Saturday, March 24, 2007

Women duped by Casanova conman

0 comments

KUALA LUMPUR: He was young, handsome, suave, smooth and well-dressed.

Thus it was not surprising that when Benjamin, or Benny, turned up at Lee's office looking for a job, she was immediately attracted to him.

His romantic words and promises of marriage swept her off her feet and she even considered leaving her boyfriend when he asked her to.

But the fairy tale romance had a sour ending for the 26-year-old Lee. Her Prince Charming turned out to be nothing but a conman.

The 24-year-old Casanova not only sweet-talked her into bed but also swindled her of RM10,600.

That’s him: (From left) Lim, Sia and Lee pointing to Chong a picture of the Casanova, known as Benjamin or Benny, at Chong’s office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“He said he could not withdraw money and showed me his damaged ATM card. I lent him money and never got it back,'' said Lee.

While working with Lee, the man, who claimed he was from a rich family in Petaling Jaya, also cheated the company of RM20,000 when he sold its stock and pocketed the profits.

The company then lodged a police report and announced that he was no longer with the firm in a Chinese newspaper on March 16.

However, Lee is not Benjamin's only victim.

Two other women, who also claimed that Benny had tricked them, went with Lee to seek help from MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong at his office here yesterday.

“After convincing the women that he was seriously in love with them, he would sleep with them and then borrow money without returning a single cent,” Chong said.

The two other women, identified only as Lim and Sia, were also duped by the smooth operator who claimed to have studied in Canada.

“He was a smooth-talker and also used the broken ATM card tactic on me,” said 23-year-old Lim, who lost RM4,650.

“Benny was very convincing when he wanted to. Once, he even knelt in front of my house and cried for three hours just to ask for my forgiveness.”

Benny also tried to fool the women by exhibiting his generous side.

“He would give generous tips to waiters and buy expensive presents,” said Sia, 28.

When she confronted him about the long list of women's contact numbers in his phone book, he pounced on her and bit her several times on her cheek and arm.

Promising to marry her, Benny had told the spa therapist that he needed money for business investments. She lent him a total of RM4,150.

“After he had taken the money, he refused to answer my calls and totally cut contact with me,” added Sia.

All three women believed that Benny might have conned many others.

Chong described this Casanova problem as a “serious” one.

“I would like to urge young women out there to be more careful and not trust anyone blindly,” he said.

The Star

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Beyond grades

0 comments
By NIKI CHEONG and YAM PHUI YEE

In recent years, more and more students have been taking additional subjects and scoring a fistful of As in the SPM. But what difference does a string of As – or the lack of it – really make? StarEducation speaks to several young adults to find out.

HENG King Wey was ecstatic when she received her SPM results last year – she got 10 1As – but did not make a big deal of it in front of her friends, most of whom did not fare as well.

And instead of looking ahead to a university degree, she decided to go full steam ahead with her plans of opening a restaurant in Bukit Tambun, Penang, using the money her parents had saved for her to study overseas.

She opened her Weysern Cafe in September and now hires 36 of her friends to work for her.

King Wey in front of her restaurant in Bukit Tambun, Penang.
Many people would consider King Wey's decision a waste, after all, the 18-year-old was known for her academic excellence, having received straights As in her PMR as well.

“Even my pengetua (principal) asked me to do more subjects (for SPM),” she says, adding that he would have wanted her to do as many subjects as she would have been allowed to.

However, King Wey decided to stick with 10 subjects – she got another 1A from the English 1119 paper.

“I did consider taking one extra subject but I figured I could do a lot more other things if I didn't.”

“I thought I shouldn't be so academically based,” she explains.

Instead, she ensured that she had time for golf, in which she represented the state. She also plays the violin.

With reports of students taking as many as 21 subjects in the SPM, King Wey's story shows that there are those out there who are not preoccupied with grades.

Tang went into IT and made his first million at 23.
The journey that others have take also illustrates that to be successful, courage, perseverance and street smarts are essential.

Millionaire at 23

Jack Tang only started to take the SPM seriously one month before the exam.

