Jim Paull

Most major cities in Asia have one stand out classic luxury hotel. Singapore has the Raffles, Bangkok has the Oriental, Hong Kong has the Peninsula, Rangoon has the Strand and Penang has the Eastern & Oriental.

And Kuala Lumpur has … um, well nothing really!

The old colonial hotels of a century ago, The Grand Oriental and the Empire, have long since closed down and been demolished.

Even the Station Hotel, which once was a convenient and quality place to stay, saw a steady decline in fortunes and, for a time, served as the Heritage backpackers’ hostel before closing its doors.

That is not to say that there are no fine hotels in KL. The Mandarin Oriental and the Shangri-La for instance, are luxurious five-star hotels of the highest quality.

But they are both modern tower blocks and lack the classic elegance, colonial ambiance and glorious history of the other famous names.

Kuala Lumpur does have the Carcosa Seri Negara, a former colonial mansion with a very distinguished past, but with only five suites, it is very much a small boutique property rather than a proper full-service hotel.

So KL was lacking its own stately luxury hotel … until the reopening, after a gap of 28 years, of the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

History

The Majestic was built in 1932 on a site facing KL’s famous old moghul-style railway station. The German Consul’s official residence and gardens used to occupy this plot until World War 1.

The hotel soon became the top hotel in town and hosted many swanky parties and glamorous wedding receptions.

Famous actors, singers, artists and writers used to stay here.

During World War 2, the hotel suffered like everywhere else. A Japanese soldier committed suicide in Room 48 upon learning of his nation’s defeat. His ghost was reportedly seen staring out of the room window by railway workers in the building opposite for years afterwards.

Umno used to hold some of its early party meetings in the hotel as they planned Malaya’s path towards independence from Britain. One of Umno’s leading lights, Dato’ Onn, announced his resignation from the party at the Roof Garden of the hotel on August 25, 1951.

In the years that followed, the Majestic gradually lost its lustre and closed down in 1983. From 1984 to 1998 the building served as the National Art Gallery, and then remained unoccupied for many years.

Fortunately for Malaysia’s heritage, the YTL group undertook a major, no-expense-spared refurbishment project to restore the original building (now called the Majestic Wing) to its former glory while adding an additional accommodation block (called the Tower Wing).

The hotel reopened for business in Dec 2012.

Apart from the Contango, the other main restaurant is the Colonial Café where the menu includes traditional British fare like Old-Fashioned Faggots and Spotted Dick, as well as Malaysian, Asian and international favourites.

The hotel’s main bar is located here serving wonderful cocktails like the Malayan Colada and Gin Pahit.

A separate annex is set aside for smokers with its own bar, a pool table, private dining room, a card room and a cigar lounge. They also have a screening room which is a mini-cinema with comfy armchairs.

A unique feature of the hotel is the Orchid Conservatory with its beautiful selection of orchids.

There is also a Drawing Room and a Reading Room which both look wonderful.

As you would expect of a hotel of this standard, they have a luxurious spa with its own swimming pool overlooking the railway station. There is another swimming pool for hotel guests.

The location of the hotel however is not ideal as KL’s centre of gravity has shifted in recent decades to the KLCC-Bukit Bintang area. It does not help that the hotel is surrounded by busy highways that are not pedestrian friendly.

Having said that, it is within walking distance of top tourist attractions like the Old Railway Station, the State Mosque, the Islamic Arts Museum, Police Museum and, somewhat further, the Lake Gardens.

The hotel provides shuttle buses (or “luxury coaches” as the hotel calls them) for guests to KL Sentral and Starhill Gallery (Bukit Bintang), so getting around should not be a problem.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur

5, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin

50000 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2785 8000

Fax: 03 2785 8080

This article first appeared in malaysia-traveller.com

A pergola in your garden is a great way to get lots of green in a small space. Wouldn't it be great to combine that with a cat ladder to turn it into a cat jungle gym and lookout post? This design can serve as inspiration for your own construction. It is fairly complex but that is mostly because the materials used came from the discount corner of the local DIY store. You might be able to find materials that fit a lot better together from the outset so you can get the same result in a simpler way. Having said that, this design is rock solid and will withstand lots of abuse by your cat.

EditSteps

1. Know what you're building. This design consists of 3 parts: the existing pergola poles, the steps of the cat ladder, and the trellises (shaped like ice popsicles).
   
   • The cat ladder steps are attached to the pergola poles. The trellises are attached to the steps.
   • The plant container in between the pergola poles was built separately and is not connected to the poles. It is a box that is simply pushed in between the poles.
2. Make the steps. The base of the cat ladder step design is the hardwood beam which will be screwed into the pergola posts and provide strength.
   
   • Saw the beam to the appropriate length depending on how much space you want between the trellis and the wall/pergola post. You need to take into account a minimum width so your cat can actually fit there. 25 cm is about the minimum size.
   • Saw the garden plank that will serve as the plateau to size. Screw it to the hardwood beam with two screws making sure that the trellis-end is perfectly level.
     
     .
   • Measure the width of your trellis. Divide this by half and deduct half of the width of the pergola pole. This is the size of the small wooden batten that will go at the trellis end. It is best to dry-fit to make sure. Screw the wooden batten in place with one screw in the hardwood beam and one screw in the plateau plank. Pre-drill as appropriate.
   • In this design, the garden wood planks were not wide enough to cover the width of the trellis and the wooden battens were therefore a necessity. Your design might not need them.
   • A cat ladder step that goes on the right has a mirrored design to one that goes on the left.
3. Make the ice popsicles. It's trellis time! Measure how far up you want your trellis to go (all the way up is recommended). Your trellises will probably not be long enough, so you will need to put them on stilts.
   
