Arrison Aiyu Jelly @ Sunway Pyramid

The Aiyu jelly has been mistaken as ordinary gelatin by many people including yours truely but somehow I knew that Aiyu jelly is special. Just when I was about to learn more, Arrison Aiyu which specializes in Aiyu jelly desserts gave me the lowdown on the source of Aiyu and its benefits.

Aiyu jelly dessert at Arrison Aiyu

Aiyu jelly is made by peptides, a substance that envelopes the seeds of a fig fruit, setting into water forming a jelly-like mass. Aiyu jelly was first discovered by the indigenous people of the AliShan mountain 1800m above sea level in Taiwan. The fig fruit has to be dried and 'washed' or massaged into water to allow the peptides to be released into the water.

Authentic Aiyu jelly is not absolutely clear like the gelatin ones. If you examine Aiyu jelly closer, there will be spots of sediments from the fig seeds that escaped the filtration which is beneficial as fibre. So that is a tip on how to tell the knock-off products sold at night markets apart!

Arrison Aiyu, Sunway Pyramid at LG2.08A

The original aiyu jelly 

Value added desserts are no longer a mono-funtional as thrist quenchers. Customers like me would be looking out for its nutritional content and calorific values. Being currently obsessed with youth preservation, I am drawn to collagen boosters and vitamin C rich food.

Aiyu jelly is also known to:

1. have 20x peptine more than strawberry
2. lower cholesterol
3. lower blood pressure
4. prevent swelling
5. promote slimming
6. be good for complexion
7. sooth the internal system
8. alleviate constipation as it has lots of soluble fibre
9. contain lecithin that is used to treat memory disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's
10. beneficial to kidney.

It is unbelievable that aiyu jelly is derived from the fig fruit

Authentic aiyu jelly has micro spots embedded within the jelly

Being colourless and tasteless on its own, Aiyu jelly is added into Chinese dessert soups for that springy and chewable texture. Peach gum and snow fungus are some of the favourite oriental ingredients to be paired with Aiyu jelly in these sweetened by longan, red dates and dried fruits. Chilled or warm, they bring delight to the consumer.

Peach gum aiyu

Snow fungus Aiyu

For youth and plumper complexion

From left strawberry aiyu tea, roselle aiyu tea and mango aiyu tea

Their fruit teas are also a delicious and healthy option to quench thirst. Every cup is of course added with the signature Aiyu jelly for that jolly good bite. Other than that, chunky fruit pulps also adds to the pleasure of each sip. The tea is derived from 100% fruit concentrate for that natural nourishment.

Bites of fruit pulp in the tea

Arrison Aiyu
LG2.08A,

Sunway Pyramid, 

Jalan PJS 11/15, 

Bandar Sunway, 

47500 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor

Tel: 018-663 4188

Needy Kids Treated To “Dreaming Of A White Christmas” by Lot 10

About 18 children from Charwiki, a non-profit organisation based in Kuala Lumpur were treated for a fun day out at the Christmas Creative Workshops organised by Lot 10. With the themed “Dreaming Of A White Christmas”, the children captivated with beautiful decoration of white Christmas trees decked out in sparkling fairy lights and glittering baubles at the Concourse and the Main Entrance of the mall. They were also entertained by carolers and treated to a high tea at Blues & Bees outlet at the mall.

The event was part of the mall’s corporate social responsibility initiative to spread Christmas cheer to share the festive joy to the less fortunate. Shoppers also participated in this charity initiative when they shop for charity at We.Women Market held from 5 th – 9 th December 2018 at the Concourse. All proceeds from the sale were channeled to help the underprivileged children to buy school supplies and uniforms.

The mall has lined up attractive activities throughout the month of December as to celebrate the festive season. Discover the magic of London's world-famous and oldest toyshop Hamleys, available at the Concourse until 11 January 2019. From the most popular toys of the season to unique Hamleys Exclusives, look no further for your best gifts for your loved ones. Shoppers also were entertained with series of live performances such as Christmas caroling, Nutcracker ballet and busking.

The Top of KOMTAR @ Penang

Penang has always donned the impression of being demure and steadily attracting visitors with its wealth of heritage and plethora of famed food. Now visitors get ready to see Penang's rugged side. The historical KOMTAR now offers exciting new parks and activities, breaking its pattern of drawing only history-appreciating visitors.

