Jaez
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grokk.bsky.social
Jaez
@grokk.bsky.social
120 followers 110 following 440 posts
He/Him. 🏳️‍🌈🇸🇬
Looking for more East and South-East Asian content.
I like taking photos of interesting places but I’m not that good at it.
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grokk.bsky.social
"How the Man in Green Saved Pahang, and Possibly the World" by Joshua Kam is a delightful supernatural romp from KL to Pahang. An Orthodox cantor & a divinity postgrad student on holiday gets roped in by an immortal Arab & a Chinese sea goddess for a mission to save Malaysia's soul. #booksky
A book cover with the words "Winner of the 2020 Epigram Books Fiction Prize" and the author's name "Joshua Kam" at the top. The title "How the Man in Green Saved Pahang, and Possibly the World" in the middle. And at the bottom "A wild ride from start to finish" Cyril Wong, author of This Side of Heaven.
November 28, 2025 at 6:56 AM
grokk.bsky.social
Fierceland (Omar Musa): I like it. The writing is superb and flowy, the story is gripping, & the themes are current. It's a story of family, nation building, modernisation at all costs, greed, & trauma suffered by those affected directly & indirectly.

#booksky

www.penguin.sg/book/fiercel...
November 22, 2025 at 9:15 PM
grokk.bsky.social
"Utama" by Ng Yi-Sheng is a creative imagination of the back story of Sang Nila Utama, the founder of ancient #Singapore who may or may not have existed. TBH, I don't know what to make of this retelling that is in the style of old semi-legendary histories of the region.

#booksky
Book cover of "Utama" by Ng Yi-Sheng
November 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
grokk.bsky.social
Tight & well written. Kathrina Mohd Daud creates a fantastical tale in the small sultanate of Brunei with spiritual elements drawn from the people in Brunei's immediate vicinity. Its hero is flawed & didn't get all that he wants, but it was a satisfying end.

#booksky
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
grokk.bsky.social
I like the premise of “The Java Enigma” by Erni Salleh. Creating a fantastical back story of Borobudur & the ancient Buddhist monuments in S.E.A., she has created a historical mystery that is engaging. The ending was weak but it felt like a prelude to a part 2. #Booksky
Cover of The Java Enigma by Erni Salleh
November 7, 2025 at 2:15 PM
grokk.bsky.social
This short lost novel read like a Latin American movie.

#booksky
November 1, 2025 at 6:44 AM
grokk.bsky.social
This 3logy by Meihan Boey is a great read. Weaving together spiritual/supernatural traditions from the Malay archipelago (as well as the ancestral homelands of its immigrant communities) and the west, she has created a gripping tale that's hard to put down; weaknesses aside.

#booksky #Singapore
Books from left to right: "The Formidable Miss Cassidy", "The Enigmatic Madam Ingram", and "The Mystical Mister Kay"
October 30, 2025 at 2:32 PM
grokk.bsky.social
To all who celebrate, may this Deepavali be a celebration of love, joy, and all the wonderful things that make life special.
October 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
grokk.bsky.social
An afternoon at the National Gallery of #Singapore. #Photography 2/2
Agit prop of Cambodia when it was ruled by a Vietnamese backed government A self portrait oil painting A colourful batik “painting” A dark red and beige batik “painting”
October 18, 2025 at 10:11 AM
grokk.bsky.social
An afternoon at the National Gallery of #Singapore. #Photography 1/2
The grand staircase with suspended art installation above A children’s exhibit room A children’s exhibit The old entrance stairway of the former Supreme Court, now National Gallery
October 18, 2025 at 10:06 AM
grokk.bsky.social
Mid-autumn moon. I know the full month was supposed to be last night, but it’s really beautiful tonight.
Full moon behind the clouds Full moon behind thin clouds
October 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
grokk.bsky.social
A sororal & sapphic love story. Amanda takes the 2 snakes from the Chinese classic Madam White Snake & moves them to 21st century SG. 2 snake sisters with 2 very different personalities. What can go wrong? Well, the shit hits the fan a few times, each time more spectacular than the last. 👍

#booksky
September 20, 2025 at 7:48 PM
grokk.bsky.social
My hobby while travelling is visiting small indy bookshops. While in Penang 2 weeks ago, I went to Areca Books & stumbled on this fantasy "Iban Journey" by an author of Iban & Melanau parentage. It was a good read & I enjoyed it. Tip: keep a search engine on hand while reading.

