Anak Gen-X

If your memory of it is the old Central Market we used to hang out at, you’re in for a surprise. The place has been spruced up, yet it still carries that nostalgic charm. The arts and crafts that made it iconic are still there, but now everything feels livelier -- with brighter energy, cultural showcases, and of course, plenty of mouth-watering Malaysian food to sample.  Sometimes you’ll even catch a book fair or a pop-up event that adds even more character to the space. A couple of new highlights worth checking out: KL Story Exhibition Gallery (at C-SPACE , mezzanine floor): step back in time and soak up the rich history of Kuala Lumpur. It’s a lovely walk through our city’s story, filled with photos, artifacts, and cultural nuggets that remind you how far KL has come. Pasar Besar : more than just a grocery stop, it’s a vibrant Malaysian market divided into Market Hall , Makan Hall , and Makers Hall . Here you can pick up local produce, artisanal treats, savour multi-ethnic c...

Before FB, Friendster and MySpace , we had yahoogroups ! It’s basically a bunch of email threads lah, but it was considered groundbreaking 😂😂 The most famous was wordup a group for Malaysian writers, founded by Chong See Ming . But I was also active on a couple of other groups. Check out my contribution in the malaysian-cinema group. A brutal review of “ Cinta 200 Ela ” . 😜😜 P.S.: Really sorry ya for the review. Raja Azmi and I would later become acquaintances 😀 We even organised a writing workshop together!  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di  SINI

  If you think politics today is noisy, spare a thought for 25 September 1963. Just nine days after Malaysia was officially born, Indonesia’s President Sukarno stood in Jakarta and thundered the words “Ganyang Malaysia!” -- Crush Malaysia! Imagine that. We were still busy adjusting to a new flag, a new anthem, a new country -- and suddenly the neighbour next door was shouting for our downfall. It wasn’t just words either. The years that followed, known as Konfrontasi, saw border clashes, propaganda wars, and the uneasy feeling that independence wasn’t going to be smooth sailing after all. I can only imagine how tense things must have felt then. And yet, here we are, decades later, Malaysia and Indonesia sharing nasi goreng, sinetron, badminton rivalries, and TikTok trends. We still gaduh, but not to ganyang level lah.  So today, 25 September, is a reminder: history had its drama, but the future is always about finding common ground.

Pernah bergambar kenangan bersama Aron Ralston , pendaki dari Amerika yang jadi terkenal sebab kisah luar biasa dia.  Tahun 2003, ketika memanjat Blue John Canyon di Utah , tangan dia tersepit batu. Selepas lima hari terperangkap, dia buat keputusan gila tapi berani -- potong tangan sendiri untuk selamatkan nyawa.  Kisah ni kemudian difilemkan jadi 127 Hours yang dibintangi James Franco . Sehingga kini, Aron menjadi simbol semangat kental dan keberanian bila berdepan situasi mustahil. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di  SINI

  👉 Sebab di sinilah sejarah Malaysia hidup depan mata. Dari zaman prasejarah , era Kesultanan Melayu , penjajahan hingga kemerdekaan -- semuanya dipamer dengan cara yang mudah difahami dan menarik. 👉 Anak-anak boleh explore artifak asli, replika rumah tradisional , pakaian pelbagai kaum , senjata lama dan macam-macam lagi. 👉 Paling penting, lawatan ke sini bukan saja menyeronokkan, tapi juga mengajar kita menghargai identiti dan budaya negara. Kalau belum pernah pergi atau dah lama tak jejak, Muzium Negara memang wajib masuk dalam senarai family outing anda! 🇲🇾✨ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di  SINI

  Bagi pencinta sejarah, Masjid Kampung Hulu di Bandar Hilir , Melaka adalah sebuah khazanah yang wajib dikenali. Dibina sekitar 1728, ia merupakan salah satu masjid tertua di Semenanjung Malaysia yang masih berdiri megah di tapak asalnya. Hampir tiga abad usianya, masjid ini menjadi saksi bisu kepada perjalanan panjang Islam di Melaka, dari zaman kolonial Belanda hinggalah ke era moden hari ini. Jejak Sejarah dan Sumbangan Menariknya, pembinaan masjid ini dibiayai oleh pihak Belanda, yang ketika itu lebih bersikap terbuka terhadap agama berbanding Portugis. Tanggungjawab pembinaan pula diberikan kepada Dato’ Samsuddin bin Arom, seorang pendatang dari China yang memeluk Islam. Kemudian, ia dipulihara oleh Sheikh Al Omar bin Hussain Al-Attas, memastikan masjid ini terus terpelihara untuk generasi seterusnya. Seni Bina yang Unik Salah satu daya tarikan utama Masjid Kampung Hulu ialah senibinanya. Ia memperlihatkan gabungan indah antara gaya Jawa, Melayu, Sumatera, dan Cina. Bumbung t...

