GOASIAPLUS October 2018

OCTOBER 2018 | ISSUE 29 

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM 

FEASTING 

ON A 

PASSION 

MALDIVES OF 

INDONESIA 

TRAVELLING 

FOR CONCERTS

CONTENTS 

3 INSIGHT 

Fashionably A Foodie 

21 SHOPPING 

Understanding K-Beauty Products 

EDITOR’S 

NOTE 

Last year I accompanied my father back to 

our ancestral home village in Yong Chun, 

Fujian, China. As the family chatted in 

frenzied excitement catching up, the conversations 

inevitably went down the path of my grandfather’s 

journey to Malaya. My grandfather came to Malaya 

in 1912 and settled down in Sungai Udang in 

Melaka to work in the rubber estate. 

To most of us it’s another migrant story to 

savour but it got me thinking deeper into the 

sacrifices and the risks my grandfather had taken 

and because of him I could make this journey back 

to China under much better circumstances. 

We often take for granted those who have 

supported us through thick and thin in the course 

of our pursuit for bigger and better things in life 

and in our careers. Our roots and our beginnings 

become oblivion. 

Not until two decades ago, when the skies 

opened up to make overseas travel accessible, the 

proverbial motherland like China, India and United 

Kingdom seemed to be an impossible destination. 

True to it’s tagline ‘Everyone can fly’, AirAsia 

has been opening up destinations to make dreams 

come true for families and friends to be reunited 

from across the sea. For this, I am thankful. 

Sometimes we forget to thank those closest to 

us like our spouse or family members who care for 

us unconditionally no matter what. Food blogger 

and stylist Sara Khong can attest to this (Page 3-5). 

When she burnt out from doing her online 

fashion business Sara turned to her family who 

supported her switch to being a food enthusiast 

and cookbook writer. She has since moved back 

to stay at home where the family has helped her 

to cultivate the garden into a productive organic 

vegetable patch. 

So, as you get about your daily lives don’t 

forget to look up and appreciate those around who 

are always there to support you. Celebrate your 

awesome relationships with them this October. 

John So 

Publisher 

6 SPECIAL FEATURE 

The Ascent of 

Dato’ Sri Jessy Lai 

10 OUT & ABOUT 

12 LOST & FOUND 

Revisit Architectural Marvel 

14 INSIGHT 

Heart and Soul for Sahul 

17 TRAVEL 

Anambas Islands, Indonesia 

EDITORIAL TEAM 

GROUP HEAD & BRANDS 

JOHN SO 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

JAMIE SOO-HOO 

WRITER 

JESSY WONG 

CONTRIBUTORS 

FRANCIS YIP, YY CHEN, SONIA 

CHANG, AISHAH AZALI, TAN JO 

HANN, HISHAM TALIB 

& RICK CHEAH 

COVER PHOTO BY 

SARA KHONG 

25 TRAVEL 

Travelling Abroad for Concerts 

28 THE FACE-OFF 

Satay vs Yakitori 

30 FYI: Disaster Proof 

32 TRAVEL 

Bacolod, Philippines 

34 TRAVEL 

The Game Plan in Bukit Jalil 

36 ON THE RADAR 

DIGITAL TEAM 

WEB CONTENT 

JESSY WONG 

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES 

EDITORIAL@PCOMASIA.COM 

SENIOR MANAGER 

SALES & MARKETING 

YONG WANG CHING 

YONG@PCOMASIA.COM 

COMMERCIAL & PARTNERSHIP 

JOHN SO 

JOHNSO@PCOMASIA.COM 

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INSIGHT 

FASHIONABLY 

A FOODIE 

SARA KHONG IS A FOOD ENTHUSIAST, FOOD 

STYLIST AND DEVELOPER OF RECIPES. BUT 

SHE DIDN’T START HER CAREER THAT WAY. 

Text YY CHEN • Photos YY CHEN & SARA KHONG 


INSIGHT 

She is a law graduate but never practised law 

for a single day in her life. By the time Sara 

graduated, she was well entrenched in another 

passion–her online fashion business. 

“When I was reading law, I already knew it was 

not something for me. Even during internship, I 

didn’t do it at a legal firm. Instead, I spent my time 

doing lifestyle stuff. I liked fashion and I started a 

blog shop in fashion and accessories. 

“Four months before graduation and while 

waiting for results I started a proper e-commerce 

site where payment could be made via credit card. I 

would get my stock from Petaling Street. It felt good 

to be my own boss. I worked very hard. 

“Money was good and I could make RM2,100 a 

day at the bazaar.” Sara was 23 and she could sustain 

herself with that income. 

After about three years of that she burnt out as 

keeping up with trends and travelling overseas to buy 

goods and shipping them back became a tiring affair. 

“I had to buy a lot for the economies of scale. And 

fashion accessories are heavy.” 

Chasing fashion trends lost its meaning and I like 

working for passion and I like working for myself.” 

FROM FASHION TO FOOD 

“When I was on my own managing my fashion 

business I had to cook for myself. I wasn’t a cook at all. 

I was more of a kitchen hack and I blogged about it. 

And I also blogged about minimalism. I had so much 

naturally I need to organise for space. So no choice I 

had to be a minimalist.” 

At that time, fashion was still a lucrative business 

and it sustained Sara for three years. Soon her eye for 

fashion buying wasn’t good enough as competition was 

keen at her heel and they were also cheaper. 

“There were so few people selling fashion online 

then. As the business grew, competition also grew and 

4 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

INSIGHT 

“Cooking is a 

lifestyle skill that is 

unappreciated.” 

I didn’t think of taking a partner.” When the going got 

tough, Sara was also missing homecooked food–her 

staple of three dishes and one soup! 

Soon, out of necessity a passion was born. Sara 

became popular for her life hacks that she posted on 

her social media. Her website Jewelpie on personal 

lifestyle had everything she wanted to do with her life. 

A FOOD STYLIST IN THE MAKING 

“Basically it was all about what makes me happy and 

how to do things easily, like cooking a meal for others 

in my situation. It was also during this time that my 

fashion business became a chore and I was not enjoying 

it anymore.” 

Her content got picked up by Buzzfeed especially 

about her chance to dine at the prestigious Jiro 

restaurant in Japan. 

She progressed to being a food stylist and became a 

food blogger by starting www.newmalaysiankitchen.com 

with all her recipes she developed and collected from 

family and friends. 

Being an avid reader and a curious one, it helped 

her to create and curate content for her website www. 

Jewelpie.com. “I am the kind of person who believes that 

there must be a different way of doing things. I would 

read and research to find a way to solve the problem. 

“When I first moved out I didn’t know how to 

clean a house so I bought a manual on how to keep 

house. I also read about the science of cooking. 

Cooking is a lifestyle skill that is unappreciated.” 

Her post on how to peel an orange with ease 

earned her great following in her blog. MPH 

publisher found Sara through the Jewelpie site and 

asked her to write a book on how to cook from 

home targeting the younger generation. 

ADVOCATOR OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING 

Looking for different ways to carry out a task seems 

to be Sara’s inherent trait. As she ventured further 

into the food industry, Sara realised she needed to 

be formally trained. She packed her bags and set off 

to Beijing, China for a two-year culinary course. 

Her first cookbook is Malaysian Meals in 

30 minutes and subsequent two were One Pot 

Wonders and 3-Ingredient Recipes. 

She has since moved back to stay at her family 

home where there is a large compound where 

Sara has cultivated her organic vegetable garden. 

In some of her freelance work she is required to 

develop recipes and do cooking demonstrations for 

her clients. 

Sara is also an artist and she approaches her 

recipes and cooking with much creativity and she 

keeps a journal of her work. 


SPECIAL FEATURE 

THE ASCENT 

OF DATO’ SRI 

JESSY LAI 

IT IS HER HOME RECIPE; A SPOONFUL OF 

OPTIMISM, A DOSE OF COURAGE AND 

A DASH OF SMILE ARE ALL IT TAKES FOR 

JESSY LAI TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR 

AND A LEADER. TOPPED WITH A STATE 

CONFERRED TITLE OF DATO’ SRI, JESSY 

LAI LETS HER ACHIEVEMENTS TO SPELL 

OUT HER HARD WORK. 

