Merry Christmas from myMalaysiabooks

Merry Christmas!!! and Happy Holidays


Enjoy great Christmas in Singapore!!
Check out where to shop in Singapore

>>> Details of how to travel from Malaysia to Singapore HERE

>>> Check for budget Hotels in Singapore HERE

More at myMalaysiabooks

2010 Holidays in Malaysia

Check out holidays in Malaysia for December 2009 and the coming year 2010

FREE 2010 calendar at myMalaysiabooks
Public Holidays in Malaysia and Singapore 2010


MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR



Date
2010 Public Holidays
Public holiday in


2010 Public holidays in Malaysia and Singapore
01-Jan ....New Year
Jan ..... Sultan of Kedah's Birthday. Kedah only
30-Jan....Thaipusam. Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Penang, Perak, Selangor, N Sembilan, Johor
01-Feb ...Federal Territory Day. Kuala Lumpur, Labuan & Putrajaya only
14-Feb.... Chinese New Year. Malaysia and Singapore All States / National
15-Feb.... Chinese New Year (Day 2) Malaysia and Singapore except states of Kelantan and Terengganu
26-Feb... Prophet Muhammad's Birthday. Malaysia All States / National
....more at myMalaysiabooks Calendar 2010

End of year Holidays in Malaysia and Singpore

School holiday in Malaysia starts on 21st November 2009!



Plan your stay in Malaysia and Singapore before you arrive as November and December are peak holiday seasons in these two countries


Book your flight, hotel accommodations and tours early especially if you travel during the Malaysia and Singapore public holidays or school holidays.


Compare hotel rates, air flight offers and select reputable tours online.

• Hotels combined free search and compare


• Asia Airlines and budget airlines


• 2009 Calendar of holidays

If you are planning your holiday in 2010, check out this free 2010 calendar for Malaysia and Singapore

Celebrations in October

Mooncake festival - 3 Oct 2009
Deepavali - 17 October 2009
Festival of the 9 Emperor Gods - from 18 - 26 October 2009

Read about these celebrations at myMalaysiabooks

Mid Autumn Festival - Moon Cake Biscuits

Mid-autumn festival or Moon Cake festival (15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar) - celebrated by the Chinese to commemorate the overthrow of the Mongol dynasty in Ancient China. Moon Cakes are offered to the moon fairy or to ancesters during these period . During the 8th month, these cakes are exchanged as gifts among relatives and friends too. Children would light colourful lanterns in the shape of animals or other objects during the night in celebration of this festival. The moon cake festival fall on the 3rd of October 2009.

How to Make plain Moon Cake

Ingredients
Golden syrup:
- 1.2kg sugar
- 1 litre water
- 1 lime, squeeze out juice,
- 1 tbsp maltose

Mooncake biscuit dough :
- 300g superfine flour, sifted 200g golden syrup
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- ¾ tbsp alkaline water
- 50g corn oil

Egg glaze – (combined) :
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp water
- Pinch of salt
- A little thick soy sauce (for colour)

Method

Prepare Golden syrup: Put all ingredients, except maltose, in a pot. Boil until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and cook until syrup turns a light golden colour. Turn off the heat and add maltose. Stir to dissolve and leave to cool. Mooncake biscuit dough:
1) In a large mixing bowl, combine the golden syrup with bicarbonate of soda, alkaline water and corn oil. Add sifted flour to ingredients and mix into a dough and knead well. Cover with cling film and leave it aside for about 3 hours. Bake in preheated oven at 180°C
2) Divide dough into small portions and make into a small ball. Lightly dust balls with flour and press into mooncake biscuit moulds. (For biscuits with filling: Wrap dough with a little lotus seed paste and press into a small ball)
3) Grease a baking tray. Knock out the biscuits from the mould and place on the greased trays. Bake biscuits for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven. Leave to cool slightly. Brush with egg glaze and bake again for another 5-8 minutes or until golden brown.
4) Remove from oven and leave to cool. Biscuit should be soft, do not keep in air tight container.

more recipe at: http://food.mymalaysiabooks.com/

Hari Raya Celebrations in Malaysia

Visitors to Malaysia can enjoy open houses to many homes and a full array of great Malaysian food. Hari Raya 2009 falls on 20 September 2009.

