Serikin: Sarawakians’ favourite border market

Published on July 5, 2018

Travel

Located on the border between Indonesia and Malaysia, Serikin is famous among local Sarawakians for its affordable household items and batik-themed clothing.

The reason why prices at the market here are so cheap is due to the fact that the sellers come from neighbouring country Indonesia.

The market is located about 15km from Bau town and 80km from Sarawak’s capital, Kuching city.

It is held every weekend and has been around for more than 25 years since it was first erected in 1992.

Serikin: Sarawakians’ favourite border market — Pick your rattan furniture at Serikin Weekend Market.

Is it worth the drive to Serikin?

For foreign tourists, driving for more than an hour to Serikin might not be worth the trip.

This is because most of the items sold are household items such as kitchenware, woven mats, woven food covers, mattresses, pillows and rattan furniture.

Unless you are willing to pay for excess baggage fees or ship these items back home, these are not easy-to-carry items you want to haul across the airport.

If you are looking for a memento, you can find more compact souvenirs in more varieties at Kuching city centre than Serikin.

The Malaysian locals including West Malaysian visitors love the market as you can see them bargaining for items like woven mats and mattresses.

But if you are a fashionista visiting Kuching, the drive to Serikin is definitely worth the trip.

Serikin offers a wide range of affordable fabrics with colourful and attractive designs.

You might find similar designs in and around Kuching and other major towns in Sarawak, but bear in mind that the prices offered in Serikin are slightly lower.

Hence, this makes Serikin also famous among wholesalers.

Most of the designs for fabrics and clothing are Sarawak motif-inspired or batik-themed, perfect for those who want a pop of colour or a tribal design for their wardrobe.

Some tips and tricks

If you are planning to do your shopping at Serikin, make sure you pack along some bargaining skills.

There is no guarantee bargaining will work in each stall, but it is worth a try.

Besides, the vendors tend to give some discounts if you purchase a large quantity.

Another shopping tip is to always compare prices. Some stalls sell the same item mostly for the same price but you can always ask to double check.

The market stretches over one kilometre so walking from one end to another can be tiring, especially under the hot sun.

Plan your visit early in the morning or in the evening before it closes at 6pm to avoid the heat.

Even better, carry an umbrella and bring along a bottle of water for you to enjoy your shopping.

But if you forgot to bring your own umbrella or a cap, there are traditional woven hats easily available at the market.

There are grocery shops and small family-run cafes at the market just in case you need food and drinks.

After a visit to Serikin and on your way back to Kuching, you can always drop by to visit other Bau’s attractions such as Fairy Cave, Wind Cave and Tasik Biru.

Santubong Jungle Trek trail, the perfect loop hike for noobs

Published on June 28, 2018

Travel

There’s more than one way to explore Mount Santubong. Besides taking the trail which goes up to the summit of Mount Santubong, did you know that you could also take a loop trail through its jungles?

There are two official trails provided at Santubong National Park, namely the Mount Santubong Summit Trail and Santubong Jungle Trek trail.

The jungle trek trail is a loop trail which takes about two hours to finish. It is perfect for those who are not that into hiking but still want to taste a bit of nature.

Santubong Jungle Trek trail, the perfect loop hike for noobs — Both the Santubong summit and jungle treks follow the same path at first.

About Santubong Jungle Trek Trail

Located at the foot of Mount Santubong, this loop trail is considered to have an easy to medium difficulty hiking rate.

Both summit and jungle trails start with the same path until you arrive at station F.

From there, the trails split. The Santubong jungle trek trail is marked with blue signs while the summit trek has red markings.

The highlight of the jungle trek is a beautiful waterfall with a hanging bridge. The waterfall site also offers BBQ pits, benches and a small hut.

If you are planning to take this hike on weekdays, chances are high that you might have the whole waterfall to yourself. That way, visitors can truly enjoy the serenity and tranquility Santubong has to offer.

But if it is a visit during the weekend, the waterfall can be crowded with people.

Since it is an easy trail to the waterfall, the site is also popular for families with young children.

After the waterfall, the trail requires a bit of hiking uphill until it reaches Station N which is the summit of the Santubong Jungle Trek Trail.

Here, there are two benches surrounded by tall trees for visitors to rest at.