“I used to carry electronics reference books in the canteen and did small electronic projects on my own, like a two-feet long electronic scoreboard and a portable multiple-choice question answer device just to make education entertaining,” says the 28-year-old, who confessed that he was not academically inclined.

Tang took nine subjects in the SPM and scored fewer As than he had expected. He had four As – in Mathematic, English, Chemistry and his favourite subject, Physics.

As his family had financial difficulties, his plan to study electronic engineering was put on hold.

Instead, he worked in a cybercafe for 10 months, studied information technology (IT) and networking on his own and started I Venture Circulation (IVC), a web-hosting company that has grown into a large business with offices in the United States, Singapore and China.

Tang became a millionaire at 23.

The SPM results one receives, he says, are only important if one wants to pursue higher education.

“However, subjects like History are important to open your eyes and give you better understanding and appreciation of our country,” adds the Selangor-based entrepreneur, who also runs a restaurant.

Oo takes great pride in the BMW she bought recently with money earned from financial advising.
“People who have a string of As may still be successful, but they will enter the job market later. Others may have had a headstart in work by then.”

Top financial adviser

Her SPM result slip showed seven As out of nine subjects, yet Oo Huei Ying was upset.

Upper secondary was tough for Oo, who realised that she was not cut out for the Science stream. She decided to take tuition.

“I used to come home after 10pm every day, still in my uniform. ,” says the Penangite.

After her SPM, Oo, 24, studied finance and accounting in Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman and Portsmouth University, Britain.

She started her career in financial advising in September 2004, and finally bought a BMW recently.

“If I had straight As, I would have pursued medicine,” she says.

Oo is a “Top of the Table” financial award holder, a recognition she received last year for being in the top 1% of financial planners in the world.

These days, she meets a lot of parents in her job and does more than just advise them on what to do with their money – she also tells them not to send their kids for too much tuition.

She had also convinced her sister, who wanted to take an extra subject in the SPM, not to do it.

Sister act

Aida Nurlin Hanif's friend wanted to do Science in Form Four and so she did the same.

“I don't think it had any effect on me whether I took Science or Arts subjects. If you were in Science stream, you were 'paling (very) terror' and in the elite group. Of course I wanted the recognition,” says Aida, 26, bursting into laughter.

She had always been an above-average student. She played the flute and in Form Five, took part in the National School Band Competition and only did revision during the scheduled prep time in her boarding school. Aida scored seven As out of nine subjects in the SPM.

Aida went on to study actuarial science in Universiti Teknologi Mara and was inspired by her sister Nor Akmar to get involved in business.

Waking up early to meet clients before class started, Aida was committed back then to closing five-digit transactions of unit trusts every day.

Today, the sisters are both millionaires.

More students are taking up additional subjects and Aida does not see this as a bad thing. She, too, had a friend who took 12 subjects during their time.

“We knew her potential and she knew she could do it. So why not?”

Top of the world

Squash queen Nicol David was pleasantly surprised that she scored seven As in the SPM. She had put squash on hold for two months leading up to the exam and was thankful that her family members supported her decision.

“My parents didn’t put pressure on us because they knew we would give 100% in everything we do,” says Nicol, who took 10 subjects in SPM.

“I took Arts because I want to do something in design later when I'm not in squash anymore, maybe own a design company or have my own line.”

Nicol, the first Asian woman to win the World Championship, laments that sports has often been sidelined to give way to more study hours.

“Sports helped me in my studies. You can channel the qualities you gain in sports into studies, like time management, discipline, focus and dedication.

“It's more stimulating because you have two things going on at the same time and that makes studying more effective.”

Nicol, however, can relate to students who take 15 or 16 subjects but suggests that they focus on their favourite subjects .

GILL: You need to have social aptitude.
“Get involved in societies and sports,” she advises.

Making the right move

Aaron Gill did well for his SPM – seven As – although he had contemplated dropping out of secondary school at the age of 16.

“I wasn't very interested in studies,” the 26-year-old entrepreneur says.

