Yen Yen: 5million to increase competition in business travel

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 - Government would like to allocate 5 million as the development fund for the business travel expenditure in this year.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the allocation would like to improve the Malaysia’s competition advantages for the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) in tourism field,

“Around 2 thousand 500 million will appropriated for the government and non-government to bid and host various international conference. And the rest will be the consulting services fee.”

She said, around 5% of total tourist were travel in Malaysia for the business purpose in 2009. They spent average 7million for the tourism expenditure which is 3 times of the leisure visitors.

She said, the business tourists contributed 19% which is around 10billion of the total country’s tourism expenditure.

“So, we can develop and promote Malaysia as one of the business travel country.”

She added, the potential of the business travel will attracted around 60% business man return to Malaysia for the leisure travel. 

“in Asia, Malaysia was the fifth within the level of the business travel. The rests are Singapore, HongKong and Beijing. ”

More information on The Star Online: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/11/23/nation/7480340&sec=nation

Release your stress in a bookstore

By Ong Hooi Hoon
Photo By Ong Hooi Hoon

Beach Street (Lebuh Pantai), as the center point of the financial in Penang. Every time walk into this heavy traffic street, it will make people feel busy, roaring and narrow. 
Nevertheless, in this busy and noisy street, there is a peace and quiet bookstore named Jing-Si Books & Café which is the first bookstore established by Tzu Chi.
Walking into the Jing-Si Books & Café, there is the line of the tables and chair in the right hand side which make from the log. The bookstore design in a very simple style of architecture that abounds with the feeling of stillness. 

The right hand side is the bookcase that full with the inspirational books, sutra, aphorism book and so forth.

Jing-Si Books & Café is a shop that combined with the bookstore and coffee shop. Customers not only can enjoy the coffee/tea, at the same time, they can simply pick one of the book from the bookcase and sit in the sofa to read. They are enjoy the pleasure of reading and clean the spirit that polluted by the mundane affairs.

In the Jing-Si Book & Café is not aim for find the delicious food but is seeking for the peace of mind.

Here you might fall in love with readings.

It is different with other coffee shop that always keep promote about their shop.There are lesser news related with this café which publics can be found on newpapers or media. The most estimable thing is the workers in the Jing-Si Book & Café are the volunteer. Other than providing services to the customer, the volunteers were also trasmitting message and values of owes, respect and love toward the customers.

a cup of coffee + a book, you can spend your time in the Jing-Si for whole evening. 

when walk into the Jing-Si, you will feel that the peace of mind

Jing-Si Books & Café is also shared the message of environmental protection with selling the recycle things. 

Address      : 31,Beach Street, 10300 Penang, Malaysia.

Tel          : +604-2616561

Open hour    :  12.00pm – 8.00pm

Penang Clan Jetties.

No matter you are the outlander or indigents were always feel curious toward the Penang Clan Jetties that used the surname as the name of jetty. The Penang Clan Jetties were memorized the history of the early Penang. In 19th century, the Chinese migrants come from China and stayed at here. During that time, the Chinese still held a strong belief of lineage origins, hence, they often occupied and marked their territories by their surnames. Until today, there were only seven Penang Clan Jetties were remained which is Koay Jetty, Lim Jetty, Chew Jetty, Tan Jetty, Lee Jetty, Yeoh Jetty, Peng Aun Jetty and Mix Clan Jetty.

Many young residents were left their hometown for
 seeking the working opportunities.

a different road sign for the indicate purpose.

No matter work during the day or rest on the night, the resident could not be separate from the life with water. This is because the Chinese were mainly doing sea trading and fishing at that time. Therefore, they started build the houses with placing the still into the water. The water villages were gradually formed.  

When you walk on these long bridges that made by the wood, it will make a “geh la geh la” sound. For those unfamiliar with the bridge, they will be in anxiety that they will drop into the water.

Looking on the Penang Clan Jetties which full with the early history about the Penang Chinese immigrants, you might discovered that an old man is rest in front of the frame house and the children is playing at the bridge side.
Nevertheless, you would not discover the trace of young people. This is becuase the young people were left their family and pursue the their better life at "outside"

 The Penang Clan Jetties is facing with the problem of the opulation loss.  Young people were move out the clan jetties for their own new life, and remaining the older and the children.
Out of the 7 bridges, Chew Jetty which is with the longest and having the largest population was become one of the Penang’s attraction. The rich in customs and full of historical as well as cultural traces was attracted to the foreigners. Beside, the residents were seek the new business opportunity that make the frame house as the B&B (bed and breakfast) for the tourists.