Don’t expect peace and quiet or to be 100% enveloped by the sound of nature at this spot as you can still hear the faint sounds of vehicles going past the national park.

Then the trail will go downhill with ropes provided along the steep track.

The jungle trek trail ends where it started – at the Santubong National Park HQ.

Some precautions to remember

Though the trail is considerably easy to hike, visitors still need to take some precautions.

First of all, the bridges and boardwalks can be slippery and even dangerous when they are wet.

There are a few which look like unmarked trails diverging from the main trail which can be confusing at times. So hikers are advised to watch out and follow the marked signs carefully.

If you are planning to hike this loop trail, remember to enjoy what Mother Nature can offer. There are so many things to admire, from trees to insects.

Other signs which visitors can watch out for are those naming some of the tree species found at Santubong.

Some of these species are Meranti Pitis (Shorea ovata), Kapur Keladan (Dryobalanops beccarii), Rengas Sudu (Gluta aptera), and Kayu Malam (Diospyros graciflora).

As always, we encourage readers to never leave your rubbish behind. Use drinking flasks instead of bottled water when you can, and take plastic bags to carry back your rubbish to dispose of at home.

3 reasons you need to see proboscis monkeys in the wild

Published on June 22, 2018

Travel

Here in Sarawak, visitors can still watch proboscis monkeys in the wild.

And watching them in the wild is nothing like seeing them in an enclosure.

If you are visiting the land of the hornbills or her neighbour Sabah, here are three reasons why you cannot miss out on pay proboscis monkeys a visit.

3 reasons you need to see proboscis monkeys in the wild — A female proboscis monkey spotted at Bako National Park.

1.You are learning about proboscis monkeys and their natural habitats.

Watching these amazing creatures in their natural habitats should be on everyone’s bucket list.

With their reddish brown colouring and grey limbs, these monkeys stand out against the greenery of the tropical jungle.

Not forgetting their large noses (which some scientists believe is to attract females), making them distinct from their fellow primates.

Despite their pot bellies, they are actually quite graceful when they leap from one branch to another.

In the wild you can observe how they feed in their natural surroundings. You can watch which leaves or fruits they prefer.

Proboscis monkeys are known to be seasonal eaters, eating mostly fruits from January to May and leaves from June to December.

Do practice the basic ethics of wildlife watching: never feed them, do not interfere with mating, predation or other natural behaviour and always keep a respecful distance.

2.It is an adventure in the tropical jungle

Actually it doesn’t matter if you choose to see proboscis monkeys in Sarawak or Sabah, here in Borneo the experience will definitely be an adventure.

Even if your goal was to watch proboscis monkeys, chances are high you would be seeing lots of other animals thanks to the high diversity in Borneo.

For example at Klias Wetland in Sabah, you can cruise down a river to watch proboscis monkeys in the wild and when the night falls, watch out for the fireflies.

While in Sarawak, Bako National Park is one of the most accessible places to see proboscis monkeys in the wild.

There, you can also see bearded pigs, long-tailed macaque monkeys, silvered leaf monkeys, and silver squirrels.

3.You are supporting the local communities

Speaking of Bako National Park, to get there visitors must get a lift from Bako village boat jetty.

The boat transfers to the park are managed by Koperasi Warisan Pelancongan Bako Berhad.

The local villagers in the area run the service in this collaboration.

Thus, a visit to the national park to see the proboscis monkey is definitely showing support to the local communities.

Ranchan Recreational Park, Serian’s famous picnic spot

Published on June 18, 2018

Travel

Ranchan Recreational Park in Serian might not be on top of everybody’s list of places to go for recreation but on weekends, the place is famous among local people as a favourite picnic spot.

It is accessible, located about 70km from Kuching and 5km from Serian offering waterfalls and pools surrounded by rainforest.

Ranchan Recreational Park and its facilities

Ranchan Recreational Park, Serian’s famous picnic spot

About 10 years ago, the facilities in the park were run-down and in need of an upgrade.

Over recent years, however, Ranchan’s facilities have improved significantly. The park now has a canteen and small eatery, a public toilet, and the trails are properly maintained.

There is a viewing tower, a suspension bridge and huts for resting.

Ranchan Recreational Park, Serian’s famous picnic spot

The park even has a hall which can accommodate up to 300 people at a time. It is available for rent to host official functions, dinners, charity exhibitions or even a concert.

