Thursday, December 10, 1992

BACCARAT RESTAURANT of Cheung Chau Island

BACCARAT RESTAURANT
百家樂菜館 G/F, 9A Pak She Praya Road, Cheung Chau
長洲北社海傍道9號A地下

Cheung Mo Tat, the owner of Baccarat Restaurant. His wife is from China. He has his wedding photograph taken at the studio just next door to his restaurant (photo above). Several months later the studio moved to another better business location. Cheung immediately took over the vacant studio and converts it into his 2nd restaurant keeping the original studio decoration (photo below).

Cheung's success did not come by chance. He taught himself English and welcome customers in English whenever Western tourists pass by his shop. Very few restaurants in this island speak English, as least not as enthusiastic as him
As such, Baccarat Restaurant is a popular stop for western travelers.
By December the new extension is ready (photo above) and Shirley and co-worker are ready to welcome customers.
Mother of Cheung (photo above). Proud over the son's success in new restaurant extension.
The Cheung is a big family. Other family members also having business along the same street as the restaurant. A young brother run this fruits stall near the ferry pier (photo above). Another member run a bicycle rental shop end of the street.

Monday, May 18, 1992

Cheung Chau Bun Festival 1992

The highlight of the one week festival (photo above). The residents paraded through the island village lanes.



Cheung Chau Bun Festival 1992



A unique festival happens on the tiny island of Cheung Chau where I stay.




Cheung Chau Bun Festival (Jiao-festival) of Cheung Chau has been practiced for more than 100 years.

A century ago, Cheung Chau was devastated by a plague in the late Qing dynasty.

Local residents set up a sacrificial altar in front of Pak Tai Temple to pray to the god, Pak Tai, to drive off evil spirits.

The residents even paraded the deity statues through the village lanes.

The plague ended after performance of the ritual.

Since then, residents on Cheung Chau organized a Bun Festival every year to express thanks to the god for blessing and protecting them.

With residents' participation every year, the ritual was passed down through the generations.

The festival also provides a platform for residents to perform their folk craft, such as making paper-mache effigies of deities, setting up the bamboo scaffolding of the Bun Mountain, and making handmade buns in preparation for the Bun Festival.

This is accompanied by folk performing arts like Taoist rituals and music, a parade, lion dances, qilin dances and drum beating.

The elderly residents participate in this festive activity with their children, preserving it from one generation to the next.

This festival was held from the 5th to 8th day of the Fourth Lunar Month for 1 week.

The weeklong festival climaxes with a large, carnival-like street procession featuring costumed children on stilts held aloft above the crowd, lion dances and other colorful participants.

The parade winds its way through the narrow streets to the grounds near the Pak Tai Temple, which are dominated by enormous bamboo towers studded with sweet white buns, and where the main festivities take place.

At midnight, athletes scramble up one of the towers in a contest to grab the top-most 'luckiest' ones.

Remark : This yearly Cheung Chau Island Jiao Festival had been inscribed onto China's third national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

Wednesday, May 6, 1992

Sai Wan Village of Cheung Chau Island






6th May 1992

Sai Wan Village of Cheung Chau Island. This is the place I lived for 2.5 years (January 1991 to June 1993)

The hill in the middle is where the famous Cheung Po Tsai Cave located at.

Cheung Po Tsai cave was the favorite hiding place for the notorious pirate Cheung Po Tsai. Even I stay near by the famous cave, I visit the cave only once in a year. The cave is nothing more than a hole in the rock. No interesting though promoted by tourism as FAMOUS.

The Cave entrance and passage is narrow. Fat people not sure if you can climb in and out.

Cave inside is dark but you can rent torches from village people waiting for customers at the cave entrance.

The trial to Cung Po Tsai Cave is 200 meters away from my flat.

The red building at the left is where my flat is. A small sampan pier at the right.

The sea view from this high vista is pretty lovely.
The tallest building at this village are these 3 blocks. My flat is at the block at the left. 2nd Floor.

When you come to this island you might feel in a different country. Here is not the upscale, modernized Hong Kong.

Those who are tied of concrete city find this place a gorgeous.


These are the water taxis of the Island (see photo above). The boats park at Sai Wan Village...

Cheung Chau Island is only two kilometers in length

A lot densely populated small island. Remarkably and charmingly with temples, trendy beaches.

