Malaysian Drinks, Fruits, and Desserts ? Wong Eats

Living in an environment where mornings start with 2 hours of soft diffused light and the skin is constantly moisturized?from the high humidity and warm temperature, there are some downsides to these pleasant living conditions of tropical Malaysia.? Furthermore, the local penchant for rich and spicy dishes does tend to overwork the body system as I experienced this?after a few days of indulging in the wonderful irresistible dishes that attack the visitor from all angles.? To overcome this ?heatiness? that most face as the result of the above, many Malaysians resort to drinks and fruits to cool the system down.? With the abundance of fruits everywhere and the amazing variety grown in this tropical climate, one looks forward to the different offerings depending on the growing season.? Fruits also act as the perfect end to a meal, as well as some sweet concoction.? Here are the common?Malaysian drinks, fruits, and desserts:
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1) Leong Soi?- This hideous witches-brew-looking drink was my first request when I went to visit my auntie during my trip.? My grandmother used to boil this drink consisting of various dried leaves and stems that produce a slightly bitter dark herbal drink that I would sip often when it was too hot or when my system was overtaxed by the rich food.? Grandma was well-versed in Chinese herbal medicine since she had to rely on such cures during times when visiting doctors were financially unfeasible during the meager war years.? I am glad my auntie boiled this large pot since I must have consumed most of this in just a mere two days!? I did indeed feel much better after.

2) Yeen?Mai Soi/Barley Drink ? Another favorite of mine is this drink made by boiling whole barley pearls until most of the starch has leached into the liquid, leaving a slightly thick drink.? Sugar is added to sweeten it and lime juice to lighten it.? Served with ice, it is the perfect order when visiting a coffeeshop?as in this case, the reputable Lai Fong Coffeeshop?near Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur.? It may appear quite heavy due to the starch but amazingly it does a wonderful job cooling the system especially when served with lots of ice.

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3) Leong Fun/Grass Jelly Drink ? This dark drink is another coffeeshop?favorite that consists of a jelly made from Grass Jelly and mixed with a slightly sweetened iced water.? The jelly is made by boiling slightly oxidized stems and leaves of a plant, member of the mint family, along with a coagulant, and then allowed to cool into a jelly form.? It is slightly bitter and herbal which is balanced by the sugary water.? It can be found in most coffeeshops and it is another must order when dealing with the tropical heat.

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4) Sheen Kam Soi/Lime Drink ? This rather potent drink?is made with?lots of lime juice as well as Vitamin C.? It is made with the local Kalamansi lime which is small yet packs a punch in its juices but not too sour as Key limes, the one used to make Key lime pies.? It has a slight bitterness from its tough skin that balances the tart flavors.? To enhance the flavors, a dried salted plum is added as the piece de resistance and the ultimate sour and salty treat in this drink.

5) Teh Tarik/Pulled Tea ? This drink hails from the South Indian community that used to be served at?Roti Canai?stalls (see blog) along with its food offering.? It is basically strong local tea (my favorite) that has been mixed with sweet condensed milk and ?pulled? until it is frothy and slightly cool enough to be sipped ? the tea version of cappuccino.? It is an incredible sight to watch someone pouring the steamy tea into another container while ?pulling? the tea by lifting the containers away from each other, without spilling a single drop.? Just like its coffee counterpart, the top foam makes this drink stand out from its flat version. This is usually drunk at anytime, including late in the night at the night markets.

6) Duku?Langat?- the flesh is sweet and fleshy with a bitter?tiny seed in the middle, making it a challenge to eat?the fruit?without biting it.? But the sweet flesh makes it worthwhile and all attempts are usually made to avoid the center.? The outer skin is quite distinct by its leathery quality that peels easily to reveal the semi-translucent flesh.
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7) Ciku?- This fruit is also known as Sapote in the Spanish-speaking world.? The sweet flesh is very soft but a bit rough in texture.? Like most fruits in this part of the world, it is seasonal and thus available only at a certain time of the year.? I was glad that it was available when I made my visit back recently.

