Chestnuts they are a-roasting

C is for Chestnuts.

You can tell chestnuts are in season when the aroma of chestnuts being roasted is in the air.

One might mistake it for coffee even but then again, one is not wrong. Chestnuts here sold by street vendors are roasted with coffee beans and butter. More accurately, they are roasted in a pan/pot like this.

This is actually an improved method, which is less labour-intensive.

Some vendors still do manual frying the chestnuts in a large wok with coffee beans and butter being the main ingredients that make these chestnuts so attractive to the senses.

The next time you are here in Malaysia, watch out for these. Don't leave Malaysia without tasting our roasted chestnuts. You can find them in market squares. Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur would be a good start to look.

Image source

Current situation in Kuala Lumpur - Himpun 16 - Red Shirt Rally - Kuala Lumpur

Live from Kuala Lumpur..

Police beef-up at Petaling Street in Chinatown.

Shop owners around the Petaling Street have been advised to close their shop on Malaysia Day to avoid trouble.

More images of Himpun 16.. and here as well.

Situation this morning at Bukit Bintang area and Low Yat Plaza - rather deserted by comparison considering this is a public holiday where the malls and shopping complexes would be crowded normally on a public holiday. Strong Police presence in the area today. One thing nice about these videos is you get to see parts of Kuala Lumpur - which give an idea of what the city looks like for one who hasn't been here.



This is an article worth reading: Let’s see who the red shirts are


Ok, now to the issue about the haze in the country - Visibility in the Klang Valley (including KL) may have improved slightly after a bout of rain yesterday morning, but there is yet to be any significant improvement in the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings. All outdoor activities have been discouraged and called off.

After parents expressed their concerns regarding schools still operating despite the haze, the Education Ministry made a last-minute decision to order schools in several states to close for at least two days.

Pharmaniaga Berhad a pharmaceuticals company staff members distributed face masks to motorists in Putrajaya.


Just to give you an idea of what's the current haze situation in Kuala Lumpur..

The Kuala Lumpur city skyline cannot be seen at all in this photo taken at Taman Maluri, Cheras. The KL Tower and Petronas Twin Towers can normally be seen when the weather is clear.SAMUEL ONG / THE STAR

Rally in Kuala Lumpur today - KL112 at Stadium Merdeka

You may be interested in the Red Shirt Rally on 16 Sep, 2015

If you don't fancy crowds or being caught in a traffic congestion (of both vehicular and human kind), KL city is where you would want to avoid today, Saturday. Why?

Today is the day of yet another people's rally from 2 to 5pm to be held at Merdeka Stadium. Police approval has been granted for a peaceful rally and they (the police) are making good on their promise of ensuring a peaceful Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat rally by not deploying the Federal Reserved Unit (FRU) personnel or conducting roadblocks and road closures in the city.

The organisers of Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat have pledged to ensure that their rally at Stadium Merdeka will be a peaceful one.

A notice outside Stadium Merdeka stating that the rally had been given the police go-ahead and City police chief DCP Datuk Mohmad Salleh has asked everyone to help ensure a zero-casualty gathering. The Star
Eight routes have been planned for rally supporters to meet at - Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya; Masjid Arrahman in UM; Brickfields; KLCC; Kelab Sultan Sulaiman; Pasar Seni; Jalan Sultan and Masjid Negara - and from these meeting points, supporters will march on to Stadium Merdeka just like marching on to watch a football game at the stadium. Stadium Merdeka is right in the middle of the city in the vicinity of Chinatown. A map below for your reference.


View Larger Map
Rally organisers target a turnout of one million people at the rally which is expected to be coloured by the BERSIH's signature yellow, the anti-Lynas' flourescent green, the Pakatan Rakyat women's purple and so forth.

Inspector-General of Police Secretariat (Corporate Communications) Asst Comm Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the organisers had agreed to the 27 conditions stipulated which was signed by PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu.

However, should you decide to be there, for your own safety, you may want to take note of the do's and dont's for this KL112 rally or for future rallies for that matter. I hope you read Bahasa Malaysia because the list is in BM. If you have been to previous rallies, the list could serve as a reminder to be adequately equipped.


Sources:
- The Star
- Malaysia Chronicle

Beside a beautiful orange Lamborghini

On my last visit to Genting Highlands last year, outside the main hotel, Maxims Genting, people were milling around some 7 to 8 expensive-looking imported European cars, including Lamborghinis and Ferraris. The people were peering into the cars and taking pictures of them as well as having their own picture taken standing next to one.

