Malaysia Year End Sale 2009

Attention to all shopaholics, the Malaysia Year End Sale (M-YES), is going to be back, from from 21 November 2009 until 3 January 2010!




This is a much-anticipated celebration of Shopping, Dining and Entertainment. During these M-YES celebrations period, do expect to see many tourists especially from the Middle East flocking the country looking for great bargains on variety of items.

Malaysia always has the advantage of being a Competitive and Popular Shopping Destination because a lot of goods are sold at “value-for-money” prices.

Generally people has Misconception thinking that duty-free shopping is only available in Langkawi, Labuan and at airport terminals.

In fact many shopping items such as Cosmetics, Electronics, Computers and Watches in Malaysia, were duty-free anywhere in the country.

Do expect items like apparels, accessories, dining, home decor, leisure and holiday packages will be offered at discounted prices.(value-for-money Deals)

The year-end excitement of school and winter holidays and festivities is clearly felt in Malaysia with shopping malls and retailers getting into a celebratory mood for the Malaysia Year End Sale (M-YES), a much-anticipated celebration of shopping, dining and entertainment from 21 November 2009 until 3 January 2010.

One of three major shopping seasons in Malaysia, M-YES is the end-of-year shopping event that wraps up the year with a bang! The other two being the Malaysia GP Sale that coincides with the Formula One Grand Prix in KL and the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival during the summer holidays.

Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen said, “I believe that we are on target to reach 20 million tourist arrivals by the end of the year; these final quarter events including M-YES will certainly boost our tourism revenue. But whether there is a sale or not, I believe that tourists will find that Malaysia offers great value for money!”

Over 44 days, M-YES brings to visitors and shoppers in Malaysia a whole host of spectacular events and bargains. Organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Malaysia, the event has the support of the retail industry and related parties, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Malaysian Retailers Chain Association, Malaysia Retailers Association and the Malaysian Association for Shopping and High Rise Complex Management. In fact, M-YES 2009 will see some 350 retailers across the country participating by offering discounts and promotions on their goods and services.

Among the specials awaiting shoppers to Malaysia are the Privilege Cards at selected malls that entitle them to better bargains. They only need to present their passports and / or boarding passes at the customer service counters of participating malls in the Klang Valley. Look out too for Parkson’s Tourist Privilege Card, applicable at selected Parkson outlets.

We may not have snow in Malaysia, but a green Christmas can still be full of hot bargains. And shoppers can enjoy these hot deals as they shop in a festive ambience. During M-YES, shopping malls in the Klang Valley will be out-doing each other to beautify their premise according to the theme “A Fabulous Tropical Christmas, M-YES!” in order to bring home the title of “Shopping Mall Award” and “Best Window Display.”

Mid Valley City’s Christmas celebrations include Come-Meet-Santa charity event, Elves Workshop and gift bazaars. Queensbay Mall Penang is organizing the Rejoice! Christmas Caroling Contest from 4 to 6 December, while Pavilion KL has decorated its front entrance with huge Christmas trees complete with a lighted-up Santa sleigh!

The celebrations wouldn’t be complete without ushering in the New Year in a grand style. Pavilion KL will celebrate with a Royale Street Festival full of thrilling music, fun and entertainment, while 1 Utama will have a New Year Countdown at its Central Park Avenue with favourite artistes and spectacular fireworks!

Other attractive promotions during the M-YES 2009 include the “180 Minutes Shopping Madness” at Suria KLCC where shoppers have to look out for Santarina in order to win a shopping voucher valued at RM500; and the MasterCard promotion of a chance to win a Paris holiday with every RM500 charged to their card.

Besides the special discounts and promotions by retailers, it has to be remembered that Malaysia is a haven for duty-free products. Even though the two most popular duty-free destinations in Malaysia are Langkawi and Labuan, there are many duty-free shops located throughout the rest of the country.