  Tahukah anda bahawa sehingga kini, sebanyak 213 jenis makanan dan minuman telah diiktiraf sebagai Makanan Warisan Kebangsaan di bawah Akta Warisan Kebangsaan 2005 ( Akta 645 )? Senarai ini merangkumi hidangan tradisional dari pelbagai kaum dan budaya, menjadikan kulinari Malaysia bukan sahaja kaya dengan rasa, tetapi juga sarat dengan nilai sejarah dan identiti bangsa. Tidak hairanlah apabila pelancong asing sering kagum dengan kepelbagaian sajian tempatan kita. Dari nasi lemak hingga teh tarik , daripada laksa hingga kuih-muih tradisional , setiap hidangan membawa cerita dan keunikan tersendiri. Persoalannya, daripada ratusan warisan kulinari ini, yang manakah menjadi kegemaran anda? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di  SINI

  While watching a Merdeka Day video, my eyes were fixed on Tunku Abdul Rahman, fist raised, the crowd echoing his cry of “Merdeka!”. But I also noticed another tall figure in a black colonial suit: Sir Donald MacGillivray , the last British High Commissioner in Malaya. Although the formal act of handing over sovereignty was carried out by the Duke of Gloucester on behalf of the British Crown, MacGillivray’s presence on that day was no less significant. For years he had worked quietly with Tunku and the Alliance leaders, preparing the machinery of government and guiding the delicate transition from colonial rule. He wasn’t the one who proclaimed independence, but he was the steady hand that helped ensure Merdeka arrived peacefully and with dignity. And when his duty was done, Malaya bid him a farewell few colonial administrators ever received. At the airport, our own King personally accompanied him onto the tarmac, walking right up to the steps of his plane. It was a gesture as poi...

  On this day in 1998, the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games was officially opened. For me, the sweetest memory wasn’t about the sporting events themselves, but about taking my late parents on the LRT -- from Masjid Jamek all the way to Bukit Jalil . It was their very first ride on the LRT, and their first time seeing the brand-new Bukit Jalil sports complex. We didn’t watch any of the events, but being there together made that day simply unforgettable.  (And yeah, fanny packs were 'in' back then lah 🙂) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di  SINI

  Book lovers in the Klang Valley now have a new literary haven with the opening of Kinokuniya’s latest branch at Pavilion Damansara Heights. Launched this past 4th September, the store offers a curated experience distinct from its flagship at Suria KLCC. Though smaller in scale, the outlet features thoughtfully designed reading nooks, a whimsical children’s section with cloud-themed décor, and dedicated shelves for trending BookTok titles, Asian literature, comics, and manga such as Sakamoto Days and Solo Levelling. The store also carries multilingual selections in Malay, Chinese, and Japanese, along with an extensive range of stationery and lifestyle goods. Adding to its appeal, the in-house O’Coffee Club Atelier provides readers a place to unwind over coffee, pizzas, and pastries with views of Damansara Heights. With its blend of books, culture, and lifestyle offerings, the new Kinokuniya branch is set to become a go-to weekend destination for bibliophiles across the city.

On our last trip to Bangkok, we made a stop at the Jim Thompson House , and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the city. The traditional teakwood home is stunning, filled with art, history, and of course, the story of the man who brought Thai silk to the world stage. Definitely a must-see if you’re in Bangkok. But walking through the house also made us think about the mystery of Jim Thompson himself.  Back in 1967, while holidaying in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, he went out for a walk and simply vanished. Despite one of the biggest search operations in the country, not a single trace of him was ever found.  Some say he got lost in the jungle, others whisper about espionage and Cold War secrets. Whatever the truth, his disappearance remains one of Asia’s great unsolved mysteries. Standing in his house, you can’t help but wonder where he went, and what really happened that day.

Pernahkah anda singgah ke Galeri Diraja Tuanku Ja’afar di Seremban?  Terletak di dalam kawasan Taman Tasik Seremban , galeri ini mengabadikan kisah hidup dan legasi Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan ke-10 dan juga Yang di-Pertuan Agong ke-10 Malaysia. Pengunjung dapat melihat koleksi peribadi baginda, termasuk pakaian rasmi, barangan diraja, dokumentasi sejarah serta kisah kepimpinan dan minat baginda dalam bidang sukan dan pendidikan. Galeri ini juga menonjolkan peranan baginda dalam membawa Negeri Sembilan ke arah kemajuan moden. Jika anda berada di Seremban, ini antara destinasi warisan yang wajib dilawati, bukan sahaja untuk peminat sejarah, tetapi juga untuk sesiapa yang ingin mengenali lebih dekat seorang raja berjiwa rakyat. 

It’s no exaggeration to say that almost everyone has crossed this flyover in the heart of KL at some point. I myself used it almost daily back in the day. When it first opened in 1963, the city was on the rise -- home to around 500,000 people, buzzing with new energy and growth. This flyover was more than just concrete and steel; it was a symbol of a capital city finding its modern rhythm. This video from its opening captures that moment perfectly -- the excitement, the pride, and how quickly KL folks embraced it. Hard to believe it took just 14 months to build, at a cost of RM3.5 million.

So this photo popped up on Facebook today: Phil Thompson , casually strolling off an Aer Lingus flight in the early 80s, holding the European Cup like it was his grocery shopping. No flex, no Instagram caption, no “#blessed” -- just another Tuesday when you’re captain of Liverpool Football Club . For those who don’t know (ughh), Thompson was the heart and lungs of Liverpool ’s defence back in the day. Seven league titles, three European Cups, and 42 caps for England. He captained Liverpool in Paris in 1981 when they beat Real Madrid -- and then had to go home and explain to his mum why her good vase looked suspiciously like a giant silver trophy. Now here’s the kicker: I actually got to meet the man. In 2011, I interviewed him for Malaysia Hari Ini (albeit, a very short one). Imagine my nerves -- me, sitting across from a bloke I’d only ever seen on TV shouting at referees and holding European Cups. But Thommo was pure class: funny, generous with his stories, and still talking ab...