Although I thought I'd be fussing over a heritage site and adding to the queue of a well-lauded food stall, my trip to Penang via the SuperStar Gemini this time is all about the vertigo at KOMTAR.

Dare you take the challenge?

KOMTAR, Penang's tallest building and well known for being named after Malaysia's second prime minister, has been given a fresh topping of another 3 floors making it 68 floors high. Aptly named The Top, it now homes Malaysia's highest glass sky-walk and the highest rope course in the world!

Those who are itching for a jolt in life, looking for something to shock the body's fibers can give Gravityz a try. Gravityz grants participants the opportunity to walk at the brink of its 68th floor- the perfect challenge if you want to put your guts to the test.

Three more floors has been added to KOMTAR

George and Pearl. Guess the origins of their names.

360 deg view of the Pearl of the Orient

Look out for aerial view of your favourite place in Penang

Add caption

We warmed up at the beautiful Sky Bridge made of glass that doesn't hide the truth below the feet.

The experience made me realize that humans, although always demanding for the truth, may not be able to stomach it. We wouldn't be cringing and taking every step like we are going to plunge down if the bridge was opaque. Ignorance is bliss proves very true.

When sitting is no easy task although I very well know that the bridge is well engineered

Can you handle the truth?

One thing I am sure that is not ignored is safety. Gravityz ensures that the double harness protection is upped to a third which means the harness is tested to suspend an equivalent of 3 elephants. Gravityz has 7 safety awards under its belt and well qualified wardens. 

Although looking as if they have just came off age, the wardens took every procedure seriously and were working with the harnesses with much familiarity. Once out of the building, they were prancing at the ledge without qualms as if the elevation did not exist. It gave me jitters just looking at them shift from one platform to another. By hiring youths as wardens, it gives fence-sitters confidence that if they can do it, anyone can. 

Although I convinced myself very hard that it is just ONE step without looking down, I was totally paralyzed!

Absorb it all at the High Bench

Walking on the metal ledge gives a surreal experience. I could not believe I was out in the open where I can see birds eye to eye. The ant-sized cars on the streets down there made me giddy with the fact that I was very high from the ground. The wardens will give simple suggestions that will surprisingly heighten the experience. A mere shift of sight while walking over the platform can totally paralyze! 

Every time I looked down seemed to wake me up from a partial faint. Because of that, I suggest that you prepare to video your journey up there so that you can look back at the experience as you may be too overwhelmed by both the vertigo and scenery to remember it all.

Crossing ends with a mini zip line

Take a respite on the reclining chair called the G Rocky if you dare

Happy faces after waves of shock

At the top of the world!

Managed a victorious pose after the challenges

Gravityz, made me feel like a champion who just conquered the world. It is indeed the kind of booster that I need occasionally to continue my tenacity in facing daily challenges. 

Remember to check out the pot of gold

On the luckiest chair in the world

Reminiscing the experience at Top View Lounge

Malaysia Boleh!

For bookings and more information, visit https://www.thegravityz.com

MAKEOVER-Beauty at Your Fingertips

Just like Grab which revolutionized hiring of transport, MAKEOVER is the vehicle that brings all your beauty needs right to your doorstep at the touch of the screen. MAKEOVER is an online beauty platform that enhances convenience and efficiency across the entire beauty ecosystem.

At the launch of MAKEOVER beauty app

From make-up to hair-styling to mani pedi, MAKEOVER lets you know which professional is available and their full profile before you click to engage them so that it won't feel like a gamble whenever you make your pick. There are over

MAKEOVER is a platform for all companies offering beauty services

There are a few new catagories being developed to be launched in the near future:

1. Spectruck- providing eye care services from eyesight test to same day ready-to-wear glasses.

2. Dental services- providing users dental services through the app. Users can browse through all the ratings and reviews before deciding. 

