Saturday 14 May 2011

The Streets of Chinatown, Petaling Street.

Petaling Street is the center of Kuala Lumpur's original Chinatown. It's the place that never sleeps. Adventurous visitors should not miss a walk on Petaling Street. 

Even in daytime you have great bargains. Petaling Street is not open for the traffic. It is a great place for locals to get some goods at bargain prices and certainly an eye-opening experience for tourists.

Chinatown has  a bustling market serving as a bargain hunter's paradise and one of the premier shopping areas in the city with its distinctly oriental atmosphere.  
If you're looking for cheap clothes, fabrics, souvenirs, electronic items, watches, DVDs, CDs and more? Then Petaling Street is the place for you. It is easy getting to Petaling Street. Take a taxi, but also numerous bus companies service the area. 


To get the best atmosphere you must go at night!







 Everything gets fried in kind of old looking/tasting oil so whatever you get kind of tastes like a mix of everything else.
**Deep Fried Sweet Potato Balls 
About 10-12 for RM 2  
This is a traditional Malaysian snack. It’s mashed sweet potatoes, flour, sugar and water rolled into balls and then deep fried.
They give you about a dozen in a baggy with a toothpick.
They’re slightly sweet and very bread like. It was quite doughy for me and I could barely tell it was sweet potato.
They’re actually pretty good and they are local favourites. This is something I wouldn’t have tried unless I was taken around by a local – thank god I was!
Sometimes they roll them in sesame seeds before frying – I wish they did that here.


**Air Mata Kucing – 
Air Mata Kucing means “water of the cat’s eyes” RM 1.20


It’s a very traditional Malaysian drink made from dried longan fruit and rock sugar. Make sure you get with ice – so much better.
It’s sweet and aromatic, but not overly sweet and it’s very refreshing. It’s a refreshing fruit nectar tea.
It’s supposed to cool you down on a hot day and it really does!




**Malaysian Beef Jerky/Pork Jerky- 
This is a must try in Malaysia. These stands are everywhere and not only on the streets.
It’s one of their national foods and seriously every stand was good and has their own unique flavour. You can actually watch them barbecuing the meat. It’s the ‘freshest’ beef jerky. After they grill them they do get dried so it still is jerky.




Malaysian beef or pork jerky is so flavourful. It’s soft, chewy and just gets your salivation glands going.


Malaysian Baked Goods
A variety of traditional Malaysian baked goods.
Anything green is made from the signature Malaysian dessert ingredient: Pandan.
Pandan leaves come from trees that grow in tropical climates in Asia.
Pandan tastes quite floral and aromatic and carries a gentle sweetness. It’s not herb tasting but almost like thyme + lemongrass, but not as bold. The flavour is distinct, but also mild. It matches perfectly with coconut.






**Fruit Rojak -
A popular Malaysian snack or salad. It’s a cup of mixed fresh fruit or vegetables topped with Rojak sauce and peanuts.
I had a Fruit Rojak with green apples, pears, guava and pineapples.
Rojak sauce is a traditional Malaysian sauce that tastes like Chinese Hoisin sauce but much more bold and sour. It’s sweet from sugar, sour from Tamarind, and also spicy from chili.
The taste may be aquired, but if you’re expecting it then you might like it. I did, and I wasn’t! I thought it was delicious. The fruits they used were tart fruits so the sweet and sour Rojak sauce actually complements them really well.




          One must remember that bargain-hunting only happens at the stalls. A successful bargain for an item you’ve likened to can reach up a fifty-percent discount or more! Proper shop owners do not entertain bargaining but maintain friendly customer service; cheerfully attending to the many change of clothes you try on.

          The hotels in Chinatown are very personalized; presenting to tired visitors a home away from home concept! Most of them operate on a small-scale, and are owned and managed by family members. These charming little hotels offer clean rooms and good hospitality to add on to your memorable holiday. Retaining the charm and character of yesteryears, hotels in Chinatown offer good value for money for budget conscious traveler.

          Many other shops here open their doors to the eager shopper. The range of items available here is incredible, ranging from handbags, clothes, shoes, jewelry to leather goods. Petaling Street is also noted for its dazzling display of gold fashion accessories encrusted with precious gemstones! In fact, the whole street is brimming with stalls and that’s where the fun of bargain-hunting begins.

          Thankfully, the place has been renovated since; transparent roofs have been built overhead and re-constructed roadworks have made the streets shopper-friendly. This is especially good for tourists as one is able to while away hours of shopping and food-tasting regardless it’s rain or shine.