• If you are looking for recipes of kuih muih for Raya or some spicy Malaysian or Malay food, check out http://food.mymalaysiabooks.com/



• Read about how Malaysians celebrat the Hari Raya Puasa (Adilfitri) celebrations HERE
  If you are looking to travel during this long weekend, be sure to book your accomodation early!!!...


• Search and compare online hotel rates from more than 30 websites free at HotelsCombined.com or search by their detailed hotel listing by location, city or islands in Malaysia and Singapore.
• Hotels in Malaysia
  Alor Star Kedah
• Cameron Highlands Pahang
  Cyberjaya Federal
• Genting Highlands Pahang
  Pangkor Island Perak
  Penang Pulau Pinang
  Petaling Jaya Selangor
  Putrajaya Federal
  Redang Island Terengganu
  Sabah
  Johor Bahru Johor
  Kota Bahru Kelantan
  Kota Kinabalu Sabah
  Kuala Lumpur (KL) Federal
  Kuala Terengganu Terengganu
  Kuantan Pahang
  Kuching Sarawak
• more at Malaysia Hotels blog

Where to eat Char Kueh Teow in Penang

If you are in Penang and looking for some good Char Koay Teow stall, check out some of these stalls.

Penang Char Koay Teow / Char Kway Teow (Fried flat rice noodles)
- Shop at 82, Lorong Selamat and Other coffee shop along Lorong Selamat, George Town
- Ah Leng Char Koay Teow, Jalan Datuk Keramat, opposite former Federal Theater
- Ping Hooi coffee shop, Lebuh Carnavon and Lebuh Melayu junction
- BB restaurant, opposite Hawker centre, (Sunshine Square area), Persiaran Mayangpasir 2
- Stall No 42, Hawker Centre at Batu Lancang market; afternoon
- Sisters Fried Kway Teow, Lam Heng Cafe, 185, Macalister Road, Pulau Tikus

• Where to get the best noodles in Penang
• More places to eat in Penang at http://food.mymalaysiabooks.com/
• Learn more about Penang
• Where to Stay in Penang - Compare rates

Flying from Malaysia to Singapore

If you are planning to travel between Malaysia and Singapore, you will be happy to know that other than Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia, Firefly, Jetstar and Tiger Air now flies direct from Singapore to many major towns and cities in Malaysia!

Air Asia - Singapore-Malaysia route, daily

• Kuching, Sarawak to Singapore
• Kota Kinabalu to Singapore
• Penang - Singapore
• KLIA (LCCT) - Singapore

New Routes by FireFly to Singapore, i.e. KL Subang Airport to Singapore

• Kota Baru, Kelantan to Singapore - From Oct 25, 2009
• Alor Setar , Kedah to Singapore - From Oct 25, 2009
• Ipoh, Perak to Singapore - From July 12, 2009
• Kuala Terengganu to Singapore - From July 14, 2009
• Kuantan to Singapore - From July 22, 2009
• Malacca to Singapore - from Sept 1, 2009
• Tawau to Singapore - from Sept 2009
• Miri to Singapore - from Sept 2009

More on how to travel between Malaysia and Singapore at myMalaysia books

• Transportation in Malaysia by Air
• From Singapore to Malaysia by Air

Mulu World Heritage Site

Mulu National Park is considered the 'jewel in the crown' among Sarawak's national parks. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site It is the largest national park, covering 52,865 hectares of primary rainforest, which is dissected by many fast flowing rivers and streams.

Mulu offers the adventurous traveller an exhilarating cave experience and rainforest trekking adventure. Mulu is famed for her unique rock formation and numerous cave types. Besides exploring Mulu's underground world, visitors can trek through the forest, take longboat river trips and guided walks. Trekkers can also step into the trail used by the head hunters of the past. However be very sure you are fit and very experienced if you want to trek to the Pinnacles or up to the summit of Gunung Mulu.