3. Pet Grooming Services- offers luxury treatment and trimming service in your home so that the hassle of bringing out your pets can be eliminated

4. Gua Sha- this ancient but potent therapy is now being included in the app so that its benefits can be enjoyed conveniently

5. On-Demand Chef- Beauty also includes what you put in your body. Receive nutritious food fresh from the oven prepared specially for you. This would benefit the busy urbanites and mothers during confinement period

6. MAKEOVER will also publish beauty tutorials via Youtube for the benefit of all users for FREE

Consumers can be rest assured that they are in safe hands as MAKEOVER's co-founding team comprises of beauty industry leading professionals such as Datin Winnie Look (founder of A Cut Above), Ms Yvonne Yap (founder of Sense & Style Beauty Academy), Mr Derick Oooi (co-founder and managing director of Hairstory International), Ms Jamie Sie (founder of JGA Grooming Academy).

Each of them have massive experience in their respective expertise and generously came together to help drive the industry to greater heights by building this platform to help budding beauty professionals. 

This platform not only gives consumers the convenience but also to professionals who are searching for a place to sell their service.

For more information, checkout www.makeover.asia
www.facebook.com/MakeoverAPP
Instagram @makeoverfashionnews
Email: enquiry@makeover.asia or corporate@makeover.asia
Tel: 03-27327758/59

Discover the Nature and Heritage of Kuala Lumpur with Cosmo Hotel

The streets of Kuala Lumpur are trodden more than anywhere else in the country and her roads are congested day in, day out. Kuala Lumpur has been synonymous with the land of opportunities where people come for better career, education and wealth. Throngs of people swarm into Kuala Lumpur for a piece of that cheese but only a few stop to appreciate its rich heritage and beauty. The capital of Malaysia is definitely more than a cold and dusty place people like to complain about.

How did most of the cities in the world started? Capitals like Seoul, Melbourne and London all started with the presence of the most necessary element of life, water. Just like those cities, the Kuala Lumpur was also spurred by a river we all know as Klang River.

Malaysians themselves always joke about Klang River being just a murky, cemented drain. Well, this is because the Klang River has been exhausted of all its resources and beauty to give way for growth of the river's earliest settlement until it has become the metropolitan city it is today. The Klang River used to be utmost important to the livelihood of people during KL's mining heydays providing food and means of transport.

By learning its origin and its importance once upon a time, we and the future generation shall not turn our backs on the river that first gave life to Kuala Lumpur. 

The River that gave life to Kuala Lumpur. DBKL has decided to preserve the junction where the Klang and Gombak Rivers converge to remind how KL all started.

The bridge that we thought was built because of the trains has actually existed since 

Other than provide comfortable stay, hotels play a vital part in bringing the best out of the city and surfacing appreciation of the place it is home to among its guests. Recognizing this, Cosmo Hotel has engaged professional tour guides who knows the city like the back of their hand and the place's history as if they have lived through those times to introduce beautiful Kuala Lumpur to foreign and local tourists.

From the same group of tour guides who collaborates with Tourism Selangor, Cosmo Hotel is engaging these very learned and professional tour guides to lead their city tours.

The fountain dances with music at night

The bridge that reminds me of Yarra River.
Malaysia is as beautiful as other countries if not even more if only we know how to appreciate her.

Kuala Lumpur's culture is not just the office kind. If you look carefully, it is more colourful and diverse than you can imagine thanks to British colonialism. While other countries also home multi-ethnicity, Malaysia still accommodates cultures in their most authentic form, making them a sample of the country of origin

I must admit, as a KL-ite myself, I am guilty of taking the everyday encounters in the city for granted. Which is why a qualified tour guide is very much necessary to pull participants to the pockets of the city that we either did not have the courage explore on our own or to ignorant to know.

The parts of the city become more meaningful when our experienced tour guide, Jane Rai, painted the town with anthologies of history. I never looked at that part of the city which I thought was rowdy and notorious the same way again. Each place is how it is because of its inheritance from its first settlers. 

It is also a profound reflection that I felt after realizing the human race is very resilient. Although after generations and centuries, there are certain strains of ethnicity that will never be dissolve by migration or modernity. 