8) Cempedak ? this fruit is related to the Jackfruit and Breadfruit, but it grows only in the Southeast Asian region.? The flesh is a rich and sweet soft flesh, much like the texture of a ripe mango, but much sweeter and strong heady notes to accompany it.? The seeds are usually saved and boiled, tasting much like a richer water chestnut.??As a child, I would?eat this fruit that has been?battered and deep-fried, which made the seeds edible when well-cooked.? It is definitely missed due to its unavailability outside Southeast Asia.
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9) Starfruit?- most homes in this tropical country would grow this fruit tree since they do well without much care.? When in season, the tree bears many fruits that need to be wrapped in paper to prevent the birds from ingesting them, as was in the case at my auntie?s home.? the skin is a a?thin skin that protects a juicy insides, much like a soft apple.? However, it is slightly tart and sweet at the same time, providing a light crunch in each bite.? Strangely, Malaysians love to eat it by dipping it into a pool of salt.

10) Papaya ? another commonly grown fruit tree in most homes is the papaya.? Like the starfruit, it is commonly vulnerable to birds that sense when the fruits are ripe and sweet, thus the common practice of wrapping?them in paper as?they ripen.? I really enjoy this soft and sweet fruit that exude a unique fructose flavor that is unmatchable.? It is one of my favorite breakfast fruits that is paired with a squeeze of lime.

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11) Mata Kuching ? A long time favorite of mine.? It is a slightly leathery flesh that is very sweet, coating a hard black seed.? It bears the name of ?cat?s eye? due to its similar appearance.? This fruit is very sweet and makes it completely irresistible, making heavy consumption of it possible.? However, the common warning is that consuming too much can over-tax the system.

12) Dragon Fruit ? this fruit was not?common more than 10 years ago.? This fruit is indigenous to Vietnam and it made its way to this part of the world.? It bears such name due to the leaves that emanate from the body of the fruit, looking like dragon scales.? But inside bears a richly colored fruit that is soft and sweet.? It has become a well sought-after fruit by the locals due to its wonderful flavor and exotic looks.

13) Durian -?I saved?the King of Southeast Asian Fruits for last?among the fruits.? How can I explain its flavor?? It is unique and extremely strong, yet illusive at the same time.? Some have described it as rotting garbage which does not make it exactly attractive to the novice.? But once you can get pass its strong odors, you will taste a flavor that is rich, custard-like, very heady, complex, slightly fermented, sweet, and mineral-like.? It is this mix of flavors that make it totally irresistible to many, much like an addict looking for a fix.? I have watched many locals sitting at stalls indulging in these fruits with glazed eyes ? and I know why.

14) Tau Foo Fah -? One of my pleasures of going back to my childhood home is going to the morning market like I used to do so with my grandmother and later with my mother.? It was always a delight to see fresh ingredients among the array of spices and dry goods.? Among them are prepared foods that are readily available for consumption, including this Tofu dish which I came across a vendor selling this item.? Although it is a sweet dish, it is usually eaten as a snack or at any time of the day.? It is fresh soft silken tofu that is paired up with palm sugar spiked with fresh ginger.? This is indeed a healthy snack and has a cooling effect on the body even when consumed hot, as it is customarily done so.

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15) Kueh?Lapis ? While visiting my parents in Melbourne, Australia, we stumbled across these Nyonya?cakes in a local Asian grocery store that caters to the local Malaysian community.? They are made of layers of rice flour dough that has been enriched with coconut milk, each layer steamed separately thus its name meaning ?layer cake?.? Each layer is contrasted with a different colored layer to create?such effect.? Eating this delight reminded me of my grandmother who was a master Nyonya cake maker, and I was glad to be the?recipient of her wonderful gift.? They are usually eaten for afternoon tea rather than dessert after a meal.

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16) Ais?Batu Campur?(ABC) ? This dessert/snack is a definite favorite among nearly all Malaysians.? It is basically shaved ice that is sitting on top of?a melange?of cooked red beans, cooked?fresh corn kernels, different forms of jelly, and nuts.? The shaved ice is usually flavored with a sugar syrup, rose petal syrup and evaporated milk.? As a child, this was a frequent order during my school recess time as a way to cool down from the heat and the non air-conditioned classrooms.? I had this rendition with my parents and their friends in a Malaysian restaurant in Melbourne, even in the midst of their winter season.? I guess, for some, habits are hard to die as we were digging into it with gusto even after a big meal, much like little kids at the school canteen, albeit in cold weather.

This ends the series of Malaysian food, from Noodles and Rice Dishes; Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner 1; and Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 2.? I hope the series has shown you the essence of this Southeas Asian cuisine, the variety of dishes, and that it has inspired the reader to look out for the dishes that I have described, even though some dishes seem a bit off-putting by the descriptions, like the Durian fruit or the Buah?Keluak.? But one has to take the leap and take the first bite.? That may just change your mind and make you an aficionado of the rather bizarre.? If not, there are many more dishes you will fall in love with.? Selamat?makan (Happy eating).

