SEPTEMBER 2019 | ISSUE 40

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

Selangor’s

Remarkable Feat

EXCLUSIVE

INTERVIEW WITH

Y.B DATUK ABDUL

RASHID BIN

ASARI

RUA DE FELICIDADE, MACAU

MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL

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20

CONTENTS

6 ON THE RADAR

8 OUT & ABOUT

10 TRAVEL

Spotted in Asia:

Rua de Felicidade, Macau

11 INSIGHT

Spicing Up Selangor’s

Alternative Tourism

17 TRAVEL

When Dusk Falls

20 TRAVEL

Mystical Moyo Waterfalls

22 FOOD

Home Dining with Chef Dyllon

24 FOOD FOR TALK

Rice of the East

14 TRAVEL

Kandy, Sri Lanka

16 FYI

World’s Best Airport

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

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EDITOR’S NOTE

The Petronas Twin Towers may be the most iconic structure for

travellers but how many is aware of the fact that Selangor is a

state that encircles the capital of Malaysia? Home to more than 6

million people, Selangor has aplenty to explore from outdoor adventures

to scenic trips.

Therefore, we are extremely honoured to have Datuk Abdul Rashid,

Chairman of Standing Committees for Cultural and Tourism, Malay

Tradition and Heritage for the State Government of Selangor on board

for this September issue. The astute interview revealed more than

just upcoming plans for tourism in Selangor; it involves in curating an

authentic experience for travellers to the state.

Travel–just like many other things in life–is bound to change in

life. While sightseeing is still predominant in travel, it is observed that

the travel trend is getting more hands-on and engaging–between the

travellers and their surrounding environment. It is also referred as

“experience travel”.

For a taste of local living and culture, check out our first home-dining

experience in Kuala Lumpur from the abode of Chef Dyllon (page 22).

If home-dining haven’t satiate your thirst for local tales, we give you a

glance into the spellbinding Moyo Island in Indonesia on page 20.

With a mooncake in hand, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

John So

Publisher

COVER BY

ADOBE STOCK

EDITORIAL TEAM

GROUP HEAD & BRANDS

JOHN SO

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

JAMIE SOO-HOO

SENIOR WRITER

JESSY WONG

PHOTOGRAPHER

RICK CHEAH

CONTRIBUTORS

NG SHEN LEE, FRANCIS YIP,

CHRISTINE CHEAH & FARHAN SYADLI

DIGITAL TEAM

WEB CONTENT

JESSY WONG

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES

EDITORIAL@PCOMASIA.COM

COMMERCIAL & PARTNERSHIP

JOHN SO

JOHNSO@PCOMASIA.COM

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NEWS

ON THE RADAR

GET UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST HAPPENINGS ON

TRAVEL, HOTEL OPENINGS, FOOD OFFERS AND

TRENDING FASHION AROUND SOUTHEAST ASIA

KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT TURNS 21

Malaysia’s busiest travel hub celebrates its

legacy as it looks back to the airport’s historical

milestones and achievements in 21 years. All eyes

are on the amazing architectural display of KLIA’s

original scale model designed by the late Kisho

Kurokawa. Passengers can also walk through the

“Time Tunnel”– an exhibit on KLIA’s milestone

since its inception at the Viewing Deck, Level 5,

Main Terminal Building.

www.klia.com.my

FAMOUS TAIWAN ZI CHAR RESTAURANT AT SUNTEC CITY

Experience Taiwan home-style dining without cracking your budget at The Salted

Plum. Dining options exclusively surrounds Southern-Taiwanese cooking with

the likes of “mee sua with oysters” and braised pork belly. Try their lunch bowls

during busy rush hour and savour their signature zi char and desserts for dinner.

The Salted Plum, 3 Temasek Boulevard, #B1-122A Suntec City Mall, Singapore

(65) 67219398

FERN FOR MALAYSIAN BATIK

A local start-up batik design house,

FERN, preserves the Malaysian art

with their line of innovative and

premium quality batik apparels in

their first flagship store at Bangsar.

FERN’s reintroduction of local batik

artistry is tastefully done in elegance,

luxury and comfort in encouragement

for day to day batik wear.

