AUG 2019 | ISSUE 39

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

Rise of

Sustainable Fashion

NORTHBOUND TO KEDAH

ALL ABOUT SATAY

---

CONTENTS

18

4 ON THE RADAR

6 OUT & ABOUT

8 TRAVEL

Spotted in Asia:

Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

10 FYI

Secure Your Smartphone Abroad

11 SHOP

Fashion with a Heart

14 TRAVEL

Balik Pulau, Penang

16 BUCKET LIST

London is in Town

18 TRAVEL

The Northern Muses of Kedah

22 TALES ON TRACK

Caution on Apples

24 FOOD FOR TALK

Grilling Malaysian Flavours

14

16

PICK-UP POINTS

Read our magazine exclusively in Aerobus airport shuttles or bring home a copy of GOASIAPLUS with

you at these pick-up points below:

GATEWAY@KLIA2

AIRPORT SHOPPING MALL

KLIA EKSPRES

KL SENTRAL

KLIA

INFORMATION COUNTER AT

DEPARTURE MAIN TERMINAL

& SATELLITE BUILDING

KLIA2

INFORMATION COUNTER,

SATELLITE BUILDING &

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVAL

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM · 1

---

EDITOR’S NOTE

It is a unanimous understanding that we are only 100%

responsible for climate change and the toxic environment we

are living in today. Each of our lifestyle decisions today can

make a huge difference for tomorrow.

Hope is not gone. Recycle, upcycle, you name it, you do it in

style. See page 12 on the growing sustainable fashion industry

in Southeast Asia and how it becomes the new in-demand–for

making the world a better place and keeping your style in check.

In high-spirits of nationalism, we showcase only the best of

Malaysia in this issue from a long trip in Kedah–where to hike and

go oyster farming–to Balik Pulau in Penang for this durian season.

There’s also some serious satay talk (page 24) in our pages.

As an avid traveller, I definitely can’t live without my passport

and–wait for it–smartphone. Personally, I regard it as one of the

most important things to have after oxygen when I’m travelling

at this age and time. The agony of losing one’s smartphone

when travelling abroad is unfathomable so we shared a few ways

to secure your information when you’re spending the August

holidays on the road (page 10).

Happy Independence Day to all Malaysians!

John So

Publisher

COVER BY

SAYANG

EDITORIAL TEAM

GROUP HEAD & BRANDS

JOHN SO

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

JAMIE SOO-HOO

SENIOR WRITER

JESSY WONG

PHOTOGRAPHER

RICK CHEAH

CONTRIBUTORS

FRANCIS YIP, NG SHEN LEE,

REBECCA PH LEE & KYO HOOI

DIGITAL TEAM

WEB CONTENT

JESSY WONG

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES

EDITORIAL@PCOMASIA.COM

COMMERCIAL & PARTNERSHIP

JOHN SO

JOHNSO@PCOMASIA.COM

PUBLISHED BY

PUBLISHCOM ASIA SDN. BHD.

NO. 83–1, JALAN MEDANG SERAI, BUKIT BANDARAYA,

59100 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA.

+603–20118983 WWW.PCOMASIA.COM

PRINTED BY

PERCETAKAN TURBO SDN BHD

NO. 8, JALAN SEKINCAN 26/9,

SEKSYEN 26, SHAH ALAM 40000, MALAYSIA

FOLLOW US ON

@goasiaplus

The views expressed in the articles published are not

necessarily those of Publishcom Asia Sdn Bhd (963236–P).

While every reasonable care is taken in compiling the

magazine, the publisher shall not be held liable for any

omission, error or inaccuracy. Please notify the publisher in

writing of any such omission, error or inaccuracy. Editorial

contributions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are

submitted at the sender’s risk. The publisher cannot accept

any responsibility for loss or damage. All rights reserved

by Publishcom Asia Sdn Bhd (963236–P). No part of this

publication may be reproduced in any form without the

publisher’s permission in writing.

