logo
Star Wars fans lead the way to Malaysia's hidden gems

Star Wars fans lead the way to Malaysia's hidden gems

The Star04-05-2025

'Uncovering hidden gems of Malaysia' – so goes the bio on Mandalorians In Malaysia's Instagram profile (my_mandos).
Scroll through the posts and it's immediately apparent that this is no ordinary travel account. Sure, it lives up to its declaration of uncovering the country's hidden gems, but it does so in quite an unconventional way.
In every one of its photo or reel, there are two figures (sometimes more) dressed in armour, replete with helmet and cape.
Those unfamiliar with the Star Wars franchise might be scratching their heads at this sight, but for fans, especially of The Mandalorian TV series, the figures are easily identifiable.
That's its unique point: It showcases the hidden gems in Malaysia through the travels of these Star Wars characters.
'I've always liked the Mandalorian concept and 'culture', starting from when I was four or five years old through the original Mando, Boba Fett,' says Calvin Shoon, 24, the man behind the travel team.
'Fast forward to the end of 2020, 'Mandomania' was at an all-time high with the end of The Mandalorian Season 2. It was then that I decided to commission a Mandalorian cosplay to fulfil this childhood dream of mine.'
The Malaysian Mandalorians
In 2024, Shoon finally launches the travel platform. The first post, dated July 12, is captioned: 'It all started from our love of Malaysia, and how we wanted to share that love of our country and its many hidden gems with our friends and family. We hope to bring you that with this platform, but with a twist...'
And what a twist it is – immediately garnering attention both online and in real life.
It is quite the spectacle to witness Shoon and his team wandering around in their costumes, enthusiastically combing the country for places whose quiet beauty deserves a shoutout.
'In the beginning, when the team was smaller, I handled almost all the planning and execution,' says Shoon, adding that Google Maps was his go-to during the researching stage.
'I would pick a place and plot my journey from there. As I reviewed the routes, I would also check out any places of interest nearby.'
Now, with a bigger team of eight including himself, '... more research is put in to give the team a further understanding of not just the production flow, but also the local history and culture, and the people.'
Shoon (second from right) with his Mandalorians In Malaysia team.
Some of the places they have highlighted are Pulau Mawar Sea Arch in Johor, Zi Xia Cave in Kelantan and Marang Wave Breaker in Terengganu.
Aside from simply showcasing the beauty of each place, they also provide information on how to reach these off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Take the sea arch for example. It is only accessible outside of the monsoon season because between October and March, the sandbar that connects the island to the beach (Pantai Mawar) will be submerged underwater.
Getting to the arch requires a bit of hiking, but the team's documentation proves that the effort is well worth it.
'The journey there was such a unique experience,' Shoon recalls. 'We had to cross a temporary land bridge, followed by a hike through the jungle... only to come upon a majestic view of the South China Sea through Johor's best kept secret: The Sea Arch.'
He cites the arch as one of the more memorable places they've visited. Another one, Pantai Mek Mas in Kelantan, also left a lasting impression on them as well as their fellow Star Wars fans.
'The journey there was an experience itself, but spotting the great sand dune upon arrival as it slowly got taller and taller really was... eye-opening,' he shares.
Since the climb up the dune was challenging, due to the soft sands that gave way with each step, he adds, 'It really was like travelling through the desert. The overwhelming heat from the midday sun really helped sell the illusion too.'
Interestingly, it looked so convincing that some fans don't just believe they're in a desert, these fans go so far as to think that the Kota Baru destination is, in fact, 'a blue screen of Tatooine'. That's how similar it appears to the fictional desert planet.
Pantai Mek Mas is often mistaken by Star Wars fans as a blue screen of Tatooine.
Shoon shares that this was among the comments they received when they had the chance to meet other Star Wars fans in person.
'Often, when we are 'boothing', we receive comments and questions asking if some of our work was Artificial Intelligence, CGI or a screenshot of the show,' he says. 'We couldn't be prouder. Not just of our work but also of our beautiful country!'
The 'boothing' he refers to are when he and his team set up booths at events – such as AsiaPopcon 2024 and the annual Star Wars gathering at Jaya One Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor – where they would 'try to spread the word of these places with a pop-up style of photo exhibition'.
Other than the high quality of their work, another feedback they typically receive is from locals who are surprised that these otherworldly places exist in Malaysia.
Leading the way
Piquing fellow Malaysians' interest to travel more and discover what our country has to offer is precisely the goal Shoon had in mind.
He even cheekily uses the tagline 'Ini arahnya' for the travel account. It is a play on the popular Mandalorian saying: 'This is the way'.
via GIPHY
'It is a localisation of the famous catchphrase to give it that intimate and familiar touch. It also happens to be a tongue-in-cheek way of 'showing the way' to these exotic places,' Shoon explains.
Setting up the platform was not without its challenges. Unfortunately, just like Din Djarin having to face many hurdles in The Mandalorian , Shoon too would have his to overcome.
As he mentioned, 2020 was a good time for the Pedro Pascal-starring TV series, with the second season even outperforming the already successful first season (launched in 2019).
So, for Shoon, it was a good time to be a fan. But let's not forget that, at the same time, there was a global pandemic wreaking havoc. Many lives were lost to the Covid-19 virus, and among them were Shoon's parents.
'They were the first people I wanted to show off my new costume to. Something they would, sadly, never get to see,' he shares.
To deal with his grief and take his mind off the outbreak, Shoon spent his time scrolling through posts of places he wished to visit once lockdowns and travel bans were over. This was what truly sparked the idea of 'a travelling Mando exploring the limitless wonders of Malaysia'.
The eventual formation of the travel account helped in lifting Shoon's spirits. Unbeknown to him, it will go on to touch other lives as well. Star Wars fans are often excited to spot them filming their content.
The most memorable of these reactions, he mentions, was when they visited the last remaining match factory in Malaysia.
The Mandos posing in front of Malaysia's last match factory.
Initially appearing sans costumes at the factory in Kota Baru, the workers were later elated to see the team return with some of them decked up in their Mando gear. Grinning the widest was a man named 'Muharez'.
'We noticed a Mando helmet, hung on the wall at his desk!' Shoon enthuses.
'We got to know that he personally crafted the helmet via 3D printing, and got to learn more about the factory and life in Kota Baru through him personally.
'I like to think that we made his day. Connections like these are really what motivate us to do more, to do better,' he adds.
So, in spite of the mosquito bites they endure when they traverse through forests, or risking heat stroke in their costumes while filming under the blazing sun, Shoon and his team continue to be passionate in sharing Malaysia's hidden beauty in their own Mando way.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