#booksky
Book with a black cover with red, green, white and yellow patterns along the sides. In the centre is the name of the author Golda Mowe, the title "Iban Journey", and a third line that says "sequel to Iban Dream".
September 18, 2025 at 3:36 PM
grokk.bsky.social
The Chinese 7th Month as observed in Penang state. #Malaysia #StreetPhotography

What is the 7th month (aka Ghost month)? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_F...
Burning offerings along the side of the narrow street in between two rows of shophouses. People walking past amid smoke from the burning offerings. A traditional Teochew puppet shop on a temporary stage for the entertainment of visiting spirits as well as humans. The stage is dressed in Chinese banners. Huge incense sticks burning in front of Tua Pek Kong Temple A huge paper effigy of "da shi ye", the guardian god of ghosts being burnt as it is sent back to its domain along with offerings. A huge crowd of the faithful and observers capturing the moment on their smart phones.
September 10, 2025 at 5:24 PM
grokk.bsky.social
Random #Photography and #StreetPhotography in George Town #Malaysia
An old style pendant lamp against a dark green wall and a mirror in a dim sum restaurant in Georgetown Same old style pendant lamp at a different angle with the white beam ceiling behind it Street art on a wall A white and black sculpture of a standing cartoon cat against a white pillar that says “Art Lane”
September 9, 2025 at 8:45 AM
grokk.bsky.social
#StreetPhotography of old town #Malaysia where ppl may be simpler but generous and friendlier.
A weathered building with a round front and the sun setting behind it Quiet old town street 7th month burnt offering on the ground in front of the hawker centre A seemingly abandoned building with peeling paint
September 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
grokk.bsky.social
#Malaysia #StreetPhotography
Corner of traditional Chinese roof Sunday artsy fair ground A DJ spinning And live music at a corner
September 7, 2025 at 1:45 PM
grokk.bsky.social
“The South” by Tash Aw, a story of a family growing up and growing apart in a land that’s changing; not always for the better. The stirrings of love and desire in the youngest son, and its consummation is evocative.

#booksky
September 7, 2025 at 2:50 AM
grokk.bsky.social
Sights of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). 4/4 #StreetPhotography
A spirit house lined with Doraemon stuffed toys behind Burger King along Surawong Road A very old Chinese gate in front of a plot of land that serves as a car park now. An interestingly designed building seen from the expressway way towards the airport.
September 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
grokk.bsky.social
Sights of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). 3/4 #Photography
Barbecued crocodile for sale in the basement of ICON Siam A sculpture of 3 puppies in the lobby of Le Meridien Bangkok A large and tall sculpture of a white puppy outside Le Meridien Bangkok Beautiful stairs at Montien Hotel
September 1, 2025 at 7:27 PM
grokk.bsky.social
Sights of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). 2/4 #StreetPhotography
Weekend crowd at the famous Chatuchak market. This row of shops sell apparels that are designed locally. A refreshing break in lovely iced tea shop in Chatuchak A small Chinese temple in the Sathon area in the night An artistic display in the basement of ICON Siam
September 1, 2025 at 7:19 PM
grokk.bsky.social
Sights of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). 1/4 #StreetPhotography
Sarnies, an eatery housed in a shophouse that is left weathered as part of the design in a trendy area of Bangkok A bar in the same trendily weathered neighbourhood A noodle shop in the same neighbourhood A row of 4 storey buildings next to a ramp up a bridge that crosses the river.
September 1, 2025 at 7:12 PM
grokk.bsky.social
“Murder Before Evensong” by the Rev Richard Coles (former half of The Communards) is a entertaining read. A murder (actually 3) in a rural English parish with a set of interesting characters whose lives intersect each other so often in a soap opera sort of way.

#booksky
August 28, 2025 at 5:51 PM
grokk.bsky.social
It’s the Chinese 7th (lunar) month, aka the Ghost Month where the souls of the deceased are allowed to roam the land of the living. Their descendants offer food and drinks to ease their suffering while performances are held for their entertainment. #StreetPhtography #Singapore
Singers singing on stage. The backdrop says “Celebrate Zhong Yuan (the proper name for ghost month)” Singers on stage. The front row is empty as they are reserved for souls of the dead. An altar where offerings and respects are paid.
August 26, 2025 at 1:29 PM
grokk.bsky.social
#StreetPhotography of Java Road/Beach Road in #Singapore
Photo of a building housing St John’s priory of Singapore with cars and pedestrians in front of it and Golden Mile Tower behind
August 23, 2025 at 10:27 AM