KTM Komuter Service

I have read the letters (the one that written by the readers that published on the newspaper) on the newspaper lately as it was pertaining the KTM Komuter service. All those letters were highlighting their feelings of unhappy with the service of the KTM Komuter. This reminds me of my old days when I was also used to take the KTM Komuter to college and work.

Well, I was taking the Komuter from Segambut station to the Kuala Lumpur station for my college and then workplace (after I started working). As per the letters, the train was always delayed and it was not being arrived as scheduled. For me, if the train had delayed by 5 minutes, it was considered as according to the scheduled for me at that time Thus, when I took the Komuter last time, I always spared the time to reach the station in 15 minutes before and after prior the schedule time.  This was due to the earlier train has delayed and I managed to catch it. 

Another nightmare for me was the train was packed like sardines during the peak hours, especially in the morning. As there were few stations are ahead of mine, the train was already in a huge crowd when it reached my station, and I have to no choice but to follow the passengers to push along into the train. As I am a small size person, I always stood nearby the door in the train, and sometimes my face was almost stuck to the glass of the door. This is not a joke; the crowd was really huge in the train as it was packed like sardines. Sometimes, it was like you would almost kiss the person that stood in front of you (stood in face to face). Well, if I was not lucky enough to get on the train due to too packed in the train, I had to wait for another train which it took me about 20 minutes to wait for it.

I think I have experienced those for about 5 years and now I already stopped taking KTM Komuter since I shifted to another area which does not have KTM Komuter service for years. I thought that the service has been improved since then but it seems not. Still as the old days. Thus, when I was reading those letters on the newspaper, I could understand their feelings. Firstly, the train is always delayed and the service has never been improved. Secondly, more passengers are taking Komuter train nowadays, and the KTM is not taking more trains and couches and it is a hassle for them. I can say that I am lucky that I do not need to face those nightmares anymore, but I am sincerely wish that the KTM would improve the service in order to let the passengers to have a happy and satisfaction ride.

Talking about Horoscope?!

Hi there! It's been quite a while that I did not post for the jokes. So, here it comes and hope you will enjoy it!!! :)

Two men were admitted to hospital. Too weak to speak they slept for days. After two weeks, the first man gets the strength to point to himself and say “American”  His room-mate says “Canadian”  A week later the American summons the strength to speak again “Shawn” he says in a frail voice.  “Dave” his roommate squeaks. They both fall back into a deep sleep. A week later Shawn rouses himself enough to speak “Cancer” he says. Dave clears his throat and says “ Sagittarius!”

Tea May Help Prevent Osteoporosis

A Taiwanese survey has found that drinking tea helps prevent osteoporosis in elderly women.

The National Cheng Kung University Hospital surveyed 368 women above the age of 65 to try to find out if their lifestyle had an impact on their bone density. 60 out of 368 women, whose average age was 74, had the habit of drinking tea while 308 women seldom drank tea, Dr. Chang Yin-Fan, one of the five doctors who conducted the survey, said.

Among those who drank tea, 28 women (46.7%) had osteoporosis compared to 195 (63.3%) of the non-tea drinkers, he said. The study corroborates findings by Chinese and Western scientists that drinking green tea is good for health and helps prevent many illnesses.

According to the study, certain ingredients in green tea play a role in reducing the incidence of osteoporosis. "Fluoride slows the loss of bone mass while flavonoid improves the bone mass. Two other substances of green tea, polyphenol and tannin, also help improve bone mass," Chang said.

Chang refuted some doctors' warning that drinking tea could cause osteoporosis as caffeine promotes the excretion of calcium through urine. "We think polyphenol and tannin in green tea offset the effect of caffeine," he said.

Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is the most common type of bone disease. It is caused by the loss of bone density, making it easier for elderly people to have hip, wrist or vertebral fractures. Doctors at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital conducted the survey among women in Tianliao village in Kaohsiung Country, sounthern Taiwan.

(Source adapted from The Sun newspaper in April 2011)

So, after reading the article above, would you like to have a cup of tea?! As for me, I will have my tea everyday! :)

The Haze is Back! :(

Gosh, the weather is so bad lately! It is very hazy in the Klang Valleys and some other states of Malaysia. The haze season is upon us again, and I think it is very bad. The polluting haze is coming from forest fires in Indonesia and locally. The visibility is still good but there is this unmistakable burnt smell lingering in the air.

The skies choked with smog with the burning smell. I could smell it during these few days in my housing area. The burning smell was even stronger at the early morning and night time. Although the API (Air Pollutant Index) is rated as the moderate level throughout the country, I still think it is very unhealthy for the people.

When I read the news lately, it is shown that the visibility level is low, only about 4km for the distance. I think it is very risky for the people who are driving. Even our landmark of Kuala Lumpur, The Twin Towers has been covered by the haze and it could not be seen from far distance.

There is nothing much we can do except to drink lots of water and wait the haze to be out. For those who are weak in the respiratory system, like me, try to stay in the indoor as much as you can, otherwise, you would fall sick easily. So, I am just staying at home most of the time and drink much water. Let us pray that the haze will go away ASAP and return us a clear blue sky again!

709

It is a new week ahead. So, how was your weekend and what did u do during you last weekend?!

On last Saturday, (9^th of July), my family and I have paid a visit to my uncle’s home as he invited us to have a family gathering there. Actually it has been sometime that I did not meet my uncle and his family since the Chinese New Year. So, it has been few months already. We drove to his house at around 12pm and luckily the there was no traffic congestion as we were not using the roads of KL.

