Health Post: Beautiful Bunga Kantan

The Bunga kantan, otherwise known as ginger flower, used in Penang-style asam pedas or asam laksa is more beautiful than you thought. It could well be used to cure gout. In my e-mail box is a recipe for curing gout: Boil 3 sticks of Bunga Kantan in 4.5 litres of water until only 3 litres are left.  Drink the water continuously for 3 days.

Joy is wreathed!

Joy is wreathed!

(Pic taken in Bodhgaya, India, 2007)


Bodhgaya is one of the holy sites of Buddhism, being the place where Gautama Buddha attained Enlightenment. For more of Bodhgaya and Buddhism, check out Travel Pangs and Dhammadelights!

Joy is peeping!

Joy is peeping!

(Pic taken in Kellie's Castle, Batu Gajah, Perak)

Kellie's Castle or rather Kellie's Folly in Batu Gajah, which is about 20 minutes drive from Ipoh, Perak, is an unfinished, ruined mansion built by Scottish planter, William Kellie Smith. The castle is said to be built either as a gift for his wife or a home for his son. For more of the castle, visit A Traveller's Tale at Beautiful World!

Health Post: Miracle Water

Would you believe this? Someone e-mailed me about what a glass of water is capable of - Take  a glass of water upon waking up and your internal organs would be activated. Taking one half an hour before a meal aids digestion. One glass of water before a bath lowers the blood pressure and a glass before going to bed avoids stroke or heart attack.How's that for a miracle?

Joy is welcome!

Joy is welcome!

(Pic taken in Teluk Bahang Dam, Penang.)

The Teluk Bahang Dam in Teluk Bahang, a fishing village in northwestern Penang, is the largest dam in Penang Island. It was built in 1999 to provide an alternative source of water supply to Penang. From the dam, one can enjoy the scenic view of Penang's northern coast. Make a date with Teluk Bahang Dam!

Joy is receiving a phonecall!

Joy is receiving a phonecall!


(Pic taken in Taiping Sentral, Taiping)


Students of N& G Art Gallery were seen taking a break during an activity held in Taiping Sentral, the in-place in the little rain town of Taiping. N & G Art Gallery is a place where students congregate to learn art and crafts, music, yoga among other things. N & G Art Gallery has its main branch in Taiping and branches in Aulong and Pokok Assam. Make a date with N & G Art Gallery! Call 0125125391!

Joy is wondering!

Joy is wondering!


(Pic taken in Bali, Indonesia.)

In Sukawati, Bali, you'd get to see people selling flowers which would to be offered to Gods. Balinese practise Balinese Hinduism and believe in the Hindu Gods, Brahma, the creator,Wisnu or Vishnu, the preserver and Ciwa or Shiva, the destroyer.

Joy is on the head!

Joy is on the head!


(Pic taken in Sukawati, Bali, Indonesia)



Sukawati in central Bali, Indonesia is a shopping haven for souvenir hunters. Paintings, woodcarvings, wind chimes and many other local handicrafts which one finds elsewhere in Bali originates here and one could hunt for them specifically at Sukawati Art Market.

Joy is shielded!

Joy is shielded!


(Pic taken in Bali, Indonesia)




Bali, the Island of the Gods, is a popular place among Western tourists, most notably from neighbouring Australia. In 2002, the Bali bombings in Kuta by members of Jemaah Islamiyah killed 202 people. Of the 202 people killed, 88 were Australians.

Bali is currently featured in Travel Pangs!

Joy is a riot of colours!

Joy is riot of colours!

(Pic taken in Taiping Sentral, Taiping)

Just the other day, a young boy who was celebrating his birthday asked me if I would join him and his friends in TS. That's what youngsters in Taiping called Taiping Sentral, I supposed, presently the biggest shopping mall in Taiping. The only cinemas in town are located here and itself could make it youngsters' heaven!

Joy is on the pavement!

Joy is on the pavement!


(Pic taken in Batu Ferringhi, Penang, Malaysia.)

Batu Feringhi, a beach area in Penang was hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami but no lives were lost. Hotels such as Hard Rock Hotel, Hydro Hotel, Holiday Inn, Bayview Beach Resort, Golden Sands Resort, Grand Plaza Parkroyal Penang, Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa cater for tourists but most probably, you'd be more interested in its night market...

Joy is there!

Joy is there!

(Pic taken in Penang)

Penang, reportedly has at its north east corner, the smallest national park of Malaysia. Covering an area of 1,213 hectares, the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve has a diverse flora and fauns. Spectacular sunsets here also lend the Penang National Park the name - 'Bay of Glowing Amber'.

Joy is wondering!

Joy is wondering!


(Pic taken in Ipoh, Perak.)


Have you ever wonder what to eat? If you are in a dim sum restaurant where you are spoilt for choices, you would! Dim sum, by the way is Cantonese for snack and is often served in small steamer baskets or on small plates.

Joy is in the buff!

Joy is in the buff!

(Pic taken in Makassar, Indonesia)




'To be in the buff' means 'to be naked'. In Spain, it is a legal right to be naked in any public place but being naked is actually illegal in Michigan. In South East Asia, it is of course, frowned on too and that most definitely include Makassar!




Makassar is in Sulawesi, Indonesia. For more of Makassar, log in Sulawesi Surprise! at Travel Pangs!

Joy is a deep blue sea!

Joy is a deep blue sea!

(Pic taken in Bali, Indonesia)

Bali, the islands of the Gods, is famous for its beaches. For more of Bali, check out Beautiful Bali at Travel Pangs!

Joy is down there!

Joy is down there!

(Pic taken in Lumut, Perak)


Lumut, the gateway to Pangkor Island, is a quaint coastal town, so called because the beach here is rich in moss. 'Lumut', in Malay, mean moss, lichen or seaweed.

Joy is brooding!

Joy is brooding!

(Pic taken in Taiping, Perak)

'To be brooding' could mean 'to be depressed', 'to worry' or 'to be deep in thought'. 'To be deep in thought' could be a joy!

Joy is a helping hand!

Joy is a helping hand!

(Pic taken in Taiping, Perak.)

A helping hand is an assistance rendered. It is not only the aged and the unfortunate who need assistance. Once a while, we do too!

Joy is displayed!

Joy is displayed!

(Pic taken in Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia.)

It is always great to feel good inside, but is it ever wise to display it openly? Some people would not think so while others may want to spread their cheer around. Which category are you in?

Health Post: Not Just about Cancer

How many times have you heard that this and that vegetable or fruit can prevent or cure cancer? Now, it's the turn of Sai Yeong Choy which is Cantonese for watercress. UK Scientists say the plant can prevent certain types of cancer as it contains chemotherapy drugs like tamoxifen and herceptin. The vegetable reportedly can also act as anti-angiogenesis agents which turn off the blood supply for cancerous cells. Watercress, by the way, has been used by the Romans, Greeks and Persians to cure migraines, anemia, eczema, kidney and liver disorder and tuberculosis. It needs not be cancer that is troubling you!