APRIL 2013 No : 636 RM 7.50
Magazine’s latest issue !
EXPLORE “Enjoy the journey”
“East Coast” Edition
EXPLORE MAGAZINE Editor Normazira Mohd Zin ( normaziramohdzin@yahoo.com ) Assistant Editor Nur Athirah Rasdi ( shinegurlz_91@yahoo.com ) Publisher Evergreen Publisher Sdn Bhd (178111-W) 317 Jalan Mahkota, Taman Maluri, 55100 Kuala Lumpur Tel : (03) 9285 7375 / 9283 2971 Faks : (03) 9283 2963 E-mel : evergreen@gmail.com / info@egamigo.com
CONTENTS Page 4
Pahang : Nature’s Priceless Gift
Page 8 Page 10
East Coast Delights “Nasi Kerabu”
Tips to Healthy Diet
Page 11
Cooking Tips to Save You
Page 12
The Incrediable Kelantan
Page 17 Page 18
Terengganu
Cupcake
Page 20
Spa, Health and Beauty
Page 22
Malaysia Cuisine
Nature’s Priceless Gift
Pahang Island paradises, cool, serene mountain getaways, miles and miles of sunny, sandy beaches and mysterious lakes are just some of the natural attractions of the state of Pahang. Almost half the state is covered by stretches of rainforest with exotic flora and fauna while to the east it has a long coastline palm fringed beaches where you can kick back and relax. The rich cultural heritage remains well preserved in the relatively slow pace of life in this vast state. Pahang is predominantly a treasure trove of nature just waiting to be experienced.
The state shares its borders with more than half the states in Peninsular Malaysia. Terengganu and Kelantan border the State on the north, Perak in the west, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan to the southwest and Johor the south. Tropical rainforests dominate the state, also the site of Malaysia’s largest national forest park — Taman Negara. The central mountainous regions are home to three of the nation’s main hill resorts and also the highest mountain in the Peninsula, Gunung Tahan.
The state comprises 11 districts namely, Pahang, the largest state in Peninsular Ma- Paya Besar, Pekan, Jerantut, Lipis, Raub, Malaysia, covers an area of approximately 35,960 sq ran, Mentakab, Bentong, Temerloh and Rompin. km. Located along the east coast it extends and Kuantan the administrative capital is a welloccupies much of central Peninsular Malaysia. planned location situated on the banks of the The vast state, which faces the South China Sea to Kuantan river mouth.It is well known for its beauthe east, enjoys a coastline 208 kilometers long. tiful beaches and other interesting attractions.
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Taman Negara Taman Negara National Park is the perfect place for travelers who love wild life viewing, jungle trekking, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, camping and many more. It is well established as one of the most popular ecotourism in Malaysia. Every year Taman Negara attracts thousands of local and international travelers. It has a tropical, humid climate with temperatures averaging 86°F (30°C). It is opened throughout the year. Taman Negara covers 4,343 km2 of three states of Malaysia – Pahang at 2,477 km², Kelantan at 1,043 km² and Terangganu at 853 km². Geographically, it is located in the middle of Peninsular Malaysia. It is about 250km from Kuala Lumpur and 580km from Singapore.
“Let’s explore the truly tropical life in Taman Negara! The 130 million years old virgin rain forest is waiting to share her pride heritage. Discover, enjoy and release your stress within the most amazing beauty nature”
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Cameron Highland
The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations. The size of Singapore, it occupies an area of 712 square kilometres (275 sq mi) in the Titiwangsa Mountains.To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak. Situated at the northwestern tip of Pahang, the “Camerons” is approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Ipoh or about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Kuala Lumpur. It is the smallest constituency in Pahang.Discovered in 1885, it consists of three districts, namely Ringlet (5,165 hectares (12,760 acres)), Tanah Rata (2,081 hectares (5,140 acres)) and Ulu Telom (63,981 hectares (158,100 acres)). Developed in the 1930s, the tableland is one of the oldest tourist spots in Malaysia. Apart from its tea estates, the plateau is also noted for its cool weather, orchards, nurseries, farmlands, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, wildlife, mossy forest, golf course, hotels, places of worship, bungalows, Land Rovers, museum and its aborigines (Orang Asli).
