Malaysia - Day 1 - Part 2

Having taken lunch - see part 1 http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/442 - we headed for the showground.

Benching had officially been open for about an hour but, on walking around the 'vats' of which there are over 100, it was obvious that some quality Koi had already been benched.  Quality in depth across all varieties seemed apparent.

The Kohaku below was recently awarded Grand Champion at the Singapore Koi Show.  It's owner had brought the Koi 400km from Singapore to support the Malaysian Koi Show.  It looks quite small in the picture but is 80+, can remember exactly.

The Sanke below was imported from Momotaro as a nisai.  It's now 87cm.  It caused a real stir at benching, I'm not so sure about it, particularly how it swam in the vat.

With a lull in benching activity myself and Hiroshi went for a drink.  We were waiting for the Koi to arrive Max's Koi Farm.  Having driven from Singapore they'd been stuck in traffic in Kuala Lumpur.

Having finished our drink we returned to the show hall where the entrance had been erected.

I never realised my 'little talk' was going to get such a billing, now I'm nervous!!!!

At 8.45pm the Koi from Singapore hadn't arrived, reluctantly we had to call it a day at the showground.  I love seeing Koi when they are benched and trying to second guess how they'll be judged.  At the moment I think the Kohaku will be ahead of the Sanke, the Koi that haven't arrived will be serious, that's for sure.

Their owner also owns the Torazo Sanke which won the Nogyosai in 2008!

It was a wonderful reception from the Malaysian Koi Society today, great to put faces to people I've known on the Internet, also great to finally catch up with some hobbyists I've known of for a few years around Japan but never met such as Razif Abdullah.

The scale of the show and what I've learned about the hobby leaves me impressed.

Looking forward to the rest of the weekend immensly.