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Text Eris Choo Photos Tourism Malaysia, Shutterstock & Eris Choo (TeddyVille)

More Than Just History

MUSEUMS ARE NOT THE ANTIQUATED, BORING PLACES WE OFTEN MAKE THEM OUT TO BE. MALAYSIA HAS ITS FAIR SHARE OF UNIQUE, QUIRKY PLACES THAT ARE RELATIVELY UNKNOWN, EVEN TO LOCALS. HERE ARE FIVE FASCINATING MUSEUMS YOU SHOULD VISIT ON YOUR NEXT ‘CUTI-CUTI MALAYSIA’ TRIP!

Submarine Museum, Melaka Most of us will probably never board a functioning submarine in our lifetime — but you can explore a decommissioned one at the Submarine Museum in Klebang. This unique attraction is housed in the SMD Ouessant, a French Agosta 70 class submarine, and offers visitors an insight into the vessel’s living and working conditions. The submarine’s narrow corridors and cramped rooms highlight the claustrophobic conditions crew members had to endure for months on end. There are also original equipment on display, including a torpedo launching platform, torpedo bays, navigational and communications equipment as well as the engine room.

TeddyVille Museum, Penang Teddy bears are cute, cuddly companions that bring joy to the lives of millions of children, and even adults. Learn all about their history at TeddyVille, a teddy bear museum tucked within the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton, Penang, in Batu Ferringhi. On display are some highly

valuable old teddy bears as well as larger-than-life exhibits and detailed panoramas that chronicle Penang’s history and multiculturalism. See if you can spot the teddy bears modelled after famous Penangites, such as Datuk Jimmy Choo, Datuk Nicol David and Datuk Lee Chong Wei.

Islamic Arts Museum, Kuala Lumpur

One of the most beautiful museums in Kuala Lumpur and the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, the Islamic Arts Museum is a treasure trove of Islamic arts, history and culture, with over 7,000 artefacts from around the world. The museum is neatly divided into sections such as the Metalworks Gallery and the Jewellery Gallery. The building itself is an architectural marvel, boasting huge domes decorated with intricate geometric patterns and calligraphy. Need lunch? Its in-house restaurant

serves delicious halal dishes. Then shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs at the museum shop. Currently, the museum is hosting two exhibitions: An Introduction to Islamic Calligraphy and The Coin Chronicles: Numismatics of the Islamic World, both of which will run until 31 December 2020.

Kuching Cat Museum, Sarawak

Is it their pink toe beans, or their adorable little faces? Regardless, cats and their cuteness have captured the collective hearts of Malaysians — and there’s an entire museum dedicated to them. The Kuching Cat Museum can be found in the capital of Sarawak, which is aptly named Kuching (meaning ‘cat’ in the Malay language). The city’s mascot is — you guessed it — a cat. Perched atop Bukit Siol, with picturesque views of the city, the museum has a large collection of over 4,000 quirky cat-themed art and souvenirs.

Maritime Museum, Melaka

Located in the city centre, the Maritime Museum is housed in a gigantic replica of the Portuguese galleon, Flor de la Mar, which sailed to Melaka and carried away a vast amount of treasure plundered from Melaka. Unfortunately, the ship never made its way back to Portugal, as it sank off the coast of Sumatra. The museum pays tribute to Melaka’s maritime heritage and its importance as a trading hub for traders from as far away as Arabia, India and China. •

What’s New

CHECK OUT THESE RECENT LAUNCHES

A New Beginning

The expert on clear skin, Sekkisei celebrates its 35th anniversary with the new Sekkisei Clear Wellness range, which combines decades of research and expertise to formulate a trusted solution for modern women — using the goodness of natural botanicals and unique ingredients sourced from Japan’s rich natural environment. Your skin in your 20s and 30s will experience a variety of problems, including dryness, visible pores and acne, often caused by changes 2 Sunshine In A Bottle Think: a sunny day and a garden full of roses. Marry the two and voila! It’s the Rose Tangerine eau de toilette by Chloé. Zesty tangerine notes and hints of rose predominate. A contemporary scent to a signature fragrance that was born in the noughties.

in environmental conditions. From the Sekkisei Clear Wellness Milky Cleanser and Hydrating Gel to the Gentle Cleanser and Water Shield Cream, you will find a complete and gentle skincare suite of products for all your needs. Thirty five years on, the brand continues its legacy with a fresh interpretation, which includes a new brand logo, and an updated bottle design. RRP: RM85 - RM154

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RRP: RM225 (30ml) - RM399 (75ml)

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3 Pure And Simple The Purity Made Simple range by Philosophy welcomes a facial cleanser and a gel moisturiser to its family. Both products are oil-free and contain bamboo extract, which is known for its mattifying properties. Suitable for combination to oily skin types. RRP: RM106 (cleanser, 8 oz.), RM133 (moisturiser, 4.7 oz.)

