Thursday, May 23, 2024

Mutton Rendang

Mutton Rendang, made with pressure cooked with ginger garlic paste mutton, spicy herbs and chili paste, tossed coconut, coconut milk, tamarind, turmeric leaf garnished.
There is chicken rendang (RENDANG AYAM/CHICKEN RENDANG), beef rendang, and of course, mutton rendang, or rendang kambing. Is the recipe very different? Not really. You can change some ingredients for a twist, but the core ingredients are a must.

Mutton is generally tougher than lamb. Cooking it until tender can take time. If overcooked, it will shrink and lose its texture. A useful tip for mutton rendang and other mutton dishes is to pressure cook the mutton with ginger paste and garlic paste. This makes cooking easier while keeping the flavor.

Monday, May 20, 2024

Perth, Australia

Monkey seated on a tree in Perth Zoo, Australia.
Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is located on the country’s western coast. Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world. Perth is far from the busier east coast cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Yet, over the years, Perth has also become abuzz, especially in the city areas (HANOI VIETNAM). 

Stepping into Perth city can feel like being in an Asian country. This trend is happening globally, as people move across borders for better opportunities, work as expats, or migrate. Perth has experienced this, resulting in a diverse mix of ethnicities and cultures.

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Hanoi, Vietnam

The bustling Hanoi City, with cars, motorbikes and cycles, Vietnam.
Stepping into Hanoi, the first things that stand out are the busy streets filled with motorbikes, bicycles, street stalls, and locals going about their daily routines. Amidst the bustle, travellers navigate their way to top attractions and experiences in Hanoi. It’s overwhelming at first, yet Hanoi offers one of the most memorable travel experiences (HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM). 
 

Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is located in the northern part of the country on the western bank of the Red River. Amidst the city’s busyness, nothing is short-changed. Historical sites in Hanoi, formerly part of Thang Long, coexist with modernisation and the still-retained French colonial architecture (COLOMBO, SRI LANKA WHAT TO DO). 

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Scenic nature view in Ha Long Bay during boat cruise, against the backdrop of mountains, and boats passing by.
Located in Quảng Ninh Province in northern Vietnam, Ha Long Bay is one of the most iconic natural destinations in Asia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site (ANGKOR WAT CAMBODIA) and recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, Ha Long Bay is known for its limestone islands, calm waters, and scenic views.

In fact, Ha Long Bay is truly a nature temptation, luring travellers from all over the world. When visiting Ha Long Bay, especially on its famed boat cruises, it feels as though people from all walks of life have come together for a closer look at the bay. The unspoiled and preserved pride of Vietnam gives the feeling of walking back in nature time.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Nasi Kerabu - Malaysian Herbs Rice

On round banana leaf, blue pea flower herbs rice, coconut dried shrimp flakes, spicy fried fish, boiled salted egg, fried salted fish and spicy anchovies.
An array of herbs, including crunchy green herbs and the butterfly pea flower, make Nasi Kerabu, or Malaysian herbs rice, a healthy and colorful dish. The types of herbs are not fixed. They depend on what is available and what is preferred. Therefore, no two plates of Malaysian herbs rice may be exactly the same.

These herbs are also staples in Southeast Asian cooking, with bunga telang/ butterfly pea flower (GROWING BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER) giving the rice its vibrant blue hue.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Pineapple Cucumber Salad with Torch Ginger

No-Cook Salad, made with cucumber, pineapple, torch ginger, shallots, green chilies, roasted peanut, mint leaves, lime juice & salt.
A no-cook salad is one of the easiest dishes to put together. It’s a simple recipe, all you need to do is slice the ingredients. Better still, these ingredients are easily found at Asian grocers. In Malaysia, they’re everyday staples you can pick up at markets or even supermarkets.

Budget-friendly too, and if you have extra pineapple or cucumber after making this Malaysian salad, they make a  healthy snack (NASI ULAM/HERBED RICE). Even the peanuts? Buy them roasted, no need to roast at home.

Cambodia, Siem Reap - Wat Thmey (The Killing Fields)

Human skulls of those perished during the Khmer Regime, in glass casing memorial, What Thmey, Cambodia.
A top sight in Cambodia that leaves a lasting mark is Wat Thmey (Killing Fields) in Siem Reap. Wat Thmey may not be one of Cambodia’s top attractions, perhaps overlooked or unheard of, yet it is where a painful chapter in the nation’s history is remembered.

Cambodia, bordered by Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, has come a long way to where it is today. Nevertheless, it remains a nation shaped by grief. Once the heart of the mighty Khmer Empire, the country’s ancient roots still echo through its traditions, temples (ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA), and people’s resilience.

Top Beaches Worldwide

When it comes to chilling and simply being, nothing beats the beaches. Sitting by the water or going with the flow, beaches bring together t...