FERN, UGF-17A, Bangsar Village II,

No.2, Jalan Telawi 1,

Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur

www.fern.gallery

JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL IN SHANGHAI

As the new landmark to the Huangpu River, JW Marriott

Marquis Hotel gleams with light and colour against the

city skyline. From the architectural brains of Dubai’s Burj

Khalifa, the hotel prides itself with 515 contemporary

guest rooms and suites that overlooks Shanghai, 4 worldclass

and diverse restaurants and a rooftop garden.

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, No 988 Puming Road,

Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China

jw-marriott.marriott.com

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EVENTS

OUT & ABOUT

LOOK OUT FOR THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENTS OF

THE MONTH IN MALAYSIA AND BEYOND

THE GOLDEN MAN EXHIBITION

1 SEPT - 1 OCT

Highlights of the civilisation of Kazakhstan and the cultural heritage

of the people are presented in the special exhibition with the

cooperation of the National Museum of Kazakhstan. The country’s

culture and history are put on display spanning from prehistoric times

to the modern era of its nomadic lifestyle.

Gallery 1, Department of Museums Malaysia,

Jalan Damansara, Tasik Perdana, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

www.malaysia.travel

ANDY LAU

WORLD TOUR

13 - 15 SEPT

One of the Four Heavenly

Kings is to perform a threenight

concert in Kuala

Lumpur after releasing

more than 60 albums since his

showbiz debut in 1981. Andy

Lau’s world tour will be the first

in 8 years for his loyal fans to

hear the legendary cantopop

hits like “The Days We Spent

Together” and “I and the Dream

I’m Pursuing”.

Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

www.myticket.asia

ARTBOX MALAYSIA 2019

6 - 8 SEPT & 13 - 15 SEPT

The creative container market was definitely the

buzz of town when it launched last year with its

iconic stacked shipping containers. For their second

year, Artbox takes their inspiration from nostalgic

childhood games and is set to host over 300 booths

with unique retailers across Malaysia, Thailand,

Indonesia and Singapore.

Sunway City Outdoor Open Air Carpark,

Selangor, Malaysia

artbox.my

SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE 2019

10 - 15 SEPT

Expect not one but a trio of plays

on the themes of refuge and

displacement in “The Comedy of

Errors”, “Pericles”, and “Twelfth

Night”. For 5 days, the company

will take on multiple roles in

portraying Shakespeare’s timeless

tales. You may also sit in for

the “Audience Choice” where

audiences vote for the play they

want to watch in a democratic

theatrical experiment.

Victoria Theatre, Singapore

sistic.com.sg

AI:IA & FRIENDS

14 SEPT

Better known as “Artificially Intelligent Improvaholics Anonymous” (AIIA), the performance

is a rare improvisational comedy that interacts with the audiences. You wouldn’t know what

will happen with the comedic antics between Iedil Putra, Shamaine Othman, Farah Rani, Ashraf

Modee Zain, and Tung Jit Yang in completely unscripted sketches and impromptu show.

The Platform, Menara Ken TTDI, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

proticket.com.my

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TRAVEL

SPOTTED: ASIA IN FILMS

Rua de Felicidade,

Macau

Text NG SHEN LEE • Photos ADOBE STOCK

For many, the mention of Macau would

conjure up scenes of dashing mega

casinos as glamorous as they are glitzy.

But if one were to look beyond the

region’s booming gambling industry alone,

it’s also one brimming with rich history–

histories of lucrative trade led by Portugese

colonial rule.

As a result, charming streets juxtapose

the high-flying extravagance of this denselypopulated

city. And out of all these streets,

Rua de Felicidade is the most popular.

Rua de Felicidade can be translated to

“Happiness Street.” Travellers come

here to sample a taste of local fare–from

shark fin to congee to wonton noodles.

Traditional almond cookies from the

street’s bakeries make for the ideal

souvenir befitting of its location as well.

With its signature crimson doors

and nostalgic shophouses, the street has

also become a popular spot for photo

opportunities. Much like the heritage lanes

of Penang, Malaysia.