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The only way to the Highlands is by road. It could be reached from Ipoh, Kota Bharu, Kuala Lipis, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Raub, or Singapore. The accesses are via Tapah, Simpang Pulai, Gua Musang or Sungai Koyan. Tapah and Simpang Pulai are the approaches from Perak. Gua Musang and Sungai Koyan are the entryways from Kelantan and Pahang, respectively.
Fraser’s Hill The location is one of Malaysia's few pristine forests, with a high level of biodiversity, first recognised by the botanist H. N. Ridley in 1897.Fraser's Hill derives its name from Louis James Fraser, a solitary Scottish pioneer, who set up a tin-ore trading post in the 1890s. The British army had not explored the Titiwangsa Range, so Fraser recruited guides and coolies for an expedition to the upper ridges, prospecting for gold or other valuable metals. At the top he found an ancient forest of moss-draped trees and ferns with a prehistoric appearance, kept constantly moist in the cloud layer. He also found rich tin deposits, and recruited Chinese workers to open a mine. A steep track was constructed for mules to transport the tin ore down to The Gap and on to Raub, the nearest town. Fraser operated a gambling and opium den at the workers' camp, through which he profited a second time from the wages paid to his coolies. Fraser vanished without trace some 25 years later. In 1917 C. J. Ferguson-Davie, Bishop of Singapore, led a trek up from the Gap to look for his site, and did not find him, but reported that the place was perfect for a hill station–a retreat from the heat of the lowlands. In 1919, work started on the access road to the hill station from The Gap and by 1922, the hill station named Fraser's Hill was opened to visitors. The hill station covered 140 hectares of land and had over 50 km of jungle paths.
The 1927 Handbook to British Malaya recorded that there were 9 bungalows for the use of government officials, 4 houses built with the help of the Red Cross for ex-servicemen and women, 3 private homes, a country club, a golf course, water supply and a post office. In 1951, during the Malayan Emergency, the popular British official Sir Henry Gurney was killed near Fraser's Hill in a random assassination by Communist guerillas. The 1970s saw another burst of development with buildings and golf courses.
Faced with growing evidence of the effects of environmental damage at the Malaysia's largest hill resort, Cameron Highlands, the Pahang state government in 2010 ruled out further development of virgin forest at Fraser's Hill
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East Coast Delights
“Nasi Kerabu”
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Nasi kerabu is a traditional Malaysian dish that is famous for its blue rice. In addition to the rice, this filling dish also contains fish, which is the base of the kerabu, or vegetable mixture. The other elements of typical nasi kerabu are the coconut-based sweet and salty sauce and the garnish, which includes vegetables and a variety of ingredients commonly used in Southeast Asian cooking.
