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The fifth and final installment in the Tales of Asia series takes us back to British Empire in the East Indies in the 1800s and 1900s. We visit Rangoon (Yangon), the capital of British Burma; as well as George Town (Penang) … Continue reading
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The second in the Tales of Asia series journeys to Jakarta, the capital of the modern nation of Indonesia. For almost 300 years, however, Jakarta was Batavia, one of the oldest port cities in the region, founded by the Dutch in … Continue reading
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The first talk of the Tales of Asia series journeys to Malacca and Manila, two of the oldest port cities in Southeast Asia, established by the Portuguese and Spanish respectively in the 1500s. The cities were mediaeval fortress towns complete … Continue reading
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“After all, the grand tour is just the inspired man’s way of heading home.” – Paul Theroux, The Great Railway Bazaar So what have I learned from this year of nostalgia and re-discovery? I’ve learnt, for a … Continue reading
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All three of the Straits Settlements towns, Penang, Malacca and Singapore were known to be multi-cultural melting pots, home to almost all of the creeds and religions in the world. In each of these, there were streets known as “Streets … Continue reading
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What distinguishes Singapore from everywhere else in Southeast Asia, is that here, one still feels keenly, the sense of the colonial. In fact, the colonial is pervasive in Singapore, not just in terms of the way of life here; … Continue reading
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This was it: the grande dame of not just Singapore, but Southeast Asia. It was meant to be the glorious climax and culmination of the entire Grand Tour. But somehow, it fell short, by about a mile. I think it … Continue reading
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“’No, Jim, that’s not what the Singapore Grip is,” cried Matthew, his eyes flashing more than ever. ‘I know what it is! It’s the grip of our Western culture and economy on the Far East… It’s the stranglehold of capital … Continue reading
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In 1883, the celebrated author and explorer, Isabella Lucy Bird had this to say about her extended sojourn in Malacca, to which she had decided to wend her trans-continental journey, on a whim: “Malacca fascinates me more and more daily. … Continue reading
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Malacca doesn’t have a Grand Hotel per se, but it does have Majestic Hotel, which is almost as historic, and has been recently refurbished so it recalls these other Grand Hotels in the region. The “peranakan” or mixed architecture of … Continue reading
Dream Of A City 