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 beach break destinations from Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 19 Jan 2012
  

  Whatever the tourism authorities would have you believe, Malaysia does not do beach half as well as Thailand, particularly for the independent traveller. But the country does have some very attractive beach destinations, such as tiny Pulau Rawa, part of the same chain of east coast islands as Pulau Tioman. Pulau Rawa is one of the … read the full post

• Getting back to nature at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)

  First published: 17 Jan 2012
  

  Kuala Lumpur is a pleasingly green city, in terms of public open spaces and abundant foliage, if not in genuine eco-friendliness. But you are never far from the noise and air pollution that comes with modern urban life. Fortunately, KL has a great resource on its doorsteps where it is possible to immerse yourself in … read the full post

• Eating for a (charitable) cause in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 12 Jan 2012
  

  Although a well-established practice in many other southeast Asian countries, particularly Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, eateries run on charitable principles are rather thin on the ground in Kuala Lumpur. This is partly because the city has less desperately poor people than say Phnom Penh or Bangkok. It is also down to cultural attitudes towards charity. … read the full post

• Enter the dragon: Chinese (Lunar) New Year in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 05 Jan 2012
  

  No sooner is Christmas over in Kuala Lumpur than preparations start for Chinese New Year (CNY), arguably the city’s most important festival. Also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, it marks the start of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Rotating cycles are used to name the year after an … read the full post

• How to extend your Malaysian tourist visa (Social Visit Pass) in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 02 Jan 2012
  

  Malaysia has one of the sanest and most hassle-free tourist visa procedures in all of Asia, with most visitors being granted a free 30-to-90 day Social Visit Pass on arrival. Compare that to virtually every other country in the region, which are not only more stingy with the time they grant travellers, but also charge … read the full post

• Kuala Lumpur’s biggest scam: Discriminatory pricing for foreigners

  First published: 27 Dec 2011
  

  It is a sad fact of travel that tourists are seen as ripe for ripping off by a dedicated band of con artists, whether that be credit card fraud, elaborate gem scams, or even fake charities. However clever these cons are, with a little bit of common sense they are perfectly avoidable. The problem with … read the full post

• Halal and haram (haraam) in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 23 Dec 2011
  

  Every year, Kuala Lumpur plays host to a global halal conference, an indication of how important the Malaysian government views the international market for products that comply with Islamic rules. The event covers everything from food to financial services, which probably comes as a bit of a surprise to anyone who thinks the term only refers … read the full post

• All change: Kuala Lumpur’s new public transport ticketing system

  First published: 20 Dec 2011
  

  For a city of Kuala Lumpur’s wealth and ambition, its public transport system was until recently an embarrassing mess (making it easier, sometimes, to just walk). It was not so much that it was badly planned, as to be completely lacking in any strategic overview at all. Every mode of transport, even the two lines of the … read the full post

• How to celebrate (Western) New Year in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 15 Dec 2011
  

  One of the side-effects of having such a mix of races and religions living in Malaysia, is that every few weeks seems to herald some major festival or other. This is particularly true of New Year, which is celebrated by Muslims, Chinese, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, as well as indigenous peoples, at different times. As a … read the full post

• December getaways: Cameron Highlands

  First published: 13 Dec 2011
  

  For many people, the whole point of being in the tropics around now is to escape the depth of the winter back home in Europe and North America. But that does not mean spending the whole time somewhere as steamy as Kuala Lumpur. For a good Goldilocks solution (neither too hot, nor too cold), why not … read the full post