RECREATION, SCORPION STUNTS, GAMBLING, AND PETS IN MALAYSIA

RECREATION IN MALAYSIA

Gasing (top-spinning) compettions NDTV

Malaysians' strong sense of community is reflected in many of their traditional games and pastimes. These activities are still played by local children on cool afternoons and are also a communal activity during festivities such as before or after the rice harvest season and weddings. Horse racing, soccer, rugby, cricket, sepak raga and badminton are popular spectator sports. Kite flying and top spinning are traditional pastimes for children and adults, and silat (a Malay martial art) is popular in rural areas. An all Malaysian team, with Malay, Chinese and Indian members, scaled Mt. Everest in 1997.

The forms of entertainment and recreation in rural and urban areas of Malaysia differ greatly. The rural Malay population still enjoys traditional music, such as gamelan ensembles, kompang drums and serunai flutes, as well as traditional dances and pastimes like kite-flying and gasing spinning tops. Kite-flying is particularly popular in coastal villages. Kites are mainly flown for recreation, but competitions are sometimes organised to see who can fly their kite the highest. Spinning tops are a popular pastime, particularly in Kelantan and Trengganu. These tops are made of wood and can spin for hours. The person whose top spins for the longest time wins. [Source: P. Bala “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life,” Cengage Learning, 2009]

Unlike rural Malays, Malays in urban areas watch Western (Hollywood), Hindi and Chinese films and theatre productions, as well as Malay films produced locally. As well as movies and theatre, other forms of entertainment and recreation found in urban areas in the United States can also be found in Malaysia's urban areas. Malaysia has three basic television channels, which are monitored by the government.

The Islamic PAS party wants authorities to close down karaokes because they encourage men and women to mix. Explaining why yoga was banned in Malaysia in 2008, Abdul Shukor Husin, National Fatwa chairmain, said “It can destroy the faith of a Muslim.”

Entertainment and Games in Malaysia

fish used in Malaysian fish fighting

In the early 2000s, the Malaysian government labeled game arcades as a threat to morality and threatened to shut them down. Some have blamed them for an increase in school crimes that included stabbings and setting classrooms on fire. The arcades themselves were blamed for being covers for gambling and money laundering and being the site of violent crimes. One influential Malay-language newspaper called for a “jihad” against the arcades. “Commit yourself to this jihad, as may victims (of these arcades) are Muslim teenagers, possibly your own children.” Arcades in Malaysia are required to get operating licences that a good for between one and five years. In 2004, it was announced the arcades would only be allowed to operate until their licenses expired.

Children's games in Malaysia include kite fighting, marbles and fish fighting. Congkak is a game of mathematics played by womenfolk in ancient times that only required dug out holes in the earth and tamarind seeds. Today, it is an oval solid wood block with two rows of five, seven, or nine holes and two large holes at both ends called "home". Congkak, played with shells, marbles, pebbles or tamarind seeds, requires two players.

The launch of a giant ferris wheel in Malacca in November 2007 went sour when a power cut trapped dozens of people on the inaugural ride. AFP reported: “Some 50 passengers including tearful children and an eight-month-pregnant woman were stuck 25 metres above the ground in the pitch dark last night until rescuers managed to bring the gondolas down manually half an hour later. The New Straits Times said the incident happened just as Malacca's state governor and chief minister arrived for their turn on the new 3.3 million ringgit ($A988,00) tourist attraction built on the banks of the Malacca River. "I was shaken. This is a sign of poor safety features. I feel the ferris wheel is not ready for operations yet," Ibrahim Mohamed, whose daughter and grandchildren were trapped on the ride, told the daily. [Source: AFP, November 5, 2007]

Malaysian Book of Records

Malaysia has its own book of records, which is taken quite seriously in Malaysia. The Malaysian Book of Records (MYBOR), founded in 1990 by Danny Ooi. Ooi, who had long been fascinated by the Guinness World Records. He said the idea for a local version emerged later in life. “I’d buy all the Guinness books when I was young but the idea to begin a local version didn’t really occur to me till I was 40 or so,” he recalled. “Then one day I thought: ‘Why not create something Malaysians can be proud of, a record book they can call their own?’” He added that many Malaysians achieved remarkable feats but often received only brief recognition. [Source: Louisa Lim, The Star, September 26, 2009 +]

The project initially faced financial and logistical difficulties. Within its first year, the venture lost about RM1 million, prompting Ooi’s partners to withdraw. He continued alone, compiling records and establishing guidelines. “I had to look for the past achievers, and it was very difficult because nobody remembered who they were,” he said. He studied the Guinness model and adapted its rules to local conditions, a process that took three years before the first list of records was completed.