Climbing info in Malaysia

 

 

There's no shortage of challenging mountains to climb. Traverse your way up the mountains, through virgin rainforests and discover the denizens on the wild. Oh yes, the prize must have to be Gunung Kinabalu (Mount Kinabalu), the highest peak in Southeast Asia. Others, like the ones listed below, are also challenging and have their own stories to tell.
Mountain Climbing:
Sabah

• Gunung Kinabalu (4,093m)
• Gunung Tambuyukon (2,580m)
• Gunung Trusmadi (2,643m)
• Gunung Lotong (1,667m)

Johor

• Gunung Ledang (1,276m)
• Gunung Belumut (1,010m)

Pahang

• Gunung Tahan (2,187m)
• Gunung Berembun (2,075m)
• Gunung Brinchang (2,032m)
• Gunung Gagau (1,376m)

Perak

• Gunung Korbu (2,183m)
• Gunung Bubu (1,568m)

Kelantan

• Gunung Chamah (2,171m)
• Gunung Stong (1,422m)

Sarawak

• Gunung Mulu (2,376m)
• Bukit Batu Iran (2,018m)
• Gunung Penrissen (1,329m)

Redang Island

 

Discover Redang Island

 

One of the largest and the most beautiful of the east-coast islands, Pulau Redang has, inevitably, been targeted by big developers, and there are few options for the independent traveler; nearly all visitors come on all-inclusive package deals.

Pulau Redang is one of nine islands that form a protected marine park, and it offers excellent diving and snorkeling. Of most interest to travelers are the beautiful bays on the eastern side of the island, including Teluk Dalam, Teluk Kalong and Pasir Panjang. Most resorts are located around the sandy beaches at Teluk Kalong and Pasir Panjang. Berjaya Beach Resort is located at Teluk Dalam, a bay that is so sheltered that it is hardly affected by the northeast monsoon.

There is so much to do on and around Pulau Redang, one can return year after year and still find new places to explore. The reef is teeming with fish, turtles, live corals and other spineless creatures. There’s snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and kayaking available at most resorts. Berjaya Resort offers a golf course in an idyllic setting if you are on a Malaysia golf vacation.

The Redang Archipelago is truly a gift sent from the heavens. The water surrounding these islands is teeming with marine life. About 500 species of living, breathing soft and hard corals create a wondrous seascape just below the white caps. And in turn these reef-building variety of corals shelter a host of inhabitants – a myriad species of bivalves and fishes. It forms part of Indo-Pacific Ocean’s breeding ground and nursery for many species of fish and other marine life. Sponges, algae and plankton provide a rich soup of nutrient for the thriving community. Green and hawksbill turtles drag themselves onto the white, sandy beaches to deposit their fertilised eggs into deep holes excavated under cover of night. Flying foxes, pythons, birds, mousedeers, monkeys and iguanas take refuge under the canopy of the forest. And in the late evenings when all human activities have quieten down, listen closely for you will here the heartbeat of the land, the whispers of the wind and the secrets of life – at Redang

Discover The Beauty Of Kapas Island

 

Kapas Island is one of beautiful island In The World

 

Pulau Kapas means Cotton Island and is located about 5 nautical miles or 6km off the shore of Marang, Terengganu. This island is a place where many locals and backpackers go due to its fast accessibility from the jetty. You will be able to reach the island in 10 minutes time by speed boat from Marang Jetty.

Marang is located 18km south of Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu state. Do not confuse this Marang town with Merang town. Merang town is located north of Kuala Terengganu.

The activities that you can do on this island are swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, windsurfing, fishing, kayaking. Motorised activities such as bannana boats are not allowed here.

As you dive or snorkel, you will be able to see colourful fishes, corals, turtles and other marine creatures within the vicinity of the island. The Duyong was once spotted on this island as well. Divers, take note that there is a World War II shipwreck north of Gemia island where you can go for your diving activity. Best Time To Go If you would prefer to have a time of tranquility and peace alone on this island, the best time to go is during the weekdays when most of the locals are working. Due to the monsoon season, most resorts will be closed from November to February. Hence, the best time to go will be during the months of June, July, August and September.

A smaller island beside Pulau Kapas, called Pulau Gemia or Gem Island is located just north of the main island. There is only one resort in Gem Island known as Gem Island Resort. The standard room rate starts from RM207 nett per night onwards depending on the seasons and time of your booking. This is an exclusive island and the facility here are only accessible to those who are staying at the resort. Accommodation As it only takes 10 minutes by speed boat from Marang Jetty, most of the locals just go for a day trip to the island. If you do not want to rush, you can stay at the resorts in the island. There are about 9 main resorts in Pulau Kapas and 1 resort in Pulau Gemia. Chalet, dorm and room rates ranges from RM20 to RM300 per night. The 9 resorts at the main Kapas Island are:

Turtle Valley Chalet

The Light House Duta Puri Island Resort

Kapas Island Resort

Kapas Beach Chalet

Makcik Gemok Beach Resort

Qimy Chalet

Kapas Garden Resort

Harmony Camp Site The one and only resort at Gemia Island is Gem Island Resort & Spa. Getting Here If you are driving from Kuala Lumpur, use the Karak and East Coast Highway and go towards Kuala Terengganu after you exit the Highway. Follow the coastal Highway 3 and you will pass the town of Kemaman, Kijal, Kerteh, Dungun, Rantau Abang before reaching Marang. The journey will take you 7 hours. Once you are in Marang, follow the sign board Jeti Marang and you will arrive here in 5 minutes. There are plenty of car park bays available for your use. The speed boat transfer cost RM30 for a return trip. The main service provider is Suria Link which has an office just by the jetty. Schedule of boat tranfer: Marang Jetty to Kapas Island 9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm (1:00pm service not available on Friday) Kapas Island To Marang Jetty 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm (1:30pm service not available on Friday)

Where To Eat

1. Duta Puri Island Resort Restaurant
2. Kapas Beach Chalet Restaurant
3. Makcik Gemok Beach Resort Restaurant
4. Kapas Garden Resort Restaurant
5. Kapas Island Resort Restaurant

MAIN ATTRACTION
Fine sandy white beach and blue waters.

ACTIVITIES
Snorkelling, scuba diving, island tour, squid catching and turtle watching. Fees per person: Scuba diving (RM90 to RM220, depending on the number of dives), snorkelling (RM25), jungle‑trekking (RMIG), island tour (RM20) and for squid catching, the usual charge is RM400 for one boat of 10 persons.

Everything you need to know about Genting Highlands

Dubbed ‘City of Entertainment’, Genting Highlands is a well-rounded, one-stop holiday destination situated some 2000 metres above sea level.

Founded in 1965, this multi-award-winning highland resort is highly accessible from the city centre; it is only about an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur.

Throughout the years, Genting Highlands with its cool mountain climate remains a firm favourite amongst both Malaysians and foreigners.

With a multitude of attractions which include theme parks, a casino, a shopping mall, a horse ranch, an 18-hole golf course and a world-class entertainment centre,
this popular resort promises a good time for everyone regardless of whether you’re here with the whole family or with friends.

Also located within its grounds are a superb collection of hotels so that visitors never have to leave the area if they don’t want to!

Genting Theme Park



This sprawling, multi-million-ringgit attraction consists of an indoor theme park, an outdoor theme park and a water park. Featuring over 40 fun, exhilarating – and sometimes hairy-raising – rides, the Genting Theme Park is one of Genting Highlands’ signature attractions.

Definitely not just for small kids, the Genting Theme Park also features some attractions which are so stomach-churningly challenging that pregnant women and those with heart problems are prohibited from going on them! One-day unlimited ride passes are also available for unlimited access to most of the rides in the theme park.

Casino de Genting



Undoubtedly one of Genting Highlands’ key attractions, thousands throng Casino de Genting each year just to try their luck in this world-class casino. Featuring international games such as Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack and Carribean Stud Poker, this casino is Malaysia’s only licensed gambling outlet.

Casino de Genting is equipped with state-of-the-art gaming technology such as electronic tables and cashless slot machines, aiming to provide patrons with the ultimate gaming experience.

Operation Hour: 24 hours

Malay wedding ceremony

 

A Malay wedding is usually performed when either one or both spouses are Malay. Malaysian law defines a Malay person as a Muslim. The traditional wedding ceremony is in two parts. The first part is the akad nikah (marriage contract), which is the legal and religious part of the wedding. The second part is the bersanding (enthronement), which is a family celebration. It is usual for the two parts to be celebrated over two days. However, it is becoming common for there to be a gap between the parts of the wedding, during which the couple are legally married, but saving up for an elaborate bersanding. In cases where the couple have family spread around the world, a number of bersanding may be held in different countries to allow everyone to wish the couple well.