“But my relatives and friends set me straight.”

However, Gill still feels that the SPM is only a ticket to get into university.

“I think the only reason someone would go and do so many subjects would be to get a scholarship,” he reasons when asked how he feels about students taking so many subjects in the SPM.

After SPM, the web applications programmer studied engineering in Multimedia University.

He worked freelance for a few months after graduating and then worked in retail, selling computer speakers.

“It was boring and I decided that it was not how I wanted to live my life.”

With a little bit of courage, and RM1,000, Gill and some friends decided to start up their own company in 2003 with “no exposure and no contacts”.

“We just went ahead and did it.”

Now, they have three people working for the company, Hulk Solutions Sdn Bhd, developing web applications, and are in the process of hiring more.

“It's not only about your results. You need to have social aptitude, learn about teamwork and be an active person.”

The Star

Monday, March 12, 2007

Learn to let go

0 comments

Getting rid of junk has a therapeutic effect. It creates more space in our homes and in our hearts, too.

BY NATURE, many of us are hoarders. We tend to keep stuff that we no longer use, in case some day they come in handy. The result: we end up cluttering our homes. When we are unwilling to let go, the clutter around us weighs us down emotionally and physically.

This year I decided to clear all the unwanted items in my cupboards. So, does this mean that I now have more space?

No, not this time around. My resolution is: less for more. With less stuff I will have more space in my cupboards and I am going to leave it that way.

Just looking at the empty space makes me feel lighter. Besides, it is time-consuming and laborious to get rid of unwanted stuff.

Letting go isn’t easy. Doing so doesn’t mean that we are giving up.

Not wanting our belongings doesn’t mean that we are preparing to die. It merely indicates that we are moving on to another phase of our life. Just like a child giving up his toys for books, CDs or sporting equipment.

By giving away things that are no longer of use to us, we may be doing a good deed, too. Television sets are most welcome in old folks’ homes, orphanages or any organisation for the less privileged. If you have one that is still functioning and you no longer need it, give it away and spread some joy to others instead of letting it gather dust in the storeroom.

Memories hold treasures from the past. The pleasant ones are for us to cherish, while sad moments often bring a tear to our eyes. Remembering them only makes us human, but dwelling too much on them may not be healthy. It is distressing that some old folk have a strong emotional attachment to their possessions, and cite sentimental reasons as an excuse not to let go.

I used to get a few ringgit in return for old newspapers and periodicals, which I sell to the lorry man who comes around the neighbourhood.

Now I find it strange that he’s paying me to cart away my junk. When I moved house last year, I was delighted to find that my new neighbourhood has a recycling centre, which collects recyclable items for charity.

Now, I send my old newspapers to the centre as a way of donating to charity. By doing so, I have turned my clutter into “treasure”, for a good cause.

I have also donated my children’s books, toys and reusable items to a nearby orphanage. I’ve sent loads of old clothing to the Red Crescent Society for distribution to flood victims and the less fortunate.

Decluttering is therapeutic. By giving something away, we create more space for ourselves – in our homes and in our hearts. It’s good to know that someone else can make use of something we no longer need. It gives us a chance to share and care for others. Instead of dragging ourselves down with the extra baggage, we can shed unnecessary weight.

Besides our homes, our lives need decluttering too. Positive thoughts and better communication with our family and friends will result in less arguments and stress, and give us more peace of mind.

Despite their advanced age, it’s sad to see that some elderly folk just won’t let go. They continue to harbour negative thoughts, grudges, hatred and resentment.

Friends and family members who might have wronged them in the past have never been forgiven. Some remain prejudiced against their offspring who do not do well career-wise, or have brought shame to the family.

It is sad that they have hung on to the past with bitterness, cluttering their hearts and minds for decades. Learning to forgive and forget would help release us from such bondage. Unfortunately, because of pride, some find it difficult to do so, for doing so is akin to losing face or power.

If only we could learn to accept, be willing to forgive and let go. It would be so much easier to shed our emotional baggage and move on with our lives.

