Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

The chinese year of the Rabbit is supposed to be a good year of opportunities for everyone. And if you are familiar with chinese tradition and culture you will know that this is a time of special rememberance and celebration and here in Malaysia almost all that can make it will try their best to travel back to their respective hometowns and to celebrate the festive season with their families and friends. 

Unfortunately,I was unable to go back to Singapore due to various reasons but it is still wonderful to be able to celebrate the chinese new year with my families and friends here in Sabah which has been my home now for more than 30 years !

The Sabahan tradition of celebration festive seasons with the concept of “Open Houses” means that during such ocassions like chinese new year, many families invite their friends and families to a grand party at their respective homes and this is creating wonderful fellowships and goodwill among the various ethnic groups and races in our country.

If you are a visitor to Sabah at this time you may be also able to witness many fireworks and lion dances performed by the various chinese associations. It s also a time for fun and partying for the young who look forward to receiving generous “Ang Pow” ( Cash Gifts in little red packets ) which are usually given to unmarried family members by their parents and elders.

Always a colorful and often noisy celebration, the chinese new year season marks a break from the routine and allows many to reflect on life and their nostalgic memories of the good old days..

Many chinese people in Sabah have intermarried with the local ethnic groups and so you will find a beautiful tapestry of inter racial and inter cultural people living in harmony here in Sabah.

Learn Chinese

The food you can enjoy during the chinese New Year season are also very special and usually has a blend of recipes from all the various chinese communities as well !

Satellite Direct Television

Satellite Direct Televisione

 

We always knew it would happen one day !

Well our old boat anchor of a TV set finally decided to rest and no matter how many times we sent it in for repairs at the local TV Repairs Shop, the unit just developed some kind of intermittent problems. So what do you do when that happens ?

We can do without Television of course but thats not so convenient these days . We don’t watch much Television but its nice to have it for a number of reasons which are obvious in our urban setting. Anyway the question was what kind of TV types, brands, models and features are we going to have as the replacement unit ?

After a day of family brainstorming.. we finally decided on a 42 inch LG LCD type Television unit which is supposed to have it all for what we need ! And it is now sitting nicely where we had the old one which had been sitting there for years !

To make it even more interesting, we opted for the upgraded subscription from our local Satellite Channel Provider , ASTRO, and signed up for their High Definition HD Beyond package ! And wow that is an overall worthwhile upgrade as we can now watch several additional channels in High Definition format..

We have also since downloaded a very interesting Satellite Direct computer based program that offers a wide variety of global Channels which we can feed into the HDMI interface on the LG Monitor ! And what a show.. it makes one wonder how much technology has advanced these days..

The Satellite Direct Program is actually designed to offer TV viewing on your Laptop or personal computers so you can have access to global Television programming even when you are on the move. It offers some 3,500 channels ! But not all are active all the time . But for what it does it is a useful program to have on your laptop if you are monitoring global or local news and events.

LINK to Satellite Direct Program

Happy Valentine

Its that time of year again.. And I wish you all Happy Valentine’s Day. In spite of all the ongoing global challenges, the natural disasters and the human conflicts, it is wonderful to see that love is that enduring concept that will never grow old ! I spent a quiet day with my own best friend and hubby of so many years.. as all of our children are away overseas pursuing their studies.

 

The years have flown by so fast it seems just like yesterday when we all gathered together for a family dinner at valentines day. But such is life..

Growing old is one fact we cannot escape from but approaching retirement is an art it seems that we can all learn to manage. As you would expect, there are a thousand and one ideas that are being shared to help slow down the aging process. Some offer herbal alternatives while others come from scientific research.

 

Like everyone else out there, I have collected a lot of materials which I find very interesting. A friend suggested I look at studies done on Stem Cells . Apparently a lot of research has been done and there is an interesting ebook related to the Natural Stem Cell Nutrition Therapy. I think it contains a lot of good information related to understanding how we can manage the aging process and I would love to share this with anyone that is interested.

If you are interested, just click on the link below and I will be happy to send you a free copy of the ebook.

Natural Stem Cell Nutrition Therapy

I was looking for a beautiful Valentine song and came across the version by Olivia Newton-John and Jim Brickman below. They are truly a great pair.. so talented and natural. Again.. I hope you have a beautiful and happy Valentine’s day !

