Malaysia-based Writer | Nikkei Asia, Al Jazeera, SCMP, Lonely Planet, T+L Asia, BBC Travel, Rough Guides| Banned author | B-movie Weirdo |Former punk rock star|
Penang
Joined August 2009
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Some reflections on traveling to China after the pandemic and how domestic tourism has changed everything there. My latest on @NikkeiAsia
asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Pic…
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Closing the year on @AJEnglish with a story on the world's first Buddhist Death Metal band Dharma from Taiwan is quite a high note in this extremely busy yet rewarding 2023.
aljazeera.com/features/2023/…
I am back to SE Asian cinema on @scmplifestyle after a long guidebook writing absence with a piece on Kuman Pictures' upcoming film "Pendatang" - see it on YouTube from anywhere in the world from December 21st!!
scmp.com/lifestyle/entertain…
Living pretty much across the border, I know the deep south of Thailand pretty well, having explored it for the past decade... here are some not-so-obvious suggestions I compiled for @lonelyplanet ... have a look if you are headed here next!
lonelyplanet.com/articles/he…
Celebrate Merdeka Day with a deep read about Tan Twan Eng's latest excellent novel, "The House of Doors," set in 1920s Penang and featuring Somerset Maugham as a character, — my latest on @NikkeiAsia
asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Bo…
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I am back on @BBC_Travel with a piece on the Jungle Railway, Malaysia's most glorious train ride. This service may soon become obsolete, so if I were you, I'd run to Johor (or in the very early hours of the morning at Gemas) and enjoy the ride.
bbc.com/travel/article/20230…
Feminist body horror "Tiger Stripes" winning Cannes' Grand Prix does not happen in a vacuum - it comes exactly as Malaysian cinema seems to rise, at least abroad... read more in my latest on @NikkeiAsia
asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Ar…
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Ironically, an old-school metalhead and punk rocker mostly only writes about K-pop music (and hate it) these days. But this is good. Something's happening in the big pop machine that's kinda jarring for my tastes... read more in my latest on @nikkeiasia
asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Pic…
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I spoke to Jin Ong, the director of Malaysian social drama "Abang Adik", on sweeping the top prizes at Udine’s Far East Film Festival - read it on @scmplifestyle
scmp.com/lifestyle/entertain…
It was a pleasure to interview "Dome" Sitisiri Mongkolsiri, director of "Hunger", in Seoul two weeks ago. His new film streams on Netflix this weekend, and I recommend you give it a good look. Here's why, in my latest on @SCMPNews
scmp.com/lifestyle/entertain…
Yes, Alena Murang is good and all, but beyond the "gentrified" sape' there are dozens of other boat lutes in Borneo, and these people are finally helping with their revival... my latest rocking piece on @NikkeiAsia
asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Ar…
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Stoked to debut on the excellent
@atlasobscura
Welcome to the world of Koh Ah Keat, a Taoist funeral effigy maker by day, headbanger by night, talking about appeasing the dead in the afterlife as modernity changes ancient Chinese death rituals...
atlasobscura.com/articles/pa…
"When Netflix announced the exclusive production of seven Indonesian films and series in September 2022, few expected overnight success." But on the contrary... read my latest on @AJEnglish and tune on "Dear David" by Lucky Kuswandi from tomorrow.
aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/8/…
Malaysia still struggles to catch up with neighbors in recovering the tourism sector. My latest on @AJEnglish
aljazeera.com/economy/2023/1…
#journorequest I would love to talk to a delivery food driver (possibly Grab or FoodPanda, and a motorbike driver) to understand how the app works on their side. How they get orders and all. This is for something I am writing and is fully confidential. Anyone can help?
Believe it or not, the gasoline in the fire of Sri Lanka People's Revolution smells of hard rock and metal.
Come down to the stages of Gota Go Gama village and meet the headbangers with a cause that's not collecting records and "making scene" - RESPECT. asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Ar…
A tour of #langkawimalaysia 's mangroves on a kayak is always a good choice. Here's what you should know based on my recent experience @InsiderPenang
penang-insider.com/langkawi-…
When tired of #Malaysia Taman Negara #pahang try to check out its little sister, Kenong Rimba @InsiderPenang
The kayaking was quite sweet in particular!
penang-insider.com/kenong-ri…
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Even after travel curbs Kuantan still has beaches, hiking trails, and natural attractions, all on its doorstep. One of the best cities in Malaysia, which still stays pretty much under the radar... discover it here.
penang-insider.com/kuantan-a…
An outspoken, clever play by @markteh_ and @FiveArts digs up some of the biggest skeletons in the closet of Malaysia's history. Saw this in George Town, got totally smitten, and this is my latest piece on @AJEnglish
aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/1/…
