A to Z Fun Things to Do & Places to Visit with Kids in Kuala Lumpur

This was an e-book, to be precise, which I found while browsing through the blog of the very creative Emila Yusof, whom I have now added to my blogroll. She is a professional blogger painter, children's book writer and illustrator, as well as a freelance illustrator.

I like the clean layout of her blog and if you ask my close friends, they would say that it is a very 'me' blog. I think it is more me than my own blog!

This e-book is basically a children's guide to places of interest in KL. I would think that children would be attracted to the illustration and would be motivated to recognise the words used. Without realising, children are developing several skills, such as literacy, language, social and conceptual among other skills. I will go into more detail about these skills in a following post.

I am heartened with the fact that there is someone out there in Malaysia producing some good quality stuff for our kids. More importantly, stuff that is relevant to the lives of Malaysian children.

She has made it free for all to download for personal use. Please go to http://emilayusof.com/kids/, scroll down to nearly the bottom and you would be able to see it on your right.

Mother Chu's Taiwanese Gourmet

Despite having lived in Sydney for the past eight years, I have not dined in many of the eateries in Chinatown. One place some of my friends have frequented for quick feeds is Mother Chu's Taiwanese Gourmet.

I finally had a chance to eat here with an invitation from a friend who wanted to catch up with me and was concerned for my health. He had 'healthy' intentions but everything we ordered for tea that arvo was far from healthy. Just have a look at what we had:

The egg tart made me miss the Portuguese egg tarts sold at King's Confectionery. This egg tart had soft pastry and a centre which melted in the mouth.

The Hungry Bon Vivant left a comment on Street Food saying that the 油条 (yóu tiáo) with hot soy drink is a traditional Taiwanese breakfast and this establishment is filled with Taiwanese in the mornings. Literally, it means oil strip.

For Malaysians like me, I suppose we are more used to crispy golden you tiao sold at a roadside stall with a big black wok with oil only God (and the stall keepers) know how old. I do not know about other people but I use more of the Cantonese pronunciation of 'yao char guai' than the proper Mandarin 'you tiao'.

The next time I return to KL, I have to be sure to take photos of the other varieties of yao char guai, as well. Perhaps some photos on how we Malaysians have it with bubur cha cha, bak kut teh and porridge?

Mother Chu's Taiwanese Gourmet
Shop 1-4, 86-88 Dixon St, Chinatown 2000
Tel: +61 2 9211 0288
Open 7 days 8:00am - 8:00pm
Unlicensed, BYO, Corkage $1 person
No Cards (Cash only)

AJ's Indian Restaurant

AJ’s does not need any introduction to the local community. Their outstanding blend of food and services has earned them many prestigious awards and a wide array of delighted customers. Among the awards that they have garnered include the 2010 I Love Food Award (NSW State Winner) and the 2010 Best Restaurant Of The Year.

Due to its convenient location (less than five minutes by car from Aunty's house to be precise), we have dined there a few times. Every time we do, we never fail to order their mango lassi.

We have also tried their Sabzi Pattie, a delicious, purely vegetarian entrée, which reminded me of something I had in Adelaide with Yu Sheng, Jeng Yie and their Bruneian friend a few years back.

For mains, we have tried their Aloo Gobhi, potato and cauliflower lightly braised with tomatoes, onion and spices...

... their Daal Tarka, a thick soup-like red lentil dish with a flavoured oil dressing...

... and their Pista Murgh, chicken simmered in a combination of crushed pistachios, yoghurt, cream and cardamom, something we ordered out of curiosity.

Instead of having rice like we normally do, we often opt for the Mixed Basket of plain, garlic and cheese naan to go with the mains.

We, especially Aunty, also enjoy their accompaniments of Pappadums and to be eaten with the Pappadums, Raita, chilled yoghurt with shredded cucumber.

If you live nearby, do give them a try but be sure to make a booking beforehand, as they can get very packed in the evenings. For Muslims, fret not, they serve halal meals.

AJ's Indian Restaurant
58a Balaclava Road, Eastwood, NSW 2122
Tel: +61 2 9874 9090; Mobile: +61 421 363 697

Early learning matters

Early learning is one of the smartest investments that we can make. Children should not be playing catch-up when they enter kindergarten, and yet so many do. If we want greater success later and a better-skilled workforce, we need to ensure the proper development of our most at-risk children at these earliest ages.

This video is by Save the Children, the world's leading independent organization for children. Their vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Their mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. Working in rural communities across the world, ensuring children living in poverty have a chance at a fair start, Save the Children is one of the many such organisations doing such work.

