Rondezvous on the Beach

Tonight the roads leading to the beaches along the coastline of Kota Kinabalu and beyond will be clogged with traffic.

Lots of people,with many families coming out in full force, will be wending their way to the beach for the annual ritual of dipping into the sea before the stroke of midnight.


There is only one road leading to Tg Aru, the beautiful beach in Kota Kinabalu and there will be many vehicles parked on both sides of the road. Most of the people will leave their cars and walk to the beach because there is nowhere to park. The road used to lead directly to the main beach but this has changed because there is now a cluster of small restaurants built at the end of the road,facing the beach and you have to pay to enter the carpark that now serves these eateries. Carpark space is also limited.

Another alternative is to go to the STAR Tg Aru Beach Hotel and party there. They don't have a beach but next to it is a smaller beach and this will also be crowded.

Further along the coast towards the airport is what we call the Second Beach also accessed by the road leading to Tg Aru but one turns left before reaching the main beach. This is a lovely spot, quiet and usually isolated but tonight it will have its fair share of night revellers.


Why do these people make a beeline for the beach every year on New Year's Eve?

I am told by the locals that they go into the sea to wash away the past year's bad luck and on the stroke of midnight, they will welcome in the New Year and hopefully a year of good luck and better things to come.Many will opt to sleep at the beach and return home only the following morning. If I remember correctly, this late night dip is known as "mandi safar" in local lingo.

Such a quaint belief and I wonder if there is any similar belief and practice elsewhere. I don't go to the beach myself on New Year's Eve mainly because of the throngs of people and there will be a lot of jostling. No thank you. I'd rather stay at home and watch t.v. and later watch the fireworks from my bedroom window.

Nothing like the creature comforts of one's home. Leave the partying and the hangovers to the young!

Here's wishing everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010! Cheers!

Can we ever be free of this hazard?

Have you ever felt your throat closing and you were unable to breathe? Have you tried to take shallow breaths to avoid inhaling the poisonous fumes around you?

Then you know what I mean. The smokers are still King even though public buildings and air-conditioned restaurants and malls have been decreed as non-smoking areas. Even the schools are not smoke-free areas. I have seen workers and parents stand just outside the fence, puffing away. The wind carries the pollutants into the classrooms that are just meters away.


In coffeeshops, in the airwells and staircases of public buildings, the odor is so heavy that you feel you are being gassed to death.

Cigarette packets now carry the mandatory health warnings of the consequences of smoking and taxes have been raised year after year but these measures have little effect as more and more young people, especially girls, are taking up the bad habit.

When asked why they smoke, some say it soothes their nerves and calms them. Others say that they think and concentrate better. Some just cannot do without a cigarette from the moment they wake up until bedtime.

I used to live with a chain-smoker and it was most unpleasant. There were many squabbles over this. One day he fell ill while we were on holiday and he had to hole up in the hotel while the children and I had a fun time in Disneyland. Then he decided to quit cold turkey and for that I had to admire him.

My brother (another chain smoker) also quit cold turkey after a mild stroke and so did my brother-in-law.

So you see, anyone can quit if they are determined to do so. Saying that they will grow fat if they quit, that they will get severe withdrawal symptoms are just excuses. If there is the determination and will power to quit there and then, one surely can. Granted the first couple of days are hardest but think of the future, think of good health, not only your own but your family's.

To a non-smoker and an ex-smoker, the cigarette fumes are now obnoxious. In fact non-smokers who inhale the smoke are at greater health risks than the smokers themselves. Secondary smoke is worse.

So to live longer and to stay healthy, one should give up the habit of smoking. Feel your body become detoxicated and clean. No more nicotine-stained fingers or ugly yellow teeth, no more bad breath.

To the ladies who smoke, you don't look sophisticated; on the contrary you look most unattractive and cheap. Your skin dries out and puckers around your mouth. You will not have healthy babies. Don't short-change them even before they are born.

Give up smoking and we will have healthier societies and cleaner surroundings.

Cranberries for a Healthy Bladder

Have you ever suffered from urinary tract weakness or poor bladder control? Have you ever experienced urine spurting out when you cough, sneeze or even when you laugh?

It’s most unpleasant and embarrassing. When I told my doctor about this, she suggested that I do Kegler exercises, i.e. contracting your pelvic floor and holding it for a few seconds and increasing the time each day as you work those muscles. That really worked.

Urinary infections can also be painful and unpleasant. There is this constant need to urinate even though you’ve just gone to the toilet. There is also a burning sensation when urinating and only a little quantity comes out. You just can’t settle down to sleep because you keep going to the toilet.

More women than men suffer from urinary infection because the female urethra is shorter and bacteria quickly find their way into the bladder and urinary tract.

Older men with enlarged prostate suffer from weak flow of urine and leaking as well. They are unable to fully empty their bladders and find it difficult to urinate.Urine just comes out in drops.

On the other hand, do you know that it is bad to hold back your urine when you have the urge to urinate? It not only makes you susceptible to urinary infection but also weakens the bladder.

If you feel an urgent and frequent need to urinate, even when your bladder is not full, you have what is known as a hyperactive bladder. Urine often flows involuntarily if you can’t get to a toilet in time.

Scientific studies on the Cranberry have revealed that this berry contains large quantities of antioxidants, vitamins and plant substances that promotes and maintains urinary tract health.

It disposes of bacteria in the bladder that cause inflammation and prevents urinary infections. Its antibodies also protect body cells and the heart and circulatory system.

What are cranberries?



They are red, shiny egg-shaped fruits, smaller than cherries. The cranberry contains B vitamins, vitamin C, beta-carotene, inorganic compounds, secondary plant substances and high levels of antioxidants. They contain particular tannins that are very important for a strong and healthy bladder.

What are the benefits of eating cranberries?

They protect you against bladder inflammation and incontinence. You will have better bladder function. Taking them will prevent and alleviate urinary tract infections and the urgent need to urinate. They contain lots of potent antioxidants and vitamins.


They give you relief from pressure on the bladder and painful urination. You will experience normal urine flow again. Cranberries also promote good health apart from giving you a healthy and strong bladder.


So those of you who live in countries where it is easy to get cranberries, better start munching on these crispy fruits. Good for your general health and bladder. I wish we had them where I live. We have dried cranberries but the good stuff’s all gone. Fresh fruit is best.

Merry Christmas and watch out!

Christmas is upon us and there will be the endless rounds of visits, food and more food! I have been told that when you visit someone, you must partake of whatever is offered, be it a drink or a piece of cake. If you refuse to do so, you do it at your own peril. An old friend said that it is a belief that misfortune would befall that person if he leaves without taking a drink or whatever was offered. I guess it is only polite to take that drink, even if you don’t finish it, so as not to hurt the host’s feelings.

Coming back to Christmas, many homes have “open houses” so that friends and neighbours can share the goodwill and enjoy the food.

We have Malaysianised all our festivals such that the food is no longer special or specific to the occasion. I remember that Christmas in the UK is largely a home celebration with immediate family members dining on roast turkey, Christmas pudding, mince pies and drinking eggnog. There is also the rich fruit cake redolent with brandy. Yummy, the very thought of it makes me drool! There are mistletoes hung up and of course the red holly berries and leaves, and Christmas trees with presents beneath its branches. Red poinsettas are also in bloom. One tradition is that if you are standing under the mistletoe, you get kissed!

In Malaysia, it is celebrated on a grander scale, with hotels and restaurants offering special Christmas dinners. Those who have open houses will have a mixture of Malaysian food and cakes. The rich fruit cake is offered in some homes.

What is certain is that most of us, going on our rounds of open houses, will overeat, even though we remind ourselves that we mustn’t eat too much so as to reserve some space in our stomachs for the next house visit.

Then comes payday! A couple of days later, we find our tummies bloating. There is an uncomfortable sensation and a clogged up feeling. Ha! This is it! The overeating for the last couple of days has burdened our digestive system and it is telling us that we’ve got to do something about it.

So what does one do? Go on a water fast or fruit only diet? I guess we have to do what it takes to relieve us of that horrible bloat and a congested colon. If you want to know more about decongesting and detox, please go to my other website http://www.peggy-chan.com

Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! Enjoy but don't overdo it!

Stop your Sugar Cravings

I would like to share an article abstracted from "Good Housekeeping" Magazine
By Denise Foley.

Here are some food which will keep you healthy and help you to lose some weight.

1. Eggs: these are full of protein and will make you feel fuller
longer. A multicenter study of 30 overweight or obese women found that those who
ate two scrambled eggs (with two slices of toast and a reduced-calorie fruit
spread) consumed less for the next 36 hours than women who had a bagel breakfast
of equal calories. Other research has shown that protein may also prevent spikes
in blood sugar, which can lead to food cravings


2. Beans contain cholecystokinin, a digestive hormone which is a
natural appetite suppressant. They also keep blood sugar on an even keel, so
that you can stave off hunger longer. High-fiber beans can lower your
cholesterol.


3. Salad Start off with a salad. The sheer volume of a salad makes
you feel too full to pig out.: A study published in the Journal of the American
Dietetic Association found that people who ate one salad a day with dressing had
higher levels of vitamins C and E, folic acid, lycopene, and carotenoids-all
disease fighters-than those who didn't add salad to their daily menu.

4. Green tea contain antioxidants called catechins which help speed
metabolism and fat burning. In a recent Japanese study, 35 men who drank a
bottle of oolong tea mixed with green tea catechins lost weight, boosted their
metabolism, and had a significant drop in their body mass index.The participants
also lowered their(bad) LDL cholesterol.

5. Pears have more fiber. At six grams per medium-size pear, they
fill you up. Apples come in second, with about three grams per medium-size
fruit. Both contain pectin fiber, which decreases blood-sugar levels thus
helping you to avoid snacking.

6. Soup fills you up so that you wont eat so much. Researchers
speculate that even the simplest soup satisfies hunger because your brain
perceives it as filling.

7. Lean beef contains the amino acid leucine, which is abundant in
proteins like meat and fish as well as in dairy products. It can help you pare
down while maintaining calorie-burning muscle.

8. Olive oil. Fight off middle-age pounds with extra virgin olive
oil. A monounsaturated fat, it'll help you burn calories and boost metabolism.
Use in salad dressings, as a bread dip, or for sautéing.

9. Grapefruit A 2006 study of 91 obese people conducted at the
Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic found that eating half
a grapefruit before each meal or drinking a serving of the juice three times a
day helped people drop more than three pounds over 12 weeks. The fruit's
phytochemicals reduce insulin levels, a process that may force your body to
convert calories into energy rather than flab.

10. Cinnamon Sprinkle it on microwave oatmeal or whole-grain toast
to help cure those mid-afternoon sugar slumps. Research from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture found that a little cinnamon can help control post-
meal insulin spikes, which make you feel hungry One USDA study showed that just
a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon a day lowered the blood sugar, cholesterol, and
triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

11. Vinegar In a Swedish study, researchers found that people who
ate bread dipped in vinegar felt fuller than those who had their slices plain.
The probable reason: Acetic acid in the vinegar may slow the passage of food
from the stomach into the small intestine, so your tummy stays full longer.
Vinegar can also short-circuit the swift blood-sugar rise that occurs after you
eat refined carbs such as white bread, cookies, and crackers.

12. Tofu: Tofu is an appetite-quashing protein.

13. Nuts Yes, they are fattening but research shows that people who
snack on nuts tend to be slimmer than those who don't. A study from Purdue
University found that when a group of 15 normal-weight people added about 500
calories worth of peanuts to their regular diet, they consumed less at
subsequent meals. The participants also revved up their resting metabolism by 11
percent, which means they burned more calories even when relaxing. Walnuts
contain omega-3 fatty acids. And researchers at Loma Linda University recently
found that eating 10 to 20 whole pecans daily can reduce heart disease risks.


14. High-fiber cereal can curb your appetite when you eat a bowl
for breakfast.

15. Hot red pepper Eating a bowl of spicy chili regularly can help
you lose weight. The magic ingredient may be capsaicin, which helps suppress
appetite.

So it's up to us to include the above food in our diets to maintain a healthy weight.
To your good health!

What is Obesity?

Obesity is to be dreaded and avoided. Fat people are definitely obese but thin people can be obese too.

What is obesity?

It is the excessive amount of body fat, especially in our abdominal region. Your BMI will indicate whether you are overweight or obese. BMI is calculated by your weight in kilos divided by the square of your height in meters. ( Subscribe to www.peggy-chan.com for your BMI table )


If you have a BMI of 25.0 – 29.9 you are overweight. A BMI of 30 and above indicates obesity. Why should we avoid obesity?

Obesity brings with it life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, some forms of cancer and osteoarthritis.

The cancers indicated include breast, ovarian, cervical, esophageal, stomach & colorectal, liver & pancreatic, kidney and prostate. Other medical conditions are erectile dysfunction, renal failure, urinary incontinence and infertility.

Obesity-related deaths are on the rise because of the current sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits. The lack of exercise has also resulted in more and more people with weight problems.

Another factor is the advance in technology which has made it possible for people to use machines both in the workplace and at home. Thus work is no longer physically demanding and people have become more sedentary.

The only way to reduce the risks associated with obesity and premature death is to exercise and to lose weight. A weight loss program can help faster weight loss and an exercise regime has to be followed daily. Those who are severely obese need to be monitored by a doctor to prevent complications that may arise in their efforts to lose weight.

There are many weight loss supplements in the market that will help in weight loss. For the severely obese,the last resort will be bariatic surgery.

Prevention is better than cure. So to prevent obesity do watch your weight and eating habits. Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle which is healthy eating and regular exercise. This becomes more important as we grow older. Good eating habits and daily physical activity will keep you at a healthy weight and reduce your health risks. Read more at www.peggy-chan.com

Love Ourselves First

How many of us can truly say that we have a healthy lifestyle? By that I mean eating healthy food and exercising regularly, if not on a daily basis.

If you do, then congratulations! If not, then it’s time to change. I believe we all want to see our children graduate from college/university and to hold our grandchildren in our arms.

In order to do so, we have to love ourselves and put a stop to bad eating habits and start exercising daily. We must avoid food with high fat content, especially the wrong type of fat ( yes, there are some fats that are good for us!) and we should more vegetables and fruit.


Opting for a healthy lifestyle will reduce some of the health risks we are exposed to. Obesity is one we should be wary of.

Obesity-related deaths are expected to rise and the sad thing is that it is a preventable cause of death. Many of us are not aware that we are obese. Yes. We can be obese without being fat.

To know more about obesity and how to avoid it, watch out for my next blog entry.

Why? 7-year Itch?

Hi,

The question foremost in many people's minds must be "Why?"

Tiger Woods is in the news, not because of winning another tournament on the fairways but because of another kind of tournament, the kind that many people are jousting with daily.

No one wins in this kind of tournament. The question remains. "Why did he do it?"
Do what? Those who have not tuned into the radio or read the news will be wondering what he did. So far no one really knows what he did or did not do. There is only speculation that he cheated on his wife, just 5 years into marriage and with 2 kids.

Why do men cheat? Why do women cheat? Cheat on their spouses, that is. Not cheating in games or tests.

There have been many opinions, one of them being the "7-year itch" whereby after 7 years of marriage, a partner begins to stray. It is said that the male partner suffers from this itch. Some even go so far as to say that having the same dish day in and day out gets monotonous. Variety is the spice of life is how they rationalise the cheating.

Society is such that most men get away with it and are not stigmatised if his wayward ways are found out. In fact there is a "sorry that you were found out, mate" kind of attitude on the part of his colleagues. The wife forgives and although it is not forgotten, the couple usually move on, after going for counselling sessions.

What happens if a woman cheats and is found out? The reaction is very different. She is called names and stigmatised as a home-wrecker if the other party's wife decides ti opt out of the marriage.

What would you do if your partner cheats on you?



Would you do some soul-searching, would you look for a solution to save the marriage, would you simply walk out, would you play the blame game, would you opt for separate lives pending a divorce? What would you do?

Troubling Times

Hi,

Have you as parents worried about your children? I'm sure you have.

Parents worry a great deal about their children. It doesn't matter whether they are babies, toddlers, young children, teenagers or young adults. Do you agree?

I found that when my children were young, I used to worry about their health, whether they would catch germs at school, or be bullied by others.

Then as they grew older, it was another set of worries. I worried about the company they keep, in school and outside school. Times keep changing and the teenagers also differ from our days.

During my teenage days, my father had the final say in everything and woe betide us if we did not toe the line. During my children's time as teenagers, they had more freedom than I ever had. Thankfully the company they kept came from homes similar to ours. I'm so blessed that my three children uphold good values that they learned not only at home but also at school.

Today they are successful young adults leading independent lives but I still worry about them. I worry whether my son will find a good wife, someone who will look after him and raise a family together with him, incalcating good values into their children as well. I worry about my daughter who is still single, whether she will ever find a compatible life partner, someone who will cherish her for herself, warts and all, and I worry about my grandchildren, whom I will not see when they come into their own, in adulthood.

Two weeks ago when I was in Kuala Lumpur, my younger daughter dropped a bombshell; at least that was what it was to me. She blithely announced that she would be going with her friends to Bali before Christmas. I was aghast when I heard that.

Why, oh, why must she go to that place, already a place of death for so many young holiday makers who only wanted to have a good time. The beauty of that place is forever associated with horror and death where I'm concerned and now that my daughter will be going there, that very thought gives me nightmares. But will she listen and not go? Of course not! The young these days have their own minds and they nonchalantly brush aside our parental fears.

I wonder, on the other hand whether they worry about their parents too? Do the children ever worry that their parents may fall ill or be incapacitated some day? When that time comes, what will they do? How will they handle the situation?

There I go again, worrying ..... come what may, we will have to accept whatever the Almighty has in mind for us. Meanwhile, it's better to cross the bridge only when we come to it.

So I compartmentalise my worries and fears into different parts of the brain and continue to struggle with internet marketing and websites.

Cheers!

Green Tea Anyone?

Hi

Do you know that green tea can help you to lose weight?

Studies have shown that green tea helps weight loss by stimulating the body'sthermogenesis process.So when you drink green tea you will use up more energy and burn the fat in your body. The good thing about green tea is
that it does not increase your heart rate.

Many people who are overweight develop hypertension and cardiovascular problems. Since green tea does not put pressure on the heart it is good and safe for them to take it as it
will help them to lose weight. They can also gradually increase their exercise levels without increasing their risk of heart problems and in fact, they will benefit from the exercise and weight loss.

Drinking green tea will help you to burn more calories.

It also contains powerful antioxidants and it can strengthenyour immune system thus protecting you against disease.

However green tea does contain some caffeine so do avoid coffee and
other forms of tea while you are taking it. If you think that you cantake decaffeinated green tea this is not recommended because the chemical processes used to remove the caffeine may destroy the beneficial properties of the tea.

By taking green tea daily you will see a gradual weight loss and better energy levels. If you wish to lose weight faster then you should increase your exercise and watch what you eat. Steer away from food that will make you gain weight.

Green tea is a simple, easy and inexpensive weight control aid that can help you to keep the weight off permanently.

Having said this, there are many types of green tea on the market. There is green tea from Japan, China, Vietnam, etc. There is also green tea mixed with other herbs. However I prefer to take tea that is not mixed and also in leaf form. The green tea from Yunnan in China (Lung Ching - DragonWell)is very fragrant. The Japanese green tea that I tried came in tea bags so to me, it didn't seem to be as fragrant as the leaves steeped in hot water. The Vietnamese green tea also came in leaf form and it was also good.

Another tea which I like is the PuEr tea. It is not green tea but it has good health benefits. This tea is very expensive. In fact the older it is ( in terms of decades ), the more expensive it is. The leaves are tightly packed either in round or oblong slabs. This is the only tea that I can drink without getting insomnia. Green tea also doesn't give me insomnia. One small slab can set you back a few hundred ringgit.

As the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating so you've got to try out the tea for yourself. However, never never add sugar or milk to the tea. Caucasians tend to do that but it's ok if it's Lipton tea or Earl Grey. Certainly not with Chinese tea.

I have freebies for you at my website. Please check it out at http://www.peggy-chan.com

Eating out

Last night it took us almost an hour to reach the Fatty Crab restaurant in Petaling Jaya and we were driving in from Bangsar. It should only have taken at most 20 minutes but it didn't because of the terrible traffic jam.

I have never experienced such peak hour traffic at 6:30 pm and it really opened my eyes to the terrible stress that commuters go through daily just to return home after a long day at work. Never again will I venture out at this hour.

The dinner of crabs, fried chicken wings and fried rice appears to be the standard dishes as every table had the same, the only difference being the size of the portions. I found the price of crabs to be very expensive at RM28.00 for 600 grams. In Kota Kinabalu, we only pay RM18.00 for 1kg of crabs.

However, we ordered 3 crabs cooked in sweet & sour style, a plate of fried rice and 3 chicken wings since there were just three of us dining.

The chicken wings were tasty, although a bit on the small side, rather pepperish, seasoned in soy sauce. The chicken was tender on the inside so it was good.

The crabs were on the small side too. Maybe we are used to the larger ones in Kota Kinabalu. The flesh was not as firm as those we usually have in KK but it was also tasty, especially when dipped in the sweet and sour gravy which wasn't at all spicy, more on the sweet side. The fried rice was good, with the chopped up crunchy long beans giving it an unusual flavour. We were supposed to mop up the gravy with bread but we opted to give that a miss as the rice was already filling.

I wanted to reserve some room for after-dinner bites which turned out to be roasted chestnuts and boiled groundnuts. The groundnuts were large and soft, boiled with some tumeric. These we purchased from a roadside vendor. At home there was also a tray of durians, D24, waiting on the table but we gave it a miss as we were already stuffed.

What a night out! Eating is my favourite thing when in Kuala Lumpur as there is an astounding variety of choices whether it be in restaurants or coffee shops with a number of hawker stalls. The latter is my preferred choice as the food is good and cheap and I can always have more variety at one sitting.The local black coffee is good too, especially when you ask for "kopi oh kau-kau" which means black coffee, double strength. Tastes better.

Well, only today and tomorrow morning left to indulge as we leave for KK tomorrow afternoon. Back to reality by tomorrow evening! Ah, but the delicious and cheaper crabs beckon over there! Cooked in salted egg and curry leaves, it really is superb.

Cheap but not so cheap now

Travelling by air has become more affordable these days. Before Air Asia made its debut, there was only Malaysia Airlines and everyone had to fly MAS to get from one place to the next within Malaysia.

I still remember it used to cost an arm and a leg to fly between Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur, one month's salary to be exact. Thus trips back home to Kuala Lumpur were a once-a-year treat which had to be saved up for. That was why I missed most of my siblings' weddings, especially when they didn't fall during the school holidays.

Air Asia has made it possible to make more trips back to Kuala Lumpur with its cheap fares and no frill flights. Its online bookings have also helped people become more computer literate.

MAS lost out to Air Asia because its fares were comparably more expensive. Unless their tickets were paid for by the company or institution or the Government, people opted to fly with Air Asia, especially when the company brought in new airplanes.

Then MAS decided that if it couldn't beat low cost airlines, then it would be wiser to join in the fray for passengers and they introduced the different air fare tiers. A passenger could select the fare he could afford to pay.

In the beginning it was a good bargain, as the fares were considerably lowered and you had free meals plus 20kg baggage checked in free and seat numbers were issued so that you needn't rush to queue up in order to get the seat you wanted. Plus the train direct from the airport to KL Sentral is a time saver.

Travelling by Air Asia means that you have to get the bus from the Low Cost Carrier Terminal to KL Sentral and that takes almost an hour. My grouse is that the buses never leave according to the schedule. They only move when the bus is full. The driver never helps the elderly passengers to retrieve their bags from the luggage compartment. Many of the buses are not in tip top condition. This is something the management should look into.

Well, good things seldom last. MAS has increased its fares. Where it was once possible to pay RM136 for a return flight ( Kota Kinabalu-Kuala LUmpur) a one way trip is now at least RM144. I can only say that MAS will lose more passengers to Air Aisa. Its current full flights may not be full for much longer at the rate that they are increasing the fares.

I managed to get a return flight to KL by Air Asia ( all in, including food, baggage, seat selection & the bus round trip ) for only RM142.

Forking out less money for a ticket means more trips so from now on, Air Asia will have my patronage.

One criticism of Air Asia is that its staff are not well-trained to handle passengers who tend to take advantage. Passengers pay to select their seats and the Hot Seats cost 5 times more than the other seats. Then when the plane is airborne, those who did not pay for the hot seats move there and the cabin staff just keep quiet, especially when the culprits are the Mat Sallehs. The double standard here has to be stopped. They subscribe to the policy that you get what you pay for but in this instance, it is not so. This makes other passengers, including myself feel peeved.

The announcement that all passengers have to keep to their allocated seats falls on deaf ears. The management should just do away with hot seats and let passengers pay for the seats on a first come first served basis when they go online to book their seats.

Another negative point is that flights get mysteriously cancelled or delayed. A well-placed source said that if the flight is not full, the company would reschedule and the passengers are bumped off to a later flight. This is bad practice because it inconveniences the passengers.

Well these are the things that have got to be resolved. Malaysians are a ver tolerant lot but we do have our rights and certainly the right to good service and attention.

Swinging along the Highways

My goodness! Kuala Lumpur has really changed. This time it's the roads. They weave in and out, one on top of the other and it's absolutely a nightmare for someone like me, who can hardly recognise the city where I grew up.

I only know the old roads of my childhood when I used to walk home from school. My school, formerly known as the Methodist Girls' School, was located on a hillock near the railway station, the old iconic railway station. On the next little hill was the British Council which is no longer there and the hill is now occupied by the National Police Headquarters, Bukit Aman. My school now has a neighbour in the form of the National Mosque. It was not there when I was at school. Where there used to be just a simple road leading to the town padang (field) there is now a tunnel and a flyover. There is also an underpass so that pedestrians can cross the busy road safely

In fact this underpass was the scene of the murder of a schoolgirl who was walking to school in the morning. It was dark, then, I believe and she was attacked and killed.

The road system is totally alien to me now. I was given directions by my brother to return along one of the highways to Kuala Lumpur. We had had "bah kut teh" breakfast together in Klang and he then went on to do his errands. I was quite confident that I would be able to make my way back home to KL but oh boy! Was I wrong!

I got onto the KESAS Highway but with the number of cars zooming past me, I missed the exit where I should have left the highway to get onto another highway which would take me back to the area where we live.

So I found myself driving my significant other to Seremban, a town in the neighbouring state of Negri Sembilan. I kept reminding him, "Look for the signs that say Kuala Lumpur". We went through 4 tolls before we saw a small sign "Kuala Lumpur" pointing to the left. Wow! At least we did not have to go to Seremban!

So, dutifully I followed the signs and wonder of wonders, there was one saying "Bangsar" where we live. So eagerly I drove along, looking out for "Bangsar" signs when suddenly, there were no more signs and the road came to a fork.

Oh dear! Which should I take? Right or left? Mind you there were cars behind me, already honking because I had slowed down, not sure of where I will be headed to, since I was in unfamiliar territory. Then I took a gamble. I turned right!

So following my intuition, I drove along, cautiously, still on the lookout for any sign that would point me in the right direction. Then "Bangsar" magically appeared!

I found that we were on a new highway ( tolled of course) called the NPE. Our countrymen are very fond of such shortforms. What NPE stood for I didn't know but it didn't bother me so long as it will take me to where I wanted to go and that was home! I finally found myself along the familiar Jalan Bangsar and boy! Was it good to get home at last!

We had taken twice the time to get home. What should have been a 40 minute journey turned out to be more than an hour and we had to pay extra toll.

Of course during the Deepavali do at my sister's. I had to tell my brother what happened and he couldn't understand how I could have missed the exit which he had told me to head for.

Well, well, it was a good experience and we certainly saw a bit more of Kuala Lumpur and different skylines. I think a woman's intuition plays a part in negotiating the maze of roads in Kuala Lumpur. Just have to follow that gut feeling.

Quo Vadis?

Eating seems to be a national pastime for Malaysians. No matter where we are, whatever time of day or night, there will be people patronising food stalls, pubs, cafes and road-side stalls, some of which are open 24 hours.

There is food galore in Malaysia, from local cuisines to western and fusion. A multi-ethnic society has the edge over others as the cuisines will be different, all the more to enjoy. Many of us live to eat rather than eat to live.

However, if we continue to eat the way we do, without restraint and without any thought for the expanding waistline and increasing figures on the weighing scale, we will keep putting on weight.

Somewhere in the back of our mind, there lurks a small inkling that perhaps we should consider cutting back and make some effort to lose weight.

If we are overweight and make no attempt to lose weight, we are coasting downhill to a dark future. A future with heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes as our life-long companions. Perish the thought!

But hey! It's not all gloom and doom! It's still not too late to reverse.

You can still put on the brakes to your eating habits.Just check out your BMI ( Body Mass Index)at my website http://peggy-chan.com

Cosmetic Changes

How quickly time flies and just as quickly changes roll around.

Since my last trip to Singapore, I noticed quite a few changes not only along Orchard Road but also the skyline of Sentosa Island.

Along Orchard have sprung up two notable towers, the Orchard Central and the ION. Both are iconic structures of steel and glass, very pleasing to the eye.

The Orchard Central is along Orchard Road and the building

is longer than wide. The internal decor is simple but striking.

We went up the escalators to each floor. There is also an outdoor escalator that takes you up to one of the upper floors. I didn't count as it was not in operation then. It still has a few finishing touches to add before it is finally complete. Overall it is an interesting building.

It was a pleasant shady walk from Orchard Central to the ION which stands at the corner of a big junction. The ION is

completed and the interior differs from the Orchard Central.

It is more circular and has got wider spaces. Here is the

home of all the branded goods such as LV and the rest of the haute coutuer. The boutiques are larger by comparison than those in Orchard Central and there is a food court in the basement.

I wanted to get across from the ION to the other side of the road to have my lunch in one of the recommended chicken rice restaurants. Do you know, it was a nightmare trying to find the underpass. There's no way you can hope to cross that junction above ground. The traffic is very heavy and I don't remember seeing any pedestrian crossings at the lights.

We had to go back into ION and the place is so huge that it took us a while, even after getting directions from one of the tenants, before we found our way to the underpass. Even then it was quite confusing as we didn't know which direction to take to get directly across Orchard Road.

I guess this is one of the constraints of being a stranger in a big city, especially when I have such a poor sense of direction. We eventually found our way out and to our relief, on the side of the road that we wanted. Then it was another short walk, again past boarded facades, behind which renovation was going on.

There are a number of buildings undergoing renovation and the boards that hide the clutter and mess are attractive with different designs, so that the surroundings are not marred by ugly sites undergoing cosmetic changes.

The chicken rice restaurant we were looking for was in one of the older shopping complexes and it was not easy to spot it. We found it only after going round and round, despite having the address. This was because the numbers were not in sequential order.

I found the rice fragrant and good. However the chicken although tender, was quite different from our Malaysian chicken rice. Somehow the Singaporean tastebuds are different from Malaysian ones. The condiments were good. I liked that they offered blended ginger, blended chilli and thick dark soya sauce. There was also the chopped garlic. All these are a must with chicken rice but not all chicken rice stalls offer the thick dark sauce or the ginger.

From there my next stop was a second hand bookstore where I had my feast of so many books. It was hard to choose especially when I could only buy one. Flying on budget airlines requires one to be careful with luggage weight and books are heavy. Finally I settled for one by Patricia Cornwell whose books I like to read.

On the following day we headed to Vivocity for lunch.

From there we saw how much the skyline of Sentosa

Island had changed. At our last visit, three months ago, there were no tall buildings as yet but now there are many buildings. So much change in so little time. I

understand the casino resort complex is due to open next year. Sentosa Island will truly be a playground for locals and foreigners alike, a big tourist draw.

Singapore is evolving at a very rapid pace indeed. There will be more changes in store on my next visit.

A Celebration of 9.9.09

Tiger Airways flew us into Singapore and we disembarked at the budget terminal. It's a cavernous place, quite empty and with three luggage carousels. Although it was a full flight,we retrieved our bags quite fast and the taxi whisked us along familiar highways to Peter's place.




The beautiful flowers planted all along the roads never fails to draw my attention.


This time the lilac bougainvillea were in full bloom and provided a striking contrast to the deeper green of the various folliage and trees along the sides and dividers of the roads. Singapore is truly a garden city.

That night all of us had dinner together to celebrate Peter's birthay. Sharon and her family were in town so they joined us. It was a simple meal starting off with Peking Duck. That's Stephen's ( my grandson ) favourite. There was also roast chicken, braised pork, taufoo,
a vege dish, longetivity noodles, and brinjal with minced pork. These dishes were simple but tasty.

I was enjoying the food so much that I forgot to take photographs of them before the plates were wiped clean!

The Peking duck was a little different from those we had tried at other restaurants. Here the duck had a delicious aroma and the square pancake skins were soft and tasty. There was little fat under the crispy skin and there was no "ducky" odor. This appetiser whetted our appetites and when the other dishes were served, they were finished in no time.

The cake was a durian cream cake and to durian lovers, it tasted real yummy. However both Stephen and Chloe didn't quite like it as they were not durian eaters. They don't realise what they are missing!
It was a good evening and I could see that Peter was very happy. This is the first time his nephew and niece were together celebrating his birthday.

It was also a special day because the date was considered very auspicious, triple nines.....9 Sept ( 9th month) and the year 2009 . According to Sharon, the medical centre where she has her practice, scheduled the day wholly for Caesarian births as
the mothers-to-be wanted their offspring to be born on this auspicious day! I wonder if any baby actually made its appearance on the ninth hour or nine minutes past the ninth hour!

Does this really make a difference in any way, except perhaps enter the Malaysian Book of Records?

Coming Home

It never fails to stir a feeling of excitement and nostalgia when the plane banks in to touchdown in KLIA, Sepang. I left Kuala Lumpur more than forty years ago to settle in the Land below the Wind, the further-most Malaysian state, Sabah, located on Borneo Island across the South China Sea.

The KL of today is very different from the KL I used to know. There were no such gargantuan traffic jams and of course there were no flyovers. The roads were safe to walk. I sometimes walked home from school if I didn't have enough bus fare. My school, the Methodist Girls' School is located next to the National mosque (there was no mosque when I was at school) and home was in one of the roads off Imbi Road.The Petronas Twin Towers, the KL Tower, the Light Rail Transit, the KLIA, all these didn't exist. Even Parliament House was not there and the Lake Gardens were tranquil, silent and inviting. We used to go for nature walks with our science teacher, Mrs Symes and she introduced us to the different species of trees in the Lake Gardens, which was only a stone's throw from our school. Now Lake Gradens is criss-crossed with roads and buildings, leaving very little of the original green paradise. It was also a lovers' paradise where lovebirds used to park at night without fear of being robbed or raped by predators.

KL is now a huge metropolis with roads that I am no longer familiar with and I tend to get lost if I'm driving. Driving in KL is a nightmare, especially if you are not familiar with the roads because the moment you slow down to take your bearings, you are honked at, from left and right as the vehicles weave around you. Road signages are not of much help as some of them leave you wondering whether it is the road before the sign or the one after, that you are supposed to take.

Once we were driving to Malacca and we followed the road signs, confident that we would reach our destination within the average time of 2 hours. Unfortunately, the signs soon disappeared and we didn't know which direction we were supposed to go. We went round and round and eventually we found our way to the North-South highway which would take us to Malacca. It took us almost 4 hours to reach Malacca!!!

Despite the cars, despite the fears engendered by well-meaning friends who send emails detailing the horrors of snatch thefts, crimes, etc, the feeling of insecurity when walking along the streets of KL, it feels good to be home.

A visit is never complete without a walk down Petaling Street, the Chinatown of KL where all kinds of ware are on offer, albeit the stalls are mostly manned by foreigners. This is the feature that detracts, that takes away the identity of Petaling Street. I used to like to wander slowly down the street taking my time looking at the knick knacks, the food and fruit stalls, etc etc but now that these are manned by foreigners who often are rude and crude, I no longer feel at ease and the essence of Petaling Street, which once was there has now disappeared. Now I just make a beeline for the shop to make my purchase and then I leave, no more lingering.

Central Market, which once was a wet market, has improved in its stalls and ambience. The handicraft stalls, the stalls that sell snacks from out of state, and the small boutiques are an attractive alternative to Petaling Street. Here one can browse in air-conditioned comfort and locals man the kiosks and stalls. Souvenirs abound for visitors wanting to take a piece of Malaysia home with them.

The food stalls that are ubiquitious still draw a large clientele. The Madras Lane, a small lane parallel to Petaling Street still houses some delicious food stalls. I used to frequent these stalls for lunch after school. The ice-kacang ( a concoction of shaved ice, red beans, black jelly, cream corn, gula melaka (palm sugar ), cendol, atap seed and red syrup ) is still as good and so are the curry laksa and yong tau foo ( vegetables and taufoo stuffed with fish paste). They are quickly sold out and during the lunch hour, seats are hard to come by. You will be sweating even as you are eating but the heated atmosphere does not deter the patrons.

The small wet market in the narrow lane leading to Madras Lane is still there, with locals selling meat, vegetables and live chicken. There is also a stall that sells roasted pork. The roasted pork shank and trotters are very good for certain dishes.
Another push cart sells roast duck. Four-eyed guy as he is known, sells very good roast duck and they are always sold out very early in the afternoon.

The hawker food in Petaling Street is good. I love the pohpiah (fresh spring rolls containing shredded turnip, beansprouts, cucumber & lettuce ), the local black coffee, the muar chi ( glutinous paste smothered with pounded peanuts ) that melts in your mouth, the kai yah ( coconut/egg jam ) which is very aromatic and smooth, the kuay teow soup ( white flat noodles with fish balls ) and many more. The hokkien mee which is available only in the evening is delicious. Special porridge is available in the morning with the crispy crullers ( old man's bones or yau char kuih), the wan tan mee, etc etc.... the mere mention of these food makes me salivate already. Even though I'm now in KL, I will not have the time to savour my favorite food as I'm here to attend a seminar, yet another one, in pursuit of knowledge.

Yes, the desire to learn is insatiable. There is always another time for food, when I will happily traipse around with my younger sister to savor the innumerable food that is readily available. Mind you, it has to be good otherwise it leaves me feeling very dissatisfied. I've left bowls of hardly-eaten food because I found it unpalatable and gone on to other stalls.

Kuala Lumpur....I love you, for all your color, your offerings, your noisy, unbearable traffic jams, and the ever-changing skyline. You never cease to excite and it is always good to come home.

People

While in the airport waiting for my flight, I noticed clusters of passengers busily texting on their mobile phones. A few were engrossed in their magazines and books. Some wore face masks hoping to protect themselves against the H1N1 virus. Most others were mask free.

I put on a facemask the other day when I went to the hospital to get my medication. I did so because the hospital is where viruses and other germs may be picked up. However I can tell you that it is not comfortable at all wearing a face mask. First of all, your hot breath when you exhale, tends to mist up your spectacles and inhaling is also restricted. You can't really take deep breaths.

Anyway I guess why passengers don face masks is the fear of the recycled air in the plane. What if someone on board is infected with the virus and did not wear a mask? That's why the whole load of passengers has to be quarantined if one passenger has been exposed to the H1N1.

Unfotunately it has been said that the mask is really no protection at all. It is used by the person who has flu to reduce the spreading of his germs to others. It is not a fact that people wearing masks will not catch the flu virus. Then there is another email circulating which says that two people with the virus recovered after taking the juice of 6 green apples and orange juice throughout the day during the period that they were stricken with the virus. I guess the most practical advice is still to keep one's hands clean and away from our face. No wonder hand sanitisers are out of stock in pharmacies and hypermarkets.

Coming back to the flight I was on, it was a full load heading for Kuala Lumpur. As usual when the plane landed, the passengers were eager to disembark. Some were already on their mobile phones even though they had been told not to do so until the plane door was open. Others were hauling their hand luggage out of the overhead compartments with hardly a thought for the person standing close by. Some luggage must have been very heavy to swing down hard, if you know what I mean. I've seen passengers being hit with the luggage even as the owner brought it out of the overhead locker.

There was this very fat woman who was half in and half out of her seat as passengers began filing past her to leave the plane. I heard her cursing "Bloody hell, can't even give me a chance to get out first..."

Obesity must be her name. I wonder how she squeezed into her seat as her two boys were also fat. I have come across fat people but they have always been cheerful people, not like this woman. Of course no one bothered to pay any attention to her. All were intent on getting out as quickly as possible. I wouldn't be surprised if she had used her bulk to push aside an unlucky passenger. Some of the ladies were really reed thin. After having been cooped up for a length of time, it's only natural that people want to get out as fast as possible. With leg room so restricted on board, the need to stretch one's legs becomes very urgent indeed.

Anyway the flight was not bad, it was on time although the landing was not as smooth as some of the others which I've experienced. The inflight food however can still be improved upon. All said and done, more and more people are taking to airtravel more frequently because the fares have come down and reunions with friends and family need not be few and far in between.

I'm looking forward to my granny club reunion this Saturday. I haven't seen some of friends since the time I left school!!! Surprises will be in store!

Sunset Orchestra at Jesselton Point, Kota Kinabalu

Last Saturday we went to see the Shan Tao High School orchestra band perform at Jesselton Point, Kota Kinabalu. This band was started by me when I was the principal of the school. We started off as a brass band initially and added more instruments when funds permitted.

We had to raise funds to purchase musical instruments as we did not get any financial help from the state education department for the band. The school management board helped by providing the means for a trainer to train the students. It has been twelve years since I retired and Saturday's performance showed that the school band had indeed come a long way.

Their repertoire was impressive and they staged an excellent performance on the jetty with the setting sun as the backdrop. We were impressed by the band's performance which also had dances incorporated into the evening programme.

My two grandchildren were spellbound. This is the first time they had ringside seats so to speak, and Chloe was very reluctant to leave her seat during the long intermission. She was afraid that her seat would be taken by someone by the time we returned from dinner.

It was a cool evening fanned by a strong sea breeze and the waves lapping gently beneath provided an ambience that complemented the music that flowed from the band. Some of the songs brought back memories of days gone by.

Indeed the band did the school proud and there was no one prouder than me. My students ( sigh...I still think of it as my school and my students even though I've left..) acquited themselves very well and that evening will remain with me for a long time to come.

Not Easy At All

For the last few days I've been trying to put into practice what was learnt during the bootcamp but unfortunately things weren't as simple as I thought it would be.

Going through the notes and trying to figure out what my

notes meant did not bring any productive results. I

downloaded a free web template from Google. It looked just right for what I have in mind but unfortunately I couldn't do any editing.

By editing I meant replacing the contents with my own, the template structure being retained. I sought the help of my fellow internet bootcamp colleagues but many of them acknowledged that they were just as "blur".

We are all attempting to create our individual websites and so far it appears that none of the ladies have managed to come up with one, me included!!

So much for learning!!! What was learnt during the bootcamp seems to be "jammed" in the memory bank!

It takes a lot of time to sit down and try to figure out how things work and it becomes very frustrating when things don't work and no help is forthcoming.

But, "never say die" is what I believe in and I'll persevere until I get it right!! So there!!

Then again, when will the eggs be broken?????

Internet Bootcamp

This weekend I'm attending an internet bootcamp with trainer Derric Chew is in Kota Kinabalu.

It has been a hectic two days so far but I've learned many new things. Derric just showed how I can add a video bar to my blog so I tried it out just now and it worked!!

I'm so excited! Next time I will try and put in some videos. He said that practice makes perfect and I believe that is so.

Singapore, City of Contrasts

This time round in Singapore we visited a couple of places which were completely different.

Early in the morning we went to Telok Blangah Park. This is a small hill which I later found out is a part of what is called the South Ridges. It actually links up to Mt Faber Park. The park had an abundant variety of trees and plants which was very pleasant to the eye and deluded us into thinking that it was a cool morning when in fact it was quite humid. A short steep walk uphill saw us perspiring and it brought us to a bridge of unusual design

called Henderson Waves.

As the name suggests, the structure resembled waves

in motion and from the bridge we had different view

of Singapore.

Along the bridge, on one side the wave actually housed platforms
where one can sit & relax. Unfortunately parts of the lovely bridge

were defiled by the litter left behind by ingrates who knew how

to relax with food & drinks but were too selfish and lazy to put

their polysterene boxes and empty bottles into the dustbins

that were provided for that purpose.

It was actually disgusting to see this in such beautiful natural surroundings.

At one end of the bridge were a few monkeys sitting on the railing, probably wondering at the few joggers and shutterbug visitors. There was a notice requesting visitors not to feed them as they get sufficient food from the forests in these parks on the South Ridges.


We continued on to Mt Faber by car as the distance was too far for us to make it on foot especially under such humid conditions. It is a one way road as it is too narrow for two cars to pass each other. The road took us to Mt Faber cable car station with its alfresco dining areas overlooking the sea and cable cars plying between Mt Faber, Harbour City and Sentosa Island.

Indeed it was a sight for sore eyes and in the distance I could

see the cranes testifying to the busy construction of a casino

on Sentosa island. Small vessels were sailing under the hot morning sun.

We then left for Suntec City to catch the Duck Tour which would

take us along the Kallang River and then back on land for a short

round trip in the nearby city area.

This was a totally different experience.

From the amphibous vehicle we saw the changing Singapore skyline.

The integrated resorts with the three hotels have almost reached

the highest level. Two months ago when we were here, it was

only half as high. The long arms of the innumberable cranes

riss-crossed the scene unfolding before our eyes as the Darlene,

our vehicle, chugged past.

The iconic Esplanade with its double "durians" ( its structure

resembles a fruit with many thorns) gave way to the symbol of
Singapore,

the Merlion, in all its majestic splendour, spewing out

volumes of water from its mouth.

Further inland stood a jungle of skyscrapers, each vying to be

higher than its neighbour. Voila, the Singapore skyline, with its

sophisticated high-rise buildings in the commercial center and

further away the clusters of condominiums and apartment

buildings so reminiscent of Hong Kong.

All in all the hour-long tour was worth the experience especially at the promotional price of

RM33.00 instead of the normal S33.00. Indeed our southern neighbour's friendliness is winning over many Malaysian visitors encouraging us to visit the attractions in the city state.

It turned out to be a very enjoyable Father's Day especially after a delicious lunch at a Peranakan restaurant polished off with desserts that didn't do great damage to my son's wallet. Thank you son, for a lovely Father's Day, one that your dad will remember for a long time to come.

Not like before

Life today is not like before where one does not feel suspicious of the strangers around you.
In the old days, after attending Latin classes in the afternoons, I used to walk home from Jalan Ampang to Jalan Imbi and I never felt unsafe during the long walk. These days, you hear of cars or vans coming alongside, stopping and then pushing their victims into their vehicles.

Then there are the reported cases of taxi drivers abducting and raping their female passengers, sometimes killing them as well. Snatch theives on motor bikes have maimed and even caused the deaths of their victims. All these reports whether from the newspapers or well-intentioned warnings through emails have left me with a phobia.

I feel very insecure in Kuala Lumpur now, the city where I grew up. I use a taxi only when necessary and then my heartbeats go faster and I pray to arrive safely at my destination. Yesterday I went to Imbi Plaza. Before I went, I debated whether to take a taxi or to drive there. Jalan Bukit Bintang and the surrounding areas are usually full of cars and it is very difficult to find a parking space. My fear of taxis got the better of me and I decided to take a chance on driving there and finding somewhere to park.

Driving in Kuala Lumpur is by no means easy, with the cars driving past you at great speed from both sides and the motor cycles whizzing by or weaving in and out of the traffic. The noise some of them make when they rev their engines often makes me jump out of my skin, especially when they come close to my car. I've read of motor cyclists hitting and breaking the side windows just to grab the ladies' bags, so that was another fear I had to contend with while I was waiting at the traffic lights. I now have fear of and great dislike for motor cyclists, especially when their feats are invisible behind their helmets. To me, each one is a potential thug out to snatch and to harm.

After being "pushed" along by the bumper to bumper traffic, I finally found myself in the vicinity of Jalan Bukit Bintang and there was an open car park where the former cinema Pavilion once stood, at the junction of Bukit Bintang and Jalan Pudu. So I went in there and parked and then walked to look for Imbi Plaza.

Locating it was another challenge. Passers-by gave me directions that often sent me in opposite directions. Finally and after not a few fear-filled moments, especially when walking through back alleys I found Imbi Plaza. It was so run-down that I nearly made a U-turn to go back but I was told I could get something at a cheaper price there. This was certainly my first and last visit to this place.

Then I made my way back to the car park and asked for directions to get back home, as I wasn't sure if I could make a right turn at the traffic lights. I was told I could, so I did and landed in a mile-long traffic jam with impatient drivers trying to cut in from left and right. I'm a very stubborn person and I absolutely hate it when people try to cut in front of me simply because they are impatient and cannot queue up just like the rest of us. This even happens in Kota Kinabalu. I resolutely refused to let anyone barge in and finally I managed to get home, unscathed and without any untoward incidents.

In the evening my daughter and I decided that we would have our dinner in Chinatown, or Petaling Street. We went there before it got dark because of my phobias. We parked at one end of Petaling Street, in an open car park. There were still many cars there so I reckoned it would be quite "safe". We made our purchases of barbecued meat before settling down along the five foot pathway to have our Hokkien Mee. This stall was recommended by my brother sometime back. We had to wait a while but when it came, we fell to it with gusto. It tasted good. However the drinks we ordered, "Kat Chai Swin Mui" waas very sour and not up to the general standard. By the time we finished our dinner it was dark.

Petaling Street was beyond recoginition. It was very different during the day. By night, there was hardly any space for us to walk as the tiny stalls were arranged in three rows and passers-by had to squeeze in the narrow spaces in between. It didn't look like those who were out to get bargains would have a good time checking out the goods. It was so crammed. It was worse than the Ladies Night Market in Hong Kong. At least there was sufficient place for customers to browse and buy. Petaling Street at night is a nightmare.

We walked along the five foot way outside the shops and this, if not crowded with wares as well, allowed us to make faster progress down the street. When we reached the car park it was dark and there were a couple of spot lights shining. How safe it still was, was uppermost in my mind. We quickly got into our car and made our way home. I certainly would not recommend anyone, especially ladies unless they are in a large group to wander about at night in Chinatown.

Nevertheless, Kuala Lumpur is still where I grew up and although it has changed beyond recognition in many places, I still love it and I love to come to KL as it is fondly known for it is such a vibrant place and there are lots of good food, especially hawker fare or stall food which is not available in Kota Kinabalu. Food is what I come back for. It's the stall food that beckons, not the restaurants, for therein lie the authentic local food. I'm already looking forward to my next trip here.