Odori Park in the heart of Sapporo city glows like a German town at Christmastime – snow, lights, mulled wine, Bavarian treats, but with a Japanese twist – the warmth of two cultures blending into one festive celebration. Since 2002, Odori Park, a community space, has welcomed the Christmas Market, born from Sapporo’s sister-city bond…
Author: Maria Dass The World - Travel, Food, History & Heritage
Freelance journalist, travelling storyteller & heritage content creator.
Contact me at: mariadasstheworld@gmail.com
Southern Comfort: Johor’s Maritime Gems
Explore the unique maritime cultural heritage of islanders off the coast of Johor in my latest article. Check out their island inspired food using locally sourced seeds, fruits and plants, cultural performances and traditional art including Zapin Pulau performances that mimic the movements of marine life, with costumes inspired by the colours of the sea…
Happy Halloween 2025! 🍸🍹🍻🎃
Have never been big on Halloween parties, preferring to stay in and be a couch potato instead of wading through a sea of ghosts, ghouls and witches. But this year, dinner plans with a friend, who is back home from New York for a few days, saw us bar hopping – Gen X style ……
Food Trail: Nasi Campur Kampung
Comfort food … a treat when you travel through small towns along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This particular restaurant, ‘Sedap Wehh’, which means ‘really delicious’ when loosely translated from Malay, is located on Jalan Bypass or Jalan Pintasan in Kuantan, Pahang. It features a wide spread of proteins, greens, gravies, and other Malay…
The Wishful Dip: Lata Tok Muda
There is nothing better than plunging into the crisp, cool, clean waters of a waterfall with a natural slide to boot … especially after a 20-minute hike on a sweltering hot day. Alas, my colleagues and I just had to contend with dipping our hands into the clear waters of Lata Tok Muda in Kampung…
Lessons from a 50-year-old killer shark
Happy 50th Jaws!
My First Roller-Coaster Ride
I had to explain why this bus was such a big deal, and such a significant part of our daily lives to the Gen Zs and Aplhas in the family recently. A journey on this notorious Bas Mini – through the streets of Kuala Lumpur was sometimes worse than a roller-coaster ride. It was organised…
‘Notre Dame in the Jungle’
Read all about the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church (est. 1895) in the village of Pagar Tras on Penang’s mainland, the significant role it played in the growth and transformation of Hakka migrants, the contribution of French MEP priests to the community, and the reason this magnificient structure fell into ruins in later years.
Ipoh Padang: Then and Now
What a view! A bird’s eye view of the beautiful city of Ipoh, built in the late 1800s to sustain the tin mining industry in surrounding towns.in Kinta Valley. This capital city of the state of Perak has a well planned layout and is surrounded by lush green hills. Fun fact – it was the…
Maria Dass the World 