Saturday, 29 June 2013

Traditional Malaysian Kites



Kite flying has been a popular past-time in Malaysia for centuries.  In fact the country continues to honor this traditional pastime by hosting various annual kite flying festivals like the International Kite Festival at Pasir Gudang, Johor, the Borneo International Kites Festival and the Putrajaya Kite Festival
‘Wau’ is the term used to describe a traditional Malay kite. The reason why this term is used is due to that the fact the shape of the wing of a Malaysian kite said to be similar to an Arabic letter, which is pronounced as “wow”.  The wau exists in various shapes and it is not unusual to find a fish, bird, or frog-shaped wau, but the most popular wau is the wau bulan or moon kite called so because of its curved, crescent-shaped tail.
Listed below are some common traditional Wau :--
Wau Bulan
The Wau Bulan or the Moon Kite with the curved, crescent-shaped tail is believed to have originated in the state of Kelantan.  The kite which today is counted amongst Malaysia’s national symbols is traditionally flown by men in Kelantan.  The Wau Bulan which usually measures 2.5 meters (8 feet) in width and 3.5 meters (11 feet) in height is also bigger than most other kites. The Wau Bulan is typically decorated with large, strong-colored patterns which are easily visible from a height.
Wau Jala Budi
The structure of the Wau Jala Budi is believed to have been inspired by the shape of a woman’s body. The tail of the kite is however fashioned on the budi leaf, found in Kedah. The term ‘Jala’ which means net in Malay refers to net-like structure of the tail of this kite. When flown this kite emits a buzzing drone from the hummer located on the head of the kite.
Wau Kuching
Wau Kucing is also believed to have been invented in Kelantan. The design of the Wau Kucing resembles a feline and this apparent when viewing the kite from behind. The kite emits a screeching, high-pitched sound when flown. The corporate logo of Malaysia’s national carrier, MAS has been inspired by the structure of the Wau Kuching.
Wau Merak
Wau Merak is believed to have originated from the Sulawesi province of Indonesia where it is traditionally flown by the Bugis people after paddy harvesting season. In Malaysia, it is commonly seen in the southern province of Johor.
The design of the Wau Merak is said to have been inspired by a peacock, with a center half that is shaped like the crest of a fowl and a long tail that is approximately four times the length of the body of the kite. The tail of this kite is usually made of wool. The specialty of this Wau is its hummer which emits seven diverse sounds.


Pusat Penghayatan Alam Wetland Putrajaya



The Putrajaya wetlands are believed to be the largest man-made freshwater wetlands in the tropics. These wetlands encompass a total area of 200 hectares and include the Wetlands Park (Taman Wetland) and the twenty-four cells which make up the surrounding wetland areas. The entire wetlands area is an aquatic wildlife sanctuary which attracts various marshland, water and migratory birds such as egrets, cinnamon bitterns, green herons and many more.

The Putrajaya wetlands project was part of the plan to build a garden city around a network of man-made lakes. To aid this effort an old palm oil site was transformed into a wetland ecosystem with the help of modern technology and stringent environment management controls. The Putrajaya Lake itself was created by inundating the valleys of the Sungai Chuau and Sungai Bisa rivers, though it was also realized that the lake had to be served by an efficient filtering system to prevent it from becoming polluted and stagnant. Thus the designers and city planners conceived of a natural filtration system in the form of a large wetlands area surrounding the lake. The planners then planted various aquatic plants within this wetlands area to aid this natural filtration process, as it was believed that the plants would help absorb pollutants and sediment, flowing out from the catchment area of the lake.
Work on creating this network of wetlands was begun in March 1997 and completed by August 1998.

The wetlands in fact perform three vital functions:-

Flood water mitigation

The wetlands help to disperse rainwater over a large area and thus they help to prevent flooding in the city.

Natural filtration of waste water

The 24 cells that constitute the wetlands area create a natural filtration process for water as the many aquatic plants like rushes, cattails and water lilies planted here absorb the organic and inorganic pollutants, and provide a natural filtration process for waste water which is purified as it flows into wetlands.