What most interested me are the isolated footpaths over the hills and along most crazy stretches of coastline.



Tuesday, May 5, 1992

Saturday, September 28, 1991


1991 CHINA TOURISM CARNIVAL GUANGDONG HAPPY FESTIVAL

Thursday, September 26, 1991

先賢古墓道

先賢古墓道
穿过一座悬有"高风仰止"大牌楼而入,
沿着一条两侧石栏杆的石路,便可步人先贤古墓内。
赛义德-艾比-宛葛素古墓
Visit to Cemetary of Pioneer of Islam in Kwang Zhou
先賢古墓道
广州清真先贤古墓

清真先贤古墓。清真先贤古墓位于解放北路兰圃西侧。明清中国学者称伊斯兰教义为"至清至真",因而伊斯兰教又被称为"清真教"。

清真先贤古墓是以赛义德-艾比-宛葛素为首的40多位阿拉伯著名伊斯兰教传教士的墓地。古墓是一座园林式的墓园,四周绕有墙垣,内有拜殿、方亭、厢房,穿过一座悬有"高风仰止"大牌楼而入,沿着一条两侧设有石栏杆的石路,便可步人先贤古墓内。

Ancient Tomb of Islamic Father

Islamic culture

Islam is one of the five major religions in China. The four others are Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism and the Protestantism.

Muslims take great pride in citing a hadith that says "seek knowledge even it is in China."

It points to the importance of looking for lore, even if it meant travelling as far away as China.

Observing the Prophet's instructions, his followers sent missionaries to China one after another.

Some historians hold that, as early as the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) during the revelation of Islam (AD 610-632) to the Prophet, Islam had already appeared in China.

Still, many believe the visit led by Waqqaas and Qays was Islam's earliest contact with China during the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan, the third caliph.

After triumphing over the Byzantine, Romans and Persians, Uthman ibn Affan dispatched a deputation to China in AD 650, eight years after the Prophet's death.

Waqqaas was said to have died in Canton, today's Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, where he established the Huaisheng, literally meaning "in memory of the Holy Prophet" Mosque, or Memorial Mosque, one of the first Islamic buildings in China and proof of the early communication between the two cultures.

And in AD 713, an ambassador from the Islamic Caliphate was received at the Tang court.

Since then, both overland trade along the silk route and maritime trade via the spice route to the southeastern port of Canton flourished. So did cultural and scientific exchanges.

Many Muslims came to China to trade and they began to have a great economic impact and influence on the country.

Muslims virtually dominated the import-export industry by the time of the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Some of them later became permanent residents in such prosperous cities as Xi'an, Quanzhou in Fujian Province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province, Hami and Guangzhou, where they built mosques and cemeteries.




One of the most prized Chinese musical instruments, the pluck-stringed pipa, actually originated in the Islamic world and was called barbat, tanbur or mizhar in Arabic and Persian.

And the Chinese word for ball, qiu, was said to originate from the Persian word, gui, the name for the game of polo.

Chinese medicine, both the material and prescriptions, were also influenced by Persia and Arabia, as recorded by Tang Dynasty officials.

Wednesday, September 25, 1991

中山大學 SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY

中山大學 SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY


One of the top university in China at that time and even now. Those who study in Chinese schools or those study modern Chinese history know this university.

The university motto has produce many famous personal in modern Chine :
1) Study extensively 博學
2) Enquire accurately 審問
3) Reflect carefully 慎思
4) Discriminate clearly 明辨
5) Practise earnestly 篤行

Sun Yat-sen College of Medical Science

Thursday, May 10, 1990

Computer Exhibition 1990

I came to the Computer Exhibition 1990 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre 5 & 7 Floor.

Arrived at noon but only leave at 6:00 pm when the loud-speakers announced closing for the day.

The current popular PC model is 80386 as exhibited by AS&T and Epson.

One of the attractions is Chinese Characters Input demonstration that attracted many bystanders. 7 typists from China representing 5 Input Methods. Their speed are 100+ words per minutes. Incredible fast!

I bought a book on E-Tien Chinese Input System with two 3.5" Diskettes. After reaching home I started learning till midnight.

Monday, April 23, 1990

Cheung Chau Old Folk Home

Beside the Bat Dai Temple is an old folk home.

