Anak Gen-X

If you’ve ever stood inside Masjid an-Nabawi and watched the sliding domes open, you’ll know why people still gasp in awe. The movement is almost silent — and suddenly sunlight streams in, flooding the marble floors and faces of worshippers below. It feels as if the heavens themselves have opened just a little wider. Installed during King Fahd ’s 1980s–1990s expansion , the 27 domes were designed by German architect Mahmoud Bodo Rasch to bring light and ventilation. Yet they do more than that — they inspire. Even today, when those domes glide open , hundreds of pilgrims raise their phones to capture the moment. But truly, no picture can match the feeling of standing beneath that moving sky of Madinah — a perfect harmony of faith, light, and wonder.

Ah, Muar . Or as the locals fondly call it, Muo . Serene, award-winning clean and blessed with an abundance of good food. And here’s the crazy part -- we KL folks often make day trips there just to makan. Yes, 300 kilometres to and fro may sound insane, but trust me -- for what awaits in Muar, it’s worth every kilometre. And when you mention Muar, one dish instantly comes to mind -- Mee Bandung . Now, don’t be fooled by the name -- it has nothing to do with the Indonesian city of Bandung . The word bandung here means campur or mixed, referring to the glorious blend of ingredients, herbs, and spices that go into the dish. Traditionally, Mee Bandung is yellow noodles served in a thick and broth. Among the many places serving this Johor classic, one name stands tall: Restoran Mee Bandung Abu Bakar Hanipah . Located along Jalan Abdullah (in the heart of town) and operating since 1930 , this old-school gem is still owned and run by the family of Abu Bakar bin Hanipah. The shop occupies a n...

  I was at Medan Pasar in Kuala Lumpur when I stumbled upon these absolute beauties -- two gleaming vintage cars parked side by side like time travellers from a more elegant era. It’s not every day you see such automotive gems in the heart of the city, surrounded by towering office blocks and colonial façades. Since I'm no classic car aficionado, got my good friend ChatGPT to enlighten us all. Haha.  On the right is a blue Austin Seven , a compact British car affectionately called “ the baby Austin .” Produced between the 1920s and 1930s, it was one of the most popular cars in Britain -- affordable, reliable, and stylish in its own quaint way. Today, surviving Austin Sevens like this one are prized collectibles, fetching anywhere from RM70,000 to RM120,000, especially if lovingly restored with original parts. Next to it is a grey Standard Vanguard , a sleek post-war British sedan from the late 1940s. Its wide chrome grille, rounded body and understated luxury reflected a ne...

  Pekan Sehari Temerloh istimewa kerana ia bukan sahaja pasar tradisi yang telah wujud lebih 150 tahun , tetapi juga diiktiraf sebagai Pekan Sehari Terpanjang di Malaysia , menjadikannya pusat tumpuan utama penduduk dan pelancong setiap hujung minggu.

I won’t miss this one -- not a chance. Every time I’m in Seremban , Haji Shariff Cendol is a must-stop. It’s conveniently near Jalan Nunis , so much so that I’d always snap a photo of my bowl of cendol and send it to my friend Graig Nunis -- just for the fun of it. Along with that, I’d order the rojak , because really, what’s a perfect bowl of cendol without its savoury, nutty partner in crime? The history here goes way back. The late Haji Shariff Haji Dolman started selling cendol around 1930 , pushing his cart around the streets of Seremban before finally setting up shop in town. His recipe was simple but unforgettable -- smooth shaved ice, thick creamy coconut milk, rich gula Melaka , and those trademark bright-green cendol strands made fresh daily. The business has since passed through generations, but that old-school taste still hits the spot every single time. The outlet itself remains charmingly no-frills. You queue, you order, you get your bowl, and for a few blissful minut...

  It’s hard to believe this memory was from 25 years ago. My first time in New York City -- the real-life movie set I’d only known from films, sitcoms, and late-night TV. I was actually in Albany to attend WWE’s No Mercy event, but on the morning of the show, I decided to do something completely unplanned: I took a Greyhound bus straight to the Big Apple . I’ll never forget that first glimpse of the skyline. The Twin Towers still stood tall then -- proud, majestic, and unmistakably New York.  You could feel the city’s energy even before stepping off the bus. I disembarked at  42nd Street , and in true tourist fashion, I immediately got lost. But getting lost in New York wasn’t such a bad thing. I wandered from Times Square to the Empire State Building , then on to Grand Central Station , and even caught a view of the Chrysler Building . I didn’t have Google Maps , just a folded tourist brochure and my questionable sense of direction. New York in 2000 had a very dif...

