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5 fast food chains we wish would come to Sarawak

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Sarawakians are known to be proud for our own local food but we also appreciate foreign flavours even – and in some cases, especially – if it comes in the form of fast food chains.

While Sarawak already enjoys KFC, McDonalds, Nando’s, Subway, Burger King and Pizza Hut, most of us want more.

Here are 5 fast food chains we wish would come to Sarawak:

  1. Domino’s Pizza

Although in February 2018, Domino’s Pizza became the largest pizza seller worldwide, it has yet come to Sarawak.

Now there are two pizza restaurant chains in Sarawak, Pizza Hut and Pezzo.

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2. In-N-Out Burger
For celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain who called our Sarawak laksa the breakfast of the gods, he called In-N-Out “the only fast food chain that I actually like, and think is reasonably good for the world.”

If Bourdain thought In-N-Out Burger was reasonably good for the world, it is good for us Sarawakians.

Their menu features three burger varieties; hamburger, cheeseburger and double-double (two patties and two slices of cheese).

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3. Jollibee

This Filipino fast food chain serves American style dishes such as burgers, spaghetti, chicken on top of some Filipino dishes.

Jollibee also offers a range of rice meals include Garlic Pepper Beef, Ultimate Burger Steak, All-day Garlic Bangus (milkfish) and Burger Steak.

As of April 2018, there are about 1,200 Jollibee outlets worldwide. Interestingly, the only Jollibee opened in Malaysia was closed down due to the 1997 financial crisis. Perhaps the next one will open in Sarawak?

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4. Dunkin’ Donuts

Sabah has Dunkin’ Donuts… so how come Sarawak doesn’t have one?

When it comes to doughnuts in Sarawak, we have to settle with local bakeries and Big Apple Donuts.

If we were to compare these two joints, Dunkin’ Donuts serve better coffee than Big Apple Donuts. What do you think?

5 fast food chains we wish would come to Sarawak
A piece of doughnut goes well with a cup of coffee. Credits: Pixabay.

5. 4Fingers Crispy Chicken

At 4Fingers Crispy Chicken, the food is only prepared when you order which is why you can taste the crispiness of the chickens right away.

They serve Korean-styled fried chicken, which is usually seasoned with spices both before and after being fried.

Another highlight of this food joint, is its kimslaw, a side dish made of kimchi and coleslaw.

As for the fries, you pick your own flavour such as kimchi or seaweed.

This Singapore fast food chain was only established few years ago in 2009.

Now it has expanded its business to Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.

5 fast food chains we wish would come to Sarawak
4Fingers Crispy Chicken

Any fast food chains you wish would come to our shore? Let us know in the comment box.

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Soak your body in Panchor Hot Spring for natural healing

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When it comes to hot springs near Kuching, people automatically think of the Annah Rais Hot Springs.

For a lesser known, equally calming hot spring about 40km from Kuching city, there’s the Panchor Hot Spring located at Kampung Panchor Dayak which is accessible via Kuching-Serian Road.

It is famous among locals who believe a dip in the hot spring water will promote natural healing.

Soak your body in Panchor Hot Spring for natural healing
Welcome to Panchor Hot Spring!

Among the minerals which had been found in the water are calcium and sulfur.

According to the information displayed on the board at the hot spring, the Panchor Hot Spring haspositive therapeutic effects for skin ailments.

On top of that, it is also believed the minerals in the water can help to soothe arteriosclerosis, rheumatism and joint pains.

Some visitors have a dip in the hot spring for its detoxifying effects.

Soak your body in Panchor Hot Spring for natural healing
Visitors relaxing by the pool.

Firstly, here are the precautions visitors need to take when dipping at Panchor Hot Spring:

  1. Dip your feet first in order for your body to fully adjust to the temperature. The average temperature of water at Panchor Hot Spring is 42oC. Then slowly submerge your whole body into the pool.
  2. If you are not comfortable with the temperature, get out of the pool and take a rest. Visitors are advised to take cold water to alleviate any dizziness that might occur because of the hot temperature.
  3. Never ever jump directly into the pool. After your dip in the hot spring, do not immediately take a shower. Let your body temperature cool down first.
Soak your body in Panchor Hot Spring for natural healing
Never ever jump directly into the pool.

