Discover the delights of ‘Mamak’ cuisine

‘Mamak cuisine’, one of the many native Malaysian cuisines, is hugely popular all over Malaysia. This delicious fare is usually associated with Malaysia’s Indian Muslim population and is served both at roadside stalls (open 24 hours a day) and as well as at full-service restaurants.

‘Mamak cuisine’, is believed to have been brought to Malaysia, by Indian Muslims, hailing from the southern states of India, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the 19^th century, when these immigrants were brought by the British to work on the rubber and palm oil plantations. In fact the popular Mamak stall beverage, Teh Tarik, the Malaysian interpretation of Southern Indian pulled coffee was once served at stalls set up at the entrance of plantations

The Indian immigrants then went on to intermarry with the locals and they soon came to known as Mamaks and were largely associated with roadside eateries popularly referred to as known as ‘Mamak stalls’. These roadside ‘Mamak ‘stalls continue to survive, though the Malaysian dining landscape today, also features full-service ‘Mamak’ cuisine restaurants that offer a wide array of tasty dishes.

Favored ‘Mamak eats’ include dishes like: -

Roti Canai

Roti Canai is a hugely popular breakfast dish and consists of a flaky paratha served with a spicy chicken curry sauce

Roti Tisu

Roti Tisu, is a wafer-thin conical pancake topped with a syrup of condensed milk and sugar.

Rojak Pasembur

This salad dish is served warm and features shredded vegetables like cucumber and turnip mixed with diced potatoes, beansprouts, boiled eggs and tofu, all of which are tossed together with sweet and spicy peanut sauce.

Nasi Kandar

A Nasi Kandar meal is composed of nasi (rice) offered with an assortment of vegetarian or non-vegetarian spicy curries.

Murtabak

A serving of Murtabak features a roti stuffed with fillings like eggs, mutton, sardines, beef or chicken. A Murtabak is usually complemented with a lentil-based dipping sauce.

Nasi Lemak

Renowned as Malaysia’s favorite comfort food, a dish of Nasi Lemak features rice steamed in coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves and served with anchovies, peanuts and a fiery sambal.

 

Maggi goring
This dish feature Maggi instant noodles stir-fried with dark soy sauce, curry powder, spices, vegetables, tofu and chicken and topped with a sunny-side up egg.

 

 

Lip-smacking Nyonya Baba cuisine

Malaysian fare encompasses various indigenous cuisines, which reflect the fabric and culture of the diverse Malaysian society. One such homegrown cuisine widely available in all of Malaysia is Peranakan cuisine, popularly referred to as Nyonya Baba fare.

The origins of this cuisine date back to the 15^th century, during the rule of the Ming Dynasty in China, when a Chinese Emperor gave his daughter Princess Hang Li Po, in marriage to the Sultan of Malacca in an effort to strengthen ties with the rich and strategic port city. The princess arrived in Malacca with a retinue of 500 attendants who then went on to settle in Malacca in an area, which came to be known as Bukit China (China Hill). These early Chinese settlers soon intermarried with the local Malays and this intermingling gave rise to the first generation of Chinese-Malays, the Peranakan people

A male Peranakan soon came to be referred to, as ‘Baba’ while a female was referred to as ‘Nyonya’. The Peranakans developed their own unique culture and heritage, which was an amalgamation of Chinese, Malay cultures peppered with diverse colonial influences.  Nyonya communities at first were limited to Malacca but then they migrated to other areas like Penang and Singapore and came to be known as ‘the Straits Chinese’.

In addition to their inimitable culture and tradition, the Pearankan people also developed their own cuisine, an eclectic fusion fare, which features a mixture of Chinese, Malay, European and even Thai ingredients. This flavorful cuisine comprises several key ingredients like belacan(a dried shrimp paste), tamarind, coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal (wild ginger), chilies, shallots and kaffir lime and pandan leaves.

Widely available in Malaysia at food-courts, street-stalls and fine-dining restaurants, Nyonya Baba fare is a must-try.