   • Measure how much extra length you need and saw a hardwood beam to size.
   • Use a connector plate at the back and screw the beam to the trellis. Screw in a few extra screws from the top if needed. Important note: The "ice popsicle" will feel rather flimsy. The pole it is supposed to rest on might wobble a bit. That's fine at this stage. Later on, when everything is put together, it will be very strong.
   • This trellis was stained with a dark wood stain. This is not needed, but makes it look a bit better and will help hide the attachments needed later on.
4. Build the cat ladder. Time to build the cat stairway to the sky!
   
   • Measure where the cat steps go on the pergola poles. About 45 cm between every step works fine, but you can deviate. Plan the steps left, right, left etc. all the way up.
   • Attach the steps to the pergola posts with screws. There are several ways to do this, but here is a method where you don't really have to measure very much beforehand and still get very good results:
     • Take the cat ladder step you already made. Place it against the pole where you want it. Drill the first hole through the hardwood beam of the step into the hardwood beam of the pergola post at the end that is furthest away from you (the end that is nearest to the wall).
     • Attach the cat ladder step with a screw but do not tighten it all the way yet. Just enough so it is stuck but you can still move it.
     • Adjust the cat ladder step until it is nice and level. You can move it up and down a bit because there is only one screw attached. Use a spirit level if needed.
     • Drill a second hole next to the first one.
     • Attach using a screw and tighten both screws completely.
   • Even though this is a strong connection, there might still bit a little bit of give. Don't worry about it. It will be very strong when finished.
5. Attach the ice popsicles trellis.
   
   • Put the trellis popsicle up against the cat ladder steps.
   • Drill holes in the frame of the trellis where the wooden batten will connect with the trellis.
     
   • Surprise!! Garden wood usually isn't very straight. You might need little wooden connector pieces (just saw some little pieces of wooden battens to size and squeeze them in between) or little metal o-rings to make sure that the fit is good and tight.
     
   • Try to attach the popsicles to each step with two screws if possible. One screw for every end of the wooden batten at every cat ladder step. One screw at the back and through the edge of the frame of the trellis and one on the front somewhere in the middle. It might not be feasible for every step, but you should be able to get most of them. The important thing is that this will provide the overall strength of the structure. When you are finished it should feel very strong.
     
6. Make the base. You are nearly there! In this design, because of the plant container in between the posts, the trellis popsicle is very strong higher up where it is attached to the cat ladder steps, but the base is still wobbly. Time to fix that. If you don't have a plant container and your steps go from the ground up, you can skip this step.
   
   • Saw a hardwood beam that will go on the outside of both the pergola pole and the trellis popsicle pole.
   • Saw a hardwood beam that will go on the inside- in between- the two poles.
   • Attach the inside wooden beam to the outside wooden beam using screws.
   • Attach the hardwood structure you made to the poles. It already looks a bit like a platform.
   • Saw the garden wood platform/cat ladder step to size.
   • Attach the platform to the hardwood beams with screws.
     
7. Marvel at your lovely creation. You are done!!
   
   • You can add a plank between the two top cat ladder steps to create a platform your kitty can use.
     

EditTips

• Use cat friendly plants of course. This example uses jasmine, but not all jasmines are cat-friendly, so do your research.

Kitchn's Instagram is a treasure trove of drool-worthy food photos and recipe inspiration. (By the way, are you following us yet?) Curious to know which of our recipes inspired our followers to hit that heart button the most, we pulled a list of our top 10 most popular recipes on Instagram.

Here are the Insta-famous recipes in all their glory. If you make any, don't forget to take a photo, post it on Instagram, and use the hashtag #thekitchn!

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KUALA LUMPUR: In a new viral video clip, the polite young boy famously featured in.

The post LRT Boy Gives Up Seat For Anwar appeared first on The Tapir Times.

The international gateway to the Maldives is the Velana International Airport (MLE) near the capital city of Male. In order to handle larger aircraft and more frequent flights, the airport is building a longer runway parallel to its existing 10,500-foot one. Construction has been ongoing for years, and while it’s nearing completion, the new runway isn’t operational quite yet. Construction work was still very much in process when I transited the Maldives last month:

Unfortunately, a couple of Air India pilots didn’t get the message that the new runway wasn’t open yet. On Friday, Air India flight 263 from Trivandrum, India (TRV) to Male landed on the incomplete runway. Thankfully, all 136 passengers and 7 crew on board survived the incident without injury.

The aircraft involved in the incident was an Airbus A320neo with registration VT-EXL — an aircraft which had just been delivered new to Air India in December 2017. According to sources on the ground, the aircraft received serious damage to its landing gear:

Wheels and brake system suffered serious damage and need to be replaced. pic.twitter.com/0hBA0ObfXE

— Ali Shinan (@AliShinaan) September 7, 2018

Video posted on Twitter show the aircraft trying in vain to move from the not-yet-operational runway:

pic.twitter.com/DXM1qd3tgW

— Ali Shinan (@AliShinaan) September 7, 2018

From FlightRadar24 logs, the aircraft was towed to a maintenance section of the airport about an hour after landing on the wrong runway:

Performing a major repair to an aircraft in the remote islands of the Maldives isn’t likely to be an easy or cheap fix. No word yet of any disciplinary action taken against the pilots for the error. A new A320neo goes for about $110 million at Airbus list prices.

Featured image by AliShinaan via Twitter

The only time I was tempted to buy a shirt at a marathon expo, it bore the relatable phrase: “I love running ... except while I’m doing it.”

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SIBU: Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengingatkan calon yang mengambil bahagian dalam pemilihan pimpinan tertinggi parti itu supaya bertanding secara sihat dalam satu keluarga besar demi memperkukuh parti itu.

