Anak Gen-X

  Kalau kita bercakap tentang roti di Malaysia, memang sukar untuk tidak menyebut nama Gardenia . Namun, tidak ramai yang tahu bahawa kisahnya bermula jauh sebelum tagline “ So good you can even eat it on its own ” itu wujud. Asal-usul Gardenia bermula pada penghujung 1960-an, apabila seorang tukang roti Amerika bernama Horatio Sye Slocumm dihantar ke Malaysia untuk membantu membangunkan industri bakeri moden. Dari sebuah operasi kecil di Sabah , Slocumm membawa teknologi, teknik dan resipi gaya Amerika yang akhirnya mencetuskan fenomena roti “ sliced bread ” yang lembut, gebu dan mudah diterima rakyat Malaysia. Masuk era 1980-an, Gardenia melangkah ke Semenanjung dengan lebih serius. Pada 1986 , Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn. Bhd. ditubuhkan melalui kerjasama antara QAF Limited dari Singapura dan rakan kongsi tempatan. Tahun itulah roti Gardenia “loaf” pertama mula dijual di pasaran Malaysia Barat. Sambutannya luar biasa; dalam masa hanya beberapa tahun, Gardenia berjaya mencapai t...

  Universiti Malaya was established on October 8, 1949 , in Singapore as a merger of two institutions: the King Edward VII College of Medicine (founded 1905) and Raffles College (founded 1928). In 1962, it split into two autonomous national universities, with the division in Kuala Lumpur becoming the modern Universiti Malaya.

Masjid India , KL sentiasa memikat perhatian kerana ia bukan sekadar rumah ibadat, tetapi sebuah nadi budaya yang hidup di tengah kota. Dari jauh lagi kita sudah dapat melihat gabungan seni bina Moghul dan Nusantara yang menjadikannya antara masjid paling ikonik di Kuala Lumpur . Suasananya pula sangat meriah, dikelilingi kedai-kedai kain, restoran mamak , gerai emas dan deretan penjual jalanan yang menjadikan kawasan ini sentiasa berwarna-warni.  Setiap kali melangkah masuk, bunyi hiruk-pikuk kota tiba-tiba hilang, diganti dengan ketenangan ruang solat dan aroma sejarah yang panjang sejak ia dibina lebih seratus tahun lalu. Pendek kata, Masjid India bukan saja tempat beribadat, tetapi lambang warisan komuniti yang terus hidup dan berkembang di tengah metropolitan.

I first started going to Penang when I was a child, tagging along with my late mum to visit relatives at Argus Lane. From the old photos I still keep, it’s clear we always had a whale of a time: Penang Hill , the aquarium, Tanjung Bungah , all the classic island landmarks. But if you ask me what my favourite thing to eat was back then, I honestly can’t recall. Probably because we were always having home-cooked meals at the relatives’ place. You know how it is -- the aunties wouldn’t let you leave the house until you’ve eaten enough to feed a small army. Fast forward to the past decade or so -- I’ve been to Penang quite a few times, both for work and with my own family. And like any grown-up foodie worth his waistline, I’ve done my rounds: Padang Kota, Padang Brown, Gurney Drive, Kapitan, Roti Canai Argyll Road , and just about every nasi kandar spot that made it to someone’s “Top 10” list. But my most interesting discovery came not from a famous restaurant, but from a humble morning ...

Screenshot gambar tersangat rare studio lejen, 'B' Sound Studio, JB Inilah undangan yang selalu aku nantikan! Antara aktiviti yang boleh dianggap “sihat” ketika zaman remaja dulu, bermain muzik bersama kawan-kawan memang seronok dan mereka yang terlibat akan serta-merta dianggap kool. Di Johor Bahru, studio jamming yang paling terkenal dan ikonik era 80an ialah ‘B’ Sound Studio yang terletak di Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR). Tidak keterlaluan kalau aku katakan semua kumpulan rock yang muncul dari JB pernah jamming di sini. Baik Search, Lefthanded, Bumiputra Rockers dan geng seangkatan mereka. Itulah sumbangan ‘B’ Sound kepada industri muzik tempatan. (Studio ini telah dibuka dan dimiliki oleh seorang pemuzik 60an, Allahyarham Subahunu Ali. Dalam catatan Joey BPR di laman Facebook beliau, “The Great Bob Banu” telah digelar sebagai “Bapa Muzik Johor”.) Kali pertama aku menjejakkan kaki ke dalam sebuah studio jamming juga adalah di ‘B’ Sound. Ketika itu, aku masih baru mula me...

