Saturday, October 5, 2024

Things to Do in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Indian lady lifting a red scarf behind her neck at the brown sand, sand dunes, during sunset in Dubai Safari.

Dubai, a world-famous cosmopolitan city in the United Arab Emirates, amazes visitors with its wide six-lane roads, modern highways, and towering skyscrapers. This busy city is home to people from many ethnic backgrounds, including locals, foreign workers from various industries, and numerous tourists. 


Dubai offers a mix of modern and traditional attractions, making it a top destination for things to do in Dubai. While it is not a cheap city for travelers, Dubai International Airport (DXB) serves as a major transit hub, connecting flights to cities across the globe (WHAT TO DO IN FLORENCE ITALY).

Friday, October 4, 2024

Vegetarian Noodle Soup

Wheat rolled noodles, with vegetarian soup, straw mushrooms, salad leaves and dried wolfberries.
A complete, wholesome meal. Chinese-style vegetarian noodle soup that’s easy and delicious. What makes a vegetarian noodle (VEGETARIAN CURRY MEE) soup, or any vegetarian soup, stand out? The stock.

Use a homemade vegetable stock made from onions, carrots, celery, and herbs, or store-bought stock - granules, cubes, or ready-made. For how to make vegetable broth or stock, click these links: Vegetable Stock and Vegetable Broth, from our YouTube channel.

 

Some dried wolfberries added to the stock bring natural sweetness and health benefits. The vegetables are simple. Straw mushrooms and salad leaves, but you can add more of your choice.

Foot Creams Review: Dry Skin & Cracked Heels

Lady showing her foot, highlighting areas needing care
How are your feet doing? Mine have already become rough, tough, and full of character, with lines and wrinkles forming a natural pattern. Honestly, I don't mind the wrinkling - people rarely notice my feet. Well, maybe they do when I’m conducting yoga sessions, but even then, I embrace the lines and wrinkles. What I do struggle with, though, is the rough, dry skin. At times, I can feel the skin flaking under my fingers. Being an urban gardener and taking care of household chores that involve frequent contact with water makes this almost inevitable.

The real concern for me is if the dry, flaky skin will start peeling and expose raw skin underneath  -  thankfully, that hasn’t happened yet. For some, dry feet can lead to cracked heels, which can be quite painful. Once the cracks deepen, they can bleed, making every step excruciating. Luckily, this hasn’t been my issue, but I’m always mindful of it.

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Semperit Cookies Recipe: Biskut Dahlia

Long square cookies, made with custard flour, corn flour, butter, egg yolk and sugar, colorful sugar sprinkles atop.
Whether baked as long stripes or shaped like Dahlia flowers, these are yellow golden custard cookies that melt in the mouth. Some call them Kuih Semperit or Kuih Dahlia. They are Malay heritage traditional cookies (PINEAPPLE TARTS). 

The crumbly texture comes from corn flour and custard flour. Visually appealing and a delight to eat. Still popular for Hari Raya festive seasons, along with other Malay cookies.

 

The difference in making these custard cookies lies in the mould. Use either the stringent like metal long mould or a flower-shaped cookie cutter. Otherwise, the ingredients are the same (BUTTER COOKIES).

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Singapore Laksa

A bowl of rice noodles, with coconut milk spiced thick fish gravy, pineapple, cucumber, red chilies and red onion.
Coconut milk, homemade spice paste, fish stock, and fish pieces, all lifted by the aroma of Vietnamese coriander (daun kesum). This is the vibrant, absolutely delicious laksa.

Is there much difference between Malaysian Laksa and Singapore Laksa? Not really. Some ingredients are the same, while others vary slightly. This laksa is also a blend of Asam Laksa and Curry Laksa.

 

The recipe is simple, with no lengthy ingredients list. It’s all about convenient home cooking. Unlike hawker stalls, food courts, or restaurants, it can be easily replicated at home -affordable, straightforward, and fuss-free (PRAWN MEE).

Cempedak Goreng Recipe

Crispy batter and black sesame seeds coated cempedak, with yellow orange fruit inside.
Crunchy outer batter coating, and soft, yellow-orange cempedak fruit inside. For Malaysians, or even those in Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore, cempedak needs no introduction. But for the rest of the world? Cempedak is a tropical fruit, similar to jackfruit, and can be eaten fresh. It’s especially delicious when fried as a snack or sweet dessert (KUIH KASWI RECIPE). 

Cleaning cempedak can be messy due to its sticky sap, like jackfruit. Sometimes it’s easiest to buy from fruit traders who have already prepared the fruit.

Wardah UV Shield Essential Gel Sunscreen

Front view of Wardah UV Shield Essential Gel Sunscreen tube showcasing its packaging
How many of you actively defend your skin against the sun? It's crucial to acknowledge that indoor lighting, as well as the light from laptops and smartphones, emits rays that can harm your skin. Today, I want to focus specifically on facial skin.

Neglecting to shield your skin from sun exposure and indoor light sources can lead to several adverse consequences:

Accelerated Skin Aging
Prolonged exposure to UV rays can result in fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.

Increased Risk of Skin Cancers
UV radiation can damage the DNA in skin cells, raising the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma.

Skin Inflammation
The blue light emitted from electronic devices is linked to various skin issues, potentially causing inflammation and contributing to conditions like acne and pigmentation disorders.

What to Eat in Indonesia

What to eat in Indonesia isn’t complicated. The country offers food for everyone, depending on your preferences. Vegetarians, vegans, and th...