Chefs Gallery

There were mixed reviews from friends when I asked around for people to join me on a trial meal at Chefs Gallery.

Some tell me that they are not worth the price paid, which made me even more curious! And also thanks to a very food-savvy friend who showed me tempting photos of some of the food served there. I am glad I patronized, as the first visit had me going back there for more!

They sport a bright interior, with high ceilings and some Chinese pottery pieces, to add to the 'antique-ish' feel. The high ceiling also helps to make the place seem more spacious.

It seems that the open kitchen concept is catching on. Their kitchen is fully visible and they maximize it by showcasing their noodle-pulling techniques.

The noodles are not called hand-pulled noodles, or la mian for no reason. Literally, 拉 (lā) means to pull or stretch, while 麵 (miàn) means noodle. The hand-making process involves taking a lump of dough and repeatedly stretching it to produce many strands of thin, long noodle.

There are several styles of twisting the dough but they all employ the same concept: a piece of dough is repeatedly stretched and folded onto itself in order to align the glutens and warm up the dough for stretching. Then it is rolled out to a workable thickness and cut into workable portions. The end pieces of the starting dough are never used because the glutens are not as aligned as the middle pieces. This dough is then pulled to about an arm span's length. The puller then makes a loop with the dough, joining the two ends into one clump of dough, and inserts his fingers into the loop to keep the strand from sticking to itself. Doing this, the pull has doubled the length of the dough while fractioning its thickness. This process is repeated several times until the desired thickness and quantity is achieved.

Made and cooked to order, the chef in charge of your order would serve you, a concept I have not experienced before. I suppose, we get to 'meet' the person who made our food. They come all armored with occupational health and safety gear, like the mouth-guard they wear.

Chefs Gallery also provides patrons with a coat cover, which is like a pullover for your jackets and what-nots that you place over your chair. This helps prevent your clothes from smelling like food or from soiling.

Among the noodles that we tried were the thick handmade noodles wok fried with Chinese mushrooms and bean sprouts in premium soya sauce...

... and the diced chilli chicken tossed with handmade noodles.

This dish was the main attraction for me because the spicy-sour-sweet taste reminds me of my favourite dish of pig trotters in vinegar.

There are other things there, which were stellar, as well. For instance, the cucumber served cold with a hint of chilli oil was addictive with its cold and spicy crunch effect.

The handmade egg tofu lightly panfried topped with preserved vegetables was perfect for the egg and tofu sucker in me!

Their fluffy Chinese roti, or 手抓饼 (shǒu zhuā bǐng) resembled our roti canai very much. We reckon they make them better than Mamak - personal opinion only.

We also ordered the cute little piggy face buns.

No, they were not cha siew paus, they were sesame buns. Haha!

We also had a basket of what looked to be pumpkins, which had lotus paste inside.

And I totally recommend the dessert they have on their menu. The osmanthus and goji berry jelly had just the right sweetness and would be very refreshing on a hot day.

The mango ice cream served with mango puree and a lightly fried sweet potato ball was an interesting combination. It also came with almond shaving, which added another dimension to the taste palate. Loved it!

Price is reasonable, taking into account the service and ambience. But be prepared to queue so try to avoid peak meal times.

Chefs Gallery Restaurant
Shop 12 (facing Bathurst Street), Ground Floor Regent Place, 501 George Street, NSW 2000
Tel: +61 2 9267 8877, Fax: +61 2 8004 8143

Sunday at home

I will miss Sundays like this one, when we randomly felt like making our own 'chapati'. Being the ignorant missy I am, I did not know that it was just as simple as mixing water with flour and kneading it to your preferred texture. And then, of course, flattening it with a rolling pin.

It was an oil-free pan and thank goodness for housemate's non-stick Tefal!

We had it there until it turned slightly brown for that little crispiness.

She cooked up a bowl of lentils (sudden crave for lentils for some unknown reason) and a plate of potato stir-fried with tuna and sweet chilli sauce (which was super yum!).

Oh, and I will forever remember how I woke up to this lovely note stuck to my door from the other housemate:

Trust me, he will miss my perky voice and other housemate's loud house slipper's 'pik-piak' sounds.

Sample educational philosophy statements

I found this on one of the Oregan State University webpages and thought I would like to share it here:

Sample #1

I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. It is my desire as a educator to help students meet their fullest potential in these areas by providing an environment that is safe, supports risk-taking, and invites a sharing of ideas. There are three elements that I believe are conducive to establishing such an environment, (1) the teacher acting as a guide, (2) allowing the child's natural curiosity to direct his/her learning, and (3) promoting respect for all things and all people.

