Kembara PLUS - 2013 December
Disember 2013 Edisi 5 Malaysia Welcomes You! Aalborg Adventure Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 1 KEMBARA PLUS ONLINE DISEMBER 2013 Travel Packing Tips
- Page 2 and 3: Features : Happy Holidays! 03 ‘Ti
- Page 4 and 5: FEATURES TRAVEL PACKING tips 1. Che
- Page 6 and 7: FEATURES Native beads from Sabah an
- Page 8 and 9: FEATURES Passionate riders crossing
- Page 10 and 11: TRAVEL LABU SAYONG Kuala Kangsar’
- Page 12 and 13: MAKAN_MAKAN Kek Nenas Terbalik Baha
- Page 14 and 15: PLUS NEWS PERSIMPANGAN BERTINGKAT S
Disember <strong>2013</strong><br />
Edisi 5<br />
Malaysia<br />
Welcomes You!<br />
Aalborg<br />
Adventure<br />
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year<br />
1 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong><br />
Travel<br />
Packing Tips
Features :<br />
Happy Holidays!<br />
03<br />
‘Tis the season of<br />
giving<br />
06<br />
Visit Malaysia<br />
2014 : Malaysia<br />
welcomes you<br />
09<br />
Labu Sayong:<br />
Kuala Kangsar’s<br />
Distinctive Heritage<br />
CONTENTS<br />
05 Travel Packing tips<br />
07 Travel :<br />
Aalborg Adventures<br />
11 Islamic Tourism : The New<br />
Frontier<br />
12 Riding to promote<br />
Malaysia in Uzbekistan<br />
14 Hidden Gems of Kuala<br />
Kangsar<br />
18 Fashion :<br />
Happy holidays<br />
21 Makan- Makan:<br />
Kek Nenas Terbalik<br />
22 <strong>PLUS</strong> News :<br />
Bersedia Hadapi<br />
Sebarang Kemungkinan<br />
25 Smart Tips :<br />
Exercise<br />
16<br />
2 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong><br />
<strong>Kembara</strong> <strong>PLUS</strong> Online is produced by Strategic Communications & Corporate Communications, <strong>PLUS</strong> Malaysia Berhad
FEATURES<br />
We normally holiday in areas with fresh air, sunlight and<br />
some element of nature. All of this has a positive effect<br />
on us. Spending time outside in the sun or just in natural<br />
light increases our serotonin levels which make us feel<br />
happier and more relaxed. Fresh air and exercise also<br />
helps us to sleep better.<br />
We also need to take a break from Social Media<br />
every now and again. The influx of Smartphone’s and<br />
applications allow us access to Twitter, Facebook at<br />
the touch of a button. While this makes for great<br />
communication, it’s also easy to become more and more<br />
addicted to them. It does us good to be reminded that<br />
the world won’t fall apart if we don’t tweet or update<br />
our status for a week or two!<br />
Holidays give us time to reconnect with our spouses/<br />
partners and families. It provides us with quality bonding<br />
time that we don’t often have at home and gives us<br />
the opportunity to create memories to share in years<br />
to come. Committing to be with parents, siblings,<br />
children, and extended and blended family members<br />
communicates with actions that these people are<br />
important and worth the effort involved in making<br />
the journey and sharing the holiday with. They are the<br />
people who know everything about us and accept<br />
us anyway. In spite of stressful times, family loyalty is a<br />
powerful connection.<br />
Holidays allow for families to bond better<br />
The year-end holidays are here<br />
again! The Scrooges among you<br />
may well ask why the need to take<br />
a holiday at all but it is vitally<br />
important to have these breaks<br />
from our routine, even if they are<br />
short. Going away and breaking<br />
from your normal routine is an<br />
important component of self-care.<br />
Few people seem to be aware of<br />
how important holidays actually<br />
are for our long-term health and<br />
wellbeing. In fact, given the benefits<br />
that holidays actually provide, they<br />
should be considered more of a<br />
necessity than a luxury!<br />
We all need to step off the treadmill<br />
of our daily routines, chores and<br />
demanding jobs once in a while.<br />
Working in a stressful environment<br />
without taking regular breaks can<br />
be damaging to our health and also<br />
our employer’s businesses.<br />
Without proper downtime our<br />
bodies don’t have the time they<br />
need to repair and recuperate.<br />
When we are overworked<br />
our immune systems become<br />
suppressed leaving us susceptible<br />
to illness. We’re also less efficient<br />
at work and more likely to make<br />
mistakes. So any sensible employers<br />
out there should be encouraging us<br />
to jet off more regularly to prevent<br />
burnout, encourage productivity…..<br />
and their profits!<br />
So, how exactly does a holiday<br />
help us? Well, we’re normally more<br />
active on holiday. We walk, explore,<br />
swim and chase round after our<br />
children. There’s not a lot of need<br />
to explain why this is better for us<br />
than sitting in front of a computer<br />
all day or slouching on the sofa but<br />
exercise also releases endorphins,<br />
happy hormones, which make us<br />
feel better and fights those stress<br />
hormones.<br />
We also need downtime to become inspired, more<br />
creative and dream up our best ideas. It’s very difficult<br />
for us to be creative and produce great work without<br />
thinking time.<br />
Taking holidays and exploring different places also gives us<br />
a chance to build new relationships. Those relationships<br />
add to our support networks and may even bring us<br />
new opportunities.<br />
Time to rest and unwind also allows us to nurture<br />
positive thoughts and feelings. If we allow ourselves the<br />
time we need to relax then we are valuing our bodies,<br />
