TinyWOrld

It is about the right time to get back in the saddle, as one of these days, carbon energy is definitely going to be depleted. ​Actually, that’s not the real reason. Despite the many times I’ve been in Ipoh town, this is the very first time I'm exploring this charming town at night by bicycle. The slow pace allows me to peek into back lanes and hidden restaurants. Take this one outlet, for example from the outside, it looks exactly like an old Chinese pawn shop counter. It’s brightly lit, but no one is at the counter. Only later did I find the side entrance to the bar and restaurant. ​Every row of streets has a place like this. Each has its own unique style ranging from modern to ancient themes. The back lanes have their own vibes, offering places to hang out on low chairs and tables while sipping a cup of coffee. ​However, in my opinion, two things are missing comfort and beer. The latter I don't need to explain. As for the former it’s a hot night, and the owners should provide...

Joining this hashtag seemed almost impossible for me since I usually camp alone or with just a few adult friends. But I got lucky. Sometime in 2025, on a whim, I sent a text to my childhood friends' WhatsApp group suggesting a camping trip. To my surprise, they were excited and immediately set a date to meet at a mamak restaurant to discuss it. ​To give you a little background, we were school buddies and very active in scouting and camping back in the day. Now that we all have families and adult commitments, our camping days have dwindled to near zero. After navigating everyone's busy schedules, we finally agreed to a trip in January 2026 at Rainforest Park, Genting Sempah. ​At the last minute, one of my friends brought along his two sons. I could only imagine how it felt for them to come out and stay in a tent for a night, but I knew their father wanted them to experience the outdoors as much as possible. ​When the Gen Z boys arrived, both had their phones practically glued to...

​I tend to believe the best food of a country or state is usually located outside of its birthplace. For example, the best Nasi Lemak is in London, the best Wan Tan Mee is in San Francisco, the best Penang charcoal CKT is in Muar, and so on. ​As I was walking in KL this morning, I came across a place that caught my eye. It's a Baba Nyonya restaurant. I took a photo of the restaurant front and moved closer to see what was on the menu. That’s when I saw the Michelin awards displayed on the outdoor signboard. An elderly worker came out and greeted me. I asked him, "Where is the 2025 Michelin award?" ​"Inside," he said. ​Wow. Feeling curious, I decided to have an unplanned breakfast there.

​I booked for a weekday a Monday, to be specific. I arrived at the campsite at 7 pm, not because I started my journey from KL late, but because I was going for a reconnaissance (recce) trip up to Pos Belau. That’s a story for another day. ​The counter was closed. Feeling a slight sense of panic, I saw a family camping at one of the platforms. I asked them if they had the contact number for the caretaker. Luckily, they did. I called the number, and a lady answered. She said my slot was platform A5. I had booked this a week ago through the forestry website. ​I didn't know that the place had recently refurbished the platforms they are now made of some poly-material instead of wood. I quickly transferred my camping gear to my spot, and the first thing I did was take a hot shower. Thank god for the working water heater! I also noticed several new toilet bowls. I guess they replaced the old ones. Otherwise, the shower and toilet blocks are still the same, but this time they were clean pr...

By the time I arrived, it was late afternoon around 4:00 PM or so. As usual, I detoured to several places along the route to discover new spots and revisit some old ones for food. ​I knew my usual spot, but this time I was thinking of trying a beach further down the road, very near Pekan town in Pahang. Every time this town is mentioned, it reminds me of a popular public figure in Malaysia. Along this stretch of beach, I decided to have an early dinner as I didn’t plan to do any cooking. I spotted a stall and had rojak and a teh tarik. The bill came to RM5 not bad for a meal. Thinking I might get hungry at night, I packed two hard-boiled eggs. I could hardly believe it when the cashier asked for RM4 for two eggs, especially compared to my earlier meal of just RM5. ​I scouted the area once I reached the new beach. The toilet was open, but the man at the counter was missing. I wanted to know what time they closed. Seeing a few men sitting by a gazebo, I asked if any of them w...

​I have to be honest, until a few months ago, I thought of Afghanistan only as a land of rubble and a source of news for CNN.  Then, I picked up a novel by an Afghan author. Although it was fiction, he told the story of two boys that offered a brief glimpse into life there during the early years. One chapter, where the father is drinking whiskey in his house, made me wonder what the country was like before. ​Months later, I stumbled upon a Facebook post about a Chinese woman vacationing in Afghanistan. It seemed strange and sparked my curiosity. What is actually there? Most of all, I wanted to know how a once prosperous country could become what it is today. I also wanted to see if there were any similarities to my own country, fearing we might one day head in that direction. ​To understand more, I read Games Without Rules. It is a comprehensive account of Afghan history dating back to the British East India Company. Every external power has tried to conquer it, but none have succe...