Kalau anda pernah tersangkut dalam banjir kilat di Kuala Lumpur suatu masa dahulu, anda mungkin menghargai kewujudan satu projek mega yang benar-benar mengubah keadaan: SMART Tunnel . Dibina untuk menangani dua masalah besar serentak -- banjir kilat dan kesesakan trafik -- projek ini bermula pada 25 November 2003 , dan menjadi antara terowong dwifungsi paling unik di dunia. SMART ( Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel ) direka bagi mengalihkan limpahan air hujan dari Sungai Klang dan Sungai Ampang ketika ribut monsun melanda. Air banjir akan dialihkan ke terowong khas, mengelakkan pusat bandar daripada tenggelam seperti yang selalu berlaku pada era 1990-an dan awal 2000-an. Tetapi it doesn’t stop there -- terowong yang sama turut berfungsi sebagai laluan trafik sepanjang kira-kira 9.7 km, menghubungkan Kampung Berembang ke Bukit Bintang , sekali gus mengurangkan kesesakan waktu puncak. Pembinaannya membuka lembaran baharu dalam kejuruteraan Malaysia, melibatkan kepakaran tempatan ...

  Terletak di atas bukit bersejarah yang menghadap Selat Johor , Straits View Hotel merupakan antara permata klasik Johor Bahru -- sebuah penginapan tenang dan memikat yang menggabungkan warisan, pemandangan laut dan keanggunan lama bandar ini. 

  On 21 November 1963, Malaysia officially opened one of its most recognisable landmarks -- the Houses of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur . It was just two months after the formation of Malaysia, and the country was still fresh with hope, ambition, and that brand-new-nation energy. You can almost imagine the atmosphere: leaders gathering, dignitaries stepping out of classic black cars, the Merdeka spirit still hanging in the air. The building wasn’t just architecture -- it was a symbol of a young nation trying to define itself. What’s fascinating is how timeless the building has remained. Even after all these years, we still can’t take our eyes off it whenever we pass by. There’s something about that sleek white tower and the low, elegant main hall that just makes us pause. It’s not flashy, it’s not modern in the current sense, but it has a quiet confidence. Every time it comes into view, there’s this little swell of pride — the kind that reminds us, “Hey, this is our country, and look ...

  From a WWII land gift to a golden dome that lights up Regent’s Park -- this mosque is one of London’s most beautiful hidden gems. A prayer hall for 5,000, a vibrant cultural centre, and now a Grade II heritage icon . Definitely worth a stop the next time you’re strolling through the park.  Watch the video here:

  I first started eating at Nasi Lemak Tanglin back in the mid-’90s, when I worked at Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad . Back then, we didn’t talk about “ heritage food ” or “authentic experiences” -- we were just hungry young legal eagles (chewah!) looking for a good breakfast before work. A quick drive past the Lake Gardens , a whiff of sambal in the morning air, and we’d already be queuing under the trees for that unmistakable plate of nasi lemak that somehow made everything right with the world. Those days, you actually ate in what could best be described as a dodgy bangsal. But even then, the food was pure magic. The sambal -- not-too-thick, slightly sweet, and fiery enough to jolt you awake -- might be an acquired taste for some, but I’ve loved it from day one. The side dishes were (and still are) generous: sambal sotong , paru goreng , ayam goreng , and rendang daging that taste like they’ve been perfected over generations. These days, the place has been spruced up into a pr...

In the tropical coastlines of Sabah , fish and marine life had one of their greatest champions in Datuk Chin Phui Kong -- an ichthyologist , civil servant, and author whose calm, scholarly life belied a daring secret-agent past. Born on 26 December 1923 in Sandakan , British North Borneo (now Sabah), Chin would go on to celebrate his 100th birthday with little fanfare -- a milestone few reach.   From Student to Secret Agent Chin Phui Kong’s early years were quiet and studious: schooling in Sandakan before being sent north to China in 1941. But when WWII broke out and the Japanese invasion altered lives and frontiers, his fluency in English, Malay, and Chinese (including dialects) caught the attention of British intelligence.  Recruited by what became Force 136  -- the clandestine World War II arm of Britain’s Special Operations Executive in Malaya -- Chin underwent commando, parachute, demolition, and jungle warfare training, serving as a First Lieutenant. His mission...