our health and ourselves.<br />
whether a holiday in the tropics or in winter, enjoy the outdoors as much as possible<br />
Time to reconnect with spouse and create special memories<br />
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FEATURES<br />
TRAVEL PACKING<br />
tips<br />
1. Check temperatures and events at your destination. Only pack<br />
what corresponds---do not bring “just in case” clothes.<br />
2. Choose a central color to pack around. A neutral such<br />
as brown, black, or tan is a good place to start, then bring<br />
accessories and accent pieces that go with this color palette.<br />
3. A good rule of thumb for trips less than one week is one shirt per<br />
day, one layering jacket or sweater, one bottom per every two days<br />
(but never less than two pairs of pants), no more than two pairs of<br />
shoes (one you wear and one you pack), underwear for every day,<br />
and seasonal additions, like a bathing suit.<br />
4. If you’re traveling for more than a week, follow the same numbers<br />
as above and plan on washing clothes instead of bringing more. If<br />
you’re in a country with a good exchange rate, or aren’t on a tight<br />
budget, take advantage of the hotel laundry service or dry cleaning.<br />
Otherwise, bring individual packets of detergent.<br />
5. Make detailed lists of everything you plan to bring. That way you<br />
can easily see if you’ve allotted six pairs of pants for a four-day trip.<br />
Be honest, note everything---including socks and underwear---and<br />
then stick to your list when packing.<br />
6. Downsize toiletries. Pick up travel-size<br />
versions of your favorite products<br />
whenever you see them, not just when<br />
you’re getting ready to travel. If you can’t<br />
find miniatures, buy small plastic bottles<br />
and decant from larger products.<br />
7. Wear your heaviest shoes, sweater,<br />
and jacket. That way, you don’t have to<br />
pack them.<br />
8. Before you actually pack your<br />
suitcase, pile everything you plan to<br />
bring on your bed or dresser. This is<br />
your opportunity to eye your clothes<br />
and cull a few more items. If you pack<br />
directly into your suitcase, you’ll be<br />
tempted to throw in a few extra items (trust<br />
us, you will). Once you’ve made the final edit, pack only<br />
what’s in front of you. If you’ve followed our advice, your suitcase<br />
should now be a lean, mean, traveling machine: happy travels!<br />
CHECKLIST What to pack:<br />
FEATURES<br />
‘TIS THE<br />
SEASON<br />
of GIVING<br />
For many people, giving is an<br />
important part of the year-end<br />
holidays which culminates with<br />
Christmas and the seasonal giving<br />
of gifts.<br />
Too often in our culture,<br />
however, the focus of Christmas<br />
is on consumerism. Christmas<br />
is typically a peak selling season<br />
for retailers in many nations<br />
around the world. Sales increase<br />
dramatically as people purchase<br />
gifts, decorations, and supplies to<br />
celebrate.<br />
The Thanksgiving-to-Christmas<br />
season does bring out the best<br />
in people, but the spirit of giving<br />
should extend beyond the malls<br />
to helping out charitablecauses.<br />
There are countless different ways<br />
you can create a positive impact<br />
in your community not just for<br />
this season but all-year round: for<br />
example, by helping out at an Old<br />
Folks’ Home, donating to a charity,<br />
or participating in a food drive for<br />
the homeless – these are all ways<br />
that a small contribution of your<br />
time and effort will have a huge<br />
impact in the life of someone less<br />
fortunate.<br />
After all, people need our help<br />
all year-round. Sick children in<br />
hospitals, children in battered<br />
women’s shelters who have<br />
fled their homes in the middle<br />
of the night, and many others<br />
require our bounty year-round.<br />
The same goes for other forms<br />
of volunteering – there are<br />
homeless, disabled, ill, poor, and<br />
otherwise hurting people who<br />
need help year-round.<br />
Poor people don’t need the dregs<br />
of your life, whether in the form<br />
of your material cast-offs, or your<br />
time, emotion, and advice. Being<br />
poor means lacking resources,<br />
not lacking humanity – so if you<br />
can’t connect with the people<br />
you aim to serve, as people, then<br />
nobody is the better for your<br />
alleged charity.<br />
One of the resources most<br />
lacking for impoverished people<br />
is autonomy. Think about the way<br />
you volunteer or give charity –<br />
perhaps there is a better way for<br />
you to increase people’s abilities<br />
to make their own choices, to<br />
follow their own paths and to<br />
develop their own abilities.<br />
Too often, people in a position to<br />
help hold themselves apart from<br />
the people they hope to assist.<br />
And no wonder – for the once-ayear<br />
volunteer, there is little time<br />
to get to know anyone, let alone<br />
really understand what their lives<br />
are like. If you can, make a longterm<br />
commitment and open<br />
yourself up to the lives of the<br />
people your charity is aimed at.<br />
Get to know people face-to-face,<br />
as friends and colleagues and<br />
equals.<br />
Last but most important,<br />
remember, it’s not about you. Yes,<br />
it feels good to give, and there’s<br />
no point in feeling guilty about<br />
that, but don’t do it because it<br />
makes you feel good, or because<br />
you earn points towards a<br />
merit badge or college credit,<br />
or because it’s part of your<br />