7:20 pm Already had my dinner and stroll around the north part of Chung Chau which I come only occasionally. Being passing many times this old folk home several times before, this time I took a further step into to see the world of the old people.

At one side is a row of rooms for the male. Room big enough for 2 beds against the wall with the door in the middle. Two person per room.

Being not polite to room around with out permission, I stay most of the time in the common hall where the television is on and a dozen of old folk are watching.

The women look must alert and healthy then men.

Sunday, April 22, 1990

Cheung Chau Peniel Church

便以利會長洲堂 Cheung Chau Peniel Church

Just 5 minutes walk from my room is a very unique church constructed of solid rocks. I used to stroll from to the sea side passing this church. The church is alwaysclosed and silent. But I like to see it open and see how it look inside.

On 22 April 1990, a Sunday morning when as usual I stroll to the sea side passing the church, this time it is opened with a Sunday Church service is in the mid of secession. Attracted by the Hakk a speaking pastor (I am a Hakka) gently and quietly I skipped into the Church and sited at an empty corner at the back seats.

Thinking no body notice me, but not before long a graceful lady very gently came and handled me a Hymn book and moment later a Bible.

There were about 50 church members that morning mostly elderly. Pastor talked in Hakka. He is a big middle age man speaking in strong Hakka voice. I can't remember what the pastor has talked that day but still remember he descript the difficult life in the early day when people are shortage of money and food when "....... many parents after feeding the family in the morning continue to worry where to find food for the evening......"

Getting out of the church quietly is not as easy as getting in. After the last hymn, every one started to leave, I was the one nearest to the door but as I turn to leave, the pastor is already standing at the door side to greet every one good bye. In a a small church with small group of members, the pastor already long spotted a new face among them. So he welcomes me for the first visit and urges me to come each Sunday.


Penial Church of Cheung Chau Island was opened in 1930.

During my 3 years stay in Cheung Chau, this Island has the highest population even since.
In 1992, one night I reached home and saw a Census form for me on the door. I filled and returned the form. That was the 1992 Hong Kong population census.

According to the census, Chung Chau has about 40,000 people. That period, 1990s, was Cheung Chau most populous period. The current 2000s is only 25,000 people.


Sunday, December 24, 1989

Christmas Dinner 1989


1989 Christmas Dinner at Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong
2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong

Susan - 1st on the left of photo.
Shalley - 3rd from left.
Shirra - 4th from left

Wednesday, July 5, 1989

Said Kadivian and Roxan Terell

Said Kadivian and Roxan Terell


In the mid-1990s Said Khadivian came to Hong Kong initiative in to get mass
teaching off the ground. Khadivian is speciallized in Mass Enrollment.


Chinese are dis-united (Taiwan Nationalist, Mainland Communist, Hong Kong Capitalist). Bahais leaders in Hong Kong believes Chinese will never be united unless they accept God's new messanger, unless they all become Bahais. Baha’is want to unite the world through conversion.

It is for the conversion works the Hong Kong Bahais invite Said Khadivian (Saeid Khadivian ?) from Japan, together with him are 2 Japanese one of them was a youth.

I was unwilling to joint in the teams, but in order not to be labelled by the Assembly members as the "Unfaithful" or "Inactive", I must show my face. (One can not reach God without first obedient to the Assembly members)

Entry by Troops Coordinating by Sai'd Khadivian as coordinator

Tuesday, November 29, 1988

郑康理 - 地球危機與世界大同


鄭康理與聯合國副祕書長于香港傳達世界和平訊悉酒會中會唔時留影。 1988-11-28
鄭康理與全球合作共創更好世界計劃主席巴拉瑪女士于世界和平訊悉酒會中會唔時留影。
尖沙咀金域假日酒店。
1988-11-28





文昌中学早期优秀毕业生情况简表
(于民国政府与军队任职部分)
57 郑康理,原名郑庭业 1915一
文昌县东阁镇大架村人 县立文昌中学毕业
军需学校第11期毕业 陆军上校军需处长

郑康理,原名郑庭业,陆军上校.1915年生,东搁镇大架村人.



書  名 地球危機與世界大同  作  者 鄭康理  出 版 商 華風  出版日期 民77  稽 核 項 [36],265 面; 圖; 21 公分  標  題 倫理學 

Saturday, September 3, 1988

Chapman


Chapman is among those came to my birthday in 1988. A progressive youth I would not forget. He has an inspiring story to tell about himself but will never tell unless it is someone close enough.