The adat merisik (asking ceremony, or more literally 'spying custom') is the traditional Malay system for arranging marriages. When it is time for a young man to get married, his family will look around to identify a number of potential brides. Nowadays, the man might suggest to his family who he would like them to consider, and it may be that a romantic link already exists between the man and woman. Having decided upon one particular woman, the merisik, or investigation process, takes place. For this ceremony one or more representatives (wakil) of the man's family pay a friendly visit to the family of the woman whom they have in mind as his potential bride. The visit is purely for the purpose of further investigation, and it gives the visitors the chance to see the woman. A hint will be given to her parents regarding the purpose of the visit, and their reaction will be assessed. The woman's parents may also give the visitors some idea as to whether or not their daughter would be interested in the match. The merisik does not constitute a formal proposal. Following the visit both sides can begin to think more seriously about the possibility or otherwise of a marriage. It is possible that no progress may take place, and the man's parents or representatives will then look for another possible bride.

The adat bertunang (engagement custom) is normally held at the bride's home.

A Malay wedding proper begins with the akad nikah (marriage contract) ceremony. The groom signs the marriage contract and agrees to provide the bride with a mas kahwin (a dowry, literally 'marriage gold'). The contract signing is done before a religious official and is accompanied by prayer.

If the bersanding is to take place the next day, the couple's hands are dyed with henna during the berinai besar (great henna-ing) ceremony. The bride's hair is also trimmed, eyebrows shaped and make-up applied by a beautician, known as the mak andam. Then the bride puts on her tudung (hijab or headscarf) to cover their hair and a selendang, or embroidered and beaded shawl over that. A crown is also placed on top of the shawl. If the bersanding does not take place on the day following the nikah, these preparation customs are delayed until the bersanding.

After the bersanding ceremony, the wedded couple and their guests attend a celebratory feast called the makan beradab (formal meal). This involves the bride and groom feeding each other sweetened rice. The celebrations are concluded by posing for family photographs.

Dragon Fruits

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus Undatus), a tropical fruit popular in Southeast Asia, belongs to the climbing cacti (Cactaceae) family. Vietnam is the main commercial producer of dragon fruits in this region. The fruit, apart from being refreshing and tasty, has loads of vitamin C and is said to aid digestion.

The plant is a climbing cactus vine that grows well in dry areas. Because of its epiphytic nature, it grows best in soil with a high level of organic materials. The flowers are white and large, measuring 30 cm long or more. They are ornate and produce a sweet fragrance when in bloom. The flowers bloom for one night only. Pitahaya plants can have between four to six fruiting cycles in one year. It can be propagated by seed or by stem cuttings.

The dragon fruit has a dramatic appearance, bright pink or yellow skinned (from Columbia) with green coloured spine-like scales. The scales turn yellow as the fruit ripens while the skin peels easily. The fruit is oval shaped, elliptical or pear-shaped. Inside, the flesh has subtly flavoured sweet taste or sometimes slightly sourish. The flesh is either white or red with black seeds dotted all over. The seeds resemble sesame seeds and taste like cactus seeds. It imparts a crunchy texture. Dragon fruits are also called cactus fruits. They are closely related to the orchid cacti or epiphyllum. Epiphyllums are known for their large and impressive flowers. The pitahaya can be cross pollinated with the epiphyllums.

Suplement Fact :

Water : 90.20%
Carbohydrat : 11.50%
Protein : 0.53%
Fat : 0.40%
Fiber : 0.71%
Calciun : 134.50%
Phosphorus : 8.70%
Vitamin C : 9.40%
Usage and potential :

Controling blood glucose level

Corroborate bone and kidney function

Corroborate brain power work

Improve eyesight

Prevent hypertension

Prevent colon cancer

Decrease Flour Albus Disease

Healing stomatitis aphtosa

Beauty treatment and skincare

Food

Serve as a juice.The flesh is sweet and sometimes served with mango in a tropical sorbet. The fruit also used to flavour drinks while syrup made of the whole is fruit to used colour pastries and candy. The pulp of the fruit is used in producing an alcoholic beverage.

The fruits makes a wonderful cocktail on its own or mixed with other tropical fruits. It is sometimes used in cooking.Unopened flowerbuds can be cooked like vegetables.

Medicine

Dragon fruits reputedly improve eyesight and revent hypertension. The seeds of the fruit supposed help in controlling blood glucose levels in people with non-insulin-dependent hyperglycaemic condition (a kind of diabetes. It is also used to treat stomach and endocrine problems.

