The National Monument was built to serve as a memorial for those who died fighting for Malaysia's freedom during WWII and the Malayan Emergency. It was designed by sculptor Felix de Weldon, who was later conferred the title 'Tan Sri'. Pergh!
I've been here several times, bringing friends and family for a sightsee of the place. It's one of my favourite stops because of the impressive towering sculpture of bronze soldiers that stands there and the history it carries for us. The park, when it's not flooded with tourists, is a great spot to reflect on how far the country has come and it's a reminder to me that in difficult times, heroes will rise. It could be me, it could be you, but it's always best if it's all of us working together for the betterment of our beloved home.
These are pics I snapped a couple of years ago, a time when several relatives spent a few nights at my small apartment. Fond memories! Blankets, pillows, mattresses - I was prepared. Cousin Jo was getting married. That's why the many visitors. For one of my aunts, it was all the more exciting because it was her first time in Kuala Lumpur; so I showed her around and of course, a visit to Tugu Negara was included!
Behold, our National Monument:
Tugu Peringatan Negara / National Monument
Tugu Negara - View From The Back
Tugu Negara - View From The Front
Names of fallen soldiers are engraved on a plaque on the cenotaph pictured below. Did you know that the cenotaph was built earlier than the National Monument? It was initially meant to commemorate the Great War (1914-1918) but later included names of those who had fallen during WWII as well.
Kuala Lumpur Cenotaph
Kuala Lumpur Cenotaph - The Surroundings
Tugu Negara - A Lovely Park With Fountains
I couldn't resist snapping a photo of Sabah's Coat Of Arms when I saw it. Sabah Maju Jaya means 'Let Sabah Prosper'. I was born in Labuan as a Sabahan, years before the island was surrendered to the Federal Government and made a Federal Territory. We were 'Sabahan' until 1984. Then came this awkwardness of saying "Saya orang Sabah" that was never there before. Part of our cultural identity had been stripped away. I used to cheer Sabah on in sporting events. Now I wondered if Labuanites were considered part of the team!
Suddenly it was strange identifying Mount Kinabalu as one of our best tourist landmarks. It is, of course, if you say it in a nationwide kind of way but what's great in our state/federal territory? The best I could cough up was Labuan's Japanese Surrender Point which was in painful-to-see conditions the last time I visited. I'm cringing, and sticking my tongue out at this. It's best I end this conversation here. I'm getting carried away!
Sabah - Where I Was Born!
A weather-worn sign at the entrance of Tugu Negara.
Tugu Negara
If you're Malaysian and have yet to visit, add Tugu Peringatan Negara to your jalan-jalan list this Merdeka Day. Tugu Peringatan Negara / National Monument Malaysia
Location: Jalan Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Open 24 hours. No entrance fees.
What better way to connect with people than food. The women in my family are all ardent home cooks. It's no surprise that we have a lot in common to talk about and no shortage of happy memories built around scrumptious Birthday meals and the fun of working on festival eats together.
I spent the whole of last week catching up with my aunt and cousin. We went sightseeing and ate at restaurants we've never been to before.It was a morning 'til night thing. I'm exhausted, yes but I carry with me now many beautiful moments that make me smile every time I think back.
This is us at a cosy modern Korean cafe at Publika mall. Just outside the restaurant is a children's playground. It's a good place to catch up with the girlfriends and bring the kids.
From top-left, clockwise: Us, The Interior, Cappucino - RM12, Milky Hwa Che - RM15
I ordered a chicken rice burger. It was really good. At first impression, I thought the cheese was slathered with typical sweet chilli sauce, the kind on a Malaysian Ramly burger. I'm glad it wasn't. This was different.
Bibi Rice Burger - RM25
My aunt called for grilled marinated beef slices with rice. This is very much like comfort food. Satisfying on the taste buds.
Garlic Bulgogi Rice - RM30
My cousin had tomato cheese rice. It doesn't look like much, but it was tasty. Check out the egg - begging for a photo shoot is how I would describe it!
Tomato Cheese Hambap - RM30
Namoo Korean Dessert Cafe n Bistro on the park (phew!) has a warm and romantic ambiance that is great for long chats.
Namoo Korean Dessert Cafe n Bistro - The Ambiance
The main entrance.
Namoo Korean Dessert Cafe n Bistro - The Entrance
There's a hook under the table. How convenient; no more pulling up an extra chair for my shopping bags.
Bag Hook
We enjoyed our makan (eat) session. The staff was fun and friendly. They were attentive too!
I picked up the bill. It was something I'd been meaning to do ever since my last trip back to the town I was born in. My aunt and cousin have always been there for me in both tough and cheerful times. I love them dearly.
