mengkuang titi homestay ~ where the malay tradition lives on

The Making of Lemang

2012-07-04T01:58:00.000-07:00

Champa: Negeri Melayu Yang Hilang Dari Peta

2012-07-04T01:17:00.001-07:00

Ratusan tahun sebelum Bangsa Melayu menangisi kehilangan pulau Singapura, kita telah lama kehilangan satu wilayah yang cukup luas, iaitu hampir meliputi keseluruhan pantai timur Indochina. Lebih menyakitkan, wilayah tersebut menyimpan seribu satu rahsia dan bukti tamadun awal rumpun Melayu yang pernah menguasai hampir keseluruhan kawasan daratan dan perairan Asia Tenggara. Negara tersebut, tidak lain dan tidak bukan, adalah Champa, yang telah berhadapan dengan serangan dan migrasi besar-besaran secara berterusan selama ratusan tahun daripada satu kaum yang berasal dari selatan Negara China iaitu Dai-Viet. Kehilangan Champa sama seperti kehilangan Patani yang mewarisi keagungan Langkasuka juga akibat serangan dan migrasi berterusan daripada kaum Thai (Sukotai, Ayutthaya dan Chakri) yang juga berasal dari selatan China. Champa, atau apa jua panggilan kepadanya, seperti Lin Yi dan Houan-Wang (catatan China), Kembayat Negara (Syair Siti Zubaidah – Perang China), dan Tawalisi (catatan Ibnu Battutah) kini hanya tinggal sejarah dan penduduknya hidup bertaburan terutamanya di Vietnam serta Kemboja dan menjadi kaum minoriti di bumi sendiri.

Kali terakhir Champa berjaya bangkit membela nasib sendiri adalah semasa di bawah pemerintahan Raja teragung mereka iaitu Che Bo Nga, yang dinyatakan dalam lagenda Cham sebagai Binasuar, manakala Sejarah Dinasti Ming mencatatkan namanya sebagai Ngo-Ta-Ngo-Tcho, memerintah mulai sekitar tahun 1360 Masihi. Malangnya, kebangkitan Che Bo Nga ibarat seperti ‘sinar matahari yang penghabisan sebelum terbenam’. Di bawah pimpinan baginda, Champa kembali bangkit dari tahun 1361 hingga 1390 Masihi dengan melancarkan beberapa serangan balas kepada pihak Dai-Viet dan memenanginya. Malangnya, baginda akhirnya mangkat pada bulan Februari 1390 Masihi akibat pengkhianatan daripada salah seorang pengawalnya sendiri yang menyebabkan perahu baginda dikepung oleh tentera Vietnam. Apa yang menarik, kebanyakan pengkaji sejarah bersepakat bahawa Sultan Zainal Abidin, tokoh yang dinyatakan di dalam sebuah hikayat Melayu lama iaitu Syair Siti Zubaidah merujuk kepada Che Bo Nga itu sendiri, sedangkan kebanyakan pengkaji sejarah Barat bersetuju Raja-raja Champa hanya mula memeluk Islam bermula pada abad ke-17 iaitu berdasarkan catatan seorang paderi bernama M. Mahot yang bertugas di Champa pada tahun 1676 hingga 1678 Masihi dan mengatakan bahawa Raja dan sebahagian besar penduduk Negara Champa telah menerima agama Islam yang disebarkan oleh orang Melayu yang telah ramai berhijrah dan menetap di sana. Laporan Mahot ini telah disahkan oleh seorang paderi lain bernama M. Freet apabila dia menyaksikan sendiri keIslaman Raja Champa dan telah dihadiahkan sebuah Al-Quran.