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Stay Sun-Safe

TO WEAR OR NOT TO WEAR? SUNSCREEN IS NONNEGOTIABLE. HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE.

Spray, dab, rub or roll it on – we’re talking sunscreen here. Whether you choose a physical sunscreen (it reflects UV rays away) or a chemical one (it absorbs UV rays instead) — just pick one that works for you and use it! 1 Invisible Protection

Here’s a nifty way to keep sun protection on-going, all day. The Skincare UV Stick by Kose has a new ingredient in its lightweight sunscreen formula — Job’s tears (known for its hydrating and healing properties) extract. This formula also effectively and quickly absorbs excess oil from the skin, thus providing a good base to help makeup stay on longer. This daily-use, lightweight Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 by Drunk Elephant aims to provide powerful broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection without leaving streaky white residue or a greasy feel on the skin. It’s loaded with potent antioxidants to help fight free radicals and environmental aggressors, and none of the chemical stuff that could irritate or harm skin. RRP: RM148.00 (90ml)

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2 Protection On The Go

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RRP: RM85 (20g)

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3 Total Defence Sunscreen that doubles up as a daily primer? Count us in! This antioxidantrich Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40 by Supergoop! readies the skin for makeup while providing shine control and broad spectrum SPF 40 protection from the sun, and your computer screen (hello, blue light!). RRP: RM150 (50ml)

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Sun, Blocked You know the drill: Limit time in the sun (and avoid it between 10am and 4pm, if possible), wear long-sleeved tops, trousers, hats (or tote a brolly) and sunglasses, and always use a sunscreen with broad spectrum SPF value of at least 15.

How to read SPF numbers

Sun Protection Factor (SPF) essentially tells you how long you can stay out in the sun before your skin starts to burn. For example, if it takes you one hour to burn without sunscreen, an SPF 15 sunscreen (applied properly) would allow you to stay in the sun without burning for approximately 15 hours (a factor of 15 times longer). This is a rough estimate as it depends on the intensity of sunlight, the amount of sunscreen used and your skin type.

What’s the right SPF?

Mid-SPF (15-30), non-greasy, antioxidant-rich formula Suggested for: Indoors — in the office or at home (UV can travel through glass), on the road / while driving.

Quick-drying formulas, waterand/or sweat-resistant and high SPF (above 30) Suggested for: Beach, sports and outdoor activities e.g. hiking. Reapply every two hours if you swim.

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4 Lightweight Mate The Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+ by Alpha-H is nongreasy and ‘barely there’ in texture but packs a punch when it comes to protecting the skin from harsh environmental stressors and harmful UV rays, which in turn helps manage the signs of skin ageing and pigmentation. Easily absorbed and waterproof. RRP: RM136 (50ml)

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5 Mist As You Go This UV Defense Ultra Protection Mist Spray SPF50 by Clinelle is the first UV spray with advanced encapsulation technology that offers 5-in1 protection against UVA, UBV, blue light, electronic radiation and pre-mature ageing. Packed with soothing and hydrating ingredients, this mist lets you reapply SPF protection over makeup. RRP: RM52.74 (30ml)

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6 Simply Perfect Keep skin hydrated, imperfections concealed, and protected with Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50 by It Cosmetics. All you need is a couple of pumps of this cream, infused with good-for-the-skin ingredients. Apply an even layer to your face, neck and also the back of hands and arms. RRP: RM178 (32ml)

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Sweet Success

MEET THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR WHO’S BUILDING HER OWN DESSERTS EMPIRE, ONE CAKE AT A TIME.

As a young girl, Koh Xiao-Ly’s house was always filled with the fragrant aroma of cookies and snacks, especially in the days leading up to Chinese New Year. “My mother loved to bake. It was nothing fancy, but she enjoyed making treats for friends and family during the festive season,” says Xiao-Ly. This was the spark that ignited her passion for baking.