 In the Penang Clan Jetties, you are not only enjoy and search for the customs of the early Chinese but also be able to seek delicious food nearby the Pengkalan Weld.

Penang Clan Jetties at the night.

the residents make the fisherman as their whole life job.

JOM traveling to Kuantan!!

By Lee Suet Hooi

Photo by Lee Suet Hooi

If there is a vote on which beach is more popular on the East Coast of Malaysia, Teluk Chempedak will definitely rank head-to-head with the well-known Pantai Cherating. Affectionately known simply as "T.C." by the locals, Teluk Chempedak is the closest beach attraction for the city of half-a-million dwellers. Hence, it is not uncommon to see the beach is filled with evening strollers, kite flyers, windsurfers and even swimmers.

Teluk Chempedak can be considered as very fashionable. To me, the beach itself is rather quite nice, with run-of-the-mill beach sands and somewhat murky waters. Yet, the beach hosts quite a number of eating joints and night clubs that are well patronised by locals and outsiders alike. Taking on the prime spot is a McDonald's outlet which has recently been renovated to feature bigger dining areas and fresh design in a brightly painted building. 

Malaysian Chinese cuisine in Kuantan, for examples, Yong Tau Foo (tofu, eggplant, bitter gourd with fish stuffing) is the most famous on Jalan Penjara in Kuantan town. It is a corner restaurant, namely Hock Heng Baru. It serves delicious and reasonably-priced Hainan cuisine. While you are at Hock Heng Baru, do try their killer sour plum lime drink where they go the extra mile to blend even the sour plum flesh together with the limes to give the drink an extra sour taste.

For Seafood Hunters, a uniquely seafood restaurant by the white sandy beach is available along Jalan Beserah, Pak Su Seafood Restaurant. It is a "halal" restaurant that is frequent by many locals and visitors who are travelling to the east coast. It has an open air area facing the sea where you can feel the breeze and hear the sound of the waves meanwhile to enjoying the meals. A small section is partitioned for those who want to dine in in the air-conditioned environment. As you enter the restaurant, you will be able to see many living fish, lobster and crabs swimming in the glass containers.
 

Other dishes are including the butter tiger prawns, steam fish, claypot flower crab with white pepper and Pak Su bean curb. The prices of the food are reasonable and the quality of the food served is high too.

Rainbow waterfall or Air Terjung Pelangi is located near the quiet town of Sg. Lembing. The tiny water droplets from this high waterfall create a ‘rainbow’ effect when the sunlight shine on it. This romantic phenomenon has attracted many visitors from as far as Singapore and has in recent times been a popular tourist spots for many local Malaysians as well.

The beutiful scenery along the way will let you forget that you are actully hiking for at least 30-45 minutes. The waterfall located near to to sky, and you can see a gorgeous rainbow at the top clearly. Once you see this beutiful waterfall matching with the colorfull rainbow, you will realise that the effort of climbing the mountain is all worth for it. Plus, this hiking tour is only costed us Rm35 per person.

Furthermore, the tour guide even cook us noodle in cup and boiled hot tea. The tour guide cooks besides the waterfall with the gas cooker he brought along with him. We take a swim and have fun in the goose bump-rising cooling water while waiting of the boiling of the water. You might see two rainbows at one time. It is recommended to reach the waterfall before 11am or else you might not see the rainbow.

Pak Su seafood Restaurant Address:

No.4/1417, Batu 6, Lot 922,

Kg. Bahagia Beserah, 

 
26100 Kuantan, Pahang.

Phone: 609-544 8025

Mobile: 019-987 8403

Mobile: 017-989 6666

Enjor your holiday at Redang today

By Yaw Wai Kit

Photo by Yaw Wai Kit

Malaysia is a places rich with natural sources such as petroleum and forest. Besides that, Malaysia is a places have many island and mountain which is suitable for traveler. Redang island (Pulau Redang), is the largest island in Terengganu. It is located 45km off the coast of Kuala Terengganu.  The island having crystal clear waters and many dive sites for enthusiasts and visitors. From the very first glance, Pulau Redang is a beautiful place with “her” white sand and verdantly forest.