  If you only know Puchong today, you probably picture endless traffic, malls at every junction, and the occasional flash flood that turns the LDP into a boating lane. But long before the condos, cafés, and car-choked highways, this lively suburb was something else entirely -- a quiet tin-mining town surrounded by jungle, plantations, and ponds that gleamed in the hot sun. Back in the late 19th century, Puchong was one of Malaya ’s many tin-mining frontiers. The British handed out mining leases to Chinese towkays who brought in workers from southern China. They dug deep into the swampy ground from Batu 14 and Puchong New Village to what’s now Puchong Jaya , Puchong Perdana , and Kinrara . The familiar “tasik” you see around Puchong Prima or Tasik Prima today? Those were once deep mining pits filled with rainwater -- relics of a booming trade that vanished when tin prices crashed in the 1980s . When the dredges stopped, the developers moved in. The first big township, Bandar P...

 A couple of years ago, we decided to celebrate a special occasion at The Lakehouse, Cameron Highlands  -- and it turned out to be one of those rare getaways that linger in the memory long after you’ve returned home. Nestled amid the misty hills and cool air of the highlands, this Tudor-style country house felt like a scene straight out of an old English novel. The moment we arrived -- greeted by the scent of pine and the sight of ivy creeping along stone walls -- we knew we were somewhere special. The Lakehouse was built in the late 1960s by Colonel Stanley J. Foster , a retired British army officer who wanted to recreate the charm of an English country retreat in the heart of Malaya . It opened in 1970 and has remained one of Cameron Highlands’ most enchanting heritage stays ever since. Despite various upgrades and new management over the decades, the place has kept its old-world soul intact -- from the wood-paneled interiors and antique furniture to the manicured gardens ...

  Got this via a 2nd-hand book group on Facebook (for a bargain, no less!) -- and what a gem it turned out to be! Malaysian Moments is one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you. Simple in its storytelling, yet packed with cool info nuggets that make you go, “Oh, I didn’t know that!” It’s beautifully put together and captures slices of our country’s past in such an engaging, no-fuss way. Written by ex-diplomat  Andrew Barber -- the same guy behind Penang at War and Kuala Lumpur at War -- this book, first published in 2007, takes you through Malaysia’s history without feeling like a history lesson. Each page feels like you’re being guided by a friendly storyteller who knows all the interesting backstories behind familiar places and traditions. It’s also a perfect addition to my growing collection of Malaysian reads, especially since I’ve been on a bit of a Malayan history documentary binge lately. From old tin mining towns to colonial architecture , I’ve been soaki...

Fourteen years ago, I received one of the hardest phone calls of my life. Moments after finishing Malaysia Hari Ini, I was told that my dear friend, Kharis -- known fondly among friends as Tuan Senang Besar -- had passed away. He had collapsed while jogging near the Kelana Jaya Stadium. Just hours earlier, at 5.52am, he had BBM-ed me. We were supposed to run the Putrajaya Night Marathon together that weekend. I remember staring at that last message in disbelief, barely accpeting that he was gone. Al-Fatihah, my friend. In the days that followed, my emotions were all over the place. The event was still on, but I didn’t know if I had the heart to do it. Some friends encouraged me to run in his honour, and eventually, I decided to go for it: 10km for Allahyarham Kharis. We even began calling it “Run for Tuan Senang Besar.” It wasn’t an official campaign yet, just a spontaneous act of remembrance. That night, I pinned a tribute sign on the back of my running vest and headed to Putrajaya. I...

Confession: Growing up in JB , Kluang was just a name I’d heard -- one of those small Johor towns people said had good food, friendly folks and a slower pace of life. (And yes, I did assume there were keluang  -- bats -- flying all over the place!) I never made it there back then, but these days, every time I drive back to JB, it’s almost an automatic stop. And the first order of business? The legendary Kluang Station , of course. This beloved spot started as a humble canteen inside the Kluang Railway Station in 1938 , serving kopi and roti bakar to railway workers and passengers on the North–South Line. Back then, the town was an important stop for trains carrying tin, rubber and troops -- so a good cup of coffee was practically essential. Run by the Lim family for four generations now, the little canteen has grown into the well-known Kluang RailCoffee, with several modern outlets across town. But ask any local or old-timer, and they’ll tell you -- the original station café is ...

The Taiping Lake Gardens in Perak hold a special place in Malaysian history as the country’s very first public garden. Established in 1880 , they were born out of a clever transformation: once the site of abandoned tin mines , the land was repurposed into a lush green sanctuary that has charmed visitors for well over a century. The idea came from Colonel Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker , then acting British Resident of Perak . With plans drawn by town planner Charles Compton Reade and land donated by local philanthropist Chung Keng Quee , the gardens quickly took shape. By 1884, lawns, trees, and flowers were flourishing, and fences were put up to protect the area from wandering cattle. Covering about 64 hectares , the gardens were -- and remain-- an ambitious project in scale and vision. What sets Taiping Lake Gardens apart are its shimmering lakes and ponds, remnants of the old mining pits. Today, names like Swan Lake and West Lake still echo through the park, offering scenic back...