The Star

Ok to kill ants says chief Buddhist monk

0 comments
The monks at the Ang Hock Si Temple, AKA the Hong Hock See temple in Penang intend to "out source" the task of getting rid of ants which are biting worshipers.

As Buddhism forbids its devotees from harming any living creatures, the monks are looking for a creative and non-violent solution to deal with the ants.

Although the monks will not encourage anyone to harm the ants, but if someone independently turns up and deals with them without the monks' involvement then that will be ok, said the chief monk.

Read the full story on the BBC

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Living to 100

0 comments
Scientific and medical advances have made real the possibility of living up to 100.

ART OF QI BY DR AMIR FARID ISAHAK

AN insurance company has just launched a scheme that will pay your medical expenses until you reach 100 years of age. When I heard this, I was amazed but delighted at the positive outlook of the future.

People are now encouraged to plan until they reach 100, something that was not done before. Our life expectancy is about 75 years (actually, slightly less for men). For the Japanese, it is 80 years. As such, most insurance companies only plan to help you until you are 65, or at the most, 70 years old.

But living into a ripe old age is meaningless, if it is not accompanied by good health. Unfortunately, for the most part, the increase in life expectancy in the developed world is achieved through better survival of diseased people. That is, people with cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and many other chronic diseases are surviving courtesy of modern medical treatments, and not because they are healthy and live longer.

All the documented cases of the oldest human beings in recent times (as recorded in The Guinness Book of World Records) showed that they lived to around 120 years. And they all died of 'old age' or heart failure. None were overweight, and all led healthy, active lives in their younger days. They also had healthy diets. – AFP
It is estimated that over 60% of those above 40 have at least one chronic medical problem that requires treatment. By the age of 60, at least 60% are already on some regular drug medication.

With over 30% of the population 40 years and above being overweight or obese; over 30% having abnormal lipid (cholesterol and triglycerides) levels; over 30% with hypertension; and over 10% being diabetic, it is no wonder that the number of people on medications/drug treatments is very high.

The aim should be to increase the duration of healthy life. Even if you do not live long, if you live life to the fullest, made possible with good health as a key requirement, then it is better than living day-to-day as a burden to yourself, your spouse and family, and to society, which would be the case if you have a chronic disease.

Becoming old, lazy and fat

The main problem with people growing old is the inability to control their diet to prevent becoming overweight (or even obese), and the lack of exercise. For smokers, that habit is their biggest mistake, as far as health is concerned.

The hormonal changes that occur after the age of 20 make the body more prone to lose muscle and gain fat. So eating the same amount of food still makes you less healthy than before.

Unfortunately, lifestyle changes with less physical work and less exercise worsen the trend. If you do not actively fight this trend, you will be on your way to poor health and disease.

Our body is programmed to slow down and eventually die. But we are actually programmed to live up to 120 years, and should therefore be expected to be healthy for the most part of it.

All the documented cases of the oldest human beings in recent times (as recorded in The Guinness Book of World Records) showed that they lived to around 120 years. And they all died of “old age” or heart failure. None were overweight, and all led healthy, active lives in their younger days. They also had healthy diets.

The Okinawans, who have a high number of centenarians, are a good example of what a healthy, active lifestyle with a healthy diet could do to a community. Unfortunately, the younger generation of Okinawans have fallen prey to the fast-foods and sedentary lifestyles of modern living, and are not expected to have healthy, long lives like their parents.

You’re not lazy – it’s your hormones!

So where do we start in trying to correct our insatiable appetites, and our overweight, fat-laden and lazy bodies? Some of you do want to reduce your weight and exercise, but find it impossible to curb your appetite, and do not have the energy to start exercising. Even if you did, you find it increasingly difficult to lose the stubborn fat.

The answer lies in understanding your hormones. Hormones are the chemicals or peptides that act like thermostats that instruct your cells to accelerate certain metabolic activities.

Andropause, menopause and somatopause

For example, HGH (human growth hormone) oversees all the activities important for growth, and maintaining the state of youthfulness. So the levels are high in children, but after the growth peaks, it starts to decline rapidly.