Jai Hind is the earliest punjabi sweet maker in Malaya

The myriad and colourful punjabi sweets. The carrot khalwa is my favourite

The owner of Jai Hind packing sweets for customers with a smile

Masjid India remains a huge iconic building built in 1863 catering to the religious needs of the Indian Muslim community

The Malayan and Selangor Mansion catered for the miners in Kuala Lumpur once upon a time

The bazaar at Jalan Melayu provides essential needs to the large community living around Masjid India

Nasi lemak at RM1.50

The traditional costume tailor making songkok and songket

Barbers giving their customers the shave they need

At the surviving cinema, Teater Coliseum

The original Coliseum Cafe and Grill Room since the British heydays

At the famous Coliseum Restaurant where they served the British western food and gave them a place to drink and unwind

Henna art by Indian girls

Gold is still a very highly sought adornment

People comfortably having chai at the five-footway

Colonial buildings that sports great architecture and 

At the Saravanaa Bhavan Restaurant for some authentic Southern Indian food

Location is always a good investment when picking accommodation during my travels. With hardly enough energy for the discovery itself, why waste more on traveling far away to sleep? Choosing a hotel smack in the middle of the city goes a long way in making my adventure a pleasurable one. 

After our last stop at Saravanaa Bhavan, I returned to Cosmo Hotel in 3 minutes. Because the River of Life is also only a 3 minute walk away, I tucked in my room key and headed to the river for an evening stroll. I used to envy the people in Melbourne for having the romantic Yarra River to walk along. Thanks to DBKL, we have our own river to appreciate!

After the relaxing walk, I had a hot shower and hit the pillows to recharge for another exciting day tomorrow!

Cosmo Hotel is just a 3 minute walk from the Masjid Jamek Station

Cosmo Hotel is a 4-star hotel which boasts great location. Perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in the city of Kuala Lumpur and explore the historical land.

At the reception of Cosmo Hotel

My roomie for the day

The Deluxe room

Although smack in the middle of the city, it is hidden from the main road of Jalan Tun Perak.
You can still catch a glimpse of the glowing city from your room after sunset.

The room is equipped with a safety box and ironing board

Rise and shine to nature's call! KL is not all metal and bricks. In the midst of the concrete jungle, hides a gem that I half-heartedly recommend lest it becomes infested with irresponsible litterbugs. But I owe it to nature-lovers whom I believe will help protect it.

Just 10 minutes away from Cosmo Hotel by foot, nestles Kuala Lumpur Eco Forest. Its thick organic vegetation restores the worn out soul. Mother-nature cures with her oxygen-rich environment. It is how she rewards the people who preserves her flora and fauna. Giants like jelutong and keruin can be found here. Ever seen how a wild banana looks like? This is truely one of the remaining bits of natural rain forest that we can savour. Immerse yourself in the cool and fresh air emitted by plants all around.

 A little warm up at the gym at Level 15

Breakfast at the Cosmo Hotel lounge

Some coffee at the lounge before setting out the forest

The Taman Eco Forest below the towering KL Tower

A herb garden at the entrance of the forest

The entrance of the canopy walk

All ready to explore the lush vegetation in the middle of Kuala Lumpur

See how many herbs you can identify

The suspension bridge is the best way to experience the arboreal life

The trail is relaxing and non-strenuous. Even my mom enjoys it

Wild bananas grow upwards!

Imperfections are beautiful

Racoons that are native to the forest protected from illegal poachers

Roots that developed over hundreds of years

When exiting the forest, the sight of  the historical St John Institution, one of the oldest schools in Kuala Lumpur established in 1904, will be there as a congratulatory note for finishing the forest trail.

After the morning walk, it was time to restore those shed energy although the walk was not very exerting. Back at Cosmo Hotel, set lunch awaited. Guests were given 3 choices of steak, chicken chop and fish and chips with free flow of appetizers, soup, dessert and drinks. 

The Mint Cafe

Steak at medium

Chicken chop

Fish and chips

Thank you Cosmo Hotel! What a beautiful discovery of Kuala Lumpur

The City Discovery Package, priced at RM288 nett per person per night in a Deluxe comes inclusive of

• breakfast for two persons at Café Mint 
• one 2-course lunch for two persons at Café Mint 
• one set dinner for two persons at Café Mint plus a full 28-hour stay experience 
• FREE access to the Hotel’s new gymnasium 
• in-room WiFi for endless streaming and seamless connectivity.