But the “Happiness” in Happiness

Street stems from a seedy past. Up until

the 1960’s, Rua de Felicidade was Macau’s

trademark red-light district. Brothels made

up a good portion of the street, while

gambling reigned and opium was rife.

The street today may not be what

it was in its yesteryears, but it certainly

makes for a spectacular film location

sought after by some of the most

renowned in the trade.

Most recently, Rua de Felicidade made

an appearance in “Now You See Me: The

Second Act”–the 2016 sequel to the heist

thriller film “Now You See Me”. The

Macau-set film also features other prime

locations from the likes of Macao Science

Center and Sands Macao Hotel.

Drawing in the reel a little further back

to the 80’s, Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana

Jones and the Temple of Doom” anchors

off the street’s old oriental charm to

emulate Shanghai in a car chase scene.

This comes as no surprise, as then and

even today, Hollywood filmmakers veer

away from China as a filming location due

to overwhelming restrictions and stringent

guidelines. Instead, Macau and Hong Kong

are opted for in its place.

Other films in Rua de Felicidade’s

arsenal include Hong Kong films “Isabella”

and “2046”, which feature San Va Hotel as

a filming site, transforming Macau’s oldest

guesthouse into something more than just

a temporary accommodation.

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INSIGHT

Spicing Up Selangor’s

Alternative Tourism

GOLFING, EXTREME SPORTS, FRUIT PICKING IN A VALLEY AND AN UPCOMING

ROYAL GALLERY ARE SET TO CHARM MORE TOURISTS TO THE SULTANATE STATE.

Text CHRISTINE CHEAH • Photos SELANGOR TOURISM BOARD & ADOBE STOCK

1

Getting tourists to land in Malaysia’s

richest state was never an issue. After all,

the state is home to the biggest airport

in the country. Making the ever-discerning

tourists contented and happy with the range of

services, products and experiences is Selangor’s

challenge and Chairman of Standing Committees

For Cultural and Tourism, Malay Tradition and

Heritage Selangor Y. B. Datuk Abdul Rashid

Asari has ideas flow to provide tourists with safe,

unique and trendy experiences.

A lawyer by profession, Abdul Rashid stresses

that safety for tourists was of utmost importance,

especially when there are water activities

involved. With Malaysia being one out of two

places in the world with the sky mirror attraction,

tourists have to take a half hour boat ride out to

the Sasaran beach from a fishing village.

“Many of the tour boat operators going to

2

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INSIGHT

3

“The experiences are memorable,

the scenery is breathtaking and the

food is mouth-watering..”

sign indemnity forms. Anything can happen even if

it’s a short boat ride,” said Abdul Rashid who intends

to enforce registration of tour boat operators and

indemnity forms in these few years.

With all new regulations comes resistance

but being the seasoned politician, Abdul Rashid is

confident of stifling the voices of dissent among the

locals who are used to the lax in enforcement.

“We have to protect not only the tourists but

also the boat operators. Yes, they will have to charge

a higher fee because of the cost in getting a license

and all the extra precautions needed to be registered,

but it is for their own good,” said Abdul Rashid in an

interview.

While the sky mirror can be a crowd puller, it

is seasonal and is only accessible for two days in a

month when the tide is low. Golf, on the other hand

can be played all year round in Malaysia’s sunny

tropical weather and that is Abdul Rashid’s latest

game plan.

“Golf tourism is our new package. We engage

with the golf associations, host a tournament here

and we have been receiving good responses from the

overseas participants,” he said.

With 38 golf courses in Selangor and 20 certified

as international standard turfs, Abdul Rashid is

crafting packages for foreign golfers not only to play

but also to savour local cuisines and experience first

class facilities at the hotels.

Aside from the luxurious experiences, golfers

or other tourists could consider having a medical

checkup at an affordable price. A growing industry,

Malaysia’s medical tourism has been thriving in

recent years with 80,000 foreigners seeking medical

treatment in private hospitals in Selangor last year.

According to Abdul Rashid, the private hospitals

in Selangor are popular not just among foreign

tourists but also Malaysians from other states.

“We are among the best in terms of medical

tourism in Malaysia. Our prices are great and people

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INSIGHT

tourism in Malaysia. Our prices are great and people

are happy with the quality of treatment and medical

facilities,” said Abdul Rashid.

