DOZENS of people were absorbed in playing the gamelan on a Friday evening. If there was a note out of tune, others immediately would hint: Wow, why is the note out of tune? Others would answer. Well, yes, sorry, sleepy maybe. The whole room then burst into laughter.

The Elephant Building, where the gamelan was being played, was full of Chinese ornaments. The players came from various ethnic groups, mainly Javanese and Chinese. They were joined in