However, Pulao Redang are archipulogo comprises with nine island which is known as the Lima Island, Paku Besar Island, Paku Kecil Island, Kerengga Island, Kerengga Kecil Island, Ekor Tebu Island, Ling Island, Pinang Island, and Redang Island.  Pulau Redang is the lagest island among those nine island. “She” having long and beautiful beach known as Long Beach or Pasir Panjang which allocated on the east coast and Teluk Dalam Kecil, a shelter cove tuck away on the northeast of the island. It is the longest beach in Redang. Pulau Redang which is approximately 7km in length and 6km in width.

There is not allowed to hunt fish within the radius 3.2km of the island. Furthermore, there have a small island neighborhood with Pulau Redang known as Marine Park, there are rich in marine life. It is a wonderful place for those who would like snorkeling at there. The sea waters wealth of the marine life and corals, and the good visibility make the dive enthusiasts and visitors for snorkeling and diving. If you are lucky in that day, you will have chance to see black-tip sharks and rare giant clams and  even hawkshill turtle.

The best time to visit Pulau Redang is between April and October. It is because most of the resort will be closing during the Northeast Monsoon, which blows from November to March.

By getting there we need take a boat of the jetties in Kuala Terengganu. Travelling time to Pulau Redang is around one and a half hour to get there.

Hyperlink

1.     Berjaya Redang Resort http://www.berjayahotel.com/redang/index.asp
2.      Coral Redang Island Resort http://www.coralredang.com.my/
3.      Redang Pelangi Resort http://www.redangpelangi.com/
4.      Ayu Mayang Beach Resort http://www.marimari.com/hotel/malaysia/redangisland/ayu_mayang/
5.      Redang Bay Resort http://www.redangbay.com.my/en/
6.      Redang Beach Resort  http://www.redang.com.my/
7.      Laguna Resort http://www.lagunaredang.com.my/
8.      Redang Kalong Resort http://www.redangkalong.com/
Berjaya Redang Spa Resort http://www.berjayaresorts.com.my/beachresort_redangspa.htm

Hakka cuisine “Lei cha”

By Lee Suet Hooi

Photo by Lee Suet Hooi

History of Lei Cha was dated back during the Song Dynasty in mainland China. Literally, “Lei” means grinding with pestle and mortar and “Cha” means tea. Thus, Lei Cha is described as a ground tea. It is one of the most representing delicacies of Hakka's diverse culinary culture. 

It was originally prepared by grinding three raw ingredients – green tea, ginger and rice. Throughout times, it has been accustomed with the changing cultures of Hakka immigrants in different countries. Thus, there are different ingredients and methods of preparation used in preparing Lei Cha. It is said that Lei Cha remains one of the staple food of Hakka and is served in wedding, festivals and serving guest.

Hakka Lei Cha Ingredients 

Generally, Hakka Lei Cha has three main ingredients: steamed white rice, cooked vegetables (often green bean, celery, dried radish, peanut, and black-eyed peas) and tea-soup; made by grinding green tea and mint. This food is not sold Hakka, but also sold by Chinese of different dialects as well.

Well, I hope this introduction of Hakka Lei Cha will prompt you to give it a try (and to those who have stayed away from it, no harm to try again). If you like brown rice, you may try the organic version of Lei Cha.

According to Chinese physician, Lei Cha is clinically proved to be anti-rheumatism, liver detoxifying, vision enhancing, tonic to stomach and lungs. There are different combinations of ingredients to prepare Lei Cha where additional medicinal herbs can be included to have different healing properties. 

With the fragrance of Lei Cha, a slightly salty, sweet, bittersweet taste of the different, except for drinks, but also can be accompanied by a variety of Hakka rice (rice snacks made), rice cakes, etc., or made of rice with soup, not only to quench thirst, but also hunger, more authentic experience of Hakka food culture.

Best recommended with Lei Cha :

Hor Poh Restaurant

36,Jalan 6/38D

Taman Sri Sinar, Segambut

52100 Kuala Lumpur.

Opening hours: 11am-3pm, 5.30-930pm

Tel: (603)62778903

Chan Chiew Heng steamed Claypot Chicken

By Lee Suet Hooi
Photo by Lee Suet Hooi

 There is plenty of clay pot chicken rice stalls at Kampar old town but Chan Chiew Heng steamed Clay pot is the only one that different from out of the ordinary. Chan Chiew Heng had started his Clay pot Chicken Rice business since 1950. Therefore, old customer those lives in Kampar since 50 years ago are aware that Chan Chiew Heng is one of the first local places to sell chicken rice cooker

What’s makes Chan Chiew Heng Clay pot Chicken Rice different from others is it is cooked by using charcoal burn. With the emerge of the technology, it’s difficult to get a Clay pot Chicken Rice that cook with Charcoal burn style because most of them are using gas now. By using charcoal burn style, it ia able keeps the original taste for the Clay pot Chicken Rice. This makes the Clay pot Chicken Rice just taste somewhere nicer than those which were cook by using gas.

