The man who created his fantasy island in Langkawi

The reading room of Upsidow, an upside-down house located in an old abandoned quarry.

The first time I met Alex Mark, he had just arrived in Kuala Lumpur, to spend a stop-gap year before heading to Singapore. He was a friend’s neighbour and she had insisted that I meet this amazing chef who was creating the most delectable antipasti at Flamenco restaurant. This was long before most Malaysians even knew how to order tapas.

When I asked him then what he ate after a long day in the kitchen, he had laughed before revealing his penchant for instant noodles. “I still eat crap,” chuckled Mark, 47, at this interview 22 years later.