When the teacher's role is to guide, providing access to information rather than acting as the primary source of information, the students' search for knowledge is met as they learn to find answers to their questions. For students to construct knowledge, they need the opportunity to discover for themselves and practice skills in authentic situations. Providing students access to hands-on activities and allowing adequate time and space to use materials that reinforce the lesson being studied creates an opportunity for individual discovery and construction of knowledge to occur.

Equally important to self-discovery is having the opportunity to study things that are meaningful and relevant to one's life and interests. Developing a curriculum around student interests fosters intrinsic motivation and stimulates the passion to learn. One way to take learning in a direction relevant to student interest is to invite student dialogue about the lessons and units of study. Given the opportunity for input, students generate ideas and set goals that make for much richer activities than I could have created or imagined myself. When students have ownership in the curriculum, they are motivated to work hard and master the skills necessary to reach their goals.

Helping students to develop a deep love and respect for themselves, others, and their environment occurs through an open sharing of ideas and a judicious approach to discipline. When the voice of each student is heard, and environment evolves where students feel free to express themselves. Class meetings are one way to encourage such dialogue. I believe children have greater respect for their teachers, their peers, and the lessons presented when they feel safe and sure of what is expected of them. In setting fair and consistent rules initially and stating the importance of every activity, students are shown respect for their presence and time. In turn they learn to respect themselves, others, and their environment.

For myself, teaching provides an opportunity for continual learning and growth. One of my hopes as an educator is to instill a love of learning in my students, as I share my own passion for learning with them. I feel there is a need for compassionate, strong, and dedicated individuals who are excited about working with children. In our competitive society it is important for students to not only receive a solid education, but to work with someone who is aware of and sensitive to their individual needs. I am such a person and will always strive to be the best educator that I can be.


Sample #2

I believe the children are our future...
I believe each and every child has the potential to bring something unique and special to the world. I will help children to develop their potential by believing in them as capable individuals. I will assist children in discovering who they are, so they can express their own opinions and nurture their own ideas. I have a vision of a world where people learn to respect, accept, and embrace the differences between us, as the core of what makes life so fascinating.

Teach them well and let them lead the way...
Every classroom presents a unique community of learners that varies not only in abilities, but also in learning styles. My role as a teacher is to give children the tools with which to cultivate their own gardens of knowledge. To accomplish this goal, I will teach to the needs of each child so that all learners can feel capable and successful. I will present curriculum that involves the interests of the children and makes learning relevant to life. I will incorporate themes, integrated units, projects, group work, individual work, and hands-on learning in order to make children active learners. Finally, I will tie learning into the world community to help children become caring and active members of society.

Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride...
My classroom will be a caring, safe, and equitable environment where each child can blossom and grow. I will allow children to become responsible members of our classroom community by using strategies such as class meetings, positive discipline, and democratic principles. In showing children how to become responsible for themselves as well as their own learning, I am giving them the tools to become successful in life, to believe in themselves, and to love themselves.

Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be...
Teaching is a lifelong learning process of learning about new philosophies and new strategies, learning from the parents and community, learning from colleagues, and especially learning from the children. Children have taught me to open my mind and my heart to the joys, the innocence, and the diversity of ideas in the world. Because of this, I will never forget how to smile with the new, cherish the old, and laugh with the children.

I need or I want?

I need to save up for a camera to pacify my habit of making a digital record of my life or do I want a camera because my previous one was stolen?

I need to save up for a laptop bag to diminish the pain I am experiencing in my shuolders, neck and back or do I want a laptop bag because I want a new backpack?

I need to save up for a swimsuit because the only one I have is starting to disintegrate or do I want a swimsuit to replace the only one I have which I do not really want to wear three days in a row every week?

I need to save up for a flight ticket to set up for my research or do I want a flight ticket to be back in my comfort zone?

I need to attend a retreat to learn how to focus and prioritise, as well as meet new people or do I want to because I feel like taking a break?

I need to sleep earlier so that I am able to get up earlier and fit more working hours into my day or do I want to sleep earlier to gain more sleep time?

Okay, I am getting ridiculous...

Green School

The main reason for visiting Bali was to pay Green School a visit.

Green School incorporates sustainability within education, empowering global citizens and green innovators who are inspired to take responsibility for the sustainability of the world. Their location on a site in an undeveloped and natural area of gentle jungle, bisected by the Ayung River, the longest river in Bali, makes it an ideal place for students to connect with nature. The site is farmed and landscaped to make it productive while being safe and secure.