It was a misty, cold morning. Huddled under my jacket standing just outside the hotel entrance, one lady, I noticed, spent an extraordinarily long time having her picture taken in various poses and at different corners beside an orange model, not unlike the one below.

Beautiful cars are normally pictured alongside good-looking people (or at least perceived such) or you see beautiful ladies posing beside these vehicles in a roadshow. The picture below, has a different setting however. I wonder where was this taken. Perhaps KL Chinatown?

This image is today's winner of The Star's Thumbnail, a readers submission corner of daily images. Titled, Rich dad, poor dad, this was taken by Kenny Seow @ Weng Leong with the caption Wealth disparity rearing its ugly head. Indeed.

UPDATE:
Received three comments (two anonymous) on this post indicating that Kenny Seow is not the owner of the picture.

Profanity is not tolerated here so one anonymous comment has been deleted. I would still like to use this image because it fits in well with my post and is well-taken and reflects the reality of life.

If you are the owner and would like to have image removed, please leave a comment or you can send me an email. Alternatively, if you do not mind image to be used here, please advise as to whom it should be creditted to. Will gladly give due credit.

KL Chinatown Jalan Sultan Mural

This is a follow-up post to the earlier post, Preserving Kuala Lumpur Chinatown heritage with a Mural.

Wish I was able to be at Chinatown on Saturday to witness this Jalan Sultan mural in the making. It used to be a sad, dilapidated wall along the Jalan Sultan stretch here. In fact, the site here used to be a funeral parlour for many decades if not a century, which probably accounts for the plot being left alone even after it has stopped operating as one.

The group of 60 artists and well-wishers on Saturday transformed the location into something artistic and bright at the same time playing a part in preserving Chinatown's heritage which dates back to the Yap Ah Loy era of the mid-1800s.

Here is a glimpse of some of the many artworks adorning the wall. These are video-shots picked up from the video below.

Video to watch..

Visitors to yesterday's event also got to go on a heritage walk that took them to historic sites in Chinatown, including the Petaling Street gateway and Lee Lam Thye market.

More..Mural project gives Jalan Sultan colourful facelift, The Star

Preserving Kuala Lumpur Chinatown heritage with a Mural

If you are planning on going downtown to Chinatown this morning, you might want to drop by Jalan Sultan to witness history in the making or rather an activity on Chinatown heritage preservation.

In the wake of intended acquisition for the MRT project and the need to preserve century-old buildings in Jalan Sultan, The Star, in partnership with Dulux, is joining forces with a group of 50 artists on an art installation. Amongst the artists are Sharifah Zuriah, Syed Thajudeen, Tew Nai Tong and Philip Wong.

Their canvas will be the wall, near the carpark on Lot 49, Jalan Sultan, which was exposed since the demolition of six pre-war shophouses including the iconic Chik Sin Thong funeral parlour about 15 years ago.

The artists will start to paint from 9am. Members of the public are welcome to see them at work and to support the cause. Several sessions of heritage walks around Chinatown have been arranged, but participation is only on a first-come-first-served basis.

This badly-weathered wall will be the canvas for the artists today. Inset shows a worker engaged by Dulux painting the wall for the Jalan Sultan mural.

Source: The Star


Related article:
KL Chinatown Jalan Sultan Mural
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Puduraya bus terminal to reopen on April 16

Having not been to the Puduraya bus terminal or its vicinity ever since it was closed for upgrading last April, I was naturally excited by its progress driving by it the other day. The area is also quite devoid of traffic jams right now as you can see in the picture below.

Let's take a closer look.. New paintwork, of course. See the covered pedestrian walkway/waiting area in front of the terminal by the road? Commuters would appreciate this - great for rain or shine. The place is not quite ready yet, note the boarding.

Front-view.. Completely new look..

Familiar entry ramp. If you are driving, this is the only way in. This is one-way. Exit is through another way, at the back of the complex.

Good news for you if Puduraya is your hub for public transportation for going outstation, e.g., for going back to your hometown. The authorities have now set April 16 for the new date for the opening of the RM52mil terminal.

We will see a host of facilities that will improve the level of transportation services. There are two escalators heading to the basement where buses are parked and one travellator from a new main entrance to the ground floor.