 

Grow your own Mushroom

Edible Mushrooms in Sabah

If you love edible mushrooms, you will enjoy a visit to this little place where they prepare and wholesale DIY packs all ready for small scale home mushroom growing and production.

Mushrooms are popular in most restaurants in Malaysia especially so with the great varieties of delicious chinese dishes that use an equally large variety of mushrooms. Some popular mushrooms include truffles, enoki, chanterelle, portabella, shiitake, and oyster.

Here in Sabah, different mushroom varieties are mostly grown along the highlands where the temperature favours the healthy growth of these fungis and provides a supplementary income for local growers. On a recent visit to one of the wholesalers who supply the prepared mushroom packs to growers I found very fascinating information about the health benefits of eating mushrooms as well.

I met Mr. Hong who is an expert in growing mushrooms and apparently loves the cool temperatures in Kundasang, Sabah . And after some interesting tour of his production facility we ended up purchasing some of the mushroom packs for our own little garden. The packs are all set to produce .. all you need is to take the cotton stopper on the top opening, place them in a nice and cool shaded location, preferable placed on a convenient rack. You will need to spray the battery of mushroom packs with water in the morning and evening and then just wait patiently as you get the first batch of delicious mushrooms coming out of the top opening ! Sounds easy.. and it is !

I must admit I have more mushrooms than I can handle now so have been giving fresh mushrooms to friends whenever I can ! So if any of you are interested.. Just let me know !

Posted by Auntydoris at 6:24 AM

The Vanilla Shop

In Sabah, every now and then something comes up that is quite interesting to write about.

Such is the case with my recent visit to the popular tourist destination for both local sabahans as well as visitors from all over. Of course the big attraction here is nothing less than majestic Mount Kinabalu standing as the tallest mountain in South East Asia.

However, that was not the only reason for me to visit this beautiful and cool tourist playground in Sabah. There are many small but cosy family cottages as well as numerous new hotels and chalets that  can caters for a wide range of tourist budgets.

But my focus was on a slightly different kind of attraction as we drive past the main kundasang temperate vegetable bazzars and roadside stalls selling anything from freshly cut fruits and cabbages to handicrafts for the bustling tourist market.

I was invited to check out a new venture and a creative new addition to the wide range of products and services available in the Kundasang area. Yes I was going to visit  The Vanilla Shop!

Owned and operated by Mr. Robin Ng, The Vanilla Shop is a brand new concept in selling an idea.. The main product is Vanilla of course and hence the name of the shop! But as you walk in to this creative little shop by the roadside along the Kundasang- Ranau highway, you will soon realise that Mr. Robin Ng is not your average businessman. Inside are all the passion he has for this thing called vanilla.. He has live vanilla plants, vanilla perfumes,vanilla cigarretes,vanilla sugar and a wide range of other vanilla related products ! Truly this man qualifies for the title of Mr. Vanilla. Spell this word backwords and you will see that it is the name of the business he runs this shop under !

The shop sells cute souvenirs of vanilla related too and these are specially packed for the tourists who wants to bring back an aroma of memories for friends and relatives. Ask Robin anything about vanilla and if you dont stop him he is likely to take up your whole day visit to this very fascinating vanilla outlet.

I was very fortunate to be able to learn more about what you can do with this very versatile product. You can of course use vanilla for cooking as well. And what about cake making.. ? Vanilla Ice Cream anyone ??

Anyway, if you are planning your next visit to Kundasang, you really should drive the extra kilometer to visit The Vanilla Shop for both as an educational trip as well as a memory trip.. Vanilla is a much taken for granted thing but Robin has it all for real !

Scary Experience

Hi everyone,
Just a note to apologize for the short break in continuity with this blog. While travelling on our usual 4WD vehicle along the keningau-kimanis highway my husband noted a slight wobble as we passed a steep incline going towards Kota Kinabalu. We thought the wobble was due to the strong gusts blowing from the south china sea as we drove downhill. Little did we know that this was a critical signal that something terribly wrong would occur shortly ! And it did !

