Between the Bookends of Birth and Death
2 min read
We fear death, but when it does appear, we find that we do accept it, simply because there is no choice.
Relying on the Proximate and the Immediate to Keep Sane in a Virtual World
4 min read
Narratives are, by their nature, a collective event and a social event; in sum, they are an exercise of power as well, a nexus where different wills and opinions wrestle each other to emerge with as much claim to being true as possible.
Awake in Time for a Terengganu Sunrise
3 min read
Time is ticking by. Flash by flash, wave by wave, breath by breath. Azan by azan, full moon by full moon, sunrise by sunrise. Repeating, reiterating, reciting. And yet, this is but half the story of the universe.
Dealing With the Droppings of Daily Life
3 min read
Novelties, novelties and new fashions. All crowding our homes and our heads. Within this paraphernalia of modern living, we try to stay balanced.
Defining Penang Exceptionalism Through Its Geography, Its Biology and Its Human History
4 min read
One trait in people from Penang is that they are passionate about the place. Besides being their home, it is almost a holy place to them—a blessed place that inspires, attracts and awes most visitors.
Narrating the Nation: Ooi Kee Beng’s Art of Storytelling
3 min read
Ooi Kee Beng turns 70 this year. A driving force behind Penang Monthly since its start in 2009, his steady leadership has helped shape it into one of Malaysia’s standout publications.
As the Sun Warms the Valley…
3 min read
I AM IN the foothills of the peninsula’s main mountain range, off Gopeng. It is early morning, 7am. From…
Simple Tools for Taming Your Prejudices
4 min read
I AM STRONGLY convinced that as long as children continue to be brought up to learn behaviours and imbibe ideas…
History: Mankind's Pursuit of Self-understanding and Self-acceptance
3 min read
IT IS OFTEN SAID—way too often—that “History belongs to the Victor”. There is of course a lot of…
Between The Microcosmic and The Macrocosmic: We Are All Giants Now
3 min read
YOU WOULD HAVE seen them. Mobile drone shots of cities, done with the camera pointed straight down to capture the…
I Know Why Penang Food Is So Amazing...
3 min read
BORN WITHOUT ANY spoon of any metal in my mouth, food was a matter of having enough to dispel any…
Climate Change: A Timeless Concern
3 min read
CLIMATE CHANGE. The phrase rings with an alliterative charm, yet it evokes a notion that is far from simple. It invites us to consider our relationship with the elements and...