Is Jet Li a Singaporean?

The multi-racial cacophony harmonized the diversity of skin tones and attire with the distinct aromas of myriad distinctly South Indian spices tantalizingly wafting around the Banana Leaf restaurant. In combination they teased and assailed my senses as I waited for Fellow Trainer (FT). As if to spotlight this microcosm of globalization, the Sunday paper speculated on delectable Beijing-born, China-bred, Hong Kong star, Hollywood box-office heart-throb, Jet Li's move to South East Asian Singapore to acquire citizenship and its benefits for his family.

Weaving in and out among us. accomplished waiters in western-styled white shirts and black trousers balanced typically Indian metal trays of thosai and chutneys, plonked newly-washed bright green banana leaves on tables, and served steaming coffee with fresh cow's milk and fragrant masala tea to accompany the array of deliciously spiced vegetables, fish and meat.

To my left was a table of 12 smartly dressed Asians of varying ages, speaking in the Malaysian English of post-colonial days. Attention-getting grey-haired Alpha Male was cheerfully holding court, loudly exchanging happy banter and good-humouredly teasing his group while taking a stream of phone calls from well-wishers for Father's Day, to the amusement of the rest of the restaurant. He was surrounded by what appeared to be his admiring wife, adult children and their smiling friends - after a church service, judging by his conversation.

At my home church earlier, my MM2H (Malaysia My 2nd Home) friend - originally from Sri Lanka - told of an upcoming holiday to where her Scottish husband had been born. "Are you going home?" I asked. "No" she smilingly replied "This is home now." She herself had moved from then-Ceylon and been bred in England and speaks impeccably, and these Britons have now happily settled in Kuala Lumpur, establishing Malaysia as their home, where their family visits them.

In the far corner, a traditionally dressed Indian-looking family in multi-hued clothes was having a late breakfast and was chatting animatedly amongst themselves in a mix of expressive Tamil and accented English. In front of me were a group of twenty-somethings of Chinese origin wearing shorts, mini-skirts, slippers, t-shirts and skimpy tops, speaking the Manglish embraced by the student population who aren't yet exposed to a variety of other cultures. When (ethnic Chinese) FT appeared, he was dressed casually in a t-shirt, jeans and a cap, while I was still in my semi-formal church clothes. We shared our thoughts deeply, well into tea time, using the standard international English that is our comfort zone.

Later on as Alpha Male contentedly swaggered out in his snug denim jeans and crisp long-sleeved shirt (an irresisitable combination, don't you think?) he triggered my memory of another Alpha Male. Intrigued when we first met by the uncharacteristic honey-tone of his complexion and doe-shaped eyes of this Trainer-Coach, I had looked up his clan and round that they had originated from the Middle East centuries ago, and migrated to China - hence the Chinese clan name - before settling in then-Malaya and establishing themselves here.

And, just a few days ago I had so easily re-connected with charming fellow Indian Diaspora-an, she (born and bred in England) and I (born and bred in Malaysia) having struck an immediate rapport when we met only a couple of months ago. Why? Because we are of similar Indian origins and share an affinity for bothe England as well as Malaysia. Aren't deep-rooted emotions evocatively fascinating?

"Breathes there a man whose soul so dead, never to himself has said, 'This is my own, my native land'." (Sir Walter Scott 1771-1832). But WHERE is one's native land today? Place of ethnic origin, or where ones's heart is, or is it just the place of one's permanent address?