Before, the waiting area was hot and uncomfortable for travellers waiting to get on or for people waiting for friends and family to arrive. The place used to be dusty and filled with carbon fumes. In the new terminal, heat from the bus engines and smoke will no longer affect the passengers at the ground floor with the new air-conditioned waiting area.

Other new features include ticket counters on the first floor, a surau (prayer area) on the second floor and a food court on the fourth floor.

All the 198 previous tenants including bus operators, food outlets, retail outlets, convenience stores and baggage storage will return to Puduraya. There will be 51 ticket counters for 72 bus companies.

Travellers to note:
- Puduraya terminal will only be for northbound routes
- Bandar Tasik Selatan terminal will be for southbound routes beginning March l, 2011

Information on and Map of Bandar Tasik Selatan


Related articles:
"Puduraya terminal" temporarily relocated to Bukit Jalil Parking Lot F
Puduraya bus terminal to close for 4 months from March 19
Kuala Lumpur Public Transportation
Opening of Puduraya bus terminal rescheduled to April 16, The Star

Chinatown In San Francisco

Thanks to Lydia Barnette for the guest post.

Now that the weather is getting warm again, it is time to once again plan those summer outings. Last summer, I took a trip to San Francisco with a friend and we visited Chinatown. I do not live too far away from there, so it was an easy trip to make. I got up early, set my best home security in my house, and went to pick up my friend for a great day.

After a few stops in San Francisco, we made our way to Chinatown. There is so much to do there that we could not do it all, but there were a few things that stand out as being worth the trip. One of these was the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. Here, visitors have the opportunity to watch fortune cookies being made right in front of them. A mid-afternoon snack was just what we needed to give us the energy to get to the next awesome place: The Bank of Canton.

The Bank of Canton may not sound like the most exciting place to visit, but it is almost like a museum. It is a very authentic Chinese-looking building which will give you a feel for real Chinese culture. Aside from these places, there are many hotels and restaurants to visit. Take a trip to Chinatown and see for yourself.

Puduraya bus terminal to close for 4 months from March 19

Latest Update: Puduraya Bus Terminal reopens today, April 16

Almost ready..

Related article: Puduraya's new location.. Bukit Jalil Parking lot F

Now here is a great picture (courtesy of The Star) of a popular landmark in Kuala Lumpur, the Puduraya bus terminal or Perhentian Puduraya in the local language. Notice how clear and bright the weather is. On most days, Malaysia is like this - clear and sunny. Surprisingly, there is not much traffic when this picture was taken - probably it was shot during a festival after the exodus.

The building complex in the center is the Puduraya station, the main bus station terminal in Kuala Lumpur where long-distance buses arrive and leave from Puduraya for all over Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Thailand and Singapore. Opened in 1976, Puduraya is especially busy during public holidays and around festive periods.

The Star reported that Puduraya will be closed for four months starting March 19 for a terminal upgrade. The drastic upgrade is aimed at taking care of current problems of traveller discomfort, lack of amenities and traffic congestion around the terminal.

Let's look around the area a little, shall we? The tower block on top of Puduraya station is the Puduraya Hotel. It's a 2/3-star hotel and has recently been refurbished.

The rail track you see on the right is the LRT (Light Rail Transit) track. This is the Ampang line, one of two lines that ply the city and the suburbs.

Chinatown is just a walk away. If you head towards the 4 o'clock direction, you'd be in Chinatown in 5-10 minutes. If you are taking the LRT, the station at Puduraya (called Plaza Rakyat) would be a good place to get off; the other station being Pasar Seni which is nearer Pasar Seni (Central Market).

Back to the picture.. The road on the left is the famous Jalan Pudu (Pudu Road). This road is one of the busiest and oldest in the city. This is the south-bound road. Yes, it leads south to Negri Sembilan (Seremban), Malacca, Johore (Muar) and Singapore. Shops along the road on the left (partly cut off) have been around for decades, probably pre-war era. The buildings further down the road are newer buildings that replaced the old shops.

Still further down Pudu Road, at the 11 o'clock location, is the hub of KL's Golden Triangle - the commercial district of Jalan Bukit Bintang - where you will find KL's best hotels, shopping malls, finest dine and wine restaurants..and everything else.

And that's a gist of what's there in that part of busy Kuala Lumpur. Like every city in the world, there is always the charm of the old amidst the new. If you venture downtown, you will still see enchanting pre-war buildings. They have been preserved and refurbished for their historical value.