After publication, the Malaysian Book of Records gained popularity, attracting advertising and financial support. It expanded into multiple hardcover editions and a television programme with Radio Televisyen Malaysia. Ooi noted that only a few countries had their own national record books, including India, Poland, and Indonesia. “I think it’s important to inform people about the oldest man or the tallest building. It’s something to be proud of,” he said.

Reporting from MYBOR’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, journalist Louisa Lim described the strong public interest in record-setting. She recounted an encounter with a mother eager to secure recognition for her son, Gloson Teh, who had self-published a poetry book at age 11. The boy performed his work in hopes of being recognised as Malaysia’s youngest poet. His mother said: “My son will be receiving Malaysia’s Youngest Poet award soon,” and expressed interest in timing the recognition for a symbolic date.

Gloson said he began writing after encountering humorous poetry online. “I was surfing the Internet when I came across some funny poems by Dr Seuss and Kenn Nesbitt… so I began writing poems too,” he explained. He later compiled enough material for a children’s book and worked on illustrations and an audio version. Ooi noted that such ambition was common among applicants. “It’s called highly-driven,” he said, adding that many parents were determined to see their children achieve recognition through record-setting.

Malaysia the World Record Holder in Holding Records?

Louisa Lim wrote in The Star, “Record-breaking attempts in the country are currently at an all-time high, so much so that a 2006 article by online magazine Wired stated that “Malaysia might just be the world record holder in holding records . . . from the inexplicable (most faces captured on a phonecam) to the outright banal (first independent tyre-testing facility), not a week goes by without a record-setting event somewhere in Malaysia.” [Source: Louisa Lim, The Star, September 26, 2009 +]

“Nonetheless, Malaysia isn’t running out of records to surpass. According to Ooi, 70 percent of records currently held are in the human achievements category. As such, there are numerous gaps left in categories like architecture and transport. Ooi receives 10 to 20 applications from aspiring record breakers every week, 5 percent of which are rejected because they are a little too ambitious for their own good. He has specially appointed a three-man research team to sift through applications. +

“This yoga guru came to me saying he wanted a record for most time spent staring at the sun,” Ooi remarked. “I said, ‘No way, it’s bad for your health.’ Same goes for stunts that involve staying awake for days, or living in a box with snakes and scorpions. We usually suggest to these applicants other records that they could break,” Ooi revealed. +

“He said his number one moment occurred in 2000, when a group of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) students successfully carried and mounted Malaysia’s flag to the Great Wall of China. “It was the longest flag I’d ever seen, and it weighed two tonnes,” Ooi said. “It took them about four to five hours to hang it up in the freezing cold, but when they finished, I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. I’d never felt so proud of my country before.” +

“However, not everyone agrees with Ooi and his records. There are those who scoff at his knack for celebrating trivialities like “Biggest Roti Canai” or “Longest Dodol”. Ooi, however, begs to differ: “It’s not as easy or as lame as it looks. Baking the tallest cake, for instance, requires an extraordinary amount of coordination and teamwork. Like, how are you going to bake it? How do you make sure it doesn’t topple over?”These naysayers, Ooi claimed, are the ones who sit back and do nothing. +

“Let’s see them break a record, any record,” he challenged. “There are, after all, some Malaysian record holders who have gone on to be world record holders, like 18-year-old Low Yee-Ming, who recently broke a Malaysian Record and Guinness Record simultaneously for balancing a football on his head for 11.1km. “But, please, if anyone is interested in achieving something, let it be positive. We need to encourage others to strive for excellence.” The sixth edition of the Malaysian Book of Records is available at most leading bookstores for RM88. For more information, visit www.malaysiarecords.com.my or call (03) 9283 8877. +