KDN PP 19019/05/2016 (034482)

2 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

NEWS

ON THE RADAR

GET UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST HAPPENINGS ON

TRAVEL, HOTEL OPENINGS, FOOD OFFERS AND

TRENDING FASHION AROUND SOUTHEAST ASIA

THE BEE REINVENTED

Known to host indie music and concerts at the

social venue, The Bee’s upgrade in floor space

is welcoming more genres to their megadeck

stage from pop, techno to punk rock. The bar

introduces new locally-inspired drinks like

“Grown-Up Cincau” and The Bee’s kitchen will

now be open for breakfast and bringing back

lunch, happy hour and dinner.

The Bee, Level G2, Publika,

Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur

www.thebee.com.my

CANON 2-IN-1

CAMERA PRINTER

The new iNSPiC [S] series

by Canon double the fun

of capturing photos while

travelling. The compact and

ultra-portable camera has a

built-in printer for instant

printing, fill light for the perfect

mirror selfie and bluetooth

pairing to smartphone to

personalise images.

The instant printing on

ZINK technology is smudgeproof

and the ZINK ink-paper

also has a sticky back for onthe-go

journal keeping. Connect

to the Canon Mini Print app

to personalise the photos with

doodles, filters, photo frames

and edits before printing from

your smartphone.

my.canon

RAGE TO BE DIFFERENT

The new retail and foodie platform in

Bangsar can feed your cravings and caffeine

fix–but in a totally unconventional way.

Forget queuing at the counter, one order

refreshments through smartphone app in

RAGE. Besides finding a newfound love in

their localised coffee and beverages, take a

turn to RAGE in their boxing room and ping

pong table.

RAGE Bangsar, Menara UOA Bangsar,

LGF-3A, 5, Jalan Bangsar Utama 1,

Kuala Lumpur

drinkrage.com

4 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

EVENTS

OUT & ABOUT

LOOK OUT FOR THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENTS OF

THE MONTH IN MALAYSIA AND BEYOND

THE TWENTY TOUR

8 - 9 AUG

Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan are returning to

Malaysia for the first time after their much-awaited reunion. This tour

will also be in celebration of Westlife’s 20 th anniversary since their debut

in 1998 and fans can sing-along to nostalgic hits like “My Love”, “If I Let

You Go” and “Uptown Girl”.

Malawati Indoor Stadium, Shah Alam, Malaysia

www.ticket2u.com.my

WALKING WITH

DINOSAURS - THE

LIVE EXPERIENCE

23 - 25 AUG

Based on the awardwinning

BBC Television

series, this live arena

experience will keep

everyone on their toes

as the extinct dinosaurs

came back to life in this

extravagant $20 million

production. The biggest

and best dinosaur show

in the world would be

featuring 18 life-sized

pre-historic creatures in

the arena.

Axiata Arena,

Bukit Jalil,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

www.myticket.asia

TREVOR NOAH LOUD

& CLEAR TOUR 2019

19 AUG

Known as the host of an award-winning program “The Daily Show”,

Trevor Noah roots actually lies in stand-up comedy. Trevor’s intelligent

commentary, sharp wit and charismatic charm shine beyond the TV screen

in the US to sold out arenas around the world, making him one of the most

accomplished comedians in the word.

The Star Theatre, Singapore

www.sistic.com.sg

TWICE WORLD TOUR 2019

17 AUG

First rose to fame in 2016, the nine-member girl

group has won the hearts of many with popular hits

like “Cheer Up”, “TT”, “Likey” and “Yes or Yes”

topping music charts and high sales record with every

release. As one of South Korea’s biggest group artists,

TWICE’s worldwide fans are known as “Once”.

Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

www.ticket2u.com.my

SUNNY SIDE UP TROPICAL FESTIVAL

24 AUG

Against the backdrop of the beautiful island of

Bali, the 6 th edition of the tropical music and

culture festival returns with multiple international

headliners among many other cutting-edge artists

and DJs from various genres. Grammy Awardwinning

producer, Flume, will be performing live

at the beachfront festival along with London-based

singer Grace Carter.

Manarai Beach House, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

www.sunnysideupfest.com

6 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

TRAVEL

SPOTTED: ASIA IN FILMS

Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

Text NG SHEN LEE • Photo ADOBE STOCK

FUN

FACT

A slinky rooftop

lounge in Quarry

Bay is aptly

named Sugar–an

ode to the area’s

sugar refinery

background

perhaps?

