To begin, a disclaimer. I don’t feel all that comfortable giving my opinions on the politics of a nation that isn’t my own. There are certain universal truths I will always promote and defend, even in foreign countries, but getting involved in a debate about an election seems beneath that. I want to be clear that I am forming my opinion on this election based on limited information. I have lived in Malaysia for a few years and had the chance to observe the Malaysian people and hear about the issues affecting the country, but none of that can substitute for living an entire life as a citizen of Malaysia. It’s rare for me to admit this, but I could be wrong. [Read more…]
Misadventures On the Road to Melaka
I guess I thought I was already pretty good on my motorbike. I’d put about 9,000km (5,592 miles) behind me in a little under seven months and I had a left side full of road rash scars from my first fall which was a constant reminder to be less of an idiot on the road. Melaka seemed doable.
My village was rural. And rural meant chickens, goats, sheep, cows, water buffalo, monitor lizards, and the occasional horse ran freely. My first week riding my bike, a pair of startled goats darting into the road sent me sliding across the blacktop for an acutely painful but non life-threatening lesson in rural motorbiking. [Read more…]