You should try this...Delicious

Malaysian Culture Dance & Music

Music and dance are almost inseparable in the Malaysian culture. Where there is one, the other is not far behind. True to Malaysia's heritage, dances vary widely and are, if not imports direct from the source nation, heavily influenced by one or more of Malaysia's cultural components. Much of Malaysian music and dance has evolved from more basic needs into the mesmerizing, complex art forms they are today.

Traditional music is centered around the gamelan, a stringed instrument from Indonesia with an otherworldly, muffled sound. The lilting, hypnotic beats of Malaysian drums accompany the song of the gamelan; these are often the background for court dances. Malaysia's earliest rhythms were born of necessity. In an age before phone and fax, the rebana ubi, or giant drums, were used to communicate from hill to hill across vast distances. Wedding announcements, danger warnings, and other newsworthy items were drummed out using different beats. The rebana ubi are now used primarily as ceremonial instruments. The Giant Drum Festival is held in Kelantan either in May or June.

Similarly, silat, an elegant Malaysian dance form, originated as a deadly martial art. The weaponless form of self-defense stripped fighting to a bare minimum. Silat displays are common at weddings and other festivals; the dancer will perform sparring and beautiful routines to accompanying drums and other musical instruments.

The candle dance is one of Malaysia's most breathtakingly beautiful performance arts. Candles on small plates are held in each hand as the dancer performs. As the performer's body describes graceful curves and arcs, the delicate candle flames become hypnotic traces.

The Joget, Malaysia's most popular traditional dance, is a lively dance with an upbeat tempo. Performed by couples who combine fast, graceful movements with rollicking good humor, the Joget has its origins in the Portuguese folk dance, which was introduced to Malacca during the era of the spice trade.

Among the many different traditional theatres of the Malays, which combine dance, drama, and music, no other dance drama has a more captivating appeal than Mak Yong. This ancient classic court entertainment combines romantic stories, operatic singing and humor.

The Datun Julud is a popular dance of Sarawak, and illustrates the age-old tradition of storytelling in dance. The Datun Jalud tells of the happiness of a prince when blessed with a grandson. It was from this divine blessing that the dance became widespread among the Kenyah tribe of Sarawak. The Sape, a musical instrument, renders the dance beats, which are often helped along by singing and clapping of hands.

Although Malaysia's cultural heritage is rich and varied almost beyond belief, it would be a mistake to assume that heritage to be wholly traditional. Malaysia has joined the recent world music trend by updating many of its beautiful traditional sounds. Modern synthesizers accompany the gamelan and the drums for a danceable, hypnotic sound you won't soon forget.

Culture & Heritage : The People

Having had an interesting past and being a part of the international spice route many hundreds of years ago, Malaysia has turned into a mosaic of cultures. Everything from its people to its architecture reflect a colourful heritage and an amalgamated culture. To understand Malaysian culture, you must first get to know its people.


Malays, Chinese, Indians and many other ethnic groups have lived together in Malaysia for generations. All these cultures have influenced each other, creating a truly Malaysian culture.

The largest ethnic groups in Malaysia are the Malays, Chinese and Indians. In Sabah and Sarawak, there are a myriad of indigenous ethnic groups with their own unique culture and heritage.

MALAY
Today, the Malays, Malaysia's largest ethnic group, make up more than 50% of the population. In Malaysia, the term Malay refers to a person who practices Islam and Malay traditions, speaks the Malay language and whose ancestors are Malays. Their conversion to Islam from Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism began in the 1400s, largely influenced by the decision of the royal court of Melaka. The Malays are known for their gentle mannerisms and rich arts heritage.

CHINESE
The second largest ethnic group, the Malaysian Chinese form about 25% of the population. Mostly descendants of Chinese immigrants during the 19th century, the Chinese are known for their diligence and keen business sense. The three sub-groups who speak a different dialect of the Chinese language are the Hokkien who live predominantly on the northern island of Penang; the Cantonese who live predominantly in the capital city Kuala Lumpur; and the Mandarin-speaking group who live predominantly in the southern state of Johor.

INDIAN
The smallest of three main ethnic groups, the Malaysian Indians form about 10% of the population. Most are descendants of Tamil-speaking South Indian immigrants who came to the country during the British colonial rule. Lured by the prospect of breaking out of the Indian caste system, they came to Malaysia to build a better life. Predominantly Hindus, they brought with them their colourful culture such as ornate temples, spicy cuisine and exquisite sarees.