For the younger travellers seeking an off-theroad

and nature-like experience, Abdul Rashid

recommends the 1,500-acre fruit valley in Ijok where

the state government planted various kinds of fruits.

Visitors to the fruit valley are allowed to pluck

fruits from the trees and bring it home, perfect for

families with children or as a school excursion.

As for the adrenaline junkies, fret not because

there are extreme sports which covers land, air and

rivers in Selangor. Located in little pocket towns out

of the city area, travellers can go by cab or self-drive

to these places but once there, the experiences are

memorable, the scenery is breathtaking and the food

is mouth-watering.

Abdul Rashid suggests Hulu Selangor because

there is white water rafting and rope swing in the

area. Besides, there is paragliding in Banting and

Hulu Selangor. Hiking trails and paths in Bukit

Cahaya and Bukit Kutu, offer a scenic view of the

Titiwangsa mountain range at the peak in Sekinchan

where sprawling paddy fields makes the town

bright green or golden yellow, tourists can immerse

themselves in long walks in the fields and reward

themselves with seafood thereafter.

With Selangor being a sultanate state, Abdul

Rashid has also been tasked to spruce up the

museums, royal palaces and galleries. The royal

gallery in Klang is being upgraded with a RM1 million

budget and the Shah Alam museum which was closed

for a year, is set to reopen in June 2020 after a RM2.5

million renovation and restoration of artifacts.

“We took over the museum in a deplorable

condition. The artifacts were in a bad shape and the

place could not have been a tourist destination.

“By this September we will be done with the

museum stamp, and hopefully with the new branding

and image, we can attract tourists to understand

Selangor’s history better,” said Abdul Rashid who also

has a textile and paddy museum in the pipeline.

4

1 The popular sky mirror

attraction 2 Y. B. Datuk

Abdul Rashid enjoying golf

3 Delicious seafood spread

in local style 4 White water

rafting in Hulu Selangor

5 Freshly plucked local

rambutan at fruit valley

5

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TRAVEL

ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

Kandy, Sri Lanka

THE AIR OF ROYALTY, HISTORY AND DIVINITY

SURROUNDS THE CAPITAL OF CULTURE IN SRI

LANKA THAT WAS ONCE A DWELLING FOR

THE MIGHTY ANCIENT KINGDOM OF KANDY.

Text JESSY WONG

Photos ADOBE STOCK & OZO KANDY SRI LANKA

HOW TO GET THERE

Coming from Colombo bus station from the main

city would take 4 hours but it is the most economical

option. Otherwise, the train would promise a scenic

journey as it passes through the beautiful terrains of

Sri Lanka. Kandy’s railway is conveniently connected

to other big cities in the country.

WHERE TO EAT

Devon Restaurant & Bakery is a popular eatery to try

their “rice box” that serves basmati rice, chicken or

vegetable curry. More authentic and cheap local food

can be found in Hela Bojun Hala; a traditional food

court in Sri Lanka built to empower rural women. Go

to any tea shops or parlours to enjoy authentic Sri

Lankan tea and recharge in peace.

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WHAT TO DO

The idyllic Kandy Lake beckons a morning stroll

around the waters. This iconic city attraction is built

by the last ruler of the kingdom of Kandy in 1807.

Walking around the lake will also bring you to Sri

Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic)

that safeguards a tooth relic from Buddha.

Spend some hours at the Royal Botanic Garden; a

place formerly exclusive only to Kandyan royals. The

beautiful garden spans across 60 hectares with over

10,000 trees. If time permits, there are museums

with national exhibits to a tea factory and Buddhism

displays. For the arts and cultural scene, check out

the dancing and drum shows in Kandy.

WHERE TO STAY

OZO Kandy Sri Lanka is just minutes away from the

city’s main attractions; it is no-brainer that travellers

find a resting place in its stylish contemporary

rooms. The 4-star hotel’s rooftop pool also boasts of

an elevated view of the city.