South Korean model-actor Kim Jong-seok dies at 29
South Korean model-actor Kim Jong-seok dies at 29

The Star

time8 hours ago

  • The Star

South Korean model-actor Kim Jong-seok dies at 29

Kim Jong-seok's death was confirmed by his family on the day of his funeral (June 6). Photo: Kim Jong-seok/Instagram Model-actor Kim Jong-seok passed away on June 4, according to reports from Korean entertainment portals. He was 29. His death was confirmed by his family two days later, on the day of his funeral (June 6). On June 5, an acquaintance appeared to post a tribute on social media that read: 'I still can't believe that I'll never be able to see your smiling face again for all the days I live. You may no longer be with us, but please know that you were a great gift to this world, and I will always cherish you close in my heart. I'll miss you. I'll always love you.' The cause of death remains unknown. However, that hasn't stopped speculation online, prompting his older sister to post on his Instagram account to urge the public to refrain from spreading baseless rumours during the family's time of mourning. Comments have been disabled on Kim's Instagram account on some of his latest posts. Kim's last post was on June 2. Kim began his career in 2014, modelling for an online shopping mall and then later for a men's grooming and skincare brand. In 2022, he appeared on the dating reality show Skip Dating , hosted by Yoo Jae-suk, Jeon So-min and Nucksal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 김종석 (@kimjongseok__)

HK star Edan Lui of Mirror posts photo in batik shirt in Penang: 'Selamat malam'
HK star Edan Lui of Mirror posts photo in batik shirt in Penang: 'Selamat malam'

The Star

time8 hours ago

  • The Star

HK star Edan Lui of Mirror posts photo in batik shirt in Penang: 'Selamat malam'

The 28-year-old was in Penang to film a new season of a variety show. Photos: Edan Lui/Instagram On Sunday (June 8), Edan Lui of the popular Hong Kong boy band Mirror shared a photo of himself wearing a batik shirt on Instagram. The caption read: 'Selamat malam. Good night from Penang.' The 28-year-old singer-actor was in Penang with Jeffrey Ngai and several other celebrities to film a new season of a variety show. Ngai also took to Instagram on Tuesday (June 3) to share a group photo, captioned: 'Four years later, we are finally out together.' However, it was Lui's photo that created a buzz, as Penang is the hometown of his "rumoured girlfriend", Malaysian actress Lin Min Chen. Alongside the usual welcoming comments, many netizens playfully referred to Lui as Malaysia's 'son-in-law' because of his connection to Lin. Coincidentally, Lin was in Penang to celebrate her birthday, which falls on June 1. On Sunday as well, she posted several videos, including one of her joyfully cutting a cake prepared by colleagues. This led netizens to speculate about the timing of Lui's visit and Lin's birthday celebration. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 林明禎 (@minchen333)

SHOWBIZ: American artiste Jared Leto accused of sexual impropriety by 9 women
SHOWBIZ: American artiste Jared Leto accused of sexual impropriety by 9 women

New Straits Times

time13 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

SHOWBIZ: American artiste Jared Leto accused of sexual impropriety by 9 women

LOS ANGELES: Nine women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against actor and musician Jared Leto, describing his behaviour as "predatory, terrifying, and unacceptable," according to a recent investigative report published by Air Mail. The report details accounts spanning years, with multiple women accusing the 53-year-old of inappropriate behaviour, including sexually suggestive communication with minors and unwelcome advances. One woman told Air Mail that in 2006, when she was 16, Leto approached her outside a Los Angeles café. He was sitting with then-19-year-old actress Ashley Olsen at the time. The woman claimed Leto grabbed her arm and initiated a brief conversation before asking for her phone number. "He called a few days later," she recalled. "I don't know if he was on drugs or what… It was the weirdest, grossest voice… [But] for me, it's Jared, you know?" She said Leto invited her to a party at his house, but she declined. Despite her refusal, she claimed he continued calling her late at night. "The conversations turned sexual. He'd ask things like: 'Have you ever had a boyfriend?'" Model Laura La Rue recounted a similar encounter from 2008, when she was also 16. At a private event in Beverly Hills, she said Leto watched her "so intensely" that it made her uncomfortable. Another woman said she began texting with Leto while underage. During visits to his home, she claimed he asked her sexually inappropriate questions. Allie Teilz, a DJ and music producer based in Los Angeles, resurfaced a 2012 Facebook post via Instagram last month in which she wrote: "You're not really in LA until Jared Leto tries to force himself on you backstage… In a kilt.. And a snow hat," Air Mail reported. A representative for Leto has "expressly denied" the various women's accusations reported in Air Mail, including Teilz's, which the representative said were "demonstrably false". Leto himself has yet to comment on the allegations. The frontman of the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2014 for his work in the biographical drama, Dallas Buyers Club. His other acting credits include House of Gucci, Blade Runner 2049, Morbius, and Fight Club.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store