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Source: http://wongeats.com/2012/09/02/malaysian-drinks-fruits-and-desserts/

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Romney, Obama trade jabs as Dem convention looms

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ? Republican Mitt Romney cast President Barack Obama as a failed coach of a struggling team as he sought to capitalize on momentum coming out of his party's convention. Obama dismissed the GOP gathering as an event suited to the era of black-and-white TV and promised to outline "a better path forward" at the upcoming Democratic convention where he'll be nominated for a second term.

The two rivals campaigned Saturday across several battleground states expected to decide the outcome of the closely fought presidential contest. Obama was in Iowa before heading to Colorado, part of a three-day tour that will take him into his convention opening Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C.

Romney spoke at rallies in Ohio and Florida before flying to his vacation home in New Hampshire for some time off. Campaign officials said the former Massachusetts governor would spend much of the Democrats' convention week doing debate preparation.

At rallies in Cincinnati and Jacksonville, Fla., Romney channeled many voters' interest in the first weekend of the college football season.

"I don't like the way the way the game is going under this president," Romney said, pointing to the high jobless rate and approximately 23 million people who are unemployed or working part-time. "If there's a coach whose record is 0 and 23 million, you get rid of him and get someone new."

The former Massachusetts governor reiterated his pledge to create 12 million new jobs and make the U.S. energy independent in eight years but did not offer specifics on how he would achieve those goals.

Obama seized on the dearth of policy details outlined by Romney and other Republicans at their convention in Tampa, Fla.

"There was a lot of talk about hard truths and bold choices, but no one actually told you what they were," Obama said in Urbandale, Iowa, warning a Romney administration would offer "retreads of the same old policies that have been sticking it to the middle class for years."

Obama made Iowa his first stop on what his campaign billed as "The Road to Charlotte." He told the crowd he did so "because it was you, Iowa, who kept us going when the pundits were writing us off."

The president carried Iowa in 2008, and in an indication of the struggle he now faces, he has been lavishing time on the state in recent weeks. He had a second Iowa stop during the day before flying to Colorado for a Sunday appearance before college students at the University of Colorado.

Obama urged Iowa supporters to take advantage of the state's early voting rules. Early voting opens there on Sept. 27, weeks before the November 6 general election.

Obama's schedule for Monday includes an appearance in Toledo, Ohio, yet another battleground state, before a trip to Louisiana to inspect damage from Hurricane Isaac.

Romney visited Louisiana on Friday.

Viewership was down markedly for the GOP convention this year. According to The Nielsen Co., some 30 million viewers tuned in Thursday night when Romney gave his acceptance speech compared to some 40 million who watched Arizona Sen. John McCain accept the Republican nomination in 2008.

Democrats were eager to recapture the spotlight at their own gathering. But the convention's location served as an unwelcome reminder to the Democrats of an economy so weak that it threatens Obama's chances for re-election.

The president carried North Carolina in 2008, but the state's unemployment rate is pegged at 9.6 percent, well higher than the nation's 8.3 percent and tied with next-door South Carolina for fifth from the bottom.

The Democrats' convention at the Time Warner Cable arena will feature evening speeches by first lady Michelle Obama and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, the keynote speaker.

The president will be nominated for a new term on Wednesday, when former President Bill Clinton also will speak. Vice President Joe Biden delivers his own acceptance speech the same evening.

Obama's prime-time acceptance speech, to be delivered at the outdoor Bank of America Stadium, caps the convention on Thursday night. Aides predict a capacity crowd will hear the speech at the site, which can hold nearly 74,000.

Democrats are taking their turn in the convention spotlight just days after the Republicans met in Tampa to nominate Romney for the White House and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan to be vice president.

___

Kasie Hunt reported from Jacksonville, Fla.

Follow Beth Fouhy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bfouhy

Follow Kasie Hunt on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kasie

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/romney-obama-trade-jabs-dem-convention-looms-083514335--election.html

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Creative Systems Lab.: Re-Thinking Education and Learning with C ...

I submitted a new paper to the EducationalPatterns workshop, which will be held in Austria this November.Here is an abstract of the paper.