GOOD

to

KNOW

Travellers can

rent and drive

their own Sri

Lankan tuktuk

in the city. Find

out more at

tuktukrental.com

The Sinhalese New

Year is a major

event in Sri Lanka

in mid-April every

year so travelling

during this festive

period can be

challenging.

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FYI

World 's Be st Airport

CHANGI AIRPORT IN SINGAPORE IS THE FIRST AIRPORT IN HISTORY THAT IS VOTED “WORLD’S

BEST” FOR SEVEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS ON SKYTRAX WORLD AIRPORT AWARDS. WHETHER

YOU’RE ON A LONG TRANSIT OR VISITING THE COUNTRY ON A HOLIDAY, THESE FUN STOPS

AT CHANGI AIRPORT IS WORTHY AS A DESTINATION OF ITS OWN.

Text JESSY WONG • Photos ADOBE STOCK, CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP & JEWEL CHANGI AIRPORT DEVT.

ROOFTOP POOL

Get away from the crowd and enjoy a

cooling swim at the pool. There is also a

jacuzzi and poolside bar to unwind while

keeping you in plain sight of watching

planes take off from the runway.

Cost | SGD17 (FREE FOR HOTEL GUESTS)

Operating hours | 6AM TO 12AM DAILY

Location | TERMINAL 1, AEROTEL AIRPORT

TRANSIT HOTEL, LEVEL 3, DEPARTURE

TRANSIT HALLS

SHISEIDO FOREST VALLEY

This airport hub is a green indoor

sanctuary for visitors to explore the trails

with wondrous sights, sound, scent and

touch. Set in the heart of the valley is

HSBC Rain Vortex, world’s tallest indoor

waterfall at 40 metres high. The cascade at

night would turn into a spectacular soundand-light

show.

Cost | FREE

Operating hours | 24 HOURS DAILY

Location | JEWEL CHANGI AIRPORT

BUTTERFLY GARDEN

The two-storey alfresco garden feature

a gathering of more than 1,000 tropical

butterflies. There are over 40 different

species of free roaming butterflies in the

lush garden for visitors to observe nature

in a close range.

MOVIE THEATRE

Travellers in transit can wait in leisure

by catching the latest movies for free in

a cinematic setting right at the airport.

The complimentary shows and screenings

schedules can be checked online at

changiairport.com

Cost | FREE

Operating hours | 24 HOURS DAILY

Location | TERMINAL 2 AND 3,

DEPARTURE TRANSIT HALL, LEVEL 3

Cost | FREE

Operating hours | 24 HOURS DAILY

Location | TERMINAL 3, DEPARTURE TRANSIT

HALL, LEVEL 2 & 3

KINETIC RAIN

Part of Changi Airport’s collection of art

and installation, the Kinetic Rain is perhaps

one the most iconic sculpture to ponder

over as the 1,216 bronze droplets dance

through the air to familiar shapes of flight.

Cost | FREE

Operating hours | 24 HOURS DAILY

Location | TERMINAL 1, LEVEL 2

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TRAVEL

When Dusk Falls

DRAWN TOGETHER BY THE SOFT GLOW OF LANTERNS,

FAMILIES REUNITE UNDER THE BRIGHTEST FULL MOON

AT NIGHT FOR A TRADITIONAL MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL.

Text JESSY WONG • Photos ADOBE STOCK

The moon may be one of the greatest

inspirations for mankind but none celebrates

its shifting spell and luminous fullness

like the East Asian communities. Dancing lights

from a throng of colourful lanterns and multiform

mooncake offerings enhance the cultural soiree for

the Chinese and Vietnamese people.

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TRAVEL

WHEN 13 September 2019

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15 th of the 8 th

month in the lunar calendar. It is a time where the

moon’s orbit is closest to the earth and would appear

in its fullest and brightest form.

HISTORY

Mid-Autumn Festival is also recognised as the Moon

Festival; the ancient Chinese believe that the moon’s

circulation is related to harvest time. As the moon

changes, so does the season. Prayers for the moon are

held for blessing the harvest of the people.