organization’s CSR charter, or for<br />
whatever other way that charity<br />
benefits you. Do it because you<br />
must, because being a giving<br />
person is right.<br />
And this year, instead of giving<br />
during the season of giving and<br />
then returning to your “normal<br />
life” after the holidays are over, let<br />
the holidays be a starting point to<br />
a life of year-round giving.<br />
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TRAVEL<br />
Jørgen Olufsen’s House is Denmark’s best preserved<br />
merchant’s mansion in the Renaissance style. Built mainly of<br />
sandstone in 1616, it also has a half-timbered section. Olufsen,<br />
Jens Bang’s half brother, was not only a successful merchant<br />
but also mayor of Aalborg.<br />
Aalborghus Castle (Aalborghus Slot) was built in the mid-16th<br />
century by King Christian III for his vassals who collected taxes<br />
and is the only remaining example of its kind in the country.<br />
The park, dungeon and casemates, but not the castle itself, are<br />
open to the public in the summer months.<br />
Every year in the last weekend of May, Aalborg gears up to<br />
receive more than 100,000 visitors to its city for the Aalborg<br />
Carnival, the biggest in Scandinavia and one of the largest in<br />
northern Europe. It consists of three events: the children’s<br />
carnival, the battle of carnival bands, and the carnival proper,<br />
to cater to all ages and tastes.<br />
The city’s iconic town hall<br />
Viking burial ground<br />
Aalborg<br />
ADVENTURE<br />
Denmark’s fourth-largest city sits at the narrowest point of the Limfjord (the long body of water<br />
that slices Jutland in two). The area around its narrowest point attracted settlements as far back<br />
as the Iron Age leading to a thriving Viking community until around the year 1000 in what has<br />
now become Aalborg. The sites of what were two settlements and a burial ground can be seen<br />
on Lindholm Høje, a hill overlooking the city.<br />
Aalborg’s old city hall was built in 1762. It is now only used<br />
for ceremonial and representative purposes. Designed in the<br />
Late Baroque style, the building with its black-glazed tile roof<br />
consists of two storeys and a cellar. Another old building of<br />
note is the half-timbered Håndværkerhuset which in 1625<br />
housed a number of warehouses. It is now used as a centre<br />
for arts and crafts.<br />
Jomfru Ane Gade is one of the most famous streets in Aalborg<br />
if not in Denmark. Popular for its cafés and restaurants during<br />
the day, it is even busier at night with its clubs, discos and<br />
bars. During the 1990s, the street was infamously a ‘hang out’<br />
of two biker gangs who were at war for some years all over<br />
Scandinavia. As the bikers disappeared it became increasingly<br />
popular for people of all ages.<br />
The noted architect Jørn Utzon, famous for his design of the<br />
Sydney Opera House, has a centre dedicated in his honor in<br />
this city. Born in Copenhagen, Utzon grew up in Aalborg. The<br />
Utzon Centre contains an exhibition on Utzon’s work as well<br />
as educational displays on architecture and design.<br />
Above & Below : Powerstation turned community centre<br />
In the Middle Ages, royal trading privileges, a natural harbour<br />
and a thriving herring fishing industry contributed to the<br />
town’s growth. Despite the difficulties it experienced over<br />
the centuries, the city began to prosper once again towards<br />
the end of the 19th century when a bridge was built over<br />
Limfjord and the railway arrived. Aalborg’s initial growth<br />
relied on heavy industry but its current development focuses<br />
on culture and education.<br />
Aalborg’s ‘lifestyle attractions’ (shopping and dining), and<br />
indeed its restaurants are one of its best features. Traditionally<br />
it was ignored by foreign travellers, but there are enough<br />
diversions here to occupy a day or two for most visitors.<br />
The leisure traveler would find Aalborg’s civic parks refreshing.<br />
The Kildeparken hosts the annual Aalborg Carnival while<br />
Sohngårdsholmpark is a wooded area containing trails for<br />
both walking/jogging and biking and a six-hole golf course<br />
(free to the public).<br />
Those more historically inclined would find the architecture<br />
around the city impressive. Jens Bang’s House on Østerågade<br />
near the old town hall, is one of Denmark’s best examples<br />
of 17th-century domestic architecture. For over 300 years, it<br />
has housed the city’s oldest pharmacy.<br />
The Utzon Centre house exhibits by Jøhn Utzon who designed the Sydney Opera House<br />
Another must-see is the Nordkraft, a cultural centre placed<br />
inside a former power plant near the harbour. It has theatres,<br />
a cinema, and concert facilities. Kunsthal Nord, established in<br />
the centre in 2009, arranges up to five exhibitions a year of all<br />
forms of contemporary art, especially of local origin but also<br />
from other parts of Denmark and beyond.<br />
Winter boots for sale at a pedestrian mall<br />
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FEATURES<br />
Native beads from Sabah and Sarawak make good souvenirs<br />
Iban warrior dance from Sarawak<br />
The initiative is expected to rake in RM76 billion in tourist<br />
receipts as Malaysia is set to benefit from the growth of tourist<br />
arrivals in the Asia-Pacific region, with a projected increase<br />
from 204 million visitors in 2010 to 535 million in 2030.<br />
The expanding market of tourist arrivals worldwide<br />