Panchor Hot Spring Facilities

Soak your body in Panchor Hot Spring for natural healing
A visit to Panchor Hot Spring gives back to the local community.

The hot spring is currently managed by the village security and development committee.

Thus, a visit to Panchor Hot Spring gives back to the local community.

Its facilities were upgraded by the Tourism Ministry in 2013 with electricity provided to the site.

There are wooden planks surrounding the pools making it convenient for visitors to sit by the hot spring while soaking their feet.

Visitors do not have to worry the about the weather as the pool areas including the corridors leading to it are covered with roofing.

Other basic facilities include a resting hut complete with benches and tables, public toilet and changing room.

Surrounded by forest, the hot spring makes another serene and short getaway from your hectic life in Kuching.

The hot spring is open daily from 7am till 10pm.

Soak your body in Panchor Hot Spring for natural healing
Pathway leading to the hot spring.

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Adidas kampung, the almost perfect hiking shoes

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Almost every Malaysian has heard of ‘adidas kampungs’ – the generic name for probably the most handy yet cheap rubber shoes made in Malaysia.

They usually come in black, but sometimes you can find them in white too.

Besides adidas kampung, these rubber shoes are also known as adidas paya, kasut kebun and kasut motong. All of these unique and hyperlocalised names have to do with going out to the jungle, farming or trekking. Why?

Adidas kampung, the almost perfect hiking shoes
Adidas kampung, a preferred footwear for Malaysian jungle.

The soles have strong grip on slippery rocks and muddy flats making them famous among farmers and rubber tappers.

They are perhaps the most preferred footwear when it comes to trekking in the Malaysian tropical rainforest.

This is because they are waterproof, easy to dry… and most of all cheap.

Sold mostly in sundry shops throughout Malaysia, they cost under RM10 a pair.

Adidas kampung, the almost perfect hiking shoes
They are recognised for their strong grip on slippery rocks and muddy trails.

 

Adidas Kampung in the news

Adidas kampung have made headlines in the news several times over the years all thanks to their usefulness.

During the 21st Mount Kinabalu Climbathon in 2017, for instance, Safrey Sumping won fourth place in the men’s open event was wearing a pair of adidas kampung.

In 2011, it helped another Malaysian win a place in the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon.

Danny Kuilin Gongot wore them when she beat New Zealander Anna Frost and American Brandy Erhortz, clinching the women’s title in the climbathon.

Besides assisting Malaysians to win international athletic events, they have also been great help during hard times.

When flood hit Penang back in 2017, volunteers turned to these shoes to help with the cleanup as they were perfect for wading through floods.

In some local universities, lecturers for nature-oriented courses such as Environmental Science and Marine Science made adidas kampung must-have footwear for field-trips.

The flaws of Adidas Kampung

Although adidas kampung might sound like the perfect shoes, they do have their own flaws.

First of all, they are not the most comfortable pair of footwear out there.

You need to wear adidas kampung with a pair of thick socks as they are also known for leaving its wearers with blisters.

Another thing is that although these pair of shoes are known for their waterproof ability, you can also get waterlogged.

A short walk in a stream will leave you walking around in tubs for shoes instead, making it a little inconvenient during your hike as you need to stop and pour the water out of your adidas kampungs.

Nonetheless, their extreme affordability still make these adidas kampungs one of the better choices of hiking shoes in Malaysia.

Plus, they work better than your normal running shoes when hiking through our muddy, slippery Malaysian jungle.

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Know the Best Beer and Food Pairing this Gawai Season

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We always hear about what food goes great with wine, but in anticipation of the upcoming Gawai Dayak festival on June 1, KajoMag learnt about which foods to pair with beer thanks to a special pre-Gawai beer and food pairing session courtesy of Heineken Malaysia Berhad (Heineken Malaysia).

Held at LePau Restaurant, a Kayan restaurant in Kuching, we were treated to a variety of local Dayak dishes paired with different alcoholic beverages to match the flavour profiles, textures and aromas.

“This Gawai, we want to celebrate [these profiles] through good food,” said Corporate Communication Manager of Heineken Malaysia, Ng Eng Kiat.

“The accentuating notes and flavours of our portfolio can make good meals great. With this event, we hope to share a whole new way of experiencing traditional flavours on a plate.”

