Migrants leaving Australia

They flew in from around the world, chasing the Australian dream, but now they can't wait to fly right back out. So what's causing this mass exodus?

The latest figures show that migrants are leaving Australia in record numbers.

There are those who want to stay, and those who can't wait to leave. The grass is supposed to be greener, but it seems ‘the sunburnt country’ is losing its appeal.

Last year alone the number of people coming here to live dropped by nine per cent to 127,000. As well as that 88,000 left, planning to never return. That's double the number of a decade ago.

Some of the comments were:

• Australians in general not as accepting of foreigners.
• TVs, fridges, cars - they're double or triple the price here.
• Movies take like three months to get here.
• There's nothing to do at night.
• It was good enough to get a Skilled Migrants Visa, but not good enough to get a job.
• With all the qualifications under the sun, you might as well throw them in the bin - they're not worth the paper they're written on.
• You need to retrain, get certificates I, II, III for almost everything.
• Everything's more expensive.
• Coming to Australia is a huge commitment, and an expensive exercise.
• Australia's rules, regulations and red tape forces abroad the migrant merry-go-round.
• Life is more expensive, petrol's more expensive, and going to the supermarket is more expensive.
• Cost of living is spinning out of control.
• Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are now among the top twenty priciest cities in the world, where a decade ago they would've just scraped into the top 100.
• Sydney is the most expensive at a $638,000 average. Melbourne is down two per cent to $550,000. Brisbane is at $428,000, and Adelaide at $389,000. Perth is down six per cent off a big high to $450,000. Darwin is over the half million mark, Hobart is at $345,000, and Canberra at $505,000.
• A lot miss the interaction with family, and also lifestyle factors. You know things don't turn out quite as they expected they might.

Read more: http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/latest/article/-/12721871/migrants-leaving-australia/

Travel Review: Cameron Highlands

We left from Butterworth around 8.30am. Checked the tyre pressure ok and enough petrol. Full tank of petrol is more than enough. At current petrol price of RM1.90/liter, it takes about RM40 one way to Cameron.

The journey was smooth without much traffic on a Sunday morning. After 1.5 hours of drive, we reach Jelapang toll that cost RM16.80. Continuing on, we took the Simpang Pulai exit (RM1.80) to try the new road up Cameron which is wider and less winding.

After passing the toll, at the first traffic light, make a right turn. Then, follow by another right turn at the next traffic light. From here, it's all the way to Cameron. We took our time driving up the mountain while viewing the natural beauty around. Wind down the window and feel the cool breezy air.

After about 45 minutes of drive, we saw the first stop on the right. But we didn't stop. We drove for awhile more and decided to stop at the 88 Holiday Fun Garden, just to look at what it has. We do not recommend buying anything from this stop or earlier stop as the price is simply exorbitant. Maybe they are the first few stops so people might be unaware that cheaper products can be purchased at Brinchang, where there are more choices and prices are more competitive.

We felt hungry so we stop at this 99 CH family food center to have lunch. There are chicken rice, economy rice, fried koay teow. The price is a little pricey but that's expected at tourist places like this. For a plate of chicken rice, it costs RM4. The place was infested with flies though, so I'd recommend trying other places with less cleanliness issues.

After lunch, we continue on our journey to Bharat Tea Estate aka Cameron Valley. We took many pictures of the tea estate and bought some tea products there. Although it's not the best tea estate but it's definitely the most accessible compared to 'Boh' Tea estate at Sg.Palas (more about that later). Disappointing thing about Bharat Tea Estate is there is no guided tour on tea plantation, tea extraction. Just take pictures, get some tea products and leave.

We stop at a few places along the way. There are many stalls along the way. At some places, we stop and bought a small bottle of honey. Honey price are not cheap in Cameron. They go from RM28-35 for the big bottle and RM18-20 for the small bottle. One word of advice is bargain. We manage to bargain for RM12 for the small bottle of honey at the road side stall (later we manage to buy the same bottle for RM9 at Kea Farm). We also bought a pack of strawberry for sample back in the hotel.