Kuala Lumpur was once a flourishing tin-mining town which grew into what it is today. Kuala Lumpur still holds the record for having the tallest twin towers in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers. Let me leave you with this lovely image of the KL skyline at night borrowed from Wikipedia. Welcome to Kuala Lumpur!

Hungry Ghost Festival - the Significance

If you were out late the past two nights, did you notice people praying by the roadside, lighting candles and joss-sticks and burning joss-paper and such?

Know what's the significance of that? You might have guessed it. Yep, the offerings are for the hungry and wandering ghosts. Remember this is the month of the Hungry Ghosts and the past two nights were designated prayer days being the 14th and 15th days of the lunar month.

Families who pray and make offerings by the roadside are doing it on a smaller scale partly because they are not in business thus are not participating in the grander scale like the ones in commercial districts of Chinatown or in Penang. In Penang, the whole island is abuzz with this activity. Read about the significnce of the Hungry Ghost Festival in my Malaysia blog. Phor Thor is the local name for this festival.


Image source:
Penang State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage site

Suggesting a Link-name or Link-term

Have you ever received a request from a fellow-blogger asking to exchange links? If you have and have been asked as to the link-name or link-term you would like used, was it easy for you to suggest it?

If your blog has a niche subject, then you would have no problem suggesting a link-name or link-term, but if your blog is like mine, a general blog of a myriad of topics, that task would somehow be rather challenging, wouldn't you say?

A tip here, you might want to start figuring that out just in case you get a request for a link-exchange.

While we are at names and terms for a link, how many of you have used the expression "ew" or "eww" or even "ewwwwwwwwww". You might be happy to note that "ew" made it to the Oxford English Dictionary in December, so it is now a valid English word. More words here on the Oxford English Dictionary site.

And yes, "Eww!!" when you have flower pots being knocked down and broken and you have to clean up the mess and replanting the plants. This time of the year sees strong winds blowing. This is s sure sign of the impending Lunar New Year which falls on Jan 26 (I think).

I am avoiding Chinatown at this time of the year, especially in the evenings/nights as you can be caught in really heavy traffic in that part of Kuala Lumpur though for tourists, it is a great time to see Chinatown with its bustling activity and extra goodies on sale, i.e., the paraphernalia associated with the Lunar New Year.

Petaling Street - Kuala Lumpur Chinatown

On my last visit to Chinatown, particularly Petaling Street which is the hub of Chinatown, I was taken aback by the people manning the stalls. It felt somewhat strange seeing foreigners, mainly Burmese and Nepalese, manning the stalls which used to be manned by people of Chinese descent, afterall it is Chinatown.

Chinatown is no longer Chinatown in its true sense. I am not racist nor have I ever been but it brought home that times they are a-changing and we have no choice but to move along with the times.

The redeeming factor is that the foodstalls are still being operated by the original owners or their family. Food-wise, Chinatown is still intact - the taste is still very much authentically Chinese. In this part of Kuala Lumpur, you can still find KL's best Hokkien fried noodle, best roast duck, best soya bean drink, and more. A common sight I delight in is of visitors (Caucasians mostly) hanging out having a beer or two soaking in the sights and sounds of Chinatown. It always puts a smile on my face.

I am glad Chinatown is still attractive enough to entice visitors. It is often said that, you have not seen Kuala Lumpur if you have not been to Chinatown. Just the other day, a visiting colleague was given a shopping list which included football jerseys from Chinatown. His friend even equipped him with the stall number and the contact person!


Baunach Ulrich and his wife (above) from Germany said they were fine with foreign workers selling the merchandise, but were not in favour of the cramped placements of stalls. Fortunately, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has shelved a plan to add 94 new stalls at Petaling Street following strong objections from traders who find it increasingly difficult to do business in the area.

Another visitor, Lindy from Australia likes "the atmosphere here - red lanterns, haggling, good food - and I can shop cheaply, it doesn’t really matter if those who man the stalls are foreign workers."

Come, let me take you to Chinatown - through a video. The place is shown in daylight. It never used to be that busy during the day as business only begins at nightfall when the street is closed to auto traffic. These days (since the last few years), business starts early, as early as ten-ish.

Welcome to Kuala Lumpur. Welcome to Chinatown!


Source...The Star
Tourists have no qualms about Petaling Street’s image
DBKL: No new stalls in Chinatown