Intrigued? Discover mouth-watering Peranakan fare through dishes like Mee Siam(tangy rice noodles), Chicken Kapitan( a lush chicken curry served with Roti Jala, Kangkug Belacan(water spinach sautéed with belacan) and delicious  Peranakan deserts like Bubur Cha Cha, Cendol and colorful Kuih(Peranakan pastries).

 

Urbanscapes: A Celebration of Malaysia’s Contemporary Arts

Have you ever wondered about Malaysia’s contemporary arts scene?  Then its time to introduce you to KL’s annual Urbanscapes festival, a yearly celebration of the vision and creativity of Malaysia’s contemporary arts fraternity. This arts exposition brings together artists, creative communities and business, hailing from the fields of music, fashion, arts, design and more.

A local company Freeform Sdn. Bhd, founded the festival by hosting a first kick-off arts event at a small, KL eatery, in 2002.  Since that initial launch the festival has grown tremendously and now draws massive crowds. As a result, it is now hosted on larger venues and is usually conducted over a weekend, popularly referred to as ‘the Big Weekend’. This year’s edition of Urbanscapes, is scheduled for the weekend of 23^rd and 24^th November and will be hosted at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) at Serdang, Selangor. A venue easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur by various modes of transport.

Aside from attracting increasing numbers of arts enthusiasts, the festival portfolio has also expanded to include much international participation from the region and beyond. Music concerts, stand-up comedy performances, dance recitals, shadow puppetry, poetry readings, beat boxing presentations, percussion and ukulele routines, all feature in the festival program at Urbanscapes.

The exciting lineup for Urbanscapes 2013, features acts like Scotland’s chart topping rock band Franz Ferdinand, Canadian indie-rock duo Tegan and Sara, Northern Ireland’s dance-rock trio Two Door Cinema Club, Efterklang, a electronica rock outfit from Denmark along with  various other international acts like the Obedient Wives Club from Singapore, the Black Voices from the UK, the Last Dinosaurs from Australia and many more. The lineup additionally features popular standup comedy acts like Pierre Hollins from the UK and Malaysia’s very own Kuah Jehnan who describes himself as tall, dark and comedian.

Urbanscapes also has a strong retail component in the form of popup shops showcasing the works of ingenious artists and businesses and offering apparel, accessories, home wares, lifestyle products, vintage wares and other knick-knacks for sale. In addition to retail outlets, the festival grounds also host several food and beverage kiosks, to cater to the dining needs of festivalgoers.

So if you would like to uncover Malaysia’s contemporary arts scene, why not plan a trip to Kuala Lumpur and pencil in a visit to Urbanscapes as a part of your shopping, dining and sightseeing in KL itinerary.

 

Kuching’s Cat Museum- an entertaining oddity

Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak is often referred to as ‘Cat city’. This is mainly due to the fact that the name of the city is thought to have been derived from the Malay word for cat, ‘kucing’.  However, some folks state that the name ‘Kuching’ came to be derived from the Chinese word ‘cochin’ which means port. While yet  others state that the city’s evolved from the word ‘mata kuching’ which translates as ‘cat’s eye’, a term used to describe the  green longan fruit which grows in abundance in Kuching.

Whatever may be the origin of the name, it is evident that the tabby is much venerated in Kuching, for the city is littered with statues, paintings and sculptures of cats. The fact that cats are much loved in Kuching city makes sense, for most Malaysians believe that cats bring good luck and felines often play an important role in the everyday lives of Malaysians.

One of Kuching’s most prominent attractions is the odd but entertaining Cat Museum.  This must-do attraction for cat lovers is housed on the ground floor of the Kuching North City Hall headquarters and is managed by the said organization.  Kuching’s Cat museum was founded in 1988 and contains more than 2000 exhibits feline-related displays. Much of the museum’s permanent collection was obtained from the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur where it had been on display until 1987.

Kuching’s Cat Museum is quite an intriguing attraction, for not only does it aim to entertain; it also seeks to educate visitors about the evolution of cats and provide information about the beliefs associated with them. For instance, in Malaysia there exists a superstition that if you drown a cat you will probably succeed in bringing much needed rainfall to a destination.

