Nice Postcard from Malaysia.....

Hi ! I have just received a lovely postcard from my Blogger friend Lay Hoon from Malaysia. It's a lovely postcard depicting an Orang Asli playing a Nose Flute. The stamp on the Post Card is also very nice featuring a traditional Malaysian dress. It's really beautiful post - crossing, exchanging the information of the culture and life style of the two countries. Thanks Lay Hoon for the lovely Post Card ! I will get some Postcards related with Tourism for you. The next cover shown below is from Mr. Timir R. Shah of Vadodara. Thanks Mr. Shah for April 2009 issue of Vadophil. The reason to put this cover here is the beautiful sticker of Stampmania 2009 on the cover, brought out by the organizing committee of Stampmania 2009 - The first National Philatelic Exhibition, solely of One Frame Exhibits, going to be held in Vadodara in December this year.

Orang Asli

Orang Asli is a general term used for any indigenous groups that are found in Peninsular Malaysia. They are divided into three main tribal groups – Semang (negrito), Senoi, and Proto-Malay (Aboriginal Malay). The Orang Asli are further divided into 18 sub-ethnic group according to their different languages and customs. The Negritos are usually found in the northern region of the peninsula, the Senois in the central region, and the Proto-Malay in the southern region. There is an Orang Asli museum at Gombak, which is about 25 km north of Kuala Lumpur.Orang Asli living in remote forest areas engaged in some trading with the Malays, with jungle produce being exchanged for salt, knives and metal axe-heads. There was also evidence of trade in blowpipes and blowpipe-bamboo among certain tribes. It has also been shown that the Orang Asli have played a significant role in the Malay Peninsula's economic history as collectors and primary traders as early as the 5th Century A.D.

The Nose Flute
The nose flute is a popular musical instrument played in Polynesia and the Pacific Rim countries. Other versions are found in Africa, China and India. It is made from a single bamboo node with a hole at the node area for the breath and three holes for the notes on the top side of the tube. It was often used in conjunction with chants and song. The Hawaiians believe that the nose is pure and innocent unlike the mouth which can say many things. So the breath entering and exiting the 'ohe hano ihu is purer than the mouth. In olden days a man would serenade his sweetheart with the nose flute in order to woo her heart and win her affections.

From Vadodara