How long were we away? Long enough for X-ray machines to appear at the entrance of the Royale Chulan Hotel. Long enough for a squadron of oBikes to appear outside Pavilion.

Long enough for the shrine rock (which I've not had cause to mention since last October) to get a coat of gold paint (and have its steps redone).

And long enough for the 29th SEA Games to have started. These were chiefly noticeable last week for the story of the upside-down Indonesian flag in the souvenir booklet (which even reached our conference dinner table)... Ouch, what a blunder... There were apologies, and the police opened an investigation. But really, guys...

The upside that has no downside is the ubiquitous presence of the truly adorable mascot tiger. How can anyone not love this guy?





Meanwhile, we are heading for another National Day here in Malaysia. Tomorrow it will be 60 years since the cry of Merdeka rang out. The recordings always send an awed shiver down my spine.

So the flags are up. The patriotic arrangements are out. The celebratory Petronas movie has arrived: "Jika kau fikirkan kau boleh, kau boleh!" ("If you think you can, you can!")

Malaysia's biggest Lego mosaic (in Pavilion) has been around since Hari Raya, but its national icons still reflect the season.



And Petronas is using its Gallery at KLCC to celebrate its own 43-year history in an exhibition entitled Julang (which means to push upwards).

Also courtesy of Petronas, our first MPO concert of the new season offered a tingly little piece by Estonian-born Arvo Part, called Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, two Vivaldi concerti, Webern's Langsamer Satz, and Brahms's Symphony No 1. A pleasure to hear and see these guys again.

Paul, a French boulangerie/patisserie, has nothing to do with Merdeka or Petronas, and was launched in May, therefore predating most of our summer meanderings. Yesterday we finally got round to trying it. No marks at all for the pot of hot water accompanied by a teabag. (Honestly, people, only Americans would think that's OK...) But 11 out of 10 for the totally delicious rhubarb tart. I will return (but won't order tea).