Hey there!

For context, I've been on this weird journey working in sustainability, and spent 2 years in corporate as a Project Associate, where my focus area was urban rejuvenation and placemaking projects.

It's been an eye-opener, for sure. I mean, I got to see the big picture – cities, economies, the whole nine yards. But at the same time, I was also deep in the weeds with communities, design, and all that good stuff.

The funny thing is, I felt totally lost between these two worlds. Here's why:

The suits thought I was too laid-back for them, and the community folks thought I was too corporate. I see the part of me as a centrist, defeating and failed to adapt myself or at least pretend to.

So, I decided to ditch the office life and head to Kluang. No plan, no job offer, just a hope to find myself. I knew absolutely no one. It was a fresh start, or so I thought. Every now and then people had been asking me Whyyyy Kluang? I'll get to this later and link another post here once I do write a post on it, okiess?

The first few months were rough. I was the new kid on the block, trying to figure out the local scene. I met people at Gunung Lambak, some cafes, and even a few politicians. Slowly but surely, I started to build a network.

That's when things got interesting. I realized that some folks in Kluang were already doing their own version of placemaking without even knowing the fancy term. It was super cool to see how organic and genuine it was.

Here are a few examples of placemaking in Kluang that I love:

• Pasar Awam Jelutong

• Pacak/Night Market Tepi Gunung

• In front of ADUN Mengkibol Office

• Pasar Awam Kluang (seasonal)

• Acid Cafe

• Johbase Centre
  
  

I'll definitely share more about these places and add some pictures later.

Placemaking and user experience are kinda similar, right? The main difference is one happens in the real world, and the other is digital.