          -cm-

          Wednesday 11 May 2011

          Jonker Street, Malacca.

          Jonker Street is one of the most visited places in Melaka and there is no doubt that this is the busiest area especially over the weekends or school holidays. Throngs of visitors from all over visit this lively street famous for it's culture and heritage. The best possible way to enjoy visiting Jonker Street would be to walk around this historical area. Jonker Street has always held a special charm in terms of the diverse European-Asian culture and heritage at this city once known to the world as Malacca. The renown street houses some of the countries oldest heritage buildings dating back to the 17th century. Architecturally influenced by the Portugese and Dutch, you will see an beautiful eclectic mix of cultures through this entire area.

          Once you stepped into the entrance of the street, you will be amazed by what you see along the street. Jonker Street is really a horoscope of local cultures, delicacies, and souvenirs. Its unique architectural style only can be found in Melaka.

          The highlight of the street was the Malacca Sunday Flea market.
          Not like normal flea markets, this market selling unique handcrafts, antiques and second hand stuffs. The street also clean and you can see heritage buildings along the street. It's not like normal chinatown. It's really different!!


          Opening Times for Jonkers Walk : Friday to Sundays from 6.00pm to 11.00pm only. It is nearby the Geographer Cafe. If you not sure, you may ask the local for direction. 





          While most of the action is on Jonker Street, if you walk one street behind, you will find Heeran Street which is also known as the Millionaires Row. It is here that you will find the world famous Baba Peranakan Museum of Melaka. A fee applies to visit this unique museum while the architecture is absolutely astounding. This would be the best place for you to explore if you want to find out more about the amazing Baba-Nyonya Culture and Heritage of Malacca.





          Other then antique, paper money, stamps and coins, you can find many shop selling souvenir. You can found wood-craved statues, decorative item for your house, fashionable clothes, key chain, beautiful wind chimes made by sea shell and photo frame

          .




            The most famous restaurant along Jonker Street is Hoe Kee Chicken Rice



          On the main street which is called Jonker Walk, quite a number of antique galleries or art houses are found well spread throughout the area. Walk-in customers would know that the prices are well inflated to the unknown buyers while bargaining or haggling is a common practice here. So do not be afraid to try your bargaining skills but do be realistic about it.

           These local clogs have been around for hundreds of years where the older generation would use them around the wet kitchens or in the markets. Nowadays, you can buy them as souvenirs or to be used as they come in many sizes, from little kids to adult sizes and in various colours.

          If you explore a typical Chinese restaurant and happen to visit the kitchen area, you would see some workers still using them till this day. Clogs sold in Melaka are one of the interesting souvenirs as they even make them in fridge magnet sizes. 



           The chicken rice ball is undoubtedly ranked within the top-five-must-eat during your visit to Malacca.
          We have written about the famed Chung Wah Chicken Rice before, and recently we noticed a new place for Hainanese chicken rice balls, named Malacca Jonker Street Chicken Rice Ball, located just a stone-throw away from Chung Wah.
          While most chicken rice shops in Melaka are only selling roasted and steamed chicken as well as chicken rice, the Malacca Jonker Street Chicken Rice Ball is also offering plenty of other signature dishes
          Chicken rice balls


          Steamed chicken



          fried taufu

          fried sliced pork
           Jonker Street is not what it used to be where families practiced crafts for centuries along a fairly narrow sleepy street. Now a lively market scene greets most weekend visitors who come seeking something different and the opportunity to buy souvenirs of their encounter with history.




          -cm-

          Saturday 7 May 2011

          Fashion, These Day.


          It is quite evident as you walk around the streets of almost any city or town in America that the line between what was once considered the black style of dress and the white styles has become less and less evident. This is especially true with the younger kids in junior high and high school. The baggy pants and shirts with labels and bright colors that were once reserved for the inner black and Latino kids, are now being worn by whites in wealthy suburban neighbourhoods



          Over the past five to ten years the change in style of dress for suburban kids has become more and more evident. Main stream stores such as Dillard’s and Castner Knot’s started carrying the underground hip-hop clothes that were once only found in the larger cities. Even major labels such as Tommy Hillfigger started designing larger clothes with brighter colours. There jeans were available in relaxed fit and even baggy. Hip Hop had now become a large market for young teenagers and people in their early twenties. 