Other than that, the special of Chan Chiew Heng clay pot is using steamed technique. The the chicken and the salty fish is separate with a plate and put in the clay pot to steam. There are various types of fresh vegetables and steamed soups which you may take it as your side dishes. A common Claypot Chicken Rice, usually consists of chicken and sausage pieces. You are free to add on extra eggs, chickens, salter fish and sausages.

The aunty is scooping a concoction of chicken with soy sauce, dark soy sauce, probably a dash of wine, etc. ), chopped scallions, and cuts of marinated chicken meat, slices of wax sausages as well as blocks and bits of salted fish for that extra oomph.

In fact, there are many types of Guangzhou and Hong Kong Claypot Chicken Rice in Malaysia. From this claypot chicken rice, we can easily imagine that when the Chinese abcestors south, although lack of material conditions, it is hard to cook with clay pot and give us the memory of fellow home cuisine.

Casserole with cooking, rice is easy to stick pan, but it is precisely for this reason, it makes another feature of the clay pot chicken rice - the "rice crust." Many people like to eat clay pot chicken rice just because of the golden color, crisp but not burn’s rice crust.

Chan Chiew Heng steamed Claypot Chicken Rice
Address：47, Jalan Idris, 31900 Kampar, Perak
Contact number：016－560 0321／016－565 8647
Operating Hours ：1700－2200
Closed on Monday

Going to France and Japan without airplane

By Chan kah Mum

Photo by Chan Kah Mum

Surpring and get shock with the headline? Now you can come to the places which the buidling style is from a Northern Village in France and Japanese style building. You might not believed that you are actually never goes out from Malaysia; but in Colmar Tropicale and Japanese Village, you will feel like being in France and Japan.

France village and Japanese village are located at Berjaya Hill (Bukit Tinggi Resort) near Genting highlands. This place aim to attract the crowds of city to have another choice for a nearby highlands resort. When you are going to Genting Highland, you must go through by Bukit Tinggi. Even at 2,700 feet above sea level, it is still does not have the cool weather such as in Cameron Highlands, Fraser Hill and Genting Highlands. The weather does not lose its marks as the place is very unique and beautiful to grabs visitors’ heart.

There are many theme parks there such as Colmar Tropicale, Japanese Village, Rabbit Park and Horse Trail and so on. 

Colmar Tropicale

It is a replication of a collection of buildings from of a romantic 16th century French village in Alsace.  They have retained the architectural style of the 16 century which comes complete with cobbled walkways, courtyard, wishing well and cuckoo-clock tower.

The entry way into the quaint Colmar Tropicale town square is by way of a grand drawbridge decorated with colourful daisies along the side. There is a beautiful landscaped garden outside the Colmar Tropicale which surely will take up amount of memory of your digital camera.

If you visited Colmar Tropicale on a weekend or public holiday, you will experience the carnival like atmosphere such as in France! You will get to see the many street performance, clowns and entertaining stage shows that organized by the resort. The playful clown is just the perfect match with French background which you may not miss out.

In addition, they also have provided the resort, shops, mini-train exhibition room, children’s play ground, video game room and outdoor cafe. Just imagine that you are stay at France and drink the coffee of the ground.  Trying to feel something different, Colmar Tropicale sure will brings you the feeling of D’amour (love).

Japanese Village and Gardens

Japanese village is design by Japanese architect Kaio Ariizun. The concept is totally adopting the natural. Besides, the decoration and furniture is copy of the Japan style, such as using tatami mat, paper windows, and wood-frame paper screen doors, and pebble puts on the ground. Every step you take on the ground and scenery that come into your eyes giving you the feeling of authenticity. 

You can also do a tatami spa within the tropical rainforest.  If you do not like spa, you can just smell of fresh forest air and enjoy the sound of flowing stream to relax you mind and soul. The best time to visit the Japanese garden is on the early mornings and late evenings. At this right time you can enjoy the flesh air.