Pemilihan pimpinan tertinggi PKR, yang dijadual 22 Sept hingga 28 Okt ini di seluruh negara, akan menyaksikan pertandingan semua peringkat kecuali jawatan presiden yang dimenangi Anwar tanpa bertanding bulan lepas.

Beliau menegaskan tidak akan berkompromi dengan mana-mana calon yang didapati tidak mematuhi peraturan yang ditetapkan.

Beliau mengingatkan mereka supaya tidak bersikap kasar, bergaduh, mencerca dan memaki hamun semata-mata untuk menang.

“Pertandingan hendaklah (secara) sihat dalam keluarga besar. Kalau ada saya terima mana-mana laporan serius, saya tak peduli ‘you’ siapa (sama ada) ‘you’ menang (atau) ‘you’ kalah. Kita perlu selamatkan parti. Tiada kompromi,” tegasnya semasa berucap pada majlis makan `Melangkah Ke Arah Kegemilangan Baru Bersama Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ‘ di sini malam tadi.

Anwar berkata, para perwakilan parti perlu memilih pemimpin terbaik dalam kalangan calon yang disenarai bertanding.

Beliau turut mengesahkan terdapat 3 kerusi Parlimen ditawarkan untuk beliau tandingi pada pilihan raya kecil dalam tempoh terdekat ini bagi membolehkannya kembali ke Parlimen sebelum bulan Oktober tahun ini.

Bagaimanapun beliau tidak menyatakan nama kerusi Parlimen itu dan kerusi mana yang akan ditandinginya.

Terdahulu pengerusi PKR Sarawak merangkap menteri kerja raya dan Ahli Parlimen Selangau, Baru Bian berkata, sokongan rakyat negeri ini yang mahukan perubahan kerajaan telah membolehkan Pakatan Harapan berjaya memenangi 10 daripada 30 kerusi Parlimen di Sarawak dan kini bertambah kepada 12 kerusi berikutan kemasukan calon Bebas.

Baru, yang juga Ahli Dewan Udangan Negeri (Adun) Ba’kelalan berkata, Pakatan Harapan Sarawak perlu memperkukuhkan kedudukan di Sarawak bagi menghadapi pilihan raya negeri (PRN) kira-kira 3 tahun lagi.

Drugstores are full of things that won’t necessarily heal us—vitamin C, homeopathic drops, probiotics—but we shrug and buy them anyway because, hey, they can’t hurt. But now we have some concrete evidence that probiotics can hurt, if they’re not exactly the right ones for the health condition you’re trying to treat.

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Happy weekend, and welcome back to 3-Ingredient Happy Hour, the weekly drink column featuring super simple yet delicious libations. This week we’re making a woodsy, herbaceous Manhattan-style drink, based on Audrey Saunders’ Little Italy cocktail.

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On Wednesday, Aug. 22 (about 4:30am in Bali on Aug. 23), Michael Lythcott posted a single message to his Facebook. “Help,” it said. “In danger. Call police.”

Lythcott, a 36-year-old American traveling with a friend, Stacey Eno, had just arrived in Bali, Indonesia, earlier that day. The two were riding a scooter back to their hotel when the bike wiped out on a curve. “We hit the brakes like normal, but we didn’t stop for some reason,” Lythcott said.

Hours later, Lythcott regained consciousness on his back. “I don’t remember hitting the ground,” Lythcott told TPG in an email, “just coming to in the dark, on my back.” Eno was nearby and responsive, but both were badly injured — and trapped on a steep ravine.

“[I] managed to find a strong vine in the dark and got myself in a stable position. I then realized full well my injuries,” Lythcott said. Neither Eno nor Lythcott could move. “That’s when I first thought we would die there.”

Lythcott couldn’t sit up, but he was able to check his jacket pocket for his American phone, an iPhone 7 Plus. His other phone, with a local SIM card, had been lost in the accident. After turning on data roaming, Lythcott was able to acquire a signal — and with only 42% battery, he immediately reached out to his international network.

“I needed a way to [reach] as many people as possible. I have 2,600 Facebook friends from years of living in the US, Canada, Spain, Portugal [and the] UK … I needed [the] maximum [number of] eyes looking for me.”

Because Eno and Lythcott had veered off a remote jungle road, Lythcott was also counting on Facebook’s GPS pin capabilities and audio call feature. That’s when he posted his single, frantic SOS cry on his Facebook page.

“I didn’t know at the time, but lots of people were mobilizing instantly.” Calls on WhatsApp and Facebook were reaching him within minutes.

Lythcott dropped a pin on his location, which friends and family members used to determine the injured travelers’ location. They also called the consulate, the local Bali police and contacts on the ground, according to CNN.

Members of the US consulate in Indonesia reached Lythcott on his phone just before the battery died and, using the GPS information from the pin, coordinated a rescue.

Within four hours, rescuers had reached Eno and Lythcott with a flatbed truck and transported them to a nearby hospital.

There, they discovered the extent of their injuries. Eno had suffered a broken wrist and facial injuries (fractured cheekbones and a broken nose). Lythcott, meanwhile, had a fractured vertebrae, a perforated bowel, fractured ribs, a fractured skull and collapsed lungs.

“I spent 10 days in the hospital,” Lythcott said. “I learned the SOS had over 500 comments and was [the] reason we were found. I’m still amazed people from all over made it work. I’m grateful beyond measure.”

At this time, Lythcott is still in Bali. He told TPG he’d be returning to Atlanta to recover with family for two or three months. He was only just cleared to fly on Thursday. Eno is back in South Korea, where she teaches English. 

Both Eno and Lythcott’s families have started GoFundMe pages to cover expenses such as hospital bills and physical therapy. In the approximately two weeks since the nightmarish accident, more than $47,430 has been raised by friends, family and well-wishers.

