Makam Purba (ancient tomb) the roadside sign reads. The sign has been there for years. Since I already knew the word ‘makam’ meant tomb, I’d always assumed it was ‘just’ a graveyard. Out of respect for the dead I don’t typically sightsee in graveyards, but on a quiet errand-running day, in the middle of a […]
Hitting Pay Dirt in Perak; Best Tin Mining Museums in Malaysia
Unless you are a geology buff, mining museums are probably not at the top of your sightseeing wish list. But if you’re heading through Perak, Malaysia now would be a good time to do just that. Perak has some of the best tin mining museums in Malaysia and mining is a huge part of Perak’s […]
Celine Tan Clinic: My Visit to an Alor Setar Top Skin Specialist
It was my quest for a Kedah-based dermatologist that initially brought me to the Celine Tan Clinic. As one who spends a lot of time in the sun, skin cancer is always a concern and an annual look-see by a skin specialist is the best way to keep that in check. During non-pandemic times my […]
Kedah Paddy Museum, Coolest Rice Museum in Malaysia
As the Kedah countryside sped by, my eyes were glued to the distant horizon. My mind asking, “Are we there yet?” while my mouth spewed non-stop questions (as usual) with my jovial GRAB taxi driver. I’d only seen a few vague online photos of the Kedah Paddy Museum and knew nothing of its history or […]
Review: El Playa Bistro by Avante
Closed November 2021: Langkawi, Malaysia has no shortage of places to eat, but if you are looking for Mediterranean food in Langkawi, Pantai Cenang is the place to go. Smack in the middle of the Langkawi’s popular tourist beach is El Playa Bistro by Avante, a Mediterranean restaurant which embraces Spanish, Italian, Greek and Turkish […]
Is Pulau Payar Marine Park Worth a Visit? Yes!
When it comes to island hopping in Peninsular Malaysia, the state of Kedah has been the king of the hill with their Langkawi archipelago turned UNESCO Global Geopark. Langkawi (also known as the Jewel of Kedah) has 99 islands and islets shrouded in jungle-y mystery and often dotted with white sand beaches and eerie ancient […]
Warung Kak Imah’s Malaysian Favorites & Kampung Charm
Drawn to the pendulums of bananas in an empty shop, the nearby clamor of pots and pans sliced through the air like a family reunion. The crescendo of cheerful voices floating amidst the kinetic energy of the busy little restaurant next door; a symbolic clock tower chime of the time of day; makan time. Time […]