Today, 30-year-old Xiao-Ly owns and runs two popular dessert cafes: Xiao by Crustz at Happy Mansion in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and Tanuki by Crustz, an unassuming gem hidden within a housing estate in Taman Bukit Indah, Kuala Lumpur. While both stores are dedicated to satisfying the sweet-toothed, the former is known for its tiny cakes and delicate French pastries. The latter serves up beautiful ice cream cakes and frozen treats.

(top to bottom) Tanuki by Crustz serves ice cream with a twist; the cafe has a charming, cosy interior; raspberry sorbet, raspberry yogurt ice cream and vanilla ice cream

Xiao-Ly’s success did not come overnight. After finishing her A-levels, she took a gap year from her studies to gain experience in the food and beverage industry, before pursuing pastry-making at the Academy of Pastry Arts Malaysia. “Back then, cafe culture in Malaysia was not as developed as it is today. There were not many job prospects, other than working at a bakery or a restaurant,” Xiao-Ly explains.

She decided to start an online business, making customised cakes for birthday parties and corporate events. After two years running the business, she finally opened Xiao by Crustz in 2016. “The idea was to have a physical space where I could showcase my pastries. I was still doing customised cake orders, so even if the store flopped, I had something to fall back on,” she says.

Drawing inspiration from the dessert shops of France and Japan, Xiao by Crustz was initially conceptualised as a takeaway spot, but Xiao-Ly realised that for it to work in Malaysia, she needed seating. “In France, most people take their pastries to enjoy at public parks, but this is obviously not feasible in Malaysia due to our weather,” she says.

Transitioning from an online-only business to a physical one was challenging. “I did not have any retail experience. Previously, I only had to speak to the customer over the phone or meet them when I did deliveries. I didn’t need front-of-house staff or make drinks. These were areas where I had to adapt,” she recalls.

(top to bottom) Multilayered ice-cream tubs served at Tanuki by Crustz; Mango Parfait is one of the cafe’s best selling items

In 2019, Xiao-Ly opened Tanuki by Crustz, and improved on her formula – the addition of seating to cater to families. Rather than replicate the Xiao by Crustz concept, she diversified into ice cream cakes and unique drinks. “Most places serve ice cream scoops, but we wanted it to be different from what was already on the market,” she shares.

Xiao-Ly’s flair for pastry can be seen in Tanuki’s range of creative desserts. Take the popular Mango Parfait, for instance, which is a tall glass of sweet delight with layers of panna cotta, fruit jelly, Chantilly cream, mango sauce, mango chunks and vanilla crumble, topped off with passion fruit sorbet. Tubs of ice cream featuring different flavours, such as Mango Sorbet, Green Tea and Vanilla, or Avocado, Chocolate and Coffee, also sell like hotcakes.

The drinks and desserts are beautifully decorated, sometimes topped with cute animal-shaped biscuits. To keep things interesting, Xiao-Ly changes the menu every three months, and comes up with special festive-only offerings during the holiday seasons. Fans of Xiao by Crustz can also order French cakes, as a select few are available at Tanuki by Crustz. Everything is made in-house, as Xiao-Ly strongly believes in quality control.

“The process of making some of our desserts can take several days. There are many different elements to [each one], such as sponge, jelly and cream,” says Xiao-Ly.

Tanuki by Crustz’s hidden location forms part of its charm. “Malaysians will go out of their way to look for good food. I personally like to go hunting for hole-in-the-wall cafes when I travel,” she quips, adding that it creates a ‘mini-escape’ from the outside world – even if it’s just for an hour or two.

Although most of the items are made by her staff, Xiao-Ly still involves herself in the creation process. “I make some of the cakes. It’s something that I like to do — that’s why I became a pastry chef,” she says.

Like many businesses, Xiao-Ly has had to adapt to changing consumer demands and trends during the pandemic, such as doing more deliveries on request. Since many companies are no longer doing corporate events or roadshows, she works with clients on creative collaborations, such as incorporating certain ingredients into her desserts — giving customers a safe way to try and engage with the products.

Aside from rolling out new creations, Xiao-Ly hopes to offer a variety of viennoiserie or baked goods such as croissants and decorative breads. “During the Movement Control Order period from March to May, we introduced a pastry box, which consisted of different kinds of pastries and bread. Since a lot of people could not go out, we felt it was a nice idea for gifting. I think there is a good market for this new item,” she says. •