Life-saving technology

“Tech saved us,” Lythcott said of the ordeal. “I was scared until we got a signal.”

In the future, Lythcott will consider traveling with a pocket Wi-Fi hotspot, and he’ll continue to carry a phone with a local SIM card — only next time, he’ll keep it secured in an inside pocket. “That’s the only way my iPhone 7 Plus didn’t fly into the dark like my [other] iPhone 6 … which had a new battery and local SIM.”

Lythcott also plans to check in on Facebook more often so there is a “digital trail” of his adventures.

“Always post where you are,” he added. “We could have died [in a] ‘127 Hours’ scenario had I lost both phones.”

Other types of tech can also be helpful in life-threatening situations, too. The Apple Watch, for example, has an Emergency SOS feature that dials 911 or initiates a call with a local emergency service.

With iOS 11, iPhones also received a built-in emergency feature that works similarly: Push the side-right button five times to reach 911 or the local emergency line.

Today, I want to share a story from TPG reader Venky, who experienced the downside of having free drinks on an airplane. Here’s what he had to say:

I’ve been an avid reader of your blog for the past few years, and wanted to convey a funny old story of how I ended up back in the same city where I boarded.

I was traveling from Chennai (MAA) to Singapore (SIN) on a flight that routed through Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and then eventually returned to Chennai — this was circa 1995 on Indian Airlines (a subsidiary of Air India before the brand got erased). As a seasoned traveler between MAA and SIN, I took the very last row, since those seats were often empty (so I could stretch out) and I’d be close to the galley. I helped myself to an obscene number of drinks within the first hour of the flight, and promptly arranged pillows and blankets and fell into an alcohol-induced coma.

While I slept, the flight landed in KUL and then left for SIN after a headcount and a change of crew. We then landed in SIN (where my bags were offloaded), but I was still sound asleep. The new flight attendants must have thought I was flying KUL-MAA via SIN, and that I was just exhibiting my fine alcohol appreciation skills, so I stayed onboard as the flight departed for Chennai. I was rudely woken up at MAA, and in my inebriated condition, I asked if we had landed in Singapore. Everyone thought I was joking, but after they checked my boarding pass, all hell broke loose.

I was immediately put on another flight to Singapore (via MUM and DEL) with strict instructions to not serve me alcohol, and I was reunited with my baggage after the 36-hour journey. Unfortunately, I didn’t earn any miles for all that extra flying!

The old adage that one drink in the air equals two on the ground isn’t accurate, but factors like dehydration, undernourishment and slightly lower oxygen levels can amplify the effect of alcohol on your system at 35,000 feet. It’s important to know your limits, as drinking too much on a plane or showing up to your flight already inebriated isn’t just a breach of etiquette — it can have serious consequences. Airlines are wary of safety concerns posed by overserved passengers, and some carriers (like Ryanair and Aer Lingus) are taking measures to reduce the likelihood of in-flight drunkenness. No need to be a teetotaler the next time you fly; just understand that your ticket isn’t a license to get sloshed.

Venky was fortunate his own drinking spree didn’t have more dire consequences, but ultimately I don’t think he’s to blame for what happened. The cabin crew are responsible for making sure passengers deplane when they’re supposed to, and if a proper headcount had been done in Singapore, they would have realized their numbers were off. The fact that Venky was drunk is beside the point — sober people sleep through takeoffs and landings all the time, and he could just as easily have been in the same predicament without drinking. However, you shouldn’t let this story scare you out of taking an in-flight nap. Miscounts and other similar errors do happen, but they’re exceedingly rare.

I appreciate this story, and I hope it can help other readers avoid making the same mistake. To thank Venky for sharing his experience (and for allowing me to post it online), I’m sending him a $200 airline gift card to enjoy on future travels, and I’d like to do the same for you. Please email your own travel mistake stories to info@thepointsguy.com, and put “Reader Mistake Story” in the subject line. Tell us how things went wrong, and (where applicable) how you made them right. Offer any wisdom you gained from the experience, and explain what the rest of us can do to avoid the same pitfalls.

Feel free to also submit your best travel success stories. If your story is published in either case, I’ll send you a gift to jump-start your next adventure. I look forward to hearing from you, and until then, I wish you a safe and mistake-free journey!

Featured image by @jordvdz/Twenty20

More exercise is better than less, but beyond that, there’s nothing special about taking 10,000 steps each day.

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Air Emirates flight 203 from Dubai landed at JFK outside New York City this morning and was promptly quarantined after more than 100 passengers on board reported feeling ill. Early reports also suggested that many passengers were also running a high fever. A large number of emergency vehicles have surrounded the plane and some passengers have been taken off, but not to the main terminal. The CDC is investigating.

While this may seem frightening, and airport authorities are taking precautions, the most likely explanations are a lot more mundane than the beginnings of a zombie outbreak. The Airbus A380 is an enormous plane, carrying 500 passengers. For a fifth of those passengers to begin feeling ill on a long transAtlantic flight requires nothing more insidious than food poisoning (which can be extremely insidious). Unlike a lot of airlines these days, Emirates actually feeds people, so if there was a bad batch of airline food, that could account for the problem. Also, nothing makes people feel ill like being cooped up next to people who are feeling ill, so the number of passengers actually down with something could be much smaller. And finally, nothing spreads faster than hysteria.

WNBC in New York is following the story and reports that three passengers have so far received treatment.

These creamy Popsicles are just the thing for rushed mornings. They're sweet with the deep, caramelized flavor of roasted bananas, get a big protein boost from both Greek yogurt and peanut butter, and are filled with a few slices of fresh banana for texture. Make a batch, tuck them into your freezer, and reach for one whenever you need a quick breakfast that will cool you down in the process, which is always helpful during these hot and sticky days.

