Malaysian Travel Bites

Digi iPhone 4 me

2010-09-26T18:38:00.025+08:00

Are you one of those Malaysian people who queued for 6 to 8 hours before midnight September 24, 2010 to be the first to buy the latest iPhone 4?

Now every business in town will run contests to give away free iPhone 4. Just like they did with the iPad. (hey, did you know that I won an iPad in a lucky draw and I have been hooked on the iPad since then? In fact this blog post was written on the iPad. More of this later)

What is this thing about Apple products - where buyers are willing to stand in line for many hours just to buy those products?

What would you do if you were to win the iPhone 4?

For me, the iPhone 4 will be my first iPhone that I will own. I have never owned an iPhone before, though I have a Blackbery smartphone. The iPhone will be my second smartphone. Do you know it is the norm for many Malaysians to have 2 or more phones in their possession?

After using the iPad for some weeks, I begin to understand why an Apple user will never switch to other products.

For one, the battery life is something to die for. The iPad can go on for 10 hours. I read the iPhone 4 has 5 hours talk time. Great

I am amazed with the so many applications written for Apple products . I have gone crazy and have downloaded so many apps into my iPad, and I think I will do the same when I got my iphone 4.

One of the feature that I am going to look for in the iPhone is the ability to increase the screen size by using the fingers to 'pinch and stretch' on the screen. Fantastic. So easy on my eyes to read my emails, and surf the web.

I have a Digi Internet package to enable me to go online on my phone anytime. So with the iPhone, I am ready to be connected.

Wiggles live in KL

2010-05-16T15:19:00.000+08:00

The Wiggles will be performing live in KL on June 8, 2010 at 2pm. Only for 1 show. It's their debut Asian tour.  It's held during the Malaysian school holidays, so the children are free to watch; it's the adults that has to take time off to accompany their children.
But wait a minute, the Wiggles character are all being played by adults, ranging in age from 32 to 57.   So you are going to watch adults perfoming for kids. Amazing isn't it? If you haven't seen any of their shows on TV or on videos, you should.

In the Wiggles show, the performers go by their first names, namely Anthony (Field), Jeff (Fatt), Murray (Cook) and Sam (Moran).   The show originally started as a music recording of an educational children's album in 1991, but is now a well know entertaining group in Australia.

Their success is probably due to their indepth knowledge of child development and doing everything from a child's perspective.

Tickets for the Wiggles show are priced at Rm 153, 203, 253 and 303. Astro subscribers get 15% discount off ticket prices.

Get you tickets from http://www.axcess.com.my/

Big Bad Wolf Books warehouse sale

2009-12-01T20:54:00.003+08:00

Hurry, huff and puff your way to the Big Bad Wolf Book sale at Amcorp Mall, in PJ. I brought my 2 nephews to the Big Bad Wolf Book sale and we selected 70 books, mostly chidren's books. The total cost - RM420, which means an average of RM6 per book. The booksale is on till Dec 2, 2009, so get yourself there, if you haven't done so.

Some of the titles I got for Rm 3 each :
Allan & Barbara Pease : Why Women Always need More Shoes (original, Rm 21.60)
Allan & Barbara Pease : Why men Don't Have a Clue (original 21.60)

Biography and autography - as low as RM3 each,
Sudoku books

and many more.

Here's a link to the Big Bad Wolf Books website

Ben 10 live in KL 2009

2009-11-25T22:35:00.000+08:00

Got your tickets yet for the Ben Ten live show in KL? You got to hurry because the live show is on Friday Nov 27 to Sunday Nov 29, 2009 at KL Convention Centre. Tickets can be bought online at ticketpro online or office . 3 daily shows, 2 pm, 5 pm, 7 pm, 80 minutes long. You can enjoy discounts for purchases under different categories : family ( 4 or more), Group (10 or more), MPH card members and Toy'R us members. Basically, just go and watch!

Who is Ben 10 Power of the Omnitrix? I really don't know, but I have 2 young nephews who are so into Ben 10 - the things I have bought for them - T shirt with Ben 10 logos on the front and back, pencil case, stationery (eraser, pen), stickers-books , bottle containers, school bags, toys, watch, the 'omnitrix' and so on, all with Ben Ten logos. I still don't know all the characters of Ben 10, but I guess I will know more about them after the show.

Ben 10 is Cartoon Network’s famous alien-morphing boy hero. Ben 10 Power of the Omnitrix will take the audience into the electrifying world of Ben Tennyson and his spine-tingling adventures. Rocks and Squids, brand new alien superheroes from Ben 10 Alien Force are making their global debut live on stage.

Featuring 18 dynamic characters including Ben’s cousin Gwen, his grandpa Max, Kevin Levin, superheroes Four Arms, Wildmutt and Heatblast, and menacing villains Vilgax, the Highbreed Commander, Forever Knights and DNAliens in jaw-dropping stunts and slick moves amidst dazzling multimedia effects will have Ben 10 fans and action enthusiasts totally captivated

** extract from promotional materials

Know what? There is also a wikipedia write up about this Ben Ten character, and many blogs talking about Ben and his transformations. Big industry !
.

Its easy to renew your Malaysian passport

2009-09-09T19:47:00.001+08:00

Renewing your Malaysian passport is easy and speedy with the Passport Kiosk.

There are 2 parts to this process, each takes about 5 minutes, give and take. If you are impressed so am I!

The passport renewal machine found at the ground floor of the Immigration Department at Pusat Bandar Damansara (Block I) has the facility to accept the payment ($300 for a 32 page passport), after which you drop your passport in the machine together with 1 passport-sized photo, and a photocopy of your IC.

After dropping the passport, the machine prints acknowledgment slip and informs you to come back in 2 hours time to collect your passport. You can have tea, lunch or go shopping during that time. Or come back the next day (as long as you remember to collect within 3 months!)

The machine checks your thumb print against your IC, so the applicant needs to be present.

Note : The machine does not accept the new $50 currency note, so do remember to bring the old $50 notes, until such time that the machine has been re-calibrated.

There are many shops near to the immigration departmentwhere you can take instant passport size photos and make a photocopy of the IC. So just go with your old passport and money! If you are still blur about renewing, just ask the people who man the copier or the make-shift photo studio. There is also a guard on standby to help out.

happy 52nd merdeka

2009-08-31T19:16:00.000+08:00

Malaysia celebrates 52 nd Merdeka celebrations in low key

Google has a special logo for this year

GPS system - all you need to do is drive

2009-04-30T19:00:00.003+08:00

Bought my first GPS system (model GPS Bay 3303) some 2 weeks ago from Courts Mutiara in PJ and I don't have any regrets at all. In fact today I've just bought another 2 sets for my sister-in-law and for a friend.

I paid RM 399.00 for the set (50% off normal price of Rm 799). It is definitely one of the the best investment I've made in a long while.

Source of screen shot : GPS Bay website

In my line of work, I see least 15 new clients (prospects) in various parts of Selangor . Normally I will get the prospects to fax me a location map to their office, but a map is a static thing, and if you missed a turning, that's the beginning of your nightmare.

With the GPS system, if you've missed a turning despite all the voice instructions that it gives you, it is intelligent enough to re-direct you back to the correct path by giving new directions to get to your destination.

Today I visited a kindergarten in Bukit Rimau with the address "Jalan Sg Congkak 32/51D in Bukit Rimau". I keyed in the road name into the GPS Bay 3303, and I arrived at the location without having to ask for phone directions from the client. Save time and money. That's what I like.

There are some newer areas which are not on the map, like Jalan Mahkota 7/4B in Putra Heights, but in cases like that I key-in some nearby road name and start from there.

It is very easy to install the unit on your windscreen; it has a holder which can be adjusted to your liking. Once you register the unit with MapKing, the provider of the maps (you can get the staff at Courts to do it for you), you can use the GPS to guide you back home form the store! The instruction manual is easy to follow, and the rest is through experimenting and getting used to the voice telling you to "please slow down"!!

It is recommended that you hide the unit when you park your car in public areas.

Renew road tax the easy way

2009-03-02T11:27:00.002+08:00

I don't know about you, but I am very happy with the online renewal of Malaysian road tax through MYEG Services

You don't have to leave your house, and queue at the Road Transport Department office, or the Post office. They charge a service fee of 6% on the road tax amount, and a delivery fee of RM 6.00, all in I had to pay RM 8.75 for the service. Compare this to engaging a runner, I need to pay at least Rm10, or if I go there myself, I will save the Ringgit but I will be penny wise, pound foolish, because the 1 hour or so at the queue will cost me some Rm 50 or so (petrol, toll, and the opportunity cost of earning my keep)

You need to have a valid insurance policy, and you must renew your road tax within 7days of the expiry date.

I had an insurance policy that is valid from 28/8/08-27/8/09, but I only logged in to the website on 4/9/08 to renew my road tax, so I could only renew for 6 months which means it is now expiring on 3/3/09. So I am now renewing my road tax for the 2nd 6 months of the insurance period.

And the best part is, in Sep last year, they helped me process the full amount of Malaysian fuel rebate of Rm 625 and banked to my bank account.

Another thing, you don't have to produce the registration card to renew your road tax, and that was my main reason I chose the online renewal in the first place. I couldn't find the registration card, and after 8 days of searching, I somehow 'listened to*' the advertisement on the radio, and went home and logged on to the site. Never looked back.

* Listening is not the same as hearing.

Free drinks for your birthday

2009-01-04T23:39:00.008+08:00

It's just 4 days into the new year 2009, and we have celebrated 2 family members' birthdays - Jan 2, and Jan 4. One of it happen to be mine.

If you fancy Chinese fast-food, try the Wong Kok Char Chan Teng Hong Kong restaurant chain. They offer a free jug of Birthday milk tea (teh tarik) to go with your meals. The jug can fill up 10 tall glasses. No kidding.