demonstrates that all countries stand to benefit from tourism.<br />
Themed “Celebrating 1Malaysia, Truly Asia”, VMY 2014 will<br />
showcase the unique selling points of the country’s rich culture<br />
and heritage with many ethnic groups living in harmony.<br />
VMY is a game changer as it gets the nation ready to offer<br />
Malaysian hospitality to visitors and change the mindset of<br />
Malaysians to be a tourist-friendly country. VMY will also<br />
mobilise the entire industry and nation to move up the value<br />
chain of tourism products and services offered, contributing<br />
towards Malaysia as a top-of-the-mind tourist destination.<br />
MALAYSIA<br />
WELCOMES YOU!<br />
Malaysia is ranked 4th in the world’s top shopping destinations<br />
Visit Malaysia Year 2014,<br />
an intensive tourism<br />
campaign that will promote<br />
Malaysia internationally,<br />
aims to attract 28 million<br />
tourists to the country next<br />
year.<br />
Kota Bharu’s colorful wet market is also a top tourist attraction<br />
Explore the rainforests with its exotic flora and fauna<br />
Satay - a national dish not just in Malaysia but also in Southeast Asia<br />
Shadow play (left) and Wau (right) : Favoured past-times in Kelantan<br />
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FEATURES<br />
Islamic Tourism:<br />
THE NEW<br />
FRONTIER<br />
A copy of “Mosque Trails” and<br />
brochures promoting Islamic<br />
Tourism experience in Malaysia<br />
By Norshazmira Murat<br />
Travel has always been a part of the<br />
Islamic way of life, encouraged in the<br />
Holy Quran Surah Al-Ankabut, verse<br />
20: ‘O Muhammad, travel through<br />
the land and observe how He began<br />
creation. Then Allah will produce the<br />
final creation. Indeed Allah, over all<br />
things, is competent’.<br />
With an estimated Muslim<br />
population of 1.6 billion, the<br />
broad market segment of Muslim<br />
tourists has triggered Malaysia to<br />
inject Islamic Tourism in promoting<br />
its Visit Malaysia Year 2014. The<br />
concept of Islamic Tourism revolves<br />
around every possible perspective<br />
ranging from economic purpose<br />
to the spirituality of individuals. It<br />
strengthens the bilateral relationship<br />
between peoples (Hablum Minnas)<br />
and also, their relationship with the<br />
Creator (Hablum Minallah).<br />
The prerequisite of an ‘Islamic<br />
Tourism experience’ comes with its<br />
own set of challenges. To address<br />
issues pertaining to ‘halal’ services<br />
and content of Islamic tour packages,<br />
the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC)<br />
Malaysia was set up to promote and<br />
elevate the success and sustainability<br />
of Muslim travel and tourism.<br />
Recently, ITC endorsed the Trans<br />
Uzbek Expedition as it promoted<br />
Malaysia as an Islamic country with<br />
many interesting Islamic products.<br />
According to its Director General,<br />
Hj Abdul Rahman Shaari, “ITC’s<br />
involvement in this expedition is<br />
to promote bilateral relationship<br />
between the Malaysian Government<br />
and Uzbekistan. We deployed the<br />
riders as agents to communicate our<br />
intention and promote Malaysia as a<br />
whole to Uzbeks”.<br />
Malaysia’s Islamic historical<br />
background is well-documented.<br />
One of its many great legacies is the<br />
famous Inscribed Stone in Terengganu,<br />
well preserved till this day, and the<br />
rich and majestic architecture of its<br />
Mosques. Masjid Negeri Shah Alam,<br />
or the ‘Blue Mosque’ is said to be the<br />
biggest in Southeast Asia, and has<br />
one of the world’s biggest domes<br />
and tallest minarets.<br />
The Centre has compiled a list of<br />
Islamic Tourism Packages, making<br />
it easier for tourists to make their<br />
choice and compare best prices.<br />
Better yet, get a copy of ITC’s Mosque<br />
Trails, a comprehensive guidebook of<br />
all 57 iconic Mosques from the 14<br />
states of Malaysia.<br />
11 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong>
FEATURES<br />
Passionate riders crossing the Silk Road<br />
RIDING<br />
to promote<br />
Riders, we are set to go!<br />
By: Muhammad Azril Izuan Ramlan<br />
A 14-day journey covering 2662 kilometres<br />
through the heart of Uzbekistan with the<br />
mission to promote Visit Malaysia Year<br />
2014 (VMY2014)…this was what a 10-<br />
man team of RAF Riders achieved recently.<br />
The superbikers who ranged in age from<br />
the youngest at 30 and the oldest at 60<br />
years old, visited 8 cities from Tashkent, to<br />
Djizzak, Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Bukhara,<br />
Ayazhkhala, Urgench and Khiva to promote<br />
Malaysia to the locals there.<br />
MALAYSIA in<br />
UZBEKISTAN<br />
The journey of the “Trans Uzbek Venture<br />
Expeditions” began in Tashkent, the capital<br />
city, where the last copy of al-Quran from<br />
the era of Caliph Othman is preserved.<br />
During his time, Caliph Othman had<br />
ordered four copies of the al-Quran to be<br />
made and sent to all four corners of the<br />
world to spread Islam. Unfortunately, only<br />
one copy remained intact.<br />
The team next visited Djizzak, and made<br />
a stop at Samarkand, the centre of Islamic<br />
architecture in Uzbekistan. Samarkand<br />
serves the best nuts and local fruits in the<br />
country.<br />
Melons a-plenty<br />
The most challenging part of the journey for the team was<br />
the varying temperatures from as low as 7 degrees Celsius<br />
to as high as 30 degrees on the road. While in Ayazhkhala,<br />
they spent their nights in traditional tents of the Uzbeks<br />