We stopped at a mini market and bought strawberry jam and dried strawberry. It was the cheapest strawberry jam you could find in Cameron. Two bottles for RM10. Other places are selling RM6-7 for a bottle.

Next we saw the Sg.Palas 'Boh' tea estate sign and decided to go for it. It's a one and last time experience for us. The road to the tea estate is one of the most narrow we ever drive on. 2km of narrow road. At some places, it's really just one-way for 2 cars. Remember to honk at the curves also as it's impossible to know whether there's car at the opposite direction! It was so scary that we have to concentrate full force and couldn't take photo to show how narrow the road was. The worse part is some unthoughtful drivers who drives fast even though they know that there are traffic coming the opposite direction.

But Sg. Palas 'Boh' tea estate is a nice place. Worth to go at least one time. We've been there once, maybe you should go there once to experience the drive and the place itself. The places is well design and taken care. After parking at the designated parking area, it's about 200m walk up the steps to the tea estate. There's a nice sky cafe where you can enjoy tea. I guess they try not to be too english like hence there was no scone to go with the tea. We had the butter lemon cake and a pot of tea. It's a nice place to take pictures of the tea farm. There is also a guided tour on tea extraction, etc. The main thing is to buy the products. We bought a couple of tea products. Not sure if it's any cheaper to buy here than from Tesco. We'll check that out and update later. We took our time to enjoy our time together there since it's the first and last trip to 'Boh' unless they do something to widen the road. (Few suggestion that 'Boh' can take to ease the way to the estate - (1) put traffic lights at narrow one lane part to allow only one traffic to move at a time (2) put mirrors at the curve as it is impossible to see the opposite traffic.) We spent time until it was nearly time to close about 4.30pm. Then we left. As we left, we still see cars coming in. It's either they're not aware that the place at 4.30pm or they must have started their journey thinking that they can make it to the place before it close but little did they know the road is so narrow, it take a really long time to get in.

Next stop was at Cactus Point. We bought two pots of plants for RM9. By then we were already tired and decided to drive through Brinchang straight to the hotel and check-in at 5pm. Took some rest and head out for dinner at Brinchang town. We tried the steamboat. The set for 2 ppl cost RM15/person. It was okay. If you really want to try the food, just get set for 1 ppl and try other food nearby. Go back hotel and sleep.

Next morning, we had breakfast at the hotel. We could see Old Smokehouse from our hotel room. Strawberry Park resort is also nearby so we decided to take a look. The road to Strawberry Park is one of the most winding road. This is also a first and last place. It's also a land slide prone place. Not recommended to stay. But the Strawberry Park resort is a nice place.

Next to the Strawberry Park resort is the Kasimanis Strawberry farm. this is a recommended place. One of the best strawberry farm in Cameron. The price of strawberry here is cheap. For a box of chunky strawberry for only RM5 elsewhere selling pathetic small strawberry for RM4. The chunky ones are sweeter and best of all, Kasimanis let you try the strawberry before you buy them.

Next we stop at the Multicrop Central Market. Worth to stop. They sell lots of things. you can get pots, stones, key chains, etc. But remember not to buy any roses from the stall outside Multicrop Central Market. They sell 'treated' roses. A packet of 3 stalks cost RM2.50. Nonsense! We can get better deal at Kea Farm where a packet of 6 stalks go for RM3. The cafe at Multicrop Central Market is worth the price. It's cheap and good. We were little hungry and decided to try the hot drink and apple strudels.

Beside Multicrop Central Market is the Uncle Sam Farm. Worth a visit. Well, can't really say what's worth to buy here except for the cherry tomato if you're a tomato fan. One kg of cherry tomato only RM6 and you get to pick from the basket and the cherry tomatoes are huge. Other place one kg goes for RM7-8 and you get small tomatoes. Or the tomatoes come pre-pack. A small pack of 100gram cost RM2.00.

