Unveiling Iran Thumb By Thumb
7 min read
Hitchhiking gets a traveler into the heart of a country more easily than anything else. In the process, deep misconceptions are dispersed.
Keeping Silambam Spinning
5 min read
On Penang Island, a small group of dedicated Tamils fights the odds to ensure that an ancient martial art stays alive.
The Renewal of Butterworth Continues
6 min read
Art Festival Urban Xchange brings a motley cast of local and international artists back into town. The goal? Promote awareness through art, and present Seberang Perai with the gift of a giant LED star.
Bukit Mertajam Offers Some Rare Authenticity
6 min read
Bukit Mertajam might be well off the tourist map, but it has much more to offer than what its reputation as George Town’s satellite suggests. We take a walk to the town’s centre and meet its protagonists.
Entranced (and possessed) in Sumatra
4 min read
During a trip to Berastagi, a mountain town at the foot of the active Sybayak volcano in northern Sumatra, we saw ultimate proof of that when we stumbled across a street ritual called reog ponorogo.
A Record of Penang’s Love of Popular Music
6 min read
It may be hard to believe, but once upon a time, Malaysia had women with silky, permed hair and short skirts shaking to the rhythms of Western rock ‘n’ roll. For this reason, the existence of popular music in the country has often been dismissed by those concerned with “moral decadence”.
Everyday India
5 min read
In recent years, news headlines have pictured India as a land of fear, abuse and, in particular, rape. As a lover of the subcontinent and someone who has travelled to 30 of its 36 states and union territories, I beg to disagree.
Faces of Central Asia
5 min read
At the crossroads of China, the Middle East and the former Soviet Empire, Central Asia remains one of the most rugged and adventurous regions of Asia.
Whiteaways – Where Art Hangs Out
1 min read
Galleries and spaces for the arts are burgeoning in Penang. While The Whiteaways Arcade in the heart of George Town might be better known to house the offices o...