When we reached my uncle’s house, he was busy preparing the meals for the evening. I met my aunties, cousins and grandma too. After that, my uncle took us to the Empire Shopping Gallery f Subang Jaya for our lunch. We dined at the Din Tai Fung, the Chinese restaurant for our meal. But I did not find the meal was delicious. Well, of course it is my own opinion.

After the meal, we were walking around the shopping mall and I found that there were many foreigners; mostly foreign students were shopping there. After done with the shopping, we headed back to my uncle’s house. In the evening, we were having dinner at my uncle’s house as he has cooked us a meal. Well, I can say that the meal was not bad; at least all of us were enjoying the meal. After that, we were gathered around to chat with each other. I also have borrowed some DVDs from my cousin.

We left my uncle’s house at around 8:30pm and again the traffic was smooth when we were on our way home. So, this was how I spent my 709. It was a peaceful day for me. How was your 709?! 

Hainanese Chicken Rice!

Hello! Do you like to eat Hainanese Chicken rice?! I do. I bet most of the Chinese like to eat chicken rice. Well, I bumped into a magazine few days ago and found that there is a recipe for the Hainanese Chicken Rice and I would like to share with you.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Ingredients :

Chicken

1 young chicken (about 1kg)

2 tsp salt

2 slices fresh ginger

2 cloves garlic

1 litre water

3 tsp sesame oil

Rice

250g Thai Fragrant Rice (rinsed, drained)

30g garlic (pounded)

2 slices fresh ginger

2 tsp salt

Chili Sauce

50g fresh chilies

30g garlic

30g fresh ginger

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp hot oil

Method :

1. To prepare the chicken, rinse the chicken and clean and pat dry. Rub all over with salt. Stuff fresh ginger and garlic in stomach.
2. Place the chicken and water in pot. Bring to boil over medium heat. Turn off heat then cover pot with lid. Steep chicken in covered pot for 30 minutes.
3. Remove cooked chicken from pot and rub all over with 1 tbsp sesame oil. Allow to cool then cut into pieces. Reserve chicken stock from pot.
4. For the rice, heat 1 tbsp oil in wok until hot. Brown pounded garlic and ginger till fragrant. Add Thai Fragrant Rice and stir-fry for 1 minute. Transfer to pot. Add salt and 600ml chicken stock. Cook till rice is fluffy.
5. As for the chili sauce, blend chilies, garlic and ginger together. Dish out and add salt and sugar. Drizzle with hot oil.
6. Bring remaining chicken stock to boil. Season with salt to taste.
7. Serve the chicken with hot rice and soup.

Tada..... This is how to cook the Hainanese Chicken Rice! :) Since it is the weekend, you may try to cook it at home with the recipe.

Well, enjoy your cooking and have a lovely weekend to you all! :)

(Recipe adapted from the Jusco Pearl Magazine)

Please Give Your Support by Buying the Mooncakes from Ms. Yvonne Foong

I have been following the blog of Yvonne Foong for sometime. She is a person whom diagnosed with NF2. By reading her blog, it is known that Yvonne is a very strong and independent person. She has taken few times of surgeries for her illness.

She has written a book about herself and I also have read it. Now she is planning to have her second book. The reason for her to publish her book is for her fund raising for her illness. Now, she needs to raise her fund again for her US trip in this October for her follow-up on her illness. This time she is selling mooncakes to raise about RM8,000 to RM11,000 for her trip.

The Mid Autumn Festival is fall on the 12/9/2011. If you would like to give some support to Yvonne, you may buy the mooncakes from her as she has various sets of mooncakes to choose from. You are required to provide her your name, number of sets, mailing address and contact number via email if you would like to place the order from her.

Well, attached herewith the link for you from Yvonne on her sets of mooncakes available. Please click into “Mooncakes for Health”.

Lastly, I would like to thank you for giving support to Yvonne. Thank you for your kindness!!! J

It’s the 2nd Half of the Year 2011

Time flies! The 1^st half of year 2011 has already passed. We are now in the 2^nd half of the year. So, what have you done in those 6 months of the year? Have you achieved your goal(s) of the year or still working hard to achieve for your goal(s)?

For me, during the 1st half  year, my health was quite unstable. If you have been followed my blog, you would have known that I had been admitted for 2 weeks time during the CNY! L After that, I still caught flu sometimes, like coughing again and fever. I wish that I would have a good health in the coming half year as at least do not have cough again. As coughing too long could lead to body aching and it is a kind of suffer! L

Anyway, since it is in the July now, the starting of the 2^nd half of the year. There are still time available for those who are yet to achieve their goal(s). So, I wish you all the best of luck and tomorrow is Monday, the beginning of the new week. I wish you all to have a good week ahead!!! J

Angry Birds Painting

My niece has drawn a painting of the popular online game Angry Birds yesterday for her art. She has drawn all the 5 angry birds, i.e. the Red Bird, Yellow Bird, Blue Bird, White Bird and the Black Bird.

I also have helped her a little on the colouring. I helped her to colour the White Bird. After finished the painting, I think it looks nice and thus I took a snap shot for it. I think the painting looks quite beautiful. Do you think it looks like the Angry Birds as the game? I like the Yellow Bird the most among all them as I think such bird is look great! Attached herewith the painting. So, what do you think of it?! Do you like it?!

Anyway, it is weekend here. I am wishing all of you to have an enjoyable and lovely weekend! J