Next stop is Kea Farm. Look out for the first stall on the right. The malay lady here sell honey very cheap. A small bottle of honey RM9, everywhere else RM18-20. Big bottle of honey RM14, elsewhere RM28-35.

Lunch was at Strawberry View restaurant. Nice food, reasonable price. After lunch it was already 4pm. It's time to go back home.

Fun try: one simple way to know when you're getting near to Cameron is by winding down your window. As you get nearer to the top, the air gets cooler.
Tips:
1. if you feel like, stop and take a look at the shops as you drive up from Simpang Pulai. if you need to check-in late, just give a call to the hotel and inform them that you need to check-in late. Take your time to visit the shops along the way. But we remind you, the price is not worth it unless you really like/want the product.
2. remember to honk on your way to Sg.Palas 'Boh' tea estate. the opposite traffic can't really see you. Honk and be safe.
3. Get steamboat set for 1 ppl share 2 ppl and try other food nearby.

Travel Review: Cameron Highlands part 2

Where to buy:

Roses:

• The best place to buy roses would be at the Kea Farm market.
• Sometimes roses are aplenty - when it's not raining; you can get 2 dozens roses (that's 24 stalks!) for RM5. But during rainy times, roses are less available and goes from RM3 for 6 stalks of non-red roses and RM3 for 4 stalks of red roses. (Not sure why red roses are more expensive??)
• Even at Kea Farm, it's still possible to find different stalls selling difference prices. Some stalls are selling a packet of 6 stalks for RM3. If you buy 4 packets for RM10. There's this stalls that sell a packet of 10 stalks for RM5. Worth it!
  
• Beware of the stall selling roses at Multi Crop market. They're selling for RM5 for only 2 packets of 3 roses each. Super expensive! They're selling on the pre-text that their roses are "treated" roses. (funny look)

Honey

• Don't get honey from the bee farm. Very expensive. Generally they go from RM28-RM35. For this price, it's better to get imported Capilano honey from Australia.
  
• The best value honey can be found in Kea Farm market also. The first stall on the right along the road, you can buy the honey for RM15 for the big bottle and RM10 for the small bottle. We manage to bargain it to RM14 for big and RM9 for small.
  
• The other stall along the road and mini markets are selling at RM28 for the big bottle and RM18 for the small bottle. At the mini market, it's fixed price. At the stalls, because you can bargain, you can get the big bottle at RM25 and small bottle at RM15. But if you want it cheaper, try Kea Farm.

Strawberry

• This is tough. Everywhere strawberries are selling from RM4 for a small box to RM15 for a big box.
  
• When buying strawberries, choose the bigger berries as they are sweeter. The smaller ones , even though they are cheap, are not worth it.
  
• The best place to buy we think would be Kasimanis Strawberry farm. you can ask to taste the strawberry first. their strawberries are bigger and taste sweeter.
  
• 
  

How To : Protect Yourself Online

According to Google*, malware poses an increasing threat to Web surfers. The search giant carried out in-depth research on 4.5 million Web sites and found 1 in 10 Web pages can successfully launch a "drive-by-download"—such as a Trojan—onto a user's computer.

So what can you do to protect yourself, your privacy and your identity? Here are five tips that should have you surfing more securely:

1. Use strong passwords.
With everything requiring a password, from your email, to your facebook, to download accounts and bank accounts, it's easy to choose a simple password to make it easier to remember. Unfortunately, this leads to hackers finding it easy to bypass your passwords and gaining access to YOUR information. Make sure that it's protected by using a strong password :

• must contain at least 8 characters.
• contains a mix of letters, numbers, and special symbols.
• must not be a word in the dictionary.
• should never be any personal information such as a name or address.

