Indigo dyeing (藍染, lán rǎn), is a plant-based fabric dyeing process used for the past 5,000 years in Asia and Africa. The leaves of the indigofera tinctoria legume shrub are soaked, fermented and alkalinized to create a dye that oxidizes on fabric to its namesake deep blue. Indigo has special meaning for my maternal Hakka …
Indigo dyeing: bringing a beautiful ancient craft home Read More »
It’s been a long five years since my last series of posts from Malaysia in 2017. The world has changed dramatically, and I have changed along with it. The pandemic, climate change and rifts in human society have forced me to look hard and deep at my career in public health and medicine. What bright …
There are 7 species of sea turtles in the world, and all are endangered or vulnerable (green, hawksbill, olive ridley, leatherback turtles have lived in Malaysia; other species include loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, flatback and leatherback). In Malaysia, all but two have become extinct or functionally extinct (not laying eggs). The two that are endangered but …
Sea turtle hatching at the Bubbles Turtle Conservation Project, Malaysia Read More »
The clear, ethereal cerulean blue waters surrounding the Perhentian islands are a snorkeler’s paradise. I was able to walk off the beautiful white sand beach at the Bubbles Eco-resort and turtle conservation area (http://bubblesdc.com/) and easily swim into coral beds and see interesting sea life…a variety of sea cucumbers, sponges, coral fish like parrot fish …
Underwater life at the Perhentian islands, Malaysia Read More »
One of my favorite ways to get to know a new place is to visit the local market and when possible cook or assemble a meal using fresh local ingredients. . I just visited my uncle in Zhuhai, a seaside city in Guangdong province between the financial powerhouses of Hong Kong and Macau. You can …
Gongbei market and seafood feast in Zhuhai, China Read More »
One of the easiest ways to get to Southern mainland China if you’re traveling internationally is to land in Hong Kong International Airport and take a ferry from the SkyPier. What I didn’t realize when I tried to do this (and it’s not obvious from the many maps and websites I read about the SkyPier) …
Getting to mainland China from Hong Kong Airport by ferry: don’t make the mistake I did! Read More »
You can visit the Masjid Negara, or National Mosque of Malaysia during certain times of the day between prayer service (best to look the visitation times up before going; for my trip the non-Muslim visiting hours were Monday to Sunday: 9am-12pm, 3pm-4pm, 5:30pm-6:30pm, except Friday which is 3pm-4pm, 5:30pm-6:30pm only). It is a beautiful example …
Masjid Negara (National Mosque of Malaysia) and the Islamic Art Museum in Kuala Lumpur Read More »
The Batu Caves are ~400 million year old limestone karst caves formed by tectonic action pushing up an ancient seabed floor of squished-together shells and coral. They are also a funky mix of geologic and guano science, Hindu holiness, monkey shenanigans, stair workout, and retro-cheese. . To get there, take the KTM train north to …
Batu Caves: 400 million year old caves and Hindu holy site near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Read More »
If you’re in George Town and would like to be out in nature, two relatively easy day trips are to go to Penang Hill and/or Penang National Park. I didn’t have enough time to go to Penang Hill but apparently it has amazing views and is much more developed with the botanic garden and the …
Penang National Park: hike or boat to Monkey Beach Read More »
Wandering around old, preserved streets is even more fun when there is street art to be found. George Town is full of street art, especially around the Armenian Street area.