           Also more and more guys started wearing the large hiking boots that were to bulky for their khaki pants, so they had to cut them at the bottom to fit around the boots. At first it was the large “Starter” jackets with The Raiders or Miami Dolphins logos on them, and then it went to overalls and Adidas shoes and jackets. These were the things that white kids saw their favorite musicians or athletes wearing in videos and in movies. Rap music became the music choice of the suburban teenager as they looked for ways to rebel from their parents. And rappers tried to portray themselves as wealthy and powerful people with name brand clothing and expensive cars. But as always they added their own touch to fashion by adding the style of oversized clothing and bright colours. 


          As the years have gone by I have noticed that this style of dress is usually limited to high school and middle school kids. But even still I see many people in college including myself who still can’t help but to pull out the baggy pants every once in a while. I think that it is something that is part of our generation, just as tight jeans and slicked back hair were part of the fifties, and bell bottoms and tie-died shirts were the thing to wear in the sixties. 




           Just as those things have come and gone so will the styles which we wear today. All it will take is another hit song with a musician or a basketball player wearing some wild new assortment of clothing to change the whole way a generation dresses.

          -cm-

          Thursday 5 May 2011

          Love, and true Beauty.



           Love is the greatest gift we can ever hope to give or receive.  Love is the one thing that can overcome so many of the difficult times that we are faced with in life.  Love is so powerful - it can turn frowns into smiles.  It can help mend the most broken heart.  It can even turn all of the ugliness in the world into the most beautiful portrait we could ever have the pleasure to behold.
               Such a monumental task - of course... it could be.  But only if we try to do it alone.  Instead, if each of us, in our own small way contributed just a little - together, the task can become the reality we're reaching for.
               As potent as what love can be, it can only work it's magic if we choose to allow it to.  For that to come to pass we must let go of the other emotions that can get in love's way.  How is that - you may wonder?

               Consider the thought that... 


          Anger - It's normal, but holding on to it indefinitely isn't really necessary.  Let it go...  Forgiveness is so much better for the soul than holding on to a grudge.  Not only will the person you're angry at be happier but so will you.
          Harshness - Harsh words take just as much effort and energy as kind ones do.  Why not consider your choice of words before you speak them and choose gentler ones to get your point across.
          Impatience - Aren't we all guilty of this at one time or another?  Keep reminding yourself of the old saying - "Patience is a virtue" - who wouldn't want to be a little more virtuous?  (Webster describes "virtuous" as being of moral quality or excellence)


          Envy - We all know the saying here - "The grass is not always greener on the other side".  Take that to heart and concentrate on "fertilizing" and "watering" your own to get it just as "green" as your neighbors' "lawn".  You may wind up being the one envied instead.
          Mistakes - We all make them!  So when someone else does, forgive them as you hope others would do for you.  Allow them to be "only human" and consider the fact that they didn't mean any harm by it.  Did you, when you made one?

          Revenge - Someone always gets hurt by this one - and not always the one you expect to...  Why take that risk?
          Expectations - Set them low enough that they are achievable - not so high that you fail to reach them.  No one wants to feel like a failure - neither you or the other person.  If you don't expect too much you will not be disappointed.
          Perfection - We weren't born perfect, it's not something that can be learned, so why not accept the fact that it doesn't exist.  So many of us would breathe easier if this concept would just fade away.  I would, wouldn't you?
               Instead of any of the above, consider these options...
               Take the time to know each other's heart - when you do you will be more understanding and less apt to misunderstand another's intentions, which probably were never meant to hurt or upset you to begin with.
               Smile more often - it may cause a few wrinkles, at the very least, but then so does frowning.  You choose what kind you'd rather have.  And as you ponder that choice, keep in mind that they can both be contagious.  Wouldn't yourather be greeted by smiles than frowns?
               Love causes less stress, less heartache, less misunderstandings, less of just about everything negative.  Love doesreap rewards - happiness, health, joy, peace, and so much more that's positive.  Isn't that what we want most for this world of ours?  Isn't this a much prettier picture?  Remember the portrait?  It's not impossible and we can all help to paint
           it.  We can at least try, right? 

          -cm-

          Wednesday 27 April 2011

          Animal Have Rights Too, Stop Animal Cruelty.

           Animal cruelty is common everywhere, even in places where it’s prohibited. Although there may be laws on animal cruelty, its not highly implemented. Thus every year, there are several animals, including pets like cats and dogs, and wild animals, that are maltreated.
          Animal cruelty can come in various forms. You could have observed someone physically hurting an animal. Animal cruelty can also be in the form of malnutrition when animal owners don’t feed their pets properly. Generally, what causes injury and suffering to an animal can be considered animal cruelty.
          One way of fighting animal abuse is to report it as soon as it is spotted. Here are some things you can do to prevent animal cruelty.