After age 20, it declines about 15% every decade, leaving only about 50% at age 50. Because of the wide range of metabolic activities affected, this state of deficit associated with rapid ageing is called somatopause.

The rapid decline in HGH precedes the decline in testosterone (male sex hormone) and oestrogen (female sex hormones), which cause andropause and menopause, respectively.

If you delay the onset of somatopause, you can delay the onset of andropause and menopause. If you are obese, diabetic, or do not exercise regularly, you are also likely to have low HGH levels.

In men, testosterone levels decline more slowly after the age of 20. Combined with the lower HGH level, by age 40, already over 40% of men have some degree of sexual dysfunction as result. This includes loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. They also have varying degrees of decline in memory and mental acuity, muscle weakness and thinning of bones.

In women, the level of oestrogens ( there are three of them – estrone, estrodial, and estriol) and progesterone (the “balancing” female sex hormone) may start becoming erratic after age 35, more so after age 45, and decline rapidly after 50 (the average age for menopause).

All the health problems associated with menopause appear thereafter. However, all these happen with somatopause already in place, thus the rate of ageing and degeneration of tissues and organs become doubly rapid.

So if you want to slow down ageing and stay younger and healthier longer, you must make sure that your HGH level is good. If it is low, you can improve by building muscles, by supplementation or by medical therapy. If your sex hormones are also low, you should consider bio-identical hormone replacement therapy under medical supervision.

The thyroid hormones are directly responsible for controlling your rate of metabolism. Although many other hormones are also involved, it is the thyroid hormones that have the greatest influence on your BMR (basal metabolic rate, which is the amount of calories you burn just staying alive doing normal activities). The higher it is, the less likely you are to gain weight.

Insulin is also crucial in the body’s metabolism and energy production. Insulin is necessary to allow glucose (and in certain circumstances, certain lipids) to enter the cells, to be used as fuel for energy. It also instructs fat cells to take in the excess fats for storage.

Type 1 diabetics who have in-born deficiency of insulin are usually not fat, because of poor fat storage. On the other hand, type 2 diabetics, who become diabetic because they develop resistance to insulin (ie. the insulin becomes less effective on the cells), are often fat, though not always so.

Steroid hormones are another group that influences the metabolism significantly. Cortisol, for example, has been shown to be the underlying reason for weight problems in many people who are stressed.

Many people suffer from weight problems and lack of energy because the body has problems trying to burn the stored glycogen and fat. Since we eat at intervals, each meal carries excess calories to support the needs of the next few hours. These are stored as glycogen and fat. But once converted, if your hormones are haywire, the body has problems reversing it for energy production. It has no choice but to give out hunger signals and you eat again, while the glycogen storage (which has limited capacity) and fat storage (unlimited capacity) continue.

This is why extremely obese people still feel hungry again two to four hours after a huge meal, even though they have enough calories stored to last several months. Their system is a one-way street due to hormonal problems. If the hormonal levels are optimised, they can start losing weight more easily.

If your hormones are optimal, you will feel hungry only when it craves for the nutrients, not the calories, because it knows it can burn the stored calories for energy. And if you also eat nutrient-dense low-calorie meals, you can maintain or lose weight easily.

When your body is able to burn the stored energy, not only will you lose weight, you will also feel more “alive” and not feel drained and tired all the time. And you can actually start exercising!

When you start exercising, you are on your way to recovering the healthier, fitter body that you once had! And if you exercise regularly, eat nutrient-dense low-calorie foods, manage your stress well and have a healthy lifestyle, you can hope to live long, and to live life to the fullest. See you at 100!

# Dr Amir Farid Isahak is a medical specialist who practises holistic, aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. He is a qigong master and founder of SuperQigong.