Just produce the IC or Birth Cert of the birthday girl or boy and party with 6 persons or more. Minimum spending only $30. Reasonable food prices, palatable food. We had light meals : Yong Chow fried rice, fried Hor Fun with fish and ginger, baked chicken wings with cheese, fried 'Sui Kow', 2 plates french fries and ice cream for the kids. The bill came up to $55.

The Wong Kok restaurant chain can be found in major shopping malls. We had ours at IOI Mall in Puchong. You can also go to Pavilion KL, Sunway Piramid, 1 Utama, Leisure Mall, South City Plaza, Caesar's club in SS2 and Brem Mall in Kepong. Also Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Mall in Malacca, City Square in Johore, Batu Pahat mall and Holiday Plaza in Johor.

The cake is from Cake Sense bakery, opposite IOI Mall in Puchong Jaya

2008-12-25T01:16:00.003+08:00

Time for reflection. Merry Christmas, and looking forward to an eventful new year 2009

Selamat Hari Raya 2008

2008-09-30T21:03:00.004+08:00

Tomorrow October 1, 2008 Malaysians celebrate the Hari Raya 1 Syawal AidilFitri. Wish everybody 'selamat Hari raya'.

The one thing that is synonymous with large scale celebration like Hari Raya, and Chinese New year, is the migration of people from the city to their hometown.

For a few days in a year, the roads in KL will be devoid of traffic, while the smaller towns will be jammed-packed with the return of the 'migrants'. The smaller towns are not built to cope with the massive population, so you can expect shortage of petrol (already in the news recently), long queue at the ATM machines when the returnees cashout their savings, long queue at the popular (and not so popular) food stalls. The air of festivity can be seen at the smaller towns , rather than in KL!

So join the crowd and see you in Melaka!

Malaysia World Drum Festival 2008

2008-07-23T10:47:00.005+08:00

The Malaysian World Drum chapter II 2008 will be held from July 26- August 2, 2008. To hear the drums and percussionists beating away, click on the Malaysia world drum website. The drummers are from Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Venezuela, Indonesia, Singapore, Senegal, Ghana. Entrance is FREE.

The programme (extract from the website) is reproduced below

The event is managed by a company which specialises in travel & tour packages. What a great business idea. Organise an event with the back-end sale in mind! Tour packages to Langkawi, Cherating, Port Dickson, Tioman, Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, Desaru (in Johor) have been put together for the tourists. Prices are is US Dollars.

New Paris restaurant - fast, and efficient

2008-07-21T21:37:00.002+08:00

Why is the New Paris restaurant in SS2 in PJ so successful? By successful, I mean the place (occupying 3 shop lots in width, and 2 floors) is almost full at 6 pm on a Sunday evening. More people were strolling in when we finished our dinner around 7 pm.

If you've been to this restaurant, you will concur with me that the service here is fast and efficient. Here's my observation.

Food came within 10 minutes after ordering. If you look into the kitchen, you will see 2 rows of kitchen staff. The first row is the chef, while the second row behind the chef is the preparer. Each chef is assisted by a preparer - and each chef is probably assigned to cook a different dish on the order. That's why our order comes out fast and almost the same time. How many times have you been to a restaurant where the last dish comes out long after you've finished the others?

The table is covered with layers of plastic. When the meal is over, the entire table contents - plates, bowls, cutlery and leftover food is conveniently wrapped in the top layer of plastic, exposing the clean second layer, which means the table is ready to seat another hungry family.

When you ask for the bill, watch this, the bill comes with ready change. Say the bill is for $77.00, the waiter comes with change for $23.00 When you hand over the $100 bill, he hands you the $23 change. The waiter saves a trip, and you can be on your way to the next hangout. Makes sense when you think of it.

As for the rice, they serve the rice in a pot, and leave the pot on your table. You take as much or as little as you want, save you the hassle of calling the waiter for additional plate of rice.

And the restaurant does not charge you '10% service charge', which a lot of others do.

As for the food, its good!

If you do a search for New Paris restaurant, you will probably find many good reviews of the food served. This post is about its service. I think they can franchise this system!

Malacca is one of the World Heritage Sites

2008-07-08T18:32:00.003+08:00

Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has finally listed Malacca in the World Heritage List. Also included is George Town in Penang.

Malacca has a long history, going back to 600 or more years. It has been conquered by the Portuguese, Dutch and British for many years, and you can see their influence in the buildings around the town, mostly centred aound the Malacca river.

Read the Star's Unesco Accepts GeorgeTown and Malacca as World Heritage Site

The full list can be found in Eight new sites added to World Heritage List

Where to find cheap backdated magazines

2008-05-14T00:47:00.003+08:00

If you are in MidValley Shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, head up to the 3rd floor nearer to the Food Junction. There's this shop (NZ Magazine Centre) that sells back-dated magazines at reduced prices (Rm 4 each). The cover price of these magazines are around US 3.95 each (approximately RM15).

You can find 'evergreen' magazines - Entreprenuership (small business opportunities that are vogue in USA), medical, sports (golf, sailing etc), women's issues (women's weekly, women's own, teenager), recipes, parenting and a lot more. I bought 11 magazines (mostly on entrepreneurship) to read up on businesses that are 'hot' in the United states for 2007 and 2008.

Free wireless in KL

2008-05-13T23:58:00.004+08:00

Yes! Finally, KL is covered by FREE wireless boradband access. Everyone in the city centre will be able to enjoy the wireless internet service for free for next 2 years. You need to pre-register as a user under www.wirelesskl.com. Registration is easy and didn't require you to provide many privacy-intrusion information.

Expect speeds at 512kb/sec (okaylah, free), using the WiMAx 2.3 technology. Apparently Kuala Lumpur is amongst the first cities in the world to use this technolgy. Spirit of Malaysia Boleh!

Where can you expect to surf for free? Phase 1 zone covers KLCC and Golden triangle, with 1500 zones to be installed. I can't wait for the whole city to be covered by wireless connection. I can imagine myself sitting in the car, listening to the radio while accessing my email in the jam!

Just last week, I was contemplating to sign up for U-Mobile wireless service (at Rm 78/mth) to replace my Streamyx broadband services (paying Rm 77/mth). Luckily I waited. if I am early for an appointment in KL - I will find the nearest hotel and while the time surfing.

When are they going to extend the service to PJ areas?

Read more in KL the wireless online metropolitan

Online map

2008-03-20T12:21:00.002+08:00

Here's a site for online map which I just discovered. Its a worldwide map search with routing and travel directions.

The online map for Malaysia is quite up to date and easy to view and use, as far as I am concerned. At least I will now be able to plan my journey without having to refer to the book version which can be cumbersome at times.

Malaysian General Election 2008

2008-03-06T01:28:00.002+08:00

Like it or not, most Malaysian adults will be caught in the election fever that's raging in Malaysia. Come March 8, 2008, Malaysians will vote in the outgoing ruling government, or vote for a change in the government. If the turnout at the 'ceramahs' organised by the opposition is any indication of the voter's inclination for a change, then there might be surprises in store for the ruling government.

I don't know much about politics and have never stood for election in schools or university, but I find it difficult to choose from 2 'seemingly' qualified candidates (in my opinion) from opposing parties who pit themselves against each other. In such situation, the background of the candidates, might be a deciding factor.

During the election period, I read 2 different sets of local newsletter (online / printed) to know what's being said, at the 'cermah'. Now there is a 'Free' online independent newspaper, Malaysiakini, which offers an alternative view of what's happening in and around the election centers.

The outgoing Member of Parliament for my constituency sent (by post) a 'report-card' of what he has done for us. I thinks it's the first time there is accountability of such sort. Shall keep a copy of each party's manifesto and bring it up for discussion after the dust has settled down.

Feb 29 Leap year

2008-02-29T01:35:00.003+08:00

I started writing this at 12.05 am, and will most publish it at 11.55 pm, almost 24 hours later. Why? because this day only happens once in 4 years!

2008 is no common year. And Today is no common day. Today 29 February 2008 is a Leap Day in the Leap year. What is a leap Year? and Why is the leap day necessary.

A leap year is a year in which an extra day is added to the calendar in order to synchronise the calendar year (a Roman invention) to the Solar Year.

These are some of the interesting articles written on Leap year. read on.

1. Leap year explained, giving a history of leap years

2. Extra Time, a run-down of the different calendar- system - Chinese, Indian and Islamic.

3. Leap year traditions. Ladies can propose marriage in the leap year

Preparing for Chinese New Year

2008-01-23T22:02:00.000+08:00

Mum making 'love letter' biscuit, in preparation for the Chinese New Year. Picture taken from last year's file. Mum's version is the rolled version. Because we have gentle fingers, we use a bamboo stick (seen here at bottom right frame) as our tool to roll the biscuit. Mum rolls the hot biscuit on her palms!

The local writer has written an article about this perennial biscuit. Read Sealed with love

Chinese New year is on Feb 7, a few days before Valentine Day

Thaipusam 2008

2008-01-23T21:01:00.001+08:00

Today Malaysians of Hindu faith celebrates Thaipusam.

Thaipusam is a religious festival. Devotees take time to fulfil their vows to Lord Muruga for wishes granted and also to pray for specific wishes with vows.

The festival is grandest at the world-famous Batu Caves in Selangor. Other states where Thaipusam is celebrated on grand scale is Penang and Melaka.

Thousands of men and women from all age groups carry out their vows in various ways :
1. climbing up the stairs of Batu Caves with a milk pot on the head.

2. carry the Kavadi or have a chariot hooked onto their bodies as they go into a trance and walk to the temple.

3. offer prayers and break coconuts as a symbol of laying off their egos to get divine blessings,

4. shave their head for various personal reasons such as good health, material wealth, doing well in studies or careers, and even for life partners.

