Malaysia…it’s a less corrupt, less crowded version of Indonesia. Plus the two languages are around 80% the same, so I can get by fairly well. There is a surprising amount of Chinese and Muslim influences in everything from food to architecture. Definitely a fun and friendly country to explore — lots of great spots for nature lovers, as well.
Thanks to all the adrenaline-pumping adventures, delicious food, pristine beaches, beautiful scenery, exotic wildlife, gorgeous islands and friendly people, Malaysia is one of my favorite countries in the world! (I spend so much time here it is basically my second home) 😎
For the first episode of Derek Eats That! it seemed only fitting to start with the big one: bull penis. Or as it is known locally in Malaysia, “sup torpedo” (torpedo soup — can you guess why it’s named that?) I had long since heard of people eating animal penis, as it’s common practice in … Read more
2014 has been a fun-filled and food-filled year but not one without it’s share of trials and tribulations (case in point getting locked up abroad for 16 days and eventually deported because of a tweet). But through it all I’ve kept on the hunt for more tasty foods to try, whether strange or taboo or … Read more
I am not someone who is on a quest to visit every country in the world, ticking them off a travel ‘to do’ list. I’m someone who is on a quest to explore as much of the world as I can, learn about and appreciate diverse cultures and meet and interact with different people. But … Read more
New foods and traveling go hand in hand with each other. While meat lovers and vegans will never both agree on which foreign foods are delicious, everyone loves fruit. Plus it just so happens that the fruit you grew up eating are boring compared to the amazing, weird, exotic and delicious fruit in Asia that … Read more
All last month my fellow travel bloggers were sharing their top photos and recommended gift ideas for travelers. Never one to hop on an overcrowded bandwagon I decided to abstain from it all. Well that and most of my photographs are not that worthy of repeated sharing, although to be fair my photography skills have … Read more
Whenever I’m in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, there is only one place I stay at: Back Home Hostel, one of the most relaxing hostels I have ever encountered along my journeys. Located near Chinatown among several other prominent hostels, Back Home stands alone in terms of comfort. The entire place truly has that “back home” feel … Read more
Arriving in Malaysia was a breeze. No visa is required for travelers from 80% of the countries around the world. In fact Malayisa has one of the most flexible and accommodating visa policies of any country. However if you happen to have be an Israeli passport holder or have an Israeli stamp in your passport, … Read more
That’s right, in just one month I will bid adieu to my house in Austin and embark on my longest and greatest adventure yet. No more ‘six weeks in this country’ or ‘six months on the road,’ this time it’s the infamous “sell all my possessions and buy a one-way ticket” scenario. The wild part … Read more
It is an honor to present this week’s featured blogger, Samantha Yap, an aspiring travel journalist who also has the fortune of being a global citizen starting at the early age of four. Plus, thanks to her diversified upbringing, she is also a bonafide “Third-Culture Kid” (TCK). “ A TCK is a someone who … Read more
Kuala Lumpur, or fondly known as KL, is a big city with an area of 94 square miles and a population of 1.3 million. Being a big city, sometimes we wonder, what can we do in this city? Where to go or what to do? Here are the top things to do in Kuala Lumpur … Read more
