Buah Macang Buah Kuini

Buah macang buah kuini, Masak sebiji dalam daun; Mengapa begini hatiku ini, Habis bulan berganti tahun. A pair of fruits, Machang and Kwini Each one ripening wrapped in a leaf Oh why does this poor heart of mine feel like this? Each month of passing has turned into years Sarawak is blessed with an abundance of […]

Good News for Mixed Kids

Malaysia never stops changing. Controversial areas like race, religion, native privilege (bumiputera status), and national language are constantly in a state of flux. Most recently, when I registered the birth of my latest child, I discovered that the birth certificate itself had changed (for the second time), and that now the race of the child […]

Brass Crescent Awards

Eid Mubarak, Selamat Hari Raya Korban! The 6th Annual Brass Crescent Awards have been announced. Congratulations to all the winners. If you haven’t subscribed yet to Islam in China, Muslimah Media Watch and Seekers Guidance, you ought to do it right now. I’m very happy to be mentioned along with Folio, Al-Miskeenah, and the Manrilla, […]

Kekabu

Among the more dramatic trees in the settled landscapes of Malaysia is the Kekabu or Kapok Tree (Ceiba pentandra), a gargantuan tropical version of the common large-for-Michigan Cottonwood Tree (Populus deltoides) of my youth. A truly massive tree, it grows to easily 100 feet high, with thick strong lateral branches radiating out in whorls at […]