Picture of Kavadi carrier at the Batu caves temple

Picture taken in 2007 in Melaka. The temple priests go round the neighbourhood to offer their blessings to the residents.

Note:

On Sunday Jan 20, 2008, the Malaysian Prime Minister announced that Thaipusam be declared a public holiday for Kuala Lumpur and the Putrajaya areas, on the rationale that during Thaipusam, the whole of KL is locked in a traffic jam (which is true). The request for it to be a public holiday has been submitted to the government for consideration some 20 years ago. Thaipusam is holiday for some Malaysian other states like Selangor, Penang and Perak.

Whether the last-minute decision is politically- motivated or otherwise, it's a good mid-week break

Tour Langkawi 2008

2008-01-23T20:48:00.000+08:00

The cycling championship Tour Langkawi for year 2008 will not end in Genting Highlands, as earlier scheduled. The cycling event (Feb 9- 17) coincides with the Chinese New year season (Feb 7- 21) and Genting Highlands is a favourite destination for the Chinese people, more so during holidays.

More about this event , see

No Genting stage for this year’s Tour of Langkawi

le Tour De langkawi 2007 - I wrote on this event last year 2007

USM bans use of styrofoam containers

2008-01-08T00:10:00.000+08:00

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has become the first university in Malaysia to take a firm stand against the use of styrofoam containers in the campus. The canteen operators are instead advised to use a bio-degradable packaging made from natural oil palm fibres.

Why avoid the use of styrofoam (or polystyrene)?

Research studies have found that when plastic/styrofoam comes in contact with certain foods, molecules in the plastic (called styrene) can leach into the food or beverage.

Apparently the higher the fat content, the higher the migration of styrene into the food. Styrene also leaks faster when

the food or drinks are hot, or
the food gets heated up in the container, or
the food contains acidic substances (eg tomoto sauce), or
the food contains alcohol.

Studies suggest that styrene mimics estrogen in the body and can therefore disrupt normal hormone functions, possibly contributing to thyroid problems, menstrual irregularities, and other hormone-related problems, as well as breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Long-term, constant exposure to small amounts of foreign substances—especially those that mimic hormones may cause problems.

Suggestions for better food storage.
1. Use ceramic, glass, porcelain, paper and stainless steel containers, where possible
2. Don't microwave or heat food in polysterene containers.

The New Straits Times Online.....

Countdown to 2008 - Malaysia

2007-12-31T23:49:00.000+08:00

Ushering the new year in front of the TV and the PC

Pangkor island in 4 hours.

2007-11-29T22:27:00.000+08:00

When was the last time you visited Pulau Pangkor? Last weekend I took a half-day trip to the Pangkor Island and manage to snap some touristsy scenes with my Kodak digital camera.

I would say that Pulau Pangkor hasn't changed much since my last visit some 6 years ago.

The ferry ride from Lumut town to Pangkor island takes approximately 35 minutes, and it cost RM10.00 for a return trip.

We didn't have to wait long for the ferry ride to Pangkor. But for the return trip, we had to queue (as in stand in line) for more than 1 hour because the returning crowd (on a Sunday afternoon) swelled to almost 400 people (in my estimation). We only manage to get onto the 4th ferry that came by.

How do you get by in Pangkor island? We took a taxi for a round-island tour (2 hours) which includes sightseeing the historical places, and also a stopover at the local seafood retail outlet.

Let the pictures tell the story of our trip to Pangkor.

One of the many ferries that reliably transports you to and from Pangkor island and Lumut town.

One of the many fishing boats that's anchored along the island

Taxi Fare Charges on Pangkor island

The remains of the Dutch Fort, rebuilt in 1970's

The mini great wall of China, or so it seems

Donald inviting you to visit the Chinese temple (Goddess of Mercy) at teluk Nipah

calm sea, view from Teluk Nipah.

For more indepth write up of Pangkor, visit MalaysiaVacationGuide. This travel site provides the latest information on the various attractions and tourist spots in Malaysia. It aims to help visitors plan their travel itinerary before setting out to explore the wonders of Malaysia.

Also found this site about anything Pangkor

Best Mee Goreng in Melaka

2007-11-15T01:09:00.000+08:00

The best Mee Goreng (or Fried Mee in English) can be found next to my former school Methodist Girls School in Jalan Tengkera, Melaka. The stall is on the right side of the road leading to the Klebang beach. You wont's miss it if you go there in the morning before 11 am. The crowd will give you a clue to its popularity. Closed on Friday, and also during Puasa month.

This mee goreng stall is also featured in The Star Guide to Malaysian Street Food (yes, I bought my copy of the Street Food Guide, at, of all places, the Star booth at the recent Disney Live magic show in KL).

If you are in Melaka, don't miss Hassan's mee goreng. The yellow noodle is fried with taugeh (bean sprouts) and sambal. That's all. Simple ingredients. No prawn, or other embellishments.

Top up the mee goreng with fried egg (fried sunny side up, bull's eye style) and some more sambal. Also add a sprinkling of vinegar and black sauce from the bottle on the tables.

And because they serve only mee goreng, you don't have to place your order with the waiters. Just find an empty table, sit down and wait for the waiters to place the plate of mee goreng after it's cooked by Hassan. Hassan and his men have good memory - they know who comes first and will serve in that order.

Tip: you may want to ask for an extra plate for seconds.

People queueing up for the bull's eye egg below

Because of the speed they need to cook, the food gets 'plonked' onto the plate and may cause some messiness. Not fine dining, but you get good and cheap food.

Mee Goreng cost Rm 1.20 per plate.

P/s Down memory lane : Hassan's father used to sell his mee goreng on a kandar (a long bamboo stick on which he carried the kuali on one end and the mee on the other end) from house to house. He always stops by at my grandmother's house in Gajah Berang and we children will crowd round his stove watching him cook his mee goreng.

We have a name for the mee goreng - mee rot.

Happy Diwali

2007-11-08T09:20:00.000+08:00

Happy Diwali to all Hindus.

Diwali (or Deepavali) is a celebration of good over evil. Oil lamps are lit up at the homes to celebrate the occasion. Also expect to see kolam, which is broken rice scattered outside the home. The broken rice is 'scattered' in a beautiful pattern; the chirping of birds who feed on the rice is a sweet voice to hear on this happy occasion.

Somehow or other, I have always had Indians as my immediate neighbours, and my neighbours have just delivered some Tosai and Putu Mayam with chicken curry over to my home. Yummy!

We will go Diwali visiting to our neighbours homes later in the day.

Our ex-neighbour in Melaka is an Indian family. This year we may not visit them because my father is immobile and we are in KL, but I remember many Deepavali visits to Auntie Chandra and Uncle Allagapan's house, and vice versa for Chinese New Year. This ex-neighbour has been our family friend for ages. I remember staying the night over at their home when my mum had to go to the hospital, when we were still in our early teens. He also stood as a guarantor for my study loan, and were there at my graduation; we were there when the grandmother (whom we called 'Achi') passed away a few years ago. Happy Deepavali Auntie Chandra, Hemalatha, Malini, and Kumar.

Disney Live First day review

2007-11-06T09:26:00.000+08:00

Read about the review of the Disney Live show in Penang.

You can still catch the KL show. I just got my tickets for from the Disney Live office in Menara PJ (12 th floor, beside Amcorp Mall in PJ, tel 03-7493 3010) for the matinee show on Deepavali day, November 8, 2007.

Children 2 years and above require a ticket.

I've been warned not to bing audio or video equipment (and that means your digital camera), though the handphone with camera features is ok.

See you there!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

2007-11-02T12:02:00.000+08:00

A car that can fly! On-stage that is. Catch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a West End musical that is playing in our neighbouring country Singapore.

Details of musical:
Date : Nov 2- Dec 9, 2007
Venue : Singapore Esplanade Theatre

Show time :
- 8 pm every night, except Mondays
- Matinee : 2 pm (Saturday, Sundays)

Ticket price : SGD 40 - SGD 170

General info on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the musical

This classic musical tells the story of a magical flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, built by eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts. Together with his two children Jemima and Jeremy, Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts, they try to outwit the dastardly Baron and the evil Child Catcher

The real star of the show is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang itself - a 1.5 tonne car that really flies, using state-of-the-art automation technology not seen on the theatre stage before. The car is the original from the London production, and holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive prop in the history of British Theatre.

For more details, go to Lunch Box productions, the producer of the musical in Singapore.

Disney's Mickey Magic Show

2007-11-02T11:16:00.000+08:00

Experience Disney Magic with the family this November. Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Fairy Godmother, Cinderella, Aladdin, Donald and Goofy, and lots more on stage.

Date : Nov 7-11, 2007 (Wed - Sunday)
Venue : Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil, KL

Show Time: (1.5 hours)
8.30 pm (Wed, Friday)
11.00 am, 3.00 pm, 6.00 pm (Thurs, Sat, Sunday)
(note Thurs Nov 8 is Deepavali holiday)

Ticket price (15% off!)
Free seating: Rm 55.00
Assigned seating : RM 155.00
Premium seating : RM 225.00

To know more, call : 03- 7493 3010
or go to DisneyLive for more details

I'm going with my two 5 & 6 year old nephews.

P/s
If you are in Penang, the show will be on from Nov 3-4, 2007.

Mind Power

2007-10-17T09:55:00.000+08:00

Learn to maximise your brainpower. Free admisision to the Malaysia Festival of the Mind exhibition.

Venue : UTAR (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman) campus in Section 13, PJ.
Date : Oct 25 - 28, 2007
Time : 9.30 am - 4.30 pm

Objective of the festival is to create the awareness of the potential of the human mind, and ways to develop the brainpower.

David Copperfield in KL

2007-10-17T08:56:00.000+08:00

Latest development
The David Copperfield Asian tour will be cancelled (or maybe rescheduled to later date) because of the allegations of sexual misconduct in the United States.