Our right rear wheel of the Nissan Safari we were driving was apparently loose and as we avoided a speeding oncoming car the errant wheel flew off in a tangent directly towards the ravine ! Needless to say, we were in total shock as the vehicle came to an abrupt halt on the side of the road scraping the bitumin for a distance !

It seemed like forever before we realised the gravity of what was happening. All we could do was nod and gesture.. we certainly had a very narrow escape! We were lucky the accident did not happen high up in the mountain highway !

We continue to thank our guardian angels for the way we were looked after. It could have been worse and we know it. Every day is a beautiful day now !

Our Nissan Safari is now taking a good rest as we ponder new options. For regular travellers, please take that extra care to do a full check on your vehicles before going on your journey.

You can view some pics at here

Rafflesia Information Centre

Located along the Kota Kinabalu-Tambunan highway,many local sabahans often just drive past this gem of a center called the Rafflesia Information Center. Maybe its because its always there and the interest to visit can be postponed to another more convenient time. But for tourists and first time visitors to Sabah, this is really worth a visit because the rafflesia information center offers one of the most comprehensive source of interesting information about the Rafflesia ! It is after all the largest flower in the world !

Richard and Maria at the Rafflesia Information Center

Apart from the obvious attraction which is when the rafflesia is in bloom, the center also showcases many other nature related attractions. Visitors can see and appreciate the local native trees which are conveniently grown both naturally and planted by nature minded individuals.

The official Sabah Tourism site is a good source for information about this center and you can check it out here

Some details regarding how to get there :

Rafflesia Information Centre
Tambunan

Aunty Doris and American Visitor Leah at the Park

Located at the roadside of the edge of a forest reserve is the Rafflesia Information Centre. This centre is set aside for the conservation purposes of the remarkable rafflesia flower. The Rafflesia Information Centre is situated about an hour’s drive away from Kota Kinabalu. (source:Rafflesia Information Center)

The Rafflesia Information Centre is open daily to visitors from 8am to 3pm. Here, visitors can look forward to a jungle trekking adventure to look for the rafflesia flower. It is advisable to wear comfortable trekking shoes in the attempt to trek through the RIC’s challenging terrain.

Richard Smeets and wife Maria, from the Netherlands recently visited the site with Aunty Doris and found the place to be really beautiful and informative. Be prepared to do some trekking if you happen to want a close look at a raflessia flower in bloom. Information on the latest bloom can be obtained from the site managers.

This center is just a small part of what is available to visitors to Sabah. You can explore the many adventures and activities by checking in with the official Sabah Tourism Website of course, but you can also email me if you are looking for any particular information on Sabah.

Sabah Agricultural Park, most beautiful and restful destination!

First time visitor to Sabah?

If you have some time and love nature, orchids, exotic flowers and plants you should plan to include a visit to the Sabah Agricultural Park as a part of your Borneo experience !  This park is huge ! so be prepared to allocate some time if you can. You can get additional information about the place  from their website but it really is worth a visit .

serene and peaceful

My home in Keningau is located about a hour away from this magnificent hidden nature jewel and I have always looked forward to such a trip every time we plan to go and be fascinated by the wonders of nature. We have since visited the beautiful sprawling park on many occassions.. sometimes with my family and other times with overseas guests.

An introduction to the park is beautifully summarised in their main website but words will not do justice to the real thing so I encourage any one who is passionate about nature, orchids and anything tropical to make that enjoyable visit.

About Taman Pertanian Sabah

Background

Taman Pertanian Sabah is part of the 1,500 acres of the Agriculture Research Station, Lagud Sebrang Tenom which is administered and owned by the Agriculture Department Sabah. It is a complex consisting of the Agriculture Research Station, seed Production Centre for Cash Crop, Farmers Training Centre and Taman Pertanian Sabah itself. The Park sprawled over an area of 500 acres.

The park was first opened to visitors in October 2000, and was officially launched by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on the 25 March, 2001.

serene and peaceful

Aunty Doris and American Visitor Leah at the Park

Visitor Leah Barr from the USA gets a close look at a Coffee Plant

With its rich biodiversity, the Park has a magnificent collection for indigenous and introduced plants species. It is also a conservation centre for the native Orchids of Borneo. This park would become a heritage for the next generation and this will help to educate people in nature conservation and the preservation of natural rainforest through cultivation of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers.