beans. Traditional Southeast Asian flavors used include lime, fish sauce and herbs such as Thai basil leaves and Vietnam coriander. Herbs and spices such as cilantro, mint, ginger and turmeric are sometimes used as alternatives, depending on how Westernized the recipe is. As with the sauce, chilies and lemongrass also usually make an appearance in the garnish. Usually, nasi kerabu The rice in a nasi is served with the kerabu is blue because kerabu on top of it has been pre-cooked the rice, along with in the blue extract some torn pieces from the dried flowers of Vietnam corianof the Clitoria ternatea plant. These flowers, der. It is traditional to serve nasi kerabu which are a strikingly vivid shade of blue, are as a side dish to a main meal. Many food also used to dye rice in other Malaysian dishes stalls in Malaysia sell the dish to passers-by. such as pulut tai tai and nonya chang. In a typ- ical nasi kerabu recipe, a ratio of 1 cup (237 There are many other Malaysian dishes ml) of cooked rice to one medium fish is used. with nasi as their base. Two of the most well-known examples are nasi goreng and nasi ulam. Nasi Traditionally, the fish used for the ker ulam is, like nasi kerabu, a herbed rice dish, and abu is mackerel. In a typical recipe, the fish nasi goreng typically consists of fried rice, spicis grilled and flaked before being fried to- es and protein such as chicken, prawns and egg. gether with grated coconut and blended ginger and shallots. The resulting mixture then has sugar and salt added to it. Sometimes dried fish is used in place of fresh produce. In many nasi kerabu recipes, the base for the sauce is coconut milk. Other ingredients normally include shallots, dried chili and lemongrass. The milk is combined with these flavors and set on a stove to simmer, with salt and sugar being added to the sauce as it does so. The garnish usually consists of a salad vegetable such as cucumber, along with runner
‘Solok Lada’
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Tips To Healthy Diet
Drink More Water If water were a food, it would be a superfood. It helps digestion, promotes clear skin, acts as an appetite suppressant, and even prevents heart disease, among many other benefits. Some research has even shown that drinking water can speed up metabolism and help you lose weight. Although the whole drink-eight-glasses-a-day advice is now thought to be a myth, it doesn’t hurt, and it’s better than drinking energy drinks or flavored waters that may contain lots of sweeteners. Stick to filtered tap, and cut it with naturally sweetened fruit juice if you get bored, or try low-calorie, unsweetened elixirs like this Green Herb Infusion.
Remember, colors equals nutrition
It’s a good rule of thumb that the more colorful the food, the more healthy it is. For instance, squash, carrots, spinach, and kiwi are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. White and beige foods like cheese, french fries, white rice, white flour, and white sugar should be eaten in moderation, because they’re either high in saturated or trans fats, or overly processed and lacking in nutritional value. Similarly, when you eat vegetables, leave the skins on if they’re more colorful than the interior (for example, zucchini and cucumber), because that’s where a lot of the vitamins are.
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Think smaller portions . Serving sizes have ballooned recently, particularly in restaurants. When dining out, choose a starter instead of an entree, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything. At home, use smaller plates, think about serving sizes in realistic terms, and start small. If you don’t feel satisfied at the end of a meal, try adding more leafy green vegetables or rounding off the meal with fresh fruit. Visual cues can help with portion sizes–your serving of meat, fish, or chicken should be the size of a deck of cards, a slice of bread .
Cooking Tips To Save you How to get delicious budgetfriendly meals on the table. Once you’ve made your plan and gone shopping, it’s time to roll up your sleeves in the kitchen. Get familiar with the best cooking techniques for inexpensive ingredients. Be prepared with clever ways to use leftovers or foods that are a bit past their prime. And, of course, know how to properly store leftovers and extra ingredients to avoid waste. Here are some tips to help you in the kitchen.
Tip 2: Bring out the roast. Roasting a big piece of meat is an easy way to feed a crowd. Of course, a crown rib roast or beef tenderloin (unless your market is running an amazing special) isn’t an economical choice.
Tip 1:Cook and serve the So choose cuts, such as leg of lamb, turkey breast or right portions. According to nutrition experts, a healthy serving of cooked meat is 3 ounces. That’s about 4 ounces raw. If you’re eating meat for dinner aim for it to take up no more than one-quarter of your plate. Fill half the plate with vegetables and the final quarter with a whole grain. Eating less meat is better for your health and your budget.
pork shoulder, and roast them. Your guests will never guess that Middle Eastern Roast Lamb with Tahini Sauce costs less than RM3 per serving.
Tip 4: Add pasta or rice.
Got a few vegetables or a little leftover meat? Maybe you have some fixings for a salad or a light soup, but it’s not quite dinner. Pasta and rice are cheap, healthy pantry items that let you turn a few leftovers into a meal. Try quickly sautéing peppers and onions and toss them with noodles, herbs and a little cheese, or add rice into a vegetable soup to make it more satisfying.