Today, a bird’s eye view of Quarry Bay would

grant you a quintessential view of Hong Kong’s

Eastern District–an endless concrete jungle of

urban developments.

But Quarry Bay was at one point home to the

world’s largest sugar refinery, and stands as a symbol

of Hong Kong’s industrial past. Though sugar refining

in the region has long ceased, the bay has in recent

years garnered a sweet, sweet place on the itineraries

of tourists and filmmakers alike thanks to the

staggering beauty of a certain residential building.

That iconic building is the “Monster Building”–a

conglomeration of five public housing complexes

conjoined to form one behemoth structure.

When standing in the narrow inner courtyard, the

surrounding apartments seem to loom over the

viewer, with each densely-packed unit resembling a

piece within a vibrant checkerboard.

As seen in the 2014 “Transformers: Age of

Extinction”, the sheer size of the Monster Building

also makes for the ideal action movie scene! From

evil drones scurrying up the building’s exterior, to

protagonist Cade Yeager as played by Mark Walherg

falling through canopies with the antagonist on his

heels, a good portion of the final battle in the film

takes place in and around the building.

After all, there’s nothing Hollywood loves

more than manic chase scenes in packed everyday

Asian settings; and where else in Hong Kong oozes

“packed” as good as the Monster Building?

The building made another feature on the big

screens in 2017 too. This time in Rupert Sanders’

“Ghost in the Shell”. Through the magic of CGI,

the centre courtyard was transformed into a

dramatically gloomy battleground befitting its role

in a water fight scene.

More recently, the Monster Building’s

colourful facade has made it the subject of many

photographers and highly sought after by tourists

as a photo backdrop. While this may act positively

on the area’s tourism, one concern remains–the

building was never meant to be a tourist attraction

to begin with.

See, while the building may see flocks of

tourists snapping away, it’s also where locals eat

their dinners, hang their laundry, and go by their

everyday lives. Exasperated residents have taken

things into their own hands by hanging signs which

forbid photography, though if you were to visit the

building today, you probably won’t be the only one

still trying to get that perfect shot.

8 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

FYI

Secure Your Smartphone Abroad

PREPARE AHEAD TO PROTECT AND PREVENT ADDITIONAL

RISKS TO YOUR DEVICE WHEN YOU ARE OVERSEAS.

Text JESSY WONG • Illustration ADOBE STOCK

Smartphone is

essential to us as

though it is an

extension of ourselves.

Especially when we

travel, we count on

our phones to capture

the memories on road

and remember all our

important contact

information and private

personal details.

The consequences

of losing one’s phone or

facing data hack poses

a higher threat when

we are vacationing

in a foreign country

so here’s a summary

of security tips to go

by for your travelling

smartphone.

TURN ON FIND MY PHONE

Be sure to keep the “Find My Phone” feature

running so you can locate your lost phone’s

location with another device. Current Android and

iPhone have a built-in service in Phone Settings

and it needs to be manually turned on.

PASSWORD PROTECT YOUR DEVICE

The worst thing to do is not setting a password

to your phone. Once it is lost, people with illintentions

can take advantage of your phone

details and accounts that you are logged in.

Prevent information theft by securing it with

unique PIN or passcode.

WIRELESS NETWORK AND

PUBLIC WIFI

You are not the only one who is attracted to free

public wifi when you travel. Hackers can get

into your device through the unsecured network

and steal information like your passwords and

credit card details that you saved in your mobile

browser. Subscription-based networks are more

secure to use.

UPDATE YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM

Always keep your mobile operating system up-todate

when a new version is out. This is important

as the operating system often include revised

security bug fixes. Outdated operating system poses

higher vulnerability of exploitation in your phone’s

network security.

AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE YOUR APPS

Surely, you would enthusiatically share of your

travel highlights on social media so make sure all

apps are updated. Hackers can access your details

through apps that have bugs or security holes. It

is best to set your apps to automatic update and

delete any unused apps as it is most probably to be

out-of-date.

