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    • The Pacific Odyssey
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    • Swimming with Whale Sharks
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    • The Blue Period
  • Destinations
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      • Indonesia
      • Thailand
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
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      • Tonga
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      • The Maldives
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  • Sustainable Travel & Living
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SDG14

Healthy marine ecosystems

12

10 October 2021

 by Teja · Published 10 October 2021 · Last modified 4 October 2022

Sustainable in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA | An Honest Review of My Travel

Cluster of brown cabbage-like foliosa coral surrounded by degraded Acropora branching coral reef 6

12 September 2021

 by Teja · Published 12 September 2021 · Last modified 17 October 2021

Volunteering Anecdotes from the Great Barrier Reef that Made Me Think

Giant clam among colourful yellow, brown, purple and pink staghorn and table corals 12

15 August 2021

 by Teja · Published 15 August 2021 · Last modified 12 March 2023

Explore the Great Barrier Reef in 8 Amazing Ways

Blue Lagoon sand bar 14

25 March 2021

 by Teja · Published 25 March 2021 · Last modified 4 October 2022

Sustainable in FRENCH POLYNESIA | An Honest Review of My Travel

Looking across hard cemented coralline reef flat on a motu in Rangiroa 8

2 February 2021

 by Teja · Published 2 February 2021 · Last modified 11 May 2022

How do People Live on the Edge of the World?

Bluespotted cornetfish in a Tahiti lagoon 10

27 November 2020

 by Teja · Published 27 November 2020 · Last modified 13 April 2022

Tahiti Lagoon Getaway 3: The Weird & Wonderful Marine Life

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tejaonthehorizon

I found it sometimes awkward to walk from the railway station building to Dataran Merdeka. There were parts where the pedestrian path is incomplete.

Anyway, the path does follow a tunnel, whose walls were painted with a mural depicting the iconic moment when the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, declared the peninsula’s independence from British rule. The image makes you hear in your head the iconic audio accompanying it, the word ‘Merdeka!’ declared thrice.

#mural #malaysiaindependenceday #muralart #muralpainting #streetart #urbanphotography #tejainmalaysia

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I found it sometimes awkward to walk from the railway station building to Dataran Merdeka. There were parts where the pedestrian path is incomplete. 
Anyway, the path does follow a tunnel, whose walls were painted with a mural depicting the iconic moment when the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, declared the peninsula’s independence from British rule. The image makes you hear in your head the iconic audio accompanying it, the word ‘Merdeka!’ declared thrice. 
#mural #malaysiaindependenceday #muralart #muralpainting #streetart #urbanphotography #tejainmalaysia

The two big murals next to the River of Life in downtown KL. Scroll to see them both close up.

Not a lot of shops were open in the initial lull of the Covid19 outbreak. But the Gloria Jean’s was open, and I had brunch there. From the cafe, I could see both murals across the Klang river.

It’s a sight I’ve noted, passing through by car. But I’ve never stopped to linger, since parking is a nightmare in the area. Downtown is a place better visited by public transport.

#artofinstagram #mural #muralhunting #muralesart #muralsdaily #muralista #muralstreetart #wallmural #muralpaintings #downtownkl #explorekl #urbantravel #nsyftravel #amazingdestinations #interestingart #interestingkualalumpur

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The two big murals next to the River of Life in downtown KL. Scroll to see them both close up. 
Not a lot of shops were open in the initial lull of the Covid19 outbreak. But the Gloria Jean’s was open, and I had brunch there. From the cafe, I could see both murals across the Klang river. 
It’s a sight I’ve noted, passing through by car. But I’ve never stopped to linger, since parking is a nightmare in the area. Downtown is a place better visited by public transport. 
#artofinstagram #mural #muralhunting #muralesart #muralsdaily #muralista #muralstreetart #wallmural #muralpaintings #downtownkl #explorekl #urbantravel #nsyftravel #amazingdestinations #interestingart #interestingkualalumpur

Kuala Lumpur’s old city centre around Dataran Merdeka. #kualalumpurmalaysia #dataranmerdeka #oldcity #kualalumpur #tejainmalaysia #citylove #cityphotography #nsfytravel

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Kuala Lumpur’s old city centre around Dataran Merdeka. #kualalumpurmalaysia #dataranmerdeka #oldcity #kualalumpur #tejainmalaysia #citylove #cityphotography #nsfytravel

The confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers, on which Kuala Lumpur was founded. Now these rivers have been tamed into river channels with constructed embankments. But the old Jamek mosque is still situated right in between. #kualalumpur #origins #downtownkl #historicalplace #rivers #riverinthecity #riveroflife #riveroflifekl #mosque #historicalmosque #masjidjamek #tejainmalaysia #inspiringinsightfultravel

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The confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers, on which Kuala Lumpur was founded. Now these rivers have been tamed into river channels with constructed embankments. But the old Jamek mosque is still situated right in between. #kualalumpur #origins #downtownkl #historicalplace #rivers #riverinthecity #riveroflife #riveroflifekl #mosque #historicalmosque #masjidjamek #tejainmalaysia #inspiringinsightfultravel

The old buildings near Dataran Merdeka have had different uses over time. This one housed the original judicial courts. Some time after independence, the higher courts moved to Sultan Abdul Samad building, while the lower courts remained. Today, the judicial courts have been relocated elsewhere and the building is under the custodianship of the Tourism & Culture ministry.

#oldbuildings #oldbuildinglover #heritagebuilding #oldsupremecourt #courthouse #dataranmerdekakualalumpur #historicalbuilding #historicalbuildings #tejainmalaysia #inspiringinsightfultravel

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The old buildings near Dataran Merdeka have had different uses over time. This one housed the original judicial courts. Some time after independence, the higher courts moved to Sultan Abdul Samad building, while the lower courts remained. Today, the judicial courts have been relocated elsewhere and the building is under the custodianship of the Tourism & Culture ministry. 
#oldbuildings #oldbuildinglover #heritagebuilding #oldsupremecourt #courthouse #dataranmerdekakualalumpur #historicalbuilding #historicalbuildings #tejainmalaysia #inspiringinsightfultravel

A panel from a series of murals on the side of OCBC Bank. Depicting the flow of money facilitated by infrastructure around Kuala Lumpur (?). I’m not sure what the Pacman eating the money represents. Profit-taking? The money flow feeds people?

#murals #muralsdaily #muralsofinstagram #instaartwork #instaart #downtown #downtownkl #flowofmoney #theeconomy #financeforthepeople #kualalumpur #dataranmerdeka #oldkualalumpur #ocbcbank #tejainmalaysia #insightfultravel

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A panel from a series of murals on the side of OCBC Bank. Depicting the flow of money facilitated by infrastructure around Kuala Lumpur (?). I’m not sure what the Pacman eating the money represents. Profit-taking? The money flow feeds people? 
#murals #muralsdaily #muralsofinstagram #instaartwork #instaart #downtown #downtownkl #flowofmoney #theeconomy #financeforthepeople #kualalumpur #dataranmerdeka #oldkualalumpur #ocbcbank #tejainmalaysia #insightfultravel

Food Panda rider guy with a humourously customised carrier bag.

Coincidentally spotted leaving with an order from a neighbourhood McDonald`s. 😄

#malaysianhumour #sightsaroundme #malaysians #hazardous #nuclear #deliveryrider #kualalumpur #macammacam #abangfoodpanda
#tejainmalaysia

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Food Panda rider guy with a humourously customised carrier bag. 
Coincidentally spotted leaving with an order from a neighbourhood McDonald's. 😄 
#malaysianhumour #sightsaroundme #malaysians #hazardous #nuclear #deliveryrider #kualalumpur #macammacam #abangfoodpanda 
#tejainmalaysia

So the cafe that I *actually* was curious about, is this one. Yes, it`s literally named `kleptocrat cafe`! Malaysians aren`t particularly known for our sense of humour, but the years under the Najib Razak administration has led us to find one.

The year was 2020. The ruling government which wrested power from the ruling coalition which had governed Malaysia since independence, on a campaign for reform against insolent corruption, had just been toppled by a series of events in the early weeks of the pandemic. (They`re way too complicated to explain, but I recommend Ernest Ng`s Covidball graphic novel series that covers the whole thing, and then some, in manga style. It`s a milestone piece of creative work in the country`s history, IMO.)