Original Post
Lottery tickets or lottery winners? David Copperfield, the master illusionist, hopes to create some (you?) lottery winners in his show when he performs in KL on Oct 30-31,2007.

David Copperfield will turn your aspirations and dreams into reality in his World of Wonder tour. No camera tricks or visual effects stuff, just .. vanishing Harley Davidson motorcycle, walking through industrial fan, strapped underneath a spinning saw blade.

Details of the show:
Venue : Stadium Negara, KL
Date : Oct 30-31 (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Show Time : 5pm, 8.30pm
Ticket price :
Matinee Show : RM 383, RM 353, RM 323, RM 223, RM 103 & RM 83
Evening Show: RM423, RM 383, RM 353, RM 283, RM 103 & RM 83
Call: 03-7711 5000 or visit www.axcess.com.my

Other info:
You must be 3 years and above to attend the show. 20% discount if you are below 12.

If you want free tickets to David Copperfield World of Wonder Tour tickets, you should listen on to Lite FM radio station for the 'cue to call' for free tickets.

Soyuz docking with ISS

2007-10-13T01:12:00.000+08:00

Today 13.10.07, the Soyuz spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS (International Space Station, at 12.21 am local Malaysian time. Very fitting because today Oct 13 is also Hari Raya. The father of Malaysian astronaut managed to speak to his son in outer space to wish him Selamat Hari Raya. The power of technology.

I manage to capture the initial moments after the 3 astronaut joined the other 3 astronauts on ISS. Shots taken off my TV screen.

Our handsome astronaut is also an orthopedic doctor, part time model and co-owner of a restaurant.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

2007-10-12T23:40:00.000+08:00

October 13, 2007 is HariRaya AidilFitri, a Muslim celebration to mark the start of the new month Syawal. The celebration is very meaningful to Muslims because it also signifies the end end of 30 days of dawn-to-dusk fasting.

Imagine not any having food or drinks from 5.30 am to 7.30 pm (or thereabouts). I couldn't last half a day without food, what more 30 days in a row.

Incidentally, our Malaysian astronaut Dr Sheikh Muztaphar went into space during the Ramadhan month, and eveyone is keen to find out whether he kept to the fast as required by his Muslim faith.

On my part, I look forward to do some visiting on Raya day. I have a cousin who is married into a Muslim family, and Hari Raya is a day when we (all 30 odd cousins, aunties and uncles) get to enjoy Ketupat, Rendang, Lontong, and the delicious cookies.

This year, the Prime Minister is having an open house at PWTC hall in Kuala Lumpur from 2pm onwards (Oct 13). A few years back, I went to the open house of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir - at the Putrajaya residence. It was an experience- the orderly queue outside the gates, the rush to enter the official residence and the rush to get the food. The gardens is beautifu! If you have the chance to go to the official residence of the Prime Minister in Putrajaya, do go!

Selamat hari raya

P Ramlee the musical

2007-10-12T00:48:00.000+08:00

Malaysians who haven't heard of P Ramlee are a rare breed indeed. Though he died in 1973, his memory lingers on through his songs and movies. Click on the teaser below to recall his voice.

P Ramlee is a musical legend, just as Elvis Presley is. I grew up waiting for Friday nights when the television station will show re-runs of P Ramlee movies. Now the stations show the movie reruns once too often, but yet if its a P Ramlee classic, I'll sit through the movie despite having seen it countless times before. I don't know, but it's a combination of songs, jokes, storyline, good acting and everything else..

Come October 18, a musical on P Ramlee's love life will staged at Istana Budaya. The musical is titled "P. Ramlee the Musical... The Life, The Love and the Inspiration".

Some famous personalities are going to be in the musical. For one, P Ramlee will be played by Sean Ghazi (good voice!). And the part of Azizah, P Ramlee's first love, will be played by Siti Nurhaliza (Malaysia's top song queen). The producer is Tiara Jacquelina (of the PGL Puteri Gunung Ledan fame).

Go to the official website to read the cast list.

Tickets, from Rm 30.00 to RM 200.00. call 603-20911666 to inquire
Date : Oct 18 - Nov 3, 2007

Showtime :
Saturday-Sunday - 3 pm
Tuesday-Saturday - 8.30 pm

Note : Istana Budaya is situated along Jalan Tun Razak, beside the National Art Gallery and National Library.

Dress code (what NOT to wear)
Not Allowed : Faded/torn jeans, round-necked t-shirts, shorts, revealing
dresses, sports attire, sports shoes and slippers

10.10.07 - Space history for Malaysia

2007-10-10T21:06:00.000+08:00

Today 10.10.07 is a historic day for Malaysians. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor will be the first Malaysian to go to space on board Russian Soyuz spacecraft at Malaysian time 9.21 pm.

The blast-off from Kazakhstan will be telecast live over TV channels. So switch on the TV to watch this event!

Free Tickets for Cultural Show

2007-10-04T13:19:00.000+08:00

50th merdeka ,

Yes, rush for the free tickets for a cultural show to be held in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th Merdeka Anniversary.

Date : October 28, 2007 Saturday
Time : 6.30 pm
Venue : Bukit Jalil, Stadium in KL
Organised by : MCA and Chinese organisations

Where to get tickets (103 locations nationwide)
MCA headquarters in Jalan Ampang, MCA state liaison committee, Federation of Chinese Associations, Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCIM)
Popular outlets,
Eu yan Sang retail branches,
CNI Distribution cnetres,
Purple cane Outlets,
Help ICT
South City Lifelong learning centre

What to expect :
Fireworks
Singing by - Michael Wong, Era Fazira, Yang Wei Hung
Musical show on the contributions by Chinese community towards independence for Malaysia.

To attend the gala dinner-cum-performance on October 27, you need to call 03-2161 8044 for details. Price RM 30.00 for this gala dinner. Expect to see the Prime Minister, and the cabinet ministers, and heads of foreign missions at this dinner.

See You there!

Guide to Malaysian Street Food

2007-09-19T22:47:00.000+08:00

Want to know where to get the best hawker food in Malaysia? Then you must get hold of The Star's "Guide to Malaysian Street Food", a compilation of the best street food in Malaysia. This food guide has been nominated for "Best Food Guide" category in the Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards, to be announced in Adelaide, Australia during Tasting Australia, October 13-20, 2007. (Read more about What is Tasting Australia.

Read more in the Star about this nomination.

Whether the guide wins any award or not, Malaysia definitely has plenty of street food to whet the appetite of locals, and tourists alike.

Malaysia International Fireworks Competition

2007-08-26T23:24:00.000+08:00

If you do not have any plans for the upcoming Merdeka long break (that's August 30th to September 2, 2007, for non Malaysians) do go over to Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) at Precinct 5 Putrajaya, and watch an international-level musical fireworks competition. Nations from Australia, Japan, Italy and Malaysia will be competing for the Merdeka trophy.

Competition nights :
Aug 18 - Malaysia
Aug 22 - Australia
Aug 25 - Italy
Aug 30 - Japan
Sep 2 - Grand Finale

Fireworks display nights :
Aug 19, 24, 31 and Sep 1.

The fireworks can be seen across the lake overlooking the grand Seri Gemilang bridge. The fireworks performances and competition started on Aug 18 and is leading up to Merdeka Day, August 31,2007, Malaysia's 50th year of Independence. Be dazzled by the choreographed displays of fireworks, for at least 10 - 30 minutes per night, starting from 10 pm.

The competition is free for the public but people wanting to watch from inside the PICC will have to pay RM38.50 a person and RM148.50 for a buffet dinner.

Be early to get good viewing spot. There will be performances by artistes to entertain you while you wait for the fireworks to dazzle you.

To make your trip worthwhile, there is also a Floral exhibition (indoor and outdoor) at Precinct 2, Putrajaya, which starts on Aug 25, and ending on Sep 2, 2007. Free Entrance.

Directions to Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC)? Click here

Drive, Take the bus (Rapid, from KL Sentral), or take the Express Rail Link (ERL).

To read about the more about fireworks, read NST's Splendour in the sky and The Star's Lighting up the Putrajaya sky .

Did you know that the musical fireworks display of this magnitude was discussed far back in 1998, and only became a reality in 2007? One thing that might mar this event, will the impending lawsuits from the "idea originator". Read more on "Firm sues minister over fireworks show"

Malaysia Food Festival 2007- Spice, Fruit and Rice

2007-08-10T23:32:00.000+08:00

Malaysia Merdeka , Food Festival

This is my favourite rice dish when I'm back in Malacca. It's simply called Ball Chicken Rice. The balls on the plate is actually rice cooked in chicken stock, and shaped into balls, to be eaten together with boiled chicken slices.

There are 2 places in Malacca that serves good and decent Ball Chicken Rice - Taman Melaka Baru in Batu Berendam, and the original one near the Malacca Clock Tower. The one in Batu Berendam is pretty cheap, and very crowded on weekends!. What has this to do with the topic? Read on

Spice, fruits and rice will feature predominantly in the Malaysian Food Festival 2007 to be held over the following 3 weekends in various shopping centres in KL. . The theme is "A Melting Pot of Culture and Cuisine".

Plan your visit to the shopping centres to take in the variety of Malaysian local food.

Date: Aug 10-12, 2007
Venue: Suria KLCC in KL
Theme: Spice Route.
What to expect : Spice gallery, Cooking demonstrations using spices

Date: Aug 17- 19, 2007
Venue: 1 Utama Shopping centre, Bandar Utama
Theme: Tutti Fruity.
What to expect : Display of Malaysian fruits and fruit based food and beverages. Will the durian, the king of fruits be displayed, I wonder?