1.   Lager

Pale lagers like Heineken, Tiger and Anchor are known for their peppery bitterness, clean and crisp flavours, making them easy to pair  with a diverse range of foods, from sweet to savoury.

As such, they go well with these subtle yet distinctive dishes like manok pansuh, stir fried rubbed tapioca leaves with tepus and what LePau Restaurant served up in its Orang Ulu BBQ platter which featured grilled meats like beef, chicken and fish.

For KajoMag, Heineken tasted exceptionally good with the BBQ platter especially when it was fresh off the grill.

Apart from barbequed meat, lager is also best paired with seafood, noodles and light cheese.

2.  Stout

Know the Best Beer and Food Pairing this Gawai Season
Try some Guiness Bright, especially tailored for the Malaysian market.

An all-time KajoMag favourite alcoholic beverage, we were informed that stout goes well with earthy and tangy flavours like chocolate, beef, chicken, seafood and dried fruit.

We were also introduced to one of Heineken’s latest brews – Guinness Bright – which was launched in 2017.

Created especially for the Malaysian market, the brew is infused with coffee, ginger and lemongrass extracts.

And to pair this Guinness right, we were served the Dayak sour eggplant with smoked beef.

3.    Cider

Know the Best Beer and Food Pairing this Gawai Season
Dinuh, topped with vanilla ice-cream is best served with apple cider such as Strongbow or Apple fox

For those who do not like the bitter taste of beer or stout, cider is the best choice.

Made primarily of apple juice, cider is an alternative that goes well with something tangy, crispy, dry and refreshing.

For our third brew of the beer and food pairing, we were served dinuh – Kayan traditional glutinous rice fritters together with Strongbow and Apple Fox Ciders.

Made from glutinous rice and palm sugar, the combination of the sweetness from the palm sugar with the fruity flavours of the ciders really complemented each other.

It also helps that the sweet light taste of the ciders added a lightness to the heavy meals that we enjoyed beforehand.  

Apart from sweet dishes, cider also goes well with chicken and pasta.

What will your choice be?

Know the Best Beer and Food Pairing this Gawai Season
A selection of the traditional pale lagers -Heineken, Anchor and Tiger.

Now that you know what to pair your favourite alcoholic beverage with, tell us at KajoMag which one is your favourite food and beer pairing.

Do remember to drink responsibly during this festive season!

Through its Drink Sensibly campaign, Heineken has been advocating responsible drinking through a 5-point system:

1. Hydrate with plenty of water between drinks;

2. Eat well so your body is ready to handle the drinks;

3. Move and dance the alcohol out of your system;

4. Pace yourself through the night;

5. Taxi home to keep yourself and others safe.

To know the latest updates on Heineken Malaysia, check out their website: www.heinekenmalaysia.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/heinekenmalaysiaberhad

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How to have your me time and why is it important?

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Everybody needs ‘me’ time. Psychologists say having ‘me’ time helps reboot our brains, unwind, improve our concentration, and make us more productive.
Moreover, ‘me’ time gives us the space for self-discovery while allowing us to think deeply.

Here at KajoMag, we want you to have a meaningful and fruitful me time and these are how you can do it:

1. Unplug everything

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Unplug everything. Credit: Pexels.

Turn off your phone. Switch off your laptop. Break away from all the devices that connect you to the outside world.
Undeniably, our phones have become our lifelines to the world with the average person reportedly spending 90 minutes a day on them. That amount of time could have been spent recollecting ourselves and just enjoying the time being alone.

2. Craft something

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Turn to arts and crafts during your me time. Credits: Pexels.

Channel your inner creativity by crafting during your me time.
Paint a scenery, learn some pottery, bead a necklace.
You don’t have to be as good as Van Gogh, arts and crafts is supposed to help you unwind.
So just shut the world out and craft away.

3. Colour your stress away

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Colour your stress away. Credit: Pexels.

If you really have no idea what to craft, how about grabbing an adult colouring book and indulging in a favorite childhood pastime? A report states that psychologists and therapists prescribe adult coloring to their patients.
It has proven coloring are actually great for your mental and emotional health.

4. Try to journal

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Jot down your emotions in a journal. Credits: Pexels.