2. Secure your browser.
Oftentimes, it's easy to just click OK to every pop up that comes along. "Remember your password?" Click OK. "Always trust content from this publisher?" Click OK again. What you may not know is that you may be clicking OK to a hacker to access your browser. Increase security in your browser by always reading the pop up messages and understanding before you click OK. Increase the security levels of your zones in the browser, by using the Security option under your browser options menu.

3. Keep a clean cache.
Every website you log into will populate a cookie on your browser. Cookies are little bits of text files that are stored in your cookie folder, which essentially logs your IP, activities, username and passwords. They are also used to prove authentication during a session. For instance, once you have logged into your bank Web site, a cookie is created and stored on your system. If an attacker acquired this cookie, it could then be used to impersonate you. To prevent this, do not surf other Web sites while still being logged into a bank—or any secure Web site for that matter. Be sure to log out of the bank site because this will usually delete the session cookie.

4. Beware of phishing.
Websites that are configured to look like the real thing - frequent websites that are targetted are bank websites, shopping online sites and even car retails. Anything that is connected to something that you transact with either your bank account or your credit card. When you log in unsuspectingly, your details will be captured and leads to identity theft. For more information on phishing attacks and how to report them, please visit Report Phishing provided by US-CERT Coordination Center.

5. Verify a secure website.
Make sure the website you enter your personal information on is secure. When a site is “secure,” the communication is encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). There are two ways to verify that the page utilizes SSL :

1. The first method is to look at the address bar to inspect the URL or Web page address. It should begin with “https” rather than “http.”
2. The other method is to look for the lock icon. Depending on your browser, this icon will be located in a different place. In Internet Explorer 6 and 7, the lock is on the bottom right hand corner of the window. In later versions of the browser the lock is by the URL as part of the address bar. By clicking on this icon, you will be able to view the SSL Certificate by a Certificate Authority.

Ultimately though, it is your responsibility to ensure that the website is secure before providing any information on it.

Food Review : OXO Queensbay

We walked into the newly opened OXO Cafelab (check it out at http://oxo.com.my/). The website was very attractive and we were very impressed when we walked in. The decor in the place is excellent - most of the dining area seating is on couches which looked very comfortable. We picked the couch on a raised dais near the entrance. Good impression so far.

The manager however was a different story. We were passed a set of "express set menu" - basically it is just a piece of paper with about 5 different sets ranging from RM11.90 - RM22.90. The set comes with soup, bread, a drink, dessert and ice cream. When we requested to look at the ala carte menu, he told us not to order it as it will "take a long time". Somehow he was very reluctant to let us see the ala carte menu - why?!? It doesn't hurt to check out the choices, does it?

Anyhow, we browsed through the menu. Prices are notably steep - the standard chicken chop that you can normally get outside for about RM7 is selling for more than twice the price (RM15.80++). When our friend arrived to join us at the table, we were scolded by the manager for not telling him that we had a party of 3 as they had to re-set the extra set of utensils on the table. And this was after we had informed the waiter that we had 3 people in our party. We're obviously ticked off by his attitude.

The final straw came when my friend spotted about 4-5 flies sitting on the bread that was placed on our table. As we had been browsing through the menu, we had not noticed that they were on it. Yucks! The place was really infested with flies! When we requested to change the bread, the manager informed us that it's normal because of the swamp nearby. Erks... does this mean all the food has been visited by the flies before?

That's what we decided that enough was enough and took a walk... out of that restaurant. When the quality improves to something beyond just the decor, we'll be back. Until then, it needs some serious upgrades in terms of customer service and cleanliness.

How To : Go Green In Your Home

Help Earth Day by going green in your home. Here's some eco-friendly steps to take :

1. Freshen The Air.
Go the natural way - throw away those synthetic air fresheners as they do release toxins that have been proven to contribute to headaches, depression, ear infections and diarrhoea. Instead, try using some baking soda to kill odours, a bouquet of flowers for natural scents or try a bunch of pandan leaves (cheap alternative) as it absorbs bad smells and gives out a more fresh smell.