The views expressed are those of the writer and readers are advised to always consult expert advice before undertaking any changes to their lifestyles. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

The Star

Saturday, March 10, 2007

A Hidden gem - A Japanese Restaurant at OKR

0 comments
By EU HOOI KHAW

THERE’S a gem of a Japanese restaurant tucked away at the 5th mile Old Klang Road in Kuala Lumpur, just across the road from Central supermarket. Xenri Japanese Cuisine at Wisma Elken has been around for two years, pens EU HOOI KHAW.

It has a “five-star dining environment”, as the management calls it, that befits the quality ingredients from Japan, particularly Hokkaido, that are flown in twice a week. It has a bright, woody décor, with private dining spaces, tatami rooms and a sushi bar.

Chef T.J Kew has had 13 years experience in his field, beginning in Mutiara Hotel Penang, then expanding his horizons at the Legend Hotel Kuala Lumpur and then opening Sagano at the Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur, where he served seven years.

Our dinner began with an elegant platter of sashimi that consisted of butter fish, tuna, salmon, sweet prawns, scallop, maguro and octopus..

“I always serve my sashimi on ice, so it retains its freshness, texture and flavour,” said Kew. Indeed an “igloo” made of compacted shaved ice sat on the platter, with tuna slices inside.

Small mounds of freshly grated wasabi root were served with the sashimi, which accounted for its zingy and fragrant flavours, and which raised this platter to a higher plane.The butter fish was smooth and meltingly good. The other fish, sea urchin, prawns and scallop were top-notch.

The Special House Maki was fine and tasty. It’s a tempura prawn wrapped round with sushi rice, dusted with flying fish roe and lightly piped around with mayonnaise. It comes with a special sweet sauce that has been cooked and reduced slowly, comprising sake, mirin, sugar and soya sauce.
The vinegared rice round the prawn was thin, to emphasise its sweetness and freshness.

“The kids love it,” said Kew. So did we.

It was certainly no ordinary Japanese dinner we were having. The Unagi Kama Meshi came next, in a metal pot fitted snugly into a wooden box, with a wooden cover over it.

“It’s like claypot rice,” said Kew, except this is done with grilled eel from Taiwan (not from China). “In Japan you can take away the whole pot of rice, together with the box which keeps it warm!”

The rice had been cooked in a dashi stock flavoured with soya sauce together with tiny mushrooms, some shredded green pepper and carrot. A small portion of the shredded carrot was tucked underneath the unagi. The grilled eel was excellent, soft yet firm and sticky sweet with its marinade. I always like the texture of Japanese rice – the grains are fat, and they are slightly sticky. I was told to eat the rice crust as well, which I did, which offers more concentrated flavours and a nice crunchy texture.

If you’re looking for something to lift a tired palate, I would recommend the Sakana Chirimushi. This is steamed fish, tofu, leek, snow peas, carrot and enoki mushrooms in a dashi broth, served with a dipping sauce of ponzu scented with citrus (small, fragrant lime) and chilli radish. I liked the fat round bowl it came in – with a dish of grated radish with chilli and chopped spring onion sitting on top – and a little teapot of ponzu.

I stirred the radish with the sauce, picked pieces off the cod inside and dipped into it. The light, tangy flavours hugged the fish, which tasted good, as did the tofu and leek.

All the food is cooked with reverse osmosis water.

A tasting of different kinds of ice cream imported from Japan ended dinner sweetly. Sakura or cherry blossom, black sesame, and green tea were the ones we had, though there are more, such as wasabi (!), melon, peach and deep-fried ice cream on the menu.

The Special Maki is RM24; Unagi Kama Meshi, RM39; and sashimi is according to market prices.

Other special items include the Grilled Yellowtail Jaw with salt and teriyaki (RM45); Dobin Mushi (RM14); Tori Soba (RM18); Kaisen Kami Nabe (a seafood hotpot contained in paper, RM40); Dragon Roll (with grilled eel and avocado, RM28).

There are very reasonably priced set lunches below RM30. Next month there’s a Crab Fiesta, featuring the Alaskan King Crab and Hokkaido Snow Crab in various scrumptious preparations.