"Making Learning Lively: An Analogical Consideration Inspired by Christopher Alexander?s Theory of Wholeness and Centers" (Takashi Iba, EducationalPatterns Workshop, 2012)

In this paper, I would like to consider how to make learning lively by developing an analogy between architecture and education, inspired by Christopher Alexander?s theory of wholeness and centers, which is proposed in his book, The Nature of Order. The analogy developed in this paper is that a whole that is composed of learning is viewed as a whole in the Alexander?s definition; and that learning that is lively is viewed as a center. In this paper, the following properties that make learning lively is discussed based on the following fifteen fundamental properties proposed by C. Alexander in his book, The Nature of Order: Levels of Scale, Strong Centers, Boundaries, Alternating Repetition, Positive Space, Good Shape, Local Symmetries, Deep Interlock and Ambiguity, Contrast, Gradients, Roughness, Echoes, The Void, Simplicity and Inner Calm, and Not-Separateness. Furthermore, I show the relation between these properties and the patterns of the Learning Patterns, which is a pattern language for creative learning.

This is one of the figure in the paper. ?My illustration summarizing the fifteen fundamental properties proposed by Christopher Alexander in his book, The Nature of Order, Book One.

The following is another figure in my paper. It shows my view of learning with the concepts, whole and centers, proposed by C. Alexander.

Reference (in the paper)

• Alexander, C. (1985) The Production of Houses, Oxford University Press.
• Alexander, C. (2002a) The Nature of Order, BOOK ONE: The Phenomenon of Life, The Center for?Environmental Structure.
• Alexander, C. (2002b) The Nature of Order, BOOK TWO: The Process of Creating Life, The Center for?Environmental Structure.
• Learning Patterns Project (2009) Learning Patterns: A Pattern Language for Creative Learning, in?Japanese, Faculty of Policy Management & Faculty of Environment and Information Science, Keio?University.
• Iba, T., Miyake, T., Naruse, M., and Yotsumoto, N. (2009), ?Learning Patterns: A Pattern Language for?Active Learners,? in 16th International Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs (PLoP2009).
• Iba, T. and Miyake, T. (2010) ?Learning Patterns: A Pattern Language for Creative Learning II,? in 1st?Asian Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs (AsianPLoP2010).
• Iba, T., ?Learning Patterns III: A Pattern Language for Creative Learning,? in 18th international?Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs (PLoP2011), 2011.
• Learning Patterns Project (2011) Learning Patterns: A Pattern Language for Creative Learning, in?The?Third International Conference on Collaborative Innovation Networks (COINs2011), 2011

Source: http://creativesystemslab.blogspot.com/2012/09/re-thinking-education-and-learning-with.html

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Iran to hold major air defense drill to simulate emergency situations - Israel News | Haaretz ...

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Source: http://iran.tweetmeme.com/story/11869983670/iran-to-hold-major-air-defense-drill-to-simulate-emergency-situations-israel-news-haaretz-daily-newspaper

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A Beginner's Guide To Home Improvement Renovations | SEA ...

You want every aspect of your property improvement efforts to be positive, but sometimes things do go awry. Here are some guidelines that will support you make wise home improvement decisions. You can make each and every project a achievement by making use of handy advice like these guidelines. For a super fast makeover to your residence, simply apply new paneling to your walls. Placing in new panels will give your home a new feel for a low price. If you do modify your mind and do not like what you have completed, they are extremely straightforward to eliminate with out causing a lot of damage to your walls. An unsightly air conditioning unit may be less than attractive, but in a lot of components of the nation it is a necessity. You can safely and efficiently camouflage with a wooden trellis or latticework. You can also try planting ornamental grasses, such as pampas grass, in the area, as lengthy as you maintain 12 inches among the unit and the roots. Plumbing and electrical troubles ought to be fixed prior to you begin carrying out cosmetic improvements. You typically want to do these prior to other jobs since they require access to the inside of your walls. It is less complicated to do plumbing and electrical repairs when you already have access to pipes and wires although doing renovations. Weigh the pros and cons of having a security alarm set on your residence when having showings. Of course, it may be necessary if the home is in a bad neighborhood and no 1 is residing there consistently to watch over it. Typical cleaning of carpets aids you feel that your house is cleaner. Use the much more powerful options, like deep cleaning and shampooing, regularly, specially on locations that see a lot of traffic. Your house will look cleaner general and, with a spotless carpet, it will preserve a newer look as nicely. Display your jewelry and make it portion of your home decor by hanging it on your walls with decorative hooks and other straightforward-to-install hardware. Only put costume jewelry here, not your prized heirlooms. If you display your jewelry nicely, it keeps things organized and looks quite too. To make jewelry selection easy in the morning it is very best to put your favorite items in an easily accessible spot. A neighborhood can save on its house improvement expenses by setting up a ?community tool chest.? Instead of buying costly specialized tools for single usage, borrow esoteric equipment from your neighbor who also loves property improvement projects. You can also go a step further and share residence improvement ideas. Are you thinking of starting a little home improvement project? Start by searching at what you personal now for new ways to showcase your personality. Use interesting frames to match your decor. official site If you add new appliances, your houses value will increase. Whatever the case may be, updating your appliances will aid you in your home improvement efforts. karcher pressure washer Home improvement might not be as simple as it seems. All of your hard function and effort will pay off as you are able to greater enjoy your property. Following the suggestions beneath will support you get started.

