Photo - Muscat and Oman

A picture with a very intriguing story.  Following the Dofar Rebellion in Muscat and Oman (Now, known as the Sultanate of Oman) in the 1960's, the U.K. was asked to provide air force assistance to the country in the form of a secret mercenary detachment, in order to quell continuing attacks by Yemeni guerrilla fighters in the south of the country.  Basically, we maintained an airforce base that facilitated the operation of ex-RAF fighter pilots attacking the guerrillas in their mountain hideouts.

During this period, Edward Heath, the leader of the government's opposition, made a secret visit to Salalah for talks with Qaboos bin Said, the sultan's son (I have the only film of this visit).  Questions where asked in government about this meeting, and the existence of U.K. military personnel in the area, which has been totally denied to this day.

The following year, Edward Heath became Prime Minister and, coincidentally, the sultan's son instigated a coup against his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur.  The sultan was expelled to the U.K. in quiet exile until he died a few years later.

Religion 1 - The Burqa

Just the word alone attracts much attention. Discussion related to the Burqa, is not only a religious issue but also becomes a political issue (Just to name two).

It is my experience that many people do not understand the definition of a burqa. It is, simply, an outer garment worn by women in some Islamic traditions to cover their bodies in public places. Confusion exists in the use of words such as, hijab and niqab. These are individual parts of the burqa — the hijab being a head covering, and the niqab being a face covering (or veil).

I can see little reason to be offended by a woman wearing a burqa that does not have the niqab. In fact, some European women, in the summer, may wear a Indian sari as an evening dress, even though they have no knowledge of Islam. The sari being little more than a burqa with the hijab and niqab removed.

It is interesting to note that all women are asked to cover their heads with a scarf, as a matter of respect, when entering churches and cathedrals. Yet, ironically, some of those women, would still be critical of Muslims wearing a simple burqa.

The wearing of a niqab in public is the most controversial aspect of this discussion because a liberal interpretation of the Koran fails to convince most people that God (Allah) commanded that women must be completely covered. In addition, it is recorded that Mohammed said that both women and men should “dress and behave modestly in public.” This is a tradition that happened long before Islam, and should be interpreted according to today’s normal behaviour.

I read that a Muslim cleric had stated that women must wear a niqab because when a man looks at a woman’s body he looks, first, at her face. This is ridiculous because all things being equal, in other words, when a man has the opportunity to look at a woman’s naked body, the face is not the initial attraction.

Therefore, it is not surprising that countries are beginning to seriously consider banning the niqab (France has already done so) with arguments against being made by men and women indoctrinated by unfortunately biassed, and bigoted, interpretations of the Koran.

Discussion related to health matters or assimilation into other societies would be something to include at another time.

Quotation - "All the world's a stage ..."

William Shakespeare

     

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts, ...."

Photo - Old Town in China

Window view from a hotel in the old town of Lijiang, Yunnan Provence, a UNESCO Heritage site.  The town has a history going back more than 800 years and was once a confluence for trade along the old tea horse road.

Politics 1 - Why Does The CCP Survive?

Are the Chinese people affected by myths that surround their understanding of the Communist Party of China?  Let us examine that hypothesis.

An entire generation has grown up since the 4th June, 1989, a date etched on the minds of all people.  Yet, today, the country remains paralyzed under the iron grip of oppressive rule.

The government has not only failed to make any real political changes, but is now repressing dissidents more severely, such that we must wonder whether a revolution is possible soon.  Are the Egyptians, Libyans, etc., more courageous than the Chinese?

Deng Xiaoping chose to create a path leading to economic development, and the people have been bought by this economic liberalization.  He was very perceptive in securing one-party rule by promising prosperity in exchange for people’s political rights.

The Party has built a huge propaganda machine, which is used to mislead and confuse people.  There are two aspects of this;  It makes people believe that the Party alone has brought prosperity, rather than the people’s skill and hard work.  It promotes the idea that the country would be lost and in total confusion without the Party, creating a fear of chaos, forgetting that the Party has been the root of chaos during the past sixty years.

Deng has been quoted as saying, “Nip the dissident voice in the bud.”  And, now, the current leader, has not only continued Deng’s policy, but has developed additional means of creating terror.

World pro-democracy leaders believe that the Party can be reformed, and that dialogue is the way to deal with the problem, but this displays a limited understanding of the Party, by hoping that changes may happen from internal influences.

Is there any hope?  Of course there is but, first, we must do away with these myths.  In other words, China’s economic development is not due to the Communist Party.

Taiwan and Hong Kong created economic success for themselves decades ago ... without the assistance of a communist government.  Russians and Eastern Europeans have removed communist rule without any chaos.  It is quite humorous to hear that the leaders believe that China has a democratic system of government with a harmonious society, but a system with “Chinese characteristics”.

It is now the turn of the Chinese people, the ordinary people, to heed the words of a famous Greek philosopher, “The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage”.

I was emboldened to write this piece, and gratefully acknowledge a similar piece by Cao Changqing, a political commentator in the U.S., as it occurred to me that the content of his original comments would not survive the Chinese ‘firewall’.  Perhaps, my own comment will suffer the same fate.

Photo - Temple in Thailand

Wat (Temple) Phra Sing in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Food 1 - Tipping

I feel that this style of blog succeeds when, naturally, it is read and enjoyed.  Site statistics indicate the number of readers but not their enjoyment and, thus, reader comments, positive or otherwise, being a form of communication, should be an indication of enjoyment.  In order to induce temptation to comment, it seems that, occasionally, one needs to be controversial ... hence the subject of this post.

It goes without saying that whenever my cook has the night off (I’m kidding) it is my greatest pleasure to visit one of my favorite restaurants — hopefully, to enjoy the food and write about it afterwards.

There will be other times to include a restaurant review within this blog but, today, I wish to discuss tipping ... a controversial subject, if ever there was one.

Personally, something has to be extremely bad for me to complain to a manager, in fact I cannot remember when I last did.  Generally, small problems may be overcome by talking to the server, otherwise, my response is to vary the tip amount.  Let me mention four aspects about tipping:

1. I have a sense that over the years (or decades) the recommended amount has increased from an average 10% to 20%.  This would take into account food, service, and atmospheric quality.  Is this acceptable?
2. From my experience, it is normal for tips to be collected together and shared with servers and cooks at the end of the day, but I have heard that the maitre d’ and the executive chef should be excluded, as well as the owner/manager.  After all, they should be receiving a reasonable salary/income.
3. My favorite comment about tipping is the calculation of the tip.  I believe that the calculation should be made on the total before tax.  I have heard some people say that it hardly makes a difference, but a fine dining dinner for two people could easily total $100.00 (before tax) thus, with tax and a 20% tip this should total $133.00.  Then, the calculation after tax would be $113.00, plus a 20% tip should bring the total to $135.60 ... thus, the difference could pay for my bus fare home.  Call me Scrooge ... but a controversial Scrooge!

What are your views on this subject?

Photo - Pagodas in Kunming

Pagodas at the Yunnan Nationalities Park, near Dian Chi, in Kunming, Yunnan Province.