indonesia Gala Dinner

After talking to Ambassador Thamrin..I had the opportunity for a discussion with
Dr Wahyu Indrasto
Chief Editor Eksekutif... Indonesia Management publication which covers many aspects of the developing business and financial fields of Indonesia, he was interested in my writing for Management New Zealand and New Straits Times on Japanese Business strategies
pic by Zeynita

Indonesia Evening London

I was invited to the Indonesia Exhibition and Cultural Events
last week in London
which climaxed with a splendid Fashion show,
Traditional Dance performance
and a Reception and Dinner
My Hosts,
Director General of Marketing
in The Ministry of Culture & Tourism Sapta Nirwander
and
His Excellency Ambasssador Yuri O Thamrin
seen here with me at the
Gala Dinner


photograph by Indonesian journalist
Zeynita Gibbons

introducing the PRESIDENT of INDONESIA at the LSE

The President of Indonesia in London for the first G20 meeting to be held in the
United Kingdom
speaks to an audience at the LSE........

The President has a background in Agricultural Economics..as did my colleague at PWC ..
Price Waterhouse Coopers..........Ian Walker ....in Auckland New Zealand ....
Ian and I, worked together
on Agricultural projects for the New Zealand Stock and Station Agents
He had been closely involved as Consultant with the World Bank, NUSA DUA project, in Indonesia


the speech can be watched on the LSE website.... as a podcast
London School of Economics

Indonesia Embasssy reception

It was an excellent evening ................................with a welcoming speech by
His Excellency Yuri O Thamrin ...followed by a variety of Indonesia foods
which I enjoyed so much when I was there,
which are featured in the book of Indonesia food
by the Indonesian lady who now lives in England, Sri Owen ...She gave me a signed copy of her book ...which I have shown
to some of my friends and visitors
At my Talks I will be able to show those in my audience some of the ingredients
which to many English tastes are quite exotic..........for me they are daily meals
the ladies who help me, have also become interested in the simpler foods of South East Asia
as I have been since my first visits many years ago..before I lived in Malaysia as Bilateral Aid Advisor

Pictured in the audience myself and Trevor Krueger ............
who published last year the first 'Taste of Asia' magazine

Earlier in the day, he had accompanied me to Harrods
where we talked again with Chloris Flint of ASEAN-UK Business
about our interests in Asia

Malaysia Government Malaysia Kitchens Restaurant

Awaiting Dinner

Mustapha has now taken over as Director
at the restaurant in Pall Mall next to The National Gallery
I have no doubt that the meals will continue to be excellent
as Shah and Ned still are Chefs
Their food was very well received at my Malaysia Dinner
It is a pity that they are not closer
as they are all good at making me feel at home...as I always have in Asia.. Malaysia.. Indonesia.... Singapore
have all been home to me I never did get to other ASEAN Countries to stay, although I have had invitations,
and visited most of them .. ...when I had time .......

Peluncuran Buku ‘Sri Owen’s Indonesian Food’ / sr06.jpg

At The indonesia Embassy launch of Sri Owens book
of Indonesia food 2008
picture taken from The Indonesia Embassy Website

click on link for photograph taken during the presentation
by H E Yuri O Thamrin Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia
...................................................................................................................
Victoria standing second from left alongside Trevor Kreuger
.................................................................................................
pictPeluncuran Buku ‘Sri Owen’s Indonesian Food’ / sr06.jpg

Labuan book discussion with Edward

Edward from the Malaysia Government Ministry of Foreign Affairs

and I,
found many things to discuss about my years in Malaysia
as Advisor to the two countries,
to the Board of Malaysia Airlines, giving my Seminar
The Corporate Image of Malaysia
producing Malaysia Terima Kasih
and meeting friends .
************************************

an informal 'after speech' meeting

Dr Mahathir always enjoys meeting
those
who have shown an interest in what he has to say
and here he relaxed after his speech with
Teddy Chen and Peng Kiong Chou..............
both Malaysians based in London.............. with their businesses here
part of the group of Malaysians who I meet quite often,
some formalise the arrangement by being Members of OMEC
or the British Malaysia Society

Labuan the book from the island

After I was hosted in the island of Labuan
many times
by Dr Mahathir, first... then ..The King Iskander,
The Chief Minister of Sabah and many others
I wrote down many of my thoughts
took a great number of photographs........ completed two books
then left........ as I had so many commitments
and invitatons ....and
the one which I did accept was from The New Zealand Government to go to
THE UNITED NATIONS

...........and so all my work was packed away .............
then recently when the High Commissioner Datuk Aziz asked me about a second Malaysia book
...one of many such enquiries...................... I decided that the small one on Labuan .....
updated of course.............. could be published
on 11th March I gave copies to all of my Guests at My Malaysia Dinner ..including Sir Patrick Cormack
I met Edward Savarimuthu ..Media Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Malaysia at the RCS
and after we had looked at my

Official book Malaysia Terima Kasih................I presented him with a copy of LABUAN..........

G20 comments London

interested in Mahathir's comment on G20

I was interested
having been his guest on a number of occasions....
heard him so many times ..........
read his main book The Malay Dilemma
when I was first asked to be Advisor to The Malaysia Government
and then to be Bilateral Aid Advisor tot New Zealand and Malaysia Governments

to hear his comments on the G20 meeting being held in London

Victoria at Royal Commonwealth Society

This week I returned to London
for the visit of Dr Mahathir to the Royal Commonwealth Society
During my time as Bilateral Aid Advisor
to The New Zealand and Malaysia Governments
Dr Mahathir was Prime Minister
and he hosted me on a number of occasions
at his Official residence, Sri Labuan
on the island of Labuan,
at Dinners at the Hotel in Labuan,
at a picnic at a smaller offshore island where
a visit was made and a meeting held to discuss the new status of the
Island as Federal Territory
..................................

and at other meetings which he held there
sometimes with Minister of Federal Territories Shahrir, The Chief Minister of Sabah,
with Government Officials, and others from Kuala Lumpur and Sabah

Biarritz Asiatica Museum

The personal collection of Michel Postel is housed in a splendid,
well designed, easy to find, Museum,
a few minutes drive from the centre of Biarritz
It features a range of oriental art and crafts which he chose
to show some of the history, culture and arts of the parts of Asia
which he frequented for many years
It is a great accomplishment, well researched, documented,
and displayed, giving education, pleasure and an insight into very different
cultures from that, in which it is located
I was delighted to meet the gentleman who has produced this excellent collection
to show in France
My own years, visiting, and living in Asia, have perhaps made me appreciate more, the work
and skills which have made this Museum very unusual