2. BBQ On!
But make sure to use a gas-powered grill because natural gas burns cleaner and produces 45% less CO2 compared to coal. It is also more earth-friendly than charcoal and wood which produce soot that add to air pollution.

3. Mow The Lawn.
Don't throw away the grass clippings after you're done. The clippings will decompose in days and provide important nutrients in the soil for other plants. And good news to the gardeners, it will help stifle the growth of some types of weeds. It will also help earth worms breed which is good, as they aerate the soil and enrich it with their waste.

4. Save Water.
Instead of washing fruits and vege under a running tap, wash them in the sink or a basin half-filled with water. You save about 40 litres of water this way.

How To : Boost Your Health Through The Power Of Green Tea!

Green tea brings a lot of health benefits. To brew a top-notch cup of tea, pour boiling water into a cup and let it cool for around 2-3 minutes. Add the green tea into the water and let it steep for another 2-3 minutes. Don't oversteep it as the taste and goodness will be affected. Green tea is best enjoyed after a meal.

1. Prevents Cancer
Drinking green tea helps to prevent cancer. Green tea contains polyphenols, which block the growth of cancer cells. According to research, women with breast cancer who drink at least five cups a day, have tumors that spread slower and these women are less likely to have the cancer return. Green tea also reduces the risks for esophageal, gastric and skin cancer.

2. Protects Brain Cells
The previously mentioned antioxidant, polyphenol, when fed to mice induced with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, helped to protect brain cells from dying, as well as 'rescuing' already damaged neurons in the brain, a phenomenon called neurorescue or neurorestoration.

3. Burns More Calories
Use green tea properties to help you shed extra pounds. Studies show that people who drink green tea with caffeine burn calories faster. Studies showed that average fat oxidation rates were 17% higher after ingestion of Green Tea Extract than after ingestion of a placebo.

4. Lowers Cholesterol
Lower your cholesterol with green tea. It lowers the bad cholesterol and supports the good cholesterol. It also prevents blood clots from forming. This is important since blood clots are the major cause of heart attacks and strokes.

5. Protects Teeth
Protect your teeth with green tea. It destroys the bacteria that produces plaque.

How To : Free Up Your Living Space

Ever find yourself sinking deeper and deeper into a junk yard... and the junkyard is your home, or your office? Things just tend to pile up while we're not aware and one day, we look around and we're up to our necks. Here's some simple tips to get rid of the mess and free up your living space.

1. Remove those dusty old decorations.
Remove your decorations, dust them off, then put back only the ones that look the best. Collections of similar items look best all together, not scattered everywhere. Get rid of dusty fake plants, especially those above your kitchen cabinets. Fake plants can clutter your kitchen and cabinets often look best with nothing on top of them.

2. Organize those bits and pieces.
Small things all over the place clutter up the space and they tend to get lost as well. This includes keys, cell phones, rings, accessories, and remote controls among other things. Find a place to put them, and always keep them there. Combine the practicality of keeping them safe and out of sight with something decorative - like a nice handwoven basket or a cute ringholder box.

3. Paper paper everywhere.
As much as our workplaces are trying to go all electronic, there's always still paper documents and memos hanging around. And at home, those advertising leaflets and brochures arrive by the ton. Not to mention all those bills coming in! Make sure you have a way to sort out those mails and brochures. Have a recycling box where you can toss the unwanted paper away and give those to the newspaper man when he comes to collect them for recycling.

4. Get rid of those old clothes.
Most people advocate the one-year rule, which is if you haven't worn it in a year, chances are that you won't. So get rid of those clothes and donate it for a worthy cause. There are many homes and shelters that are eager for good clothes. Take some time off to bring those clothes there.

Happy living! :)

How To : Mosquito Control Technique

I ran across this tip in a forwarded email. With so much dengue going around, I believe this tip will help us. I am trying it out and will update what is the outcome!

