Nicholas Ng | Author | Writer

The Sacrifices You Make For The Ones You Love

28th September 2015Nicholas Ng 9 Comments

Our idea of love has been greatly marred by what society tells us what it should be. That we have to get married, have two and a half kids, a house in the suburbs with white picket fences and all. But love is so much more. Love requires the one thing that most people find hard to understand or willing to give up, that love requires sacrifice. Love is not just about being together; it’s about the sacrifices we make to be with the ones we love. Continue reading →

Eric Heijkoop of Macalister Mansion

23rd September 2015Nicholas Ng 26 Comments

Eric Heijkoop - Tatler - Food For Thought

From traditional French to Asian flavours, the term Modern Global Cuisine is lost to many without knowing the variation of this cooking style. With a wealth of knowledge from working in various parts of the world, Eric Heijkoop, Executive Chef at Macalister Mansion sure knows his way around the heat of the kitchen. We get to know a little bit more about the Dutch-born, Spain-raised, and French-trained chef who is creating new and exciting things on the wonderful island of Penang. Continue reading →

Dining Room by Macalister Mansion

19th September 2015Nicholas Ng 24 Comments

Facade Day - Macalister Mansion - Food For Thought

As you pull up to the driveway of Macalister Mansion on Macalister Road, you are drawn in by the colonial façade of one of the most gorgeous buildings you will find on the iconic island of Penang. The boutique hotel of Macalister Mansion houses one of the most unique finds you will come across on the island, its Dining Room, a kitchen run by award winning chef Eric Heijkoop. Arguably one of the best fine dining restaurants you will come across in Malaysia, where the attention to detail of the dishes is impeccable both in terms of flavour and visually. Continue reading →

Aziamendi 88

2nd September 2015Nicholas Ng 31 Comments

As you walk through the entrance of the Mandarin Grill at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur you notice a distinctive change. The entire restaurant is tinged with an orange hue, reminiscent of the Basque countryside, and the artwork has been specifically selected to create an atmosphere of calm and class. For 88 days, this restaurant has been transformed into Aziamendi 88, the first ever pop up restaurant in Kuala Lumpur that carries a 3 Star Michelin award by chef Eneko Atxa. Continue reading →

Do You Hear The People Sing?

29th August 2015Nicholas Ng 20 Comments

We live in troubling times, where the brave and noble are stifled merely for standing up for what they believe in. The world is in a state of acceptability where petulant tyranny is allowed to exist. Where good men get put away because they have greater ideologies, where bad men are allowed to run rampant. This is not about the evil that bad men do, but about the good that good men should do, despite the repercussions. Continue reading →

Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

20th August 2015Nicholas Ng 32 Comments

We hear people say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder all the time, and that there is no objective standard of beauty. I don’t think that is true, because if we talk in the “traditional” understanding of beauty, there is definitely a defined standard, however, this is strongly linked to a certain culture. Its like the fair skin / dark skin complexion argument that we hear all the time. Today, I want to address something completely different, unique skin conditions and how we can find them beautiful. Continue reading →

Food Guide: Street Food in Penang

7th August 2015Nicholas Ng 45 Comments

When it comes to best island experiences in the world, there are few that can compare to that of Penang, the pearl of the Orient. The island boasts a complex and rich history due to its pivotal position during the colonial era. This has resulted in Penang becoming a melting pot of multicultural identities from the Chinese, Malay, Indian and European influences. Not only is Penang an unbelievable food haven, its unique position in history has resulted in George Town being named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue reading →

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur

3rd August 2015Nicholas Ng 24 Comments

Majestic Facade | Majestic Hotel | Food For Thought

Situated across the historic Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is this quaint but noble standing building, with colonial architecture that time travels you into the past, sits the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur. This iconic hotel has a rich history in itself dating back to 1932 standing as the epitome of luxury during the colonial era of Malaya. Continue reading →

You Are The Company You Keep

1st August 2015Nicholas Ng 7 Comments

Most of us go through our lives coasting, never letting things shake up too much. Of all the important things out there, there is few and far between that are truer than how we choose our friends, and more importantly, why we remain with them. As soon as sociality kicks in as an evolutionary trait, we are taught that we should get along with each other. Because of this primordial belief that we need to get along to survive, we strive to be in groups that we consider important for our wellbeing. This is true… to a certain extent. Continue reading →

Travelling To Appease The Wanderlust

26th July 2015Nicholas Ng 4 Comments

We as people crave adventure, be it going to the next town or the next continent. I know what you’re thinking, not everyone is an adventurer, but people are much more adventurous than you think. Do you ever get that feeling, that feeling of listlessness, that feeling that your feet are itching, that feeling that you just need to… go. That, my friend, is the feeling of wanderlust. That unbearable feeling, that screaming of your soul in your head, that longing to see the world, that longing to feel the world.
Continue reading →