Kembara PLUS - 2014 Jan Feb

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FEATURES GO FLY KITES! An annual event featuring the cultural, sporting and recreational activity of kite-flying, the World Kite Festival is a definite crowd-puller enjoyed by people of all ages spread across varying societies. This year’s event, slated to take place from 19 to 23 February at Bukit Layang-Layang in Pasir Gudang, Johor, will see the global participation of more than 30 countries. Kite-flying is a recreation sport that enhances friendships with participants both young and old, having enough common ground to break the iceand carry on long discussions about their shared passion. They will be vying for the title in five categories including “The Most Creative Kite”, “The Most Harmonious Kite Decor”, “The Dragon Kitie”, “The Train Kite” and “Rokkaku Challenge”. From a modest start in 1995 with just 11 foreign participants coming from 5 countries, the World Kite Festival has grown significantly throughout time as well as attracting local visitors to the event. For this year’s edition, the organisers have lined up several activities throughout the five-day event which will include kite exhibitions, kite competitions, kite making workshops as well as cultural events. A unique event called “Lolly Pop Drop” was part of last year’s festival where children will collect candies dropping from the air. Another highlight of the festival was night flying with LED kite showcase. The event was one of the most anticipated events to be introduced last year and will see its return this year too. Night flying is not to be missed by stargazers or photographers who wish to capture the beauty of these illuminated kites. Kite-flyers compete individually in local or international categories for the most creative LED kites. Last year, kite-flyers displayed their creativity by arranging neon-coloured lights along the frames of their kites. The most interesting kites were shaped like flowers, insects, logos and other objects. 8 KEMBARA PLUS ONLINE JANUARI/FEBRUARI 2014 9 KEMBARA PLUS ONLINE JANUARI/FEBRUARI 2014
TRAVEL Legacy of the Portuguese : A Famosa The sun sets over Pantai Puteri Traditional carvings at the mosque in Kampung Morten Convenient walkways along the Malacca River MALACCA: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN By: Norshazmira Fazlyna Mohamad Murat Strolling along the alleys of Malacca city one will definitely be amazed at the distinctive legacy of its past. At various points over several decades, this historic state has been ruled by Sultans, the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Japanese. Being ruled by different autocratic powers, Malacca can be described as a melting pot of cultures which began in 1400 with a prince from Palembang. Parameswara was resting with his small band of followers at the mouth of the Bertam River when he saw a white mouse-deer kicking one of his hunting dogs. Impressed with the deer’s bold movement, he took the incident as an auspicious sign for a city to be built at the very spot. The origin of the name Malacca came from the tree under which Parameswara was resting. oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia. The name of Alfonso de Albuquerque is synonymous to the fortress, as he originally constructed it as a form of massive fortification of the Portuguese Empire from Dutch invasion. A Famosa faced severe damages from the Dutch attack and but has survived over the years, although now only the lone whitewashed gatehouse of Porta de Santiago remains, located downhill from St Paul’s Church. Rich with historical monuments, Malacca offers tourists an informative engagement with the past, as there are many museums around the state, including the famous Samudera Ship Museum. The city itself is filled with buildings that embrace varied architectural styles. One of the most defining structures is the Christ Church or better known as Stadthuys, the Brick-Red Building. The unique feature of this building is further emphasized by the colourful groups of trishaws in the compound, all ready to peddle foreigners and locals alike. The trishaws are heavily decorated with ornaments and lights, not to mention blaring speakers. Another novel way of experiencing the city’s attractions is by taking a River Boat Cruise along the Malacca River. Once dubbed the ‘Venice of the East’, the river boat will cruise up the shallow Malacca River to Kampung Morten, a distance of about 10 km and takes 45 minutes to 1 hour. As you cruise further up the river, you will be able to see old shop houses on the left and right banks, a testimony of its heydays as a bustling trading port. One can easily find mosques, temples and churches within a stone’s throw of each other. Malacca is also home to the Baba Nyonya Peranakan, descendants of Chinese Immigrants from the 15th century who married locals and brought forth a unique culture and way of life which is essentially a mixture of both Malay and Chinese heritage. In the south of Malacca, there is also a Portuguese settlement where the community speaks Kristang, a mix of old Portuguese and Malay. Also not be missed is the Jonker Street Night Market. Located along Jalan Hang Jebat, it is the weekly night market, where you would find Malays, Indians, Chinese and foreigners filling the streets, in search of unique crafts, local wares and antiques. Boat cruises ply the waterways Located midway along the straits linking China to India and the Near East, Malacca was perfectly established as a center for maritime trade, where it grew rapidly and became a bustling cosmopolitan port. The strategic point of Malacca to the Spice Islands attracted many maritime powers. Numerous battles have taken place in this small state, and one of its most famous ruins is the A Famosa. Built during the Portuguese Era in 1511, the A Famosa is one of the A not-to-be-missed night market Against such a colorful background of cultures, one would be right to expect an equally interesting array of food choices. Indeed, Malacca is famous for its Assam Pedas and Baba- Nyonya cuisine, in particular the traditional chendol dessert – made with Coconut milk, jelly noodles, shaved ice and palm sugar. Clockwise from above : Famous Malacca tiles adorn these steps; handwoven beaded Nyonya Slippers; city sightseeing by trishaw 10 KEMBARA PLUS ONLINE JANUARI/FEBRUARI 2014 11 KEMBARA PLUS ONLINE JANUARI/FEBRUARI 2014
Page 1 and 2: Januari/Februari 2014 Edisi 6 Kites
Page 3 and 4: FEATURES Within walking distance is
Page 5: FEATURES Creative kite designs BRIE
Page 9 and 10: MAKAN_MAKAN Kuih Sepit Bahan-bahan:
Page 11 and 12: PLUS NEWS PLUS INTRODUCES SMART APP
Page 13 and 14: PLUS NEWS RAKYAT ANTARA PEMEGANG SA
Page 15: SAFETY TIPS TIP Keselamatan Di lebu

Kembara PLUS - 2014 Jan Feb

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