Mahkota Kebesaran Champa

Maklumat mengenai Raja-raja Champa khususnya daripada riwayat tradisi Kelantan pula memberikan perspektif yang berbeza daripada sejarah umum kerana dinyatakan bahawa kebanyakan Raja-raja Champa semasa era Pandurangga (Phan Rang) sebagai ibukota telah beragama Islam dan mempunyai hubungan kekerabatan dan persaudaraan yang erat dengan Negeri-negeri Melayu di pantai timur semenanjung Tanah Melayu. Sebagai contoh, Raja Bo Tri Tri dikatakan adalah Wan Bo, anak kepada Ali Nurul Alam (Patih Majapahit Barat yang berpusat di Kelantan) serta cucu kepada Sayyid Hussein Jamadil Kubra, tokoh terulung penyebar syiar Islam di Nusantara. Wan Bo dikatakan telah meninggalkan Patani dan pergi ke Champa menjadi panglima perang untuk membantu bapa mertuanya iaitu Raja Chandranekalawa atau Ban-La-Tra-Toan menentang Dai-Viet. Selepas mengalami kekalahan dalam peperangan pada tahun 1471 Masihi, Wan Bo bersama-sama rakyat Champa yang lain telah berundur ke kawasan selatan yang berpusat di Pandurangga. Baginda kemudian diisytiharkan sebagai Raja Champa dengan gelaran Sultan Wan Abu Abdullah untuk menggantikan bapa mertuanya iaitu Ban-La-Tra-Toan yang telah ditawan dan mangkat dalam tahanan musuh. Pemerintahannya berakhir sehingga tahun 1478 Masihi dan digantikan oleh dua orang anak saudaranya iaitu Wan Abu Yusof dan kemudiannya Wan Abdul Kadir atau Kou Lai (1478-1515 Masihi).

Riwayat Kelantan juga menyatakan bahawa Datu wilayah Jambu yang juga pemangku Sultan Patani iaitu Datu Nik Musthapa telah kembali ke Champa bagi membebaskan bumi Melayu-Islam tersebut daripada pencerobohan rejim Nguyen pada tahun 1570. Raja Champa, Sultan Yaakub Syahibuddin yang sudah sangat lanjut usianya telah ditawan dan mangkat dalam kurungan sangkar besi semasa diarak ke Kota Hue. Pada tahun 1577, Datu Nik Mustapha membawa 10,000 orang tentera Patani dan bersama anak saudaranya Sultan Adiluddin yang membawa 5,000 orang tentera Kelantan bertolak dari kota Pengkalan Datu, Kelantan dan menyerang Dai-Viet untuk merebut kembali Pandurangga. Sebahagian besar dari bumi Champa yang telah jatuh ke tangan Dai-Viet sejak tahun 1471 Masihi telah dapat dikuasai semula sehingga hampir ke Kota Hue. Setelah peperangan tamat dalam tahun 1580, Datu Nik Mustapha telah ditabal menjadi Raja Champa dengan gelaran Sultan Abdul Hamid Syah. Di kalangan orang-orang Cham dan Vietnam, baginda lebih dikenali degan pangilan Po Rome, manakala orang-orang Kemboja memanggil baginda Ong Tpouo.

Walaubagaimanapun, dalam tahun 1684 Masihi, Champa telah kalah dalam peperangan dengan Dai-Viet dan Negeri Kelantan telah dibanjiri oleh pelarian dari Champa termasuklah rajanya sendiri iaitu Po Ibrahim (Po Nrop). Po Ibrahim kemudian telah berangkat bersama pengikutnya meninggalkan Kelantan dan berpindah ke Kampong Brek Bak di dalam wilayah Cham di Kemboja untuk meneruskan penentangan terhadap Dai-Viet. Putera kepada Po Ibrahim iaitu Wan Muhammad telah diangkat oleh Dai-Viet menjadi Raja Champa bergelar Po Jatamuh setelah baginda bersedia mengakui untuk membayar ufti kepada Kerajaan Nguyen.

Setelah Po Jatamuh mangkat, kekandanya iaitu Wan Daim yang sebelum itu merupakan Datu Negeri Jambu telah diangkat menjadi Raja Champa bergelar Po Top. Dalam tahun 1692, baginda cuba memberontak terhadap regim Nguyen setelah membuat pakatan dengan ayahandanya Po Ibrahim yang sedang berada di Kemboja dan kemudian terjadilah serangan serentak di dalam negeri dan perbatasan Kemboja. Walaubagaimanapun, Wan Daim tewas dalam peperangan tersebut dan berundur kembali bersama keluarganya ke Patani, sementara ayahandanya Po Ibrahim yang telah tua mangkat di Kemboja dan dimakamkan di Kampong Brek Bak. Raja-raja Champa selepas itu tidak lagi memiliki kedaulatan sehinggalah Kerajaan Champa dihapuskan sepenuhnya di bawah pemerintahan rajanya yang terakhir iaitu Po Chong Chan.