Date: Aug 24-28, 2007
Venue: Sunway Pyramid, Sunway
Theme: Rice Festival
What to expect: Display of rice of different varieties, and grades, and the different cooking methods (I also love Ketupat with satay sauce!)

I believe the turnout at the festival will be good, and the event will be billed a success because the chosen shopping centres are heavily frequented during weekends, even on normal weekends.

The Food Festival is one of the many events to celebrate the golden jubilee anniversary of Malaysia's independence. August 31, 1957 is the day when Malaysia gained independence from Britain. Merdeka! You will hear more about worthwhile Merdeka celebrations in future posts.

Menopause The Musical

2007-07-23T11:25:00.000+08:00

Imagine something like menopause celebrated in song and dance skits, all for laughs’ sake.

Menopause The Musical is currently being staged in Bangsar,Kuala Lumpur:

Date: Jun 27 – Aug 5, 2007
Venue : The Actors Studio @ Bangsar Shopping Centre
Ticket Price : from Rm 66 - Rm 152. Special discounts for block bookings.

THREE WAYS TO PURCHASE TICKETS
1) Buy online at www.gardnerandwife.com
2) Buy over the phone: (03) 2094-0400 | (03) 2094-1400
3) Visit The Actors Studio, Level 3 Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285 Jalan Maarof, Kuala Lumpur 59000

There will be a Special staging on July 28-29 (Sat-Sun) at Putrajaya - PJC Auditorium in Precinct 3 in Putrajaya. (see location map ).

Tickets prices are 50% off the ones for the Bangsar shows. This is to encourage more visitors to Putrajaya. Frankly I myself haven't been to Putrajaya! Now there is a reason to see the beautiful sights in Putrajaya, Malaysia's adminsitrative city.

Date : July 28-29, 2007
Ticket price - RM 35 - Rm 55
Show Time : 3pm, 8.30pm
Seating capacity - 600

Reviews of the shows, from the Gardner & Wife Newsletter, the organiser & producer of the show

The cast were splendid in their roles. Their sense of physical comedy was effective in heightening the already wonderful, risqué humour dealing with stressful physical, emotional and psychological symptoms caused by menopause.

Most in the audience were laughing their heads off throughout the show. The skits were aided by popular songs with the lyrics rewritten to suit the contexts of different scenes. The overall effect was ‘mental’ and the audience loved it!

Hong Kong here I come!

2007-06-21T22:25:00.000+08:00

I've booked a ticket on AirAsia for a trip to Macau on June 27, 2007. Cost of tickets - Zero, both ways. Only paid for airport charges. The tickets were part of the "Free 2 million tickets" offered by AirAsia sometime in Jan 2007.

We've booked our hotel accommodation at the Accor Hotels of group. (we'll give a review of the hotels when we are back)

This will be my first trip to Macau / Hong Kong. Incidentally, Hong Kong is celebrating its 10th year as a SAR (Special Administrative Region of Republic China, and there are many activities lined up for the celebration month (July- September).

Special anniversary events in Hong Kong during July to Sep 2007
1. Symphony of lights- coloured and laser lights beamed from more than 30 buildings at Victoria harbour. (Jul 1- 8)

2. Chinese Dinosaurs and pre-historic life, at the HK Museaum (May 25- Nov 25)

Friends have mentioned the following places to visit. Will come back with pictures of places we managed to visit.

1. The Peak - spectacular views of the city skyline as well as Victoria Harbour
Take the Peak Train - it climbs 373 metres (1200 feet) uphill and downhill

2. Peak Tower. Madame Tussuad's Hong Kong - more than 100 celebrity wax portraits.

3. Ocean Park. Attraction are marine life an animals, thrill rides, performances by various sea creatures.. Sea Jelly spectacular, SkyFair balloon ride. Giant panda cubs Le Le and Ying Ying gifts from Chinese government.

4. HK Disneyland. Fantasyland, adventureland, Tomorrowland.

5. Ngong Ping Village- Walking with the Buddha. Po Lin Monastery (lantau island) Wisdom path

6. HK Wetland park. Interactive world exhibition galleries. Mangrove Boardwalk

Not forgetting shopping. The HK Shopping carnival is from June 30- Aug 31. Right timing!

More on Hong Kong / Macau
1. Wikipedia's entry on Hong Kong ( avery detailed one!)

2. Wikipedia entry on Macau

3. Hong Kong Tourism Board website

4. More about Macau

Note : If you are lucky, you can also get low-priced flight-tickets (as low as Rm 1, or US$0.30) to various locations within Malaysia / Bangkok/ Jakarta/ Cebu / Phnom Penh. Offer by Malaysian Airlines ends on June 22, 2007 (11am, Malaysian Time). Travel time is restricted to Sep 3- 30, 2007, coincides with Malaysia's 50th Independence anniversary on August 31.

Cheng Lock - the Musical

2007-05-29T22:45:00.000+08:00

Cheng Lock the musical is currently being staged at Istana Budaya, in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th independence anniversary.

Date : May 25 - June 3, 2007
Time : 8.30 pm
Tickets (very reasonable) : Rm 20, Rm 30, Rm 50
20% discount for senior citizens and students.

The musical will be in 3 languages - BM, English and Mandarin, (the muhibbah spirit?). I guess this musical is an attempt to impart history to the younger generation, through the medium of music.

Tun Tan Cheng Lock is a Chinese born in Malacca to a Baba family, who himself can't speak Mandarin fluently, so I guess the musical in the 3 languages is in line with the times.

Tan Cheng Lock is the founder of the MCA, the largest Chinese political party in Malaysia. Tan Cheng Lock together with Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra and Tun VT Sambanthan were instrumental in fighting for Malaysia's independence on 31 August 1957.

Read reviews of the musical, Captivating Insight

Will I go for the musical? I'm not too fond of history, but I would love to judge for myself how effective the musical is in bringing the message across. We shall see

Another broadway musical - The King and I

2007-05-26T00:12:00.000+08:00

The King and I , Broadway musical , Visit Malaysia year ,

Another broadway musical, The King and I will be staged in Malaysia, come July 13 to 26, 2007. It will be held at Istana Budaya in KL. The leading actor and actress of the musical are Paul Nakauchi and Brianna Borger. To read about the casts, go to the official website for the musical of The King and I . In addition to the international casts, 10 talented Malaysian children are to appear in the musicals.

This musical presentation is part of the Visit Malaysia 2007 attractions in an effort to build up Malaysia's reputation as an arts hub for both local and international tourists.

The story is about Anna Leonowens, a young English widow who arrived in Siam (now Thailand) to tutor the King's (many) children. A clash of cultures and personalities ensues, as she slowly earns the King's respect and comes to understand and appreciate the country in which she lives. Since the story almost always potrays a side of the Thai king that is not favourable in the eyes of the Thai ciizesns, they are mostly banned in Thailand.

The story has been retold in many mediums - broadway musicals, film productions, and also TV productions.

Yul Brynner was one of the many actors who have played the part of the King - in all three mediums - the musicals, motion picture and also TV productions.

Another must see when the musical opens in Malaysia on July 13.

Tickets cost between Rm103 to Rm383, can be bought from Ticket Axcess Tel 03-7711 5000 or any of the Axcess tickets counters in 1-Utama shopping centre, the Actors Studio in Bangsar, Tower Records in Suria KLCC and many more.

Note :
The writer is not in any way connected to any parties in the staging of the musical. The writer wants to get the information immortalised in cyberspace - so that the information can be retrieved again when required.

Beggar's chicken

2007-05-21T20:48:00.000+08:00

Malaysian Food

Yes! This the restaurant I want to re-visit. The food : the famed beggar's chicken from Kuala Selangor.

Some 10 years ago, I remember taking 5 hours in total to finish my Sunday lunch - 3 hours driving to and fro the restaurant, and 1 hour to wait for the food (we were early, in case we lost our way), and another 1 hour to finish the food. I can still visualise the place and the food as though it happened just recently. I lost the contact no. and so has my friend who introduced the place to me some 10 years ago. Now I will make my reservation soon!

Here's why you should pick up the phone and place your reservation in advance:

New Beggar's Delicious Restaurant
Jalan Harmoni 2
Ijok, Selangor
Tel: 603-3279 1936 or 019-317 3687

1. It opens for business 3 days a week only : Wed, Sat and Sunday (and public holiday)
2. Opens 5pm - 10 pm (but I remember going for lunch!)
3. Minimum order is for 10 pax, (even if you have less than 10, you pay for 10). Yes, we had to make up the numbers then also.
4. The standard set of 10 dishes costs Rm 298.00.
5. Oven capacity is for 200 tables.

Beggar's chicken is a delicious, mouth watering meal of chicken-stuffed-with-herbs-and-wrapped-in-aluminium-foil-then-covered-with-clay-before-burying-under-charcoal and-ash to be baked for 6 hours. The herbs are good for improving blood circulation and body qi.

I remember the oven to be made of bricks and dome-shaped (will confirm once I get there), and I remember seeing the workers using the wheel-barrow to get the cooked chickens to the main eating place. Once its cooled sufficiently, the clay is cracked open, and the chicken is ready to be served.

What's in the set meal?
1.Baked beggar's chicken
2.Baked Pork shoulder with yam and mushrooms
3.Baked Duck stuffed with Chinese mushrooms
4.Glutinous Rice,
5.Pig stomach soup
6.Prawn dish
7.Fish dish (they had de-boned-Tenggiri fish, and fried with skin intact. Wonder if they still has it)
8.Crabs
9.vegetable
10.Fruits for dessert

Total damage - mere Rm 298.00 (can't remember how much was the damage 10 years ago)

I remember we did not have any dinner that day, because the glutinous rice is very filling for the stomach.

Thanks to the food columnist at The Star for featuring this restaurant.

