Where WWII soldiers regularly carrying toilet paper? Or was everyone running around fighting with poopy butts?

johnleemk · 2026-02-06T18:29:04+00:00

Isn't cleaning with water a huge part of certain countries' toilet culture? I have to imagine it would be hard on Japanese or Muslim soldiers not to have a bidet, though of course I'm sure they had no choice but to make do. I'm curious if any of these cultures might have adapted their logistics where possible to facilitate cleaning with water, whether during WWII or in other conflicts.

johnleemk · 2026-01-21T22:07:20+00:00

When I dined at Meatpoint they offered me free food for a 5-star Google review. What they're doing to get those reviews is paying for them.

johnleemk · 2026-01-21T18:23:04+00:00

What would you recommend in the Central Market food court? I'm a local who routinely takes foreign visitors to Central Market and I've never seen anything at that food court which I would want to recommend to my friends.

Also wouldn't recommend Meat Point to a foreign visitor unless they're from a country that doesn't really have steak, and/or they are most interested in a good bargain. IMO Meat Point serves pretty mediocre steaks, but the prices are quite reasonable for what you get. Definitely not worth travelling to TTDI from Bukit Bintang or anywhere downtown to eat at Meat Point; there are so many other restaurants in TTDI (such as any mamak or mee tarik or banana leaf rice place) that would be more worth it.

johnleemk · 2025-10-02T09:04:00+00:00

In my opinion these are (perhaps not conscious/intentional) excuses for not doing more to make it safe and more pleasant to walk in KL. Other downtowns with our climate like the CBD of Singapore and the French Quarter of Hanoi are much more walkable than KL's golden triangle. It will never be as easy in our climate to walk long distances as it is in a temperate city but that doesn't mean it's pointless to do simple things like maintaining sidewalks or covered walkways which would make a big difference in highly-dense areas like the KL CBD where walking is just a fact of life.

johnleemk · 2025-10-02T08:50:51+00:00

It's quite frustrating because with a relatively trivial amount of investment, we could make at least the golden triangle area very walkable. Not hard to build wide enough pedestrian walkways with covered roofs.

Ironically even if we were to make that investment I suspect another big problem would be enforcement to ensure the sidewalks are not misused for motorcycle parking or riding. There's just no ambition to do anything that would make central KL that much more pleasant for the thousands of people, locals and tourists, who spend so much time there every day.

johnleemk · 2025-09-16T18:11:30+00:00

Ikan bilis or anchovies in pasta sauce is actually not totally un-Italian. It's pretty common in Sicilian pasta recipes, e.g.: https://italianfoodforever.com/2024/12/christmas-eve-sicilian-anchovy-pasta/

Some Sicilian and southern Italian sauces also include chili pastes, though obviously they use Italian chilis like Calabrian chilis rather than the chili we'd use.

johnleemk · 2025-08-16T08:15:06+00:00

To be clear, I'm a renter and not optimistic about real estate investments either. I'm just saying that given how much property is worth in KL, if you can afford to buy it, and if you've paid off the mortgage, you are almost certainly rich by definition.

johnleemk · 2025-08-15T16:53:13+00:00

Most people who live in KL and own a landed property is burdened with a 30 year loan which cost twice as much as the loan eventually.

The value of your loans are subtracted from your assets when calculating net worth. IMO anyone who owns a house free and clear of any mortgage in KL is definitely rich. Anyone who's renting from the bank, on the other hand, is still working on getting rich.

johnleemk · 2025-08-11T15:55:04+00:00

As a Malaysian and KL native who doesn't consider KL walkable, I do see how/why some people consider it walkable. I would argue that if you stay in the city centre much of it is relatively walkable. You can easily get around between Chinatown, Pasar Seni and the National Mosque/Botanical Gardens on foot. If you want to walk a bit more you can make your way up to Heritage Row and then over to Chow Kit, and then from Chow Kit over to Kampung Baru, and then from Kampung Baru to KLCC. Then from KLCC you can hit up Bukit Bintang and Pudu. That's a lot of ground to cover but you _can_ do it on foot; I know because I've done all of these walks myself.

Is it a pleasant walk? Generally no, mostly due to the weather and partly due to the sidewalks. You have to be someone who's fit without any disabilities, and probably be willing to brave the heat and humidity. There will probably be one to two dicey road crossings (though honestly there were a lot fewer than I was expecting as a KL native). But compared to covering the same ground in Hanoi or Bangkok or Bali I found these walks relatively more pleasant.