They prepare students to be critical and creative thinkers who are confident to champion the sustainability of the world and its environment. It is inspiring their thirst to know more, equipping them with appropriate and relevant knowledge, and nurturing their passion to influence change in the way we are managing this planet.

International in its teaching and learning, and in its clientele, their students come from different corners of the world to join a core Balinese community of scholars – representing up to 20% of their enrollment. They bring with them their learning to date to share with their friends and to contribute to a global awareness and perspective of social issues from their countries of origin. So yes, Green School is a private school and there are fees involved.

Its curriculum combines the academic rigour expected of schools and institutions of higher learning with hands-on experiential learning within a Green Studies curriculum and a Creative Arts curriculum. This means that by holding onto the essential core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, Green School students will have doors open to them for whichever kinds of further learning and careers that they may choose.

An education at Green School is preparation for Green Leadership of tomorrow. Green School aims to be the #1 model of sustainability in education in the world, by producing students who will be the confident generation that wants to, and can, make a difference. There are three main drivers to the Green School Curriculum:

1) The essential subjects of English, Mathematics and Science in recognizing the importance of continuity and progression.

2) Green Studies in hands–on study which evolves from Nature Study to Study of Ecology to Environment Studies to Studies of Sustainability.

3) The Creative Arts in embracing Art, Crafts, Music, Drama, Story-telling among others.

As a part of their commitment to sustainability, all of their structures are built primarily from bamboo, a local, natural, renewable resource. Being at one with nature – in these classrooms without walls – has a huge and positive impact on the learning process. It positively affects the quality of relationships, the way that people conduct and behave with sensitivity to each other, and it helps those youngsters who are easily distracted in conventional classrooms to focus much more easily on their tasks – there are plenty of distractions at Green School but they are natural distractions which are acceptable to, and not in conflict with concentration.

I was on a photo-snapping frenzy. So was Dad! I will let the photos do the talking. Oh, and all information here is derived from their website.

When you walk through the gate, there would be a row of tall coconut trees to the left.

We were wondering if those bamboo poles were for monkeys or for people to balance on to collect the coconuts. Hm...

Beyond the trees was the green oval and at the end of that, the large covered outdoor activity area, where a group of children were playing basketball.

We waited at this watering hole for the tour to begin. This little cafe serves parents, where they meet in the mornings and afternoons.

In the background is Heart of School, the main building.

This shed used recycled metal sheets.

There was also another building to the right of the entrance, which housed the toilets.

They had separate toilets - one for pee and one for poo. They had instructions on the wall for what to do after completion of 'business'.

Ooh, and look at the snazzy shower!

When our tour began, we started with this path that headed towards this cute little hut.

This hut turned out to be the Principal's office!

Right opposite it is this wide structure, which at the time, had a group of children rehearsing for a musical.

We were pretty impressed with how wide the bamboo spanned.

We then came to their latest addition, the Pre-Kindergarten class.

They had the facilities custom-made to kiddy size, too!

Then it was to the Kindergarten class.

They had an outdoor sink.

And look at that play equipment!

This was the main Kindie building.

We were all taken in by the various furniture they had. And yes, all made and designed by local Balinese designers.

Further up, there were vege plots and fruit trees encircling the other buildings, which housed the older age groups.

We were allowed to go into an empty one, which made us understand that they also had traditional teacher-student teaching environments with paper and pencil tasks happening at desks.

I liked their partially sunken conference theatre.

Talk about using recyclables. The pieces of this whiteboard used to be windscreens of cars.

After visiting the whole school, it was back at the Heart of School, which up close, looked even more majestic.

Made up of three sections, I believe this triple-storey building is the largest bamboo structure there is!

Before venturing upstairs, we were required to remove our footwear and place them on these racks.

This was the entrance to their library.

The view from upstairs of the next building, where if I remember correctly, had some Year 5 classes.

I still cannot get enough of this concept of the natural light coming in through this opening. Love it!

Oh, and this bamboo forest would be a definite hit with the kids! Man, I wished I was small enough to slither through it, too! Heaps fun!

Given the economic mess that our world has created in recent times, an education system which produces more of the same is not going to work. If we are to believe just a small proportion of the statistics we are hearing and seeing about the destruction of our planet, individuals need to take a more responsible approach and education is the key starting point. Green School aims to develop responsible and green habits in young people which will be with them for life.

And in support of their good work (they are an NGO), we at kembangsari made a donation to have our name carved on one of the bamboo poles in the Heart of School building.