When I first met him 2 years ago he was only in Hong Kong for lest then 10 years. Working in a steel furniture (?) started as an ordinary apprentice to a skill technician. He was among thousands and thousands young people skited into Hong Kong for a batter life.

Chapman is one of those Chinese who left home to seek a fortune at a distance. He was driven to do so during his time million refugees smuggling across the border to Hong Kong to escape the famine and poorvety in China. Hong Kong, under the shelter of British democracy till 1997, is the centre for free trade in China. To fuel Hong Kong economic development is this constant supply of refugees from mainland China serving as a source of cheap labor.

He told me he swam across the river at night. Slowly using a couple of days time to quietly slick into Hong Kong city center. Once in the city center, a refugee is safe. (“抵垒政策”,即凡是已经进入市区的非法入境者,都可以向人事登记处登记,领取身份证。) And he proof himself to be one of those hightly needed behind the economy growth of Hong Kong. During my 6 years stay in Hong Kong, there was 1 whole year I did not see him. When I see him again after so long, he told me he has been to oversea, his employer send hime to Singapore (?) for training. And now return as a high skilled production staff.

And today he is able to free hiself came to my birthday celebration.

Saturday, December 26, 1987

Port Dickson Winter School December 1987


26th December 1987 Port Dickson Baha'i Winter School

By now Malaysia has a visible number of Chinese speaking Baha'is members.

Malaysia is the only NON Chinese country that has a proud Chinese education system.

Saturday, November 1, 1986

Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai City


November 1986

Loi Krathong in 1986, Chiang Mai


The Loy Krathong Festival is Thailand's most beautiful and meaningful celebration.

It is a festival of light, of public fireworks and millions of candle flames flickering and moving in gentle water currents.

Loy Krathong takes place on the full moon in November.



Loi Krathong Parade at night through the Chiang Mai streets.

Each village sent their decorated car with color lanterns, flowers and big krathong some village also has the traditional dancing and music band to joint the parade as homage to Lord Buddha and Goddess of River.





By the end of the evening, there are hundreds of flickering lights bobbing up and down on the water.
This Festival is a 13th century Sukhothai tradition of Brahmin origin to give thanks to the Goddess of water and to seek forgiveness for misdeeds.
This tradition is strong in agricultural societies where the river gives life and sustenance in a close bond between Man and Nature.



During the evening, many people come to the river to float their krathongs. People usually make a wish at the same time. They believe this will bring them good luck.

As each individual's krathong floats away, it is time to say goodbye to old regrets and to look forward to a brighter future.


The krathongs (photo above) contain a flower, a candle and three incense sticks. The sticks are lighted before being placed on the water.




The Akka Village

November 1986

I have long been interested on the tribal people in the North Thailand and while in Chang Mai I took the opportunity to joint a guided 2Days 1Night hill track to an Akka Village.

The journey :

By mini bus from Chieng Mai to a small village;
From the small village by elephant up to a hill station;
From the hill station walk up to a Akka Village for the night

A panoramic view of the Akka village where our tour group spend the night. The tourist hut (hotel) is at the right hand side.
The children (in the middle of above photo) don't go to school and it didn't look as though they were doing any agricultural works. But it good they do not ask for “Money” like children in other tourists corrupted area I been to.
This Akka village seemed untainted by tourists. They keep their traditional natural feel without any false acts.
The Aka generally prefer to live along mountain ridges at high altitudes of approximately 1,000 meters and they rarely moved south. The Aka houses are on low stilts, with a large porch leading into a square living area with a stove. The roof is steeply pitched.


Our group consists only 6 tourist on 3 elephants. Each elephant has a care taker.

With an Akka rice farmer (photo above) beside her rice farm.
The Akka are shifting cultivators. They cultivate dry rice for consumption and grow corn, millet, peppers, beans, garlic, sesame and other varieties of vegetables as additional subsistence crops.
Crop production is often inadequate to meet their needs.







The Akka are well known to tourists for their extraordinary costumes and exotic appearance. They originate from Tibetan Highlands.

Over the years they left their homeland and migrated south to Yunnan, North Burma and Laos, and have only recently entered North Thailand, 150 years ago.