called the Yurt.<br />
The riders also did some stargazing utilising a stargazing<br />
tool called the Al-Burani at the Observatory of Ulugbek<br />
which counted as one of the highlights of their Uzbek<br />
experience.<br />
The team crossed 400 kilometres of deserted highway<br />
through Urgench to make their way to Khiva, a city in the<br />
western region of Uzbekistan. Since Khiva is the only city in<br />
Uzbekistan with a river, this is the only place where locals<br />
can enjoy fish. Another great treasure of Khiva would be<br />
the impenetrable Ichan-Qala fortress, built by Alexander<br />
the Great which still stands strong today and is recognised<br />
as a UNESCO World Heritage site.<br />
When asked about how they would sum up Uzbekistan,<br />
the riders replied in unison: 3Ms - for Madrasah which<br />
are found almost everywhere; Mausoleums where two of<br />
the greatest Imams in Islamic history i.e. Imam al-Bukhari<br />
and Imam Hanafi, repose; and Melons, sweet, fresh and in<br />
abundance!<br />
The expedition brought a new dimension to the bilateral<br />
relationship between the Malaysian and Uzbekistan<br />
governments. Supported by Tourism Malaysia and the<br />
Islamic Tourism Centre, the TUV Expedition succeeded in<br />
forging better relations between the two countries and<br />
promoting each other’s Islamic tourism products.<br />
Registan Square in Samarakand<br />
Yurt – signature stay of the Uzbeks in Ayazhkhala<br />
Beautiful interior of the yurt in Ayazhkhala<br />
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TRAVEL<br />
Outstanding architecture of Masjid Ubudiah<br />
Beautiful design; Masjid Ihsaniah or the Bamboo House<br />
Galeri Azlan Shah is where all personal collections of Sultan Azlan Shah are kept<br />
Kuala Kangsar’s very own clock tower<br />
Hidden Gems of<br />
KUALA<br />
KANGSAR<br />
By: Muhammad Azril Izuan Ramlan<br />
Serenely cradled in the northern region of Perak is the<br />
historical royal town of Kuala Kangsar. The origin of its<br />
name is varied but all are steeped in folklore, the most<br />
popular of which is that the name was given by an<br />
explorer who was among the first ones to establish a<br />
settlement at the mouth of a river. He began calling this<br />
place “Kuala Kurang Sa” which is short form for “Kuala<br />
Kurang Seratus” or one short of a hundred as there<br />
was a total of 99 tributaries flowing into the Perak<br />
River in the area. Another legend claims the name was<br />
derived from the kangsar tree; a type of hibiscus that<br />
grows in abundance along the Kangsar riverbank.<br />
The opening of Kuala Kangsar as a royal town took<br />
place during the era of Sultan Yusuf Sharifuddin<br />
Mudzafar Shah of Perak in 1877. Unlike many rulers<br />
before him who built palaces at vantage points along<br />
the eastern region of the state far from the Perak<br />
River, Sultan Yusuf took an odd decision to construct<br />
his palace at the western area of the Perak River bank.<br />
His palace was called Istana Sri Sayong which stood<br />
strong for many years but today is left abandoned<br />
and in ruins. Since the 18th century, all Sultans after<br />
Sultan Yusuf resided in palaces on the west bank of<br />
Perak River in Kuala Kangsar. This town was also the<br />
administrative base for J.W.W. Birch, the first British<br />
Resident in the state.<br />
Muzium Diraja Perak, open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.<br />
Over the years, Kuala Kangsar has gone through many<br />
transformations and modernization yet the historical<br />
attributes of the town remain intact. Plenty of hidden gems<br />
began to be discovered and commercialized to beef up the<br />
state’s tourism sector.<br />
One of the greatest architectures in Kuala Kangsar stands<br />
at the heart of the town. Istana Iskandariah, the palace of<br />
the current reigning Sultan Azlan Shah, is built on a hill and<br />
its distinctive golden dome can be seen as soon as you<br />
enter the town centre. Nearby are many other magnificent<br />
buildings such as the Galeri Diraja Perak, Galeri Sultan Azlan<br />
Shah, Masjid Ubudiah and Masjid Ihsaniah.<br />
Besides these glorious monuments of the past, Kuala<br />
Kangsar also offers a number of mouthwatering foods. Yut<br />
Lai is probably the most famous restaurant in Kuala Kangsar<br />
among tourists. Located at an old double-storied shop<br />
house at Jalan Kangsar, it serves the best pau in town. The<br />
handmade pau comes with choices of fillings ranging from<br />
beef, kaya, red beans and chicken. Yut Lai is a halal certified<br />
restaurant and patrons come from far and wide.<br />
For ikan bakar lovers, Teratak Warisan Kampung is a highly<br />
recommended restaurant to whet your appetite. This<br />
restaurant is located near the old-railway station and<br />
serves diverse traditional dishes such as ikan bakar, fried<br />
ikan pekasam, gulai lemak udang galah and gulai tempoyak<br />
ikan patin at reasonable prices.<br />
Not too far away is the Mariwasa Kraftangan, acknowledged<br />
as the largest silversmith in Malaysia and well-known for its<br />
pewter products, gold bullion, commemorative medallions<br />
and custom-made orders of awards from the palace.<br />
Mariwasa Kraftangan has a showroom situated in front of<br />
their factory at Kawasan Perusahaan Kuala Kangsar which is<br />
open to the public.<br />
Another signature craft of Kuala Kangsar is the labu sayong.<br />
You can find stores or shops selling the pottery in almost<br />
every part of Kuala Kangsar. But the best place to get the labu<br />