BACKUP PHONE DATA AND MEDIA

Save all your smartphone media and contacts

by backing it up in an online storage or home

computer before your trip. If anything bad should

happen to your phone when travelling, you can

recover your lost data and media with ease.

10 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

SHOP

Fashion with

a Heart

CHASING BEYOND LATEST TRENDS

TO SOMETHING MUCH GREATER,

THESE ETHICAL FASHION BRANDS

IN SOUTHEAST ASIA ARE HOPEFUL

TOWARDS A WHOLESOME BETTERMENT

THROUGH THEIR LOVE FOR FASHION.

Text JESSY WONG

Photos SAYANG, BIJI-BIJI ETHICAL FASHION,

ALIGN SWIM & SMATERIA

Move aside, fast fashion. Ethical

brands and greener productions

are expectantly to become the

front-runner of the fashion industry. Calling

out unfavourable practices in the mass

apparel trade, more creative fashion-slashsocial

enterprises are inspired in creating a

difference. Beginning from upcycling wastes,

use of organic material to the employment

of underprivileged folks, everyone can be in

vogue among the ethical fashion community.

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM · 11

---

SHOP

SAYANG

A Timeless Womanswear

Founded in Kuala Lumpur, SAYANG is brand

of passion that buds from the home of Dianna

Yong. As the Creative Director, she first

envisioned a fashion label that is committed

in only using natural fibres for the garments.

Then, working closely with beneficiaries and

underprivileged women, SAYANG presents a

timeless craftsmanship of love. The Spring/

Summer 2019 collection will be the brand’s

biggest collection to date with 14 new styles.

All made out of wood fibre, each design is

created for every woman’s summer dream. To

reduce post-consumer waste, their labels and

tags are even printed on soy ink!

@shopsayang

shopsayang.com

BIJI-BIJI ETHICAL FASHION

Classic Style Collection

As the pioneer of sustainable consumer trade

in Malaysia, Biji-biji Ethical Fashion creates an

alternative to fast fashion by directly reusing

and upcycling waste materials in their fashion

line. Popularly discarded materials such as seat

belts and advertising banners together with

underutilised fabrics like felt and vintage kimonos

are used to create the iconic Biji-biji custom

collection. Furthermore, the Biji-biji X Nakakoma

Orimono line will add a flair of brocade and

kimono pattern to your everyday bag. Most of their

items are also water-resistant as it is made from

seat belt and PVC banners.

@bijibijiethicalfashion

bijibijidesign.com

12 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

SHOP

ALIGN SWIM

Perfect Minimalist Swimwear

Singapore’s first sustainable swimwear label is all

the buzz when it first launched last year as the

figure-accentuating pieces are handcrafted to fit

every curve in their timeless cuts. Vera, founder

of Align Swim, find it a mission to introduce

good quality and nature-friendly swimwear at a

reasonable value. Made from an Italian fabric called

econyl, Align swimwear material offers excellent

UV protection and is more chlorine resistant. If you

don’t know, econyl is made from recycled materials

from landfills and the ocean. Down to their ecofriendly

packaging pouch, Align Swim goes through

a long process in producing the perfect swimwear

that aligns to our bodies and the environment.

@align.swim

alignswim.com

“A timeless

craftsmanship

of love.”

SMATERIA

Universal Lifestyle Trend

It all began when Jennifer Morellato and Elisa

Lion joined hands in transforming their vision

for a sustainable business into reality. Based in

Cambodia, Smateria has an eye in turning any

material into a chic accessory. Mostly using

waste products such as fishing nets, plastic bags

and recycled leather, Smateria employs locals,

-primarily women-as staff with an additional

free childcare center on site as a support to

working mothers. Both in-store and online, this

ethical brand has something for everyone from

kids’ lunch bag, school bag, men’s backpack and

of course, an assorted fashionable bags for the

ladies. Look out, they even have a Monopoly set

made with waste materials!

@smateriacambodia

smateria.com

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM · 13

---

TRAVEL

ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

Balik Pulau, Penang

THE SLOW-PACED TOWN TUCKED AWAY IN

THE SOUTHWEST OF THE PENANG ISLAND

IS MORE THAN A PROMISED LAND FOR

DURIAN; IT IS A COUNTRYSIDE RETREAT FOR

FOOD AND UNIQUE LOCAL GEMS.