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The Incredible Kelantan Wayang Kulit Wayang
kulit, or shadow puppets, thing akin to a political cabaret, dealing with
are without a doubt the best known of the
gossip and contemporary affairs.Historically,
Indonesian wayang.
the performance consisted of shadows cast
There is a family of characters in Javanese wayang called Punakawan; they are
on a cotton screen and an oil lamp. Today, the source of light used in wayang
sometimes referred to as “clown-servants” performance in Java is most often a halogen because they normally are associated with electric light.Some modern forms of wayang the story’s hero, and provide humorous and such as Wayang Sandosa created in the Art philosophical interludes. Semar is the father
Academy at Surakarta (STSI) has employed
of Gareng (oldest son), Petruk, and Bagong
spotlights, colored lights and other innova-
(youngest son).
tions.
These characters did not originate in the
Wayang kulit famous in Kelantan with
Hindu epics, but were added later, possibly to
their own art that have on that country and
introduce mystical aspects of Islam into the
many people enjoy the show when they are
Hindu-Javanese stories.They provide some-
perform.
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“
“
Wayang kullit photo is a famous show in KELANTAN
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Wau Bulan Wau bulan is an intricately designed than any other Malaysian traditional kite. Malaysian moon-kite (normally with floral moThis makes the decorations painted on the tifs) that is traditionally flown by men in the kite’s body to be visible when it is flown high in Malaysian state of Kelantan. It is one of Ma- the air. To make it more distinctive, wau bulan is laysia’s national symbols, some others being normally decorated with large, strong-coloured the kris and hibiscus. The reverse side of the patterns. fifty-cent coin of Malaysia (1989 series) features an intricately decorated wau bulan with a hummer on top. There are many types of wau in Malaysia, each with its own specialty. .Wau bulan got its name from the crescent moon-like shape of its lower section (bulan means “moon” in Bahasa Malaysia). Given the right colour, wau bulan apparently resembles a rising crescent moon when flown.The size of wau bulan is bigger
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Mak Yong Story of Mak Yong Mak yong or mak yung is a traditional form of dance-drama from northern Malaysia, particularly the state of Kelantan. It was banned by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic. In 2005 UNESCO declared mak yong a “Masterpiece Of The Oral And Intangible Heritage Of Humanity”. Mak yong is considered the most authentic and representative of Malay performing arts because it is mostly untouched by external sources. Although most traditional Malay dances were influenced by India, Java and other parts of Southeast Asia, mak yong’s singing and musical repertoire are unique. Of the major stories performed in mak yong, most are derived from Kelantan-Pattani mythology. Some of those obtained from outside the Malayan-Thai region have now died out elsewhere such as Anak Raja Gondang, a story originally from the Jataka tales but now almost unknown in India. This is followed by dancing, acting and improvised dialogues. Stories were presented in a series of three hour performances over several nights. The lead dancer is called the pak yong and dresses as a king. The cast usually includes a queen in second lead, palace girls and jesters. Traditionally, all performers were female except for the clowns who are always male.
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“
Holiday is the best moment to rememder when we enjoy with our freind family and sweatheart
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“
Terengganu
Traditional pursuits such as kite-flying con tests,
top-spinning contests, and traditional
arts & crafts, such as batik and songket are still very much alive. The major tourist attractions in the state include: Kuala Terengganu, the capital; Islamic Heritage Park, Tasik Kenyir, a large artificial lake; Sekayu Waterfalls; Kuala Ibai Lagoons; Batu Burok Beach, Kemasik Beach, Rantau Abang, Marang, Chukai town and several offshore islands relaxing holiday. Terengganu has recently been such as Pulau Redang, Pulau Lang Tengah, and known internationally as the host of Monsoon Pulau Kapas, and the Pulau Perhentian, which Cup, which was first held in 2005 and then beattract beachgoers and snorkelers because of came an annual national sporting event. The their picture perfect beaches.
event brought millions of ringgit of investment
Many travelers find the relatively rural and into the state from the private sectors and Matranquil atmosphere in the state conducive to a laysian Government.
