Malaysian Bloggers’ Meet at Dina’s book launch!
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I was in some really excellent company yesterday evening.
First of all, it was the launch of Dina Zaman’s book, I Am Muslim. It was a very strict “by invitation only” affair (limited space and at least three guest lists – Dina’s, her publisher’s and her sponsor’s), and I was very fortunate to be invited (we’d met through Sharon Bakar, doyen of the Malaysian blogosphere).
Through Dina’s blog, we had been given an almost blow-by-blow account of everything leading up to the evening’s launch. As someone commented on her blog, it was like “the making of” , altho I’m not sure of the book or of the launch.
She’d also emailed us, her fortunate invitees, the evening’s programme, so we also knew what to expect. Plus the function was spread over two rooms, with the “official” part (the speeches, performances, readings, etc.) in one, and the food in the other (guess where I was in most of the evening).
Functions like Dina’s book launch are very much a time for bumping into familiar faces (some I’ve known longer and others new acquaintances), as well as making new ones. And it was like a roll call of who’s who of Malaysian bloggers.
Straight off the bat when I arrived – walking up the stairs – I saw a familiar form standing taller than everyone else in the room. Who? The bookaholic herself, Ms Bakar. Saras was with her – not a blogger but nevertheless a writer I met through Sharon, too. Then I saw See Ming – gloriously and beautifully pregnant with her first child – and Sim, the man responsible for her condition.
The familiar faces – Eric Forbes, Janet, Kenny Mah, Leon Wing, Ruby Ahmad, and shortly into the launch, at the back of the room, I caught sight of fellow Circa-user, Eliza. I took her to say hello to one of her regular commenters, Kenny Mah.
As for the new faces, a lady stopped me and asked if I was Chet. I said yes, and she identified herself as Animah. Animah! Fellow commenter on Sharon’s blog! I took her around to meet other bloggers and commenters. And then someone pointed out another Malaysian blogger royalty – Kak Teh! This was really turning into a Malaysian bloggers’ evening. I went up to say hello, and when I identified myself, a most pleasant smile and look of recognition came on her face.
You see, many of us have never met before Dina’s book launch yesterday evening, but we’ve known each other for a while, mainly through commenting on our favourite Malaysian blogger’s site – Sharon’s. Wait, she’s not Malaysian, lah. Well, not legally, but she’s probably more Malaysian than many Malaysians.
What was I saying? Oh yah, we’ve never met but when we were introduced or identified ourselves, the recognition was instant and we were soon chatting away like old friends.
Some of us lined up against the wall for a famous “Bloggers are liars” portrait. A few cameras were called into service, and when the different versions are posted, I will “steal” them (with credit, of course) and post them here. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to have Dina line up with us – she was busy in the other room having a little joint birthday celebration with her sister. Maybe a lesson to be learned here is never have a function in more than one room.
A slightly different group went on for a drink at a nearby mamak shop and left only because the shop was closing. At only 10:30 p.m.?? Haiyoh …
But by far the biggest surprise of the evening was meeting up with someone I used to hang out with more than 10 years ago. Dina had mentioned her name during her speech, and I found myself thinking it was probably the same person I used to hang out with, because how many people are nicknamed kacang? And it was her! I caught sight of her later and the look of recognition, even without the introduction, was instant.
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Great evening. Thanks, Dina, for making it possible for old friends to meet and new friends to be made.
And yes, I managed to get a copy of I am Muslim before it sold out. I haven’t got it autographed yet. Author too busy, lah. Another time, please, Dina?