Text JESSY WONG

Photos ADOBE STOCK, REBECCA PH LEE &

MALIHOM PRIVATE ESTATE

HOW TO GET THERE

Penang International Airport has extensive and

frequent connectivity from other major cities in

Asia. Rent a car to get there as the uphill route to

Balik Pulau can be tricky and dangerous for firsttimers

so be advised to not travel by motorcycle. For

a budgeted trip, Rapid Penang bus 401E has a route

from the city center to airport and Balik Pulau.

WHERE TO EAT

Kim Laksa at Nan Guang Coffeeshop is the place

that puts Balik Pulau assam laksa in the spotlight of

Penang’s famous foods. A must-try is their assam

laksa and siam laksa (coconut milk broth). Jia Siang

Cafe in Pulau Betong is known for their diverse

seafood preparation styles. The fresh sea produce

from the adjacent fishing village can be bought in the

restaurant and directly cooked and tasted here.

14 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

WHAT TO DO

Explore the main town center for an understanding

of the local lifestyle. While you are around, spot

monumental murals at the antique shophouses which

depict the local culture and society. Worth visiting is

The Church of The Holy Name of Jesus in town; built

in 1954, it is one of the oldest churches in Penang.

Join a bicycle tour that goes around plantations

and village houses. The calm countryside atmosphere

will reveal a fresh sight of Penang. Also, a little

further from town is Countryside Stables Penang for

a fun family time among horses and ponies.

WHERE TO STAY

Be surrounded by nature at Malihom Private Estate,

a 4-star traditional resort where Thailand’s heritage

teak barns are turned into villas. Seekers of more

cost-effective lodging can check out Titi Teras Village

House, a homestyle bed and breakfast. The simple

quarters have bicycle rental on site as well as bike

tours on request.

GOOD

to

KNOW

The absence of a

mall makes the

town center in

Balik Pulau a hub

for everything

from shopping,

healthcare and

education.

Durian, nutmeg

and cloves are

famous local

produce to get

from Balik Pulau.

It is believed that

the best durian in

Malaysia comes

from here!

The town’s “The

Silversmith”

portrait mural by

Ernest Zacharevic

is based on a

local heritage

craftsman who is

skilled in making

silver miniatures

and pieces.

---

2019

TRAVEL

EXPO

5 – 7 September 2019

Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

TRAVEL

ASIA

GATEWAY TO

Ho Chi Minh City

BOOK YOUR BOOTH

TODAY!

Contact our sales team at

ite.sales@informa.com for exhibition

space and sponsorship opportunities

www.itehcmc.com

International.Travel.Expo ITE.HCMC

Organised by

• Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

• Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism

• VINEXAD Trade Fair & Advertising JSC

• Informa Exhibitions

Supported by

• Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia

• Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR

• Ministry of Hotels & Tourism, Myanmar

• Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Kingdom of Thailand

Endorsed by

• Ministry of Culture, Sports &

Tourism, Vietnam

• People’s Committee of

Ho Chi Minh City

---

BUCKET LIST

London is in Town

KEEP YOUR PASSPORT AT HOME BECAUSE YOU WON’T BE NEEDING IT TO

VISIT THESE EUROPEAN HOTSPOTS THAT HIT THE SHORES OF MALAYSIA.

Text JESSY WONG

Photos WING WING &

RESORTS WORLD GENTING

WING WING

Londoners love their cult fried chicken

brand. Founded by the ‘London Chicken

Elite’ in 2017, Wing Wing transformed the

foodie’s know-how of fried chicken and its

Asian fusion choices.

Carefully employing a hand-brushing

technique, Wing Wing’s sensational hot

birds fly above the thin layer of coating

over the basic marination using natural

spices; bringing about the crackly, crispy,

transparent crust that it is famous for.

Although soy garlic and spicy flavours

may be winning Malaysian votes, liquorice

flavouring boasts a sweet touch to the

savoury drumette–presenting a taste of the

ancient Mediterranean herb through birds.