INDIGENOUS ETHNIC GROUPS
Orang Asli
Orang Asli is a general term used for any indigenous groups that are found in Peninsular Malaysia. They are divided into three main tribal groups: Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay. The Negrito usually live in the north, the Senoi in the middle and the Proto-Malay in the south. Each group or sub-group has its own language and culture. Some are fishermen, some farmers and some are semi-nomadic.

SARAWAK
Collectively known as the Dayaks, the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu are the major ethnic groups in the state of Sarawak. Dayak, which means upstream or inland, is used as a blanket term by the Islamic coastal population for over 200 tribal groups. Typically, they live in longhouses, traditional community homes that can house 20 to 100 families.

Iban
The largest of Sarawak's ethnic groups, the Ibans form 30% of the state's population. Sometimes erroneously referred to as the Sea Dayaks because of their skill with boats, they are actually an upriver tribe from the heart of Kalimantan. In the past, they were a fearsome warrior race renowned for headhunting and piracy. Traditionally, they worship a triumvirate of gods under the authority of Singalang Burung, the bird-god of war. Although now mostly Christians, many traditional customs are still practised.

Bidayuh
Peace-loving and easy-going, the gentle Bidayuh of Sarawak are famous for their hospitality and tuak or rice wine. Making their homes in Sarawak's mountainous regions, they are mostly farmers and hunters. In their past headhunting days, their prized skulls were stored in a 'baruk' a roundhouse that rises about 1.5 metres above the ground. Originally animists, now most of them have converted to Christianity.

Orang Ulu
Also known as upriver tribes of Sarawak. Forming roughly 5.5% of Sarawak's population, there are over 100,000 different Orang Ulu tribes. Arguably Borneo's most artistic people, their large longhouses are ornately decorated with murals and superb woodcarvings; their utensils are embellished with intricate beadwork; and aristocratic ladies cover their bodies with finely detailed tattoos.

SABAH
The largest indigenous ethnic groups of Sabah's population are the Kadazan Dusun, the Bajau and the Murut.

Kadazan Dusun
The largest ethnic group of Sabah, the Kadazan Dusuns form about 30% of the state's population. Actually consisting of two tribes; the Kadazan and the Dusun, they were grouped together as they both share the same language and culture. However, the Kadazan are mainly inhabitants of flat valley deltas, which are conducive to paddy field farming, while the Dusun traditionally lived in the hilly and mountainous regions of interior Sabah.

Bajau
The second largest ethnic group in Sabah, the Bajaus make up about 15% of the state's population. Historically a nomadic sea-faring people that worshipped the Omboh Dilaut or God of the Sea, they are sometimes referred to as the Sea Gypsies. Those who chose to leave their sea-faring ways became farmers and cattle-breeders. These land Bajaus are nicknamed 'Cowboys of the East' in tribute to their impressive equestrian skills, which are publicly displayed in the annual Tamu Besar festival at Kota Belud.

Murut
The third largest ethnic group in Sabah the Muruts make up about 3% of the state's population. Traditionally inhabiting the northern inland regions of Borneo, they were the last of Sabah's ethnic groups to renounce headhunting. Now, they are mostly shifting cultivators of hill paddy and tapioca, supplementing their diet with blowpipe hunting and fishing. Like most indigenous tribes in Sabah, their traditional clothing is decorated with distinctive beadwork.

The Queen Of Fuits!

Here Comes The Queen!

The queen of tropical fruits,mangosteen,is cute and round, and is about the size of a lawn tennis ball.Its Malay name is manggis,and how did it get its English name "mango's teen" is a real puzzle for it is not related to mango in any way.
Its black or dark brownish skin is smooth and thick providing protection to the delicate flesh insdie.

It is easy to open a mangosteen,just remove the short stubby stalk on top,then place the fruit between your palms and press gently,then use your fingers to press until the cracked thick skin break into two.
The fleshy seeds will be exposed,use a spoon or toth pick to remove the mangosteen flesh from the skin and eat it.But we usually use our index fingers,hmm.."fingers licking good" again!

You may wonder why should we dig the flesh out and not bite it off the skin directly? The answer is simple,the skin may make your lips and nose tip a meshy purple colour if you are not careful.More over,the skin is bitter,if you accidently bite a bit off it,the taste of the mangosteen will be spoilt.