Anyway, that they won in the first place, was due to the series of ever-increasing corruption scandals led and abetted by the Prime Minister at the time, Najib Razak. A frustrated KL population, unable to stop it, expressed it in biting yet enterprising irony - which apparently included naming a cafe business `kleptokrat`! And in case there was any confusion about which kleptocrat is meant, the shophouse screen helpfully includes images of the yacht Equanimity, a handbag and a diamond ring. As the screen was partially rolled up, I couldn`t see the whole bag, but I know for certain what brand it is! It would be a Hermes Birkin bag. And the diamond is definitely pink, even though it`s not coloured in the sign.

The last image is a different place, but also referencing a corruption scandal, this time involving procurement of some French Scorpene subs.

Addendum: the former Prime Minister is now in jail.

#scandals #kleptocrat #kleptocratcafe #downtownkl #corruption #malaysianhistory #tejainmalaysia #inspiringinsightfultravel

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So the cafe that I *actually* was curious about, is this one. Yes, it's literally named 'kleptocrat cafe'! Malaysians aren't particularly known for our sense of humour, but the years under the Najib Razak administration has led us to find one. 
The year was 2020. The ruling government which wrested power from the ruling coalition which had governed Malaysia since independence, on a campaign for reform against insolent corruption, had just been toppled by a series of events in the early weeks of the pandemic. (They're way too complicated to explain, but I recommend Ernest Ng's Covidball graphic novel series that covers the whole thing, and then some, in manga style. It's a milestone piece of creative work in the country's history, IMO.)
Anyway, that they won in the first place, was due to the series of ever-increasing corruption scandals led and abetted by the Prime Minister at the time, Najib Razak. A frustrated KL population, unable to stop it, expressed it in biting yet enterprising irony - which apparently included naming a cafe business 'kleptokrat'! And in case there was any confusion about which kleptocrat is meant, the shophouse screen helpfully includes images of the yacht Equanimity, a handbag and a diamond ring. As the screen was partially rolled up, I couldn't see the whole bag, but I know for certain what brand it is! It would be a Hermes Birkin bag. And the diamond is definitely pink, even though it's not coloured in the sign. 
The last image is a different place, but also referencing a corruption scandal, this time involving procurement of some French Scorpene subs. 
Addendum: the former Prime Minister is now in jail.
#scandals #kleptocrat #kleptocratcafe #downtownkl #corruption #malaysianhistory #tejainmalaysia #inspiringinsightfultravel

What’s now known as the “old” railway station of Kuala Lumpur wasn’t actually its first one. But the colonial administrators needed to expand railway infrastructure from the tin mines and plantations of the adjacent British protectorate sultanate of Perak, to carry the commodities to the port in British Singapore. So they built a new railway station, which was also designed by Hubbock, who designed the railway headquarters across the road (see last three pix).

The railway station, as you can see, has a much stronger inspiration from north India than the hq building. Today it’s no longer as busy; the rail hub is now KL Sentral. It is a bus hub though, with bus company offices occupying part of the building. I hope reviving it is part of KL’s arts & culture rejuvenation plan.

(Also, I thought it was a nice touch for the railway hq to install old stop and go markers at the entrance and exit.)

#railwaystation #architecture #colonialarchitecture #mughalarchitecture #tejainmalaysia #railways #railways_worldwide #railway_station #iconicbuildings #citytraveller #urbanexplorer #kualalumpur #capitalcities #inspiringinsightfultravel

Open
What’s now known as the “old” railway station of Kuala Lumpur wasn’t actually its first one. But the colonial administrators needed to expand railway infrastructure from the tin mines and plantations of the adjacent British protectorate sultanate of Perak, to carry the commodities to the port in British Singapore. So they built a new railway station, which was also designed by Hubbock, who designed the railway headquarters across the road (see last three pix). 
The railway station, as you can see, has a much stronger inspiration from north India than the hq building. Today it’s no longer as busy; the rail hub is now KL Sentral. It is a bus hub though, with bus company offices occupying part of the building. I hope reviving it is part of KL’s arts & culture rejuvenation plan. 
(Also, I thought it was a nice touch for the railway hq to install old stop and go markers at the entrance and exit.)
#railwaystation #architecture #colonialarchitecture #mughalarchitecture #tejainmalaysia #railways #railways_worldwide #railway_station #iconicbuildings #citytraveller #urbanexplorer #kualalumpur #capitalcities #inspiringinsightfultravel
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