Chicken aside, another favourite choice

is the Asian fusion “Chicken Katsu Bao”; a

lightly-fried Chinese mantou bao (steamed

bun) stuffed with crispy tender chicken

and a dollop of kimchi coleslaw. End your

meal with some “Hot Bao Nuts” sweet

tooth dessert. The lightly fried hot bao is

filled with pineapple orange crème and

meringue, peanut butter or banana caramel

as preference.

Wing Wing, Level 6, Pavilion KL,

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

Opens daily from 10am to 10pm

@wearewingwing.my

THE LAUGHING FISH

BY HARRY RAMSDEN

The last name of Britain’s fish and chips should belong

to Harry Ramsden. The secret to the fish and chips

special batter was long developed by Harry Ramsden

back in 1928 when he opened his first “chippie”.

As Britain’s longest established restaurant chain,

Harry Ramsden introduces the real English pub

experience to Malaysia. Fish and chips is one of the

most iconic pub dishes often served with gravy and

mushy peas–at the Laughing Fish, curry sauce appears

as a surprise option. The fish is also available either as

light and flaky Cod or flavourful and tasty Haddock.

Diners are also able to take a bite of the traditional

Britain hospitality and order from a traditional British

pub menu. The seafood-oriented grubs display a classic

list of “Cod Burger” to “Seafood Pie” and some “Sticky

Toffee Pudding” for desserts.

Level 4, SkyAvenue, Resorts World Genting,

Genting Highlands, Pahang

Opens daily from 12pm to 11pm or

till 1am on every Friday to Sunday.

www.rwgenting.com

16 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

TRAVEL

The Northern Muses of Kedah

A TRIP TO THE QUAINT AGRICULTURAL STATE UNVEILS AN ABYSMAL DISCOVERY OF THE

WONDERS IN KEDAH FROM AN EXTENSIVE CULTURAL FIELDS OF LOCALLY-CURATED

EXPERIENCES TO MAJOR HISTORICAL REMAINS OF AN ANCIENT KINGDOM.

Text and photos JESSY WONG

1

Things are about to change. When one speaks of

travelling to the northern state, most people

would undoubtedly think of the world-famous

Langkawi retreat–it is time to draw some focus back

to the untrodden mainland.

Kedah has a guileless knack of making a born

and bred city girl like me picturing a tough work–

yet extremely peaceful and scenic–living days in

the fields and farms. The breathtaking countryside

environment is not the only takeaway from the

endless stretch of paddy fields; the slow-moving

villages and little town can make you soak in the

beauty of ordinary things in the country.

2

18 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

TRAVEL

3

4

1 The view of Mount Jerai

across a paddy field 2 Palmfringed

coast at Dataran

Tsunami 3 Sungai Batu

Archeological Site 4 A relic

from the ancient kingdom in

Kedah 5 Mouth-watering satay

in Semeling

5

ROAD TO AN ANCIENT KINGDOM

As the richest archeological site in Malaysia, catch

glimpses of the prehistoric era when the earliest

man-made structure of Southeast Asia is unearthed

at Bujang Valley in Kedah. Today, Bujang Valley is

undergoing a process of being nominated into the

UNESCO World Heritage List.

Discover a great deal of amazing artefacts in

Lembah Bujang Archeological Museum in the town

of Merbok. The relics of an ancient kingdom dating

since the 3 rd century till 14 th century civilisation are

carefully displayed in the center showcasing a strong

Hindu-Buddha civilisation influence from the candi

(a temple of worship), inscribed stone caskets and

tablets, ornaments, ceramics and worship icons.

Furthermore, the Sungai Batu Archeological

Site in Bujang Valley offers a guided tour around the

monument site to see the oldest human civilisation

in Southeast Asia with sights of a complete town

structure and seaport on grounds. With their

guided tour, you can also catch an ongoing handson

excavation and ancient brick making and iron

smelting techniques.

Stop for Food AT Satay Semeling

The best satay in the district is only 5 minutes drive

away from Sungai Batu Complex; suggesting a perfect

tea break from the heat with lip-smacking grilled

satay and marinated chicken. If you dare, take a go

to try the exotic satay meats from the usual chicken

and beef to chevon, mutton, venison and rabbit at AT

Satay Semeling.

