2014 was not a good year for me. I had to go to Malaysia in the beginning of the year as there was a death in the family. The day I arrived, my sister drove me to the Buddhist funeral home where our dad would spent his last three days on earth for families and friends to pay their final respects before burial.
I rested, and took a step backward to reflect the life of my late father. He actually had a pretty good life. May he rest in peace.
I had a chance to visit two of Malaysia’s popular destinations, Ipoh and Penang.
Ipoh today has totally blossomed into a beautiful cityscape that marries old-world charm with modern facilities. Known for its local fare, Ipoh offers an endless lists of street food for the diehard foodies coming from all over the world. ‘Bean sprout chicken noodles”, “Chee cheong fun (flat noodles) with curry”, and “white coffee” are just some of the few originated from this once sleepy colonial town. A good friend of mine, Michelle opened a floral shop a couple of years ago in the part of town which is still occupied by rows of old shophouses with hidden treasures for the adventure seeking individuals.
"The Pearl of the Orient" or simply Penang has a unique architectural and cultural landscape without parallel anywhere in Southeast Asia. It is also the most livable city in Malaysia and it has the lowest crime rate in the country. I spent the weekend with a few of my closest friends, and it was really nice to do catch up with them. The architecture in Penang is a durable testament of her history - outstanding colonial buildings include the Municipal Council and Town Hall buildings, Penang Museum, the Eastern and Oriental Hotel, St George's Anglican Church, and buildings in the old commercial district - all of which are part of the UNESCO Heritage Site. Certain old walls within the city have been given a new lease of life with beautiful wall painting of children all across historical Georgetown. These are the works of Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic, and the artworks are one of the main draws to the island these days.
I stayed in London for a few days on my flight back to New York. I met with a friend, Chin for a day. I helped her moved to her new apartment which is located near the Eventim Apollo where Kate Bush had her ‘Before The Dawn’ performances late August last year. “Come and stay with me on your next trip, Herman”, she said. I promised I would just do not know when. 
I took a day trip to Stonehenge, Salisbury and Bath. Stonehenge is one of the most famous sites in the world. It is the remains of a ring of standing stones set within earthworks located in Wiltshire, England. The site and its surrounding were added to the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 1986. Unfortunately, I find its historical facts and believes are much more interesting that the sight itself. Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom.The cathedral was beautiful although I hate to admit that I missed the opportunity to view the Magna Carta. Bath is well-known for its Roman baths and Temple but it was the Royal Crescent which is a row of 30 terraced housed laid out in a sweeping crescent in the city that is really beautiful and breathtaking. My only complaint about the tour is there was just not enough time.
This was my year in travel for 2014. Where would I go in 2015? Right now I’m still debating whether I should go to Medellin, Colombia for a friend’s wedding happening in 3 weeks time. I will be heading back to Malaysia in February. I will fly to Cambodia to see the Angkor Wat, the 7th Wonder of the World in March. As for the rest of the year, I hope to reinvent myself for a better year ahead and beyond.