The visitors who love Japanese culture can wear Japanese kimono and takes your photos everywhere. Certainly, the rental the Japanese kimono is about RM 20 in half hour.

ADDRESS

Bukit Tinggi, Persimpangan Bertingkat Lebuhraya Karak, Bentong, Pahang, Malaysia.

INFORMATION

Rating : hill resort

Check-in time - 14:00pm

Check-out time - 12:00nn

Panasonic Lumix LX 5

By Chan Kah Mum
Photo by Chan kak Mum

Panasonic Lumix LX 5

The LX5 has a re-designed lens, CCD sensor and image processing engine, along with smaller improvements and upgrades. The newly developed f/2.0 ultra wide angle 24mm LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens comes with an upgraded optical zoom now reaching 3.8x (90mm).

Packing in a number of great features in a sleek and stylish body, the announcement of the LX5 has understandably been met with excitement. The camera of it is portable and quality same with DSLR.

Canon EOS 550D Kit

EOS 550D has the18 megapixels APS-C sized CMOS sensor for high resolution images of superb quality and details. There are Auto Lighting Optimizer function with 4 settings (Standard, low, strong and disable) - Analyzes the brightness of the photographic subject, and automatically corrects the dark parts to make them brighter.

Full HD Video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolutions with flexible frame rates (30p, 25p &24p) for up to 4GB per clip with HDMI output (CEC compliant) for HD viewing of stills and video. Besides, EOS 550D provide external microphone terminal for recording sound via an external microphone.

Canon EOS 500D

EOS 500D has the 15.1 megapixels APS-C sized CMOS sensor for high resolution images of superb quality and details. DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor’s 14-bit A/D conversion gives rapid processing speeds while maintaining fine detail and accurate color reproduction.

It just like selecting the film type on a conventional camera, users can get the optimum image by selecting the correct setting. Besides, it also flexible setting of ISO speed to adjust camera’s sensitivity to light for best exposure (ISO 100 – 3200, ISO expandable to 6400 & 12800).

Tips to prevent motion sickness

Travel shold be a happy and unforgettable experience. When travelling, it is unavoidable for us to taking car, air plane or ferry in order to reach our destination. Here is the problem, some of travellers may encounter motion sickness which will spoil their good moods for travel. Let's understand what is motion sickness and get rid of it.

Motion sickness , sometimes referred to as sea sickness or car sickness, is a very common disturbance of the inner ear that is caused by repeated motion. In addition to sea travel, motion sickness can develop from the movement of a car or from turbulence in an airplane. The symptoms of motion sickness are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, and a sense of feeling unwell. These symptoms arise from the inner ear (labyrinth) due to changes in one's sense of balance and equilibrium.
While it may be impossible to prevent all cases of motion sickness, here is the tips that can help you prevent or lessen the severity of motion sickness:

1. Watch your consumption of foods, drinks, and alcohol before and during travel. Avoid excessive alcohol and foods or liquids that "do not agree with you" or make you feel unusually full. Heavy, spicy, or fat-rich foods may worsen motion sickness in some people.

2. Avoiding strong food odors may also help prevent nausea.

3. Try to choose a seat where you will experience the least motion. The middle of an airplane over the wing is the calmest area of an airplane. On a ship, those in lower level cabins near the center of a ship generally experience less motion than passengers in higher or outer cabins.

4. Do not sit facing backwards from your direction of travel.

5. Sit in the front seat of a car.

6. Do not read while traveling if you are prone to motion sickness.

7. When traveling by car or boat, it can sometimes help to keep your gaze fixed on the horizon or on a fixed point.

8. Open a vent or source of fresh air if possible.

9. Isolate yourself from others who may be suffering from motion sickness. Hearing others talk about motion sickness or seeing others becoming ill can sometimes make you feel ill yourself.

10. The over-the-counter medication meclizine (Bonine, Antivert, Dramamine) can be a very effective preventive measure for short trips or for mild cases of motion sickness. Your doctor also may choose to prescribe medications for longer trips or if you repeatedly develop severe motion sickness. One example of a prescription medication is a patch containing scopolamine (Transderm-Scop) that often is effective in preventing motion sickness. Remember that scopolamine can cause drowsiness and has other side effects, and its use should be discussed with your physician prior to your trip

Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=59876