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM · 19

---

TRAVEL

UPHILL TO FARM GRILL

Among the diverse tourism spots in Kedah, hiking

in Mount Jerai is one of the elevated travel activities

to explore for outdoor or photography enthusiasts.

Set at the height of 1,217 metres above sea level, the

misty cool air in Mount Jerai adds a teaser of foreign

climate seconded to the broad view of Kedah’s

villages and paddy fields below. Appreciate the vast

colony of orchids as you stroll in The Gunung Jerai

Botanical Park and meet with peacocks and African

wild cat up-close.

After the morning hike have energised your day,

look out for Batas Ubi DEER Farm at the foot of

Mount Jerai. The private enclosure welcomes visitors

to interact closely with the animals and learn about

deer breeding and their habitat lifestyle. If you’re

lucky, you may even witness the birth of a fawn–the

farm has a number of 62 does!

Stop For Food Batas Ubi Steamboat and Grill

The deer farm is more than a petting zoo; it has an alfresco

steamboat and grill restaurant overlooking the

vast greenery. The DIY grill dining options evidently

includes venison that is harvested from the farm and

the extended list presents chicken, lamb or beef to

go with your grilling. Their packaged dining set for

4 people provides a feast of mushroom soup, garlic

bread, fragrant herbs rice, a jug of freshly squeezed

lemon juice and multiple types of meat for grilling.

6-9 Orchid sightings in Mount Jerai botanical

park 10 A family of curious deers in Batas Ubi

11 DIY grilling at Batas Ubi Steamboat and

Grill 12 Local man on a small boat as seen

from Merbok River cruise 13 Pak Su's oyster

farm in Pulau Bidan 14 A delicious serving of

prawn noodles at Selera Dataran Tsunami

6

8

9

7

10

11

20 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

TRAVEL

12

RIVER VOYAGE AROUND TOWN

Sungai Petani is a major town in Kedah; historically thanks to the main

Merbok River which drew the early civilisation of Lembah Bujang.

Presently, the river runs across several towns and villages. The rich

biodiversity of Merbok River attracts a tide of river cruise that sails along

the mangrove and fisherman’s village–putting a spotlight on the local’s

traditional fishing techniques.

The tour made a special stop in an oyster farm in Pulau Bidan. The

farming project is a partnership between Pak Su, a local villager and

University of Science Malaysia to promote sustainable travel and improve

the community’s livelihood through oysters. Not forgetting, you also get to

slurp on fresh oysters with homemade dips at the farm.

14

13

THE

PICNIC

SPOT

From 4pm till 11pm everyday, Selera Dataran Tsunami serves the most succulent mee udang (prawn

noodles) with a priceless view of the sea and the neighbouring island of Penang. The sweet gravy is

heavenly match to the freshly caught prawns and you can even order prawns up to four times larger.

Across the warm picnic spot is a Tsunami Gallery and monument erected in remembrance of the deadly

2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that has affected this very coast in Kedah.

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM · 21

---

TALES ON TRACK

Caution on Apples

THE MOST RECOGNISABLE FRUIT IN THE WORLD

MAY PACK A GREAT DEAL OF HEALTH BENEFITS

BUT IS IT REALLY A WONDER APPLE?

Text JESSY WONG • Photo ADOBE STOCK

The old aphorism says, “An apple a day

keeps the doctor away”. It is generally

believed that apples are more than just a

fruit; it is applauded as the “miracle food”.

Apples are rich in many beneficial nutrients

and are thought to improve health. It can regulate

blood sugar levels, improve cardiovascular health

and lower the risk of cancer with its antioxidant

properties. Except that the fruit which keeps you

from falling ill if you take it everyday might be

causing you harm if you’re not cautious!

Apple is a naturally acidic fruit. According to

a study published, some apples may be even more

acidic than soda. The low pH value of apples may

variete between 3.3 and 4.0 according to specific

types of apples. With that said, high acid content

in apples can cause dental erosion and weakening

of our tooth enamel.

