During my occasional outstation stints as a writer, I often had to go down paths less travelled, which led me to people and places I would otherwise have not taken the effort to explore on my own. Sometimes the people who know of these spots would rather not share their knowledge for fear of ruining the…
Category: Malaysia
Thaipusam: Feast of Cleansing & Renewal
Today marks the eve of Thaipusam, an annual religious festival celebrated by Hindus in the Tamil month of Thai. Over the past week, devotes have been trickling into the Batu cave temple to participate in ceremonies and prayers. For many, this festival is a culmination of a period of fast and abstinence. Various forms of…
Kellie’s Desolate Dream
Nestled between plantations, forests and rolling hills around Batu Gajah, Perak is a rare and uncommon sight in this part of the world – a beautiful brick castle on a hill. Kellie’s castle is surrounded by a beautifully manicured garden, and a river (Sungai Raya) running through its grounds. But behind the walls of this…
Festive Bargain Hunting: KL
It’s the last day of Ramadan for Muslims in Malaysia today. Tomorrow they usher in the first day of Syawal after a month of fasting. After a long month of brisk sales, stall operators at Ramadan bazaars all over the city are closing for the festivities ahead. Many will pack up and leave for their…
City Break: Avani Sepang Gold Coast
The beachs in the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia are hardly mentioned in tourist brochures. Not surprising, as these beaches are hardly comparable to its counterpart on the East Coast which are cleaner, more picturesque with powdery white sand and beautiful diving and snorkelling sites with teeming varieties of marine life. The West coast beaches…
Down Love Lane
I’ve walked through Love Lane in Georgetown , Penang many times – usually in the daytime or late at night. But a wrong turn and evening walk through Love Lane yesterday made me see it literally in a different light. It is true what they say about how different the rich hues of dusk and…
Southern Sojourn
Kukup, is a little known seaside town in the southernmost state of Johor in Malaysia. More importantly, Tanjung (Cape) Piai which is a short drive away from Kukup, marks the southernmost tip of the Asian continent. Kukup is not the place you come to if lounging by a white sandy beach with a swim in the sea…
Piecing the Puzzle of a Glorious Past
In May 2016, archaeologists with expertise of five main ancient civilisations – Mesopotamia, Indus, Mesoamerica, China and Greco-Roman declared their recognition for the historical significance of the Sungai Batu archeological findings, just 6km from Sungai Petani in Kedah. Carbon dating on smelted iron found at this archaeological site places this civilisation in 535 Century BC, which…
Dead Men Do Tell Tales
Penang is one of my favourite spots in Malaysia. This island is famous for many reasons – the food, the beaches, the heritage buildings, the architecture, and the cool respite of Penang Hill and its forests when the weather is hot. However, some find one of my favourite spots in Penang – the old Protestant…
Maria Dass the World 