--

Tuesday, April 8, 1986

1986 - International Year of Peace


1986 - International Year of Peace

THE PROMISE OF WORLD PEACE

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PEACE






Thursday, January 2, 1986

Founder of Santitham School in Thailand

Years previously I hear of this Baha’I school and wished to visit one day.

That wish came true in 1986 in Bangkok when an LSA member asked me to make a trip to Yasothon Town Santitham School. I do not have to do any teaching or do any volunteer service there. My job is a simple but great honored mission : To accompany Mrs. Shirine Fozdar to Santitham School.

And Mrs. Shirine Fozdar is the founder of Santitham Vidhayakhom School in Yasothon Town of North Thailand.

It was an over night bus trip from Bangkok City at night and reaching Yasothon early in the morning. The bus journey may be comfortable to us but may not for Shirine Fozdar. Not because of her age but because of ……………………

......... Just a year before, Mrs. Fozdar accidentally fall down in the school compound and seriously broke a leg. She had to be specially attended to and transported back to Singapore from Thailand. Though the school is in Thailand, Singapore is where she lives and where she would recuperate her leg and health.

Now a year has passed, and she is now strong and energy to return where she last fall. This was the timing I happen to met her at Bangkok and would accompany her to return to her school………………………..

The bus reached Yasothon early morning. I was suppose to be the nurse providing services and convenient to an eldery but not. I was new in Thailand and spoke no Thai (except Ning, Song, Sam, Si, Ha, Taulai ). Getting down from the bus I was lost not knowing what to do. Instead Mrs. Fozdar shout out loud to some men opposite the road:

“Samlo! Samlo!”

Instantly, a bicycle richshow rush to her side with smiling face. Another few more words in Thai from Mrs. Fozdar and off we went to her school her long to see again.




Mrs. Shirin Fozdar with some of the student at the Secondary Commercial Section the morning she arrive after a year of absent for recuperating of a broken leg from a fall in this school compound.






Santitham Vidhayakhom School

Santitham Vidhayakhom School 1986
Santitham Vidhayakhom School is a non-profit educational institution founded by Mrs. Shirin Fozdar who always worked for the upgrade of wellbeing and status of Asian women.
The School provides educational services which promote the moral, intellectual and physical development of its students.
The School is divided into three sections and each section has a separate buildings:
1) Nursery & Kindergarten,
2) Primary
3) Secondary (Commercial).
The School charge a very low fees to enable the poor children to obtain education.
The School receives donations from organizations and individuals.

3) Commercial Secondary Section




2) Primary Section




1) Nursery & Kindergarten Section


1986 Santitham Vidhayakhom School


Sunday, November 18, 1984

1984 Pei Mei Graduation


印度自由僑校聯合畢業典禮


印度蘭齊傳真

Wednesday, October 31, 1984

31 October 1984 Indira Gandhi

31 October 1984 Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards in the morning.

I was in Calcutta city the whole day and saw a different Calcutta city scene in my life.

Monday, October 10, 1983

National Day Celebration 10th October 1983 in Calcutta



National Day Celebration 10th October 1983 (Double Ten Day)

印度華僑各界慶祝 中華民國七十二年雙十國慶

Sunday, July 3, 1983

1983 Tibetan Refugees Self-Help Centre, India


The overnight train ride from Calcutta reached Siliguri early in the morning. From here I bought another train train ticket to the final distination - Darjeeling.



Summer 1983 Tibetan Refugees Self-Help Centre
Darjeeling

Following the direction in my Lonely Planet travel guide book, I came to this Centre on Northern hillside of Darjeeling. I found the regugee's kitchen and as suggested by this guide book, I tried the Tibetian soup dumpling for lunch. Though summer, it is cold in a hill station like Darjeeling, and this bowl of fresh from boiling hot soup with meat dumpling served well to give some warm to the body.

I met friendly and outgoing young Tibetans (Photo above). They lookforward to the outside world. The refugee centre after all is too small a world for them. As such they make effort in mastering English, a necessary skill to live outside the refugee center.

I came to Darjeeling by a Toy Train, a big toy train. Most visitors do not take the small train because of slow and time consuming. There are plenty of jeep and buses for batter choice. But I took up the suggestion in Lonely Planet to try this world unique Toy train. It was a memorable experience. I had an exciting riding experience most travelers never had......clinging to the window side of the train and ridded for half an hour. What made this happen is.......