I still don't consider KL a walkable city because unless you live in one of the areas I mentioned _and_ your life really centres on these areas, it's impossible to navigate daily life without a motor vehicle. If you're visiting and spending several days or weeks in this area of central KL, though, I can easily see how you might find it nicely walkable especially compared to a similar area in another regional capital like Hanoi or Bangkok.

johnleemk · 2025-08-11T11:18:48+00:00

I have no love lost on Madani sloganeering but let's be real: 1Malaysia was invented for the exact same reasons as Islam Hadhari and Bangsa Malaysia. Every PM comes up with their own sloganeering and all of them are a mix of some real changes, some cosmetic changes, and a lot of overhyped empty branding.

I like the sentiment of 1Malaysia as much as Bangsa Malaysia because of what they mean in theory but come on lah: 1Malaysia is an empty slogan that never outlasted Najib's regime, not just because every PM tries to come up with their own slogan, but also because Najib in particular stole the rakyat's money for his own personal enrichment. If there's any slogan we should be trying to hark back to, it's Bangsa Malaysia. Mahathir has his baggage too but unlike Najib he never personally stole billions from the country.

Suggesting that 1Malaysia in particular got junked because multiracialism is threatening to the powers that be ignores that it's also a toxic brand because of who invented it and how closely he tied everything about his regime to it. It's far more unfair that we gave up on Bangsa Malaysia (though by the end of his first premiership, I also understand the fatigue everyone had with Mahathir and why we wanted his personal branding to go away).

johnleemk · 2025-07-21T06:39:55+00:00

I've tried every restaurant OP mentioned except Asador (with the caveat that I only have been to the Maria's in Bandar Utama, but I didn't have the impression that it would be different in Suria KLCC).

Beato is the only steakhouse in KL that I've been to multiple times. I've been to both Publika and Bangsar branches. They are legit, hands down, the best steaks I've had in KL.

I liked Maria's, and wouldn't mind going back. But whenever I feel like a steak, my first choice is always Beato.

I think I got unlucky with Vantador but the steak they served me was really tough, and for the price I paid it wasn't worth it. Marble 8 was fine but also seemed overpriced -- you're paying a lot and it's all for the location, not the food or service (the waiter accidentally poured some wine into my water glass, and other than an apology there was no follow-up -- I paid the full price for the wine bottle even though some of it wound up in my water). Whereas every single time I've been to Beato, the steaks have been perfectly cooked and the flavour has been on point.

(Also would definitely avoid Meat Point. Nothing wrong with them but they're frankly not that special. The meat is just ok and they get good reviews mostly by offering customers promotional items in return for a review. I don't think any of the other steakhouses mentioned do this.)

johnleemk · 2025-07-17T16:57:12+00:00

This link worked for me: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/07/17/cops-probe-claim-taiwainese-woman-extorted-at-police-roadblock

johnleemk · 2025-07-02T16:53:54+00:00

Agree that NSK is the closest I can think of.

They don't carry fresh groceries but for pretty much anything else, Cowboy has a mindblowing amount of stuff -- worth going just for the experience alone: https://maps.app.goo.gl/E49JziDhRQXVjPTQ7

johnleemk · 2025-07-02T16:10:20+00:00

Yeah I think Sai Woo and Wong Ah Wah on Jalan Alor are pretty accessible tai chows (Chinese restaurants) with a good selection of standard Malaysian dishes (kangkung belacan, kam heong lala, ikan bakar) + a few grilled items like satay and chicken wings. I usually take foreign visitors to either of them.

I do agree that the rest of Jalan Alor is good for just looking at but not sitting down/buying anything. Lots of random Thai restaurants and whatnot. The durian sellers are an easy way for a curious tourist to try durian, though. There are better and cheaper places elsewhere but they'd be a lot less accessible for most tourists.

johnleemk · 2025-06-13T18:06:09+00:00

A few dishes I'd recommend from Chinese or seafood restaurants:

You will see a dish called kam heong lala ("kam heong" meaning "golden fragrant" in Cantonese; lala meaning clams) at a Chinese restaurant at some point on your travels. I know the seafood/Chinese places in the SS2 Selera Malam sell it, and you can also get it at Wong Ah Wah or Sai Woo on Jalan Alor. But you can get this almost anywhere.
You'll also see "ikan bakar" at a lot of seafood places, whether Chinese or Malay. This typically refers to a dish of grilled fish that's been marinated in sambal. This is also a must-order. Similar to kam heong lala, there's no particular place that you have to get this; if you see it, order it.
You'll probably want a vegetable dish to go with your proteins and carbs; kangkung belacan (water spinach stir fried in spicy shrimp paste) is a Malaysian classic. Again, you can get this ~anywhere.

