LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Tourists looking for love join in Malacca’s Chap Goh Meh celebration
22 FEBRUARY 2016 @ 9:56 PM
BY MICHELE NG

MALACCA: Love was in the air at the Quayside at the Malacca River as tourists mingled with locals to celebrate Chap Goh Meh.



A group of women in particular, were keen participants in the tossing of the oranges ritual, synonymous with the celebration often dubbed the ‘Chinese Valentine’s Day.’

Susanna and Carla Saradeth from Germany who were on the boat expressed their excitement at being part of the celebration for the first time.

“A friend of mine told me the meaning behind the orange tossing and said I would do it while I am here.

“At that time, I laughed it off but I never thought I would actually do it”, Susanna said with a giggle when met today.

Carla also jokingly said that they might get lucky in love after this.

Both Susanna and Carla liked the warmth that they received by the locals throughout the event.

“We were just walking by when we were invited to join and suddenly we were a part of everything.

“It was really cool and the dances and costumes were nice,” Carla said.

Those in attendance were also serenaded by a performance from the ‘Body and Soul’ band while being entertained by the catchy lagu joget by ‘The Serani Teng Teng’.

Present was state Transport and Project Rehabilitation executive committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong, who officiated the event.

Chap Goh Meh is the 15th and last day of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Some of the women tossing oranges into the Malacca River at Quayside during the Chap Goh Meh celebration. Pix by HAIRUNISAH LOKMAN.

Massa Sutra the Art of Massage – A Boutique Spa in Melaka

We love the fact that the world could not live without the spas. What started decades ago as small places, usually in large cities, where we had massages and facials in spaces called cabins, it has become an international phenomenon! Now we have the divine day spas, where you can receive care with the most exclusive products, like huge foodies and spas in hotels and resorts throughout the world, where we receive treatment while we spent a delightful vacation. With many activities to do in Melaka, the city has some of the best Spas to treat vacationers.

Massa Sutra is one of such spas in Melaka, that is highly specialized and offers endless possibilities, including treatment, according to the philosophy of beauty that followed and the products they use.

Massa Sutra Spa Melaka

Owned by Chris Loh, Massa Sutra is a boutique spa in Melaka. Chrish Loh has an extensive experience of myriad of therapies, massage, body treatment, and health fitness. He was trained and groomed at one of the worlds renowned Wat Pho Traditional Medical and Massage School of Bankok. He is passionate about preserving the art of massage, providing safe and quality therapies, and promote global acceptance of massage of mind, body, and soul.

Massa Sutra Spa in Melaka has an extensive incorporation of traditional and retro urban treatments that stimulate your senses and save you from the outside world. They have created an ambience with perfectly synchronized lights and the interior that let people experience ambient atmosphere.

The name of this spa is also very well thought that links the entire experience there. The word “Massa” is used in the Arabian Desert as a “Lifting Up”, while Latin and French also use this word meaning “to feel to handle, to stroke”. Sutra comes from Sanskrit that means a string or a thread. Sutras are rules or aphorisms in Hinduism that transmit philosophical and religious thoughts.

Zen Message

Unlike many other spas in Melaka, Massa Sutra offers only two types of massages. The Zen massage is a synthesis of supreme massage techniques of Thai and Malay treatments with passive Yoga stretches, pressure points, use of essential oils and music to make a strong union of body and soul. Muscle manipulation is Zen massage with essential oils prepare your body for the upcoming yoga stretches.

Traditional Thai Massage

Another treatment is Traditional Thai Massage. The Thai Massage that Massa Sutra offers in Melaka is the original form of Wat Pho Traditional Medical School, Bangkok. Energy lines are worked on in this massage to unblock life-forces and set your mind free from all stress. It is combined with yoga stretches that realign the entire body and opens up your breathing. This massage is not a mere treatment for your physical, body but rather it works with energy of an individual.

Training Courses

Massa Sutra believes in spreading love and passion for traditional massage, therefore it also offers training courses to the ones who want to be professional masseurs. Zen Massage and Bodywork Cross Training includes Certificate of Completion (30 hours), Certificate of Attendance (18 Hours), Certificate to Practice (Min 30 hours practical and Certificate of Completion). Traditional Thai Massage (Complete Wat Pho techniques) training includes Certificate of Completion Level I (30 hours) and Level II Expands on techniques learned in Level I (30 Hours).

Massa Sutra is a spa that focuses upon relaxation, harmony between mind and body, and offer yoga and meditation. It is famous for its authenticity, elegance and exceptional environment. The Massa Sutra Spa is not only an attraction for the locals, but it is also one of the top attraction for tourists in Melaka who are looking to relax after a long day in Malacca. Please share your experience by adding comments below.

Best 5 Seafood restaurants in Melaka for Seafood lovers

There are plenty of best and popular seafood restaurants in Melaka to be enjoyed by its various numbers of tourists by and large that mainly provides freshly cooked seafood dishes within a vivacious and natural ambiance. Thus, Melaka seafood is considered to be the best seafood restaurants that are famous not only in the town but in the Malaysia as well. It is also among the best food to try in Malacca.