There is a Sunday buffet of 50 items, priced at only RM43++ for adults, and RM22++ for children. (Reservations are required) Xenri is open all day from 11am to 10pm. It’s located at No. 9 Wisma Elken, Lorong 4/137C, Batu 5, Jalan Kelang Lama, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: (03) 7783-8118.

NST

Sup Gear Box

0 comments
Shift into gear with this soup


You’ve heard of sup kambing and sup ayam... but sup gearbox? RIDZWAN A. RAHIM introduces us to a soup that’s ‘guaranteed’ to get you going. And going. And going.

OF all the local soups available on the market, sup gearbox must be the one with the most unusual name. It’s really bone marrow soup. If you are familiar with sup tulang (bone soup) or sup ekor (oxtail soup), then this one is not much different.

But why the association with the car anatomy, you ask? It’s because the cow’s joint used as the main ingredient in the concoction resembles a car’s gearbox. And it’s big! It’s about the size of a small computer monitor. (Come to think of it, maybe it can also be called Sup Computer Monitor. But I digress.)

So sup gearbox is basically this huge chunk of bone in a richly flavoured soup, plus some garnishing.

And the whole thing can be enjoyed with either steamed rice or bread. Although this “delicacy” can be found almost everywhere in the country, an expert will tell you that making a good bowl of sup gearbox is not that easy.

“You will want to use the bone of a bull because bulls work harder and therefore have more muscles. Cows tend to have more fat,” says Sabri Salleh, who owns a restaurant in the city called Raja Sup (King of Soups) and was kind enough to let my friends and I sample the “exotic” concoction.

Additionally, he told us, a heifer (a young cow that has yet to have her first calf) is preferred. And cows from the KK (Kedah-Kelantan) variant are said to have “sweet” tasting meat, although they may have a bit of an odour.

Preparing the dish is a time-consuming affair. The bone needs to be cooked for about 12 hours in order to soften the leftover flesh found on it.

A big bowl of sup gearbox costs between RM15 and RM20 depending on the size of the bone. It is good for three to four persons. If you dine alone, you can have a smaller bowl which will set you back about RM5.

Another unusual thing is that sup gearbox is usually served with a knife and fork, ostensibly to make it easier to slice the leftover meat and fat. But often you will be forced to use your bare hands to tear the bone apart. Be prepared to get a little messy.

Most restaurants will normally also serve the soup with a straw. Yes, the common drinking straw. You use the straw to slurp the rich bone marrow together with a bit of soup. Yummy!

But because sup gearbox does not exactly qualify as healthy, after a meal some diners like to wash the whole thing down with air akar kayu (a tonic drink made from medicinal plants) which is believed to contain properties that offset the soup’s high cholesterol content.

Top five places to find sup gearbox:

Kuala Lumpur:

1. Raja Sup in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. Here, one can find every conceivable type of soup. Yet despite its fame, Raja Sup is a small outlet, occupying just half a shoplot tucked between Secret Recipe and a fancy looking restaurant at No.46, Jalan Datuk Sulaiman. The cook is from Kelantan.

Selangor:

2. Warung in Bandar Baru Bangi which has a kampung feel to it. From the PLUS highway, exit through the Kajang toll. Then at the traffic lights, go straight towards Bandar Baru Bangi. You will come to a long straight. Towards the end of that straight, you will see Shell and Mobil petrol stations on your right and the restaurant on your left (with many cars parked by the roadside).

Kota Baru:

3. This particular restaurant in Panji, some 3km from Kota Baru town, specialises in sup gearbox, daging bakar and kerabu. Many Government officers go there for lunch (the restaurant is closed at night).

Penang:

4. Sup Hamid. A well-patronised restaurant serving many kinds of soup dishes, located in front of Hotel Malaysia at the end of Penang Road. Sup gearbox is usually available at night.

Johor Baru:

5. There is this particular corner shop very well known among locals located at the Simpang Mariaman corner of Jalan Petri. It specialises in mee rebus gearbox.

NST
 

The Malaysian Life Copyright © 2008 Black Brown Pop Template by Ipiet's Blogger Template