• SARAWAK, Malaysia
• Mulu, Sarawak
• Where to stay in Malaysia

Tourism Centres in Malaysia

Travellers to Malaysia can get free information brochure at many of these tourism office:

Malaysia Tourism Centre (MTC) 109, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur; Tel : 03- 2163 3664/2164 3929 Fax : 03- 2162 1149; Office Hours: Monday - Friday : 7.30am - 5.30pm

Other Tourism Malaysia information centres:
Bukit Kayu Hitam Tourist Information Centre, Changlun, Bukit Kayu Hitam 06050, Kedah Phone: +604-922 2078 Fax: +604-922 2078

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Lot 21, Tingkat 2, Balai Ketibaan, Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal, Stesen KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur 50050; Phone: +603-227 431 25

Kuala Lumpur International Airport; Visitor Service Centre, International Arrival Hall, KLIA, Sepang 64000, Selangor. Phone: +603-877 656 47 / 51 Fax: +603-877 657 22

Langkawi International Airport; Phone: +604-955 7155

Langkawi Tourist Information Centre, Jalan Persiaran Putra, Kuah 07000, LangkawiPhone: +604-966 7789 / 9416 Fax: +604-966 7889

Penang International Airport; Phone: +604-643 0501

Search and compare rates for hotels:

• Hotels in Malaysia
• Hotels in Asia
• Hotels in Singapore

Malaysia's Nyonya Food

Nyonya Cuisine (Peranakan food) is a blend of Chinese and Malay cooking styles, that originates from the Peranakans or Baba and Nyonya (or Nonya) of Malaysia and Singapore. This cuisine is unique to Malaysia and Singapore. Today the food of the communities that are found mainly in Penang, Kedah, Singapore and Melaka

Visitors to Penang, Melaka or Singapore should check out some Nyonya Dishes, such a below:

• Acar Awak - Pickled vegetables of carrots, long beans, cucumber, etc, cooked with ginger, turmeric, garlic and vinegar (photo)


• Acar Ikan - Pickled Fish; small fried fish soaked in sauce of oil, tamarind, garlic


• Nasi Ulam - rice mixed with vegetables, a variety of local aromatic herbs, grounded salted fish, desiccated coconut, etc.


• Inchee Kay Bin - Chicken spiced with curry paste and deep fried

check out more Nyonya food and Recipies at http://food.mymalaysiabooks.com/

or at food pages at http://www.mymalaysiabooks.com/recipe/food.htm

School Holiday Destinations

Wondering where to go in Malaysia? Why not check out these World Heritage sites in Malaysia. To fellow Malaysian, it may be just a day trip or one or two nights stay at budget hotels.

Malaysia's Heritage Site:

• George Town, Penang
• Melaka City
• Mulu, Sarawak
• Langkawi Geopark

Visitors to Malaysia should check out some of the best Asian Food - Malaysian Food

Chang Festival or Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival or Chang Festival fall on 28 May this year (2009 )

The Chang Festival marks the death of a Chinese poet and scholar Qu Yuan who drowned in 296 BC in Hunan province in China . When people heard of his disappearance, they scoured the river in boats to rescue him, beating their drums to scare off the fishes from nibbling at his body. Unable to find his body, they made glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and threw them into the river in the hope that the fishes would eat these dumplings instead of his remains. Boats were decorated with dragon heads on their bows.


This festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The tradition of making dumplings (called 'chang') is celebrated by the Chinese community in Malaysia with the offering of the dumplings to the gods and their ancestors. The festival is celebrated in Penang annually with an international dragon boat competition which is immensely popular and attracts participants from all over the world.

• Chang Recipe / Chinese Dumpling Recipe at myFood domain
• Chinese Festival
• Holidays and Calendars Malaysia and Singapore

Chinese Dumpling Recipe

The Chinese Chang Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) falls on the 28th May 2009. Here's one of the many dumpling recipes by Amy Beh (at Kuali @ theStar)
Nyonya Rice Dumpling - Nonya Bak Chang
Ingredients

• 700g glutinous rice, soaked overnight
• Some screwpine leaves, cut into 4 cm lengths
• Dried bamboo leaves, washed and soaked for several hoursHemp strings for tying
• 2 tbsp salt1 tbsp sugar
  Filling:
• 5 shallots, minced
• 2 tbsp chopped garlic
• ½ cup oil
• 3 tsp preserved soya bean paste (tau cheong)
• 7 tbsp coriander powder (ground ketumbar), mixed with 170ml water into a paste4
• 50g belly pork, skin removed and cut into very small cubes
• 12-14 dried mushrooms, soaked and diced
• 100g candied winter melon, diced
  Seasoning (combined)
• 3 tsp pepper
• 5½-6 tbsp sugar or to taste
• 1 tbsp thick soy sauce1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2½-3 tsp salt or to taste½ tsp ground black pepper

