The Magic Potion For All Occasion
I guess every country has its own cure-all – a panacea for all manner of complaints, whether physical, emotional or, even, mental!The French swear by their distilled lovely-scented lavender flowers. The Chinese have their ginseng. The Japanese love their green tea. A German family I know reaches for their chamomile on every occasion, and not just for afternoon teas. Most recently, the acai berry has taken the US by storm for its ability to fight cancer, help in weight loss, and combat pre-mature ageing.
I myself have a first-aid kit filled with some of my own magic potions collected from all over the world – eucalyptus oil, Bach flower remedies, Echinacea liquid, and the usual assortment of cartoon-character plasters.
My husband scoffs at me (despite being run down by a severe cold) when I offer him a swig of my natural antiobiotic that is the Echinacea. Instead, he prefers to swallow his brand of remedy, the Malaysian gamat.
My husband is possibly the biggest fan of gamat there ever is. In our home, we have gamat in every form and consistency available – sweetened jellies, balms, creams, syrups, liniment, etc. It is his preferred antidote for everything!
Desaru Fruit Farm
“Do you know how to choose a good jambu air?”
“Here, look at its fleshy back. It must be firm and make sure it is clean.”
A bubbly, Henry Goh, our guide at the Desaru Fruit Farm, with his cowboy hat grinned widely.
Several ikat of jambu air were hanging from a pole in the clean orchard. Pink and blue plastic wrappers hung colourfully on the treetops above us.
The silence was deafening, and surprisingly no mosquitoes!
“At the farm, we have good agricultural practices to ensure that our fruits are of the highest quality,” said Henry.
“Look at the farm’s clean surroundings; you see no fruits on the ground, right? We also have good drainage system and this is one reason why there are no mosquitoes here.”
“We clear away fruits fallen on the ground as it attracts fruit flies, and other insects,” he added.
Kuala Lumpur Craft Centre
A visit to the Kuala Lumpur Craft Cultural Complex at Jalan Conlay, is a wonderful hidden gem. Tucked away from the busy 
traffic, this craft centre is situated in an open-concept building, with traditional motifs and intricate wooden carvings.
The complex houses several different sections comprising a craft museum, artists’ colony and craft village as well as batik gallery and souvenir shop.
Stepping into the complex, one is greeted with the latest cultural exhibits. On display are local handicrafts such as batik, rattan baskets, pottery, and other crafty knick-knacks.
Make your way to the artists’ colony to try your hand at batik painting. Visitors are encouraged to participate and leave their prints behind.
Interesting tips:
This is a great place to find more about the history of songket weaving. One is able to view the ornate and expensive gold thread songket also on display in glass cases.
To get there:
One can use the monorail and stop at the Raja Chulan station. Follow the signage to the complex. It is a 30 minute walk (leisurely pace).
Another alternative is to go there by taxi.
There is also a shuttle service available, upon request, at the complex to hotels in the city center. Check with the information counter to verify.
Visit their website at http://www.kraftangan.gov.my/main/or call +6 03 2162 7459 for further information.
Address:
The Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex, Section 63, Jalan Conlay, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Baby-friendly Langkawi
An island holiday that's perfect for moms, dads and babes-in-tow!
It was supposed to be a three-day vacation but we packed like we were going away for three weeks.
Well, I guess that’s what happens when you go on your first-ever holiday with a baby in tow! Our luggage literally burst at the seams with baby stroller, baby food, favourite toys, baby bottles, a “lifetime supply of diapers” as hubby joked, and such. I guess, if we had more space – and a bigger budget – I would have packed my nanny in as well, but hubby said it was strictly a family affair!
Little Moses was not yet a year old and it was our first vacation together, so naturally, I had some trepidation – and some specific demands – about the trip:
1. Location, location, location
First, we had to decide where to go. I had some pretty good ideas of where we were not going – any place that was off-the-beaten track and anywhere that required some form of exertion to get to, i.e. mountain climbing, jungle trekking, river rafting, etc.
My dream vacation had a personal butler in it, but, oh, well…At the very least, our destination had to be both baby- and parent-friendly, easily accessible with modern conveniences, and fun, too!
Butterfly Farm
“When holding a scorpion, never touch the middle of its body. This is the most sensitive part,” bellowed Mohamad Jahangir, a worker at the Butterfly Farm at the Kea Farm area, Cameron Highlands.
“Make sure you touch the scorpion at its tail (not the part with the sting, though). This is because scorpions can only sting in one direction, which is only in the middle towards the middle of their body,” described Mohamad at length.
“It cannot sting from left to right, but at all times do before careful when confronting a scorpion. It is best to avoid it, as it is one of the deadlier species,” Mohamad enthused, having worked at the Butterfly Farm for 12 years now.
Mohamad then bid a tourist to come near him. Without warning, Mohamad swiftly placed the scorpions in his hands and put it on Noor Azlan’s, T-shirt.
Visitors surrounded him, watched in awe. Some felt afraid, and others backed away from the scorpions Mohamad was pulling from an enclosure.
Selamat Datang
Dear friends,
Selamat datang, a warm welcome and a Happy New Year 2009!
We are delighted to introduce you the latest addition to the Tourism Malaysia website, our very own Tourism Malaysia blog.
Journey with us through lush rainforests, unique city landscapes and traverse the hustle and bustle of life in cities around the country.
We will be posting travels' ups and downs around Malaysia, and quirky nuances you might never have heard of, too.
We’ll also be posting photos of travels in the photo gallery and videos, so do check them out!
Share with us your comments, and don’t forget Malaysia: The wonders of Asia in one exciting destination!
Best of luck for the New Year 2009!
Terima kasih, and Selamat Datang to Malaysia !
Cheers,
Bloggers Tourism Malaysia.