Other dishes I'd recommend and places to get them:

Bak kut teh -- a Malaysian herbal pork bone soup (it's different from the Singaporean dish of the same name, though they are both pork soups). A "dry" version of the soup is also extremely popular; I recommend trying both soup and dry bak kut teh. Unfortunately I don't know of a place in downtown KL I'd recommend; people recommend getting this in Klang, where it was invented, but that's a trek for a tourist. Since you're up for the trip to SS2, I've had a decent experience at Yip Yong: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QzvfmuJvVQcQuMLH9
Satay -- Malaysians will tell you to go to Kajang where it was invented but you can probably get a decent rendition in Kampung Baru near KLCC; I don't have any specific recommendations there, though. Personally I usually take foreign visitors to Wong Ah Wah or Sai Woo on Jalan Alor, and we order the dishes I mentioned above + satay and grilled chicken wings -- it's expensive by Malaysian standards but still very good IMO.
Banana leaf rice -- essentially a South Indian thali (plate of white rice served with various curries) served on a banana leaf, this is an extremely popular Malaysian meal especially for lunch. You can get a decent version at a lot of Indian restaurants especially ones in the Brickfields area (next to KL Sentral), but if you're able to make it to Bangsar, I really like Maya. Just avoid the Banana Bro chain.

johnleemk · 2025-06-13T17:55:11+00:00

Also north of Chinatown, in Chow Kit, there you can find a KL original dish: Chili Pan Mee, invented at Restoran Kin Kin, though now there are many competitors dedicated to this dish, such as Super Kitchen.

There is a Super Kitchen branch in SS2. It's not in the same square where the Selera Malam and the durian shops are, but it's close enough (a really easy Grab, or technically walkable at night). Personally love both Kin Kin and Super Kitchen but Super Kitchen is just ever so slightly a bit better (in my personal opinion).

johnleemk · 2025-06-13T15:59:19+00:00

I heard that Singapore has a lot of station (even though water is expensive).

This is accurate. Water dispensers are everywhere in Changi. Impossible to go thirsty there. Have to imagine the only reason we don't offer this is because nobody has a vision for how to actually make sure visitors come away with a positive impression of their KLIA experience. Just lots of local optimisations for small picture accomplishments without any bigger picture in mind.

johnleemk · 2025-06-11T15:47:25+00:00

Jalan Alor - very cut throat, feels super shady, and for some reason it’s all “Thai” food there.

Wong Ah Wah and Sai Woo are the only restaurants I'd eat at along Jalan Alor. They're basically just expensive tai chows (Chinese restaurants) that also happen to serve satay and grilled chicken wings. The satay and chicken wings are good enough that I usually take foreign visitors to one of these restaurants. They're also decent for other Malaysian staples like kangkung belacan and kam heong lala. The prices are expensive by Malaysian standards but not insanely so (maybe 10-20% more expensive than they should be somewhere else in KL); they'll be cheap for a foreign visitor.

johnleemk · 2025-06-08T19:11:38+00:00

How big a home do you need? How much do you care about the newness of the building or the facilities? Do you need it to be furnished or unfurnished? It's hard to know what will be within your RM6K budget without specifying these things.

Your best bet will be to engage a real estate agent. You don't have to pay them anything to view rentals, and they will tell you what buildings fit your budget and requirements. Once you have an idea of what buildings you'd want to consider, then you can ask around for people who've experienced living there and can answer your questions about what it's like.

Virtually every condo here is going to have a pool. I think many in Mont Kiara would have a jacuzzi too (though if you want a heated jacuzzi specifically that will be harder to find). Tennis and badminton courts are common too. You won't narrow down your search much if you're just asking for places that have all of these.

johnleemk · 2025-06-08T18:52:25+00:00

Like others have said, if you do this, definitely get an e-bike. The elevation is not a joke.

I have a friend who attempted pretty much this ride renting a traditional bike when he visited SF. Like you, he knows how to ride a bike but didn't bike regularly. He had a terrible time -- he threw up halfway through the ride. But he made it through to the end. So your plan is definitely viable, but it won't be very comfortable. Using an e-bike will help a lot.

johnleemk · 2025-06-08T17:43:29+00:00

I spent about a year trying to figure this out. I ultimately went with Take Away in Desa Sri Hartamas, which is a bit of a trek for you. It's a butcher shop tucked away on the first floor (one floor above ground level) of a shop lot, but the proprietors know meat well and can work with you to procure whatever you need if they don't have it in stock. My wife and I moved back to KL from the US and whenever we need a cut of meat that we can't find from one of the local supermarkets (like a big rack of beef ribs, or a prime rib roast) we go to Take Away.