"Here's a tip that was given at a recent gardening forum.

Put some water in a white dinner plate and add a couple drops of Lemon Fresh Joy / Harimau Kuat Lemon liquid dish. Set the dish on your porch,patio, picnic table, park bench, or other outdoor area. Not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white plate colour, or what.

BUT .. mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead shortly after drinking the Lemon Fresh Joy/water mixture, and usually within about 10 feet of the plate.

TRY IT--- it works just superb! It may seem trivial, but it may also help to control mosquitoes around your home. Pass this on to anyone who likes sitting out in the evening, or when they're having a cook out."

How To : Detect A Stroke

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S - Ask the individual to SMILE.

T - Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)

R - Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

S - Ask the person to STICK OUT HIS/HER TONGUE. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other , that is also an indication of a stroke.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call the emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

It is better to be safe than to be sorry.....

Food Review : Zi Wei Yuan Steamboat

This steamboat place is located in Butterworth, Jalan Raja Uda to be more specific. We had heard that this place was a very popular steamboat destination as the soup is boiled with yam. Pretty unique. When we arrived, the place was pretty packed.

The choices that was given were not a lot, and the choices are not scaled down to the number of people eating. Even if you come alone, you will need to order a standard plate which will easily cost you from RM4 - RM20, depending on the dish. For example, a plate of vege will cost you RM4, whereas a plate of scallops will cost you RM20. It would have been better if you can order a dish for 1 person, or 2 persons depending on your table party. Else, ordering a few dishes will easily cost you over RM100 and the amount is too much for 1 person to consume.

The soup was quite salty, it doesn't taste like anything special. Just that you will be able to see chunks of yam floating around. Also, probably I've been spoiled by all those steamboat buffets and huge amounts of food. Limiting oneself to a few choices does make the steamboat feel less grand.


The interesting thing is that the restaurant uses charcoal, so there were bits and pieces of ashes flying around and sometimes into the soup as well. Yuck. Not to mention that the sides of the steamboat tend to get black and flake into the soup. Double yuck.


Give me normal buffet steamboats that are cheaper and cleaner!

How To : Top 10 Tips To Get Ahead At Work

Whether you're vying for a promotion or just want to make a good impression, here are 10 ways to show you're dream team material:

1. Know the mission.
Align yourself with your boss' and company's goals and values. Make your boss' priorities your priorities.

2. Understand how you'll be evaluated.
Know precisely which skills, behaviors and accomplishments you will be judged on and rewarded. Focus on them like a laser.

3. Be dependable.
Do what you say you're going to do. Better yet, under-promise and over-deliver.

4. Project positive energy.
Don't be the one to whine or criticize the boss or company direction. Be a motivator: the person everyone wants to be around.

5. Make your boss look good.
Finish your work on time and with a high level of professionalism. Bring your boss ideas that will help him and the department and offer to take charge and implement them.

6. Own up.
Take responsibility for your mistakes by focusing on what you've learned rather than what you've done wrong. For example, "I think this project could have been better if we'd gotten the group's buy-in early on," or "Next time I would talk more with the end-users up-front..."

7. Be organized.
Plan your next day before you leave work. Rank your tasks by urgency and importance and make a point of doing at least the top two items on your list.

8. Be punctual.
Arriving for work or meetings on time (even early) shows you're enthusiastic, dependable and able to manage your life effectively.

9. Be resourceful.
Don't run to the boss with every question you have or setback you encounter. Think things through first. If you must report a problem to the boss, develop possible solutions to present.

10. Broaden your horizons.
Take advantage of company-sponsored training courses and volunteer for projects in areas outside your everyday expertise.

Happy working!

Food Review : Miss Saigon, E-Gate Penang

I've been craving for some tasty Vietnamese noodle soup, so I was excited to go try Miss Saigon - the Vietnamese cuisine shop at E-Gate. It was opened mid last year but I only had the chance to go recently.