For those who are looking for something small, the park has a lecture room to accommodate up to 60 people.

Otherwise if you’re looking for a place to stay in Serian, Ranchan Recreational Park also offers affordable chalets to rent.

Serian District Council is responsible for managing the park.

Ranchan Recreational Park, Serian’s famous picnic spot

There are several barbecue pits for visitors who are looking to roast their own food at the park.

However as the place is famous among locals and school kids, looking for nice private spots for a picnic might be difficult.

Visit this place during weekdays and you might have several pools to choose from all for yourself.

Beware of flash floods at Ranchan

Ranchan Recreational Park, Serian’s famous picnic spot

Besides being famous as a picnic spot, Ranchan is also infamously known for the ‘kepala air’ or the ‘water column’ phenomenon.

It is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the area when flash flood bursts down over the waterfall.

The management advises visitors to be cautious when taking a dip at Ranchan as this flash flood might occur anytime.

Make sure that you and your family members evacuate the area immediately when you see these signs:

The first sign is the sky suddenly turns dark, especially in the hilly area and is accompanied by a the sound of thunder;

The sound of falling rocks from the headwaters;
Finally, water levels in the Ranchan pools will suddenly start to rise and bubble.

Here are some photos of Ranchan Recreational Park:

Ranchan Recreational Park, Serian’s famous picnic spot

Legends and nature of Fairy Cave Bau

Published on June 14, 2018

Travel

Fairy Caves is one of the main attractions in the Bau area located about 40km from Kuching city.

The cave was named after a stalagmite structure which is said to resemble a Chinese deity.

The site covers around 56 hectares and is popular among local climbers.

Overall, Fairy Cave has eight separate walls with over 80 climbs in different ranges of difficulties.

Of course, there are more beyond the walls of Fairy Cave – you’ll find legends and nature interlacing together making it popular among local and foreign visitors alike.

Legends and nature of Fairy Cave Bau — A man-made fountain called ‘Titisan Air Fairy’, which translates to ‘fairy water drops’ was erected in the cave. The fountain has long since dried up but the boy’s statue remains.

Legends of Bau’s Fairy Cave

According to historian Chang Pat Foh, the legends behind the stalactites and stalagmites lie in the story of a poor boy and his mother who lived at a big Bidayuh kampung known as Kampung Kapur located near Fairy Cave.

One day, a Gawai celebration was being held at one of the kampung houses.

Curious, the boy came and peeped in on their celebration, which made the homeowner unhappy. Rather than simply chase the boy away, the mean-spirited homeowner collected some sugarcane waste and gave it to him, telling him there was pork inside.

Happily, the boy went home and presented what he thought was a gift to share with his mother. When his mother found nothing but sugarcane waste instead, she was humiliated and so began plotting her revenge on the proud village folk.

She took a cat, put it in a beautiful dress and threw the cat into the middle of her neighbour’s Gawai celebration to the surprise of its attendees.

They began to laugh at the sight of a cat in a dress. Their laughter brought on a storm, and the sky roared with thunder and lightning. When the storm eventually stopped, all the villagers had turned into stone.

They are what make up the stalagmites and stalactites inside Fairy Cave.

Another version of the legend is that it was the boy who threw the cat in the middle of celebration and that the mother had instructed him to cover his head with a chicken basket so that the curse would not touch him.

Besides the Bidayuh community, the Chinese have also their own interest in the Fairy cave as the cave is believed to be home for Chinese gods and goddesses.

Some of the rock formations were even named after Chinese deities such as Kuan Yin, the goddess of Mercy.

Browse through this photo gallery of Fairy Cave by KajoMag:

Apart from mystical legends, Fairy Cave is also believed to play a role in Sarawak history as members of Japanese forces used it for shelter during World War II.

Later, communist fighters used it for the same purpose in the ’60s.

Fairy Cave and its nature

Besides being rich in legends and tales, the cave is also rich in nature.

Fairy cave, along with Wind Cave is home to the slipper orchid Paphiopedilum stonei.

This species is one of the highly prized orchids according to Hans P Hazebroek and Abang Kashim Abang Morshidi in National Parks of Sarawak.

Sarawak government gazetted Wind Cave and Fairy Cave as a nature reserve to protect the caves and the biodiversity inside.

The reserve is home to palms such as Arenga pinnata and Arenga undulatifolia.