MYTH

The selfless gesture of Chang’e started the practice of

moon worship. According to Lihui Yang’s “Handbook

of Chinese Mythology” version of the myth, hero Hou

Yi is awarded with the elixir of immortality for his

braveness. The existence of such elixir attracted evil

eyes so to protect her husband’s elixir from falling

into the wrong hands, Chang’e drank it and flew to

the moon. Now, she is known as the lunar deity.

CELEBRATION

Today, Mid-Autumn Festival is a family reunion

besides thanksgiving to the moon. The festival is

celebrated in various ways across different cultures

but the main hallmarks of the celebration are still

mooncake eating and lighting lanterns.

Mooncake is a symbolic pastry of the festival; the

round-shaped mooncake signifies reunion and the

coming together of a family. On the days leading up

to the festival, the gifting of mooncakes is common

between family and friends as a thoughtful custom

that implies unity and remembrance.

Mooncakes are mostly store-bought and shared

on the night of reunion whereas elderly in some

families still prefer to practice the tradition of

making mooncakes at home.

The joyous night is further illuminated with

lanterns. For a night, children get to fetch their own

lanterns and participate in a lantern parade around

the vicinity. Lit using candles, paper lantern with

fan folding is a traditional craft for the festival–

one that is slowly replaced with modern electrical

battery-powered lanterns for safety purposes. The

significance of the lantern perhaps serves a more

practical purpose for the festival, for lighting the path

and scenery for a reunion to appreciate the beauty of

the moon when dusk falls.

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TRAVEL

MOONCAKE

FRENZY

The sweet round

pastries have a thin

crust and stuffed

with a dense filling

commonly made from

red bean or lotus seed

paste. Needless to

say, the most popular

mooncake has the

yolk of a salted duck

egg in the middle–

resembling the full

moon. To each their

own style, mooncake

differs across different

regions and countries

but over time,

mooncake flavours

have diversified from

its traditional golden

crust to “snow skin

mooncake” and exotic

fillings such as durian

and cream cheese,

thanks to the booming

mooncake industry.

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TRAVEL

1

Mystical Moyo Waterfalls

THE LATE PRINCESS DIANA ONCE TOOK A RETREAT TO A WATERFALL AFTER HER DIVORCE. SHE WAS

AMONG THE CELEBRITIES LIKE MICK JAGGER, DAVID BECKHAM AND RAIN WHO SOUGHT SOLACE

AND PEACE OF MIND AT THE MYSTICAL MATA JITU WATERFALL IN MOYO ISLAND, INDONESIA.

Text FRANCIS YIP • Photos FRANCIS YIP & FARHAN SYADLI

Moyo Island is located in the West

Nusa Tenggara province and

off the north coast of Sumbawa

Island. The island is mostly inhabited

and has only 1,000 people. It is blessed

with over 80 species of birds, wild boars,

deer, flying fox, 21 bat species and the

enchanting Mata Jitu Waterfall and Diwu

M’bai Waterfall.

MATA JITU: THE QUEEN WATERFALL

My last visit to a waterfall was more than

thirty years ago. So you can picture how

easily I was to be spellbound by the beauty

of Mata Jitu Waterfall. The sights and

sounds of splashing turquoise water, calm

ripples, rich flora and fauna and fluttering of

butterflies made me savour my few hours of

calm respite here.

Mata Jitu Waterfall is called the Queen

Waterfall by the locals as a tribute to the

late Princess Diana. The legend says it was

once a paradise for the Malay Sultan and

his princesses to bathe and rejuvenate their

body, mind and soul. They believed the

water was an elixir of life and could help

them stay young.

There are three main terraces created

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TRAVEL

2

1 Mata Jitu Waterfall 2 Bright

red and orange sky as seen

from Moyo Island 3 Diwu M'bai

Waterfall 4 A daring man swinging

to dive into the deep waters

3 4

from thousand years of limestone

sediment. I took a dip in the water and

found it so beguiling. Above all, the water

made me feel rejuvenated like having a

natural skin detox.

Mata Jitu means sharp eyes. It was

named after the belief that the waterfall

had a guardian spirit in the past. When

sunlight shone on the caves, it formed a

pair of mystical eyes.