In June, 2009, AFP reported: “A kung fu master has jabbed his way into the Malaysian records book after piercing four coconuts with his index finger in a little over 30 seconds, according to a newspaper report. Ho Eng Hui, 55, made it into the Malaysia Book of Records for coconut opening with his 30.81 second feat, the New Straits Times reported Monday. "Now, I will start preparing myself to get into the Guinness Book of World Records," Master Ho told the newspaper. "This is not an illusion or black magic. I am able to do this after mastering the Chinese martial art technique of using the strength of my finger, from a martial arts master in Singapore." Hundreds of people, many of them tourists, witnessed the record breaking coconut piercing in Malacca. Master Ho smashed his previous record of breaking three coconuts in 70 seconds. [Source: AFP, June 21, 2009]

Malaysian Man Kisses a Cobra Record 51 Times

In March 2006, AFP reported: “A former Malaysian snake farm worker may have set a new world record after kissing a poisonous snake 51 times in three minutes, a report said. Shahimi Abdul Hamid's feat in kissing the 4.6-meter-long King Cobra—weighing 10 kilograms— 51 times in three minutes and one second was a record waiting to be verified, the Sunday Star newspaper said. Records showed that Gordon Cates from Florida, the United States kissed 11 cobras without a time limit in September 1999. Cates had used an iron bar to protect himself while Shahimi used only his bare hands. Asked why he did such a dangerous act on Saturday, Shahimi said: "Malaysians should know that if one has sufficient knowledge of reptiles, there would be no problem in dealing with them." [Source: AFP, March 19, 2006]

The Star reported: “The first few kisses seemed easy enough. Then the King Cobra looked agitated. This was when Shahimi Abdul Hamid showed deft agility by moving swiftly to avoid being bitten. On the 39th count, Shahimi performed a long kiss. After the 51st kiss, he received a thunderous applause from the audience at First World Hotel at Genting Highlands. Universiti Malaya Department of Medicine Prof Dr Iekhsam Othman later verified that the cobra was venomous. Shahimi, 33, was presented with a certificate endorsing his record-breaking attempt by the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai. [Source: The Star, March 19, 2006]

Malaysia's 'Snake King' Killed by Cobra

Ali Khan Samsuddin—a Malaysian known as the "King of the Snakes" for doing things like kissing cobras and sleeping with hundreds of snakes—died from a cobra bite in December 2006. Lindsay Hamilton of ABC News wrote: “Over the years, many snakes sank their fangs into him. He suffered his first king cobra bite when he was 21 years old. His last king cobra bite happened on Tuesday. He died three days later at Kuala Lumpur Hospital at age 48. When it came to working with dangerous creatures, Samsuddin liked pushing the limits. He set records few would even want to attempt — living in a glass case with 5,000 scorpions for 21 days, and living with 400 snakes for 40 days. [Source: Lindsay Hamilton, ABC News, December 2, 2006]

Christina Koh wrote in The Star, “Malaysia’s snake king Ali Khan Samsudin, 48, died as he had lived – handling the reptiles that he loved. His eldest son Amjad Khan, 21, said his father had been performing at a show in Kuala Lumpur when he was bitten by a King Cobra. Ali Khan, who regularly performs with his beloved snakes for charity and for a living, died at 1am yesterday at Kuala Lumpur Hospital where he had been recuperating. Amjad Khan related that when his father contacted him to tell him he had been bitten, the family had not been too worried. [Source: Christina Koh, The Star, December 2, 2006]

“He had been bitten by snakes many times before, including three times by King Cobras. The first King Cobra bit him in Taiping when he was 21. “So we didn’t think anything would happen. I was just relaks saja (calm),” said Amjad Khan at their flat in Kampung Boyan here. On Thursday night, his condition took a turn for the worse. Family members here received a call from Amjad Khan’s uncle to go to the hospital. “We rushed from Taiping at 11.30pm, but by the time we arrived he was already gone. We didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye,” said the son.“Maybe his body couldn’t take it any more because of his diabetes.”

He leaves behind five children aged 13 to 23 from wives Mau Boh Bee, 48, and Jumabee Mohd Ibrahim, 33. Amjad Khan, who also works as a snake handler, said he would continue his father’s work despite the tragedy. “Many of my father’s shows have been cancelled, but this is a trade that has been passed down for five generations,” he said, adding that his uncle Husein Dasthagir, 48, also worked with snakes. “It’s our way of life and we can’t imagine doing anything else.” Well known for his daring feats with cobras, Ali Khan had also made it into the 1997 Guinness Book of World Records, living in a glass enclosure filled with more than 5,000 scorpions for 21 days. He set another record by living with 400 snakes for 40 days.