sayong would be at the place of its origin at Pekampungan<br />
Sayong (see sidebar story).<br />
If you are planning to visit Kuala Kangsar, there are several<br />
choices of accommodation. Hotels and inns are limited<br />
but many locals have renovated their houses to offer a<br />
homestay experience to tourists.<br />
The calming and clean town of Kuala Kangsar<br />
Wondescript facade of the best pau in the country!<br />
14 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong> 15 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong>
TRAVEL<br />
LABU<br />
SAYONG<br />
Kuala Kangsar’s<br />
Distinctive Heritage<br />
By Norshazmira Murat<br />
There are two important elements involved in<br />
producing quality Labu Sayong. One is the craftsmen’s<br />
skill and another is the quality of the clay soil itself.<br />
Sayong is blessed with fine clay soil, located specifically<br />
along its riverbanks and in Kg Kuala Bendang.<br />
In the production of the delicate Labu Sayong, clay<br />
soil is collected manually and processed into a much<br />
refined version, with no impurities left. The clay is then<br />
shaped and finishing touches added before it is left to<br />
dry. The process does not end there, as the carved<br />
clay needs to be glazed to refine its look, structure<br />
and functionality and to ensure water does not seep<br />
through. The clay also acquires a rich ebony color<br />
from the glazing technique, thus giving it the classic<br />
water gourd look.<br />
At Win Kraf Perkampungan Sayong, visitors can feel<br />
the clay soil on their hands and mold the clay delicately<br />
into whatever desired shape at the pottery wheel. A<br />
hands-on experience is literally available at no cost<br />
at all for those interested to attempt pottery-making.<br />
Adding motifs and carvings before drying in the sun<br />
Hidden within the district of Sayong in Kuala<br />
Kangsar is a place unique to Malaysia’s craft<br />
heritage, for it is here that the eponymous Labu<br />
Sayong originates from. The mere mention of<br />
Labu Sayong brings to mind images of black<br />
pottery. Traditionally used as water containers,<br />
this iconic earthenware was much favored to<br />
store water in the days before the refrigerator<br />
was invented due to its ability to quickly chill its<br />
contents. Over the years, its function as merely a<br />
water gourd has metamorphosed into beautiful<br />
ornaments and decorations for the home.<br />
The beautiful workmanship present in each<br />
design of the Labu Sayong is inspired by ancestral<br />
tradition and culture, with motives based on<br />
floral elements and unique engravings. One of<br />
the finest craftsmen here is Ridzuan Hamli who<br />
took up pottery-making as a child because it<br />
was his family business and he was expected<br />
to continue the tradition. To refine his glazing<br />
techniques, however, he enrolled in a one-year<br />
course in Nagoya, Japan.<br />
A lump of clay is shape into candiments at the pottery wheel<br />
The array of finished products<br />
16 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong> 17 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong>
FESYEN<br />
Pilihan jaket dan seluar<br />
corak kotak menampilkan<br />
sisi elegan pemakai<br />
Variasi tas tangan untuk mereka<br />
yang mementingkan gaya<br />
Ponco ganbungan 4 warna<br />
bagi mereka yang gemarkan<br />
sesuatu yang ringkas<br />
Kardigan dengan hud 2 warna<br />
belang hitam & biru<br />
Tampak glamour dengan<br />
aksesori penutup telinga warna<br />
merah<br />
WINTER HOLIDAY<br />
But kulit paras lutut nampak<br />
ranggi kala bercuti<br />
But baldu rona coklat yang menarik<br />
Kardigan rona belang 4<br />
tona warna tampil sisi<br />
santai<br />
Aksesori pelengkap<br />
gaya untuk percutian<br />
ke negara bersalji<br />
18 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong><br />
Sentuhan jaket rona coklat krim<br />
sebagai pelindung menghadapi<br />
cuaca dingin<br />
19 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong>
MAKAN_MAKAN<br />
Kek<br />
Nenas<br />
Terbalik<br />
Bahan-bahan:<br />
250 gm mentega<br />
220 gm tepung kek (A)<br />
1 sudu teh serbuk penaik (A)<br />
200 gm gula kastor<br />
30 gm mentega (dicairkan)<br />
4 biji telur gred A<br />
5 sudu makan air sirap nenas<br />
3 sudu makan gula perang<br />
10 keping nenas bulat dalam tin (dilap dengan tuala bersih)<br />
10 biji ceri merah /hijau (dibelah dua)<br />
Cara membuat:<br />
1. Sediakan acuan empat segi berukuran 8 inci atau<br />
acuan bulat 9 inci. Lapik dengan kertas serap minyak.<br />
Panaskan ketuhar pada suhu 180C selama 15 minit.<br />
2. Satukan mentega, gula kastor dan pukul hingga<br />
kembang dan putih.<br />
3. Masukkan telur sebiji demi sebiji sambil diputar hingga<br />
sebati.<br />
4. Seterusnya masukkan bahan (A) yang telah diayak<br />
bersama, sedikit demi sedikit sambil dikacau berselangseli<br />
dengan air sirap nenas.<br />
5. Ratakan mentega cair dalam acuan. Taburkan gula<br />
perang. Susun nenas pada dasar tin. Letakkan ceri di<br />
bahagian tengah yang berlubang. Tuangkan aduan kek<br />
dan ratakan. Bakar di dalam ketuhar selama 1 jam.<br />
6. Setelah masak, sejukkan kek di dalam acuannya selama<br />
1 jam.<br />
7. Terbalikkan kek ke dalam bekas. Kepingan nenas<br />
hendaklah di bahagian atasnya.<br />
(Sumber : Kompilasi Hidangan Kek oleh Nor Aini Zakaria, terbitan Grup<br />
Buku Karangkraf Sdn Bhd)<br />
20 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong> 21 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong>
<strong>PLUS</strong> NEWS<br />