Sometimes when you are alone, that is when all the thoughts (good and/or bad) flood through your mind.
Writing in a journal is one the best ways to confront your problems and clear your mind.
Nowadays, there are so many types of journals to write in, and even bullet journal Facebook groups you can join.
If you’re looking for an out-of-the-box option for a journal, try Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith which encourages you basically to ‘destroy’ your journal in a variety of ways.

5. Take a walk. Alone.

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Go for stroll along the beach.

You probably have heard of this advice: just walk it off. And to take a walk in a less crowded place actually helps you to feel better.
Just drive to the nearest beach and stroll the length of it alone, feel the wind blowing against your skin and the sand between your toes.
Shut all the noise around you out except the sounds of waves crashing. This is a very simple thing to do at minimal cost to spend your time alone to unwind.
Plus, you can burn extra calories along the way.

6. Go for a drive

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Go for a drive. Credits: Pexels.

If walking is not your forte, how about going for a drive?
Blast the music in your car, sing your heart out and let the wheel to take you wherever you feel like going.
As long as the fuel tank is full, drive to the nearest town or explore unfamiliar neighbourhood in your city.
If a kid like Dora the Explorer can do it, you can do it too.

7. Watch a movie. Alone.

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Watch a movie all by yourself. Credits: Pexels.

Watching a movie alone in the cinema is not pathetic. Everybody’s done it at least once in their lives. If you haven’t, go give it a try.
Pick a movie at an odd hour when you know there will be less people and enjoy the movie.
This is great for movie buffs out there because having a fruitful me time is all about doing something you enjoy… just all by yourself.

8. Read a book

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Escape from your reality and find sanctuary in the pages of your book. Credits: Pexels.

Bookworms and bibliophiles often find peace and solitude in between the pages of a book.
When your daily commitments have distracted you from the love of books, it is time to go back to reading.
Choose a small cafe which offers great coffee/tea/cake but with less of a crowd and sit in a far corner.
Then take out your book and escape from your reality for awhile.

9. Take a staycation

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Take a long warm bath in your hotel room and don’t you care about everything else. Credits: Pexels.

If money is not a problem, take a staycation in town.
Unlike a vacation, you don’t have to worry about catching flights or following an itinerary.
Check yourself into a cozy hotel and relax.
Take a swim in the hotel pool or binge eat in bed in front of the TV.
Fill the tub and take a long warm bath.

10. Let Mother Nature take you in

How to have your me time and why is it important?
Just go back to nature. Credits: Pexels.

Give yourself over to Mother Nature and let her help you relieve your stress.
Climb a mountain, take a hike or swim in the waterfall at any of these nearest national parks.
Scientists found that hiking yields measurable mental benefits and may reduce risk of depression.
But if you are hiking alone, let somebody know where you are going, be prepared before your hike and always stay on the trail.

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10 unique wedding cakes for your non-typical brides

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Wedding cakes have managed to transcend across different cultures that now it can be found in almost every wedding.

Who doesn’t love cake right?

While the traditional wedding cakes come with white frosting or covered in white fondant, there are plenty of unique wedding cakes to choose from.

Here are just some of the beautiful yet unique wedding cakes for the non-typical brides:

1. Nearly Naked Wedding Cakes

10 unique wedding cakes for your non-typical brides
Photos by Lanty
Some call it a ‘naked cake’, while others a ‘nearly naked cake’.

The idea of a naked cake is minimal frosting or no frosting at all. Even without the traditional frosting, it gives the cake a sophisticated rustic look, perfect for a rustic, countryside wedding.

Furthermore, without the frosting and icing, this cake is perfect for those who are keeping an eye on their their glucose levels.

2. Marbled Wedding Cakes

If there is a word to sum up marbled wedding cakes, the word would be ‘luxurious’. A marbled wedding cake looks like it is covered with, well marble.

It is made by kneading different shades of fondant together.

3. Ombre Wedding Cakes

Ombre cakes are not just popular for birthdays but it is gaining attention among couples on wedding days as well.
If you love subtle or even pastel tones, ombre wedding cake is just perfect for you.

It also makes the perfect wedding cake for those who want the traditional white tiered cake but at the same time want to put their own colours in it.