Text JESSY WONG 

Photos RICK CHEAH & DATO’ SRI JESSY LAI 



The faint smell of chlorine wafts in the air 

as I got out of my car. I was invited over to 

Jessy’s residence for the meeting, a place of 

wonder for many curious admirers of hers so it is a 

work pleasure for me–to be able to meet her behind 

closed doors. 

Turning heads, beckoning attention, that is the 

aura that she carries upon entering the room. It is 

neither the casual white T-shirt she wears nor the 

perfectly trimmed and styled short hair that calls 

for a noticeable appearance. It is confidence. 

Right in her element, Jessy welcomes her guests 

with familiarity, food and warmth; just like any 

other Malaysian. When one would think that as an 

owner of a multinational company, she would be 

wearing a golden robe or glass slippers. Well, they 

are not all wrong. Jessy is surprisingly ordinary but 

she’s definitely not an average person. 

HAPPY GO LUCKY 

In an Asian family, it is inevitable for anyone to be 

spared from the unspoken agony of being compared 

with your siblings by your relatives. As a child, Jessy 

sees her elder sister being favoured by everyone. 

She was born as a second child with 5 years of 

difference with her sister. Compared with her elder 

sibling, she has short spiky hair, monolid eyes and a 

flat nose. “My relatives would ask my mother how 

did she gave birth to two contrasting children; one 

so lovely and another so ugly”, Jessy recollects. 

This trial in her childhood days does not end 

inside the walls of her house. It extends to her 

school where teachers would note the differences 

between the sisters. But she does not allow that to 

put a dent in her. 

“Despite lacking in my appearance, I have a 

positive and cheerful character since I was young. 

Just very happy go lucky. The environment in which 

I was raised in empowers me to be brave and gave 

me the strength to face different situations”. 

Jessy grew up in fairly moderate household in 

Malacca. She wasn’t raised in a lap of luxury but 

she’s rich in self-motivation. “Since I don’t have the 

‘look’, I told myself to be better, kinder, to improve 

and excel from the inside–it’s okay to be short. I 

can be a petite person but with a huge heart.” 



“ There is no point 

making promises with 

no actual fulfillment 

so we do our part by 

proving ourselves.” 

MAKING HER OWN PATH 

Freshly graduated from high school, she took on a 

job that she thought would fit well with her cheerful 

personality. Jessy became a kindergarten teacher at 

18 years old. 

“I was confident I could perform well. I was the 

champion in storytelling competitions so I looked 

forward to telling stories to my nursery children. 

Little did I know that it won’t come true–because of 

language barrier”. 

The road bumps in the job did not make her 

quit. Instead she worked on her shortcomings and 

prevailed for 4 years teaching children. 

Every successful person have their own 

inspiration and for Jessy, it was the kindergarten 

owner that struck a chord in her. “She’s the first 

person that I truly admire. Even after knowing my 

challenges, she didn’t let me go. She arranged me to 

teach music instead.” 

Her influence as a music teacher made a change 

in the kindergarten’s atmosphere. While previously 

it was strictly lessons, the environment became 

more lively when kids started to sing even in the 

playground. From there, Jessy knows that she has the 

power to make a difference if she persevered. 

A MULTINATIONAL BUSINESSWOMAN 

The year of 2014 is a significant time for Jessy when 

she founded her own company–the Monspace 

Multinational Corporation. Although it is based in 

Malaysia, the company actually started out in China. 

Jessy is not the first Malaysian entrepreneur to 

spearhead her business on international grounds; but 

till today, it is one of her proudest achievements to 

date. 

“The country is my platform of growth. My 

strategy is to analyse the trend and future needs in 

China and whatever vision I have for China, I will 

apply it for my own nation in Malaysia and expand it 

to international waters. This is how we have achieved 

20 million users worldwide.” 

Monspace is known for their multi-industrial 

investments namely e-commerce, tourism, aviation, 

entertainment, property, finance, agriculture, 

beauty, health, food and beverage as well as in 

telecommunications. While looking back, Jessy did 



her first business deal by selling cosmetics in her 

part-time job. 

“My sister got me into network marketing when I 

moved to Kuala Lumpur. The multifaceted aspects in 

being a network marketer is a way of growth for me 

as it inspires me to constantly improve myself.” 

“I’ve sold vitamins, water filter, health foods and 

etc. Everytime I’m given a new task, it is a chance 

for me to learn about the industry and products. 

One also must be optimistic as a network marketer. 

There will be rejections and complains daily so it is 

important to be driven and disciplined in whatever 

we are doing.” 

Jessy shares that there are more women working 

in this industry than men because network marketing 

is constantly seen as merely a part-time job. As 

men are mostly the breadwinners of their families, 

it is less likely for them to be a network marketer 

as it is not a stable job so the members are mostly 

housewives. 

“In our business, we don’t make promises but we 

show our trust and outcome through the work we do. 

There is no point making promises with no actual 

fulfillment so we do our part by proving ourselves.” 

Therefore, from a network marketer to a 

multinational businesswoman, she is keen to show 

the world that anything can happen if you put your 

mind into it. Just as they say, winners never quit and 

quitters never win. As of now, Monspace has various 

international projects and one of it is the placements 

of massage chairs in main airports and train stations 

across China. 

Monspace also has investments in research 

supplements for space astronauts and 

commercialising it to the public in China. Other 

than that, the company is starting their own study in 

satellites for the future. 

Despite her huge network and notable business 

ventures, she does not see Monspace as a ‘successful’ 

business. “We are only a 4-year-old baby. A business 

that can last for a century is what I am aiming for 

so I’m laying the foundation now for our growth in 

times to come.” 

KINDNESS MATTERS 

A company is also a reflection of the founder. From 

the way things run and the various business ventures 

of Monspace, Jessy believes that every decision 

must be earnest and transparent in actions. After 

all, ‘Monspace’ can be directly translated–from the 

French word mon (my)–as ‘my space’. 

To her, the multinational company can only come 

through with the right people on board. “Most of the 

time, I receive project proposals for the company. 

It doesn’t matter if it is a good project (or not). I 

will give it a go mostly depending on the organising 

person behind it.” 

Not only limited to business potentials, the 

big-hearted girl from Malacca is also a known 

philanthropist across the world. 

“There are so many people that needs help in 

this world. It is beyond our capacity to reach out to 

everyone so I believe in destiny to show me the way. I 

will do the best I can to help those that stumble upon 

my path.” 

You may follow her journey more intimately 

through www.jessylai.com where she often blogs about 

her philosophies and snippets of her life. 

Understanding her love to motivate through 

speech and writing, I asked Jessy to share the title 

of her autobiography–if she were to have one. She 

laughed and answered, “ 用生命影响生命 , meaning 

life inspiring life”. 

Interlinking with her company’s motto, Jessy 

is hopeful in using one’s life experience to inspire 

others. Like everybody else, success did not 

come overnight and she lives in the belief that 

perseverance and hard work will reap its reward. 

Beyond achievement and recognition, having the 

fulfillment of helping others brings peace and 

happiness to oneself. 


EVENTS 

OUT & ABOUT 

LOOK OUT FOR THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENTS OF 

THE MONTH IN MALAYSIA AND BEYOND 

WINNER 2018 EVERYWHERE TOUR 

14 OCT 

Performing for the first time in Malaysia, YG 

Entertainment K-pop boygroup WINNER is 

all prepped to meet their international fans 

in their long-awaited tour. The 4-member 

stars, Yoon, Jinu, Hoony and Mino debuted 

in South Korea 4 years ago topping charts 

worldwide with their lead single ‘Empty’. 

Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam 

www.ticketcharge.com.my 

IL DIVO TIMELESS TOUR 

7 OCT 

The pop-opera powerhouse group 

is making a stop in Malaysia in 

their worldwide tour to promote 

their new self-produced album 

‘Timeless’. The quartet is known 

to blend their operatic vocals 

with many genres from pop, 

folk, tango, Latin and others to 

breathe a new life into music. 

