A Japanese Love Affair with Penang
6 min read
THE FUMAKILLA TAUKEH is the owner of this house,” my mother quipped as my father snailed the car past Villa…
July 2026
Discover Penang’s living heritage in this month’s issue: from the revival of historic clan houses and district associations to new voices in the arts, community, and cultural preservation. Explore how tradition meets modernity as Penang’s diverse communities adapt, innovate, and celebrate their unique identity.
Latah: An Individual Reflex Against the Grip of Conformity
4 min read
BEING A MOMMY’S GIRL, if I could fuse with my mom at a cellular level, I would. That is…
Kenaf: A Crop for the Future
4 min read
HAVE YOU HEARD of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)? Probably one of the most underrated herbaceous crops in the country’s vast…
Same Same But Different: A Keralite Gypsy’s Reflections on Penang
5 min read
WHAT’S IT LIKE being a 21st century gypsy? Not easy. Constantly moving from where we currently are to greener…
Khoo Kongsi: 118 Proud Years of History
5 min read
FROM SIN KANG VILLAGE in Fujian, China, men sailed south for greener pastures. Steer left, and you would arrive in…
Gunung Jerai: The Prominent Peak on The North
7 min read
ALONG JALAN TANJUNG BUNGAH, part of Penang’s scenic north coast road leading to the tourist belt of Batu Ferringhi,…
Penang: A Natural Stop on The Hippie Trail
5 min read
“THERE ARE WESTERN papayas in Batu Ferringhi!” whispered some of the older boys in school. I was rather innocent then,…
A Life in Full Colour: Remembering Charles Stephen Ramachandran
4 min read
CHARLES STEPHEN RAMACHANDRAN was a chameleon, constantly shifting between roles, each more remarkable than the last. A masterful hairstylist, an…
I Know Why Penang Food Is So Amazing...
3 min read
BORN WITHOUT ANY spoon of any metal in my mouth, food was a matter of having enough to dispel any…
Taking Penang's Street Food Global
12 min read
The Michelin Guide started listing Penang food establishments in 2023. Since then, two Penang restaurants have been awarded one star, 32 are listed as Bib Gourmand Restaurants and another 35 as Michelin Selected.
Who Gets to Cook Penang's Iconic Dishes
4 min read
EARLIER THIS YEAR, MBPP Councillor Tan Soo Siang and Penang EXCO Jason H’ng echoed the 2016 call by Lim Guan Eng to ban foreigners from cooking 13 local dishes in Penang—Nasi Lemak, Assam Laksa, Pasembur, Mee Sotong, Char Koay Teow,
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