Creation of a natural habitat
The filtered water of the wetlands creates an ideal habitat for much local fauna like water birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.
The Putrajaya wetlands area is a prominent eco-tourism attraction in this planned city.
Prominent attractions of the area include:-
The Nature Interpretation Centre
The Nature Interpretation Centre is a mini-discovery centre , which  provides much information about the functioning of the wetlands and the flora and fauna of the wetlands park area.
Information Centre
The main information centre of the Taman Wetlands Park offers bikes and binoculars for hire, so that visitors can enjoy a spot of bird watching  during their visit or then even cycle along the bike path of the park.
Look-out tower
The Taman Wetlands is equipped with an 18 meter tall look-out tower. Visitors can climb the tower to get a panoramic view of the wetlands area.
Flamingo pond and Bamboo Forest
The flamingo pond is a popular spot for picnics while the bamboo forest is known to be home to a group of naughty monkeys.
The Water Recreation Centre
The Water Recreation Centre offers kayaks, canoes, paddle boats and rowing boats for hire, which visitors can use to tour the Putrajaya Lake.
For more information do visit - http://www.ppj.gov.my/

Thursday, 27 June 2013

Local foods of Gurney Drive



Most Asian cities like Bangkok, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore and even Kuala Lumpur are known for their delectable street food eats. However, most enthusiastic foodies aver that the street foods of Malaysia’s island state Penang rank among the best and tastiest of all Asian street food eats.
Penang’s Persiaran Gurney, or Gurney Drive in historic Georgetown is a world-renowned street food destination. The hawker food stalls that line this area serve a huge variety of foods which showcase the diverse ethnic influences (Malay, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Arab, Nyonya) that make up the multi-ethnic character of Penang.
Many of the stalls located on Gurney Drive are family-owned and open for business around 6pm in the evening. These stalls usually stay open until 3am on weekdays and shut in the early hours of the morning around 5am on the weekends.  Additionally, the street foods of Guerney Drive are extremely well-priced and provide much bang for your buck.
Some of the best known street foods of Guerney Drive include:-
Char kuay teow
The dish known as Char Kuay Teow features a substantial helping of flat rice noodles stir fried with lashing of dark soy sauce,  along with prawns, cockles, eggs, bean sprouts, Chinese chives, chili, shrimp paste and Pork lard. A dish of   Char Kuay teow on Guerney Drive is often anointed with shredded crab meat for a more intense flavor.
Penang Asam Laksa
The Penang Asam Laksa is an iconic dish which features a spicy, sour broth, flavored with tamarind and mackerel flakes. Other components of the Penang Asam Laksa include popular regional ingredients like belacan (prawn paste), rice noodles, torch ginger flower, galangal, lemongrass, chilies and shallots. The Penang  Asam Laksa doesn’t feature any pork and qualifies as a healthy choice.
Hokkien Mee
The Chinese influenced Hokkien Mee in Penang, features a soup base made either from dried shrimp and balacan (shrimp paste) or then fatty prawn and pork bone.  Hokkien Mee in Penang tends to feature a combination of thin rice and yellow egg noodles along with prawns, fish cake, kinking( water spinach), slices of chicken, deep fried shallots, fresh lime and chilies. Popular as a breakfast dish, Hokkien Mee is served with a healthy dose of fiery sambal.
Wonton Mee
Wonton Mee in Penang features egg noodles which are served with a sauce made from soy sauce and lard oil. The noodles are further anointed with Chinese kale, chopped green onions, pickled chilies and steamed or fried wontons. Wonton Mee can be had as is or ‘wet’ in a rich clear broth.
Nasi Kandar
Nasi Kandar is a rice based meal which features white rice served with various spicy curries as accompaniments. Nasi Kandar is omnipresent at the many mamak stalls of Gurney drive. Mamak is the term used to describe the style of cooking that resulted from merging of Indian Muslim and Malay styles of cooking.
The curries served with the rice (Nasi) usually feature poultry, fish and meats like fried chicken, curried beef and squid (sotong) and even fish roe. Vegetables like okra, aubergine and bitter gourd also form part of the Nasi Kandar meal.

Lor Bak

Lor Bak is a Nyonya dish associated with the Chinese population of Penang. The dish features minced pork which has been marinated in five-spice powder, then wrapped in a bean curd skin and deep-fried. These rolls are then served with two kinds of dipping sauces, a spicy, red chili sauce and a thick, gravy-like sauce, called lor.


Rojak Pasembur

This Malaysian salad has Indian-Muslim origins and consists of shredded vegetables like cucumber and turnip  combined with diced potatoes, beansprouts, boiled egg and tofu, all of which are tossed together with sweet and spicy peanut sauce. Rojak Pasembur in Penang is usually topped with prawn fitters.