Namoo Korean Dessert Cafe n Bistro on the park
Address:
Publika, Level G3, Lot 4A , Solaris Dutamas No.1 , Jalan Dutamas 1 , 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (a floor above MPH Book Store)
Telephone: 03 - 6411 6698
Website: http://www.namoo.com.my/home
In the quiet city of Shah Alam, lies Setia Eco Park (SEP), a greenery-inspired neighbourhood that boasts of beautiful parks with landscapes that incorporate the forest.
Hubs brought me here for a walkabout. I love the area. It is, in general, a well-planned town. The roads and sidewalks are wide and neat, free from litter and construction debris.
We spotted this interesting place from the road and decided to pop in for a look-see.
Setia Eco Park Lifestyle Hub
This large round building is actually a property sales gallery. We had a good chat with one of the consultants who briefed us on the latest developments and answered our queries. She also arranged for another consultant to drive us into the gated neighbourhood to view the houses. It was a lovely experience.
Setia Eco Park Lifestyle Hub
The Lifestyle Hub houses several restaurants, an education center and a skin specialist - most of it closed during the time I was there. I had walked up the stairs to get an overview of the place from the second floor but the gates were locked. Perhaps an adventure for another day!
Setia Eco Pak Lifestyle Hub
Setia Eco Park Lifestyle Hub
The lakes are mostly a murky yellow-brown but it is peaceful. This is located just beside the Sales Gallery.
EnviroHome is running a special thanks promotion of 15% discount on all normal priced products in their official website- www.envirohome.com.my which ends on 31st August 2016. All you need to do is type " EHMsia " as the coupon code upon purchase, and type “ Sharon16 ” in the field “Add Comments About Your Order”.
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"Sha, don't eat the apple with the skin on !! My sister worked in an apple farm ..", my lively, talkative friend went on about how toxic it was.
Yep, it seems that wax locks in pesticides. Fruits and vegetables have often been waxed to prolong shelf life and prevent moisture loss.
It's been my usual practice to peel fruits before eating but there are times that I prefer not to do so for aesthetic reasons, especially when I'm making party food or if it's for a blog post on my cooking blog.
Unless I know how the fresh food I have purchased is handled or where it has been
before it lands on supermarket shelves, it's better to be safe than
sorry; a personal opinion.
How do I clean fresh food? I've been doing it the tedious way all these years; with a small soft brush. No kidding! I'd have more faith, if I'm buying this direct from the farmer, fisherman or planting it myself. The supermarket? Mmm...
So, when the folks at EnviroHome approached me to try out their Food Wash, I was only too happy to accept!
EnviroHome - Food Wash
Pesticide, bacteria, wax - solid reasons to wash fresh produce, meat and seafood before consuming them. The most important thing that caught my eye whilst reading about EnviroHome is that their products are environmental friendly. Yep, it's non-toxic, and as a bonus gentle on the skin.
Just a squirt or two into a basin of water. That's how easy it is to use this. As you can see from the picture below, the EnviroHome food wash is a clear transparent liquid. It has a mild slimy feel that is easily rinsed off.
EnviroHome Food Wash
Leave the fruits in the water for a couple of minutes. Do the same with seafood, raw meat and vegetables. Rub gently and rinse off. Easy peasy!
EnviroHome Food Wash - Fruit-washing
The product details.
EnviroHome Food Wash - Directions and Ingredients
My findings - Less water was used since the washing wasn't done under a running tap. We all know the importance of preserving water. As this is an earth friendly product, whatever goes down the drain is not harmful to the environment. Secondly, it took me a shorter time to clean my fruits and veggies. Finally, it looks like it does the job. My fruits and veggies look and feel clean.
I like it! It gave me a sense of security knowing that I could clean pesticide and wax off just like that. I've been using it for a week now which is probably too soon to make a proper assessment.
Here's a short demo to show you how it works and its wonders.
Food washing products are relatively new to Malaysians. We've often taken a lackadaisical attitude towards food cleanliness, as evidenced by our enthusiasm for eating at hawker stalls that are openly unhygienic.
However, that is not to say that there isn't a rising concern for food safety and what we feed our loved ones. Many people are choosing to eat at home these days for a healthier lifestyle. The popularity of organic foods has also risen over the years. I have no doubt that concerned mothers and health conscious people will be picking up food washing products very soon. The EnviroHome Food Wash is an attractive choice because it is a natural cleaning product that is free from chemicals.
But, are food washing products just hogwash? Does it really help? The only way to find out for sure is to try it for yourself and talk to the EnviroHome experts! Fire your questions to the relevant people via:
This is a sponsored post, where I was provided with some products to try out. That said, this piece is wholly written by me and all opinions are my own.
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