My Passion (for Markisa) Fruit

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The months of May through August (or what used to be known as the dry season in Indonesia before climate became quite unpredictable worldwide) bring a certain delight for markisa (passion fruit in English, maracuja in Portuguese, maracuya in Spanish) lovers. I have only become recently addicted to markisa, but I have mostly been absorbed by the beauty of this fruit's structure and texture - which very much heightened the experience of eating this tangy and juicy fruit.

I enjoy cracking the hard outer shell, carefully turning the fruit around its cross section until the brown-dotted-yellow cracks, revealing an inner white and soft shell with the thickness and texture slightly denser of a cotton square. The spongy second shell needs a bit of a tension, instead of a compression, to rip open, which action most likely burst the third thin, translucent, elastic inner layer membrane. Hundreds of soft black seeds clung onto tiny clasps that are embedded onto the inner side of the membrane, organized neatly along three columns that run across the long section, from the tip to the bottom of the fruit. The space in between the three columns is exactly the lengths of two pulps. The black seeds are dulled by their transparent flesh casing, all carefully tugging themselves onto the clasps along the three columns, filling in completely the space within the ovoid fruit.

The fruit is a biological marvel that reminds me of D'Arcy Thompson's On Growth and Form. And although I have never seen markisa flower or plant, it looks very exotic on pictures.

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Here is a more technically accurate description of the fruit:

The nearly round or ovoid fruit, 1 1/2 to 3 in (4-7.5 cm) wide, has a tough rind, smooth, waxy, ranging in hue from dark-purple with faint, fine white specks, to light-yellow or pumpkin-color. It is 1/8 in (3 mm) thick, adhering to a 1/4 in (6 mm) layer of white pith. Within is a cavity more or less filled with an aromatic mass of double-walled, membranous sacs filled with orange-colored, pulpy juice and as many as 250 small, hard, dark-brown or black, pitted seeds. The flavor is appealing, musky, guava-like, subacid to acid.

Maybe I just miss a bit of an architectural talk :)

Laws of Imbalance Attraction

Have you ever wondered why, when meeting a person either for the first or hundredth time, you seem to be attracted to some while appalled by others?

Have you ever met a person, who you immediately felt like you’d known this person for your whole life, and become instant long-lost siblings you never had? And who, you knew, could never cross that line to become your lovers? On the other hand, there are people whose very presence in the same room could send you all jittery inside and whose closer proximity to you seem to recede the rest – people and surrounding alike – into that distant space and time which no longer matter for your current state of being.

Scientists have indeed inquire into these questions of human chemistry, presently and precariously concluding that the rules of attraction has something to do with our senses – vision and smell are the two more affecting ones. The same article said that our attractions have something to do with the symmetry of a person’s genes that find their matches inside the other person’s body through our animal instinct, so to speak.

But it doesn’t explain why there could be imbalance attraction between two people. What I mean is, I’m sure you’ve been in circumstances where you are attracted to some people but they seem to remotely or even blatantly distant to you, when others are obviously attracted to you but you don’t necessarily hold the equivalent feeling? Surely it’s not just chemistry, but what other factors are playing? And don't tell me it's fate! :)

On Age

In memoriam, 1999:

A man’s age is something that creates an impression. It is the epitome of his whole life. It has accrued slowly, the maturity that is his alone. It has come together in the teeth of all the obstacles conquered, the grave illnesses overcome, the pains that flesh is heir to, the despairs surmounted and the risks courted, of most of which he knew nothing at the time. It has come about by way of so many desires, hopes, regrets, forgettings, love.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Letter to a Hostage, in The Little Prince (1995: 112)

Between Collins and Dawkins

I recently finished reading Francis Collins’ “Language of God” (2006). Having read Richard Dawkins’ “God Delusion” (2006), albeit belatedly, I am now able to contextualize TIME Magazine God vs. Science debate conducted almost two years ago now.

For me, Collins’ writing is more accessible and kinder (more politically-correct) than Dawkins’, although Dawkins’ emotional and carefully worded rant (which I’m sure most but the very open religionists would find highly offensive) at times is quite amusing to read.

Collins simplifies several major ‘players’ in the big debate of God vs. Science as such:

1. Atheism and agnosticism (when science trumps faith) – where Dawkins is obviously one of the main proponents.
2. Creationism (when faith trumps science)
3. Intelligent Design (when science needs divine help)

and proposes the fourth position: BioLogos (science and faith in harmony) – where he is one of the main proponents.

While Collins’ attempt to seek balance between and to certain extent justify his (and help others justify their) position as a scientist and a believer may hold its virtue in bridging the opposing players, in my view, he is probably more successful in convincing believers about science than he is in persuading scientists (and atheists and agnostics) to become believers. This is mainly because he does not really bring in a new argument to the table, but simply reinforces C.S. Lewis’ logics (and quotes his words throughout the book), specifically his questioning in “Mere Christianity” of where does human morality comes from (if not from God).

Dawkins’ response to “why are we good” question is:

“First, there is the special case of genetic kinship. Second, there is reciprocation: the repayment of favours given, and the giving of favours in ‘anticipation’ of payback. ... third, the Darwinian benefit of acquiring a reputation for generosity and kindness. And fourth, ... the particular additional benefit of conspicuous generosity as a way of buying unfakeably authentic advertising” (Dawkins, 2006: 219-220).

I have my own reason why morality should not be defined as closely aligned with religion, as it would almost ‘allow’ those without religions to be immoral.

And as offensive as Dawkins can be for religionists, his closing response to the TIME Magazine debate is worthy of contemplation:

“My mind is not closed, as you have occasionally suggested, Francis [Collins]. My mind is open to the most wonderful range of future possibilities, which I cannot even dream about, nor can you, nor can anybody else. What I am skeptical about is the idea that whatever wonderful revelation does come in the science of the future, it will turn out to be one of the particular historical religions that people happen to have dreamed up. When we started out and we were talking about the origins of the universe and the physical constants, I provided what I thought were cogent arguments against a supernatural intelligent designer. But it does seem to me to be a worthy idea. Refutable--but nevertheless grand and big enough to be worthy of respect. I don't see the Olympian gods or Jesus coming down and dying on the Cross as worthy of that grandeur. They strike me as parochial. If there is a God, it's going to be a whole lot bigger and a whole lot more incomprehensible than anything that any theologian of any religion has ever proposed” (my italics).

Chanel Mobile Art: A New Branding Height

Marketing, branding, and promoting in these past few years have upped their bars to reach an unprecedented level of superb, aesthetically pleasurable, collaboratively sensual experiences.

In a post written almost a year ago, I mentioned briefly about British Council’s traveling exhibition Love & Money, which showcased works of artists and designers from the UK, done as part of the government’s effort to promote, market, and brand the country as the leading center of creative industries.

Several years ago, fashion house Prada created a lot of buzz (at least in the exclusive world of architecture) by hiring world renowned OMA to design its shop in New York City, Herzog and de Meuron in Tokyo, to be followed by others in other major cities.

Now, fashion house Chanel has launched an even more jaw-dropping project by combining all of the above. Not only it has a traveling exhibition of artworks specially commissioned by world renowned artists, but it also commissioned Zaha Hadid to design a mobile museum to house these artworks in their tours to Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, London, Moscow, and Paris.

So if you happen to live or will travel nearby these cities, do spend the time to check out this new height, while I can only blog and experience it virtually through this informative and animated website.