Sejarah kemegahan dan tamadun Champa yang cukup panjang iaitu memakan masa ratusan tahun tidak cukup untuk diulas dan dimuatkan semuanya dalam ruangan artikel yang terhad ini. Namun begitu, ianya bagaikan tidak bermakna pada hari ini kerana hanya tinggal sisa-sisa sejarah. Wilayah kekuasaannya telah menyusut sedikit demi sedikit sebelum hilang sepenuhnya dan kini seolah-olah menjadi tanahair asal untuk kaum Dai-Viet. Negara Champa telah merakamkan sisi gelap yang sering menyebabkan kejatuhan sesebuah Kerajaan di Nusantara, terutamanya disebabkan perpecahan di kalangan pembesar negara dan rakyatnya serta pengkhianatan yang dibuat oleh orang kepercayaan sendiri disebabkan sifat tamakkan ganjaran dunia. Malahan, kebanyakan orang Melayu sendiri pada hari ini tidak kira di negara kita, Singapura, Brunei dan Indonesia pun kadang kala tidak tahu mengenai kewujudan negara Champa.

Borang Permohonan Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia

2011-12-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

Sapa2 yg belum tonyoh lagi, boleh download borang ni dan hantar ke pejabat LHDN berdekatan. Jgn lupa fotostat IC & Slip gaji. Sekadar mempermudahkan. Wassalam

Things You Didn't Know About Coconuts

2011-11-01T02:10:00.000-07:00

Did You Know...

That coconuts are one of the wonder foods on earth that amply provides for all human needs? They can even save your life!

Few people (even fewer doctors) understand how important the coconut is to stabilizing blood sugar; lowering cholesterol; healing; hydration; and even replacing blood plasma in an emergency.

Referred to as kalpa vriksha (Sanskrit for "the tree that supplies all that is needed to live") in ancient India, the coconut palm has been recognized as a top immune booster, antifungal,antibiotic, antiviral and antibacterial remedy for thousands of years all over the world. Yet, it has only been recently that modern researchers have begun to fully discover the massive health benefits this amazing fruit seed offers.

To give just one example of coconuts' live-saving properties, they were used extensively in the Pacific during World War II. Since blood plasma supplies were scarce, it was very common for medics to siphon pure coconut water from young coconuts to be used as emergency plasma transfusions for soldiers who were injured. Since coconut water is nearly identical to human blood, it was suitable for people of all blood types.

Because of its strong antioxidant properties, the coconut can be used to:
==> Lower cholesterol
==> Improve digestion
==> Ward off wrinkles
==> Stabilize glucose levels
==> Fight off viruses
==> Build cells
==> Regulate hormones
==> Increase thyroid production
==> Lose weight
==> Increase metabolism
==> Fight infections
==> Stave off memory loss
==> Kill bacteria
==> And more!

Considered one of the most treasured foods of all time, coconut products -- including coconut flesh, coconut water, coconut oil, and coconut cream -- each deliver superb health benefits.

Coconut oil, for instance, is considered the best and safest oil to use for cooking -- even superior to extra virgin olive oil when it comes to giving the body what it needs for optimum health. Unlike other fats and oils that we typically use for cooking and baking, coconut oil does not form polymerized oils or dangerous Trans fatty acids in our bodies, which can raise our cholesterol levels; clog our arteries and even make our skin sag and wrinkle. Plus, this ultra-safe oil can give your body important antioxidants that can help build stronger cells and improve your overall health and well being.

Here are a few ways that you can use coconut products to stave off disease and to recapture the look and feeling of youth:

Coconut Water - The coconut is a natural water filter. It takes almost 9 months for a coconut to filter every quart of water stored within its shell. This makes the resulting coconut water completely pure and sterile, which is one reason why it can be used for blood transfusions.

Another benefit of coconut water is the fact that it has the highest concentration of electrolytes than anything else found in nature. This makes it an excellent source of hydration.

Coconut Oil - In addition to being superior for cooking and baking, coconut oil also makes a superb topical oil that can help to naturally rid the skin of dangerous toxins. It also gives the skin the perfect mix of hydration and antioxidants that it needs to stay healthy, smooth and younger-looking longer.

Another great benefit of coconut oil is in protecting your teeth from the bacteria that can cause cavities and disease. Simply rubbing a little fresh coconut oil on your gums and teeth can keep them stronger and healthier than virtually any other dental treatment.

Most people don't realize that coconut oil can actually help you lose weight! Yes, simply changing your cooking oil from the unsaturated fat variety to coconut oil can help you lose those extra pounds. Here's why: Unsaturated fats found in canola, corn and other vegetables oils, as well as margarine suppress the metabolism, which makes it harder to lose weight -- and easier to gain it. Over time, this metabolism suppression may result in 20-30 pounds of excess weight that your body cannot get rid of. Coconut oil, on the other hand, helps to increase thyroid function and boost your metabolism -- 2 important components to shedding unwanted pounds.