The mangosteen flesh is also pearly white in colour and is very sweet.Camparing to the rambutan's simple oval shaped seed,the mangosteen seed is more sophiscated in appearance.While the seed is also round in shape as a whole,but it is further divided into many slices neatly tugged within the skin compartment.The slices are also of various size, from as big as the thumb to as small as the little finger.Looking from the top,it resembles the crown,no wonder it will earn the name of The Queen!



The mangosteen fruits will also fall by themselves when ripen.When we visited the durian plantations as children,if we didn't find any mangosteen on the floor, we would climb up the tree,then shook the branches vigorously.The ripen ones would then fall to the ground.

Unripen mangosteens are greenish white in colour,and turn brown or purple or black when they begin to ripe.Do you know that green mangosteens are tasty too? When we were children in the villages, we would pluck some unripen ones if we could not shake any ripen ones off the branches.We would go to the river and peel the raw skin with a knife under running stream water because raw mangosteens have very sticky juice and make your fingers brownish or purple.The stains will only fade away fater several days and made your fingers look very ugly.We would then bury the peeled mangosteens in the cold sand of the river bed and left them there for hours while we played and swam in the river.We loved the chilled raw mangosteens,cool, crispy and very sweet.Remeber,not many kampung folks can afford a fridge during those days.

Unfortunately,mangosteen can not be dried,preserved or prickled.You can only consume it fresh,a queen is a queen!

Malaysian Culture & Tropical fruits

Durian 'The King Of Fruits'


The KING of all tropical fruits - Durian. Malaysian durian is different from Thai durian because we only pick the ripe durians after they drops naturally and we never harvest them while they are still handing on the trees (not ripe yet). The Thai ways are smarter as they can be exported but true durian lovers will never like such a way because the true flavor and nutritional elements are all intact.

When it's Durian time in Malaysia there is no escaping the pungent odour of this strange looking fruit. Greeny-yellow in colour and covered with spikes it has the appearance of an outsized Horse Chestnut; but it is the distinctive smell that sets it apart from other fruit.

Aficionados of the fruit say they find the smell irresistible, but its detractors have struggled to find an apt simile. It has been likened to rotting onions, unwashed socks and even carrion in custard, but the most accurate description by far is that of a sewer full of rotting pineapples. This malodorous fruit is so offensive to many people that the durian is banned on buses, trains, taxis and aeroplanes, and all hotel-doormen will bar entry to anyone trying to smuggle one into their establishment.

Older Malaysians remember the time when every kampung (village) had its own Durian tree and the villagers eagerly waited for the fruit to ripen so they could gorge themselves. These days the demand for the fruit is so great that it is grown on plantations and the maturity of the trees is hastened by grafting. This has given rise to different strains of durian and the experts search the wayside stalls for their favourite. D24 is the current favourite in our area and roadside stalls, that are obviously for Durian connoisseurs, list the different variants for sale.

The inside of the durian is divided into five compartments, each containing a cream-coloured, custard-like pulp, which can be described as 'delicious' or 'foul' according to one's taste. Some say that if you can get past the smell you will enjoy the fruit, but as the fruit tastes like it smells this is doubtful. It is generally recommended that if you hate the smell don't bother to taste it, especially as the taste lingers on and, as the fruit has a tendency to repeat on one for hours afterwards, this could prove disastrous!

The durian is said to be a 'heating' fruit, which is unusual as most fruits are 'cooling'. Legend has it that this heating property makes the durian an aphrodisiac. A local saying goes, 'When the durians come down the sarongs come off!' This is said to mean that durian-lovers would be prepared to sell their sarongs to buy a durian, but given its aphrodisiac qualities...!

There is a caveat attached to durian eating; it is believed that under no circumstances should alcohol be drunk while eating it as this can cause serious illness or even death. But as no one is willing to put this to the test it is not evident whether this is true or not. What can be ascertained is that excessive durian eating can cause abdominal discomfort or a sore throat.

Nevertheless, durian addicts cannot pass up any chance to eat it, even though it is not a cheap fruit to buy. Even poor people will find the money somehow rather than miss out when the fruit is in season. Why do people persist with this controversial fruit? As Malaysians put it, 'No-one can resist durian. You will enjoy it so much that even if your mother-in-law passes by you won't notice her!