The display at Kuching’s Cat Museum features a mix of historically important exhibits along with various kitschy forms. Among the most impressive exhibits at the museum are a mummified Egyptian cat dating back to 3500 BC and the only stuffed specimen of the world’s rarest cat, Felis badia, an inhabitant of the jungles of Borneo.

Aside from these taxidermy samples, the museum hosts several cat statues, paintings, posters, stamps and even cat-shaped headstones, all of which never fail to enthrall and enchant the many visitors who pass through the museum’s strange gigantic fang-shaped doorway.

Love cats? Then the odd but entertaining Cat Museum in Kuching should definitely feature on your visit Malaysia itinerary.

 

Hari Raya Aidiladha

Hari Raya Aidil Adha or Hari Raya Haji as it is known in Malaysia is a festival celebrated by Muslims all over the globe. The festivities associated with Hari Raya Aidil Adha usually extend over three days. The Islamic calendar Hiraj, stipulates that the festival commences on the 10^th day of Dhul Hija, the last month of the Islamic calendar. Typically, Hari Raya Haji is celebrated seventy days after the holy month of Ramadhan.  Hari Raya Aidil Adha for 2013 is slated for 15^th October.

Hari Raya Adil Adha has much religious significance as it essentially commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail in accordance with the will of Allah. The incident is mentioned in the Holy Quran, which also adds that just as Prophet Ibrahim was about to deliver the fatal blow, Allah appeared and replaced Prophet Ismail with a ram. Hence, Hari Raya Adil Adha is regarded as a ‘festival of sacrifice’ and is also known as Hari Raya Korban for the term ‘Korban’ means sacrifice.

The festival also marks the end of ‘Haj’ the largest annual pilgrimage in the world. During Haj, thousands of Muslim pilgrims from all over the world congregate on the Holy land in Mecca to perform a series of rituals. The annual Haj pilgrimage is thought to be the fifth pillar of Islam and every able-bodied Muslim man or woman who is equipped with financial means  is expected to undertake this journey to Mecca at least once during his/her lifetime.

As the concept of selfless sacrifice is integral to the festival of Hari Raya Aidil Adha, families or even local communities in Malaysia come together to sacrifice animals like lambs, goats, cows, bulls and camels as they celebrate the festival. On the day of Hari Raya Aidil Adha, congregational prayers are held at the local mosque, after which the animals are sacrificed according to the diktats of Islam. Most well-off Muslims in Malaysia tend to sponsor these animal sacrifices for Hari Raya Aidil Adha.

The meat so obtained is distributed in three parts. The family or the local community which supplies the animal retains one third of the share, another third is distributed amongst friends, relatives and neighbors while the rest of the meat is given to the poor and needy.

After the sacrifice, the congregation disperses to spend the rest of the day with friends and relatives as is customary during any festival. The celebrations associated with Hari Raya Aidil Adha in Malaysia may appear to be rather solemn but the festival nonetheless has much religious significance as it reminds Muslims to reaffirm their faith in God and thank him for his many blessings.

Kidzania- Sneak Peek into an Adult's World

If you are traveling to Kuala Lumpur with your kids in tow, then a visit to the activity cum entertainment center Kidzania is definitely recommended. Kidzania is an indoor info-entertainment space that aims to teach young ones the art of dealing with the real world. Kidzania in Kuala Lumpur is located within the city’s Curve mall and is a franchise of a world-wide chain, which operates in various locations around the world.

Once children enter KidZania, they encounter a child-size replica of a real city consisting of buildings, stores, cinemas, street-lights pedestrians, vehicles, and more.  The entire enterprise encourages role-play of all sorts, as it urges children to try their hand at a profession they seem naturally inclined to or then are curious about. At the Kuala Lumpur outpost of KidZania, sixty diverse establishments offer 90 entertaining activities suitable for children aged four to twelve.

