Salt from Fire: The Salt Makers of Enga
Enga is known as a rugged land with a long history of tribal fighting. However, the Engans are not only fierce warriors but also...
Coffee, Butter and a Great Deal of Smoke
Malaysia’s traditional kopi owes its dark, powerful character not only to robusta and liberica beans, but also to an unusual roasting method involving sugar,...
The Last Songkok Maker in Penang
For generations, the songkok has been part of everyday and ceremonial life for Muslim men in Malaysia. Yet the people who make these distinctive...
Letters Carved to Last
For generations, hand-carved wooden signboards identified Penang’s Chinese homes, shops and temples, carrying family origins, business names and wishes for prosperity. The boards can...
One Bead at a Time
A pair of handmade Nyonya shoes can take three months to complete, with tiny glass beads stitched into elaborate patterns one by one. Once...
Keeper of Penang’s Rattan-Weaving Tradition
Before plastic furniture arrived in Malaysia and made itself thoroughly at home, rattan filled houses, verandas and coffee shops with chairs, tables, baskets and...
The Last Handmade Joss Stick Maker in Penang
For more than seventy years, Lee Beng Chuan made joss sticks by hand in the heart of George Town, mixing fragrant sandalwood paste, rolling...
Slap, Twist, Lift: Handmade Popiah Skins in Penang
Popiah is a popular Malaysian spring roll wrapped in a paper-thin wheat skin. Although Malaysians have not lost their appetite for the dish, handmade...
Behind the Satin Curtains
For more than a thousand years, Chinese opera traditions have brought together drama, music, literature, dance and elaborate visual symbolism. Once a familiar presence...