          Be Aware
          Keep your eyes and ears open. Your local humane society or animal shelter wouldn’t know several instances of animal abuse without those concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhood through phone calls. So, do your part and be on the look out for animals in your own neighborhood. This could be a possible indicator of neglect or abuse.
          Learn to Distinguish Animal Cruelty
          Signs and Symptoms – There are signs and symptoms observed in most abused animals. Watch out for wounds on the body, patches of missing hair, extremely thin and starving animals, limping and tick or flea infestations. An owner who is physically abusing an animal is abusive. Dogs left chained in the yard and without access to food and water is a neglectful act. Animals hit by a car and not taken to a veterinarian is also a neglectful act. These are all forms of animal cruelty.
          Report Animal Cruelty
          Know who to call when reporting animal cruelty. There are some states that have Humane Law Enforcement officers who can investigate and arrest perpetrators of animal cruelty. In some towns, you may have to call the police department or local animal control. Know who to call. Also, when reporting an incident, make sure that you provide as much information possible. The details will mean a lot to the investigating officer. Try writing down the type of cruelty you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident, and where it happened.
          Do Some Proactive Steps to Fight Animal Cruelty
          Animal cruelty is a crime. Write or call your local law enforcement departments and tell them that investigating animal cruelty should be a main concern. Fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state or local levels. Have signature petitions. Write letters to legislators. Stronger laws mean tougher penalties, and punishment for animal cruelty should be harsher! Support your local animal rescue organization or local shelter. Volunteer at animal shelters and rescue groups in your area.
          Lastly, set a good example for others. You can prevent animal cruelty and it starts within you. If you are a pet owner, make sure that you always show your pets the love and care that they ought to have. Always provide food, fresh water, shelter and medical treatment if your pet is sick. Have your animals spayed or neutered. Be a responsible pet owner. And to top it off, a lot of hugs and kisses won’t hurt!

          Save the animals and stop animal cruelty. Learn more 
          on how you can prevent animal cruelty in your neighbourhood.




          Animal Rights

          Every day animals are beaten, neglected, or forced to struggle for survival. Left in unsanitary conditions with no food or water, they have little hope as they live out their days without the compassion they deserve. Some are found and rescued, given the chance to experience how great life and humans can be; others aren't so lucky. To grow as a nation, we must fight for these abused animals' rights and severely punish heartless owners. 


          One of the first steps in protecting animals and ­creating effective cruelty laws is knowing what animal cruelty actually is. There are two categories: passive cruelty and active cruelty. The first ­involves acts of omission, meaning the abuse happens as a result of neglect or lack of action. Passive cruelty might seem less serious, but that is not the case; it can lead to terrible pain and suffering, and ultimately death. Examples include starvation, dehydration, untreated parasite infestations, inadequate shelter in extreme weather conditions, and the failure to get medical care. Passive cruelty is sometimes due to the owner's ignorance, so many animal control officers will first try to educate neglectful owners on how to properly care for animals before giving them a citation or placing them under arrest. 


          Active cruelty, on the other hand, is more well known and disturbing. Sometimes referred to as non-accidental injury, this type of abuse involves purposefully inflicting harm on an animal in order to feel more powerful or gain control. Active cruelty against animals should be taken very seriously, since it can be a sign that a person has serious psychological issues and may commit more acts of violence – possibly against humans. 



          It's not only up to the legal system to ensure that communities across the country are aware and educated about animal cruelty. There are plenty of things everyday citizens can do. The simplest action is for people to take care of their own pets and learn the facts so they can educate others on proper animal care. Another easy way to help is by donating to or volunteering at a local animal shelter. Contrary to popular belief, volunteering doesn't require a lot of time; simply going in a few hours a week helps tremendously. Finally, by writing letters you can remind your local lawmakers that animal abuse is a real problem that needs to be addressed. Taking a few minutes to support this worthy cause not only helps animals, it allows you to feel proud about standing up for something so important to society.


          Tuesday 19 April 2011

          Phuket, Simply Heavenly.

          Patong Beach is a beach on Phuket Island’s west coast in Thailand.  It is the main tourist resort in Phuket.  It also contains an important centre of Phuket’s nightlife and is the centre of cheap shopping on the island.   The beach became popular with western tourists, especially Europeans, in the late 1980s.  Numerous large hotels and chain hotels are located in Patong. One of the nicest parts of Thailand to visit is Phuket Island. There are so many things to do on Phuket Island that it will take you a couple of weeks to experience everything. This is probably the main reason why so many people who holiday on this island choose visit Phuket every year. 