Chendol
Chendol is a favored shaved ice desert that has Nyonya origins. The dish features a base translucent jade green noodles that have the appearance of worms but are made out of green pea flour and the juice of pandan (screwpine) leaves. These noodles are then topped with a mountain of shaved ice which is then topped with a generous serving of coconut milk and gula malaka(palm sugar). A Chendol represents a perfect treat on a hot humid Penang day.









Nowhere in Asia can compare with Malaysia when it comes to street food, and although the capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a foodie paradise, ask Malaysians themselves where is the best place to eat, and the unanimous answer will be the tropical island of Penang, and in particular, George Town, a seething, authentic Chinatown. The stalls here are a gourmet kaleidoscope reflecting Malaysia's colourful ethnic mix – as well as offering delicious Malay and Indian cuisine, Penang is unparalleled for the diversity and quality of its regional cooking. You eat well and cheaply everywhere in Penang, but here are 10 places really worth discovering.
Dim sum is traditionally served for breakfast but at this historic teahouse, in the heritage shophouses of Chinatown, they open for lunch and dinner too. Tai Tong maintains the traditions of dim sum, not just with the variety of its menu, but still employing elderly ladies to push metal trolleys loaded with goodies around the tables. Many customers won't even wait for the trolley to arrive and crowd round the grumpy waitresses picking up plates (around 40p each) of har gow (shrimp dumplings) and chee cheong fun (rice flour rolls filled with barbecued pork). Don't miss the lor mai gai (glutinous rice cooked with chicken, black mushroom and savoury chinese sausage), and for anyone with a sweet tooth, end the meal with a sinful, bright yellow egg tart of creamy egg custard in crisp pastry.
• 45 Lebuh Cintra
The Sin Hwa coffee shop, within walking distance of one of Asia's longest reclining Buddha statues, is renowned for its claypot noodles and duck egg koay teow, but the stall with the longest line is for the 60p bowl of assam laksa. People come from all over the island for this delicious dish. Ask for laksa in most of Malaysia and you will be served a bowl of curry laksa, cooked with a rich coconut milk sauce. This classic Nyonya (Chinese-Malay cooking) dish is very different in Penang though, as the Straits Chinese developed their own fusion version called assam laksa, a tart, hot and sour interpretation. The base is an intense fish soup, flavoured with tamarind, ginger flower, galangal, pungent belacan prawn paste, refreshing sprigs of mint and sliced shallots.
• 329 Jalan BurmaKedai Kopi Sin Hwa
Gurney Drive was once the preferred residence of Penang's Chinese millionaires, who built grandiose mansions for themselves with splendid views over the sea. Today, most of the mansions have been replaced with towering luxury condos, but this long waterside promenade remains one of the most popular places for Penangites to eat seafood, and at night the streets are jammed with traffic. But come in the morning when the joggers and tai chi enthusiasts are out, and try Malaysia's most unusual but delicious breakfast, bak-kut-teh. The chefs brew a rich pork and herbal broth for hours, then serve the soup with pork ribs, succulent mushrooms, tofu and fried dough; serious foodies can ask for intestines and offal to be added too. Accompanied by Chinese tea, a hearty portion is £3, with free extra soup.
• 62 Gurney Drive
New Lane satay stall

Satay is the street dish most closely associated with Malaysia, and as it is usually cooked at Muslim Malay stalls, this automatically means beef or chicken satay. But the Chinese love pork satay, and although this is becoming increasingly rare in the rest of the country, Penang still has many hawkers. Ngiom Far Luan has been cooking satay for more than 30 years just outside the Maxim Cafe on New Lane. Her secret is in the way she fans the flames and uses charcoal, which gives the meat a unique smoky taste. A stick costs less than 20p, so order a dozen. New Lane is a street food paradise with about 50 stalls serving hokkien mee (stir-fried noodles), popiah (fresh spring rolls), ikan bakar (chargrilled fish, often stingray, on a banana leaf) and lots more.