Coconut Cream - The best skin treatment product one can use to achieve flawless skin may quite possibly be coconut cream. Unlike traditional skin creams which can actually introduce fats and oils to the skin that will break it down over time, making it look older, creams derived from the coconut can actually replenish the skin, giving it a more youthful and healthy glow than most other skin care products on the market.

When it comes to buying coconut products, coconuts are not all created equal. Wild coconuts are always best, but can be hard to obtain if you don't live in a tropical country. Whether you are using this wonder food to boost your immune system; increase your metabolism or fight wrinkles, using products from young coconuts will help you reap the most benefit.

Young coconuts contain the purest unsaturated fat, compared to the fat found in the more mature varieties. This is why they offer the most rejuvenation properties for the body's tissues. But how can you tell how old a coconut is? Young coconuts are usually green in color and oddly shaped. The brown hairy ones are mature coconuts, and while they offer a lot of healthy benefits, they aren't nearly as good for you as younger varieties.

The best place to find young fresh coconuts is, of course, in the markets of the tropics, so be sure to seek them out if you travel to those areas. Coconut-producing regions export coconuts all over the world, however, so it's relatively easy to find coconuts at your local health food store or Asian grocer.

Mengkuang Titi boleh

2011-09-22T21:39:00.000-07:00

Clean your kidneys with just a few ringgit

2011-07-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments and how are we going to overcome this?

It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley (daun ketumbar) and wash it clean.

Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool.

Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.

Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!

Hope you will forward this to all your loved ones

Malam 31/1/2011 di Mengkuang Titi

2011-01-26T19:52:00.000-08:00

Resepi sumbangan kawan2

2009-12-11T03:31:00.000-08:00

PUDING CENDUL

Bahan-bahan

1/2 paket agar2 [20 gm]
3 gelas air
1 cawan gula
1 cawan susu cair
2 cawan cendul
1 cawan gula merah

Cara Memasak

1. Rebuskan agar dengan air sehingga mendideh..
2. Masukkan gula dan biarkan mendideh lagi. Tapiskan.
3. Bahagikan adunan pada 3 bahagian.
4. Bahagian 1/3 itu dipanaskan dan masukkan gula merah.
5. Kacau rata dn biarkan mendideh dan tapis.
6. Masukkan sedikit dalam acuan dan biarkan agak keras tetapi jangan ekras sangat nanti adunan tidak melekat.
7. 2 bahagian lagi dipanaskan dan masukkan susu cair dan cendul.
8. Kacau rata dan tuangkan perlahan2 atas adunan gula merah dan sejukkan.
9. Hidangkan.

PUDING LAPIS

Bahan-bahan

1 paket agar-agar [30 gram]
6 cawan air
250 gm gula
1 tin susu cair
pewarna merah,kuning dan hijau

Cara Memasak

1. Rebuskan agar-agar dengan air sehingga agar-agar hancur.
2. Masukkan gula dan masak sehingga mendideh.
3. Tapiskan dan masukkan susu cair.
4. Bahagikan agar-agar pada 3 mangkuk yg sama banyak.
5. Masukkan warna yg berlainan pada 3 mangkuk.
6. Tuangkan 1 bahagian [mangkuk] dalam acuan dan sejukkan.
7. Bila agar2 hampir beku tuangkan lagi 1 bahagian yg lain dengan perlahan [supaya warna tidak bercampur dengan warna yg lain] .
8. Lakukan sama dngan bahagian yg akhir.
9. Sejukkan dan hidangkan.

NOTA
sementara agar-agar beku, mangkuk agar2 yg lain diletakkan dalam loyang yg berisi air panas supaya agar2 dalam mangkuk itu tidak beku.

NASI PAPRIK AYAM

Bahan-bahan

500 gm isi ayam [boleh juga gunakan ayam..potong kecil
6 biji cili api [diketuk]
3 ulas bawang merah [dimayang halus ]
2 ulas bawang putih[dimayang ]
1 btg serai [diketuk]
5 sudu sos cili
2 sudu sos tomato
1 sudu sos tiram
3 btg kacang panjang [dipotong pendek]
Garam secukup rasa
sedikit minyak masak
daun limau purut [ koyakkan]

Cara Memasak

1. Panaskan minyak dan tumis bawang merah dan bawang putih.
2. Bila kekuningan, masukkan cili api.
3. Masukkan sos cili, sos tomato, sos tiram, serai dan sedikit air
4. Selepas menggelegak, masukkan isi ayam dan daun limau purut.
5. Biarkan ayam lembut.
6. Hidangkan ngan nasi putih.