There are also up to 14 species of bats, 12 species of snails and black-nest swiftlets found in the reserve.

A visit to Fairy Cave

There is a flight of concrete steps leading up to the entrance located high in the limestone cliff, which makes this place not suitable for the elderly or small children to visit.

Next to the concrete steps, there is a narrow stone ladder covered in mold and in ruin. These were the old steps which led up to the cave entrance.

Once you get inside, there are plank walks for visitors to explore the cave.

Apart from that, Fairy cave makes a good site for a pleasant visit in the morning when the weather is a bit chilly.

If you are an avid photographer, the place offers a great location to explore outdoor photography.

The downside?

The disappointing part of Fairy cave is the rubbish. With only two dustbins on site, it’s time we start taking our litter home instead of leaving it behind at a nature reserve.

Legends and nature of Fairy Cave Bau Bring back your own rubbish, and start using reusable bottles for your drinking water.

Nando’s: The PERi-fect Dish Chicken Lovers Simply Adore

Published on June 12, 2018

Lifestyle

As a big fan of anything delicious, KajoMag was invited to Nando’s 20th celebration in Malaysia at Aeon Mall on June 7^th.

Nando's: The PERi-fect Dish Chicken Lovers Simply Adore — Nando’s: The iconic Mozambican-Portuguese style chicken dish

Did you know that Nando’s first came to Malaysia 20 years ago?

Serving up their signature flame grilled chicken with its PERi-PERi sauces adored by chicken lovers all around, Nando’s first outlet to open in Malaysia was in Kuala Lumpur.

Today, Nando’s has 73 outlets nationwide, including three in Kuching (tHe Spring, Vivacity Megamall and Aeon Mall Kuching Central) and three in Kota Kinabalu (Imago Shopping Mall, 1 Borneo Hypermall and Oceanus Waterfront Mall).

“We are excited about reaching such a significant milestone here in Malaysia, We started in 1998 and 20 years on and we are still firing up the tastebuds of our amazing fans and hitting a few new-comers as well,” said CEO of Nando’s Malaysia, Stephen Chow. “Our magical little chilli called PERi-PERi is to thank for this as it is our heart and it is truly unique to Nando’s.”

At Nando’s, we were served its usual iconic mouth-watering dishes such as their succulent chicken, savoury Portobello mushrooms, chicken wings, Mediterranean rice, coleslaw, grilled vegetables, potato wedges and sweet potato fries.

Later, we were served a plate of PERi-PERi chocolate brownies sprinkled with chilli flakes.

That night, Nando’s also provided raw ingredients for guests so that they could custom-make their own PERi-PERi sauces.

In conjunction with Nando’s 20^th anniversary in Malaysia, here are some interesting facts every Nando’s fan should know about the iconic Mozambican-Portuguese style chicken dish.

How it all started

Nando’s began in a small town of Johannesburg in South Africa in 1987. The restaurant was founded when Portuguese born audio engineer Fernando Duarte introduced his friend, entrepreneur Robbie Brazin to a Portuguese takeaway called Chickenland. After tasting the chicken, cooked in piri piri, a Portuguese chilli sauce from a pepper found in Mozambique, they bought the restaurant and renamed it Nando’s.

The restaurant was named after Fernando’s first born son.

After two years, the restaurant has four outlets, three in Johannesburg and one in Portugal.

Today, Nando’s has about 1,000 outlets in 30 countries.

The African bird eye chilli is the heart of Nando's great flavour and PERi-PERi sauces. — The African bird eye chilli is the heart of Nando’s great flavour and PERi-PERi sauces.

The Bird’s Eye Chilli

The iconic tiny red PERi-PERi chillies are unique to Nando’s.

They are grown in the rich soil and under the blistering hot sun in South Africa.

It takes 42, 000 chillies to fill one 14 kg bag and every year, they produce 25, 000 bags. That’s over a billion chillies!

Each chilli plant produces about 300 chillies which are hand-picked and plucked one at a time.

Hand sorted and naturally dried, the PERi-PERi chillies grow pointing up towards the hot sun.

The who, how and where of the PERi-PERi chillies

Nando’s grows its own PERi-PERi chillies with the help of 1,400 independent farmers in Southern Africa.