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Cupcake
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Ingredients 125g butter 2/3 cup caster sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 orange, rind finely grated 2 cups self-raising flour 3/4 cup milk 453g tub vanilla frosting (we used Betty Crocker brand) icing flowers (we used Green’s brand) and coloured sprinkles, to decorate Step 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Line one 12-hole, 1/3-cup capacity patty pan with paper cases. Step 2 Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a small bowl until pale and creamy. Step 3 Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add orange rind and beat until combined. Step 4 Transfer mixture to a bowl. Fold in flour alternately with milk until mixture is just smooth. Spoon mixture into patty cases until three-quarters full. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre of one comes out clean. Remove from oven. Turn onto a wire rack to cool.
Notes Cupcakes can be made a day in advance. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Step 5 Spread cupcakes with frosting. Place 1 icing flower in the centre of each cupcake.
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Spa,Health and Beauty
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Beauty Salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor (beau- community consensus, is often based on some ty parlour)is an establishment deal- combination of inner beauty, which includes ing with cosmetic treatments for men psychological factors such as personality, inteland women.Other variations of this type ligence, grace, politeness, charisma, integrity, of business include hair salons and spas. congruence and elegance, and outer beauty (i.e. There is a distinction between a beauty physical attractiveness) which includes physical salon and a hair salon and although many small attributes which are valued on aesthetic basis. businesses do offer both sets of treatments; beauty salons provide more generalized services related to skin health, facial aesthetic, foot care, aromatherapy, — even meditation, oxygen therapy, mud baths, and innumerable other services. for the body is a popular beauty treatment, with various techniques offering benefits to the skin (including the application of beauty products) and for increasing mental well-being. Hair removal is offered at some beauty salons through treatments such as waxing and threading. The characterization of a person as “beautiful�, whether on an individual basis or by
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Malaysia Cuisine
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Variation Malaysian Cuisine Nasi Lemak
Satay
Nasi lemak is a fragrant
Known as sate in Malay it
Laksa Penang laksa (Malay: Laksa
rice dish cooked in coconut can be found throughout all Pulau Pinang), also known as milk and “pandan” leaf com- the states of Malaysia in res- asam laksa from the Malay for monly found in Malaysia, taurants and on the street, tamarind, comes from the Mawhere it is considered the na- with hawkers selling satay in laysian island of Penang. tional dish. Traditionally, nasi food courts and Pasar malam. It is made with mackerel (ikan lemak is served with a plat- While the popular kinds of satay kembung) soup and its main dister of side dishes wrapped are usually beef and chick- tinguishing feature is the asam in banana leaves, including en satays, different regions or tamarind which gives the cucumber slices, small fried of Malaysia have developed soup a sour taste. their own unique variations. Sate Kajang is a generic name for a style of sate where the meat chunks are bigger than normal, and the sweet peanut sauce served along with a poranchovies (ikan bilis), roasted
The fish is poached and then
peanuts, hard boiled egg, and
flaked. Other ingredients that
hot spicy sauce (sambal).
As
give Penang laksa its distinctive
a more substantial meal, nasi
flavour include lemongrass, ga-
lemak can also come with a
langal (lengkuas) and chilli.
Typical garnishes include mint, variety of other accompani- tion of fried chilli paste. Given ments such as ayam goreng its popularity, sate Kajang is pineapple slices, thinly sliced (fried chicken), sambal so- now found throughout Malaysia. onion, hε-ko, a thick sweet tong (cuttlefish in chilli), Stalls and restaurants around prawn paste and use of torch cockles, stir fried water con- Kajang offer not only the more ginger flower. This, and not ‘curvolvulus (kangkong), pickled traditional chicken or beef ry mee’ is the usual ‘laksa’ one vegetables (acar), beef ren- satay, but also more exotic gets in Penang.Laksa also have a dang (beef stewed in coconut meats such as venison, rabbit or variation taste and type such as milk and spices) or paru (beef fish, as well as gizzard, liver, and laksa lemak make from kelantan and,laksa Johor. lungs). a number of other variations.
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