AYAM MASAK HALIA

Bahan-bahan

500 gm ayam [potong kecil dan basuh bersih]
3 s/b sos tiram ]
1/2 cawan air ] bancuh
1 s/k tepung jagung ]
1 s/k serbuk lada hitam
1 pokok daun bawang [potong pendek]
1 biji buah tomato [belah 4]
minyak
garam

Bahan Hiris
5 cm halia
3 ulas bawang merah
3 ulas bawang putih
3 tangkai cili merah

Cara Memasak

1. Panaskan minyak dan tumiskan bahan hiris sehingga layu.
2. Masukkan ayam dan kacau rata. Masukkna sikit air dan tutup
3. Masakkan ayam sehingga lembut.
4. Masukkan bancuhan tepung jagung dan sos tiram. Biarkan sehingga pekat.
5. Masukkan tomato buah dan daun bawang. Kacau rata.
6. Hidangkan.

Kerutub Ayam

Bahan-bahan

1 ekor ayam [buangkan kulit & potong kecil]
2 s/b rempah kari ] dibancuh
2 s/b rempah kurma ]
2 cawan santan
1 s/b gula merah
1 s/b kerisek
3 s/b minyak untuk menumis

Bahan kisar...
100 gm bawang merah goreng
2 biji buah keras
2 cm halia
2 cm lengkuas
3 batang serai
5 ulas bawang merah
3 ulas baswang putih

Cara Memasak

1. Tumiskan bahan kisar sehingga garing.
2. Masukkan rempah. Kacau sehingga sebati.
3. Masukkan ayam, kerisek, garam gula dan santan. Biarkan sehingga mendideh
4. Masakkan sehingga pekat dan ayam lembut.
5. Pastikan kacau sekali sekala.
6. Hidangkan dengan nasi atau roti.

DAGING GORENG LADA HITAM

Bahan-bahan

500 gm daging lembu [potong kecil dan nipis]
2 s/b kicap pekat
2 s/b tepung jagung ] bancuh
1 cawan air ]
2 s/b lada hitam [tumbuk]
3 s/b minyak untuk menumis
garam secukup rasa...

bahan tumis [mayangkan/hiriskan]
5 ulas bawang merah/kecil
2 ulas bawang putih
1 inci halia
1 labu bawang besar

bahan hiasan
2 tangkai daun sup ]
2 tangkai daun bawang ]potong 1 inci
1 biji tomato [belah 6]
2 biji cili merah
2 biji cili hijau

Cara Memasak

1. Panaskan minyak dan tumiskan bahan tumis sehingga wangi dan layu.
2. Masukkan daging dan gorengkan sehingga daging lembut.
3. Masukkan bancuhan air tepung jagung dan kicap pekat.
4. Masakkan sehingga pekat dan masukkan bahan hiasan.
5. Angkat dan hidangkan dengan nasi atau roti.

RENDANG TOK

Bahan-bahan

1 kg daging [potong sebesar 3 inci]
2 cawan santan pekat [1 biji kelapa]
1/2 cawan kerisik
1/2 biji kelapa [dipotong nipis] >> kakliza x masukkan sebab anak2 tak suka..
3 s/b gula merah
3 keping asam keping
Daun kunyit [koyakkan]
garam

Bahan mesin
2 s/b ketumbar
1 s/b jintan manis
1 s/b jintan putih
1 s/b lada hitam
3 kuntum bunga lawang
5 kuntum bunga cengkih
25 biji cili kering
20 biji bawang merah
5 cm halia
5 batang serai
3 cm lengkuas

Cara Memasak

1. Masukkan semua bahan kecuali daun kunyit, kerisik dan asam keping dalam kuali.
2.. Masakkan dengan api perlahan sehingga pekat dan naik minyak.
3. Bila telah pekat masukkan daun kunyit, asam keping dan kerisik. Kacau rata.
4. Masakkan lagi sehinggan naik minyak dan cukup pekat. [sebaiknya keringkan sikit rendang ni]
5. Hidangkan.

Guitar Tuner - by Guitar2ner.com

2009-10-16T09:12:00.001-07:00

Online Guitar Tuner by Guitar2ner.com

Cheap Guitars | Alternate Tunings | Guitar Strings 101 | Like it? Donate

Fw: Eat Less Rice!