“The local community also believe the

butterflies here are the spirit of the late

Princess Diana to look after the waterfall,”

according to Ario Gundala, Director of PT

Highland Adventure.

a deep cave beneath the water which was

once home to a mystical huge crocodile–the

guardian of the waterfall.

Here, a strong rope hanging on an

old tree top is the main catch. Locals and

tourists alike love to swing on the rope and

dive into the pool which is about six-metre

deep from the top. It is quite a challenging

dive and I don’t dare to even hold the rope.

But the bold and daring will surely love this

Tarzan-styled adventure.

The villagers believe in another story

about a Lost Village in Moyo Island; they

hope that in their quest to hunt for herbs,

honey and wildlife, they will come across

this lost village. To them, it is good luck if

the Lost Village is found.

EVENT ON MOYO ISLAND

Wonderful Moyo Festival 2019 will be

happening from 9-16 September 2019.

This festival is part of the 100 Wonderful

Indonesia events by Indonesia’s Ministry

of Tourism. It features lots of cultural and

sports activities including horse racing,

buffalo racing, cultural parade, local fashion

on the streets, fishing tournaments, local

crafts shows, water sports and etc.

DIWU M’BAI: THE CROCODILE

WATERFALL

My next stop was Diwu M’Bai Waterfall, a

15-minute motorbike ride from Mata Jitu

Waterfall. Diwu M’Bai means crocodile

pool. It is believed by the villagers that

the waterfall is steeped in legend. It has

GETTING THERE

Kuala Lumpur to Lombok

Lombok to Sumbawa

Sumbawa to Moyo Island

Moyo Jetty to Mata Jitu Waterfall

Moyo Jetty to Diwu M’bai Waterfall

3 hours 15 minutes by AirAsia

20 minutes by Wings Air or Garuda Indonesia

45 minutes by boat

25 minutes by motorbike

15 minutes by motorbike

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM · 21

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FOOD

Check out lokalocal.com for more experiences, tours and workshops in Malaysia!

Home Dining with Chef Dyllon

THE SRI LANKAN CHEF JOINS KUALA LUMPUR’S PRIVATE

HOME DINING SCENE WITH HIS SERIOUS GASTRONOMIC

HERITAGE AND STRONG MALAYSIAN INFLUENCES.

Text & photos JESSY WONG

Dining in the home of an unfamiliar

person may be daunting if it was

suggested 5 years ago but now, diners

are looking for new dining experiences–one

that involves an authentic dinner in a new

social environment.

Within reach, home restaurants are

starting to trend up among the community

that is built around food. Strangers can

dine as friends and as Chef Dyllon has put

it, “food is universal” in connecting people

around the dining table.

Therefore, Dyllon’s Kitchen is more than

just a casual dining session. Taking a home

route, it is an opportunity for Chef Dyllon to

prepare his guests to embark on a creative

cross-culture phenomenon like no other.

HEALTHY FUSION FOOD

Would you believe it if I said it was

a completely oil-free home-cooked

five course dinner? Chef Dyllon’s take

on a healthier cuisine completely

knocked my socks off–especially

when both Sri Lankan and Malay food

are predominantly oily in nature.

Malay Sri Lanka fusion dining is

Chef Dyllon’s way of presenting an

alternative cooking method that uses

no oil and brown sugar on cultural

foods without compromising their

vibrant flavours. As he explained,

understanding the science behind

food preparation helps him to

advocate healthier eating.

Recipe like chicken rendang is cooked

using the naturally-sourced oil from

the meat; pop it in the pressure cooker

until the chicken fibres break up and oil

come to the fore. Although I was initially

skeptical for the “oil-less” mutton curry, I

had to say I was definitely surprised. The

all-rounded rich flavour is well-captured

by Chef Dyllon who uses a pressure cooker

to simmer the mutton curry.

With that said, the chicken sausage

pastry appetizers are healthy homemade

sausage sauteed with herbs. If some are

overwhelmed with a five course meal,

there are breaks in between each serving

so you may even chat with Chef Dyllon to

get some cooking tips.

22 · WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM

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FOOD

STAR OF THE EVENING

While most chefs in restaurants labour

behind the doors at the kitchen, the concept

of home dining actively engages the chef

with his guests; he can acknowledge how

his diners respond and gain ideas from the

interactive experience.