Aunty Doris and American Visitor Leah at the Park

The lush greenery, multitude species of plants / flowers of endemic to Borneo Island and very rare, panoramic view of the lakes, captivating landscaped gardens provide an excellent base to expand your knowledge and ideal environment for those who seek peace, quiet and tranquility away from stressed and urban noise. This park also provides a great trekking ground as well as nature walks and jungle activities. The park is blessed with mother nature’s treasures.

The park is a showcase of integrated activities carried out by all the Departments and Agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture Development and Food Industry. It also serves as a training and education centre for agriculture, horticulture, apiculture, seed production, forestry, fishery and animal husbandry. It is divided into five key areas:

Agriculture
Living Crop Museum
Demonstration Farms
Agro forestry
Bee Centre
Germplasm Collection
Fisheries
Freshwater Fishing

Horticulture
Native Orchid Centre
Hybrid Orchid
Evolution Garden
Model Garden
Ornamental Garden

Animal Husbandry
Animal Park
Animal Farm

Objectives of Taman Pertanian Sabah

1. As a major Agro-Tourism centre in the state
2. To provide demonstration farms for Agricultural activities, Animal breeding and
Fisheries
3. To serve as a centre for training and demonstration on Agriculture, Horticulture,
Fishery, Apiculture, Seed Technology, Forestry and Animal Husbandry;
4. To provide facilities for nature-based recreational activities
5. To promote awareness and love for nature.

Cakes for all your dreams celebrations !

Cakes for all your dreams celebrations !

Its almost a universal desire to celebrate an important occasion with something extra special and for many it often means bringing in a symbolic celebration cake ! Whether its a birthday, a wedding, a reunion or something more engaging like an engagement party, the cake plays a very important main event. Usually it is the focal point of the evening ! And the more beautiful and creative the cake, the better memories can linger on for years to come !

Here in Sabah, the tradition is no different. It seems that everyone loves a piece of cake after dinner or just as a way to enhance an already special event. No wonder then that there are so many cake shops and bakeries to cater for the increasing demand for good quality cakes ! Commercial brands are easily available and in some cases home deliveries are arranged.

One exciting part of this industry is that anyone who wants to learn skills in making pastries, cakes and related activities can do so with relative ease. One can enroll in the many institutions around Malaysia and graduate with the required skills to either set up a cake business or enjoy making cakes for friends and family for the sheer thrill of being appreciated for a job well done !

The availability of cake making hardware and accessories have also contributed to the steady growth of homemade breads and cakes all over sabah ! There is one thing that seperates each homemade cakes .. Its the passion and creativity of the Baker of course!

Emma Lee is a good example of the passionate cake maker who bakes each cake with a very personal touch. What started as a simple hobby has developed into a very interesting home based rewarding career in the creation of designer cakes for whatever occasion you need the cake for !

I was very fortunate to visit Emma on one of her Off days when she is relaxing away from her ovens. Apparently Emma has been baking cakes for more than 10 years ! Its no wonder that she is so passionate about her cakes ! She still remembers her first oven and how it all turned out ! Now she sits in front of her laptop computer reading email orders for her latest designer cakes which is personally crafted and delivered for local weddings, engagements, birthdays and even for special reunions of corporate and industry events ! Her latest cake creations made it to the local paper as a custom designed cake with the iconic Kadazan Gong sitting on top of a beautifully decorated base being admired by members of a Sabahan Cultural Organisation! The cake was made especially for the Harvest Festival Celebration and presented to the TYT of Sabah ( Governor of Sabah , Malaysia )

A very creative person, Emma is always lookng for new ways to enhance her cake making ideas. She has hinted in providing training for interested students as an option for the future.

Conveniently located in Kota Kinabalu, Emma is now available to deliver your dream cakes to your special events to help enhance the gathering of friends, business associates or any other occasion.

For those of you who are interested to get more information of how you can make your event more memorable, you can visit Emma’s Website at http://www.pinkrosescake.com/

You can also call Aunty Doris of course !
http://www.auntydoris.au.tt
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