Nando’s sell PERi-PERi seedlings to the farmers and guarantees to purchase their crop at a pre-agreed fair price.

The chillies are grown on 494 acres of PERi Farms in Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

What is in the sauce?

Every Nando’s lovers know that the chicken gets its awesome flavour from the marinating process. In Nando’s, the chickens are marinated for 24 hours before they are grilled to perfection.

And depending on one’s choice, you can smear the chicken with your choice of heat level.

Tailored for a variety of customers, Nando’s choice of sauces consist of Extra Hot, Hot, Mild, Mango & Lime, Lemon & Herb and Plain…ish.

And if you ever wonder how the got its mouth mind-blowing flavour, it contains the mixture of onions, oil, herbs, fresh lemons and a kick of garlic.

The feel-good effect of PERi-PERi chillies

Eating spicy food gives a feel good effect for your body.

This would explain why you would feel happy after spending some time eating at Nando’s. The PERi-PERi chillies contain capsaicin which is responsible for the feel-good sensation causing your pupil to dilate and your metabolic rate to increase as you feel the rush of endorphins.

Apart from that, PERi-PERi is also rich in vitamins A, B and C.

To know more, check out their website at www.nandos.com.my

Soak your body in Panchor Hot Spring for natural healing

Published on June 8, 2018

Travel

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.

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

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.
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.

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.

Panchor Hot Spring Facilities

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.

What makes a good tourism board website?

Published on June 7, 2018

Travel

Although some travellers prefer travel blogs and social media, tourism board websites still remain important resources for accurate information on travelling to a specific country.

Most tourism board websites have evolved over the years, utilising social media platforms such as Instagram to promote their countries and give more insights on travelling tips.

While others still have lots to improve on, (*cough cough* Malaysia…) here are some things which can make a tourism board website stand out:

1. Good travel stories

What makes a good tourism board website? — Lake Tekapo in New Zealand. Credits: Pixabay.

Gone are the days where tourism board websites are only filled with press releases of official events.
For example, Tourism New Zealand’s media section has plenty of stories (and story ideas) covering a wide range of topics from activities and sports to nature and ecotourism as well as insights on Maori culture.
Go behind the scenes of famous eateries in New Zealand as the website also features interviews with chefs.

2. Full of tips and guides

There are a lot of tips and guides out there but what we need is specificity.
Like in the blogosphere, some travel bloggers are specialised in luxury travel while others give backpacking and budgeting tips.
When it comes to a good tourism board website, what we need it to be is an all-rounder.
It needs to be full of tips and guides covering all travelling needs.
The Visit California website, for example, offers various tips from how to travel with kids to how to pack for a trip to California.

3. It is all about the details

A good tourism board website website will tell you things that you never thought you needed to know.
Is the place wheelchair friendly? Do they provide baby strollers?
Is it kid-friendly? Where else can you visit in the nearby areas?
Go To Bermuda for instance, even explains to its future visitors how it’s like to drive in Bermuda.

4. More about food please

To write about eating places is more than just listing down what to eat at a certain town.
Again, travellers need and want the details.
One very good example is Visit Stockholm website.
If it is a restaurant you are looking for, it narrows down to budget, mid-price or gourmet categories.
Looking for a cafe? Do you want it to be a cozy, trendy or a classic cafe?
How about a place to hit at night in town? The website details to a bar, a place with live music, or a club and even an LGBT bar.

5. Don’t forget about pop culture

What makes a good tourism board website? Pop culture tourism is the reason why The Abbey Road in London is famous. We want to go where the famous people go, to eat what the famous people eat, to visit where the famous films or dramas were filmed.
South Korea capitalises the popularity of its Kpop and Korean dramas by promoting Kpop music festivals and filming locations.
Visit Korea website lists downs all the filming locations for famous dramas including Goblin, Legend of the Blue Sea, Love in Moonlight, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Uncontrollably Fond.

Top 8 Reasons Why You Should Watch Sense8 on Netflix

Published on June 4, 2018

Entertainment

Warning: This article contains spoilers.

Top 8 Reasons Why You Should Watch Sense8 on Netflix — (Image source: www.imdb.com)

When Sense8 was cancelled in 2017, fans all over the globe were devastated.

Created by the Wachowski siblings, it was a great science fiction drama series for anybody to enjoy. Unfortunately, Netflix cancelled the third season citing not enough viewership for the high production cost (cheatsheet.com reported that it costs $108 million per episode).