          There is so much to do in Phuket Island that it will be difficult for you to cram everything into your holiday time. There are many different places you can go to find the best Phuket photo and pictures on-line. In addition to the many different online guides about Thailand, there are also travel sites in which people share their photos as well as their travel experiences about a different place. 

          Phuket Island is one of the most popular travel destinations of Thailand. One of the main reasons why so many tourists visit  each year is because it has some of the finest beaches in all of Asia. If you love beach holidays then you should definitely consider visiting this magnificent island on vacation.

          Patong beach is the party beach. It is a crescent shaped beach in a cove , beautiful but spoiled by extreme commercialization . It is also famous for its bawdy nightlife glitzy, tacky, and fun. It is the most developed, most vibrant, most visited beach of Phuket that never fails to impress visitors. Patong beach is the most popular beach area of Phuket.

          During the day the beach is alive with jet skis and parasailing. Thousands of people are on the white sandy beach enjoying Thailand’s wonderful tanning sunshine and cool breezes. During the evening, the nightlife starts to heat up around ten PM and lasts well into the morning

          With several sights to see and surprises to offer, Thailand could be one of the best locations you should not miss to visit. Culture, beaches, people, and heritage sites are some of the things you can expect when you travel to Thailand.







          Phuket has become one of Thailand’s major destination because it has a lot to offer and if horse riding is your favorite sport or just enjoy riding a horse for fun, then Phuket is the place for you as it has two riding clubs, the Phuket Laguna Riding club which is located in Bang Tao and the phuket riding club, which is located in Rawai.
          Both island’s riding clubs have well trained horses and gentle horses for children and beginners. For experienced riders, guides will take you on more varied trails and professional instructors, guides and escorts are provided.
          Horse riding is a romantic and fun way of exploring Phuket Island’s natural scenery and the first time riders; you will be escorted along small inner roads through the jungle and plantations surrounding the riding clubs. Experienced riders will take longer rides that will take you along some beaches, coconut groves and to the many island’s amazing sceneries.




          Streets of Phuket. During the day, its often quiet, but its really busy at night. when everyone leaves the beach side, and start shopping, or hunting for food. Also, Phuket nightlife is one of those things that keeps changing. It is getting better all the time and there has never been such a varied ensemble of night spots to choose from.There are loads of pubs, and late night restaurants there. Also, there are many things to buy there such as, bikini's, clothes, accessories, bags, shoes, and more. the shops open till 11pm, and opens at 9am. Although it may seem crowded, but its a really nice place to go. Phuket is also famous for their paintings. Lots of foreigners go to Thailand to buy paintings and send it back to their country. Its famous for their exotic paintings with affordable prices. And it can be found anywhere and everywhere on the streets of Patong, Phuket.
          Bikini's are sold all over the streets of Patong Beach, Phuket, because of the long stretch of beaches. Bikini's are sold at a very affordable prices and can be bargained. Also, bikini's are also sold at the beach side. 
           Choosing the perfect Phuket restaurant takes some doing as there are literally thousands of restaurants from which to choose – each more tempting than the other. As Phuket Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, there is a variety of different cuisine to tempt all palates.




          Coconut Milk Sticky Rice with Mango




          Thailand's very famous 'Tom Yum Gong'.


          Som Tam is one of the most popular foods among Thai people for its fiercely spicy and sour flavours  Papaya Salad, with mangoes lots of chilli.
          Kang Keaw Wan Kai (Green Chicken Curry)




          worms, beetles, and cockroaches!




          stalls among the streets




          otak-otak


          Nothing very sophisticated, just a nice place to relax. Phuket is very relaxing place to relax because its quiet, they have nice weather all year. The weather there is different than over here.
          the BUSY streets of Phuket with lots of Thai restaurants, and pubs.  Most of the cars are actually cab drivers for tourist.


           Tattoo parlours are very famous in Thailand. Also, in Phuket there are many tattoo shops. You can find them in almost everywhere. Some people go to Thailand just for tattoos, and also, many tattoo artist come here, to Malaysia to open tattoo shops. Tattoos in Thailand are much cheaper compared to the ones here, but its better quality.
          What's so relaxing about Phuket is that after a long day of swimming, you could actually have a massage at the beach side with a very affordable price. Around 150-250 Baht an hour. Which equals to RM15-20. Much cheaper than the ones here. Besides getting a massage, there are also Manicures & Pedicures which cost around RM 10 to RM15 and hair braids booth. Also, if you're hungry, you could also order food, and it will be delivered to wherever you're seated. Everything is so convenient, and i personally think, its like a mini paradise there, in Phuket.