2018
Made it to the end of Day 1. Phew!
26 October 2018
10.15 pm and just back after a heady 14 hour first day. Seriously drooping now but will start this and maybe wake early enough to finish it in the morning.
Starting backwards - the posh dinner for all the writers and those involved in the preparations for Indonesia’s “Market Focus Country“ role at next March’s London Book Fair. At the director, Janet de Neefe’s home/hotel in a fabulous 5-star setting at tables arranged as if for a wedding but was in fact the infrastructure set up for their four young adult children’s recent tooth filing ceremony. Everyone there! Sat with my translator buddies, Pam and Isla and Pam's husband, Roger. The twelve Indonesian writers chosen to go to London were formally announced – I was gratified to hear that two of them were names I have translated in the past. In his speech, John McGlynn of Lontar who is on the National Book Committee, paid tribute to us translators by name and reminded the attendees that without us none of these writers would be part of the world literary scene. He joined us at the table for a time, though was actually seated with the VVIPs including Marty Natalegawa who was foreign minister in the last government - I will hear him speak tomorrow, I think. A brilliant intellect.
Starting backwards - the posh dinner for all the writers and those involved in the preparations for Indonesia’s “Market Focus Country“ role at next March’s London Book Fair. At the director, Janet de Neefe’s home/hotel in a fabulous 5-star setting at tables arranged as if for a wedding but was in fact the infrastructure set up for their four young adult children’s recent tooth filing ceremony. Everyone there! Sat with my translator buddies, Pam and Isla and Pam's husband, Roger. The twelve Indonesian writers chosen to go to London were formally announced – I was gratified to hear that two of them were names I have translated in the past. In his speech, John McGlynn of Lontar who is on the National Book Committee, paid tribute to us translators by name and reminded the attendees that without us none of these writers would be part of the world literary scene. He joined us at the table for a time, though was actually seated with the VVIPs including Marty Natalegawa who was foreign minister in the last government - I will hear him speak tomorrow, I think. A brilliant intellect.
Had rushed to catch the Threads of Life cultural event at the end of the day before the dinner. This time they brought a remarkable woman singer dressed in a superb example of Sumba cloth - way superior to the bedspreads that were all the rage in the 70s. She sang long poems to her own accompaniment that were hauntingly beautiful. Apparently they are sung to individuals or groups to relieve suffering, after a bereavement, for example. So glad I made the effort to get there. And was able to briefly greet Jean and William, as I won’t be seeing them again - they are going on holiday to Papua’s wondrous Raja Empat Islands on Sunday.
The day began with Ibu Susi, the larger than life Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries - Indonesia’s rock-star minister. She was famous for her successful little cargo airlines, Susi Air. And now she’s even more famous for her “Sink the boats” policy that has rid Indonesian waters of illegal fishermen. So much so that the word tenggelamkan - “sink it” has entered slang Indonesian to mean “get rid of, put an end to” anything annoying! She described to us that this dynamiting of boats was mostly for show to strike terror into other illegals. Dynamite is attached after the boats have been fully cleaned out, and their water cocks opened. The videos of the explosions are widely shown. She is much loved (though hated by many too - she is a school drop out and smokes and has tattoos). Obviously highly intelligent and enterprising, she has been a most successful minister. The audience adored her yesterday. She is wearing dark glasses after a recent eye operation.
Ibu Susi was followed by the two great journos, both with brains of steel - Janet Steele and Michael Vatikiotis who are regularly paired at the festival on SEA issues. Janet, an Americana lecturer in journalism, has written a book comparing the Islamic stance of five major newspapers in Indonesia and Malaysia. She is usually one of the festival’s main interviewers but this time she was the one being interviewed - though the pair are so fine tuned to each other it was more a conversation on journalism (more than on Islam for a book entitled “Mediating Islam” - her publisher’s title, not hers.)
(I had been instrumental in getting them to turn off that glaringly intrusive backdrop screen in both venues- but noticed it was on again late yesterday.)
(I had been instrumental in getting them to turn off that glaringly intrusive backdrop screen in both venues- but noticed it was on again late yesterday.)
A highlight of the day was Jane Caro, our beloved Australian feminist commentator on social affairs and these days, mainly public education. She has written a memoir. Lots of laughs and much to admire. Throughout her earlier career in advertising and still now she has had a feminist perspective on everything she has done, every ad she has created. Of course the “#Me too” campaign came up as well. I found myself near her at the dinner last night and had a good chat about past writers festival experiences. I have seen her at the Byron Bay festival a couple of times too. Her first time in Bali. Wonderful woman.
Dipped out of a session in the middle of the day and escaped the bustle of the festival site for lunch with Barbara across the road at Ananda Cottages where she is staying, a water garden oasis of peace. Don’t know why festival-goers have not discovered this nearby alternative for lunch breaks. Mind you, the festival outdoor food area is a great spot for meeting up with people. Such a buzzing atmosphere everywhere.
Huge crowds here this year. This is just one of the three main venues, albeit the biggest one. People coming up to me all the time to say hello whom I’ve met at other festivals. Had a good chat with Janet de Neefe a couple of times - she is really supportive of the emerging writers program and us translators. She joined our table last night for a while too. Remarkably calm for someone who has just pulled off a massive organisational feat yet again.
Huge crowds here this year. This is just one of the three main venues, albeit the biggest one. People coming up to me all the time to say hello whom I’ve met at other festivals. Had a good chat with Janet de Neefe a couple of times - she is really supportive of the emerging writers program and us translators. She joined our table last night for a while too. Remarkably calm for someone who has just pulled off a massive organisational feat yet again.
Finishing this in the early morning. Another stimulating day ahead. I can’t understand why you aren’t here too!