On 17 November 1969, Malaysian broadcasting took a big step forward with the launch of RTM2 from Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur . At a time when television was still a luxury and families often gathered around a single set, RTM2 arrived as a fresh new channel offering more local programmes, cultural content and alternative viewing choices. It marked a period when Malaysia was expanding its media landscape, shaping how stories, news and entertainment reached the rakyat .  Today, RTM2 remains an enduring part of our broadcasting heritage -- a reminder of the early days when TV brought the country together, one programme at a time.

  Masjid Negara yang terletak di tengah-tengah Kuala Lumpur bukan sekadar tempat ibadah, tetapi juga simbol identiti dan kemerdekaan Malaysia . Dirasmikan pada 27 Ogos 1965 , masjid ini dibina sebagai lambang kesyukuran rakyat selepas mencapai kemerdekaan daripada penjajahan British pada tahun 1957 . Dengan reka bentuk moden yang turut diilhamkan oleh arkitek tempatan, Masjid Negara menonjol melalui kubah utamanya berbentuk separa bintang 18 penjuru serta menaranya setinggi 73 meter yang melambangkan kemajuan dan keagungan Islam di tanah air.  Gabungan elemen seni bina Islam tradisional dan moden menjadikannya mercu tanda unik yang sering dikunjungi pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara, sekaligus menggambarkan keharmonian budaya dan semangat bangsa Malaysia yang berbilang kaum.

  When I travelled to Taiping back in 2020, a few of my fb friends told me, “Bro, you must try Mee Combat .” I thought it was just a fancy name -- maybe something for soldiers, or a mee that could knock you out cold. But no, this was something else. One plate later, I understood why people still talk about it like it’s a legend. It’s not just mee goreng -- it’s Mee Combat. A dish that fights its way into your heart (and stomach) with smoky wok hei , just the right hit of spice, and that unmistakable Taiping flair. The story of Mee Combat started way back in 1945 with the late Jabardeen , a true Taiping icon. For anyone who went to school or grew up there between the 70s and 90s, his name was practically folklore. His famous mee was packed like a little handbag and wrapped in daun simpok -- the ultimate souvenir if someone brought it home. It wasn’t just food; it was part of growing up in Taiping. Before his passing earlier this year, Jabardeen had already passed the wok (and the...

Some years ago, we made our first visit to Melbourne . It was only a five-night trip, but we packed in so much -- exploring the city, driving up to Lake Mountain , watching the adorable penguins at Phillip Island , and, most memorably, visiting the world-famous Twelve Apostles . The journey along the Great Ocean Road took us more than eight hours, winding through breathtaking coastal views and charming little towns.  By the time we reached the Twelve Apostles, the anticipation had built up -- and what awaited us was truly unforgettable: a helicopter ride over the magnificent limestone stacks . From above, the view was surreal. The ocean shimmered under the sunlight, crashing waves against the golden cliffs , and the Apostles stood tall and timeless, carved by wind and water over millions of years. It was one of those moments that makes you quiet -- awed by the beauty and vastness of Allah's creation. That flight remains one of my most memorable travel experiences -- a reminder t...

Did You Know? Before it became one of Kuala Lumpur ’s most sought-after residential enclaves, Taman Ampang Hilir was once part of a vast tin mining area that defined much of Ampang ’s early history. In fact, the very lakes and ponds you now see around the neighbourhood -- including the picturesque Ampang Hilir Park -- were remnants of those old mining pools, later transformed into recreational spaces and serene backdrops for upscale homes. Back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ampang was at the heart of the Klang Valley ’s tin boom , attracting Chinese miners who worked under the Kapitan Cina system , as well as European companies that modernised operations. Tin from this region helped fuel the rapid growth of Kuala Lumpur, which literally rose from a muddy confluence into a bustling trading hub. Over time, as mining declined, the area was gradually redeveloped. By the 1980s and 1990s, what used to be rough mining land began to give way to new housing projects, embass...