Seafood Restaurants in Melaka

If you have an appetite for some seafood in Melaka, some of the best five seafood restaurants in Melaka are emphasized below:

1. Restoran Tong Sheng (東昇園海鮮家)

Restoran Ton Sheng is mostly a popular seafood restaurant in Melaka that is famous for its freshly cooked scrumptious seafood culinary. The restaurant can be easily traced Makota Parade Shopping Mall, along the busy road. People love to visit this seafood restaurant in Malacca to fulfill their seafood hunger actually. Its major authenticated seafood dishes that are ordered myriad times by its consumers are Cheese Prawn Beehoon, Wasabi Prawns, Fresh Milk Crab, etc. Hence, it is essentially suggested that before dine in people must book their reservations at prior in order to have delicious seafood meals as per our desires.

Address: 377 378, Jalan Melaka Raya 6, Melaka Tengah, Melaka 75000, Malaysia
Timings: Mon – Sun 5:30pm – 11pm (Mostly remains closed on alternate Mondays)
Contact: +60 62867811, +60 2862993
Visit their FourSquare Page

2. Bert’s Garden Seafood

Apart from the most popularly known in delivering delicious seafood items in the restaurant of Melaka; Bert’s Garden Seafood simultaneously attracts its numerous customers due to its splendid atmosphere. This seafood restaurant in Malacca can be easily located on the brink of a small shore, which is at the distance of at least twenty minutes only, very close to the ancient destination of Melaka city on the way to Tanjung Kling Mosque at Tanah Town mainly.

The mission of this restaurant is to deliver seafood dishes cooked in a simple as well as astonishing ways in a pure village like atmosphere. Thus, its major delights being served here are an amalgamation of real Asian as well as Western touch. For instance, its special seafood dishes consist of huge prawns, red snappers, crabs and squids are specifically being prepared on a very low flame on a charcoal in order to produce aromatically tender sea meals with an extremely delicious taste. Therefore, it is one of the renowned seafood restaurants in Melaka, where the visitors indulge in eating Grilled Red Snapper; ordered as Sea bass on banana leaves presented with a special spicy chilli paste (Sambal Sauce) prepared by Bert’s Garden.

The second special seafood dishes are its big sized prawns are also specially made by using butter and garlic. Whereas, another seafood dish is its only made Kam-Heong crabs delivered with curry leaves as well as shrimp paste. The Bert’s Garden feed their customer with some of the best food in Melaka.

Address: Jalan Kampong Pinang B, 76400 Melaka, Malaysia.
Timings: Monday-Sunday (5pm-12:30am) only on Saturday it remains open till 1am.
Contact: +60 13-683 6633
Visit their FB Page

3. Teo Soon Loong Chan

Tea Soon Loong Chan is one of the oldest seafood restaurants situated in the city of Melaka, Malaysia. This restaurant is all the time over crowded with its customers because of being popular since the olden times of at least eight years from now. It is thus essential to reserve the table in advance before having a scrumptious meal in Teo Soon Loong Chan. Its consumers mainly enjoy eating sea food dishes that are delivered specially in a Teochew style and its mostly profitable dessert is Teochew Yam.

The seafood items being presented here are termed as extremely delicious; the main reason behind its mouth-watering sea meals is that all of its sea creatures, i.e. fishes, crabs and prawns are being caught and cooked instantly after being caught from the sea.

Address: No.42 44, Jalan KPKS 1, Kompleks Perniagaan Kota Syahbandar, 75200, Melaka, Malaysia.
Timings: Tuesday-Sunday (12-2:30pm, 6-9:30pm) Monday (Closed)
Contact: +60 6-288 0209

4. Seafarer Restaurant

Seafarer Restaurant is another renowned seafood restaurant in Malacca, located in the vicinity of Tanjung Kling; Melaka that is similarly famous for delivering scrumptious seafood dishes on beach surroundings. Therefore, visitors, mostly eat here due to its splendid atmosphere of the beach. Thus, environment of this seafood restaurant gives an impact of romanticized decorum surrounded by heart touching old songs. Its best affordable servings are arranged at dinner and during special hours known as happy hours.

Address: 1516 Jalan Batang Tiga, Tg Kling, 76400 Melaka, Malaysia.
Contact: +60 6-315 2693
Visit their FB Page

5. City Famous Restaurant

City Famous Restaurant in Melaka is basically an amalgamation of Chinese cuisine as well as delicious seafood dishes are also being delivered here. Its most popular seafood dishes are Asam fish and Sambal Sotong Prawns mainly. You can try this restaurant for the seafood as well as Chinese food. You can also checkout the best Chinese restaurants in Melaka for more about Chinese restaurants in the town.

