AT THE SPEED OF NOOR

What does a gender blind world look like? DUALITY is an immersive theatre production I've never experienced before. According to its producers - two Malaysian individuals who are "tired of the moulds society tries to put [them] in", this project was created to challenge the status quo through "unconventional storytelling", in particular, to showcase local performers who struggle to adhere to traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Due to a busy schedule, I was only able to catch DUALITY's finale show. I'm so glad I didn't miss it!

In the restroom at my office today, I could hear two people coming in talking about work. One of them used the cubicle next to me while the other stayed outside. They continued to discuss abut their studies and research methodology all the while the cubicle person answered the call to nature. I was both shocked and amazed. How do people hold serious conversations while doing toilet stuff??

Ipoh offers a good time for both the relaxed and the restless as it can appeal to those looking for things to see in the city as well as those looking for things to do out in nature. For most of my life, I saw Ipoh as a stopover point when travelling along the north-south highway in Peninsular Malaysia, but the first time I properly went for a trip, I knew I had to return. And I did... in the same month, in fact. :) White water rafting!

Yesterday I had to take an Uber to get me from PJ to an LRT station around midnight, where I parked my car. My Uber driver was a masculine person (perhaps a trans man?), and we had some small friendly chat along the way. When he was dropping me off at the dark car park, he said he'd wait until I started the engine before he leaves. The only other Uber driver who was kind enough to offer this, and not just speed off leaving me alone, was an old man (he said he wouldn't want his daughter to be left alone in such a dark place). I think it says something about our society that out of the many e-hailing drivers who have driven me late at night (mainly Malays, and all men), only two actually cared about my safety at night: a gender-ambiguous Malay person who was probably raised as a girl, and an Indian uncle who is a father.

Krabi is a hot destination among Malaysians, so when my friend J  asked if I wanted to go anywhere for my birthday (she'd pay for my airfare as a birthday gift), we eventually settled on Krabi after hearing reviews about the place . Krabi was so kind to us when we were there: amazing weather, wonderful food, and barely any hickups in our plans. What seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences in my life. The view from the Tiger Cave Temple summit