Brisk walking at Taman Wawasan also means stopping to browse through some books. Yes, books!
Right in the middle of the park sits a quiet little outdoor library -- actually five of them -- filled with books you can just pick up and read.
Behind it all is Lee Kim Siew, a 90-year-old retired headmaster who still tends to these shelves every morning. What used to be a neglected space is now a peaceful corner for readers, built purely from love for books.
Walking through the Tunku exhibition at Muzium Negara felt less like browsing a gallery and more like tracing the footsteps of a life lived in service to a nation. Beneath the bold title “Tunku Negarawan Ulung: Pengasas Negara Bangsa,” the panels unfolded like chapters in a documentary -- each date, photograph, and caption marking a turning point not only for one man, but for Malaysia itself. The atmosphere made you slow down, read carefully, and remember that independence was not a single shout of “Merdeka,” but a long, deliberate journey.
One of the earliest moments captured was February 1956 at Padang Banda Hilir, Melaka, when Tunku declared 31 August 1957 as the date of independence. It wasn’t Merdeka yet -- but it was the promise of Merdeka. The image of him standing in an open car, arm raised to the crowd, felt electric even decades later, as if hope itself had taken physical form. Nearby, a quieter photograph of his student days in London showed a very different Tunku -- young, far from home, surrounded by his adopted family. It was a gentle reminder that before the negotiations and speeches, there was simply a student learning the world that he would one day negotiate with.
But what lingered most were the final panels -- his resignation from office, and eventually news of his passing in 1990. After the triumphs and celebrations, the exhibition grew quieter, more reflective. The photographs seemed softer, more human. It was a reminder that even the “Father of Independence” was, in the end, a man who stepped away and grew old like everyone else. Walking out, I didn’t just feel informed about history; I felt as though I had accompanied him through it -- from youthful beginnings, to nationhood, to farewell. Nostalgic for a time I never lived through, yet deeply grateful for the steady hands that helped shape the country we call home.
* The exhibition runs till 29th March 2026 at Muzium Negara
Pretty sure everyone has seen Amsterdam in the headlines these past few days, as the city experiences heavy snowfall like it’s never seen before. That instantly took me back to our first trip there in 2012 -- when we accidentally did the whole 'The Fault in Our Stars' tour.
The funny part? We did it two years before the film (based on John Green’s best-selling book) was even released. Total coincidence. Haha. So what did we see and do? Read on.
The Hotel De Filosoof featured in the film does exist in Amsterdam, but it wasn’t used as the actual filming location. In the movie, it’s portrayed by the American Hotel -- the gorgeous, graceful Art Deco landmark sitting right in the middle of bustling Leidseplein. And whaddaya know? We actually stayed at the American Hotel during our trip. Here’s a photo of us in front of the fountain.
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Known as the city of canals, you can’t visit Amsterdam without hopping on a canal cruise. Hazel and Gus do this on their first day, and it really is the best way to soak in the city’s scenery, bridges, and iconic buildings. And yes -- here’s us, happily cruising along.
The duo also visit Peter Van Houten at his house, the whole reason they travelled to Amsterdam in the first place. His home is located right next to Vondelpark, the city’s most famous -- and prettiest -- park.
Seri Negara is now open to the public after a refurbishment that finished ahead of schedule, and we finally made our way there. It really is splendid. The kind of place that makes visitors pause at the entrance of each gallery, mouths slightly agape, instinctively going “ooooh” and “aaaah”. That happened a lot. The exhibitions are thoughtfully curated, making them accessible for foreigners and, just as importantly, engaging enough for our young ones to grasp the history of both the building and the nation.
The tour guide did a decent job, though perhaps because everything is still fresh, he leaned a little too heavily on the script on his tablet. Things took a more personal turn for me when we entered the gallery on Malaysian pop culture. I found myself naturally slipping into storyteller mode, chatting with a few visitors — including some from Singapore — who seemed genuinely entertained. The group even asked to take a photo with me, which was unexpected, mildly amusing, and oddly flattering.
Walking around Seri Negara also means you’re free to explore the grounds at your own pace, taking as many photos or videos as you like. Built in 1913, this 112-year-old former King’s House has been beautifully restored in just 10 months under Khazanah Nasional’s Warisan KL initiative. Today, it houses cultural and heritage galleries, displays 14 artworks from Khazanah’s collection (some dating back to the 1960s), and offers inviting spaces like Semuka Café and Serai House for a nostalgic break. Entry is free, with registration via the Sahabat Seri Negara programme — always a bonus.
So, we finally made it to the “viral” library in Shah Alam -- Pustaka Raja Tun Uda. My daughter Tia is a full-on library lover, so this little outing felt like a cosy family field trip lah. Haha.
Pustaka Raja Tun Uda is a six-storey library set in a lush, green enclave near the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf Club. With its airy modern spaces and a collection that runs into the hundreds of thousands, it’s no wonder students, families, and knowledge-seekers flock here for a quiet place to read, learn, and just chill.
Beyond books, the library is impressively kitted out: discussion rooms, free WiFi, a Makerspace, recording studios, a bright children’s section, a café, a surau, and OKU-friendly facilities. It really feels like the kind of place where you can spend an entire afternoon without even realising it.
What made my visit extra meaningful, though, was spotting a coffee-table book on my alma mater, English College JB, right at the entrance. The book commemorates the school’s 100th anniversary. I was actually at the celebration back in 2014, but I never managed to get my hands on this special edition -- so finding it here felt like a small, unexpected full-circle moment.
Anyway, if you haven’t been, do drop by! It’s worth the trip.
And here’s a short video for your viewing pleasure 😄
We were genuinely excited to finally visit Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang in Bandar Botanik -- and once we arrived, we were simply blown away. The mosque’s magnificence, paired with its sense of calm and serenity, made it one of the most unique and beautiful places of worship we’ve seen in Selangor.
What immediately caught our eye was the architecture -- the sweeping tiled roofs, curved eaves, and pagoda-style tower. Modelled after the famous Great Mosque of Xi’an in China, this mosque is a stunning blend of Islamic and Chinese design elements. Unlike most Malaysian mosques, there’s no large dome; instead, the focus is on elegant simplicity and open spaces that invite peace and reflection.
Built on nearly 3 acres, Masjid Cina Muslim Klang can accommodate around a thousand worshippers. The complex includes prayer halls, classrooms, a library, cultural centre, café, and even staff quarters. Every detail -- from the lotus motifs to the carved wooden beams and calligraphy in Chinese-style strokes -- feels thoughtfully crafted to symbolize harmony between faith and culture.
The masjid’s story began in 2017 through collaboration between JAIS, MACMA, and state authorities. It received royal approval from Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in 2019, with construction completed in mid-2024. It officially opened for prayers in August 2024 --- a proud new landmark for Klang and a symbol of Malaysia’s cultural diversity.
Standing in the courtyard, surrounded by stillness and soft sunlight, it was easy to feel at peace. The atmosphere here isn’t just spiritual -- it’s deeply grounding. Visiting Masjid Cina Muslim Klang reminded us how faith can transcend design and language, yet still feel beautifully familiar.
