Rejuvenating memories of old Kuala Lumpur in the big city

Old timers might be familiar with an artwork of a Chinese caligrapher helping settlers craft letters to be sent back home. Photos: The Star/P. Nathan

It's a hot and stuffy morning in Kuala Lumpur, and I’m about to do what my mother always warned against – walk into an alley around Chinatown.

When you have lived long enough in KL, you know better than to wander off in Petaling Street by yourself. Think of it as the urban boogeyman. Much has been said about the vices that take place along these backlanes.