Travelfish correspondent Pat Fama

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

Posts by Pat Fama:

• Celebrating Christmas in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 07 Dec 2011
  

  When talking about how Christmas is celebrated in Kuala Lumpur, it is important to draw a distinction between the city’s small Christian community, and everyone else. For the vast majority of KL’s population, the festival is devoid of any religious connotations. Even the festive decorations have been denuded of any Christian imagery. Malaysians generally need … read the full post

• Of camels, the Australian outback, and the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

  First published: 02 Dec 2011
  

  If I said the most interesting exhibition currently showing in Kuala Lumpur was about the role camels (and their handlers) played in opening up the Australian outback, or that the venue for this esoteric offering was the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM), you might be a trifle sceptical. But really, “Australia’s Muslim Cameleers Pioneers of … read the full post

• “Malaysian Girls” and other performance arts treats for December in Kuala Lumpur

  First published: 28 Nov 2011
  

  What I like most about the performance arts scene in Kuala Lumpur is that virtually all tastes are catered for, from experimental jazz to comedy musicals. Few venues in Southeast Asia provide such a breadth of offerings as the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. Take December, for example, where the highlights include a Mandarin-language stage … read the full post

• “Human rights in outer space” and the struggle for democracy in Malaysia

  First published: 25 Nov 2011
  

  Most visitors to Kuala Lumpur’s Central Market are probably unaware that they are close to one of the city’s most subversive organisations. It might not look much from the outside, but the Annexe Gallery plays an important role in the fight to make Malaysia a more free, equal and democratic society. The latest manifestation of … read the full post

• A day trip to the Hindu temple complex of Batu Caves

  First published: 22 Nov 2011
  

  Read any Tourism Malaysia publication, or scan its website, and you could be forgiven for thinking Kuala Lumpur has no public transport to speak of. The phrase “taxis are the most convenient mode of transport” appears with alarming regularity, even when Rapid KL buses, or walking, are viable options. But even Tourism Malaysia could not … read the full post

• A temple tour of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown

  First published: 18 Nov 2011
  

  The early story of Kuala Lumpur is essentially the history of the area now known as Chinatown. It was here that a rough-and-ready tin mining settlement gradually became a proper town. Even today, Chinatown retains probably the strongest sense of living history of any district in KL. A great way to get an idea of … read the full post

• The Penang Island Jazz Festival 2011

  First published: 17 Nov 2011
  

  It seems to be an unspoken rule of music festivals in Malaysia that all the best ones are held on islands. The state of Sarawak, in Borneo, plays host to both Borneo Jazz (formerly known as Miri Jazz) and the Rainforest World Music Festival, while the inaugural Langkawi Live was held earlier this month (November … read the full post

• Kuala Lumpur hostel Reggae Mansion’s controversial guest policy

  First published: 13 Nov 2011
  

  To succeed, all businesses must identify who their target market is. For a hotel or guesthouse, that means deciding who the likely clientele will be. Often the whole business strategy is based around a particular demographic niche. By necessity, going after one group of people involves ignoring or even excluding other potential customers. A luxury … read the full post

• Kuala Kubu Baru: one of Malaysia’s most laid-back little towns

  First published: 05 Nov 2011
  

  When I wrote some months ago that anyone wanting a chilled-out day trip from Kuala Lumpur could do worse than heading to Kuala Selangor, I had no idea what a throbbing, thrill-packed destination it is compared to Pulau Ketam. But even lovely Ketam gets swamped by visitors at certain times of the year. The same … read the full post

• European Union Film Festival 2011 in Kuala Lumpur and Penang

  First published: 01 Nov 2011
  

  Kuala Lumpur‘s cultural life has come along in leaps and bounds over recent years. Barely a week goes by without some sort of artistic event or other, from modern dance to classical music. The problem is often not with the range and quality of the city’s artistic offerings, but with the paucity of available information. … read the full post