There's been a bit more Japan this week.

The Film Festival offered up Her Sketchbook, a gentle, sympathetic study of the plight of Japan's hikikomori (people who confine themselves to their rooms, and avoid contact with society as much as possible). There are about half a million of these (though many cases are undocumented), and contrary to the stereotype, they are not all young people.

Still in Japanese vein, Tokyo Don's big bowl of udon noodles with a side of tempura made an excellent Sunday lunch. And we tried out the new branch of Kakigori at Pavilion. The shaved ice desserts are enormous (Nigel's was tiramisu), and are nicely constructed, with the creamy and powdery components somehow built into the entire dessert rather than just tacked on the outside. And the idea of warm matcha soup, with red beans and toasted mochi, surely needs no further elaboration.



Mooncakes, of course, are an inextricable part of this time of year, and have been every year we've lived in Malaysia. This year's came from Grand Imperial: date lotus with custard; and almond with sesame white lotus. Exquisite.





Today is Malaysia Day, and this afternoon we went to a fabulous and rather different MPO concert. Entitled Semalam di Malaya, and featuring Malaysian composers and artistes, it paid tribute the wonderfully rhythmic and melodic music of the 1950s and 1960s.

It's now our second week back. We've now tried out all three cafes in our new building. One does coffee and primarily Western food; another does pretty respectable versions of Malaysian dishes (plus excellent kue); the third (actually quite new) does "bowls", aka warm, tasty, and pretty healthy combos of grains, meats, and lots of veggies. They're very handy, these establishments, that's for sure.

Our walks have taken us to Bukit Nanas again, and to Kampung Bharu -- and to Chow Kit, where we had breakfast back at our favourite stall. The food is as fantastic as ever, and it took them just a couple of seconds to remember our drinks. The keripik seller opposite hollered out a friendly greeting. It's nice to be remembered.