• Malaysia

    Two Days in Kuala Lumpur

    My friend MJ and I rode the plane from Busan to Kuala Lumpur excited to take our first real vacation outside of South Korea. For me, Malaysia was the 5thcountry I visited, but it felt like the first official for me. Up until this point, I had taken trips to Japan, The Philippines, Thailand, and South Korea, all either with family or with funding provided by my parents. I had paid for this trip and in essence, felt like I was becoming a true adult. We spent two days in Kuala Lumpur, hardly enough time, but good enough to get a feel for the city. Day 1 Arriving at Kuala…

  • Malaysia

    Malaysia’s Indigenous Black People

    Taman Negara is home to the world’s oldest rainforest, and unknown to many, home to a large number of Malaysia’s indigenous Black people. Months before my trip to Malaysia, I watched a documentary about the black presence in Asia. I was captivated by the natives of Malaysia. Their short statue, dark pigment, and Afro-textured hair was certainly far from the image I had of a typical Malaysian. I wanted to connect with these indigenous Malaysians and show the world that such people did exist. I was determined to meet them. The native people here are called the Batek people. Contrary to what people may believe, these people are some of the…