Address: No.500, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000, Melaka, Malaysia.
Contact: +60 6-282 2768

These are some of the best seafood restaurants to try in Melaka, if you’re a seafood lover. Melaka seafood is not only popular in the town but in nearby areas as well. If you want to recommend a Melaka seafood restaurant, please do so by adding comments below.

Best Restaurants to try Korean Food in Melaka

People dwelling in the Melaka state and the visitors coming to explore its vicinity are very much fond of eating Korean food in Melaka. The reason of Korean food is said to be extremely popular in the Melaka state due to the emanation of myriad immigrants considering Melaka for being the friendly nature state and allowing many cultures to enjoy the original ancient beauty of Melaka. Therefore, Korean people similarly love to eat a variety of cultural eatables being derived from their native state. For instance, there are numerous Korean restaurants in Melaka as well that delivers splendid taste of Korean food in an immensely tempting atmosphere around.

Korean Food Restaurants in Melaka

The food in Melaka is very popular among tourists as it is a fusion of different cuisines. Following are the most popular and vivacious restaurants to try Korean food in Melaka that are emphasized as below:

1. The Korean House

The Korean House is said to be the fabulous Korean restaurant in Melaka that is capable to deliver its scrumptious Korean food to its customers round the clock. Its essential feature is that it is mostly popular in providing signature dishes and freshly cooked Korean food in Melaka to its consumers. Therefore, after placing the order we can simultaneously get mesmerized by the aroma of a Korean dish that was actually ordered by us and till the order gets to our table we keep swaying with the specific aroma implicitly presented in Korean dishes. Another unique identity of such a restaurant is that it offers twelve types of banchans to its visitors which they keep changing on a daily basis. Its most profitable dishes are namely; Kimchi, Bibimbap, fishcakes, bean sprouts, mushrooms, etc.

Address: 1st Floor, 76 Jalan SS 2/60, SS 2, 47300, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Timings: 11:30am till 11:30pm

2. Seoul Garden

Seol Garden is generally considered to be the most popular Korean restaurant Melaka and in the whole region of Malaysian peninsular. After being popular in the vicinity of Mahkota Parade, it has then decided to inaugurate its second branch in the Melaka state primarily; one of the historic destinations of Malaysia. Thus, the branch in Melaka is located at one of the ideal destinations of Melaka i.e. at the brink of a seashore. Apart from enjoying the delicious Korean delights people are basically fond of having pleasure within its surrounding breezy atmosphere as well.

It is the only restaurant that mainly offers Korean buffet in Melaka to its customers at large. The major attractive feature of this Korean restaurant is that it is liked by plenty of Melaka visitors due to its delicious Korean cuisine; available at extremely flexible rates. The restaurant’s owner has allocated special promotional packages for its regular customers, i.e. Birthday packages where the Birthday boy/girl is allowed to try the Korean cuisine without any prescribed charges.

There are also specific prices arranged for the students as well. So, if you are getting enthusiastic to visit this restaurant then it is simultaneously recommended to must try Korean BBQ food item from this specific Korean restaurant consequently.

Address: Jalan Merdeka, Melaka, Malaysia.
Contact: +60 281 8559
Timings: 10am till 10pm (Daily)

3. Soo La Kan Korean BBQ

Soo La Kan Korean BBQ is a highly favorable restaurant in Melaka, that delivers delicious Korean culinary; depending on the choice of its customers predominantly. The environment of this Korean restaurant is built in a way that its customers are given optimum priority as far as its service is concerned. The quality oriented banchan is being served that mainly offers at least twelve myriad banchans on a daily basis.

The most popular Korean meal is Korean BBQ; cost at around twelve Ringgits that is primarily served with the variety of barbecued dishes as Signature Pork-Belly, Kimchi Jiggae, Smoked Duck and Beef with spicy flavor as an added advantage. It also delivers imported drinks as Banana milk drink is pretty much famous here. Thus, the actual mission of this Korean restaurant is to return their customers back home with a smile on their faces.

Address:  Jalan Melaka Raya 1, 75000, Malaysia.
Contact: +60 286 0309

These are some of the best Korean restaurants offering delicious Korean food in Melaka to the visitors. If you want to recommend a Korean restaurant in Melaka, please do so by adding comments below. You can also get more information about top 10 Melaka food to try.

Borneo International Kite Festival 2015

Borneo International Kite Festival 2015

Date: 23rd – 27th September 2015
This will be the 11th time, the kite festival will be held in this seaside town of Bintulu. The huge windy open space of the Old Bintulu Airport that faces the South China Sea means ideal consistent flying condition that kiters love. This also explains why four records of magnitude number of kites have been set since its inception in 2005. The latest being 2,500 diamond kites were flown, forming the longest arch kite tunnel of 500 metres which went into the Malaysia Book of Records.
Expect 400 kiters from 25 countries to participate at this festival.
This family-fun event comes with it cultural and artiste performances in the evening. Make a day trip to Similajau National Park as a side-trip.

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