One of the ways to prevent negative effects

of acidity from apples is to eat it with another

snack. Other foods like milk and dips can assist

to neutralize the acid found in apples.

Apart from that, it is advisable to not snack

on apples throughout the day. An apple a day is

good, but spending an entire day eating apples

may potentially cost you your dental health.

Never forget to use a straw to drink apple

fruit juice to avoid direct contact with your nice

set of teeth.

Red apples are sweet whereas green apples

are known to be both sour and sweet. This

is because green apples are more acidic; you

may experience an uncomfortable acid reflux

(heartburn) when taken in excess.

After eating the fruit, some may even find the

lingering acidity in the mouth to be bothersome.

To prevent erosion, simply rinse with water to

dilute the acids in your mouth. If you brush your

teeth within the first half hour after eating an

apple, you may damage your tooth enamel and it

will eventually decay over time.

Despite all that, apples remain as a good

provider of micronutrients to our bodies. Just

exercise caution when you consume acidic foods

and especially, a wonder fruit like apple. To be

healthy, always consume a balance of colours in

fruits and vegetables.

22 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

---

TALES ON TRACK

FOOD FOR TALK

Grilling

Malaysian

Flavours

Text FRANCIS YIP • Photo ADOBE STOCK

Ask any tourist; what is their favourite

Malaysian food? Chances are, satay is

their answer. Not surprising. After all,

Malaysian satay was ranked 14 th in CNNGo’s list

of the World’s 50 Best Food in 2011.

ORIGIN OF SATAY

Satay is made of delicious marinated meat,

skewered and grilled on sticks before it is

served with authentic peanut sauce. Due to its

popularity, it has even sparked a debate of its

origin and ownership; Malaysia, Indonesia and

even Thailand claimed satay to be theirs. Well, to

each its own but history shows satay originated

in Java and spreaded to Sumatra, Sulawesi,

Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand at the end of

19 th century. It also reached as far as South Africa

and known as sosatie.

KAJANG SATAY

When we talk about satay, we can’t miss talking

about Kajang satay. Kajang is famed as the satay

town. It has a special place in my heart as I

stayed here during my varsity years. I remember

when I took my first bite of satay in Kajang, I

immediately proclaimed, “This is the best satay I

have ever eaten”. Not just in one stall but almost

every stall I visited! The famous ones are Satay

Kajang Hj Samuri, Nyok Lan Kajang Satay, Satay

Awe and Willy Satay.

AUTHENTIC TASTE

The best satay is charcoal-grilled. Although there

is some electric-grilled satay today, it is the

charcoal-grilled ones that bring out the aroma and

it uses less oil. The goodness of satay lies in the

peanut gravy.

“Many stalls add flour and biscuits to make

the gravy thick but the authentic satay outlets

stay true to using only peanuts,” says Aishah bt

Salehuddin, Managing Director of Satey Kajang

1917.

The original satay uses chicken, mutton

and beef but it has also evolved so much and

currently, we can see rabbit, fish, ostrich, dove,

cockle and pork satay. There are even “Satay lok

lok” in Penang and “Satay celup” in Melaka. This

hotpot-style satay is popular among the Chinese

community here. Raw meat, quail eggs, vegetables,

soya bean curds, fish cakes and mushroom are

skewered on bamboo sticks, dipped into the

hot soup of herbs and spices for a quick boil.

GOING PLACES

The Malaysian satay has made its presence felt

abroad, such as Satay Ria Malaysian Chinese

Restaurant in Australia. For Aishah, she says,

“There isn’t a truly specialised satay house yet

and Satey Kajang 1917 intends to build it. Right

now, we have 21 satay outlets nationwide and

we aim to expand to Indonesia and Brunei.”

Now I am hungry for satay. Come, join me for

a bite.

Special thanks to Aishah bt Salehuddin, Managing Director of

Satey Kajang 1917 and the World Top Gourmet Awards Team.

FRANCIS YIP loves to eat and will always go find the best food in every nook and cranny. He is passionate to share his food journey and

may spark a storm in the teacup too. After all, no food, no life.

www.franciswriter.com franciswriterAd franciswriter

24 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM