Thursday, March 26, 2009

Homestay a good way to see country

Homestay a good way to see country
Thursday March 26, 2009

I AM all for the support of any initiative to bolster the rural economy, especially during this period of economic uncertainties. Thus the report, “Tourism Ministry pushes homestay concept” (The Star, March 17) is a welcome move.

Homestay for tourists as a tourism product and a Malaysian attraction should be given due emphasis as it does not incur a big sum of money. It does not need to construct any infrastructure, except for promotions to “sell” our fast disappearing Malaysian way of life.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Mayflower Restaurant Steamboat

Mayflower Restaurant Steamboat:
Steaming out in the highlands

Story and photos by Grace Chen
Sunday March 22, 2009


To keep warm in Cameron Highlands, a steamboat dinner may just be the answer

The one point that Swee Pooi Choy wanted to push across was “honesty”.

United: (Left) A family that cooks together, stays together, insisted Swee Pooi Choy (far left) of Mayflower Restaurant. He is joined by his elder son, Kuan Wei, wife, Yoon Ah Ying, 62, (standing) and Kuan Hoe (with glasses).
United: (Left) A family that cooks together, stays together, insisted Swee Pooi Choy (far left) of Mayflower Restaurant. He is joined by his elder son, Kuan Wei, wife, Yoon Ah Ying, 62, (standing) and Kuan Hoe (with glasses).


To prove it, the 64-year-old owner of a steamboat restaurant who had just transferred his 21-year-old business to his two sons, would point to the signboard at his restaurant front.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Nepenthes Pitcher Plant - epitome of exotica

Epitome of exotica
Stories by Tan Cheng Li
Tuesday March 17, 2009


Exotic and enigmatic, the pitcher plant is a deadly beauty that has been mesmerising enthusiasts for centuries.

IMAGINE a plant whose leaves can grow into elongated cups complete with lids; cups that ooze sweet nectar to draw in insects which are then feasted upon by the plant. That is the carnivorous pitcher plant, or Nepenthes, for you.

This enigmatic plant, with its bizarre characteristics and wide-ranging colours and shapes, has besotted people ever since a species in Madagascar first caught the attention of Europeans in 1658.

Nepenthes enthusiast Mohd Fauzi Abu Bakar started growing the carnivorous plant in 2002 and has since turned his hobby into an income-generator.
Nepenthes enthusiast Mohd Fauzi Abu Bakar started growing the carnivorous plant in 2002 and has since turned his hobby into an income-generator.

Nepenthes pitcher plant - Growing nepenthes market

Growing nepenthes market
Tuesday March 17, 2009

GOOGLE “nepenthes” and you will get a string of hits on companies selling the plant. Fascination with Nepenthes has always been great but with the Internet, it has grown immense and selling the plant has never been easier.

One company is offering the N. platychila, described only in 2002 and known only from Hose Mountain in central Sarawak, for US$72 (RM266) for a small plant and US$144 (RM420), a large one. This species is prized for its funnel-shaped pitchers with unusually wide and flat peristome (the rim at the mouth of the pitcher) which is beautifully striped with red, yellow and purple.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Earth Hour - message of hope against global warming

Special menus and activities lined-up for Earth Hour
By Fazleena Aziz
Monday March 16, 2009


IN conjunction with the Earth Hour 2009, YTL Corporation will switch off the lights at 20 landmarks across the country and Singapore from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on March 28.

The one-hour lights off event is aimed at sending a message of hope and action against global warming.

The YTL establishments that will be part of the Earth Hour 2009 are — Starhill Galllery, JW Marriot KL, The Ritz-Carlton KL, The Residences at The Ritz Carlton KL, Lot 10, YTL Corporation Headquarters, One Oriental place, Sentul Park, Sentul Park Koi Centre, Vistana Kuala Lumpur, Vistana Penang, Vistana Kuantan, Pangkor Laut Resort, Tanjong Jara Resort, Cameron Highlands Resort, The Majestic Malacca, The KL Performing Arts Centre, Lake Edge-Puchong, Pantai Hillpark, The Maple at Sentul West, The Tamarind at Sentul East, The Saffron at Sentul East, Spa Village Kuala Lumpur and Wisma Atria Singapore.

Boh Teh-O Ais in a can

FRET not when you are craving for a sip of Teh-O-Ais and there is no mamak stall in sight. BOH Plantations Sdn Bhd (BOH) and Yeo Hiap Seng (Malaysia) Berhad have launched this authentically Malaysian beverage in a ready-to-drink form, called Boh Teh-O-Ais.

Boh Teh-O-Ais is made from freshly brewed tea from Cameron Highlands and is fused with honey, making it a refreshing drink. Served chilled, it is the ideal thirst quencher for our hot weather.

The drink comes in vibrant orange coloured 300ml cans and 250ml tetra brik packs for consumers’ convenience.

The drink is available in Teh-O-Ais Original, but if you prefer a tangy twist, go for the Teh-O-Ais Lemon or Teh-O-Ais Passion Fruit.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Tourism Malaysia top Travel Destinations

Which states in Malaysia has the most tourist? Let see which tops the tourism Malaysia travel destinations for tourist arrivals.

1. Kuala Lumpur - 16.3 million
2. Pahang - 10.1 million
3. Sabah - 6.2 million
4. Penang - 5.2 - 6.3 million

Cheers!

More tourists visiting Penang last year, says CM
Tuesday March 3, 2009

PENANG’S tourist arrivals saw a jump of 21.6% last year compared to 2007 and the numbers could have been higher if not for the global economic situation, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“The state was the fourth most visited state in the country after Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Sabah.

Monday, March 02, 2009

Enviromental issues - Preserving a borrowed legacy

Preserving a borrowed legacy
By Melati Mohd Ariff
Monday March 2, 2009


This is the final feature of a series of three on Cameron Highlands

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The water crisis that hit Cameron Highlands in the late 1990s prompted several concerned residents to form the Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (REACH).

Against the many challenges that came its way, REACH continues to gain momentum, garnering support especially from the local residents in making its stance on the many environmental issues plaguing the highlands.

REACH president Ramakrishnan Ramasamy, 43, born and bred in Cameron Highlands, has been at the helm of this community-based body since the organisation took shape in 1998.