Lebuh Chulia is the classic meeting point for backpackers passing through Penang, lined with bars, restaurants and budget hostels. Kassim Mustafa is an airy, family-run corner cafe, open 24 hours a day, which for 30 years has been serving classic mamak cuisine – Indian Muslim cooking with a strong Malaysian influence. For a first visit, try their nasi kandar, biryani rice with a couple of wickedly spicy curries – squid, chicken or beef – that will cost around £2. Then come back after midnight, when they start serving slowly roasted lamb shank, or for a different style of fusion cuisine, there is Thai-style moi sup (rice porridge soup) or tom yam campur (chicken and seafood soup).
• 12 Lebuh Chulia, penangnet.com/k-mustafa

Porridge in Penang has nothing to do with breakfast; it refers to congee, a milky rice porridge that can be eaten at any time of the day with an incredible variety of things – most commonly fish or pork, seasoned with tangy preserved vegetables, chives, Chinese vinegar and century eggs. But this tiny stall, just off the Chowrasta Street food market, is for serious fans of nose-to-tail cuisine, as the ingredients feature crispy pork intestines, innards from the stomach to the tongue, all hanging up on a neat line ready for chopping, and even pig-blood cakes. The friendly cook, who has been here 35 years, is always delighted when a tourist dares sit down, and at just 50p a bowl it is worth a try.
• Outside 25 Jalan Kuala Kangsar
Weld Quay Restaurant

Eating seafood can be relatively expensive in Penang, but not if you discover this favourite local haunt hidden away on the busy harbour road, right by the ferry terminal. Also known as the Tree Shade restaurant, because a huge tree has been left growing in the middle of the entrance, this looks at first like a fishmongers, with trays of exotic fish, live crabs and prawns displayed on mounds of dripping ice, alongside an open kitchen lined with blazing woks. The idea is you choose what you want to eat, how you want it cooked and what the price will be, then head into the restaurant at the back. For around £5-£6 a head, you can try a main course of pomfret steamed with ginger, black pepper prawns or chilly crabs, accompanied by rice and a vegetable dish.
• 21 Pengkalan Weld

With its huge red neon crab outside, and the wriggling fish and strange-looking crustaceans swimming around huge aquariums, it's not hard to guess the speciality here. But in the open-air entrance is also a brilliant self-service buffet serving a Chinese version of the traditional Malay nasi campur ("mixed rice" topped with various meats, vegetables, peanuts, eggs and fried-shrimp) – you can choose from crispy pork belly, chilli lala clams, fish cakes, and kai-lan (a leaf vegetable) in oyster sauce. Expect to pay £2-£3 depending on how many dishes you choose. Worth noting that Townview stays open till 5am
• 11 Jalan Macalister

pen from the early morning till the early hours of the night, Hameed's is great to start the day with a freshly-made roti canai (Indian-influenced flatbread) dunked in a spicy fish curry or a thicker, doughy murtabak stuffed with chicken. At lunchtime the kitchen serves old planter specials such as homemade oxtail soup. Located near Penang's bar and club quarter, Hameed's hots up after midnight, where its comfort beef and mutton soups are popular – try a bowl of the supposedly aphrodisiac beef sup torpedo, popularised by Anthony Bourdain on his TV series – well worth it for around £1.
• 48 Penang Road

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/jun/14/top-10-street-food-george-town-penang

Monday, 24 June 2013

Pahang International Bird Race



If you have an interest in bird watching, you may want consider making a trip to Fraser’s Hill, a quaint hill station situated at a height 1,524m above sea-level, within the Titiwangsa in the  Malaysian state of Pahang.
Fraser’s Hill which is bestowed with a year round affable climate of around 17°C~25°C ( 63°F~77°F), is covered with much lush montane vegetation, presenting a perfect habitat for more than 250 species of local and migratory birds. The verdant environs in and around Fraser’s Hill, play host to several native avian species like majestic Hornbills, stunning Malayan peacocks, barbets, pheasants as well as migratory mountain birds hailing from lands far away as  Northern Siberia, the Middle East and the islands of Far East Asia. This rich tapestry of avian life represenets a paradise for the avid bird watcher.
For this reason Fraser’s Hill annually hosts Pahang International Bird Race, a competitive event which beckons bird watching enthusiasts from all over, to come to Fraser’s Hill, to sight, identify and record the most number of bird species.
The event which usually attracts scores of birdwatchers, classifies these enthusiasts into three main categories:-
The Advanced Category
This category features experienced bird watchers who habitually come to Fraser’s Hill for bird watching trial runs.
The Locals Category
This section of the competition is made up of local residents of the region, who are familiar with the birds which inhabit their environs and can in all probability easily identify them along with others.
The Novice Category
This category of the competition is reserved newbie bird watchers who have recently been introduced to the sport or have taken it up out of curiosity or even as a hobby.
The 2013 edition of the Pahang International Bird Race,  is scheduled for the weekend of 22nd to 23rd of June and is expected to draw huge crowds. In addition, to providing a platform for much interaction between bird watchers of all levels, the race also has a secondary though equally important objective of promoting Fraser’s Hill as a premier destination for ecotourism in Malaysia
So if you are suitably confident of identifying various chirps and tweets, then you should wing your way to Fraser’s Hill and avail of the opportunity of testing your prowess against your bird watching comrades.

