Of getting lost
Collecting secret places
My hobby is collecting secret places in the cities I frequent. On certain days, when the sky is deep blue and if some little kid smiles at me, I feel magnanimous, and I reveal my secrets to the folks around me.
Last Sunday, I shared some of the ethnic enclaves in Kuala Lumpur with a colourful bunch — some residents and some travellers. We went to a Burmese place, where ladies in thanaka and lyongi served us tea and mohinga. Next, we climbed up a narrow staircase past a Rambo Supermart (perhaps they sell supplies to take over a small country) for some Nepalese momo. For desserts, we explored the Filipino enclave for halo-halo. The survivors of this intrepid trek ended up at what is probably the cheapest and most colourful watering hole in KL. Next time, I am in KL, I will reveal the only Cambodian cafe in the city. Come if you are keen, ours is not a caravan of despair.
Earlier in the month, I was in Saigon at another travel meet with these adventurous folks.
And sharing stories in a park in Jakarta.