4. Inside Out Wedding Cakes

An inside out wedding cake can possibly steal the thunder from the bride herself on the wedding day.

The cake is like any other traditional wedding cake except it is cut in half. Then the inner part of the cake is covered with beautiful flowers.

When you love somebody inside and out, you might as well have an inside out cake for your wedding.

5. Two-toned Wedding Cakes

He wants a traditional white frosting wedding cake but you want chocolate frosting. How about coming together and have a two-toned wedding cake? A two-toned cake is a cake with two different kind of frosting covering it.

6. Geode Cakes

A geode cake makes the perfect centerpiece for your dream fairy tale wedding because it looks like its been inspired by a cave full of wonders. A sliver of the cake is carved out and filled with sugar rock candy made to look like crystal.

7. Story-telling Wedding Cakes

Tell your love story with your wedding cake. Literally. You can print any photos which tells your love story onto your cake.

If your bakers are skillful, they can also paint your story on the cake.

8. Watercolour wedding cakes

A post shared by Lipstickbaker (@lipstickbaker) on

With this cake, brushstrokes are no longer only meant for canvas and paper. Now you can have a watercolour-themed wedding cake to light up the most important day of your life.

Moreover, it looks dreamy and perfect for your whimsical wedding.

9. Drippy Cakes

This cake trend is famous for birthday cakes. But when you add an elegant touch, it is also great for weddings.
Imagine a smooth-finished white cake with chocolate dripping on top.

10. Stained Glass Wedding Cakes

Impress your guests with this elegant stained-glass wedding cake. The inspiration behind this cake is most probably from a church glass mural or an antique glass lamp, either way it makes an impressive wedding cake.

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All Sarawakian breakfast at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 in one sitting

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When it comes to must-try Sarawakian food, there is a long list that will be hard to complete if you don’t have much time. So why not try to cover the most food in one sitting?

One of the best places to try *almost* all the essentials in Sarawakian goodness in Kuching is at Woon Lam Cafe 1999.

All the breakfast essentials at Woon Lam Cafe 1999

All Sarawakian breakfast at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 in one sitting
Woon Lam Cafe 1999 is famous among locals but not so much among tourists.

Located at Jalan Song Thian Cheok, this eatery is widely famous for its kueh chap.

This dish features flat and square noodles served in a soy sauce-based broth with pork meat and innards.

The kueh chap stall at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 has apparently been selling this dish since 1985.

All Sarawakian breakfast at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 in one sitting
Kueh Chap

If kueh chap is not your cup of tea, however, why not have the evergreen classic kolo mee?

The kolo mee here may not be the most raved about in town but they do serve a decent bowl of Sarawak’s signature noodles.

All Sarawakian breakfast at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 in one sitting
Kolo mee at Woon Lam Cafe 1999.

This kopitiam also has a Sarawak laksa stall, offering what celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain called the breakfast of the gods.

In fact, Woon Lam Cafe 1999 is a walking distance from Bourdain’s favourite laksa place at Choon Hui Kopitiam.

Now that you have kueh chap, kolo mee and Sarawak laksa as your main dishes, how about some side dishes to complement them?

All Sarawakian breakfast at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 in one sitting
Char kueh.

Although fried carrot cake or char kueh is famous as midnight snack, you can order it at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 for breakfast.

Like most char kueh found in Sarawak, this dish is fried with light soy sauce and a heavy load of eggs.

Besides char kueh, Sarawak popiah makes a good side dish for breakfast too.

All Sarawakian breakfast at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 in one sitting
Sarawak popiah.

Sarawak popiah is mainly made of jicama, ground peanuts, bean sprouts wrapped in popiah skin and served with a sweet sauce.

One bite into it and you can taste the different textures of the various ingredients from the softness of the popiah skin to the crunchiness of ground peanuts.

A place worth trying

There are other main dishes offered at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 too. These include yong tau fu, Teo Chew Porridge and a Western breakfast of toast, eggs and sausages.

All Sarawakian breakfast at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 in one sitting
Egg, sausages and toasts for a Western breakfast.

This eatery may not be as famous as other Kuching favourite breakfast places such as Choon Hui or Chong Choon, but it is a good place for large groups coming together for breakfast looking to taste different Sarawakian foods in one sitting.