I was told by another friend that there is another restaurant somewhere in KL that serves similarly cooked chicken. Will check out the place also

MY fair lady - Review

2007-05-20T11:29:00.000+08:00

My fair Lady

Entertaining. That's how I would describe the musical My fair Lady. The casts sang with enthusiasm and sang their hearts out. And the sound system is superb. I sat at the last row of the plenary and though I couldn't see the facial expression of the casts, I could hear every word and every song lyrics.

The casts have been performing to the live audience in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) Plenary hall since May 15, 2007. And to date they have performed at least 6 shows in KL before the one that I attended last night. Yet there was no slow down in their performance.

The only problem I had was understanding the dialogue in the beginning (the strong accent) but after getting used to the British spoke English, I was able to follow the dialogue. I felt the dialogue portion a bit too draggy for certain scenes, and I almost fell asleep several times, being awoken when the cast started to sing.

The audience were dressed to the nines. Unfortunately I went in jeans and T-shirt, and felt a bit out of place, dressing-wise!

Rave Reviews
- from the star reporter : Enduring Charm
from the NST reporter : The Lady is a winner

What the casts said in interviews with the local press
1. "Eliza Doolittle" Poppy Tierney
2. "Colonel Pickering" Gerard Murphy finds it too warm in Malaysia

Wesak Day in Melaka

2007-05-05T22:57:00.000+08:00

May 1, 2007 is Wesak Day. This is the last of the 20-odd) float that passed through Melaka town on the eve of Wesak. This float carried the Buddha statue from the Seck Kia Eenh temple in Gajah Berang. Many devotees chose to walk behind this float.

Walking in a procession helps to develop your mindfulness and encourages good thoughts which eventually radiate from you to others around you. People are comfortable with gatherings in the midst of a colourful setting nowadays. But Wesak is much more than that. It’s about inner spiritual development.

... chief monk of the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

The Buddhist community in Malacca have always ushered in Wesak on the eve. After the float returns to the temple premises, it is almost always close to midnight, where a special Wesak service will be conducted.

Other activities to celebrate Wesak this year:

1. In Penang, there is a

concert of light and wisdom,

featuring modern pop songs, with some specially written and composed for the celebration, and dances.

2. In the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, Kuala Lumput, there is a exhibition of wood sculptures which shows the Buddha illustrating 29 hand gestures. Now you will be able to understand what the different hand gestures symbolises. Exhibition ends May 15, 2007.

My Fair Lady the musical

2007-04-17T00:33:00.000+08:00

My Fair Lady musical , Visit Malaysia year 2007

Catch the musical, My fair Lady, which will be performed in Malaysia in May 2007.

Date : May 15- 20, 2007. (Tuesday - Sunday)
Venue : KL Convention centre (KLCC)
Show Time :
Tuesday - Sunday Evenings 8 pm
Extra Matinee Shows : Sat and Sun : 3 pm

Tickets range from Rm100.00 to Rm350.00. To book your tickets online, visit www.yvents.com. You may also call 603-2241 9999

RHB bank customers get to enjoy discounts of between 15% to 30%. (Hint, Hint. Either open an account with RHB, or get to know a friend who banks with RHB).

Get transported to the 60's era with classic songs like 'The Rain in Spain' and "I could have danced all night'. This is a story about the challenge made by Professor Higgins that he can train any woman to speak English so properly. Thus he sets about transforming Eliza Doolittle from a flower girl with a strong Cockney accent, into a polished lady with impeccable upper class English accent and manners.

This new production comes to Malaysia with a leading cast from the London musical stage in a glamorous new staging, and will be accompanied by live orchestral arrangements. I will be there!

Read more about the musical:

My fair Lady, (source Wikipedia)

" A Delight to Behold" (source : organiser of the event in Malaysia)

Review of the 1958 musical of My fair Lady, with Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle

Movie Review - Mr Bean's Holiday

2007-04-16T00:45:00.000+08:00

Mr Bean's Holiday , The Best of Mr. Bean

On Sunday I went to watch Rowan Atkinson's latest movie - Mr Bean's Holiday. The movie has a long run in the Malaysian cinemas - it opened in on March 22, 2007 and it's still showing after 4 weeks!.

I went to the Golden Screen Cinema in IOI Mall, Puchong. Tickets (adults) - Rm8.00, children - Rm5.00

The story is a bit long for the young charges (5 and 6 years old) whom I brought along thinking they would enjoy Mr Bean's comical facial expressions. There are some hilarious moments but they are few in between. The movie version has a story plot which are beyond the young children's comprehension. So if you want to enjoy the movie, keep the young ones at home.

More about the movie.

The movie is about Mr Bean's journey to France. He won the free trip in a raffle draw (are there many of such raffle draws any more?), and his journey from London-Paris-Cannes is full of mishaps which I hope won't happen to me when I go for my trip to Macau/HongKong end June 2007.

One of the most enjoyable part in the movie is the one where Mr Bean busks in a French market to raise money, miming playing the piano and singing to a variety of music.

Predictable Mr Bean acts : the part where he pretends to eat live oysters only to drop onto his napkin. He later drops the live oysters in a lady's bag, which caused the lady to scream when she digs in the bag for the ringing mobile phone.

Mr Bean's holiday actually started at the end of the movie- when he finally saw the beach at Cannes.

If you want to know more about the plot, read on at Wikipedia's entry Mr Bean's Holiday

This movie is tagged as Mr Bean's second (and last) movie. The first being, Mr Bean the Hilarious (released in 1997), which I also saw. I'm a Mr Bean fan!

Verdict : maybe watching the movie in the comfort of your home is a better idea.

Some other reviews of the movie:

A fairly predictable film for Comic Relief

“Mr. Bean’s Holiday” may strain the tolerance of those who are skeptical of the Chaplinesque performer

one scene was shot on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival during one of the glitzy premieres.

Traffic situation in KL - real time reports

2007-04-14T19:09:00.000+08:00

Found this cool website that gives real time reports of traffic situation Klang Valley.

Clear way to go by City Hall Kuala Lumpur.

Thanks to my friend for seeking it out!

Wesak Day to fall on Worker's day in 2007

2007-04-11T19:56:00.000+08:00

Wesak Day

May 1 2007 is a double celebration of sorts : Labour day and Wesak day. In Malaysia, this means that we will have 2 public holidays in a row. (In Malaysia, when two public holidays fell on the same day, the following day would be a public holiday, but this does not apply to states and companies which do not recognised Wesak Day as a public holiday - another story!).

Wesak is a celebration of 3 meaningful events for Buddhists - the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha many years ago (2500 years ago).

In KL, most Buddhists will congregrate at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields and bring simple offerings of flowers, candles and joss-sticks to lay at the feet of Lord Buddha. These symbolic offerings are to remind followers that just as the beautiful flowers would wither away after a short while and the candles and joss-sticks would soon burn out, so too is life subject to decay and destruction.

Some devout Buddhists will wear a simple white dress and spend the whole day in temples with renewed determination to observe the observance of the Eight Precepts.

The Eight Precepts are:

Not to kill

Not to steal

Not to engage in improper sexual activity

Not to indulge in wrong speech

Not to take intoxicating drinks and drugs

To abstain from taking food at unreasonable times

To refrain from sensual pleasures such as dancing, singing and self-adornment

To refrain from using high and luxurious seats in order to practice humility

In Melaka, Buddhists will congregrate at the Seck Kia Eenh temple in Jalan Gajah Berang. I have been going to the Seck Kia Eenh temple since young and though I am working and staying in KL, I still go back to Melaka for Wesak day celebrations.

Some interesting blogs about buddhists paractices :

Joy and Compassion

Malaysian GP - more

2007-04-07T23:41:00.000+08:00

Malaysian GP

It must be a lucrative business hosting the Formula 1. Even Singapore is considering hosting the races, albeit, at night. Singapore is only 4 hours by road from Sepang where the Malaysian GP has been held since 1999.

Will the Singapore races pose a threat to the Malaysian GP? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, if you have bought tickets for the races, do go early. The race promoter, Sepang International Circuit (SIC), has advised racing fans to use public transportation to come for the race. The ERL or the aurobus is a better bet, because you will not caught in a jam. The race circuit is on the way to KL's Low Cost Terminal, which will add to the traffice jam on Sunday April 8, 2007

Recipe : Fried Soft-Shell Crab

2007-04-04T04:11:00.000+08:00

where to fidn good food

Recipe : Fried Soft-Shell Crab

Found this recipe for fried soft-shell crab that is simple to prepare. If you are in Melaka for the holidays, head over to the Restaurant in Jalan Hang Jebat, for a ready to eat version.

INGREDIENTS
4 soft-shell crabs
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste
4 cups oil for frying, or as needed

DIRECTIONS

Clean each crab. Lift one pointed side of top shell and remove the gills by pulling them out. Put top shell back down and repeat on other side. On the bottom side remove tail flap by twisting and pulling off. Using a pair of scissors, remove the face by cutting behind the eyes. Rinse the crabs thoroughly with cold water. Dry on paper towels.

Heat oil in a deep fryer to 365 degrees F (180 degrees F). In a shallow dish, whisk together the egg and milk using a fork. In a separate bowl, stir salt and pepper into the flour. Lightly salt the crab, then dip in the flour, dip in the egg, then in the flour again.

Carefully place crabs into the deep-fryer. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden brown on one side. Carefully turn over, and cook until golden on the other side. Drain on paper towels. Serve as soon as they are cool enough to eat. You can eat the whole crab.

Source : All recipes/ Soft-Shell Crab

Where to find good food in Melaka

2007-04-04T02:47:00.000+08:00

Good Melaka food , soft crab

Where to find good food in Melaka, Malaysia - 1.

Most times, my friends will ask me this question - where can I find good food in Melaka. As a Malaccan-born Nyonya, I have several favourite food spots that I frequent. I will start a series of food-reviews of good (and most often, cheap) food in Melaka/Malacca.