However, before the children can start off with these various activities, they have to open a saving account at the KidZania bank and receive Kidzos or the official currency used in the world of KidZania. The kids receive Kidzos in the form of cash and working debit card and they use these Kidzo to pay for a particular activity or class. For example, at the chef’s station the kids are offered Oreo-making or sushi-making classes which are both paid activities. Each establishment located within Kidzania has a listing of the amount of Kidzos needed to be dispensed with, if a child wishes to participate in the particular activity offered by the facility. The listing also has details about the expected length of time of each activity, the suitability for various ages and the amount of Kidzos, that the child will earn when he or she completes the role play at that particular station.

Armed with their Kidzos, the young ones then head towards the various KidZania establishments to try their hand at the very real-world professions like being a chef, a fireman, a TV presenter, a dentist, a pilot, a doctor, a midwife, a hairdresser  and even a CIA agent. As they perform each role, for e.g. check teeth while role-playing at being a dentist, they earn Kidzos. The kids can then choose to spend their Kidzos or then save their Kidzos for their next visit.

Accompanying parents are not allowed into the various establishments while their kids perform their ‘tasks’, though they are allowed to watch from the outside. Kidzania Kuala Lumpur is also outfitted with an  air-conditioned parent’s  lounge equipped with food and free Wi-Fi, which is located on an upper floor, where you can relax and wait while your young ones have  the time of the lives playing at working in a grown up’s world.

http://www.kidzania.com.my/

 

Malaysia Moto GP

If Moto GP racing gets your adrenaline pumping and your pulses racing, then perhaps you should make your way to the Sepang International Circuit this weekend for the 2013 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The event which is slated for the 11^th to 13^th October 2013 will feature all the big guns of Moto GP as it constitutes round 15 of the 18-leg MotoGP World Championship.

In fact,  the 2013 Moto GP title hunt is currently poised at a very exciting stage as there is an ongoing tussle between the competition’s two leaders Tuenti HP 40’s Pol Espargaro who is in hot pursuit of championship leader, Marc VDS Racing Team’s Scott Redding. Twenty points separate them at this juncture and with Redding having suffered a loss to Espargaro at Aragón, the Brit will no doubt be looking for victory at Sepang in an effort to cement his grip on the title.

The 22^nd edition of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix hosted at Sepang in 2012 was a grand success so much so the event was declared the MotoGP event of the year by Dorna, the main marketing company for Moto GP. The 2012 event drew huge crowds on every day and this year, the numbers are expected to be even higher as tickets for the event have been selling very rapidly.

Aside from Espargo and Redding, spectators will have the chance to witness the exploits of various other championship drivers like Aspar Team Moto2’s Nico Terol, Espargaro’s teammate Tito Rabat, Alex Mariñelarena who is racing for Blusens Avintia this year and Thai rider Decha Kraisart, who is with the Singha Eneos Yamaha Tech3 team.

Malaysian Moto GP fans will be keenly following the achievements of home-grown talents like Hafizh Syahrin who is racing for Petronas Raceline and who narrowly missed a podium finish last year. Also competing in the tourney is local hero Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin and the home crowd is  also pinning its hopes on him for a podium finish in the Moto3 Category. Other local talents creating a buzz amongst fans include Malaysia’s latest racing outfit, the Touchline SIC AJO Racing Team, which will have Amirul Hafiq & Husni Aizat, as Moto3 Wildcard Entries; and current SuperSports 600cc category ARRC championship leader, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, who qualified for the event on his own merit.

Apart from heart-stopping racing action, the 2013 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix will also offer a number of entertaining  side attractions like the Ducati Club convoy scheduled for  race day, 13th October along with approximately 60 kiosks featuring various vendors including the best bike manufacturers from around the world. Also on offer at the 2013, Malaysian Moto GP will be an autograph signing section scheduled for 12^th October 2013 at the Welcome Center. At this event, ticketholders will have the once in a life opportunity to interact with their idols in persons.

 

More information about the race program, public transport, contests and more is available at the official website of the event at http://www.sepangcircuit.com.my/race/7.