Now that Neflix announced a two-hour special finale for Sense8, here are the top 8 reasons why you should start binge watching this drama series.

1. Mind-blowing plot-line

Sense8 tells a story of eight strangers linked together through psychic connection.

The eight form a cluster known as Sensates, human beings that are emotionally and mentally linked together. Through this, they can sense each other’s feelings, emotions and even possess each other’s knowledge and skills.

While trying to figure out how and why they are connected, the Sensates were hunted down by the Biologic Preservation Organization (BPO) and Whispers, a high-ranking sensate inside BPO.

The first episode of the first series introduces the main characters and how they live their lives separately before discovering each other.

In the second season, you see the characters grow closer together as they are accustomed to each other’s daily lives and emotions.

2. Diverse characters

Sense8 is made up of diverse multiracial characters of different professional backgrounds.

You have Capheus Onyango, a matatu driver from Nairobi; Sun Bak, a daughter of a powerful businessman from Seoul who is also an underground boxer; Nomi Marks, a hacker from San Francisco; Kala Dandekar, a chemist from Mumbai; Riley Blue, a Icelandic deejay; Wolfgang Bogdanow, a locksmith and safe-cracker from Berlin; Lito Rodriguez, a Spanish actor and Will Gorski, a Chicago police officer.

Apart from the multiracial cast, Sense8 is also notable for representing and revolving around the LGBTQ community and themes.

For instance, it features Nomi, a trans woman in a relationship with a woman and Lito, a closeted gay actor living with his boyfriend.

Sense8 also explores interracial romance and how it affects the relationship between Kala and Wolfgang.

3. The Wachowskis

Sense8 is written and mostly directed by the Wachowskis.

Besides Sense8, other notable work by the Wachowskis includes The Matrix, Cloud Atlas, Ninja Assassin and V for Vendetta.

With so much great work produced by them, fans can expect to see great plot packed with mind-blowing action scenes.

4. The fight scenes

As expected from the Wachowskis, Sense8 is not short of fight scenes.

My particular favourite fight scene is just about whenever Sun appears on screen.

One of the few characters on the show with a solid fighting background – she’s supposed to be an underground boxing champion – her fight scenes are satisfying to watch, graceful and fluid.

And being part of the Sensates, each of the character can channel Sun whenever they encounter danger.

5. Telepathic connection between the gang members

Being part of the Sensates, the characters are able to feel each other’s emotions as well as experience each other’s surroundings.

Sense8 is interesting, fresh and quirky as it involves linking eight random strangers together and how they get to know each other on personal levels.

6. It has two awesome seasons

With only 23 episodes between two seasons, you will have plenty of time to binge watch Sense8.

The first season consist of 12 episodes while the second season has 11.

7. Those damn cliff-hangers in Season 2

For somebody who has been emotionally invested and attached to the Sensates since episode 1, the cancellation of Sense8 is just disrespectful.

Not only that, the final episode on Season 2 has a truckload of cliff hangers that deserve closure.

For instance, in the final episode the gang was seen getting ready to board the plane (from their respective countries) to save Wolfgang.

For those who have been religiously keeping up with Sense8, this is a huge moment as this would be the first time all of them would physically meet each other.

Apart from that, other cliff hangers that deserves a closure includes whether Sun will find justice for her father’s death after escaping from prison, Naomi and Amanita (Naomi’s girlfriend)’s wedding and whether Capheaus will win the election.

8. The third and final season airs in June

After so many cliff hangers left in season 2, fans all over the globe were left hanging as to what would happened to the Sensates.

Finally, Netflix finally announced that Sense8 is renewed for its third and final season giving fans the closure they deserve.

The much awaited conclusion will air a two hour series finale on Netflix on June 8^th.

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

Published on May 28, 2018

Lifestyle

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Suggestions

Things To Do - Page 5

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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

2. Craft something

3. Colour your stress away

4. Try to journal

5. Take a walk. Alone.

6. Go for a drive

7. Watch a movie. Alone.

8. Read a book

9. Take a staycation

10. Let Mother Nature take you in

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In conjunction with Nando’s 20^th anniversary in Malaysia, here are some interesting facts every Nando’s fan should know about the iconic Mozambican-Portuguese style chicken dish.