Miss Saigon was pretty deserted when we went by, so we spent a few minutes debating whether to actually go in and try. The style of the restaurant was quite inviting though with soft lighting and interesting decor.. we ended up giving in to my craving. They even have the traditional coffee makers for sale (check out the stash at the back of the counter).


Of course, once we have stepped into the shop, what else could I order but the traditional Vietnamese beef noodle soup? The pho was going for RM14.80, we felt it was pretty pricey for the dishes. However, the taste was pretty authentic and tasty, else it would have truly been a waste of money! The presentation was nice too, and the restaurant was not stingy with their vegetables.

Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup

We tried another dish as well - too bad I've forgotten the name. It is chicken wrapped in the traditional leaves and served together with fragrant rice. Looks delicious and presentation was great, but the taste.. not so nice.

Unknown dish

Our rating :
Food : Go for the traditional soup dishes and the Vietnamese rolls (range from RM7-9) is not bad too.
Food presentation : If only it tastes as good as it looks!
Ambience : Very quiet and cosy.
Service : So-so. The lady who served us (believe she was the owner) was not very friendly and was casually attired in t-shirt and pants, the sight quite spoiled the environment!

Altogether, this restaurant was not that bad, just that it's quite highly priced for normal food. Only go for this if you're having those cravings like me and can't find another Vietnamese shop nearby.

Chinese New Year Break!

What else would be a better excuse for a break from blogging than the 15-day Chinese New Year? :) Having days to eat and visit relatives, friends and even those people that you have no idea that you were related to.....

Of course, no Chinese New Year would be complete without my auntie's most famous Lam Mee. Yum! I look forward to eating this every year... It is definitely the best, and of course that would be my most unbiased opinion.... LOL!

Loaded with prawns, vegetables, mushrooms, eggs and crab meat... it is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach! The secret soup makes everything come together and it tastes the best when mixed with ultra-hot sambal.

The Ultimate CNY Dish

And of course, a closer look at the ingredients....!

YUM!

How To : 5 Top Tips To Keep Happy At Work

1. Choose To Be Happy At Work.
It's a choice... it's YOUR choice. Think positively about your work. You can choose to be happy at work.

2. Do Something You Love Every Day.
Find something that you enjoy doing every day in your current job. Look at your strengths, skills and interest. Capitalize on your strengths and focus on the things that you can control and influence.

3. Make Only Commitments That You Can Keep.
Understand your capability and assess your ability to complete a requested commitment. Don't volunteer if you don't have time, else you will wallow in the swamp of unkept promises. Fulfilling those commitments will reinforce your sense of accomplishment.

4. Make Friends And Have Buddies.
Enjoying moments and liking your colleagues will help you have a more meaningful work experience. Take time to get to know your colleagues and build networks. In turn, they can provide you with support, resources, news and sharing.

5. If All Fails, Job Searching Will Make You Smile!!!

Food Review : Sisters Char Keoy Teow

One of the famous char keoy teow spots in Penang, the Sisters Char Keoy Teow is located along Macalister Road. It's tucked away in an unassuming corner of the road. Sisters started off with 2 sisters (hence the name!) as the pioneers and now the stall has been inherited by one of their son. Besides the famous char keoy teow, they also have jawa mee, wantan mee and an assortment of kuihs.

We ordered the medium plate of char keoy teow, it was a pretty small plate when it arrived. But there were 2 big prawns in the plate and the overall taste was wonderful! There was a bit of crabmeat at the top which it was originally famous for. For RM4, it was a pretty satisfying meal. Ditch that overrated and overpriced char keoy teow from Lorong Selamat and head over to Sisters. :)

Ultra delicious Char Keoy Teow

We also ordered the Jawa Mee and it is supposedly the original Jawa Mee in Penang (not sure how true is this claim). It was a bit pricey for a normal Jawa Mee at RM3.50. Anyhow, it made for good eating too. A good experience in one of the oldest coffee shops in Penang!