Arena of Stars, 

Resorts World Genting, Pahang 

www.rwgenting.com 

SPEAK YOUR MIND TOUR 

22 OCT 

Anne-Marie turned into a huge star as 

UK’s biggest-selling breakthrough artist 

of 2018 with the release of her debut 

album ‘Speak Your Mind’ and various 

collaborations hits with Marshmello, 

Clean Bandit and David Guetta. Since 

then, Anne-Marie has more than 5 

billion streams and over 10 million 

global sales as a new pop artist. 

Zepp@Big Box, Singapore 

www.apactix.com 

STYLO GENTLEMEN’S WEEKEND 

26-28 OCT 

This is not your usual weekend getaway. 

STYLO International is organising 

its inaugural STYLO Gentlemen’s 

Weekend, an innovative lifestyle event 

showcasing gentlemen’s lifestyle 

brands, such as men’s fashion, luxury 

yachts, classic cars, supercars, sea 

planes, charter helicopter in over 150 

booths and more. Open to public and 

invited guests. 

Puteri Harbour, Johor 

+6019-383 3289 

TIFFIN FOOD COURT 

EVERY THURSDAYS TO 

SUNDAYS TILL 21 OCTOBER 

A multi-layered Malaysian gastronomy 

experience returns to Klang Valley with 

the latest food trends, hosting more than 

50 vendors and partners on site topped 

with various live DJ acts. The party event 

even feature four new restaurants from 

gourmet joint to bubble tea cafe to debut 

their menu to the public. 

Lot 15, Jalan 13/6, 

Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya 

www.tiffin.my 

ITB ASIA 2018 

17-19 OCT 

Asia’s leading travel trade show 

gathers major hoteliers and tourism 

agencies as exhibitors for their 11th 

installment this year. Not only limited 

within Asia, the annual trade show 

and convention features exhibitors 

and participants from America, Africa 

and Middle East. GOASIAPLUS travel 

magazine is an official media partner 

with ITB Asia. 

Sands Expo and Convention Centre, 

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 

www.itb-asia.com 


#iLoveMYairportsApp 

INSTAGRAM 

CONTEST 

How to participate? 

1 

Follow Malaysia Airports 

Instagram account - @malaysiaairports 

(Remember to set your Instagram account to 

"Public", or else we won’t be able to see your 

posting 

2 

Download the “MYairports App” 

and take a photo to show yourself using the app 

3 

4 

Post the photo on your Instagram 

account 

and tag @malaysiaairports and 5 of your friends 

Write a catchy caption starting with 

‘#iLoveMYairportsApp because ………. 

(not more than 50 words). The caption must be 

written in either English or Bahasa Malaysia only 

RM 

Contest Period 

3 SEPT - 31 OCT 2018 

Total Prizes Worth 

TO BE WON 

Terms and conditions apply 

*ANDROID VER 6 & ABOVE 

Log on to our website for the full terms and conditions 

malaysiaairports.com.my

LOST & FOUND 

REVISIT 

ARCHITECTURAL 

MARVEL 

Text and photos 

FRANCIS YIP 

One of the most amazing things in Malaysia is 

the diversity of Malaysian architecture. From 

the pre-war places of worship, shophouses, 

colonial mansions, townhalls to civic buildings and 

majestic skyscrapers, these architectural marvels are 

expressions of Malaysia’s multicultural make-up and 

influences from the colonial era. 

PRE-WAR ARCHITECTURE 

Take a stroll along George Town, Melaka City and 

Kuala Lumpur. You will bound to discover many 

pre-war Chinese shophouses which were built 

with a perfect balance of function and symbolism. 

They carry the same basic use of space and feature, 

including a Chinese screen behind the doorway 

to prevent bad energy, a courtyard for ventilation 

and natural sunlight, a Chinese altar and doors 

with elaborate design. Traditionally, the walls were 

plastered with off-white colour and built with pitched 

roofs covered with clay roof tiles. 

Their facade ornamentation was often inspired 

by Malay, Chinese and European designs. The 

Malay design included elaborate woodwork, carved 

panels, fascia board and louvres. The Straits Chinese 

designs were often driven by mythological motifs like 

phoenix, dragon, floral and geometric motifs. 

From shophouses, we move to buildings that 

became the landmark of a city. These buildings have 

Mughal or Moorish, Tudor, Neo-Gothic and Grecian- 

Spanish architecture. Many of the designs were 

modified to suit the locals and the hot climate. 

The Moorish design with elegant dome-capped 

pavilion and arch can be seen on the Sultan Ahmad 

Samad building which was the key landmark of Kuala 

Lumpur city before Petronas Twin Towers. Apart 

from it, the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station completed 

in 1910 also has such Moorish design. 

At the turn of the 20th century, buildings start 

to exhibit Victorian and Tudor influences. The Royal 

Selangor Club featuring large exposed wooden beams 

in half-timbered walls were the typical model for 

social club buildings in the early days. 

Carcosa Seri Negara is a fine example of Victorian 

styled heritage hotel in a historic mansion. In fact, it 

was recently featured in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ movie. 

MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE 

Post-war era has seen modernist architecture making 

great strides especially after independence. The 

Parliament House and National Mosque are some of 

modernist architectural wonders. 

As a Muslim nation, Malaysia has adopted many 

Islamic architecture in residential and commercial 

buildings. Putrajaya has many Islamic architectural 

designs as evident in Putra Mosque and Seri Perdana. 

So what makes a Malaysian architecture? 

According to architect, KC Tan, “Malaysian 

architecture is more than just being Malay, Chinese, 

Indian or vernacular designs. It is still in a process of 

finding its own identity unlike Malaysian food which 

already has one.” 

But one thing is certain, Malaysia is standing tall 

by having Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s highest 

twin towers right here in Kuala Lumpur. 

Special thanks to KC Tan of KC Tan Architect. 

FRANCIS YIP always loses himself but somehow, finds his way back with lots of juicy stories to share. Forgive him if he sparks a debate. 

Love him if he unlocks hidden jewels. So heavenly, so travelicious with him! 

www.franciswriter.com franciswriterAd franciswriter 


INSIGHT 

1 

HEART AND 

SOUL FOR 

SAHUL 

FROM HANDLING A MERE ROADSIDE 

STALL TO FOUNDING JOHOR’S TRENDIEST 

MAMAK RESTAURANT, IT TAKES YEARS 

OF DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK 

FOR SAHUL HAMEED TO CARVE HIS OWN 

PATH OF SUCCESS FROM SCRATCH. 

Text JESSY WONG 

Photos JESSY WONG & RESTORAN E&Y SAHUL 

Surely, there are plenty of mamak franchises 

in Malaysia but in Johor, Restoran E&Y 

Sahul wears the crown and dominate our 

Malaysian favourite food scene at the southern 

state. The sight of the crowd during the World 

Cup 2018 finale will you make you join their cult. 

Serving over two thousand people in a night, 

Restoran E&Y Sahul continues to be a choice of 

comfort and indulgence. 

2 

KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE 

It was not an easy journey for Sahul Hameed 

E. Yacob to start-up this mega franchise in his 

hometown–but it is a clear-cut vision for Sahul to 

become an entrepreneur. He was only 11 years old 

when his father has left the earthly realms. Yet, his 

father gave a long-lasting impression on him. 

“When I was a kid, I was already groomed into 

the food industry by helping out at my father’s 

mamak shop. It was just a small business but 

back then, it is my family’s source of income”, he 

shares. After his father’s passing, Sahul worked in 

various jobs from a dishwasher, kitchen helper to 

a pandan tapper. 


INSIGHT 

“As I grew up, I wanted nothing more than to 

have my own business.” 

3 

5 

4 

“So as I grew up, I wanted nothing more than to 

have my own business. In 1994, me and my family 

opened a small warung in front of a bank selling mee 

goreng mamak (mamak signature fried noodles), mee 

rojak (noodle salad dish), mixed rice and teh tarik.” 

In two years, they managed to move their warung 

into a rented shophouse with the support of their 

regular customers. For Sahul, managing the familybusiness 

helps him to polish his skills. 

“It wasn’t until 2008 when I could finally realise 

my dream of becoming a restaurant owner. It is truly 

a joyous moment for me to launch my first Restoran 

E&Y Sahul at Jalan Maju in Johor Bahru; and the rest 

is history.” 