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By Butterkicap Team

Malaysians love our chicken, and we love them even more when deep-fried.

From battered to non-battered varieties found in global fast food chains, to local restaurants specialising only in fried chicken with rice and sauce on the side, Malaysians can be found patiently queueing to sink their teeth into some freshly cooked good ol’ fried chicken.

Here is a classic Malaysian favourite – spicy fried chicken or better known as Ayam Goreng Berempah.

This style of fried chicken has no batter, but is marinated in an aromatic mix of spices that will tease your senses and make your mouth water.

It’s so good and perfectly crispy that all you need is a plate of steaming rice on the side to complete the meal.

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken, cut into 12 portions
• 1 head garlic
• 3 large red onions
• 20g ginger
• 4 sticks lemongrass
• 15g galangal
• 2 stalks curry leaves, discard stems
• 2 tbsp chicken or meat curry powder
• chicken stock granules
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• cooking oil, enough to fill a frying pan about 3cm deep

Method

1. In a blender, add the garlic, red onions, ginger, lemongrass and galangal, and blend until smooth. If needed, add a little water to help with the blending process. Pour the mixture into a bowl.

2. Add curry leaves, curry powder, chicken stock granules, sugar, salt and black pepper into the blended mixture. Stir to mix well.

3. Add chicken to the mixture and coat the pieces evenly. Cover and store refrigerated for at least two hours or, preferably, overnight.

4. Heat oil in a frying pan until it is hot and ready for frying, about 180°C to 200°C.

5. Carefully add the marinated chicken, but do not crowd the pan. The chicken can be cooked in batches if your pan is not large enough.

6. Turn the chicken every 4 to 5 minutes, making sure all sides are evenly cooked and the outside is a dark golden brown. The internal temperature should be between 66°C to 73°C. It should take about 15 to 20 minutes for the chicken to cook through thoroughly, depending on the size and cut of the pieces.

7. Rest the deep-fried chicken on paper towels to remove excess oil before serving.

Extra tips

1. You can also use a ziplock bag when marinating the chicken pieces. It takes up less space in the fridge compared to a large bowl.

2. Don’t have a cooking thermometer? You can also throw a little bit of the marinade into the pan to gauge if the oil is hot enough for frying. Here’s how you do it:

• If the oil starts bubbling around the marinade, it is perfect for frying.
• If the oil remains still, it means it is not hot enough for the frying process.
• If the oil is smoking, it is way too hot and the chicken pieces will burn instead.

3. Cover your arms with long sleeves or a cloth to protect them from the scorching, sputtering oil. Alternatively, use a really long spatula or tongs when turning the chicken pieces over.

4. To check if the chicken pieces are fully cooked without a cooking thermometer, choose the meatiest part and slice it. The meat should be white and firm, and the juices clear. Chicken cannot be served if it is undercooked, and still blood-red inside.

This recipe first appeared in butterkicap.com

PUTRAJAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has called on the people, especially netizens, to stop abusing skateboarder Fatin Syahirah Roszizi following her performance at the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.

He said the criticism should be directed at him, as the minister, and the association responsible for choosing the 16-year-old to compete at the Games.

“I will continue to defend Fatin on her patriotism for taking on the challenge of representing the nation at a young age,” he said when met during the National Day 2018 celebration at Dataran Putrajaya here today.

He was responding to criticisms hurled at Fatin after a video clip of her performance went viral. Netizens slammed the teenager after she scored the lowest and for her overall performance in the competition.

But Syed Saddiq said the people should celebrate Fatin’s courage in competing with international champions and they should show her their unwavering support.

He added that the critics should consider the association’s explanation that only a few people turned up for the try-outs and Fatin was among the best.

Syed Saddiq said he had asked his officers to arrange a meeting with Fatin to express his and his ministry’s support for the athlete as she showed potential.

Meanwhile, he also voiced out his disappointment with those who made an issue out of the attire worn by national gymnast Izzah Amzan after a video of the teenage athlete performing at the Asian Games was uploaded to her Instagram.

Syed Saddiq said these critics focused only on what she was wearing although the clip she shared was to promote the sport.

“I’m disappointed. Rhythmic gymnastics is not an easy sport and they have to go through various challenges before they can be called gymnasts,” he said.

Some social media users took issue with what was worn by the 17-year-old athlete, saying it did not cover her “aurat” and suggested she wear long pants while competing.

Need to fall asleep fast? One mid-century relaxation technique, developed in the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School, supposedly works within minutes. It may not be magic, but it seems like a pretty good way to relax your body and mind.

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I remember reading a list once about the top 25 cardinal sins of interior design homeowners make, and situated somewhere near the top was having fake plants. Fast forward to the present, when designers and influencers seem to be advocating for artificial flora with increasing frequency.

Is it true? Have fake plants turned the corner from faux pas to fashionable?

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I will be the first to admit that I do not drink enough water during the work day. It's not for lack of good intention — I start the day strong, but by mid-morning I slowly start falling off track. I'm certain that the culprits (okay, excuses) are the same ones that plague you (i.e., not getting up from my desk enough to refill my glass, forgetting to keep a glass on my desk, or when I do, simply forgetting about it).

No more excuses! Here are seven easy ways to drink more water during the work day (and stick with it!).

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Tinggal di Malaysia sememangnya boleh membuatkan kita rambang mata memilih makanan yang mahu dimakan.

Hal ini demikian kerana kita dimanjakan dan dilambakkan dengan bermacam-macam jenis pilihan makanan yang lazat dan paling penting sekali, mudah untuk didapati di mana-mana pada setiap masa!

Masyarakat Malaysia yang majmuk dan datang dari pelbagai lapisan kaum menjadikan pilihan makanan yang ada juga turut pelbagai.