We'll start by giving you directions to Jalan Hang Jebat where most of the specialty food stalls are located.

Fancy a meal of fried soft-shell crab that's crispy and finger licking good? A complete meal of crab, oyster, chicken, pork and vegetables for 4 adults can be had for less than Rm 50.00. Very reasonable - when compared to prices for KL / PJ restaurants.

On April Fool's day, I went with my family to this quaint restaurant - Restaurant Sin Yin Hoe in Lorong Hang Jebat, Melaka. My earlier visit this year was in Feb 2007 during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Prices then and now, for the same dishes remain constant - meaning this restaurant did not hike its prices during the CNY celebrations, as most others would have.

This restaurant can accomodate about 8 tables inside, and about 4 more tables along the corridor. It's open from 5.30 pm to 12pm to cater for the dinner.

Directions to go there? Its near the Malacca River and Malacca clock tower.

Good Friday 2007

2007-04-02T19:57:00.000+08:00

Christians all over the world will celebrate Good Friday on April 6, 2007. If you have never been to St Peter Church for Good Friday, then you should visit historical Melaka (Jalan Bendahara) and experience it yourself.

A little bit about St Peter's church: extracted from a review made in Yahoo Travel

St Peter's church was the primary location for congregations of Portuguese Catholics who had it constructed in 1710, during the period of Dutch rule. Now it qualifies as the oldest Catholic Church in Malaysia and still serves resident worshippers of the Catholic faith. They include descendants of the 600 men that Alfonso d'Albuquerque brought ashore after his conquest of Malacca. The existing bell in the belfry states the date and place of manufacture as 1608 - Goa, and was salvaged from an older church the Dutch had burned down. There is also an alabaster statue of the Lord Before The Resurrection.

What is different about Good friday in Melaka, is that this event is attended by non Christians as well.

Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix (GP)

2007-03-28T09:54:00.000+08:00

Malaysian GP, Visit Malaysia 2007

The Grand Prix (GP) circuit will be held in Malaysia on April 6-8, 2007. Tickets range from a low of Rm 50.00 (yes!) to a high of Rm 1950.

If you are in Malaysia during the weekend, and have Rm 50 to spare, head over to the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix (GP) and have a roaring day.

The Malaysian GP site is in Sepang, and is near the KLIA international airport.
To get there, you can take a taxi, train, aerobus, coach, commuter train, or drive there yourself

To read more, click on the Malaysian GP website

And if you are in Melaka on Sunday April 1, 2007, there will be a GP practice at the MITC site. Free.

Raptor Watch 2007

2007-03-05T21:38:00.000+08:00

Nothing to do this weekend? Head over to Tanjung Tuan along the Port Dickson route, and watch the raptors ("birds of prey") stop-over to take a rest after flying from Indonesia en route to the Northern hemisphere. The area around Tanjung Tuan is slowly being developed, and soon the birds may not have a resting place to go to. (Similar fate to the turtles in the Malaysian East Coast)

Oh, don't forget to bring your binoculars.

Source : http://www.raptorwatch.org/
How to get to Raptor Watch?

Highway from North (Ipoh / Kuala Lumpur) / South (Singapore / Melaka)
Take the North-South Highway (PLUS Highway) heading towards Seremban.
Exit at the Seremban / Port Dickson exit and turn right at the traffic lights after the toll.
From here you will pass thru several traffic lights before entering the Port Dickson highway.
After the final toll you will come to a T-Junction with traffic lights where you are to go straight till you come to a roundabout with a very tall apartment/hotel block (PD World Marina Resort) behind it.
At this roundabout, take the 9 o’clock turn and head down the trunk road. You will pass a Chinese temple on your left and the entrance of PD World Marina Resorts on your right.
Keep driving on this trunk road until you see the Gouman Resort entrance and a golf course on your right and a sign for Hutan Simpanan Tanjung Tuan (Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve) sign on your left.
· Go slowly (it is the 2nd right turn from Guoman Resort) until you see the sign to Rachardo Army Camp and several hotel signboards on the corner. It is a small road lined with trees.
Take the right turn into this smaller road and head straight to the end, past the Federal bungalows and Casa Rachardo. At the end of the road you will come to PNB Ilham Resort and the entrance to the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve.
The event is on the Resort’s field.

Date: March 10-11
venue : Tanjung Tuan, Melaka

Chinese New Year and Human Traffic.

2007-02-11T15:16:00.000+08:00

One week from today on Feb 18, all Chinese across the world will celebrate the lunar Chinese New Year, one of the most important day in the Chinese calendar.

There will be a lot of travelling involved. Chinese people of ages will be rushing back to their hometown for the reunion dinner with their family.

In Malaysia, the first 2 days of the celebration are declared as public holidays. And that means people of other races will also take the opportunity to travel - visiting local popular destinations, or visit their family members.

KL, the capital city, being the economic center of Malaysia, has the most number of "local immigrants" - Malaysians young and old, married and single, who have moved from their original birthplace to KL city, and made KL their permanent residence for all intents and purposes. But come major ethnic festivals like Chinese New Year (and Hari Raya Puasa), the local immigrants will be making an exodus back to their hometown.

So, it is times like this that those truly born and bred in KL can finally re-claim Kl as their birthplace. There will be no traffic jams on the streets of KL, because the traffic jam will have been moved to the hometowns.

My home state of Melaka is built for a daily population of 700,000. But come this Chinese New Year, the state will welcome back some xxx (unknown large number) of its son and daugthers who have immigrated to Kl- and then the local Melaka permanent residents will get a taste of what KL-ites feel when their town in invaded with 1 million of local immigrants and another 1 million of foreign immigrants (Indonesian, Indian, Filipinos, and Bangladeshis, to name a few)

So its your choice during this Chinese New Year - to be in KL where there's less activity for 2 days, or to be at the center of activity - back in the hometowns- where the family tradition beckons.

You see a lot of lion dances and the colour red.

Cliff Richard plays to full house

2007-02-11T10:50:00.000+08:00

Cliff Richard Here and Now concert 2007

I was there! So was about 6,000 others.

Venue : the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands
Date : Friday Feb 9, 2007
Time : 8 pm - 10.45 pm

Source : The Star Online

And boy, did Bachelor Boy really entertained the crowd. For someone in the 60's, he still has the 'oomph' to sing and performed some cool dance moves on the stage with his guitar. His voice never once cracked during the show. And he had only 1 short break of about 15 minutes.

Every time he sang one of his all-time favourites such Summer Holiday, The Young Ones, Livin’ Doll, Evergreen Tree, Bachelor Boy, Devil Woman and Constantly, the crowd of mostly "baby boomers" sang along, and swayed in their seats to his song. The crowd, mostly in their 50's and 60's, and a sprinkling of 30's and 40's, seemed to want more at the end of the 2 hour show.

He also sang duets with a couple of singers who are equally good "impersonators" of Dionne Warwick and Matt Monroe

True enough, he predicted in his interview, that " I’m sure there will be people in the audience going ‘he didn’t sing that song’".

Because that is exactly what a group of sisters who sat in the row in front of us, turned back and said to us , "He didn't sing 'Congratulations'!".

He did say that “I can’t sing all the songs in one evening – you’d be bored and I’d be dead.”. He has, after all, sang for 5 decades, and has many hits during the period. I bought one the promo CD's on sale : Cliff Richard Complete Hits, for RM 40.00. Other items for sale are : Cliff Richard, the Duet CD, and also a coffee- book on his career.

This is a postcard-sized picture of Cliff Richard (in his 20's) with another actress (from the movie Summer Holidays).

This picture is courtesy of the sisters in the front row. The sisters paid '20 cents' for the postcard bought from Singapore back then, and the sister proudly told me that "I will be 60 this year, and I have been a fan of Cliff Richard since my teens".

Sir Cliff should be proud, that his fan base in Malaysia spans across all races. This lady in front of me is a Malay lady in a tudung, and can be seen waving frantically at Sir Cliff every time he so much as turned towards the section where we are seated.

The sound and the lighting systems didn't fail him, and his entourage of band members is superb.

And the ticket for the show?

Cliff Richard concert ticket

Other reviews of the concert:

Cliff Richard plays to a full house at Genting show, read more here

Sir Cliff dazzles with timeless melodies, read more here

Pre-concert promotional writeups:

Interview with Malaysian press before the concert. All geared up

Peter Pan of Pop returns to thrill Malaysians, writes the Star reporter

Cliff Richard websites:
Official Cliff Richard website

Le Tour de Langkawi

2007-02-11T00:40:00.000+08:00

Le Tour de Langkawi, Genting Highlands, Cycling

Le Tour de Langkawi - Feb 2- 11, 2007
An international-level cycling event held (annually) in Malaysia that should not to be missed by cyclists, and non-cyclists.

This year's Le Tour de Langkawi started from Langkawi island on Feb 2 and traverse through 8 states in the Malaysian peninsula, and will end at a grand affair at 3pm on Sunday Feb 11, 2007 at Dataran Merdeka. This is a big ticket event, with prize money USD 300,000 (a cool 1 million Malaysian ringgit)

I happened to be at the right time and right spot to get a first hand view of the cyclists as they cycled their way up the steep slopes of Genting Highlands on the morning of Feb 9 (circa 12 noon) for stage 8 of the race. There are altogether 10 stages in the race.

Although this event has been held in Malaysia since 11 years ago in 1986, this is the first time I witnessed the event 'live'. Here are some photo shots that I managed to capture.

