The Island Drum website began its journey as a simple Facebook group to fill a consistent information void on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia. My own frustration in missing events or hearing about them in past tense was the inspiration. The Facebook group was christened Island Drum of Langkawi, in June of 2010, and later affectionately referred to as The Island Drum.
The Island Drum name was inspired by my experiences of ‘kampung’ living. I realized one day that the weekly drum beating I was hearing usually preempted village announcements. I assumed it was local news and updates, akin to the ‘Daily Bugle’, and the perfect name for my own ‘announcements’. In March of 2012 The Island Drum transitioned into a website medium while continuing its Facebook , Twitter , Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat presence to expand its social media influence. The website’s journey has indeed taken a few twists and turns along the way, but with Langkawi being a frequent base camp, the initial efforts of highlighting weekly events and local specials still carries on in This Week in Langkawi .
The Island Drum website and The Island Drum BLOG has also expanded its efforts into promoting regional information about Peninsular and East Malaysia, in addition to other parts of Asia and beyond. The mix of local and regional blogs and reviews is slowly expanding as I continue to explore this amazing planet and its diverse cultures. And me? I’m Vanessa, the editor in chief, admin and general busy body.