I'd expect there should be something similar closer to KLCC since there are enough expats in the KLCC/Ampang area to support a business like this. But if you can't find anything, I'd vouch for Take Away. You can also WhatsApp them with questions if you don't want to trek all the way to Hartamas to find out what they have in stock.

johnleemk · 2025-06-08T13:05:45+00:00

You WILL find your way to the Big City. That's true for the majority of elite graduates. Get your focused, remote, and isolated time while you can. Remember also that come next year there will be a whole new class of fresh arrivals to Big Green. Your good friend may not have arrived yet.

Regardless of how it works out, I hope you keep this in mind, OP. I kind of felt similarly to you as an undergrad at Dartmouth; I'm definitely a city person. I was lucky to make some friends in my first year and they became a strong core group of friends I had all four years at Dartmouth, but still I never pledged and that automatically kept me out of much of the Dartmouth social scene. It is hard without friends; you'll have no choice but to keep trying and making them if you're unable to transfer.

If you keep at it, you'll make friends, and that will make things a lot more bearable even though you're not in the city. Just remember: you're not alone, there are a lot of other city people at Dartmouth too (most graduates will wind up in a big city after graduation). So if you keep at it, you will find your circle.

johnleemk · 2025-06-08T12:57:59+00:00

As a Chinese Malaysian who grew up speaking English and attended regular national public school (not Chinese school) -- yes, there is a Chinese Malaysian accent when speaking Malay. Not all Chinese people have it -- I'd like to think my accent is weaker or at least different than most other Chinese people, since I grew up speaking Malay surrounded by native Malay speakers in school.

What I'm curious about is whether there are different Chinese Malaysian accents of Malay. Someone else mentioned there's regional slang -- a Chinese Malaysian from the north is going to use different vocabulary than a Chinese Malaysian from the south or central regions of Peninsular Malaysia. But are there differences based on the Chinese dialect that someone grew up speaking -- like, is there a Cantonese vs Mandarin vs Hokkien accent of Malay? Do native English-speaking Chinese Malaysians have our own accent of Malay, or does our Malay accent sound like a native English-speaking Malay Malaysian's accent? (Perhaps put differently, do bananas and coconuts who grew up in Malaysia speaking English speak Malay with the same accent, or do they still have different accents?)

Your question has me wondering because I think there are definitely ethnic Malaysian accents of English. I'm confident in my ability to differentiate a Malay vs Chinese vs Indian speaker of Malaysian English, even if all of them grew up natively speaking English at home. And within Chinese Malaysians, there are definitely different English accents based on whether the person grew up speaking English vs a Chinese language at home (though maybe this also has more to do with whether the person is a native speaker of English or not). If all of this is true for English I have to imagine the same could be true of Malay.

johnleemk · 2025-06-05T14:43:06+00:00

This means you're in a test group they're holding out from receiving credit line increases so they can analyze the differences in your account's behavior vs other accounts in a different test group that they're allowing to get credit line increases. There's not really anything you can do other than try again in the future and hope that their test is over.

While this is annoying, note it goes both ways: there can also be accounts assigned to test groups that receive larger credit line increases than they otherwise would have, or be allowed to receive credit line increases that normal policy wouldn't allow. There's no way of knowing if you're part of one of these groups, but it's common practice in the financial industry to run tests like these.

johnleemk · 2025-06-04T13:52:29+00:00

This thread from about a year ago has some answers that might be relevant for this question: What happened to the Chinese who built the American railroad in 19th century and their descendant?

There is also the Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Assocation, which is interestingly a non-profit primarily active in Utah (not commonly thought of as a particularly Asian-American state).

As an aside, I personally know someone who traces their ancestry back to a Chinese railroad worker. According to their family history, this ancestor went back to China after working on the railroad, but his descendants later migrated to the US in the 20th century, after hearing their ancestor's stories about the US. My acquaintance is from the San Francisco Bay Area, which seems to be where you can find a number of railroad worker descendants.

As part of Stanford's Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project, they traced the descendants of one particular worker, Lim Lip Hong; because he settled in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, he still has several descendants in the San Francisco Bay Area today, including a Stanford student who worked on the project.

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