Changes Since My First Trip If you’ve come here looking for the best way to get from Langkawi to Hat Yai, you’ve come to the right place. However, there have been quite a few changes to the Langkawi to Hat Yai journey since I wrote my first blog post a gazillion years ago, so I’m […]
Bamboo Rafting in Sarawak: My Huck Finn Inspired Jungle Adventure
Like many American kids of a certain era, I grew up dreaming of rafting down the mighty Mississippi, just like my childhood heroes Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain’s fictional duo lived the life I thought I was destined for: one of freedom, mischief, and adventure. This was, of course, long before I ever […]
Hooked on Terengganu: Squid Jigging, Culture & Endless Coastlines
Twelve years ago, Kuala Terengganu felt like a sleepy seaside town with an eclectic array of storefronts and seemingly no visible town theme. It was real, raw, and unfamiliar. Beyond the Perhentian Islands, this part of Terengganu felt like secret handshake territory to me (at the time) and a little uncomfortable. Returning this year on […]
Squid, Sea Legs & Salty Boats: A Real Candat Sotong Experience
Curious about candat sotong? This Malaysian squid jigging tradition takes place every year off the coast of Kuala Terengganu during the annual Candat Sotong Festival, and throughout the squid season. After 10 years of wanting to join, I finally did have my first candat sotong experience. From rustic fishing boats to the real challenge of […]
RWMF 2025: My Ten-Year Reunion With Rainforest World Music Festival
Although I had planned to return much sooner, somehow a decade slipped by before I finally reunited this year with Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF 2025). Ten years ago, I shyly shuffled through the festival grounds wide-eyed, inspired by the music, the culture, the art, and the fascinating people. Imagine my surprise to find […]
Langkawi’s Kuala Sungai Melaka Bridge Gets a Stunning Makeover
Known as the Kuala Sungai Melaka Bridge, as well as the Kuala Melaka Bridge, for years the slightly dated structure has also been lovingly referred to, by more than a few, as the “Ugly Pink Bridge” when used as a casual reference point. But now, the more or less twenty-five year old bridge is a […]
Rainforest World Music Festival 2025: One Earth, One Love
Let the countdown begin! The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) returns to the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching from June 20 to 22, 2025, marking its 28th edition with the theme “Connections: One Earth, One Love“. This year’s festival continues its mission to celebrate cultural diversity through music while expanding its focus on environmental sustainability. […]