That Time I was in a Malaysian Show Choir

So, I don't know how many of you know, but since moving to KL, Malaysia, I have been part of a show choir called The Young KL Singers (YKLS). I joined this group of singers when I first moved to Malaysia. It was actually one of the first things I did after moving. If I recall correctly, I even knew which choir I wanted to join before I moved to KL. I know it seems like I'm really committed to my singing (and hence, I must be an incredible performer) but the opposite is actually true.

"but after her lover!"

I'm okay - and I hadn't sung in a while until YKLS. In University, I was part of a 'no-audition required' accapella group for 1 year... and for only half the year... but... while I was in high school, I was a committed member of the Middle School and Upper School choirs at Havergal College. Music has always been something I've enjoyed. One of the biggest rushes I get (and which actually makes me so joyous that it can bring tears to my eyes at moments) is playing or singing in harmony with someone else. This is exactly why I was such an active member of the Jr. and Sr. Band and a member of the Jazz band during high school. Truth be told, I like choir  because my voice could be improved by the sound of everyone else's' voices. hehehe.

So, once I knew I was moving to Malaysia, I decided I needed to start looking into things that made me happy because I knew the transition wouldn't be easy and that I'd want something to bring happiness into my life.

For the first few months, attending the YKLS rehearsals were a reprieve from the daily struggles of life (remember when I used to complain about everything in KL? Like crossing the road, and my land lord, and figuring out my cell phone plan). Things were hard and I was going through a major cultural adjustment. Singing with YKLS was one of the happiest things I did with my week! And, I was really lucky to get to sing with some incredible people with INCREDIBLE voices. The choir members of YKLS are young professionals who all work normal day jobs but enjoy singing for fun and secretly or not-so-secretly sing at night (just like me).

Finding Europen Influence in Malaysia

Yep. In the form of Portuguese people. And even though its taken me over 2 months to write about it, let me just make the excuse that I was collecting my thoughts.

About 2 months ago, I took a trip to the one town I'd been craving to go to for over half a year called Melaka - which is the Portuguese area of Malaysia just 2 hours away from KL (its also known as the town that everyone takes school trips to when they were in elementary school). It may sound a little strange to you that Malaysia has a Portuguese region... but many many many years ago when Malaysia was colonized by the British, some how, the Portuguese made it there too, leaving in their wake, a tradition of pork, churches, forts and beautiful architecture (Photos taken by the lovely Rajibul).