You-Want's Life

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide. Growing up in Malaysia, I have always witnessed my fellow Muslim friends fasting and conducting more frequent prayers to feel closer to God during this period. The fast itself lasts from sunrise to sunset, spanning over 13 hours in Malaysia. Muslims would refrain themselves from food and drinks as to remind themselves of the suffering faced by those who are less fortunate, and detach themselves from unnecessary hedonistic pleasures to focus on their inner self. Thus, it is a period of both physical and spiritual purification. In fact, Ramadan is not only something Muslims look forward to every year as a holy period that brings the faithful closer to God, the non-Muslims look forward to it for many reasons too. First of all, the Ramadan bazaars offer a myriad of unique Malay street food that can’t normally be found. Back in my Muslim-majority secondary school, our schooling hours were also shortened and t...

What another drizzly evening with chaotic train rides. I took off from work earlier than usual, having completed chunks of work that required urgent clearance. Why the early exit, you ask? To return to the little library with old books and yellow lighting, where I attended a life drawing session as an artist some five months ago, only for a different mission this time. My first experiential drawing session was a unique discourse of art, nudity and body appreciation. It had me pondering while I sketched figure outlines of our model- how did they feel without garments in front of a local crowd of art-loving community? Curious, and more adventurous I certainly was, I decided I would uncover that satin of mystery myself. What could a better way to learn be than a practical, personal experience? So, there I was, adding a tick to my adventure bucket list by signing up to be a life model. Artwork by @yongyoonkit (Instagram) Nervous I was to walk through the doors, knowing the agenda was to st...

Deepavali, or Diwali, is the Festival of Lights which symbolises the "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance" and it is celebrated by the Hindus. Having lived in Malaysia for most of my life, I am nothing but intrigued by the diverse cultures we offer here. And as we gear towards Deepavali, I couldn’t help but think of all the colourful Indian sweets and snacks that I have seen at stalls and restaurants but have not yet been able to try. Personally (with a hint of guilt when I say this), I think it’s ironic to not have tried many Indian sweets despite calling myself a proud Malaysian, which is what motivated this article in the first place. Thus, in the spirit of adventures and enhanced cultural understanding, my friends and I took an Indian snacks tour down Little India in Brickfields.  Little India was scattered with stalls that offered a variety of Indian sweets. Just look at the options we were spoiled with! We explored the part of to...

A curious visit to Berjaya Times Square for The Kelabits Live In Kuala Lumpur 2023, organised by Yayasan Kesenian Orang Asli, was fruitful beyond my expectations. Kuala Lumpur is certainly not a stranger to exhibitions run by the diverse races and ethnics living in the country. That’s what made our society unique (or at least as what we have been taught in school since young), we respect and appreciate different cultures, even those distinct from our own.  This past weekend, the Kelabits took over the foyer of the famous Berjaya Times Square and showcased their gorgeous cultures including dances, crafts, costumes and even food. The Kelabits are one of the smallest ethnic groups in the country, with most settlements located in Bario in Northeast Sarawak. Bario is a community of some 13 to 16 villages in the remote Kelabit Highlands, and it lies about 1000m above sea level. These villages are longhouse settlements and the people worked a myriad of occupations in modern days despite t...

A good friend’s keen recommendation of a white water rafting experience led us down winding, narrow rural roads in search of a service provider.  The rustic kampung scene off Gopeng was quiet in the morning. We cruised along rubber trees, free range chickens and scattered houses for at least 15 minutes, having only our navigator apps to trust, to get to Riverbug Perak’s base office. Our mission today was white water rafting along Sungai Kampar, which is rated Grade Three on rafting standards, depicting an intermediate class of river stability suitable for inexperienced challengers. White water rafting got its name from the churning white, foamy water created when the river flows rapidly and cascades over obstacles like boulders. Having been a recreational sport since the mid-1900s, white water rafting is a popular activity today and can be found in various locations across Malaysia. It usually involves an inflatable raft made of strong rubber, four to eight passengers including a...