Moreover, it is strategically located in downtown Kuching. It is a walking distance from famous commendations such as Pullman, Grand Continental Hotel and Grand Margherita.

All Sarawakian breakfast at Woon Lam Cafe 1999 in one sitting
Going with a large group of friends is key to trying a lot of food in one sitting.

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Miss Korea Kim Jinsol shares her beauty secrets

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When it comes to health and beauty, everybody agrees Korean women have most of the know-how.

They know plenty of sometimes unheard of tips; from taking traditional herbs to performing modern exercise for the wellness of the body and mind.

Miss Korea Kim Jinsol shares her beauty secrets
Kim Jinsol, Miss Korea 2016.

During an episode of KBS’ Beauty Bible, Miss Korea 2016 titleholder Kim Jinsol impressed the viewers with her unfamiliar beauty tips.

1. Kickstart your day with juice

This 24-year-old beauty queen starts her day by drinking a glass of juice.

She blended various leaves vegetable including lettuce, perilla leaves, avocado and one glass of non-fat milk, one spoon of green apple powder and half a spoon of honey.

But her key ingredient is Angelica gigas also called Korean angelica.

It is traditionally used in Korean medicine to improve gynecological health. This herb is also used to improve cardiovascular and immune system.

Miss Korea Kim Jinsol shares her beauty secrets
Make your own juice to-go in the morning.

2. Nail art stickers
Famous fashion designer Prabal Gurung once said, “Nails are the period at the end of the sentence. They complete the look.”

Same goes for Kim who believes the finishing touch of fashion are her nails.

Instead of opting for nail polish, Kim preferred to use breathable nail art stickers.

This way she can change her manicure to complement her makeup and outfit.

Miss Korea Kim Jinsol shares her beauty secrets
Use a nail art sticker for a quick manicure.

3.Da Vinci Bodyboard yoga
Kim’s third beauty secret is something that has yet to catch on here in Malaysia.

It is called Da Vinci Bodyboard yoga. Kim touts it as “a type of interval training which is famous around the world.”

The board has elastic bands attached to it for users to exercise and do their yoga moves.

Known to be an effective system which builds strength, it also works as a cardio exercise.

She added, “It creates a beautiful silhouette for your body. It also works out your thighs and bottom.”

Watch the full episode of Kim Jinsol in KBS’s Beauty Bible here:

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5 viral dance moves which took Malaysia by storm

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Nothing brings people together better than viral dance moves. Generally Malaysians have accepted viral dance moves with open arms and sometimes with a lot of sense of humour.

But of course, some of the viral dance moves that came were not without controversy. That being said, here are five viral dance moves which took Malaysia by storm over the past couple of decades:

1. Panama

2018 became the year for the Panama Dance Challenge. “Panama” is a catchy 2013 Romanian pop song by Matteo.

The basic moves include drawing a ‘Z’ in the air, doing the hula twice and then a twerk. (Can you tell I’ve tried it?)

Various Malaysian agencies created their own videos including Perlis Road Transport Department, Selayang Hospital and Hulu Selangor Health Department, showing a lighthearted side to these government departments.

Some religious leaders came out against the dance, however, citing the mixing between the sexes and the dance moves were against Islamic teachings.

2.Harlem Shake

Harlem Shake is more of an Internet move rather than a dance move.

The remakes of Harlem Shake videos usually consist of costumed people dancing to Baauer’s “Harlem Shake”.

The original Harlem Shake dance comes from Harlem, New York in the 1980s involving a street and hip hop dance.

As for this viral Harlem Shake, it starts with one costumed person dancing alone to the obliviousness of a whole room full of people. When the bass drops, the entire group starts shaking throughout the rest of the video.

In Malaysia, NuffNang group, Hong Leong Bank, the hitz.fm teams all posted their own versions back in 2013.

3.Gangnam Style

The horse dance of “Gangnam Style” by Psy took the world by storm back in 2012.

This viral dance move even had world leaders such as the former British Prime Minister David Cameron, US President Barack Obama and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon jumping on their feet.

Jumping on the bandwagon, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak even invited Psy to perform in Penang back in February 2013.

4.Asereje

Before there was Despacito, the most famous Spanish song in Malaysia was “The Ketchup Song” or “Asereje” (2002).