Faktor penting yang menjadikan makanan di Malaysia lebih unik adalah kebanyakan makanan dan bahan masakan di sini tiada atau mungkin sukar untuk didapati di tempat-tempat lain di dunia. Satu contoh bahan ‘rare‘ ini ialah gula Melaka.

Gula Melaka: Sifat & Cara Pembuatan

Tidak keterlaluan jika kami katakan gula Melaka adalah antara bahan utama yang penting dalam kebanyakan menu masakan Malaysia. Berasal daripada nira pohon kelapa, gula Melaka suatu bahan makanan yang istimewa, bermula daripada proses pembuatannya sehinggalah ke proses penggunaannya. Terdapat pelbagai versi warna dan kondisi gula Melaka di Malaysia, bergantung pada bahan yang terdapat dalamnya dan cara pembuatannya,baik moden mahupun tradisional.

Secara umum, gula Melaka yang asli berwarna coklat keperangan dan mempunyai tekstur yang agak keras apabila disejukkan pada suhu bilik. Ia dibentuk dalam acuan silinder yang diperbuat daripada buluh (ukuran diameter sekitar 3 inci). Namun begitu, terdapat juga gula Melaka yang diletakkan dalam acuan daripada mengkuang dan lebih nipis.

Dari segi rasa pula, gula Melaka mempunyai rasa yang unik, iaitu manis (namun tidak keterlaluan jika dibandingkan dengan gula biasa), sedikit berkrim dan mempunyai aroma seperti dipanggang. Ada juga yang berpendapat bahawa gula mempunyai rasa seperti coklat, butterscotch dan karamel.

Bagi anda yang buntu dan tertanya-tanya bagaimana caranya gula Melaka boleh digunakan, di sini kami telah menyenaraikan beberapa cara untuk anda menikmatinya. Selamat mencuba!

Digaul bersama kelapa parut

Sukat kuantiti gula Melaka yang ingin digunakan dan dimasak atas api sederhana sehingga cair kemudian tambahkan dengan kelapa parut dan digaul sebati. Anda boleh tambahkan sedikit garam jika mahu bagi menjadikan rasanya lebih stabil. Campuran ini amat lazat jika anda ingin membuat inti bagi kuih-muih seperti kuih koci, kuih ketayap, kuih Puteri Mandi atau dimakan bersama pulut.

Dimasak menjadi sirap

Panaskan gula Melaka di atas api sederhana di dalam periuk sehingga cair dan letakkan daun pandan (jika mahu) bagi menambah aroma sirap gula Melaka agar lebih wangi. Masak sehingga mendidih kemudian sejukkan sebelum disimpan di dalam balang atau botol kedap udara. Anda boleh menjadikan sirap gula Melaka ini sebagai sos di atas penkek, dimakan bersama kuih lopis, dicicah bersama lemang, sebagai pemanis di dalam Ais Batu Campur (ABC) atau tambah sahaja ke dalam pencuci mulut kegemaran semua rakyat Malaysia iaitu cendol!

Teknik ini juga boleh digunakan bagi membuat salutan kuih keria gula Melaka. Bezanya, kuih keria yang siap digoreng akan dicelup atau digaul bersama gula Melaka yang telah cair ketika masih berada di atas kuali atau periuk tanpa perlu disejukkan terlebih dahulu.

Dicairkan menjadi kuah atau air gula Melaka

Jika anda ke pasar malam atau melalui gerai-gerai menjual makanan di tepi jalan, tentu sekali anda biasa ternampak mereka yang menjual makanan yang dinamakan pati soya, atau “Tau Fu Fah”. Anda juga biasa jumpa Tau Fu Fah dimakan bersama air gula biasa dan juga air gula Melaka, tapi tahukah anda cara nak membuat air gula itu?

Nah, cara membuat kuah daripada gula Melaka mudah sahaja! Anda cuma perlu masak gula Melaka yang dicampurkan bersama sukatan air yang banyak lalu diletakkan daun pandan ke dalam gula yang dicair itu. Sejukkan di dalam peti ais, kemudian bolehlah dihidang bersama pati soya ketika cuaca panas terik!

Air gula Melaka ini juga boleh dimakan bersama sejenis kuih yang dinamakan ‘Lompat Tikam’ yang berasal dari Kelantan. Kuih ini boleh dimakan bersama santan yang dimasak, pulut masak berwarna merah dengan adunan tepung kuih yang berwarna hijau dan putih.

Bahan adunan aneka kuih-muih

Oleh sebab rasanya yang enak, gula Melaka banyak digunakan bagi melengkapkan adunan beraneka kuih-muih tradisional Malaysia. Apa yang boleh anda lakukan adalah menambahkan kuantiti gula Melaka mengikut sukatan yang diperlukan ke dalam adunan kuih yang ingin dimasak dan hasilnya, kuih-muih yang sedap dan warna yang menarik akan terhasil! Kami berikan contoh-contoh jenis kuih muih yang menggunakan gula Melaka:

• Agar-agar santan
• Talam ubi kayu
• Nasi manis
• Bingka gula Melaka
• Kasui
• Kuih gerodok telur
• Tepung talam gula Melaka
• Kuih bakul

Selain contoh kuih muih yang diberikan di atas, terdapat banyak lagi jenis kuih yang boleh anda sediakan menggunakan gula Melaka.

Artikel ini diterbitkan dalam http://www.butterkicap.com/author/butterkicap-team/page/21

Kitchn's Delicious Links column highlights recipes we're excited about from the bloggers we love. Follow along every weekday as we post our favorites.

This picture makes me want to swan dive into an Instant Pot bath of golden corn soaked in milk and honey. Am I the only one who feels that way?