WITH SWEAT AND SMILES 

Pick anything off their menu and Sahul knows how to 

make it for you. He is one of the restaurant franchise 

owners who takes pride in his products and manages 

his workers from top to bottom. “Since I laboured 

over different kinds of jobs, I am skilled in every 

aspect in running a restaurant.” 

“Here, we have all sorts of Malaysian cuisine. 

Nasi lemak, tandoori chicken, char kway teow, 

mutton soup, rojak, briyani are some of the popular 

ones.” However, the highlight of Sahul’s cooking is 

the famous fish head curry in Restoran E&Y Sahul. 

As an ever-growing entrepreneur, his interest in 

innovating allows his customer to create their own 

menu. “These days people have a variety of appetite. 

You can order out of the menu and we will make it 

if we have the ingredients on hand. We just had an 

order for roti tisu with chocolate cream.” 

All these couldn’t have happened without the 

support of the locals, he emphasises. Therefore 

his biggest mission is to build a closely knitted 

relationship with his customers. Restoran E&Y 

Sahul stands out from the rest of mamak franchises 

with their community programs by organising fun 

competitions for his customers to walk away with 

electronic gifts. 

The biggest and most celebrated occasion was 

during the World Cup 2018 finale in their Adda 

Heights branch in Bandar Dato Onn where more than 

two thousand people gathered in his restaurant to 

catch the games on the big screen. 

After five franchises across Johor Bahru, he is 

planning newer and more innovative things for his 

business. While sharing his fascination for frozen 

foods, “in future, I might build a hotel or you’ll even 

see the first drive thru for nasi campur in Malaysia,” 

he smiles. 

1 Sahul Hameed E. Yacob at 

his Adda Heights branch in 

Bandar Dato Onn 2 Sahul 

showing off his Teh Tarik 

skills 3 Signature Nasi Briyani 

Kashmir 4 A selection of nasi 

kandar dishes 5 The massive 

crowd at Restoran E&Y Sahul 

during World Cup 2018 

SIGNATURE 

FOOD TO PAIR 

 

NASI BRIYANI 

KASHMIR 

Mixed rice dish 

cooked with spices 

adorned with 

chicken, cashew nuts 

and boiled egg. 

 

TEH TARIK HALIA 

Malaysian’s favourite 

‘pulled’ milk tea with 

a dose of ginger. 


TRAVEL 

1 

ANAMBAS ISLANDS: 

THE MALDIVES OF 

INDONESIA 

2 

3 

ANAMBAS ISLANDS ARE NAMED ASIA’S BEST 

TROPICAL ISLAND PARADISE BY CNN IN 

2012. IT IS LOCATED 150 NAUTICAL MILES 

NORTHEAST OF BATAM ISLAND IN THE 

NORTH NATUNA SEA BETWEEN PENINSULAR 

MALAYSIA AND BORNEO. 

Text FRANCIS YIP • Photos FRANCIS YIP, HISHAM TALIB 

& WISATA ANAMBAS 

If we talk about holidaying in Indonesia, the first 

destination on the checklist is most likely Bali 

island. But did you know within the Riau Islands 

province of Indonesia is a lesser known island 

regency boasting 255 equally fascinating island gems? 

“If the picture perfect sapphire waters, pristine 

beaches with pearly white sands and rainbow corals 

remind tourists of Maldives, then Anambas Islands 

are the Maldives of Indonesia,” says Zainul Idris 

Yunus, the Executive Economic Affairs Consulate 

General of Republic of Indonesia in Johor Bahru. 

The islands regency has only 26 occupied islands 

while 229 islands are still untouched, waiting to be 

discovered. And I was fortunate to be invited by the 

Indonesian Government for a 5-day trip to explore 

these island gems. 

FANTASY ISLANDS 

Built above the sea, Anambas Resort Water Villa has 

a private balcony where I can feed the fishes in the 

waters. It is located in Tanjung Tebu, Terempa town 

of Siantan Island which is part of Anambas Islands. 


TRAVEL 

4 5 

1 Overview of Piugus Island 

2 Underwater table coral 3 A 

blue starfish 4 The Temburun 

Waterfall 5 Boy with a freshly 

caught fish in Jemaja Island 6 

The town of Terempa, Siantan 

Island 7 Houses on stilts in 

Terempa 8 The Napoleon fish 

9 Bawah Island 

6 

The view from the villa are truly captivating with a 

clear sight of corals, little fishes and at times, turtles 

teeming on the sea. 

Coincidentally, I arrived in Anambas Islands at the 

time when the local community were celebrating its 

10th anniversary of Anambas Islands as a regency in 

the Riau Islands Province under the Law No. 33 (2008). 

Count myself lucky. I witnessed the festival 

concert, showcasing traditional song, dance and the 

best of all, a parade of dancers in colourful costumes 

akin to the cosplay of Japanese anime–from fishes to 

octopuses and seahorses. 

ISLAND HOPPING 

Apart from enjoying a taste of local culture, the best 

thing to do in Anambas Islands is certainly island 

hopping. It let me experience more than just sun, sea 

and sand but the differences of the islands. Whether it 

is Bawah Island, Jemaja Island, Siantan Island, Matak 

Island or Penjalin Island, these islands are unique in 

their own way. 

My favourite island is definitely Penjalin Island. 

This island is blessed with white sandy beaches with 

sand as soft and delicate as flour. There are granite 

rocks piling up on the beach, providing a perfect 

panoramic view of this pristine island. I had a 

splashing time taking selfie, carving my name on the 

carpet of sand, dipping into the crystal clear water 

and letting the little fishes surround my feet. 

My next island hopping adventure is Bawah 

Island. This is the most popular island of Anambas 

which offers 3 naturally protected lagoons, 5 primeval 

forests and best of all, 13 beaches which you don’t 

have to share with the crowd. The alluring landscape 

still remains as in 10,000 years ago although there is 

currently a luxury resort–Bawah Reserve–with rooms 

priced as high as USD1,780 and above per night. 

For me, Bawah Island is a perfect natural, idyllic 

island getaway. In fact, it is Bawah Island that lends 

it's charms for Anambas Islands to be named as Asia’s 

Best Tropical Island Paradise by CNN. 

Another enchanting stop is Jemaja Island. I made 

a quick visit to Padang Melang Beach, renowned for 

having the longest coastline, as long as 8km in the 

province of Riau Islands. I was told that the annual 

Padang Melang Festival was held here with 3-day of 

merry-making like folk games, music, dances, boat 

races and culinary fair. 


TRAVEL 

7 8 

9 

good memories of my youth. 

A trip to Anambas Islands will not be complete 

without a feast on the famous Nasi Padang which is 

also known as Rijsttafel from the Dutch for rice table. 

Nasi Padang consists of fish, beef, mutton, vegetables 

and spicy grinded chillies. To me, Dara Manis Café & 

Restaurant in Matak Island serves the best and most 

authentic Nasi Padang. 

I also sampled sotong masak hitam (fried spicy 

black squid) but the best pampering of culinary 

delight was the exotic Napolean Fish which costs 

over USD250 per kilogram. This is the most 

expensive fish I have ever eaten in my life! In 

addition, I treated myself with Luti Gendang, a 

traditional local bread and Keropok Atom, crispy 

“Trying to catch fishes at the edge of the deck 

brought back good memories of my youth.” 

DIVING PARADISE 

Anambas Islands are every diver’s dream. For diving 

instructor, Mark Rahman who was with me in this 

trip, Anambas Islands have lots of soft corals and 

this makes it unique compared to other islands in 

Malaysia. Some of the marine life found are angelfish, 

turtle, barracudas batfish, nudibranchs, crocodile 

fish, blue-spotted stingray, moray eels and more. 

With many soft corals surrounding the islands, 

divers love to go snorkelling or deep sea diving and 

play in the sapphire blue sea. The best dive sites are 

Tokong Berlayar and Malang Biru which have steep 

slopes, the Katoaka reef, Igara and Seven Skies Wreck 

which is considered as the diver’s playground. As 

Anambas Islands are still relatively untouched, one 

can easily get lost in the paradise with sheer delight. 

