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blog posts
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Rail Corridor Trail: What Nature Shows When You Slow Down
I took a slow walk through the northern rail corridor recently, starting at Yew Tee and ending near Kranji Reservoir after passing the War Memorial and State Cemetery. It wasn’t…
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A One-Minute Win and the Illusion of Safety
Earlier today, I wrapped up an online chess game in under a minute. It was one of those quick, instinctive matches where you barely have time to breathe, let alone…
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A New Mystery Arrives On My Desk
There’s a small thrill that comes with a new hardcover arriving by courier. Especially when it’s wrapped in that unmistakable Dan Brown energy, the promise of codes, symbols, conspiracies, and…
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The Ritual of Wrapping Books: One Story at a Time
There’s a kind of ritual I’ve come to cherish, especially when a fresh stack of books arrives. It doesn’t involve reading, not yet. It begins much earlier, with scissors, contact…
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The Quiet Art of Ex-Libris: A Personal Reflection
I grew up in a time when ex-libris bookplates were still quietly present in homes and personal libraries. They were small printed designs or stamped seals, placed carefully on the…
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A Book Arrives: Melayu Mahawangsa
Earlier this afternoon, a package arrived by courier. No fanfare, no prior hint. Just a quiet delivery left at the door. Inside it was a book titled Melayu Mahawangsa: Tanah…
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In Memory of Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Ahmat Adam
Today, I received the deeply saddening news that Datuk Dr Ahmat Adam, one of Malaysia’s most respected historians and critical thinkers, has passed away. Though I never had the chance…
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Eulogy for Emeritus Professor Dr. John N. Miksic
I first met Professor Miksic in 2004, during the archaeological excavation at St Andrew’s Cathedral. I was still young, still trying to understand what heritage really means beyond the surface…