Bersedia Hadapi<br />
Sebarang Kemungkinan<br />
<strong>PLUS</strong> NEWS<br />
Dua buah lori yang membawa asid hidroklorik telah<br />
terlibat di dalam satu ‘kemalangan’ di jambatan Linkedua<br />
di sempadan Malaysia dan Singapura baru-baru ini.<br />
Kemalangan tersebut telah menyebabkan tumpahan<br />
asid di jambatan tersebut dan laluan tersebut telah<br />
ditutup serta-merta untuk mengelakkan kejadian yang<br />
tidak diingini.<br />
Ini adalah sebahagian daripada senario latihan<br />
kecemasan yang dijayakan oleh kira-kira 30 agensi dari<br />
Malaysia dan Singapura. Ini turut dijayakan oleh kirakira<br />
550 kakitangan bantuan kecemasan dari kedua-dua<br />
buah negara.<br />
Turut serta adalah Setiausaha Kementerian Air dan<br />
Alam Sekitar, Choi Shing Kwok dan juga Timbalan<br />
Ketua Setiausaha 2 Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam<br />
Sekitar, Datuk Dr. Che Abdul Rahim bin Haji Nik.<br />
Sementara itu, lima maut, 30 parah manakala 45 lagi<br />
cedera ringan apabila sebuah bas, 2 van dan 3 kereta<br />
terlibat dalam kemalangan di KM 8.0 Lebuhraya<br />
Butterworth-Kulim (BKE) yang menyebabkan laluan<br />
terhalang sepenuhnya. Ini juga merupakan antara<br />
senario latihan kecemasan yang telah diadakan di lebuh<br />
raya tersebut baru-baru ini.<br />
Antara objektif utama latihan kecemasan ini adalah<br />
bagi menguji kecekapan serta persediaan operasi Pelan<br />
Kecemasan dan Pemulihan Bencana. Selain daripada<br />
itu, latihan ini juga bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti<br />
kelemahan serta menambah baik prosedur yang sedia<br />
ada dalam menguruskan krisis di lebuh raya.<br />
Latihan kecemasan ini turut membabitkan agensi-agensi<br />
lain seperti Hospital Seberang Jaya, Lembaga Lebuhraya<br />
Malaysia (LLM), Polis DiRaja Malaysia, Jabatan Bomba<br />
dan Penyelamat, serta Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia<br />
(JPAM).<br />
<strong>PLUS</strong>Trafik<br />
Twitter Service<br />
Highway users can now get the latest traffic updates<br />
on the <strong>PLUS</strong>-operated highways through its Twitter<br />
service at twitter.com/plustrafik.<br />
The <strong>PLUS</strong>Trafik twitter service is part of <strong>PLUS</strong>’<br />
continuous efforts to inform highways users of the latest<br />
traffic updates on the North-South Expressway (NSE),<br />
ELITE highway, the NKVE, Federal Highway Route 2,<br />
the Secondlink highway, the Seremban-Port Dickson<br />
highway, the Penang Bridge and the Butterworth-Kulim<br />
Expressway.<br />
Since its inception in January 2011, the <strong>PLUS</strong>Trafik<br />
Twitter page is being followed by more than 160,000<br />
users.<br />
<strong>PLUS</strong> utilities various mediums of communication to<br />
relay traffic updates to its users. Apart from <strong>PLUS</strong>Trafik<br />
Twitter, traffic updates are also available through<br />
electronic message boards at strategic locations along<br />
the highways. Highways users can also ask for the latest<br />
traffic updates through the toll-free <strong>PLUS</strong>Line (1800<br />
88 000) which is available 24-hours a day.<br />
Pertandingan Dekorasi<br />
Terbaik R&R <strong>PLUS</strong><br />
Sempena Bulan<br />
Kemerdekaan Semai<br />
Semangat Patriotik<br />
Bersempena dengan<br />
sambutan kemerdekaan<br />
negara ke-56, <strong>PLUS</strong><br />
meneruskan tradisi buat<br />
tahun ke-10 menganjurkan<br />
Pertandingan Dekorasi<br />
Terbaik Kawasan Rehat<br />
dan Rawat (R&R) yang<br />
diadakan pada setiap bulan<br />
kemerdekaan setiap tahun.<br />
Hentian Sebelah Bukit<br />
Gantang (Arah Selatan)<br />
muncul juara bagi<br />
pertandingan ini dan<br />
membawa pulang hadiah<br />
wang tunai sebanyak<br />
RM7,000. Tempat kedua<br />
dan ketiga masing-masing<br />
disandang oleh Hentian<br />
Sebelah Juru (Arah<br />
Selatan) dan Hentian<br />
Sebelah Bukit Gantang<br />
(Arah Utara). R&R Ayer<br />
Keroh (Arah Utara) dan<br />
R&R Sungai Perak (Arah<br />
Utara) pula di tempat ke-4<br />
dan ke-5.<br />
Pada pertandingan ini,<br />
<strong>PLUS</strong> bersama pengendalipengendali<br />
gerai di setiap<br />
kawasan rehat bekerjasama<br />
untuk menghias kawasan<br />
rehat dengan tema<br />
kemerdekaan mengikut<br />
kreativiti masing-masing.<br />
Melalui pertandingan ini,<br />
<strong>PLUS</strong> percaya ia dapat<br />
menyuntik semangat<br />
patriotik dan menghargai<br />
erti kemerdekaan serta<br />
cintakan Negara di dalam<br />
diri setiap rakyat Malaysia<br />
amnya, dan pengguna<br />
lebuh raya khasnya, pada<br />
setiap 31 Ogos, seterusnya<br />
menghargai keamanan dan<br />
kedamaian yang telah kita<br />
kecapi selama 56 tahun ini.<br />
Sebanyak 25 R&R<br />
dan hentian sebelah<br />
di sepanjang lebuh<br />
raya kendalian <strong>PLUS</strong><br />
mengambil bahagian di<br />
dalam pertandingan tahun<br />
ini.<br />
22 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong> 23 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong>
<strong>PLUS</strong> NEWS<br />
PERSIMPANGAN BERTINGKAT<br />
SUNGAI BUAYA BAKAL DIBUKA<br />
SMART TIPS<br />
Persimpangan Bertingkat Sungai Buaya yang terletak di<br />
KM434.7 di Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan bakal dibuka kepada<br />
orang ramai tidak lama lagi.<br />
Persimpangan ini menyediakan akses yang lebih mudah<br />
untuk penduduk sekitar Sungai Buaya, Sungai Choh,<br />
Serendah dan utara Rawang terutamanya bagi pengguna<br />
harian ke Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan. Ia juga dijangka dapat<br />
mengatasi masalah kesesakan lalulintas di sepanjang Jalan<br />