LOCAL FEAST 

Back in Terempa, the capital town of Anambas 

Islands, I was awe-struck by the sights of the port 

dotting the coastal line of the town. This panoramic 

view looks similar to the Mediterranean coastal 

villages in Europe. Seeing the local children trying 

to catch fishes at the edge of the deck brought back 

round-shaped fries. 

On the final day home, I passed by Penyengat 

Island, just minutes off the coast of Tanjung Pinang. 

This island is famed as the cultural and royal throne 

of Malay Riau-Lingga Sultanate in the 19th century. 

At the Balai Adat Indera Perkasa, I had a great 

time cosplaying. With gold sequinned yellow 

costumes, a tengkolok (headgear) and a kris (dagger) 

in hand, I could be easily mistaken as a Riau Sultan. 

With so much to do but so little time, I left 

nothing but footprints and took nothing but pictures 

in Anambas Islands. And I totally agree with Pak 

Zainul that the islands regency is truly the Maldives 

of Indonesia. 

GETTING THERE 

Total of 4-5 hours by these routes: 

3 HOURS BY FERRY from Stulang Jetty, Johor Bahru 

to Tanjung Pinang, Bintan Island 

1 HOUR BY FLIGHT from Tanjung Pinang Airport 

(Bintan Island) to Matak Airport (Matak Island) 

15 MINUTES BY BOAT from Matak Island to 

Anambas Resort Water Villa 


SHOP 

UNDERSTANDING 

K-BEAUTY PRODUCTS 

KOREAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS HAVE MADE ITS WAY INTO THE MALAYSIAN MARKET FOR SOME 

TIME NOW AND IT REMAINS A POPULAR SELECTION. THERE’S A REASON WHY K-BEAUTY 

PRODUCTS STAY ON AND WHY MORE K-BEAUTY BRANDS CONTINUE TO ENTER THE 

MALAYSIAN BEAUTY INDUSTRY. 

Text SONIA CHANG • Photos ADOBE STOCK 

Korean beauty products are known for their vast 

choices of selection that allow buyers to choose 

according to what attracts them and what they 

are looking for. 

Moreover, Korean brands do not solely focus on 

their wide array of cosmetics but also their skincare 

products targeting different skin types and their 

needs. Although many Korean brands are owned by 

huge conglomerates such as Amore Pacific, the price, 

quality, branding and packaging varies and ranges 

from low to high-end. Consumers can purchase the 

brands according to their purchasing power and needs. 

I believe the different price point for each brand exist 

because of its history. After all, products are very 

subjective according to individuals and what suits. 

Some K-brands you can easily spot in numerous 

malls are Sulwhasoo, Laneige and Innisfree. 

Sulwhasoo is known for its luxurious ginseng 

that is infused in their signature products and it is 

a heritage brand that represents Korea. The overall 

impression of the brand exhibits the traditional 

Korean culture and it is not surprising why gifting 

Sulwhasoo products to honourable guests, signifies a 

piece of what Korea is known for. Sulwhasoo is widely 

known internationally and many have raved about 

its quality and results. However, there is no doubt 

that the price range is on the higher side ranging 

from RM100 and above. I personally enjoy a couple 

of products from this brand such as their make-up 

balancer, hydro-aid moisturizing soothing cream, first 

care activating serum EX, first care activating serum 

mist and concentrated ginseng renewing cream. You 

can trust that their signature products are of its finest 

quality and promising results due to intensive research 

conducted and the products that remain steadfast 

even after 50 years, with added improvements. 

When it comes to middle range products that 

works and do not burn a hole in your purse or wallet, 

Laneige is the one to go to. They have products 

that cater for young skin all the way up to mature 

skin making sure their quality is on par. The one 

product that Laneige is known for is none other 

than their sleeping mask. Their stores and products 

are conveniently found globally and due to its 

accessibility, many are aware of the brand that also 

carries positive feedback. Moreover, many well-known 

celebrities endorse and promote their products. Their 

price range starts from RM70 onwards. 

Eco-friendly and Jeju originated ingredients are 

what makes Innisfree the brand it is. Many customers 

enjoy the array of selection that Innisfree have to 

offer. From their famous green tea range collection to 

their custom palette or cushion counter and a spread 

of their facial sheet masks for buyers to choose from 

depending on different needs and expected texture. 

Spoiled with choices along with the more affordable 

price point, meant that a larger crowd of people have 

the freedom to buy what suits and are attracted to. 

Price range starts from RM10 onwards. 

All in all, beauty products are very subjective 

according to individual preferences, what they are 

looking for and what works. Budget is another factor 


SHOP 

“It is best to 

discover and 

explore the 

wide selection 

available and find 

the best option.” 

to consider when it comes to choosing the products. 

I personally enjoy and notice results with Sulwhasoo 

as I grow older whereas others may find Laneige or 

Innisfree equally effective. Therefore, it is best to 

discover and explore the wide selection available and 

find the best option. K-beauty products are known to 

be generous with their samples so there is no harm 

asking if they could provide you some for you to try 

them out. 

Besides purchasing in stores, you can also look 

out for websites that carry a wide array of brands 

such as Hermo and Althea. 

SHEET MASKS 

Sheet masks have become part of a lifestyle for 

both men and women and it is known to be the key 

aspect to improved skin quality and texture. The 

concentrated serum or essence that is infused in 

sheet masks helps to combat dryness, acne, pores, 

dullness, to name a few depending on what it is made 

for. Celebrities are known to depend on these facial 

sheet masks that contribute to their glowing skin 

especially amongst the Asian market. Some have 

even gone to the extreme of masking 2-3 times a day 

because it claims to have good results for the skin. 

Additionally, prepping the canvas for make-up to stay 

and cling on better. There are countless masks and 

brands to choose from and they all have different 

feeling and finishes. Some stores you can look out for 

are SASA, Watsons, Guardian and other stores that 

carry multiple K-beauty brands. 

TRAVELLING ESSENTIALS 

What are some travelling essentials to bring with 

you? I would like to share some of my travel tips 

because you never know when you need them! 

SUNSCREEN – Very crucial to protect the skin from 

UV rays that will bring harm to the skin in the long 

run especially you spend most of the time outdoor 

when travelling. Best is to apply ones with SPF 50 

PA+++ for peace of mind protection. Do reapply 

because sunscreen may wear out during the day 

hence sunscreen spray is a good alternative with 

less hassle. 

MAKE-UP WIPES & WET WIPES – A convenient way to 

wipe excess dirt before washing. Additionally, when 

there is no water supply this will come in handy to 

freshen up temporarily. 

SHEET MASKS – Good way to wind down after a long 

day just before sleep and waking up to well rested, 

smooth and glowing skin. Do pack ones according to 

the destination and environment you will be in. 

TRAVELLING SIZE TOILETRIES – Less bulky and less 

heavy. Makes a difference if it’s a shopping trip. 

Samples from your trusted brands are a good way 

to try something new and you can dispose them 

whenever it is empty. 

FACIAL MIST – Not only does it hydrate but also 

helps cool down the skin in the heat and a perfect 

way to freshen up too. 

MULTI-PURPOSE BALM OR OINTMENT – To treat dry, 

flaky skin, itchiness and bites. Great way to use as a 

lip balm too if you forget to bring one or misplace it. 

PROBIOTICS, VITAMIN C & PANADOL – Falling sick 

during a trip is definitely not fun at all but having 

these could help relieve some discomfort. Moreover, 

it prevents you from falling sick from the lack of 

sleep and over-indulging. 


ADVERTORIAL 

A SIGHT 

TO BEHOLD 

Travelling does take a toll on you so don’t blame the 

world dull just because you couldn’t see correctly. 

After all, we need our eyes to see in order to 

feel it in our hearts. Here, Dr Chong Kheng Yaw, 

ophthalmology specialist from Pantai Hospital Cheras 

shares 7 basic eye care steps for healthier, clearer vision. 

SHOP FOR EYE DROPS 

Use eye drops or tear drops during long flights in 

airplane to prevent dry eyes. It is advisable for contact 

lens users to use it at all time and make sure it is 

preservative free for long-term eye drops user. 

