Bob Travel

No one will forget their stay in a Malaysian hotel.  Situated on the brink between old and new worlds, the traveler here will find curiosities and luxuries to fill their memory books for a lifetime.  There are fascinating urban delights, natural wonders, amazing works of art and architecture, and culinary explorations that are worth the better part of a lifetime pursuing.  And Malaysia, a cross-section of so many world cultures, has no shortage of interesting locals.

Antares is one very fascinating local figure.  His book, “Adoi!” released in 1989, sold over 13,000 copies, and was a volume of cartoons and satires of modern life in Malaysia, and this is one of his claims to fame.  He is more well known these days for his writings on the theatre, and his unique public persona.  He was born Kit Fong Lee, and has also gone under the names Kit Leee and M. Eeel, and the name changes are usually the result of a spiritual revelation.  In his late teens, he was an exchange student in New Jersey, and there came to learn about the beat poets Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlighetti, and the honorary beat, Bob Dylan.  This was a very eye-opening experience, and here he had to begin to reconcile the ideas of alternative realities in these writers and his native Malaysia’s split between nature and civilization.  He then decided to devote his life toward exploring and healing this split, and is a rather interesting writer on contemporary human experience.

He is also a fairly outspoken activist.  Kit “Antares” Lee has been very involved in the preservation of the environment, and in 1992 moved to Pertak, in the “wilds” of Malaysia, and there undertook to study indigenous knowledge.  He was particularly interested in studying the local shamanic traditions and relating it to his knowledge of world shamanic traditions. Antares is, of course, currently living in Malaysia, with his wife Anoora “Booboots” Chapek, and close to their children and grandchildren.

Lee Hsien Loong became the third prime minister of Singapore, following his father.  Loong was born in 1952 and spent his life observing the work of his father.  Under his father’s care Singapore became a wealthy nation, the richest of any other country in the Asia.  Under his father’s government however, conservatism and strict laws, created a very somber tone for the people living in the city.  There were laws that governed the chewing of gum. The newspapers and television was extremely and tightly censored and capital punishment is practiced regularly and frequently.  While his father remained a voice in the government, acting as an adviser, Mr. Lee had the job of releasing such a heavy grasp on the society.  The people of Singapore desired a life more free from the oppression and control of the government.  The people are looking towards him for help with the economy, insuring the continued growth in the service and tourism sectors, providing more jobs in the restaurant industry and Singapore luxury hotels.

Lee is known to be of strong character as he has faced many personal challenges on his road to the appointment of Prime Minister.  He has received degrees from both Harvard and Cambridge.  He became a brigadier general during his time in the army, and soon became involved in politics, rising quickly in the ranks as he had done in the military.  He is known to have worked on the economy in the past and has been responsible for some of the government reforms already.  In 1982 his wife died from a heart attack related to complications during childbirth.  And while he was diagnosed with cancer, he just kept on working.  Taking on more duties when it went into remission.  Mr. Lee is part of very powerful family in Singapore and is a powerful man unto himself.  His fresh approach, new ideas and determined will have the people of Singapore looking towards the future with hope.