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Source: http://www.seastonefreelance.com/2012/09/a-beginners-guide-to-home-improvement-renovations/

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TechHub: RT @Eyetease: Eyetease are moving offices to the Google Campus via @TechHub! So excited!!! #innovation #technology #media

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Source: http://twitter.com/TechHub/statuses/241787959395889152

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U.S. drone strike kills 5 militants in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? U.S. drones fired a barrage of missiles at a vehicle and a house in a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan on Saturday, killing at least five suspected militants, Pakistani officials said.

The strikes in the North Waziristan tribal area were the first since news that a top commander of the powerful Haqqani militant network was killed in a drone strike late last month, also in the tribal region.

Two intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief the media, said U.S. drones fired seven missiles at targets in the village of Degan in an area of North Waziristan close to the Afghan border.

They said the area is dominated by anti-American militant commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, but they did not know whether the men killed belonged to his group.

Bahadur's faction is alleged to have been involved in frequent attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but generally shies away from carrying out operations inside Pakistan. Several recent drone strikes have killed militants affiliated with Bahadur's group.

The CIA-run drone program is controversial in Pakistan. Many Pakistanis call it an infringement on the nation's sovereignty and maintain that it causes a high number of civilian casualties, a charge the U.S. denies. Washington maintains the program is a necessary and effective tool in combatting militants.

A drone strike a week ago in North Waziristan killed Badruddin Haqqani, one of the sons of the founder of the Haqqani network. The U.S. has blamed the group for a number of high-profile attacks in Afghanistan and considers it one of the key factors in undermining security there.

Badruddin was considered the organization's day-to-day operations commander, and was labeled as a terrorist by the U.S. State Department, along with his father and two of his brothers.

The presence of the mostly Afghan Haqqani network in North Waziristan has been a major source of friction between Pakistan and the U.S. The Obama administration has repeatedly demanded that Pakistan prevent the group from using its territory to launch attacks in Afghanistan, but Islamabad has refused ? a stance many analysts believe is driven by the country's strong historical ties to the Haqqani network's founder, Jalaluddin Haqqani.

North Waziristan, where many of the U.S. drone strikes occur, is the one tribal area where Pakistani forces have yet to carry out a military offensive against militants. The U.S. has been pushing Islamabad to move against militants in the area but so far, there's been no sign the Pakistani military is preparing to launch a major offensive.

Meanwhile, a group of gunmen on motorcycles in the southwestern province of Baluchistan killed seven Shiite Muslims, as violence against the minority sect continues to escalate.

Senior police officer Wazir Khan Nasir said four gunmen riding two motorcycles stopped a local bus near the central vegetable market of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan.

The gunmen identified seven people belong to the Shiite Hazara community, forced them off the bus and shot five of them dead. Two tried to run away but the gunmen chased them down and killed them in a nearby street, Nasir said. Hazaras are an ethnic group found in Afghanistan and Pakistan and are predominantly Shiite. They've often been persecuted by Sunni hardliners who consider Shiites to be heretics.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Baluchistan is the scene of an insurgency by nationalist groups who demand more rights and a greater share of the income generated through natural gas and minerals extracted from the province. Islamist militants and the al-Qaida-affiliated sectarian group Lashker-e-Jhangvi is also operating in the province.

Also Saturday, a judge in the eastern city of Lahore rejected a request for bail made by Malik Ishaq, the founder of the banned Laskhar-e-Jangvi militant group, a senior police official Ijaz Shafi said.

He said Ishaq was arrested this week for making a speech inciting sectarian hatred against Shiites.

The Sunni group is blamed for scores of attacks on Shiites in Baluchistan and elsewhere in the country.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-drone-strike-kills-5-militants-pakistan-053921820.html

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