Sweet Bubble Treat

Never understood the fixation with Bubble Tea and it’s variants, but to each their own. So with apprehension, I agree to try a cup with our friend Sel who was raving about it! It was 10pm at night, and there was a line when we pulled up in front of Xing Fu Tang Bubble Tea…

Kek Lok Si Blooms

A hot and hazy afternoon in the hills of Air Itam in Penang isn’t exactly ideal. But we nevertheless decided to wander around the grounds of Malaysia’s largest Buddhist temple – the Kek Lok Si temple built on the slopes of this hill. Construction of this temple began in the 1890s, funded by a few…

Our Fading Heritage: Jerejak Island

My next read! Waiting to dive into the pages to find out more about our very own Ellis Island here in Penang, Malaysia. Sadly, the spot where more than a million migrants to Malaya landed between 1877 and 1957 is earmarked for development of a theme park and resort. Heritage groups are fighting to preserve…

Serenity Path

Khareyana Spa – One of my favourite spots in the town (now a city) I practically grew up in – Petaling Jaya. I’ve been visiting this old residential bungalow that was converted into a spa sanctuary since 2003. The proprietor Puan Azam – a retired civil servant has always been very warm and welcoming since…

Drive Thru: Central Spine Rd

One of my favourite drives – low traffic and amazing scenery! The partially opened Central Spine Road that will link Kuala Lipis in Pahang to Kuala Krai in Kelantan once it is completed. It currently terminates just outside Gua Musang town.

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Wishing my Chinese friends, family and followers a Happy & Prosperous New Year! A special shout out to those born in the year of the pig. To everyone else in Malaysia and around this region – enjoy the holidays! Guan Yin temple, Raub, Pahang, Malaysia.

Mythical Langkawi (via Ferry)

It’s been 15 years since we last visited Langkawi Island, the mythical island believed to have been cursed for seven generations by a young woman – Mahsuri – who was falsely accused of adultery. Locals believe the curse has been lifted as the island began to prosper over the last few decades after at least…

Explore: Down The Path Less Travelled

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…

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…