Who can forget the signature dance move which consisted of waving your hand over the other, then tossing the thumb over the shoulder?

After the dance went viral, the song became controversial with rumours stating it had references to Satanism.

5.Macarena

The trailblazer of all famous Spanish songs in Malaysia is none other than “Macarena” (1993) by Los del Rio. (And this is without the help of the Internet.)

If you have lived through the 90s, your body will automatically remember this dance move which involves alot of criss-crossing of arms from your head to your hips, ending with a hip shake and a “Hey” before you turn to face another direction. It’s easy, and the steps are slow enough for people of all ages to learn and follow.

“Macarena” is the name of a woman, which in Spanish means ‘Mother of God’. The song itself describes how Macarena was heartbroken when her boyfriend left to join the army. So in retaliation she went out to dance with other soldiers, which is why everybody in the song is dancing.

Cover photo: “Gangnam Style” literally put this district on the map for the global audience. You’ll find this statue at the East Gate of Starfield COEX Mall in Gangnam, Seoul. Not only that, when you stand below the hands, “Gangnam Style” will be played. -Photo credit Gangnam Tourist Information Center 

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5 halal western restaurants to visit within Kuching city centre

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While Kuching offers plenty of choices of halal western restaurants, most of them are not in walking distance of the city centre.

Here are KajoMag’s recommendations of halal Western restaurants to visit within the vicinity of Kuching city. Furthermore, they are all walk-able distance from Kuching waterfront:

1. MK Classico Caffe
5 halal western restaurants to visit within Kuching city centre
Chicken Schnitzels anyone?

First of all, every part of this restaurant is definitely Instagram-worthy. It has that rustic and rugged interior with mortal walls and exposed wooden beams on its ceiling.

You can find antiques in every corner of the restaurant from an old typewriter to a classic radio.

Food-wise, you can give MK Special Burger, Chicken Schnitzels or MK Swedish Meatball a try for a hearty dinner.

If you are there for some socialising, order some MK Classic Nachos, MK Banana Cheese or its MK BBQ wings to share with your friends.

The place also offers coffees and various mocktails. Unfortunately, it only opens from 5pm onwards.


2. Sharing Downtown

This place is famous among locals as a cosy, casual place to have dinner. So don’t get frustrated if you can’t get a table during its peak hour in the evening.

For poultry lovers out there, you have several choices including Chicken Chop, Maryland, Ice Cream Chicken Chop, Double Cheezyland and other items to choose from.

If you’re into fish, there are items such as the classic Fish and Chips, Grilled Fish Fillet, Garlic Butter Fish Fillet, Cajun Fish Fillet and Atlantic Salmon.

For a high dose of carbs, pick any of their spaghetti dishes like Spaghetti Vegetable, Chicken Bolognese, Meatball Spaghetti, Carbonara, Seafood Aglio e Olio and so on.

The price is affordable and the portions are satisfying.

3. Kuehpedia Cake Boutique and Cafe

At Kuehpedia, you’ll find more than just ‘kueh’ or cakes. This hipster cafe at Wayang Street offers local dishes such as Nasi Gian and Nasi Dagang.

But they also offer western delights such as Creamy Salted Egg Pasta, Grilled Chicken and Crispy Beef Bacon Carbonara.

Patrons can satisfy their craving for sweets with both local and western desserts at Kuehpedia.

4. Bing! Coffee

Most visitors come to any of Bing! Coffee’s branches to wind down and relax with a cup of coffee, while only a few come specifically to sate their hunger here. But this place is perfect for those who want a quick Western food fix.

Bing! Coffee offers halal Western food such as Beef Lasagna, Beef Burger, variety of sandwiches made of Panini, Ciabatta, Bambini, or Focaccia breads.

5 halal western restaurants to visit within Kuching city centre
A quick grab of sandwich at Bing! Coffee.
5. Peridot Kuching

From thin crust pizza to creamy pasta, you can find these at Peridot Kuching.

Another highlight of this restaurant is its shakshouka, a dish of eggs poached in tomato sauce, chilli peppers and onions.

On TripAdvisors, visitors seemed to rave about its salmon saying it is well-cooked at a reasonable price. Why not give that a try on your next visit?

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