Soaking your corn on the cob in milk and honey is downright luxurious and sounds like it would require more than a little patience — especially if you want all of the flavors to soak into every kernel. But what if we told you this only takes four to six minutes to cook, thanks to the Instant Pot? Are you ready to swan dive with me?

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alicublog - John McCain (1936-2018)

Blue in the Bluegrass - Dem compromisers are behind the times;

emptywheel - on use immunity, predictions of doom, and voluntary waiver of privilege;

Hoffman Files - nothing to see here, just another GOP dog whistle;

Splinter - the myth of John McCain.

Steve in Manhattan (@blogenfreude) blogs at stinque.com and suggests Mr. Charles P. Pierce for a remembrance of at least one day when John Sidney McCain III was everything he was supposed to be.

Please send tips and link suggestions to MBRU@crooksandliars.com - we check it, we really do!

The end of summer is rapidly approaching, and in Europe that means a number of things: tourism is simmering down, the weather is beginning to cool and, most importantly, prices are becoming cheaper. But there are some European cities where your dollar will simply go farther than others.

According to a recent Money City Cost Barometer report from Post Office — a UK-based retail and financial services chain — the Serbian capital of Belgrade is the cheapest city to visit in Europe this fall.

Of the 46 European cities analyzed, nine others made the Post Office list, mostly located in Eastern Europe. The top 10 affordable European destinations were selected based on the average cost of a weekend in each city this October:

1. Belgrade, Serbia, £148.70 ($172.83 USD)
2. Krakow, Poland, £169.21 ($196.67 USD)
3. Vilnius, Lithuania, £169.56 ($197.08 USD)
4. Bucharest, Romania, £174.94 ($203.34 USD)
5. Warsaw, Poland, £176.95 ($205.67 USD)
6. Riga, Latvia, £182.28 ($211.87 USD)
7. Porto, Portugal, £183.74 ($213.57 USD)
8. Athens, Greece, £199.54 ($231.93 USD)
9. Bratislava, Slovakia, £202.56 ($235.44 USD)
10. Moscow, Russia, £206.35 ($239.85 USD)

If a trip to Belgrade is a possibility this October, plan on budgeting about $173, which is 12% less than last year’s cheapest destination: Krakow, Poland. This price tag does not include airfare, so you’ll have to plan accordingly to account for that added cost.

Though the report didn’t include flight prices, it did compare the cost of 12 other common travel purchases, including a visit to a top art gallery and a city bus tour. In Belgrade, a three-course dinner for two with a bottle of house wine, for example, averages £33.99 ($39.53 USD). And a two-night stay for two would set you back £91.00 ($105.81 USD).

Travelers should note, however, that flight prices for certain European destinations on the list — though not Belgrade — are in fact cheaper in the fall. The flight search engine Skyscanner told TPG that travelers heading to Warsaw (No. 5) in autumn can save nearly $186 on airfare, while the savings on flights to Athens are even greater: more than $206.

But No. 10 on the Post Office’s list, Moscow, is also the best European city for fall airfare savings this year. Travelers flying to this Russian city can save $292, compared to other times of year.

As for the most expensive cities to visit this fall, Oslo, Norway is at the top of the list, costing a projected £510.47 ($593.57) for a weekend getaway, followed by Amsterdam.

Major cities in Europe have become so oversaturated with visitors, many travelers have shown an increasing interest in cities “off the tourist track,” according to Google metrics discussed in the report. Belgrade certainly meets that criteria, but don’t be deterred by this reputation.

Belgrade is an understated city with a surprising mix of Brutalist, Ottoman and Neo-Byzantine architecture; a bustling nightlife; and one of the world’s largest Eastern Orthodox churches.

And, of course, if you’re visiting Belgrade in the fall, be sure to seek out some of the city’s lovely parks for leaf-peeping, such as the thickly forested Košutnjak Hill park.

The rendang is often given a place of honour at Indonesian tables during special occasions like Eid al-Fitr, weddings and other ceremonies. (AFP pic)

JAKARTA: It’s the second-biggest multi-sport event in the world after the Olympics. Currently, 11,300 athletes from 45 countries across Asia are competing in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia at the 18th annual Asian Games, a major sporting event that takes place every four years. The international spotlight on Indonesia is a prime opportunity to take a culinary voyage to the country to which we owe the wonders of sambal oelek and nasi goreng, to name a few. Here are a few of the foods that best distil the flavours of Indonesian cuisine.

Sambal oelek sauce
Over the past few years, households around the world have pushed aside the bottle of Sriracha sauce in their fridge, to make room for another formidable chilli paste: Indonesian Sambal oelek. Hot sauce aficionados need no introduction to the condiment that has found permanent places of honour on many a refrigerator shelf. Unlike Sriracha sauce which is both sweet and spicy, sambal oelek is a simple paste made with fresh red chilis, vinegar and salt. The result is a cleaner, more versatile flavour profile that can be dangerously moreish.

Satay
Indonesia’s tourism office calls satay — meat skewers marinated in a sweet soy sauce and barbecued over an open flame — the country’s most famous dish. But its origins can actually be traced back to India, when Muslim traders introduced the kebab concept to Indonesia, where the flavours were given the South East Asian treatment. Though chicken is the most common and most popular satay, other variations include lamb, beef, pork, scallops and ox tongue. Skewers are also accompanied by a savoury dipping sauce, with spices and styles that vary according to different regions.

Bakso
Along with satay, bakso or meatball soup is a popular street food across Indonesia. It also got a shout-out from President Barack Obama during a visit in 2010, when he waxed nostalgic about his childhood days slurping up the savoury soup from street vendors. Bakso can refer to the soup itself or the meatballs which can be made with chicken, beef, pork or shrimp. A bowl of Bakso consists of broth, meatballs, rice noodles and tofu and is usually garnished with fried shallots, celery, and the aforementioned sambal chilli paste.

