Of the 5 things I planned to do while in Malaysia, the only one that wasn't possible was drinking teh ais on a corner in little India. This is because the cafe right in the center of little india had closed. A minor inconvenience because there are plenty of places to get teh ais, but none with such a prime location. On the positive side though, the other 4 activities were completed.

Since today is the last day of Ramadan, it seems fitting that I right about the Ramadan Market. For anyone who hasn't had a chance to visit a country with a large Muslim population during Ramadan, the basic ritual is rather simple, Muslims don't eat or drink from dawn until dusk. The times that they stop and start eating are marked by the morning prayer and late evening prayer.

As you might imagine when fasting, life doesn't generally continue as usual. This is partly because the body must make it through an entire day on whatever was eaten in the morning, and also because many Muslims use their time during Ramadan to reflect on life, engage in prayer and visit family and friends.

Here I am wandering along Penang Road after eating an amazing lunch at Hameediyah Restaurant on Cambell Street when I see this sign.

Massage, okay makes sense. But what the hell is that photo on the bottom left? It looks like the guys skin has ripped open in the middle. After looking at it for a few minutes, I still cannot figure out what part of the body that is. Here it is in larger format.

Well, after seeing the photo at home, I finally figured it out. Can you see it?

Just got back from Malaysia after nearly 3 weeks in penang and lots to share. I had hoped to blog from the front lines but I was so busy eating that I hardly ever made it to an internet cafe to write anything, much less download photos. Nonetheless, I have some great reviews coming up of local food and can't wait to share them with you.

Dan over at www.twortw.com recently asked me "what is on the back of your toilet?". Since I am into this sort of thing I obliged and here is what I wrote.

Read the article What's on the back of your toilet? to see the original post along with responses from 7 other willing participants.

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Over the past 9 years I have grown to love many things about Malaysia. After each visit I find myself longing for the things that make the country so distinct. I miss the sound of rain tapping on the leaves of the palm trees, the aroma of blended spices which forms the base of nasi kandar, the refreshing taste of teh ais or freshly squeezed mango juice on a hot, humid day, a drive through the rainforest or a walk through the bustling narrow lanes courtesy of its colonial heritage.

When I visited Malaysia in 2007 I anticipated that things would be even more spectacular than in the past since the government had hyped up 2007 as visit Malaysia year. Unfortunately, I was left frustrated, bewildered and even angry, perhaps for reasons some of you may not expect.