To find out more about the event, do visit the official website http://www.ltdl.com.my/

This is the route that the cyclists took for the week-long cycling event (Source : official website for the Le Tour de Langkawi)

I am no cyclist, but I can imagine the Genting Highlands route must be one of the most challenging route because :
1. the final destination - First World Hotel at Genting Highlands is situated at altitude 2000 metres above sea level
2. roads leading up to the Highlands are steep and winding. Car drivers are advised to us a lower gear to go up the highlands.
3. cool temperature ranges from 16-23 degrees (Feb 9 : 18 degrees). The air gets relatively thinner as you go up.

Despite the conditions, the cyclists persevered. Kudos to all the cyclists.

Sir Cliff Richard

2007-01-16T05:26:00.000+08:00

February 9 & 10 - Genting Highland, Arena of Stars

Sir Cliff Richard is making a trip to Malaysia to perform at Genting Highlands, one of Malaysia's famous mountain resort on February 9 & 10. Tickets from Rm 100 to Rm 655.

I remember attending his concert in Kuala Lumpur National Stadium sometime 1n 1995. I had a good time. The audience were singing along with him, and we thoroughly enjoyed the performance. You'll be surprised, some of the audience practically grew up with his songs. I liked his songs because my mum listened to them.

I grew up during Michael Jackson's era (my age showing!) and when he had a tour around Asia around the same time (1994) I went to the concert, and I remembered it was not cheap then! (He has not made modifications to his face yet then).

I think those 2 music concerts are those that I went to and liked most.

Mystical Steppes : Along the Silk Road

2007-01-16T05:04:00.000+08:00

January 26-28 - KL Convention Centre, KL, Plenary Hall : Dance Performance

The dance extravaganza will showcase a kaleidoscope of music and dances from Xinjiang, the Chinese autonomous region bordering Mongolia, Pakistan, India and Russia.

Tickets from Rm 20 to Rm 350. Net proceeds of the event will be channelled to charitable organisations - the Alzheimers Disease Foundation of Malaysia and Hospis Malaysia.

Call 03-7711 5000 for tickets, or visit ticketing office

Floral Fest, Floral Parade and Floral Hunt

2007-01-16T03:28:00.000+08:00

Floral Fest

January 2007: Floral Malaysia.

1. Saturday Jan 20 - Dataran Merdeka : Florathon.

Come dressed in your best floral-themed costumes for this 3km morning walk. Prizes totalling Rm 26,500. No entrance fee. If you are hosting your foreign friends, bring them along. Other concurrent activities : Bunga raya waiter race. 'Bunga Raya' is the Malaysian national flower.

2. Sunday Jan 21 - Putrajaya : Floral Hunt 2007.

To build up the momentum to the floral fest, there will be a treasure hunt on Sunday Jan 21, flagging off at 8 am from Putrajaya. Entrance fee Rm50 per person. Prizes Rm 3000 for first prize. Read more

3. Saturday Jan 27 - Putrajaya : Floral parade

A floral parade will be held on Saturday Jan 27, 2007 (starts at 8 am) at Putrajaya, featuring 18 beautifully decorated floats from all around Malaysia and the neighbouring countries. Children will love it as there will be marching bands and street performers as well.

This is the highlight of the Floral Fest 2007, which is held from Jan 20 - Feb 4, 2007, and is one of the 50 Spectacular Events for year 2007.

After the parade, the floats will displayed in an air-conditioned tent at Putrajaya for 3 days:
- Jan 27 (12 pm - 10 pm)
- Jan 28- 29 (10 am - 10 pm)

Admission fee for the static floral display is Rm 2 for adults, Rm 1 for children.

Eye on Malaysia

2007-01-16T00:35:00.000+08:00

Eye on Malaysia, Visit Malaysia, EyeOnMalaysia

The Eye on Malaysia is a giant ferris wheel in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur. It was officially unveiled on Saturday January 6, 2007 at 8.30 pm to mark the launch of the Visit Malaysia year 2007 programme.

The photos above were taken the next day when I brought my 2 nephews to visit the location. We didn't get a chance to ride the ferris wheel, as there many people vying for a seat on Malaysia's latest tourist destination.

The ferris wheel is 60 metre high, and gives a breathtaking view of Kuala Lumpur, including Petronas Twin Towers, Menara Kuala Lumpur and Istana Budaya, amongst others. To see some of the best photos taken of the Eye on Malaysia, visit the LensaMalaysia photo gallery at http://www.lensamalaysia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3507.

After viewing the photos, you will definitely want to visit the Eye.

You will be able to ride on the Eye on Malaysia until Dec 31, 2007. Entrance fee is Rm 15 for adults, and Rm8 for children, senior citizen (the daring ones?) and the disabled. Special packages for groups and family of five or more.

Some more facts about the Eye:

First of its kind in South East Asia.

Altogether there are 42 air-conditioned gondolas, one is a VIP unit with glass flooring, leather seats, tinted glass, plasma screen, DVD player, and a refrigerator. (Are these really necessary for a 12 minute ride, unless they expect to close multi-million ringgit deals up in the air?)

The wheel takes a approximately 12 minutes to make a full circle, and seats 8 persons per gondola.

Of Swiss-German technology, the Eye was "commissioned and installed within 2 weeks" and is designed in accordance with international standards.

The Eye is open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. There is also an International WaterSky Spectacular, with a laser and water show, and a fireworks at the same venue.

Source : Bernama

Visit Malaysia Year 2007

2007-01-14T23:27:00.000+08:00

Visit Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia

This logo will be seen in a lot of brochures originating from Malaysia throughout the year 2007. Malaysia is celebrating 50 years of independence this year.

In conjunction with celebrating 50 golden years of independence, Malaysia has declared the year 2007 as Visit Malaysia Year and is expecting 20.1 million tourists to visit her country.

Tourists who visit Malaysia will be spoilt for choice of events. There is a year-round calendar of world class and unique local events to mark the special year - events like nature-based adventures, cultural experiences and fabulous shopping sprees.

The 50 national events are summarised by Tourism Malaysia in their official website. I will be featuring in detail some of the events, clsssified under categories / month.

Win Free trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2007-01-14T22:45:00.000+08:00

Visit Malaysia year 2007

15 lucky winners will be entitled to Free Air tickets from Vienna to Kuala Lumpur, and Free Accomodation in Malaysia from 10th March – 16th March 2007, in the European Windows to Malaysia Virtual Contest.

Who is eligible to win the free trip : Europeans
Closing date for entry : 31 January 2007.

To read more : got to Tourism Malaysia website

This is part of the Visit Malaysis year 2007 programme.

Recipe- Butter cake

2007-01-14T15:57:00.000+08:00

Today I decided to bake a simple butter cake, with my 5-year old nephew's help. He picked the recipe from an old recipe book. We got the ingredients ready, and baked this cake within 1 hour.

Ingredients

butter/margarine - 6 oz / 175 gm / 3/4 cup
Castor sugar - 6 oz / 175 gm / 3/4 cup
Flour - 5 1/2 oz / 170 gm / 3/4 cup
Eggs - 4, medium sized
Baking powder - 1 teaspoon - sift together with flour
Vanilla essence - 1 teaspoon

Methods

1. Cream butter and sugar till sugar is dissolved and mixture is light and fluffy (approx 10 minutes). I use the electric mixer. You can also use a big mixing bowl and wooden spoon to mix the butter and sugar

2. Add eggs one at a time. Beat the mixture well after each addition (Tip : break the egg into a bowl first before adding to the butter mixture. This allows you to check whether the egg has turned bad or not)

3. Add in vanilla essence

4. Fold in flour gently. (Tip : Use the '8 formation' when you stir in the flour)

5. Pour mixture into baking tin. I use an 8 inch square tin for this cake. Grease the cake tin first before pouring the cake mixture.

6. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, at 170 degree Celcius / 340 degree Fahrenheit

7. When the cake is done, take it out and cool it on a wire rack before eating. (How to check for a properly baked cake? The cake should shrink slighly from the sides of the tin. Also when you insert a stick - a chopstick, a knife etc, into the center of the cake, there shouldn't be any cake mixture stuck on the stick)

Proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Cleaning up time

Easiest way to get rid of the buttery mess is to pour some hot water into the bowl. This will wash away the oil and makes your cleaning a breeze.

Try it. My nephew liked it. Though he would like me to bake a "rainbow cake" - its too troublesome for a weekend baking session. Maybe when he turns 6 later in the year.

New Digital Camera

2007-01-13T00:28:00.000+08:00

Bought myself a digital camera (my first) as a birthday present recently. I didn't know what to look out for in a digital camera, so I went for price range and for ease of use.

This is a picture of the camera I bought - Kodak easyShare C533 with the following features. Cost me Rm499.00. I think I got a good deal for it.

5.0 MegaPixels
3X optical zoom lens
1.8 in. (4.6 cm) indoor/outdoor color display
Cropping, auto picture rotation, and undo-delete
On-camera Share button
Favorites feature
Internal memory
1 GB SD card (paid additional Rm 50.00 to upgrade from 512 MB)

Transferring pictures to my Dell notebook is easy. The camera comes with Kodak EasyShare software which allows easy transfer of pictures to the PC. When you are ready to transfer the pictures to the PC, plug in the USB cable (PC and camera) and the camera will do the rest. It will check for duplicate pictures and only transfer new pictures.

Introduction

2007-01-12T22:56:00.000+08:00

I've wanted to create a site on food and travel for quite some time already. However procrastination reared its ugly head, and took over. Finally, I decided to sit down and created the blog.

Creating this blog is as easy as 1-2-3. What made it "difficult" was that I was looking for a different angle to steer this blog. There are so many travel and food blogs that I almost didn't want to start another one. Anyway, I hope to use this blog to capture Malaysia's places and food from the point of a stranger, new to the area and looking to savour the best the area can give- in terms of interesting places and food!.

Just a little bit about myself. I am a Peranakan Nyonya. Wikipedia described 'me' better here. So I will be very critical of any food that passess off as "Nyonya" because my mum's cooking is still the best!