It seemed to be a popular sport of the young people of the hill to Darjeeling. They made they own skating board of a meter length wood plank with two or three wheel on. While there is no vehicle in sight, they would link on the board with their hands and feet floating in the air, they slice down the deep slop down the road. Its is a height speed extreme sport.

This toy train ride took a whole day. By the time I reached Darjeeling the sky was dark.




Most of my time in Darjeeling in 1983 were drizzling or misty. The spectacular mountain views of Darjeeling were obscured by mist. This is how Darjeeling looked like in above photo taken by Michael & Erin in 2007

Monday, February 14, 1983

中華民國駐軍蘭伽公墓剪彩典礼


Jharkhand District, Ranchi City, Ramgarh Town

(星星生活特稿/作者:捷克佳)
"......经过八个多月的施工,工程于1982年完成,并在1983年2月14日举行隆重剪彩典礼。台湾侨务委员会庞守谦处长和印度兰伽军区司令R.S. Puri准将共同主持仪式。除当地的印度人之外,还有请来的和尚进行超度法式。印度华侨协会也自加尔各答市组团并租赁两部旅游巴士,专程前来兰伽镇参加当日的庆典。(newstarnet.com)"

I been to a unique town in India. It was in 1983. That is the Military Town of Ramgarh where, for the first , I saw a highly disciplined contingent of Indian Army and commanders.

In the above Chinese article that mentioned 2 tour buses, I was in one of the buses that went to Ramgarh in Ranchi on 14th February 1983.

Here are some memories of that trip:

The buses stopped briefly in front the restaurant of Chong Ki Yung, who would a month time receive recognition from Taiwan Government for his merit effort in restoring a forgotten Chinese army cemetery in Ramgarh. It is the opening of this newly restored cemetery I came, alone with 2 bus lot of Chinese residents of Calcutta City.

At the cemetery ground was an army brass band composed mostly Sikh army. They march and played several tunes during the ceremony. It was a very hot day, while all the VIP and visitors seat under shelter of tents, the whole band of Sikh Army stay under strong sun the whole ceremony cession.

The newly Temple also declare open that day and I was amount the first batch of visitor to enter the temple. I was among the last in the line and as I turn my head I saw the main gate at the distant came a big noicy crowd of villages men and women and children approaching the temple. There were VIP inside the tinny and I thought if these crowd also enter same time they may jam the temple. As I was at the doors at that time so instingly I close the 2 wings of the big door trying to keep the noisy crowd outside, at least till all the VIP inside have left.... soon a member approach me and told me its OK to let them in....all of them. So I let all and every one of the group of villagers into the shrine....................




Chinese Army in India - The X Force

Why 600 Chinese soldiers rest-in-peace in the soil of India?

There is a chapter in modern history which the Indian and Chinese forgotten. A capter the young generation of British and American do not know exist. This is also a page the Japanese want to tear off and destroy.


1942, China sent troops into Burma to assist the British in holding back the Japanese conqueror. Chinese loose to the highly self sacrificing Japanese. These Chinese forces became broken up, and retreat out of Burma. Part of these forces entered India’s Ramgarh under the British at that time. Calcutta, during the WW2, was a place of refugee providing refuge protecting many a Chinese scholars, politicians and business men.

This retreated Chinese army were re-equipped and re-trained by American instructors at British expense. They were named X Force and used by General Joseph Stilwell as the spearhead of his drive to open a land route to China (the Ledo Road).

Eventually they return to China with 600 of them choose to remain in India for ever.





印度加爾各答梅光學校校長丘莉蘭自1983年起管理 加爾克漢德省蘭齊市的「中華民國駐印軍蘭伽公墓」。1995因中風不良於行,由學生陳學良接管。



抗日遠征軍公墓斑駁剝落 2010-04-05 22:43:07 中央社記者何宏儒印度蘭齊5日專電


印度加爾各答的華僑4日前往「中華民國駐印軍蘭伽公墓」春祭,因年久失修,墓園祠堂、佛堂樑柱有裂痕,部分墳塚出現破洞、英烈靈位碑也斑駁剝落,亟待整修。

墓園位於加爾克漢德(Jharkhand)省首府蘭齊(Ranchi)近郊的蘭伽(Ramgarh)地區,原名「印度蘭伽中國抗日遠征軍烈士公墓」,為第2次世界大戰期間中華民國遠征軍埋骨之所。

