The Travelogue, Part XVI: Malaysia and Singapore - Food Porn

I can't deny it: my conclusion after visiting several Islamic states is that Islam is just bound to make people unhappy and (ironically) less spiritual. Whether or not the Prophet himself (peace be upon him) was a miserable bugger or not, I cannot say, since he was wise enough (just like all other great religious founders) to not write a book in his lifetime. His followers seem to be for sure: Gender seclusion, uncomfortable fashion, party denial and bearded patriarchy are but a few of the great inventions that Mohammed's disciples have left their countrymen to enjoy. I find that since they cannot live their life with the freedoms that most humans, independent of background, seem to enjoy, they turn to shopping instead. Whether you go to Dubai or Brunei, Kuala Lumpur or Tehran, it's all about shopping malls and generally buying more stuff. Thankfully though, in Malaysia there are other cultures as well, which gives the country not only an added notch of celebratory liberty (even if at expensive prices), but has also created some of the best cuisine on the planet. Add some Indians, Indonesians and Thai to the mix, and this place becomes food heaven.
If you follow my facebook you might know I fell food sick in Penang, depriving me of some of my intended mission to just eat eat and eat while in Malaysia. Additionally, I seem to have had my best food when there was no camera around. Still though I have managed to capture a few of my amazing meals on camera, with which I will delight (or torture) you now. None of these cost more than 2 pounds.

Singapore style Laksa

South Indian-Malay Thali

Barbequed Sweet Duck Noodles

Sweet and Spicy Hokkien Prawn

Random Penang Buffet

I can generally really recommend peninsular Malaysia as a tourist destination: it is relatively cheap, has everything from temples to islands, the food is amazing and infrastructure is good. It also offers authentic and lively ethnic quarters, giving you immersive experiences of destinations such as India or South China conveniently in one place. The only drawback might be the relatively expensive booze (about 1.5 pounds for a small can of beer).