Scorpion Queen

In the early 2000s, Malena Hassan was crowned Malaysia’s “Scorpion Queen” after she lived with 2,700 scorpions for 30 days in a two-by-six meter glass case in a museum in Kota Baru in northeastern Malaysia. She was in the cage non-stop except for occasional bathroom and praying breaks. During the first five days she was stung once but was determined to continue with her efforts. Her mentor was Ali Kan Shamsuddin Malaysia’s “snake king.” In 1997, he spent three weeks in a cage with 5,000 scorpions.

In September 2004, News agencies reported: “A Malaysian woman has broken a world record by enduring 32 days enclosed in a glass box with 6,069 scorpions, suffering seven stings in the process, her sponsor claimed. Nur Malena Hassan, 27, will remain in the case, on display in a shopping mall in the eastern city of Kuantan, said Bohari Rahmat, whose biscuit company sponsored the stunt. Earlier, Nur Malena surpassed the previous record held by Kanchana Ketkeaw from Thailand, who spent 31 days in a glass box with 3,400 scorpions, Bohari said. Bohari said he hadn’t talked to Nur Malena since she reclaimed her record, which she first won in 2001 by living for 30 days with 2,700 scorpions. “We don’t want her to lose focus, thinking that this is enough,” Bohari said. “If we can reach 36 days, it will be more difficult for someone else to beat us next time.” [Source: News agencies, September 21, 2004]

Sujatah Nair, a spokeswoman for the Malaysia Book of Records, told The Associated Press that video and other documentation were being sent to the Guinness Book of Records. “She was stung on her leg three times and could not walk, but she’s recovered,” Bohari said. “She left the room for two minutes to cut a cake and celebrate her 27th birthday.” Otherwise, she has left the room only once a day for a 15-minute bathroom break. Nur Malena has built up resistance to stings after five years of training, but can pass out if stung three times within a short span. A doctor has remained on standby to treat her if necessary. Thousands of Malaysians have visited the mall to observe Nur Malena in the room, where she sleeps, eats and performs Muslim prayers, moving very carefully to not upset her dangerous roommates.

Golf and the Anti-Golf Movement in Malaysia

There were about 100,000 golfers in Malaysia in the early 2000s. For a while the number of golfers in Malaysia was growing at a rate of about 20 percent a year. In 1994 there were 153 golf courses in Malaysia, triple the number that existed in 1985. A that time there were plans to build another 100 more. There are around 50 golf courses more within an hour's drive of Kuala Lumpur, most of them built in since 1990. Memberships fees ranged from $2,600 to $15,800 in the 2000s. Many of the memberships at courses in southern Malaysia are owned by Singaporeans.

Golf attracts affluent tourists from abroad and the sport is loved by wealthy Asians who view the sport as a status symbol. Many of the resorts cater to foreign golfers—particularly the Japanese, and more and more Taiwanese, Koreans, Chinese and Hong Kong Chinese, who find it cheaper to fly to foreign countries and play golf than play the game at home. One survey found that foreign golfer spend an average of $400 to $525 a day while in the country.

The Mayback Malaysian Open is part of the men’s European Tour. Before 2013 it was known simply as the Malaysian Open. It has attracted some of Europe’s best golfers, including Rory McIlroy. The inauguaral Asia Pacific Classic—the first PGA-Tour-sanctioned event in Southeast Asia — was held in Selangor, Malaysia in October 2010. The winner, American Ben Crane, took home $1 million, with an eight-foot birdie put on the final hole to beat England’s Brian Davis by one stroke. Tiger Woods competed at CIMB Classic— a PGA Tour event—played in Kuala Lumpur in October 2012. Thunderstorms plagued the tournament, played at the relatively short Mines Golf Course. There is a Malaysian Open and the LPGA Malaysia for women golfers

Many Malaysians are too busy working during the day to play golf. To attract more of them, some courses installed lights and began offering night golf. One fan of the game told Reuters, “You feel more relaxed because if you play during the day you get interrupted by phone calls.” Another said, “Its cooler and the atmosphere is nice.” Among the problems are long searches for balls that land in unlit areas. As of 2002, about 20 golf courses had installed lights: no cheap endeavor as the cost of putting in cables, towers and lights can run $92 million for just four holes.

