Malaysia has long been one of my top five favorite countries in the world. (The others are solidly Japan, Brazil, Hungary and then shakily either Russia or Zimbabwe.) It’s main selling point is its diversity because Malaysia is an amalgamation … Continue reading
The Dromomaniac
I’m pretty sure I left home four months ago today. I’m also pretty sure I’ve traveled at least four months of each year for the past 25 years with an average of six months a year. That’s pretty amazing, if … Continue reading
Talk about inimitable style. Look at the size of Philip’s bag. He says he is “only traveling for three weeks”, but who does this? The most substantive part consists of two pants, two shirts, one swimming shorts, a sarong, a … Continue reading
I see a trickle of white people in my beloved Ee Beng Vegetarian Restaurant, which is the beginning of the end. Nothing good results when white people start horning in. My Irish friend, Philip, counsels me indirectly that I shouldn’t … Continue reading
This picture above was taken in my latter days from Nepal, a typical morning scene after a night of hacking up phlegm. Usually I put a newspaper down and leaned over the bed and let flew. (That was a colorful … Continue reading
I forgot something great. I was in a little neighborhood Chinese food court, and I ordered a “teh o ice” which means ice tea without milk and the guy screams to the back, “TEH O PING, AH!” Ping! I forgot … Continue reading
Short, very Malaysian story: my friend, Melissa, leaves the house to go off the work. I stand at the door to close the gate by remote control and wave goodbye. She gets in a taxi and tells the driver to … Continue reading
The bus from Kuala Lumpur to Penang made me crazy—it doesn’t take much to make me crazy these days—so I decided to hitchhike the 350km back. Easy. Japan is far and away the best country in Asia—and the world, in … Continue reading
There is so much gray in the world, so many exceptions to rules, so little people can agree on, but sometimes it all comes together and stays together and is deserving of bold declarations, and in Penang, Malaysia, food capital … Continue reading
This photo below is everything that’s right with the world. Sure, there are famines and wars and Manchester United fans, but this overcomes all. It’s from Mustafa’s, a nasi kandar restaurant which is Indian-muslim food where you order a curry … Continue reading