Method

To prepare the fillingHeat oil in a non-stick pan, fry shallots and garlic until aromatic. Add soya bean paste and coriander paste. Fry until fragrant.
Add pork, winter melon and mushrooms, and mix in combined seasoning. Fry until pork is heated through. Dish out and set aside.
To assemble the dumplingsOverlap 2 bamboo leaves lengthways then fold into a cone. Fill the cone with glutinous rice. Spoon a heaped tablespoon of filling over. Top up with more glutinous rice and cover with a piece of screwpine leaf. Press down to compress the dumpling. Wrap into a pyramid shape. Tie tightly with hemp string to secure. Repeat until all the ingredients are used up.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and sugar then put in the dumplings and immerse them completely. Cook in rapidly boiling water for 2-2½ hours. Remove the dumplings and hang them to drain off excess water.
More Chinese Rice Dumpling recipes at myfood.mymalaysiabooks.com

Cheap fare offer

Air Asia (Malaysia's budget airline) and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) (Airlines in Malaysia) is currently offering huge discounted fares for flights on domestic and international destinations.

Those planning to travel in 2010 can even search for free (zero fare) tickets, but needs to pay for airport tax and other charges --- at Air Asia

MAS on the other hand offers special free tickets for children or buy one - free one holiday packages.

Travellers are adviced to check out these airlines and compare to all Asian Airlines in Malaysia.

...more on how to travel to and in Malaysia at myMalaysiabooks

Malaysian Noodle Dishes

With a multicultural population, travellers to Malaysia will find an array of uniquely Malaysia noodle dishes of somewhat Chinese, Malay, Indian, Thai, etc origin...all with a flavour unqique only to Malaysia..
Be sure to check out great noodle dishes of Malaysia:

• Curry Mee (photo) or curry noodles
• Laksa Kedah and Penang Laksa
• Penang Hokkien Mee
• Penang Char Kueh Teow / Char Koay Teow
• Chee Cheong fun.
• ..... more and recipes from myFood Domain at myMalaysiabooks

Islands of Malaysia

There are over 100 tropical islands off East Malaysia and West Malaysia. The most popular of these are:

• Pulau Pinang or Penang island
• Pulau Langkawi
• Pulau Tioman
• Pulau Sipatang
• Pulau Pangkor

...check out these exotic island destinations at myMalaysiabooks

or at islands of Malaysia

From KL to Bangkok

Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines are currently offering discounts for numerous flights for this coming school holidays in Malaysia to Bangkok

• Hotel deals - check and compare rates from multiple website HERE


• Airlines flying to Asia and linking to Malaysia and Singapore - HERE

How to travel from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur

Thaipusam in Malaysia

Thaipusam was celebrated in Malaysia on the 8th of February 2009.

On this day, Hindus pay homage to Lord Muruga and celebrations normally stretch over two to three days with drums and music played throughout the day and sometimes into the night.

VIDEO clips: Check out the celebration in Malaysia at:

• Thaipusam in Malaysia on YouTube or
• Thaipusam at myMalaysiabooks

READ MORE AT Religious celebrations in Malaysia

Year of the Ox in Malaysia

2009 is the year of the Ox which is also known by its formal name of Yi Chou. 己丑 .

The Chinese calendar year goes on 60-year cycle. 2009 is the 10-th year in the current 60-year Cycle. 2009 is Year 4706 in the Chinese calendar. The Ox belongs to the earth element and is the second of the 12 animal signs.

Astrologists believe that it is a year for healing and relaxation from the turbulent times. It is a time for rebuilding and reconstructions from the damage of war, natural disasters and the financial tsunami of 2008.

More at

• Free 2009 Calendar for Malaysia and Singapore
• Year of the OX - 2009
• 2009 Chinese Calendar
• Muslim Calendar of Holidays

......from myMalaysiabooks

.....Chinese New Year Recipes at myFood domain