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Floria Putrajaya

If flowers are your passion, then you cannot afford to miss out Putrajaya’s annual celebration of flowers- the Putrajaya Flower and Garden Festival 2013. The festival which showcases the best of Malaysia’s landscape and horticulture industry is the biggest annual event in this planned city.  Records indicate that last year’s edition of the festival, which featured the garden designs of 16 international participants along with 100,000 varieties of bougainvillea plants, attracted more than a million visitors.This year garden designers from far away as the UK and South Africa have been invited to show at the event which is due to run over nine days from  Saturday 22nd June to Sunday 30th June. Admission to this festival of flowers and gardens is free for the public.
The theme for FloriaPutrajaya, this year is Orchid-Tropical treasure.  This exotic bloom, which currently exists in various diverse forms and structures the world over is much admired and evenmarveled at. In fact, more than 100 genus and 800 species of orchids are found in Malaysia alone. FloriaPutrajaya 2013 will offer displays of more than 100 varieties of orchids including common orchids found in gardens and meadows alongside wild, fragrant and rarer species of the this exotic bloom.
Highlights of FloriaPutrajaya 2013
Flowers Galore
The Grand Flower Bed is showpiece attraction of the festival. This spectacular display in 2013will be dominated by orchids of every hue and structure. Beside orchids, you can also expect to see other colorful and fragrant blooms like roses, hibiscus, flowering herbs, bonsais and many more. A profusion of orchids will in fact be visible in various sections of the festival like the Floral Alley, the Floral Avenue, and the Floral Meadow amongst others. 
Showcase Gardens
The Showcase Gardens section promises to be another prominent attraction at the show.  This section will display the talents and green thumbs of local and international landscape designers and architects, along with garden exhibits created by corporates, NGOs, universities and schools. The area will also feature themed gardens like ‘My Backyard Garden’, ‘Grower Display Garden’ and ‘Courtyard Garden’.
The Royal Garden
 The Royal Garden, this year bears the theme ‘Tropical Splendor of Orchid’. Inspired by geometrical and symmetrical design elements of English and French Royal gardens and incorporating traditional design elements, the Royal garden will also have on show a rare, native, epiphytic orchid, BungaPuteri which is believed to be the world’s largest orchid.
Floral Pavilion
The Floral Pavilion will feature indoor and outdoor sections and various individual gardens like a tropical bamboo garden, a floral carpet and a floral tunnel along with other attractions.
LamanSeni
Returning to the FloriaPutrajaya 2013, will be LamanSeni, a floral art square which will offer   arts and crafts inspired by nature for sale. 
Longest Vertical Wall
FloriaPutrajaya will also feature a long 300 m landscaped floral wall, which the organizers hope will make it to the Malaysia Book of Records.
Therapy  garden
The popular Therapy garden will once again make an appearance in FloriaPutrajaya 2013, and offer spa services like foot, shoulder and hand massages along with reflexology treatments.
Tea Party Garden
The Tea Party Garden will feature an outdoor café set amongst various landscaped, verdant gardens. This garden café will have on offer a wide array of baked goods, beverages and other local treats for visitors to Floria Putrajaya.
Garden Bazaar
The  Garden Bazaar, is the retail aspect of FloriaPutrajaya 2013, where products like plants, gardening accessories and equipment, biotech products, landscaping services, outdoor furniture and more, will be offered  for sale.
Competitions and demonstrations
Aside from its show element, the Putrajaya garden festival will also feature a ‘best in show’ competition for orchids. Other competitive events will include flower arranging contests and nature photography and painting competitions. 
Kiddie activities
FloriaPutrajaya aims to enchant and delight all ages, and hence offers a variety of attractions for young visitors like a petting zoo, a kiddie Playland and much live entertainment.
Putrajaya Flower & Garden Festival 2013
Opening Hours:
 9.00 a.m - 10.00 pm (Mon - Thurs)
 9.00 a.m- 12.00 midnight (Fri - Sun)

Date: 22-30 June 2013
Venue: Waterfront, Precinct 2, Putrajaya
Theme: Orchid - Tropical Treasure