CLEANSE YOUR LENS 

For people who wear contact lenses, reduce the chance 

of eye fatigue and infection by using daily disposable 

lenses when you travel to maximize cleanliness for 

your eyes. 

SHIELD AGAINST THE SUN 

Before you work on that tan, always protect your eyes 

from with the right type of sunglasses to protect it from 

direct UV rays. 

EXERCISE YOUR EYES 

You don’t have to go to the gym for this. Practice the 20- 

20-20 rule for people who are often fixated on computer 

or phone screen to avoid Computer Vision Syndrome. 

For every 20 minutes, blink 20 times looking at 

something 20 feet away regularly to improve your vision. 

REAP WHAT YOU EAT 

Travel foods can be tempting but remember to eat 

colourful vegetables when you can. 

URBAN EYE ALLERGY SYNDROME 

Frequent itching, redness, swollen eyes or eyelids might 

be symptoms of ocular allergy for people living in cities 

caused by air pollutants. Therefore, everyone should 

consult an eye doctor for tests for at least once in their 

lifetime. 

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP 

Many forget that the overall body health is equivalent 

to eyes health. Make sure you get a good rest 

while you travel. Also, getting enough sleep 

can prevent possible eye infection. 

Dr Chong Kheng Yaw 

Opthalmologist 

M.B.S.S (J.N.M.C), MS 

Ophthalmology (U.M.) 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY 

1, Jalan 1/96A, Taman Cheras Makmur, 56100 Kuala Lumpur 

03-9145 2888 | www.pantai.com.my/cheras

TRAVEL 

TRAVELLING ABROAD 

FOR CONCERTS 

CATCH YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS LIVE EVEN IF IT IS IN OUTSIDE YOUR 

COUNTRY BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT GO TO LENGTHS TO CATCH 

THEIR MUSICAL IDOLS ON STAGE. AISHAH AZALI INTERVIEWED TWO LADIES 

WHO HAVE FREQUENTLY TRAVELLED ABROAD FOR CONCERTS TO GET SOME 

TIPS ON HOW THEY MANAGED IT WHILE HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES. 

Text AISHAH AZALI • Photos JESSY WONG & ADOBE STOCK 

Experiencing a concert, festival or anything 

remotely musical in a live setting is exhilarating 

as it comes especially if it is an artist or genre 

of your liking. Recent years has seen the surge of 

international artists and festivals visiting Asia to the 

delight of music lovers of the region. Artists like Katy 

Perry, Coldplay and Bruno Mars have dropped by 

with their world tours that brought along extravagant 

sets and costumes. 

Not only concerts, festivals that span a couple of 

days give the option of seeing multiple entertainers 

with popular ones like Clockenflop in Hong Kong, 

Laneway Festival in Singapore and Good Vibes in 

Kuala Lumpur giving a stage for sought-after and 

even up-and-coming musicians to showcase their art. 

But let’s face it; if you are a music enthusiast that 

lives in Malaysia, chances are you have noticed that 

many big-name performers have skipped our shores 

to perform in neighbouring countries like Singapore 

and Indonesia. Pressure from religious groups, 

tight regulations, lack of sponsorship or not a big 

enough fan base are just a few of the problems that 

arise when promoters attempt to organise an event 

here. This is evident in the fact that superstars like 

Coldplay, Britney Spears and the latest, Celine Dion 

have chosen to perform elsewhere. 

That has not stopped some concert goers from 

seeing their idols live as the ease of purchasing 

tickets, accessibility to travelling and the rise of 

packaged concert travel sites has made travelling for 

music not impossible. 

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC 

When you have an eclectic taste in music, chances 

are the local fan base is small therefore not creating 

enough buzz for the artist to perform in Malaysia. 

That is the usual case for account manager and 

music lover Tricia Lim, whose more alternative 


TRAVEL 

taste has taken her across the world to see her favourite 

bands. She has gone beyond Asia, experiencing singers 

like Amanda Palmer in Australia and The Wombats in 

Prague. 

“I started in the US with the band The Hush Sound 

and William Becketts about 6 years ago,” she explained, 

already citing her interest for musicians that are not 

necessarily commercially popular on the radio or even 

heard of on this side of the world. 

This was the same instance when I interviewed 

analyst Zhi Hui who have an admiration towards 

Japanese bands or J-Pop. After missing a concert once 

by Japanese rock band One OK Rock, she jumped on 

the chance when they decided to perform in Singapore. 

With proper planning and a set budget, she made her 

dreams come true and got to finally see them live. Her 

latest jaunt took her to Sarawak to catch the Rainforest 

Festival with her mother. 

“It was scary at first but you learn and adapt,” 

she said, recalling an incident where she was stuck at 

immigration while attempting to enter Singapore by bus. 

TRAVEL TIPS FOR CONCERT TRAVELLING 

TICKETS FIRST - Tickets can sold out in a blink of 

an eye so before you purchase any flights or hotels, 

secure your ticket first. Another tip is to buy the 

tickets from reputable places. Tricia and Zhi Hui 

would usually buy from the artist’s own website or 

third-party sites that were promoted by the artist 

itself through their social media platforms. 

VENUE PROXIMITY - For easy accessibility and 

timeliness of arrival to your concert venue, best 

get an accommodation that is close to the public 

transport. In countries like Singapore or Japan, 

the train system is vast and efficient. Utilise the 

trains and bus systems to the extent and also take 

the opportunity to explore the livelier parts of the 

city. But for cities like Jakarta that are notorious 

for their traffic jams, it is wiser to find a place 

closer to the venue. 

SAFETY FIRST - If you are travelling alone and 

especially if you are a female, try to stick to busier 

neighbourhoods where there is more traffic of 

people. You will be closer to eateries, malls and 

convenience stores making it more accessible for 

you if you need a midnight snack. Give all-female 

boarding a try like what many capsule hotels are 

doing, providing all female dorms. 

THE RISE OF PACKAGED DEALS 

Though people like Tricia and Zhi Hui prefer to 

buy their concert tickets, flight accommodation 

and hotel themselves, there has been a rise in 

websites that offer the ultimate musical travel 

experience that is already packaged for your 

convenience. 

RECOMMENDED TRAVEL SITES 

GIGLIFEASIA 

Purchase concert tickets with added hotel 

accommodation in the deal, as offered by 

GigLifeAsia. You can even choose your package 

based on your hotel budget as GigLifeAsia 

offers a luxury, boutique and budget options. 

Some even offer complimentary transport to the 

venue! They feature events all across Asia from 

Singapore all the way up north to Japan and the 

Philippines. 

www.giglifeasia.com 

EVENT TRAVEL 

For a musical adventure in England, this website 

offers packaged deals that sometimes include 

meet and greet passes to see your favourite 

stars up close. The deals are curated for concerts 

by big name artists like Bruno Mars, Paul 

McCartney and Michael Buble. This has more of 

a VIP experience if you purchase through them; 

as many additional perks like access to food and 

the bar before the concert are available. 

www.eventtravel.com 


THE FACE OFF 

FACE OFF: 

SATAY VS YAKITORI 

TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT CULTURES YET THEY SHARE 

A SIMILAR COMFORT FOOD IN STICKS OF SUCCULENT 

BARBEQUED MEATS TO BE SAVOURED OVER A COOL LONG 

DRINK–THE SATAY AND JAPANESE YAKITORI. 

Text and photos TAN JO HANN 

SATAY 

ORIGINS 

Malaysia’s favourite comfort food- ‘Satay’ or 

BBQ meat (chicken, beef, goat or mutton, 

pork and animal entrails) on bamboo 

skewers eaten with a spicy sweet crushed 

peanut chili gravy. Satay is believed to have 

its origins in Java and Sumatra Islands in 

Indonesia. Some say its birthplace could 

possibly be traced back to China, India or 

the Middle East. But since then it has made 

its way to the dining tables of Malaysia, 

Singapore, Brunei and Thailand. 