Malaysian Sreela Kolandai founded the Anti-Golf Movement. He told the New York Times, “Golf has become a serious environmental threat all across Asia." Golf courses have been built on land cleared from rain forest and valuable agricultural land. The courses also drink up valuable sources of water. Fertilizers and pesticides that drain off the courses contaminate other water sources. Some farmers have been forced to give up their land at gun point. Defenders of the golf boom claim that displaced farmers can earn more being caddies, security guards and greenskeepers.

Six Divers Saved after Going Missing in Malaysia

In June 2012 Agence France-Presse reported: “Six scuba divers who went missing off a Malaysian resort island were rescued when they were spotted by a passing tugboat after spending a night in the sea, a maritime official said. The boat spotted the divers—a Singaporean, a Chinese and four Malaysians—off Tioman island on Malaysia’s east coast, said Syed Mohamad Fuzi Syed Hasan, an official with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. [Source: Agence France-Presse, June 24, 2012]

“The Malaysian boat, which was on its way to Indonesia, later informed authorities, who picked up the divers, he said. Another official had said earlier the boat was Indonesian. “Luckily all are safe,” Syed Mohamad Fuzi told AFP, adding that they were uninjured and back on Tioman island. The six, who were aged between 25 and 33 and included two women, were reported missing after going diving off the island. A seventh member of the group, who lost the rest underwater, raised the alarm.

“Syed Mohamad Fuzi said that due to a misunderstanding, the alarm was raised when the six were still diving. When they resurfaced, the boat was gone as it went to get help, and they drifted away with the current. Syed Mohamad Fuzi said the divers were experienced, had inflatable jackets and huddled together throughout the night so no one would become separated from the group. Malaysia’s east coast islands, famed for their corals and marine life, are a popular dive destination and accidents are rare.”

Gambling in Malaysia

About 6 billion ringiit was wagered in legitimate gambling each year in the early 2000s. The amount of illegal gambling is supposed to be as big or bigger. Illegal bookies pay no taxes and are able to offer higher prizes.

Numbers games are popular in Malaysia. Tanjoun PLC run a popular four-digit numbers game. Bejaya Sports Toto and Magnum Corp also run popular games. In an effort to lure gamblers away from illegal bookies the government said it would revise betting taxes and raise prize payouts. Betting taxes were standardized at 6 percent of sales.

Gamblers in Malaysia bet huge sums of money on English Premier League soccer games. There have been several match-fixing scandals in Malaysia (See soccer). Members of a Malaysian gambling syndicate reportedly offered gifts to players in the 1995 under-17 World Cup in Qatar. Punters in Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia bet on British horse races.

Informal casinos have been set up in the no mans land between Malaysia and Thailand. I stayed at guest house in Kota Bahru, near the Thai border, in the 1980s that was a cover for gambling den used by cad-playing Thais.

In the early 2000s, Star Cruises ran vessels that picked up passengers in Kukup and then sailed into international waters and anchored for a while to get around gambling laws in Hong Kong. Described as a "cruise to nowhere," the ship offered slot machines, baccarat and video mahjong. Three companies offer gambling cruises. Some offer food and cabins for less than $50 a night. Star Cruises is owned by Malaysia’s Gentling International.

Genting

Lim Kok Thay. the son of late casino magnate Lim Goh Tong runs Genting Group, which boasts resorts and casinos in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines and the U.K., and a 43 percent stake in Norwegian Cruise Line. In the mid 2000s, under Lim Goh Tong, Genting was the biggest casino operator in Asia, There are currently 5 public companies listed in 3 jurisdictions that operate under the "Genting" name with a combined market capitalisation of over RM124 billion (US$41 billion) as at 30 April 2013. 1) Genting Berhad; 2) Genting Malaysia Berhad; 3) Genting Plantations Berhad; 4) Genting Singapore PLC; 5) Genting Hong Kong Limited. [Source: Genting]

These public companies and their subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in various businesses, including leisure & hospitality, power generation, oil palm plantation, property development, biotechnology and oil & gas. Collectively, they have about 55,000 employees (excluding Genting Hong Kong), 4,500 hectares of prime resort land and about 228,000 hectares of plantation land. The leisure & hospitality business operates using various brand names including “Resorts World”, “Maxims”, “Crockfords”, “Awana”, “Star Cruises” and “Norwegian Cruise Line”. In addition to Premium Outlets®, Genting companies have tie ups with Universal Studios, Hard Rock Hotel and other renowned international brands.