Just go for the char keoy teow. :)

Product Review : New Anglia Shandy Apple Flavour

So I've been a long time fan of shandy, especially Anglia Shandy. I even have a stack of playing cards embossed with the Anglia Shandy logo that I remember playing with during my childhood days. :)

So it was with great anticipation when I read in the Star newspaper article about a new Anglia Shandy flavour being launched in Malaysia. Called the Anglia Apple, it promised a fresh tangy taste to the lemonade beer.

A brand new twist on the old Shandy

We bought a couple of cans to try it out. And boy! I would definitely not recommend this drink to anyone. The taste of the shandy was totally overwhelmed by the fake apple-ish flavour. It came in with a bang.... but it sure does fizzle out.

Moral of the story : Stay loyal to the original Anglia Shandy - I'm buying a whole crate of them for Chinese New Year!

Food Review : Kenny Roger's Roasters, Queensbay

It's always a struggle thinking of what to eat in Queensbay Mall, Penang. Anyhow, we decided to head to Kenny Roger's on the basement level, despite some bad reviews that we've heard about the place.

It was pretty quiet in the restaurant, with just another table taken up by a couple. We hesitated but then decided to take the plunge and go ahead to order. We chose the 1/4 black pepper chicken with 3 sides and muffin for RM17.90++. We chose the mac & cheese, mashed potatoes and fresh fruit salad for our sides. You get to choose from 3 different flavours of muffin as well - banana, vanilla or chocolate. We asked for extra black pepper sauce which made the meal extra spicy and yummy.

Slurpilicious!

So, the story ends with a happy ending... fortunately! :)

How To : Make White Fungus Tong Sui

The white fungus tong sui is good for those with cough and those that need more "cooling" drinks for the body. It is suitable to drink after a spicy or fried meal.

Ingredients :
1. White Fungus (Peh Bok Nee)
2. Lotus Seeds (Leng Chi)
3. Pai Her
4. Dried longan (Ngeng Ngeng)
5. Rock sugar
6. Pandan leaves

The Ingredients

Steps :
1. Wash and soak the lotus seeds and white fungus in water for about an hour to get it soft. Remove the green shoot inside the lotus seeds as it will make the drink bitter. Remove any hard parts from the white fungus as well.
2. Wash the other ingredients and throw everything into the pot to boil. Make sure not to soak the dried longan in the water for too long as it will lose its sweetness.
3. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat to low and let it simmer for about half an hour.
4. Remove from fire and serve warm or cold.

The result

Travel Review : Gua Tempurung, Perak

Head for the hills!! Ok, so it's a cave in this case - Gua Tempurung. Located in Perak near Gopeng, the largest limestone cave in West Malaysia is easily accessible off the North-South highway using the Gopeng interchange.

We took a day trip to Gua Tempurung after hearing a lot of good reviews of the place. Upon arrival, we checked out the available tours there. There were 4 different types of tours. If you are aiming for the Grand Tour, make sure to arrive early as the last entry for this particular tour is at 11am.

As it had been raining the previous night as well as having some light drizzle in the morning, the wet tours were closed as the water level was too high and therefore considered dangerous. We settled for the Top Of The World tour instead.

The tour turned out to be pretty informative as we slowly walked along the pathway. The rest of the group had gone ahead so the tour guide stayed with us instead and gave us some tidbits of information. We were shown the various landmarks formed by the stalagmites and stalactites of the cave - the Cat, the Old Man, the Jellyfish were among them.

I call it - THE BULL.

As a last note, remember to bring along a complete change of clothes if you want to go for the wet tours. Sport shoes and a torchlight are mandatory. Most importantly, bring your waterproof bags around to protect your electronic items (handphones, car keys, etc) as you may get submerged completely in the water at certain points.