B27 berhampiran bandar Rawang.<br />
Apabila dibuka kelak, Persimpangan Bertingkat Sungai<br />
Buaya akan mempunyai sebuah plaza tol yang dilengkapi<br />
lapan lorong. Sebanyak empat lorong (dua lorong manual<br />
dan dua lorong elektronik) dibuka untuk kenderaan<br />
keluar dari lebuh raya, manakala empat lorong (dua<br />
lorong manual dan dua lorong elektronik) dibuka untuk<br />
kemudahan kenderaan memasuki lebuh raya.<br />
Selain daripada itu, plaza tol di Persimpangan Bertingkat<br />
Sungai Buaya turut menyediakan kemudahan-kemudahan<br />
seperti kawasan meletak kenderaan, wakaf, tandas awam,<br />
serta surau yang boleh memuatkan sebanyak 30 jemaah<br />
pada satu-satu masa.<br />
Persimpangan Bertingkat Sungai Buaya terletak di<br />
antara Persimpangan Bertingkat Rawang di KM444 dan<br />
Persimpangan Bertingkat Bukit Beruntung di KM428.<br />
Apabila persimpangan ini dibuka, tempoh perjalanan<br />
orang ramai dalam kawasan ini akan dapat disingkatkan<br />
kira-kira 40 hingga 60 minit.<br />
DIDIK 300 PENUNGGANG<br />
MOTOSIKAL GENERASI<br />
AKAN DATANG<br />
Exercise!<br />
Exercise is good for our<br />
body. No matter what<br />
is your sex, your age<br />
or even your physical<br />
abilities, everyone knows<br />
that by exercise, we feel<br />
more energetic, healthier<br />
or even perhaps have a<br />
longer life. It is undeniable<br />
that exercise has a lot of<br />
benefits but not everyone<br />
knows exactly what the<br />
benefits are. So, let’s<br />
check it out!<br />
1. Exercise controls your weight<br />
Exercise can help you to prevent excess weight or to help maintain weight loss. When you engage in any<br />
physical activity, calories are burned.<br />
2. Keeps your health at its best<br />
Doing physical activities regularly prevents heart disease and high blood pressure. Exercise boosts up highdensity<br />
lipoprotein (HDL) and decrease the unhealthy triglycerides in your bodies which can keeps your<br />
blood flowing smoothly and decrease a risk from being affected by cardiovascular diseases.<br />
Seramai 300 pelajar jurusan Ijazah Sarjana Muda<br />
Pengurusan Perniagaan Pengangkutan UiTM, Puncak<br />
Alam telah menyertai sesi pertama program keselamatan<br />
‘Gerakan Motosikal Pencetus Amalan Keselamatan<br />
(GEMPAK MUFORS) <strong>2013</strong> di UiTM Puncak Alam pada<br />
14 November lalu.<br />
Dalam sesi tersebut, peserta telah didedahkan mengenai<br />
aspek keselamatan jalan raya, teori dan praktikal mengenai<br />
cara pemanduan dan menunggang motosikal, serta teknik<br />
bantuan kecemasan sebagai panduan kepada generasi<br />
‘penunggang’ di masa hadapan.<br />
Sesi teori pemanduan dan bantuan kecemasan telah<br />
disampaikan oleh Ahmad Shuhaimi Abdullah, Pengasas<br />
SADRA Advance Driving Skills dan Syahrulnizam Raziff,<br />
Jurulatih First Aider, manakala Kamal Affendi Hashim,<br />
Penganalisis Jenayah bertindak selaku moderator program.<br />
<strong>PLUS</strong> akan meneruskan sesi kedua GEMPAK MUFORS di<br />
UTM, Skudai, Johor bulan hadapan.<br />
3. Mood uplifting<br />
Exercise stimulates various brain chemicals which will allow you to be happier and relaxed. It can improve<br />
your appearance which can boost up your confidence and improve your self-esteem.<br />
4. Strengthens the body<br />
Exercise improves your muscle strength and endurance, which contribute to your stamina and fitness. When<br />
you exercise, your body will send the oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular<br />
system to work more effectively.<br />
5. Sleep well<br />
If you have to struggle to fall asleep at night, you need to exercise at least 30 minutes a day to make it easier<br />
for you to get a good night’s sleep.<br />
24 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong><br />
Extracted from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise<br />
25 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong>
SAFETY TIPS<br />
Long<br />
Distance<br />
Driving<br />
Do you know that the human body can only withstand 5 hours of<br />
continuous driving? Here are some tips for long distance driving:-<br />
1. Sit straight<br />
2. Don’t take too much caffeine<br />
3. Keep your body hydrated, take on a small amount of water<br />
regularly.<br />
4. Stop to rest and refresh after every 2 hour of continuous driving.<br />
?<br />
Drinking water after eating<br />
reduces the acid in your<br />
mouth by 61 percent.<br />
Retrieved from: http://www.menshealth.co.uk/living/cars/survive-long-drive<br />
HEALTHY TIPS<br />
TECHNIQUES TO<br />
OVERCOME DESIRE<br />
TO SMOKE<br />
?<br />
Peanut oil is used for<br />
cooking in submarines<br />
because it doesn’t smoke<br />
unless it’s heated above<br />
450F.<br />
1. Delay – Wait for 5 minutes, or say “later”<br />
2. Take long breaths – slowly breathe in 3 times<br />
3. Drink water – drink boiled water, avoid caffeinated drinks<br />
4. Make yourself busy – engage in activities to distract<br />
yourself and forget about the need to smoke<br />
5. Distance yourself from places with smokers<br />
6. Avoid places and environment with smokers<br />
7. Chew gum, cloves or fruits and avoid sweets<br />
8. Wash your hands<br />
9. Bathe/shower often<br />
10. Stretch your muscles when feeling sleepy<br />
11. Meditation<br />
12. Prayer – pray for resolve and willpower<br />
?<br />
The roar that we hear when<br />
we place a seashell next<br />
to our ear is not the ocean,<br />
but rather the sound of<br />
blood surging through the<br />
veins in the ear<br />
26 KEMBARA <strong>PLUS</strong> ONLINE DISEMBER <strong>2013</strong>