The Genting Group was founded in 1965 by Lim Goh Tong, following his vision to build a highland resort accessible to Malaysians. Inspired while working in the Cameron Highlands in 1964, he identified Gunung Ulu Kali, about 58 km from Kuala Lumpur, as the ideal site. Despite dense जंगल and difficult terrain, he established Genting Highlands Berhad and secured land approvals from state governments between 1965 and 1970. Construction began in 1965, including a road to the mountain peak that took four years to complete. Lim invested heavily, using personal and company resources to develop what he described as a “dream resort.” In 1969, Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, officiated the foundation of the first hotel, later opened in 1971 as the Highlands Hotel.

The resort, now known as Resorts World Genting, expanded into a major integrated destination with multiple hotels, entertainment facilities, and theme parks, earning the nickname “City of Entertainment.” A key addition was the Genting Skyway in 1997, one of the longest and fastest cable car systems in the region. Under Lim Kok Thay, the group diversified into plantations, power generation, and energy. Today, Genting Berhad is a major multinational company. Lim Goh Tong died in 2007, leaving a legacy built on long-term vision and persistence.

Pets and Dogs in Malaysia

Cats, fish, and sometimes singing birds are reared as pets by Malay families. Dogs are considered "unclean" by Muslims and, therefore, are not usually kept as pets by Malays in Malaysia. Many of Malaysia's homeless cats have knobby, mishappen tails. This is due to a genetic defect that causes their tail bones to grow on top of one another. The first mention of this was made by a Sarawak museum curator named Robert Shelford in 1904. Malaysians put a small dried fish in their mousetraps rather than a piece of cheese.

In January 2011, two dogs mauled an Irish tourist to death at an organic farm in northern Malaysia. The Guardian reported: “Local police officer Lai Fah Hin says the man died on the spot Sunday after being attacked by the two dogs at the farm on the northern island of Penang. The dogs tore gashes in his face and body.Reports identified the dead man as Maurice Sullivan, aged 50. He was reportedly staying at the farm with his Polish companion to take photos. Local media quoted the farm owner as saying he would hand over the dogs, which he reared to protect the farm from wild boars and pythons, to the veterinary department. It is still unclear what caused them to attack Sullivan. [Source: AP, January 2011]

The Telomian is rare breed of dogs that originated in Malaysia and resembles an African Basenji. Named after the Telom River, where the were first discovered by Westeners, they are believed to have been a distinct breed for at least 3000 years and may be a missing link between Australian dingos and basenjis. Like the basenji, the Telomian has a furrowed brow and tail that curls over the dog’s back, but not as tightly as a basenji’s.

Telomian have traditionally been raised by native people in peninsular Malaysia. These people used the dogs for hunting and were so fond of them the treated them like children, even breast feeding them with human milk. The dogs were skill tree climbers and able to wade into streams and catch their own fish.

The Telomian was introduced to the West by Dr. Orville Elliot, a scientist studying tree shrews in Malaysia. In the 1960s, he and his wife convinced some local people to give them their dogs so they could take them to United States and breed them to prevent them from becoming extinct. The first Telomians were raised primarily by scientists in laboratories. In the 1970s they caught on with American pet owners,

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 5: East/Southeast Asia:” edited by Paul Hockings; 1993; New York Times; Washington Post; Los Angeles Times; Smithsonian magazine; Encyclopedia.com; National Geographic; Live Science; Malaysia Tourism websites; Malaysia government websites; UNESCO; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Natural History magazine; Times of London; Library of Congress; The Conversation; The New Yorker; Time; BBC; CNN; Reuters; Associated Press; AFP; Lonely Planet Guides; Google AI; Wikipedia; The Guardian and various websites; books and other publications.

Last updated May 2026