INGREDIENTS 

The Satay meat is usually marinated with 

sugar, sweet soy sauce and spices such as 

coriander seeds and cumin. Some cooks 

add a touch of tamarind juice to balance 

the sweetness, but turmeric is almost 

always the main ingredient to give Satay its 

distinctive sweet spicy aroma and saffron 

like colour to the roasted meats. The 

peanut gravy consists of ground roasted 

peanuts, coconut milk, soy sauce, tamarind, 

galangal, chili peppers, sugar, garlic, scented 

with different herbs and spices (such as 

coriander seed, cumin and lemongrass). 

VARIATIONS 

Over the years, the original recipes of 

chicken, beef, mutton and chicken entrails 

have evolved to include an array of 

ingredients such as rabbit meat, fish, prawn 

and other seafood. But what has remained 

unchanged is Satay’s signature smoky chargrilled 

taste and caramelised aroma, and of 

course the accompanying delicious crushed 

peanut-chili gravy. A typical companion of 

Satay is also the ketupat, or packs of slow 

steamed rice dumplings wrapped in woven 

palm leaves. 


THE FACE OFF 

INGREDIENTS 

Yakitori is usually grilled over charcoal fire 

in Habachi stoves. Typical of the clean and 

clear taste of Japanese cuisine, Yakitori 

style cooking rarely requires marinating 

the ingredients before grilling. However, 

a dash of salt, pepper or a splash of tareh 

Yakitori sauce on the sticks of meats before 

grilling magically elevates its taste and 

aroma to a different level. Tareh is made of 

soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. 

POPULARITY 

Satay is sold at many street corners or 

coffee shops but also found in the menu 

of high end restaurants offering local 

cuisines. Many Malaysians and also 

travellers are most probably familiar 

with the highly popular Kajang Satay, 

which got its namesake from Kajang 

town in Malaysia’s Selangor state. But 

food adventurers and Satay enthusiasts 

wanting to deviate from the ‘beaten 

track’ could also explore different 

versions of this delicious dish. One 

example is Stall No. 16, Medan Satay 

which serves exceptionally juicy and 

reasonably priced Satay (RM0.90 per 

stick) in the Medan Selera local food 

court in Section 14, Petaling Jaya City. 

YAKITORI 

ORIGINS 

‘Yakitori’ is one of the most popular 

comfort food for most Japanese after ramen 

and o-sushi. The Yakitori style of cooking 

was discovered more than 200 years ago in 

Japan. Back then, there were poor farmers 

who could only afford to eat leftover odd 

chicken parts. They found that grilling 

tough pieces of skewered chicken parts 

over a low flame and long cooking time had 

made it tender. Yaki literally means to grill 

or barbeque, and tori means bird. Today, the 

term Yakitori is also used in reference to 

grilling other types of skewered meats such 

as pork, beef and mutton, and even seafood 

and vegetables. 

VARIATIONS 

More ‘adventurous’ versions of the typical 

Yakitori skewers of meats and vegetables 

include the gyutan (ox tongue), shiro 

(chicken small intestines), reba (chicken 

liver), nongkatsu (chicken cartilage) and 

bonjiri (chicken butt). Some deviations 

from the classical Yakitori menu include 

shiitake mushrooms, ginko nuts, and 

different combinations of rolled bacon 

and cuts of meat or fish roe, shrimps, 

and different types of vegetables. Most 

importantly, they actually pair very well 

with cold beer, Japanese sake or shochu. 

POPULARITY 

Yakitori is basically a go-to comfort food 

which is available in many Japanese street 

corners, most izakayas (Japanese pubs 

or bistro) and even in high-end Japanese 

restaurants. Yakitori is most popular 

among families, foreign visitors and 

especially ‘salarymen’ (Japanese office 

workers) who enjoy eating these tasty 

sticks of meat with glasses of cold frosty 

beer and other alcoholic beverages. In 

Kuala Lumpur, a popular Yakitori place 

and watering hole is SUMIKA (in Japanese 

literally meaning ‘charcoal house’), tucked 

in a commercial area in SS15 Subang Jaya. 

It offers a variety of tasty and medium to 

high price Yakitori delights ranging from 

RM6-15 per stick. 


FYI 

DISASTER PROOF 

EVERYONE LIKES HAVING A NICE STORY TO TELL WHEN THEY 

COME BACK FROM VACATION. HOWEVER, TRIPS AWAY FROM 

HOME DON’T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED WHICH CAN CAUSE 

MEMORIES OF THAT HOLIDAY TO BE TAINTED. UNDER SUCH 

CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE ARE MORE ISSUES TO BE WORRIED 

ABOUT THAN JUST RUINED MEMORIES. DISASTERS AND 

CRISIS OUT OF OUR CONTROL CAN OCCUR DURING TRAVELS 

AND SUCH SITUATIONS NEED TO BE HANDLED WITH CARE. 

Text YY CHEN 

BE PREPARED: 

PACK IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS! 

In a waterproof bag, keep your travel documents (passport 

and cash), credit cards, printout of information for the contact 

of hotel, travel agent and embassy and your personal medical 

report. Try to carry an extra phone battery or power bank 

as well. During an emergency, this bag can be carried along 

easily. Make a copy of these documents and keep it in another 

luggage in case the document pack goes missing. 

EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMI 

If you’re travelling to places that are prone to common natural 

disasters like the above, you must: 

Research and find the safest travel period. 

Ensure that your travel insurance covers air flight, hotel and 

medical evacuation. 

What to do in the event of a natural disaster: 

Go to designated safe area in the hotel or go to a corner in your 

room and huddle with hands or a pillow braced over your head. 

If trapped, don’t light a match as there may be gas leakage or 

trapped pressure. This may cause an explosion. Cover mouth 

and nose from dust. 

If building is not damaged, grab your document pack and walk 

quickly to an open area and listen for warning alarms and 

natural warnings too (a tsunami sounds like the roaring noise 

of a fast train). 

If you’re near a beach and suddenly notice people running away 

from the beach, follow suit and head to any concrete buildings 

and get to the second floor. 

Arrange to leave the area as soon as possible. 

Text your family or use social media to communicate that you 

are alright. 


F YI 

POLITICAL UNREST 

In some countries, especially the Middle 

East, it is very possible for unrest to break 

out unexpectedly. If this happens: 

Do not get involved. Stay out of any 

rally or riot areas. 

Do not try to approach, as you may get 

injured. 

Contact your embassy as they may 

have plans to evacuate their nationals. 

Contact the airline to change your 

ticket for the earliest flight out. 

Before you leave for your vacation, 

ensure your insurance covers the 

expenses of emergency travels for 

safety’s sake. 

GETTING MUGGED & LOSING BELONGINGS 

One of the biggest vacation spoilers of all time. If you 

lose any important travel documents, do: 

Go back to your hotel and fetch your duplicate set 

of documents before making a police report. 

Go to your embassy as they can help you with 

cancelling credit cards and getting replacement 

cards sent to you. Arrange for some cash and a 

flight ticket home. 

The embassy should be able to arrange for a 

temporary travel document to get you home. 

Contact your insurance company to clarify your 

scope of coverage. 

GETTING INJURED OR 

INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT 

Being abroad and in pain really sucks! 

As soon as you have received medical 

attention, do: 

Call your embassy to seek help for 

options of medical facilities. 

Contact your family or designate 

someone to make decisions on 

your behalf. 

Contact your insurance company 

who may be able to advice on 

specific medical facilities and 

arrange for transfer back to your 

home country. 


TRAVEL 

Road Less Travelled is a collaboration with AirAsiaGo. 

Check out airasiago.com.my for flight & hotel deals! 

ROAD LESS TRAVELLED 

BACOLOD, 

PHILIPPINES 

LOCATED IN THE WESTERN VISAYAS OF 

PHILIPPINES, BACOLOD IS A HIGHLY URBANISED 

CITY IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PROVINCE AND IS 

WIDELY LOVED FOR THEIR FOOD, SMILES AND 

THE ANNUAL MASSKARA FESTIVAL. 

Text JESSY WONG Photos ADOBE STOCK & AIRASIAGO 

GOOD 

to 

KNOW 

HOW TO GET THERE 

There are no international flights to the province. Fly 

with local airlines from main cities like Manila, Cebu, 

Davao and Clark to Bacolod-Silay Airport. From the 

airport, there are easy access of shuttle services, 

jeepney and taxi to Bacolod city center. 