Chef Dyllon is the real star for earnestly

waiting to ask for a genuine feedback on his

new recipes as we dive into our guilt-free

meal at each course. Dyllon only started to

become a professional cook on Sri Lanka

cuisine in 2014–a far cry from his deejay

stint back in Sri Lanka. After his crosscultural

marriage to his lovely Malaysian

wife, he slowly picked up the basics of

Malay cuisine from his late mother-in-law.

“There was a language barrier between

me and my mother-in-law because I don’t

speak Kelantanese but, food is universal

and we bonded through that. Whenever she

made something, I in return would cook up

another dish to eat it with. It was a natural

thing for us–like yin and yang.”

That was how Chef Dyllon gained the

idea for his two cultures in one dinner

setting. Now, together with the assistance

of his sister-in-law, Bibi Aishah, the Malay

Sri Lankan Fusion Dining takes its final

shape and flavour across cultures.

For his upcoming work, Chef Dyllon

is experimenting on reducing curry spices

for a richer flavour or if you are a chilli

lokalocal.com/profile/2569/

@dyllonskitchen.x.ceylon2u

Malay Sri Lankan Fusion Dining Menu

Chicken Sausage Popiah and Chicken Sausage Pastries

Sri Lankan Coconut Roti served with Udang Tiga Rasa

Roti Jala served with Chicken Rendang

Claypot Briyani served with Pressure-cooked Mutton and Acar

Mango Sago

Organic Ceylon Black Tea

lover like him, keep an eye out as he

is anticipating to create a chilli dinner

party menu!

WWW.GOASIAPLUS.COM · 23

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TALES ON TRACK

FOOD FOR TALK

Rice of the East

Text FRANCIS YIP • Photos ADOBE STOCK

I

am not a big fan of rice. If I can, I will

always choose noodles over rice. But

there are certain rice dishes that I love

such as Nasi Kandar and Nasi Lemak.

These two dishes are commonly popular

in this country however, the east of

peninsula Malaysia showcase a different

art of rice making. The next time you want

to go Kelantan or Terengganu, remember

to sample these regional rice dishes.

NASI KERABU (HERBAL RICE)

I love this visually appealing blue rice.

Apparently, the blue colour is the result

of cooking rice with the petals of butterfly

pea flowers. Nasi Kerabu has strong Thai

influences and is commonly found in

Kelantan.

Apart from blue, some Nasi Kerabu

is also prepared in plain white, yellow

(turmeric) and green (pandan). The

word, “Kerabu” in Malay is what the Thai

would refer to as mango som tam. The

dish normally comes with the rice, herb

salad (kerabu), coconut, fish, spicy sambal

sauce, salted egg, fried fish or chicken, fish

cracker and stuffed green chillies.

My verdict: Rest assured, a taste that will

chase your blues away.

NASI DAGANG (TRADER’S RICE)

Nasi Dagang is steamed rice in coconut

milk, fenugreek seeds and lemongrass

to make it fragrant. This rice dish is

well-known in the east coast especially

Terengganu and Kelantan.

However, there is a distinct difference.

The Terengganu version uses ordinary

white rice but the Kelantanese one uses a

little glutinous rice and wild purplish rice.

They are normally served with tuna curry,

pickles and other assortments.

It is believed that Nasi Dagang has

Malay, Thai and Indian influences and

popular among the traders in the olden

days. I used to come across this dish being

served during festive seasons especially

during Ramadan.

My verdict: If traders love it, why not us?

NASI MINYAK (GHEE RICE)

Nasi minyak or ghee-cooked rice is

considered as a ceremonial dish and often

served in Malay wedding reception and

special occasions. Believed to be originated

from Sumatera, Nasi Minyak is a common

breakfast dish in Terengganu.

Nasi Minyak is easy to prepare. Just

spices, herbs and ghee. You can also easily

find it in night market and buy the readyto-cook

pack in grocery stores. Whatever

it is, the taste and aroma of Nasi Minyak is

best served with curry, spicy fried chicken,

sambal and other servings.

My verdict: The smooth taste is irresistible

on the tongue.

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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