Bossy Flossie
What can I say, I am a Penang addict. I’ve been to Penang so many times that I know the historic town centre like the back of my hand. Visiting the Tropical Spice Garden in Penang has been on my list for a while now. I confess it was because I had read on the Real Singapore Expat Wives Facebook group that it was ‘the thing to do’ there. Note to self: some privileged expats wouldn’t know a good experience if it smacked them in the face.
Malacca is a perfect arty farty weekend getaway if you live in Singapore. It is only a bus ride away and an easy place to get around on foot. You can see all the main sights within 24 hours! Malacca has an amazing foodie scene and the Malacca night market alone is worth the visit. Make sure you go on an empty stomach so you can sample all the local delights. But between eating and drinking, there is also shopping and some artistic things to do. Enjoy my 24 hour guide to Malacca!
Today it seems the ever popular mantra is foreigners are taking our jobs. It is heard in every first world city and news headline and this fear has helped bring about historical events such as Brexit in the UK and the election of Trump in the US. However since I have moved to Singapore and started travelling the region, I have been surprised by the number of white people working in low end jobs in southeast Asia. Whilst we let the first world governments stir up emotions and convince us that foreigners are bad, it seems we also feel entitled to exploit the cheap prices and available opportunities of the very countries whose nationals we want to kick out. But is it really bad to steal jobs, or is the movement of people better for everyone?
I was strolling through George Town in Penang and seeking refuge from the heat, when I happened upon the Chop Kongsi atelier workshop. This darling little store full of quirks and delights is run by May Lyn Foo. The hour I spent browsing the trifles and trinkets and casually chatting with May Lyn were one of the highlights of visit to Penang.
A long weekend to Ipoh staying at the luxurious Banjaran hot springs retreat proved to be just what the doctor ordered. Ipoh is the capital of the Perak region of Malaysia. In between all the relaxing and indulging at the hotel we found time to explore some of the nearby limestone cave temples, the Old Town centre as well as the Lost World of Tambun. There is a lot you can pack into 3 days in Ipoh!
The Art of Old Town series by Ernest Zacharevic is a key attraction of Malaysia. Ipoh is the capital of the Perak region of Malaysia and the countries third largest city. The town was founded on the tin mining industry, which went into decline from the late 20th century. Today Ipoh attracts many visitors who are drawn by its old-world charm. The town centre is a mesh of colonial-era buildings, rustic doorways, beautiful mosques and a fantastic contrast of local coffee shops and hipster cafes. In 2014 locally founded coffee chain Old Town White Coffee collaborated with Lithuanian street artist Ernest Zacharevic in a project dubbed the Art of Old Town to create a series of murals on the streets of Ipoh.