WHAT TO DO 

Attractions in Bacolod mainly carries historical 

and cultural significance for the locals. Built in 

19th century, San Sebastian Cathedral is a worthy 

stop for one to appreciate its Baroque architecture 

while The Ruins is an Italian mansion built as a 

love remembrance for a departed wife. You may also 

consider a nature retreat at Seven Falls of Mount 

Kanlaon. Enter the trek through Mambukal Resort 

and experience the waterfall trail. 

Starting in early October, various events for the 

MassKara Festival will be held across the city center. 

MassKara Festival is considered as a major event in 

Bacolod. The highlight of the ‘Mardi Gras’ festivity is 

the street dance competitions set on 27-28 October 

this year. 

32 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM 

WHERE TO STAY 

Memory Lane by Esperanza Cafe is a 3-star bed 

and breakfast stay located in town. It has airport 

shuttles, cafe and 24/7 front desk for convenience. 

The warm abode only has two guestrooms so do 

make your reservations early via AirAsiaGo. 

WHERE TO EAT 

The city is one of the major food heaven in the 

country so taste authentic Bacolod cuisines like 

the chicken inasal (Filipino BBQ chicken) and 

cansi (boiled bone in beef shanks). Manokan 

Country is a local eatery famous for their chicken 

inasal while Sharyn’s Cansi House serves the 

best cansi in the area. 

Ilonggo language 

is spoken in 

Bacolod but 

English is widely 

understood too. 

MassKara 

Festival is 

introduced as a 

‘festival of smile’ 

in 1980 during a 

moment of crisis 

in Philippines in 

hopes of lifting 

the spirit of their 

people.

TRAVEL 

2 

1 

3 

THE GAME 

PLAN IN 

BUKIT JALIL 

THIS SUBURBAN AREA OF KUALA LUMPUR HAS 

LONG BEEN REGARDED UNDER THE RADAR; 

BESIDES THE POPULARLY KNOWN PRESENCE 

OF THE COUNTRY’S NATIONAL STADIUM, BUKIT 

JALIL IS ALL SET TO STRIKE WITH WONDER. 

Text JESSY WONG • Photos MALAYSIA STADIUM 

CORPORATION, TECHNOLOGY PARK MALAYSIA & MONSPACE 

Bukit Jalil and the National Sports 

Complex are identically recognised for 

one another. Ever since the national 

stadium unveiled in 1998, Bukit Jalil has been 

the nation’s hub of international sports and 

entertainment for a decade. 

The busy town today is unrecognised 

for its past calling as a rubber plantation 

estate in Klang Valley. The historical 16th 

Commonwealth Games makes a sweeping 

change to Bukit Jalil, as Malaysians were 

selected to host the first Commonwealth 

Games in Asia. 

With 69 participating nations at that time, 

apartments and a stadium are developed in 

Bukit Jalil for the 1998 Commonwealth Games. 

The surrounding residences built are intended 

for officials and athletes of the games. But after 

the event has ended, the apartments are sold to 

the public and it became a suburban area. 

GOOD 

to 

KNOW 

A scene in the 

box-office film, 

Entrapment, 

starring Sean 

Connery and 

Catherine Zeta- 

Jones was filmed 

in the Bukit Jalil 

LRT station in 

1998. However, 

the signage of this 

station is replaced 

with Pudu LRT 

station to fit into 

their plotline in the 

movie. 


TRAVEL 

Since then, Malaysians beam with glory of Bukit 

Jalil National Stadium, being the largest in Southeast 

Asia and is ranked 6th largest football stadium in 

the world to date. Other than international sports 

matches, the stadium has been a platform for music 

concerts and worldwide premier of the Lee Chong 

Wei movie. 

A THRIVING COURSE 

Bukit Jalil is also 

home to Technology 

Park Malaysia. The 

science park is a 

part of Multimedia 

Super Corridor 

(MSC) program 

initiated in 1996 to 

transform Malaysia 

into a modern state 

by 2020. The ground 

is opened for visitors 

but entrances to 

the facilities are 

restricted for staff 

and registered 

member only. 

Another worth-noting is the Bukit Jalil 

Recreational Park. Unlike any other park, this is 

regarded as one of the top destination for wedding 

photoshoots in Malaysia. Bukit Jalil Recreational Park 

spans 80 acres of land and has a diverse landscaping 

garden themes that attracts joggers, family recreation 

and picnic in the evening. 

Regular business travellers to Malaysia would 

frequent Klang Valley’s hottest country club, Bukit 

Jalil Golf and Country Resort. The elite country 

club enlivens Bukit Jalil with its signature 18-hole 

golf course in vast terrains and other activities 

suited for an entire family from landscaped pools, 

game room, driving range and sauna. 

From there, Bukit Jalil is slowly developing 

into a city. The upcoming opening of Pavilion 

Bukit Jalil in the area is set to be the largest retail 

outlet in south of Kuala Lumpur. A trip to Bukit 

Jalil will no longer 

entirely be for sports 

“The busy 

town today is 

unrecognised for 

its past calling 

as a rubber 

plantation estate.” 

and recreation but 

a high-end retail 

experience. While 

the elite mall is a 

wonderful addition 

to the area, across 

the street, The Earth 

sets the foundation 

for nightlife and 

commercialism. 

Locals crowd at 

various eateries like 

Njoy Planet Cafe, 

Monspize Cafe and 

Fatmama Steamboat 

day in day out. 

One may get to Bukit Jalil via Light Rail 

Transit (LRT) station in the Sri Petaling Line or 

drive there easily via multiple direct expressway 

links. With many more forthcoming developments 

and accessibility in Bukit Jalil, it is foreseen that 

the suburban area will become the second Kuala 

Lumpur. A slow change of scenery to an urban 

neighbourhood filled with skylines. 

4 

1 Technology Park Malaysia 2 The Earth @ Bukit Jalil 3 Bukit Jalil National Stadium 4 Diners enjoying hotpot at Fatmama Steamboat 


NEWS 

ON THE RADAR 

GET UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST HAPPENINGS ON 

TRAVEL, HOTEL OPENINGS, FOOD OFFERS AND 

TRENDING FASHION AROUND SOUTH EAST ASIA 

MISS COSMOPOLITAN WORLD 2018 

Malaysia’s homegrown international beauty 

pageant is returning for their 4th installment this 

year with a bigger and grander set-up, graced by a 

string of accomplished participants worldwide. The 

pageant will be promoting ‘Malaysia Tourism’ and 

‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ to the world while supporting 

Pink October in the event. The Gala Night of Miss 

Cosmopolitan World will be held on 19 October at 

One World Hotel, Bandar Utama. 

www.misscosmopolitanworld.com 

ICE MASK ON FLIGHT 

Dry cabin air can make your skin dehydrated 

and inactivity in long flights induces water 

retention that leads to face puffiness. 

Keep your skin hydrated at all time with 

Replenishment Ice Mask to brighten your 

complexion, reduces puffiness and smooth 

the skin from the pressurised cabin air. 

Exclusively available in vending machine 

copies at level 3, gateway@klia2 

BOUTIQUE HOTEL BLOOMS 

WITH LOCAL DESIGNERS 

The Canvas Hotel made its debut 

with top-notch facilities and design in 

the brilliance of comfort. Situated in 

Klang, the hotel fused the touches of 

local artists with painting collection 

from Wong Chee Meng, Nokta the 

local furniture brand, lights from 

Stephanie Ng and hand-painted 

patterns by Nala Designs in branding 

itself in the royal city. 

Jalan Batu Nilam 16, Bandar Bukit 

Tinggi 2, Klang, Selangor 

+603 3385 2355 

DESERT, OASIS AND 

ENDLESS ODYSSEY 

Ningxia, the lesser-known gem, is put on 

the pedestal recently through ‘Beautiful 

China, Amazing Ningxia’ tourism event 

in Kuala Lumpur. Located in northwest 

China, Ningxia has a long history and 

culture beyond the Great Wall with 

breathtaking scenic landscapes of 

mountains, desert, river and values locally 

made Chinese wolfberry and fine wines. 

www.nxtour.com.cn

GOASIAPLUS October 2018

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