加爾各答(Kolkata)華僑後來將湮滅在荒草荊棘中的國軍墳墓集中遷葬一處,修建成環境清幽的墓園,並僱請專人管理。

6位加爾各答華僑4日分別搭飛機、火車,前往墓園舉行春祭。加爾各答與蘭齊市相隔約320公里;華僑抵蘭齊後,需再花費約2小時車程,走山路抵達墓園。

1983年起受托管理墓園的加爾各答梅光學校校長丘莉蘭對中央社記者表示,加爾各答華僑每年固定在青年節到清明節期間及軍人節時,前往墓園舉行春、秋祭。

最近10年來,她因中風而較少參與,並在4年前將管理之責交棒給學生陳學良。

中央社記者走訪園區,發現一處圍牆遭緊鄰的大樹壓迫,已經崩裂;部分墳塚出現拳頭大小破洞、部分墓碑則有裂痕;蔣公題字「英靈赫奕」的英烈靈位碑也斑駁剝落。

另外,園區大門接待小屋屋頂鋼筋也已露出;陳學良憂心「屋頂不知道那一天會掉下來?」

丘莉蘭強調,維護管理墓園雖然是國家的事,但「我們有責任來幫忙國家保管這個地方」。

由於蘭齊市至蘭伽山區路途遙遠而辛苦,陳學良說,整修工程勢必需要花費數倍於平地或市區的費用。他希望台灣政府撥款協助,以儘早完成整修,告慰異鄉英靈。

Wednesday, February 2, 1983

Spring Trip, India 1983

Front row 2nd from left : 葉幹中- 僑領, 華僑協會主席, 培梅中學校長
1917年出生,廣東省梅縣人.
1963年11月和1988年7月、1993年8月先後被聘為國民黨第九屆、十三屆、十四屆中央評議委員。

Tuesday, February 1, 1983

1983 Spring Trip to Buddhist Holy Land



The Mahabodhi Temple was built in the 6th century AD beside the Bodhi Tree where Buddha attained enlightenment.

The main temple structure a huge 50-meter stone-carved pyramid with endless carvings at the 4 sides. The said beside this main temple is the actual Bhodi Tree.

The temple surrounding is a maze of paths, gardens, shrines, and a beautiful green meditation park.

旅印華僑所辦的第二所華僑學校

陈荣进 叶干中 梅光学校





印度葉幹中 葉幹中 張 杰 曾志堯 歐陽勝駒

The only Hakka Association in India

印度加城梅屬嘉應會館
The Meixian Jiaying Association
in Calcutta, India
The President: 葉幹中 (Ye Gan Zhong)
Overseas Chinese Association of India
19-20 New Meredith Street,
Calcutta 700072
India
Fax: 247-6405

僑務工作

加爾各答的《印度日報》(1933)

印度日報社長張啟華﹐
僑領譚銳燊和鄧崇銘﹑
佛教代表悟謙法師﹑李畹生和劉金昌居士,
連葉幹中

忠義堂

和譚銳燊﹑鄧崇銘



培梅学校是印度目前仅存的一所华人学校,坐落在华人集中的塔坝区。该校创办于1925年,由当地华人华侨捐资兴建。1951年,因老校舍过于破旧,当地华人又建了一座新的教学楼。

Friday, July 23, 1982

1982 BAHA’I YOUTH CAMP


BAHA’I YOUTH CAMP
AT SEMATAN BEACH
JULY 23-26, 1982

This is my last Baha'i event in Malaysia. After this I left in August to India. The supposed to be a month Baha'i Teaching trip ending up as a school teacher for 2.5 years in a Chinese School in Calcutta.
I attended this Youth Camp but certainly not as a youth at almost 30.
Since then I never return to stay in Kuching though I came back several times for short visit.
In 1998 I return to settle down in Malaysia (in another town) with a family. By then a new generation of youth has grown up. Though only one generation in gap, the characteristic are great different. From the old generation of “Group” consciousness youth to today young generation of “Self” consciousness youth.
Beware, not to repeat the mistake of the “Self Centered” Western Youth.
It is a generation of extremely “Self Centered” young of the West that bring the Western Countries down from once powerful of the last century. Economy, Cultural, Intellectual….