a fleeting stay ...

It is reasonable to assume that Malaysians are familiar with these individuals who were aspiring politicians in their younger days. Today they often court controversy; there's never a dull moment when they open their mouths. "I am not young enough to know everything," says the great cynic Oscar Wilde with heavy sarcasm. Did these political figures think they knew everything when these photos were taken? Malaysia has the answers.This photographic montage is courtesy of Curi-Curi Wang Malaysia.

I will not reveal the location of Pasar Karat -- the market for tacky and not-so-tacky trash. Until this morning I wasn't aware of its existence. Many people know about it but the street vendors don't want any publicity. I promised these hard-working individuals -- both locals and foreigners -- that I would not make trouble for them. They readily admit that they are unlicensed traders. Kuala Lumpur City Hall has denied them business permits despite repeated pleas. But the mart has been around for nearly 50 years, according to some old-timers, and 35 to others. Meanwhile, real bargain hunters join the throng in narrow alleys and pavements regularly. Somehow they are able to separate the worthless items from the valuable ones. The less discerning consumers visit the bustling bazaar to get cheap things. As I discovered during this morning's walkabout, there is something for everyone here. Daily trading begins at 5.30am and ends before 10am when entrepreneurs in the area sta...

Passengers expect good Internet access while travelling. This facility for charging cell phones is a boon to passengers. I have a quick question for the managment of Electric Train Service (ETS) . When will passengers, who board the ETS intercity train at the Kuala Lumpur Old Station, have access to the Internet? Passengers especially mobile office professionals expect good Internet access while travelling and waiting at railway stations. I wonder what the two computers -- visibly placed next to the cell phone charger area (opposite the ticketing counter) -- are for? Since its launch on August 12 (2010) the Ipoh-Kuala Lumpur-Seremban route is gaining popularity among locals and foreigners. This is an opportunity to enhance the reputation of your service.

The Malaysian Open House is a tradition that is likely to continue for a very long time. It has been non-stop feasting for many Malaysian Muslims as they continue to manage or visit open houses during the month of Shawwal which began on September 10. Many have expressed admiration for this "unique and peculiar Malaysia tradition". The Malaysian open house or rumah terbuka (in the Malay language) is mostly held during major festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Diwali, Christmas, Chinese New Year and Hari Gawai, among others. It is the season to welcome relatives, friends, colleagues and sometimes strangers from the different ethnic groups into their homes. The activity creates goodwill and may lead to friendship for some people. While I like the idea of an open house, and by extension an open heart (because that is what the gesture implies), I find the sort organised by corporations a little impersonal. I prefer small gatherings of family and close friends. I am act...

Globetrotters often express the following sentiment: "The best part of travel is coming home". I am going to modify that slightly: "The best part of travel is returning to Malaysia." After a few days in a foreign land I begin to crave for all things Malaysian and that include teh tarik , street food, ethnic diversity and even the corny (some may say racist) jokes that Malaysians are fond of making. It would be nice if the weather was kinder, the transport system more efficient, traffic flow smoother and people remembered to hold doors behind them as a courtesy to others. It's not perfect but we are getting there. Today Malaysians celebrate the 47th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia when Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined Malaya on September 16, 1963. Singapore left the federation in 1965. From this year Malaysia Day is a national holiday. The following pictures show some of the things that make Malaysia so lovable. Terengganu boasts t...

Yesterday was Eid-ul-Fitr, the first day of Shawwal , which marked the end of Ramadan . Muslims in Malaysia celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr or Hari Raya Aidil Fitri in true Malaysian fashion: holding open house to spread the festive joy with friends and colleagues from the different ethnic groups. It's always open house at the homes of most Malaysians during major festivals. It is a well-established tradition in Malaysia. Believers had gathered in mosques all over Malaysia on Friday morning to offer the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers. After prayers they exchanged greetings by saying " Selamat Hari Raya (Happy Eid)" and asked for forgiveness for any wrongdoing they had done. Then it was time to welcome guests to their homes. For some the open house is held later in the month of Shawwal when Malaysians continue to engage in festivities until the very end. This is because they want to focus on other things on the first few days of Shawwal such as visiting graveyards to pay their r...

Some 300 orphans from five welfare homes and orphanages in the Klang Valley ( pictures ) were treated to berbuka puasa (the meal which breaks the day's fast, also known as iftar in some cultures) at Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Members of the media were also invited to the event, which was organised by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Malaysia's biggest fund management company. It is a yearly occurrence. The special guests received duit raya (the customary cash gift for Eid ul-Fitr , the first day of Shawal that marks the end of Ramadan ), dates and cookies for Eid ul-Fitr. PNB is among many corporations in Malaysia that organise berbuka puasa for the underprivileged sections of the community in Malaysia. While I laud the move by these corporations, I could not help but wonder why hotels are chosen as the venues for these social functions? What is wrong with community halls, mosques or school halls? Other members of the community -- rich, poor, th...