Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, April 28, demanding free and fair elections, in a day that was to show the best and worst of Malaysia. From the early morning, trains packed with protesters came into central KL; the major roads having been blocked by the police. … read the full post

A short hop from the Liza De Inn Hotel, you’ll find Kanna Curry House in Section 17, a residential part of Petaling Jaya. With a modest but clean interior and a simple outdoor section with plastic tables and chairs, it may look like any other south Indian joint in Kuala Lumpur. But appearances are not … read the full post

Whether it’s unearthing a one-off antique or making a fashion find at half the price you’d expect to pay elsewhere, browsing markets can earn excellent dividends. In Kuala Lumpur, the mainstream shopping can get uninteresting fast, with many of the malls carrying the same brands and stores, over and over. For a different experience, head … read the full post

Those who make the trip to the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) usually come to experience its famous tree-based canopy walk. But even for those who don’t want to endure the semi-strenuous hike to the canopy entrance and back, FRIM can still make for a fascinating weekend trip from Kuala Lumpur, with its campsite to … read the full post

Read the first parts of Brock Kuhlman and Gaby Doman cycling from Bangkok to Penang over on our Bangkok blog: the first 222 kilometres, packing, cycling through Thailand’s far south, finishing Thailand, and getting to Penang. Heading south out of Penang, we needed to leave early enough to cross the bridge that links the island … read the full post

Visitors to Kuala Lumpur in late April should be aware that the city is bracing itself for what could be one of the largest political demonstrations in its history. A massive sit-down protest is planned at Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) on Saturday the 28th, from 14:00 to 16:00, to call for free and fair elections … read the full post

No part of Kuala Lumpur retains such a link to colonial times as Merdeka Square, the one-time hub of British Malaya. Unlike much of the city, where heritage has lost out to development over recent decades, the square is still ringed by historic buildings. The open green space was once the Padang, or Parade Ground, … read the full post