Travelfish correspondent Pat Fama

Pat is a freelance writer and journalist based Kuala Lumpur.
Website: http://we-write-stuff.com

Posts by Pat Fama:

• Best rooftop bars in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 04 Mar 2012
  

  As Kuala Lumpur grows ever upwards, one of the benefits is an increasing number of rooftop bars where you can get spectacular views of the city. For the most part these are based in high end hotels, making for a mixed clientele of well-heeled locals, expats and visitors. The dress code tends towards “smart casual”, … read the full post

• The best fresh food markets in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 28 Feb 2012
  

  Close to where Kuala Lumpur began in 1857 is a traffic-clogged square called Pasar Medan — literally, “market field” in Malay. It was here that the city’s pioneering tin miners bought their fresh supplies, and around which the early settlement too shape. In the late 19th century, the market was moved to a new site … read the full post

• Putrajaya: Malaysia’s other capital city

  First published: 25 Feb 2012
  

  Asked in a pub quiz what the capital of Malaysia is, most people would probably plump for Kuala Lumpur, and they would be half-right. That’s because since 1999, the official administrative centre of the country has been Putrajaya, a planned city 25 kilometres to the south. KL remains the national capital, as well as the … read the full post

• Shakespeare in Kuala Lumpur (and Penang)

  First published: 21 Feb 2012
  

  You might well think that an English playwright who produced his work at the turn of the 17th century has little relevance in a modern Southeast Asian city such as Kuala Lumpur. But the fine people at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre clearly see things differently, if their March schedule is anything to go … read the full post

• Taking photographs in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 17 Feb 2012
  

  Kuala Lumpur may not be the most photogenic place in the world, but is has easily enough visual interest to keep most amateur snappers happy. This does not mean though that taking a good picture is necessarily straightforward. Much of the problem is the number of places where taking photos is against the rules. Virtually … read the full post

• KUL Sign Festival 2012 and other street art in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 14 Feb 2012
  

  For many people, graffiti is one of the banes of modern urban life, nothing more than an act of vandalism. For others, it is an art form in its own right, deserving of encouragement not approbation. Like any large city, Kuala Lumpur has its fair share of ugly, disfiguring graffiti. But it also has a … read the full post

• Photo essay: Thaipusam 2012 at Batu Caves

  First published: 08 Feb 2012
  

  For three days every year, the Batu Caves temple complex is at the centre of Malaysia’s most extraordinary religious event — the Hindu festival of Thaipusam. On the first day, a procession wends its way from central Kuala Lumpur to the complex, which is about 15km to the north. Setting off just after midnight, it takes … read the full post

• Janda Baik: A back to nature retreat from Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 07 Feb 2012
  

  It may seem strange to visitors from cooler climes, particularly those escaping from the bleakest months of the European or North American winter, but Malaysians spend much of their time trying to avoid the heat. Increasingly, people work, play and sleep in air-con. This is especially true of urban areas like Kuala Lumpur, where temperatures … read the full post

• An introduction to Malaysian English (Manglish)

  First published: 31 Jan 2012
  

  One of the near universal truths of travelling is that taking the time to learn a few words of the local language easily repays the effort. Kuala Lumpur is somewhat of an exception to that rule, as apart from helping to decipher some obscure menu items, English is so widely spoken that a knowledge of … read the full post

• The Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia

  First published: 24 Jan 2012
  

  It’s a bit like waiting for a bus: you hang round for ages for a major festival, and then five come along in quick succession. First up is Deepavali, then Christmas, (Western) New Year, Chinese New Year, and last but not least, Thaipusam. The latter may not be well known outside southern India, but for … read the full post