Nasi goreng
Indonesian fried rice, often described as Indonesia’s national dish, was originally devised as a way to salvage leftovers and avoid food waste — an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-type idea. The result is a delicious concept that involves an assortment of mystery meats — chicken, sausage, fish — and vegetables studding a flavorful rice dish made with kecap manis, Indonesia’s version of barbecue sauce, thicker and sweeter than soy sauce.

Rendang
This spicy, perfumed meat dish is often given a place of honour at Indonesian tables during special occasions like Eid al-Fitr, weddings and other ceremonies for its fragrant richness and depth of flavour. The dish originates from Minangkabau, a tribe in West Sumatra. Rendang can be made with either beef or lamb and is made with chilli, coconut milk, galangal, lemongrass, garlic and shallots.

The Asian Games wrap up September 2.

The grocery store deli counter has long been a safe haven for easy packed lunches. Pick up a pound of turkey and some sliced cheddar, and you're halfway to a week of easy sandwiches for the family. By Thursday or Friday, however, the lunch meat often begins to look a little suspicious, and you're left wondering if those last slices are safe to eat. The sell-by or use-by date isn't always the best indicator, so instead here are three surefire signs to look for.

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Kitchn's Delicious Links column highlights recipes we're excited about from the bloggers we love. Follow along every weekday as we post our favorites.

We'll admit it: We are big fans of the sous vide egg bites at Starbucks. They're so fluffy, protein-packed, and a really good alternative to having what's essentially a large slab of cake for breakfast.

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A worker paints the top of a mosque in Indonesia in a file photo. (Reuters pic)

MEDAN: A woman in Muslim-majority Indonesia was sentenced to 18 months in jail Tuesday for complaining about the volume of a mosque’s call to prayer — the latest conviction under a controversial blasphemy law.

Meiliana, 44, an ethnic Chinese Buddhist, was found guilty of insulting Islam for asking her neighbourhood mosque to lower its sound system because it was too loud and “hurt” her ears.

There are some 800,000 mosques across the archipelago, with the five-times-a-day call to prayer heard everywhere in the biggest cities and smallest towns.

Tuesday’s verdict will likely fuel fears that Indonesia’s moderate brand of Islam is coming under threat from increasingly influential radicals.

The court in the city of Medan on Sumatra island said the woman’s comments two years ago triggered riots that saw angry Muslim mobs ransack Buddhist temples.

Some ethnic Chinese in the area fled in fear.

The defendant’s lawyer said his client would appeal the decision.

Indonesia, which has the world’s biggest Muslim population, is officially pluralist with six major religions recognised, including Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism. Freedom of expression is supposed to be guaranteed by law.

But criticising religion — particularly Islam, which is followed by nearly 90% of Indonesia’s 260 million citizens — can land offenders in jail.

Rights groups have long campaigned against the nation’s blasphemy laws, which they say are frequently misused to target minorities.

Last year Jakarta’s former governor — the city’s first Christian leader of Chinese descent — was sentenced to two years in jail for blasphemy.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla made a plea in 2015 for places of worship to turn down the volume slightly to placate nearby residents.

If there's ever a contemporary remake of A Few Good Men, it might be worth recasting Colonel Nathan Jessup. It's not that Jack Nicholson won't be up to reprise one of his most iconic roles, it's just that there's someone else who could say "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!" — and it's Mary Berry.

Berry, everyone's fave former Great British Bake Off judge, has admitted that she fudged the truth a bit when she evaluated some of the contestants on the BBC show. Why? Because, like Nicholson's explosive Base Commander, Berry thought that they (say it with us) couldn't handle it.

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SHAH ALAM: A Hindu businessman has filed a negligence suit against the management of a hotel after he consumed Salmon fish which was contaminated with beef.

Ganesalingam Kanagaretnam, who claimed to be influential in the Hindu community, said he suffered a nervous shock as a result of the incident early last year.

In his statement of claim filed last month, Ganesalingam named Hilton Petaling Jaya, which is under THR Hotel (Selangor ) Bhd, as the defendant.

He said he patronised the hotel frequently to conduct his personal and business affairs and had his meals at its Paya Serai restaurant.

The 60-year-old said in the past he had advised the hotel management to separate beef from other food to respect Hindu guests.

He said the hotel had assured him it would rectify the matter and that it was sensitive to the feelings of Hindu patrons.

Feeling assured, he said he went for a meal at the Paya Serai outlet with a friend.

Ganesalingam said on the day of the incident he inadvertently consumed Salmon contaminated with beef as both dishes were placed side by side.

“The plaintiff realised this when he was going for his second helping,” said the statement of claim made available to FMT.

Ganesalingam said he felt nauseated and rushed to the washroom where he vomited.

The court papers said he left the restaurant “severally distraught and distressed” and this was witnessed by his friend and other patrons at the place.

He sent a letter of demand on May 24 last year to the hotel but was not satisfied with the management’s reply.

Ganesalingam then decided to file a suit seeking an apology from the management, damages and other relief deemed fit by the court.

He said the suit was filed as the management had no respect for Hindus by serving food that was contaminated with beef even though the he had advised them to address the matter.

Most Hindus do not consume beef as the cow is considered a sacred animal.

A case management was held before Sessions Court registrar Rabiatul Adawiyyah Che Khalid today and the hotel, represented by Mah Mun Yan, has been asked to file its defence by Sept 12.

Counsel Zawharul Haq Abdul Rahman, who appeared for Ganesalingam, said the next case management had been fixed for Oct 3 and Sessions Court judge Noor Ruzilawati Mohd Nor would preside over the matter.