2009-08-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

The human body was never meant to consume rice! You see, our genes have hardly changed in more than 30,000 years. However, our food choices and lifestyle have changed dramatically. The caveman would hardly recognise our food or way of life.

Caveman food was never cooked as fire was not yet tamed. Thus, he ate only those foods that you can eat without treatment with or by fire.. He ate fruits, vegetables, fish (sushi anyone?), eggs, nuts and meat. Yes, even meat! You can even eat meat raw if you were starving in the forest. You have the necessary enzymes to digest meat.

However, rice, like wheat and corn, cannot be eaten raw. It must be cooked. Even if you were starving in the desert, you cannot eat rice in the raw form. This is because we do not have the system of enzymes to break rice down. You were never meant to eat rice. To make matters worse, you not only eat rice, but also make it the bulk of your food.

In some parts of Asia , rice forms up to 85% of the plate. Even if you take rice, keep it to a minimum. Remember, it is only for your tongue - not your body. Actually, rice and other grains like wheat and corn are actually worse than sugar. There are many reasons:

Rice becomes sugar - lots of it! This is a fact that no nutritionist can deny: rice is chemically no different from sugar. One bowl of cooked rice is the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This does not matter whether it is white, brown or herbal rice. Brown rice is richer in fibre, some B vitamins and minerals but it is still the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. To get the same 10 teaspoons of sugar, you need to consume lots of kangkong-10 bowls of it.

Rice is digested to become sugar. Rice cannot be digested before it is thoroughly cooked. However, when thoroughly cooked, it becomes sugar and spikes circulating blood sugar within half an hour-almost as quickly as it would if you took a sugar candy. Rice is very low in the 'rainbow of anti-oxidants. '

This complete anti-oxidant rainbow is necessary for the effective and safe utilisation of sugar. Fruits come with a sugar called fructose. However, they are not empty calories as the fruit is packed with a whole host of other nutrients that help its proper assimilation and digestion.

Rice has no fibre. The fibre of the kangkong fills you up long before your blood sugar spikes. This is because the fibre bulks and fills up your stomach. Since white rice has no fibre, you end up eating lots of 'calorie dense' food before you get filled up. Brown rice has more fibre but still the same amount of sugar.

Rice is tasteless-sugar is sweet. There is only so much that you can eat at one sitting. How many teaspoons of sugar can you eat before you feel like throwing up? Could you imagine eating 10 teaspoons of sugar in one seating?

Rice is always the main part of the meal. While sugar may fill your dessert or sweeten your coffee, it will never be the main part of any meal. You could eat maybe two to three teaspoons of sugar at one meal. However, you could easily eat the equal value of two to three bowls (20-30 teaspoons) of sugar in one meal. I am always amused when I see someone eat sometimes five bowls of rice (equals 50 teaspoons of sugar) and then asks for tea tarik kurang manis!

There is no real 'built in' mechanism for us to prevent overeating of rice:
How much kangkong can you eat?
How much fried chicken can you eat?
How much steamed fish can you eat?
Think about that!

In one seating, you cannot take lots of chicken, fish or cucumber, but you can take lots of rice. Eating rice causes you to eat more salt. As rice is tasteless, you tend to consume more salt-another villain when it comes to high blood pressure. You tend to take more curry that has salt to help flavor rice. We also tend to consume more ketchup and soy sauce which are also rich in salt.

Eating rice causes you to drink less water. The more rice you eat, the less water you will drink as there is no mechanism to prevent the overeating of rice. Rice, wheat and corn come hidden in our daily food. As rice is tasteless, it tends to end up in other foods that substitute rice like rice flour, noodles and bread. We tend to eat the hidden forms which still get digested into sugar.

Rice, even when cooked, is difficult to digest. Can't eat raw rice? Try eating rice half cooked. Contrary to popular belief, rice is very difficult to digest. It is 'heavy stuff'. If you have problems with digestion, try skipping rice for a few days. You will be amazed at how the problem will just go away.

Rice prevents the absorption of several vitamins and minerals. Rice when taken in bulk will reduce the absorption of vital nutrients like zinc, iron and the B vitamins.

Are you a rice addict? Going rice-less may not be easy but you can go rice-less. Eating less rice could be lot easier than you think. Here are some strategies that you can pursue in your quest to eat less rice:

Eat less rice-cut your rice by half.
Barry Sears, author of the Zone Diet, advises 'eating rice like spice'. Instead, increase your fruits and vegetables. Take more lean meats and fish. You can even take more eggs and nuts.

Have 'riceless' meals. Take no rice or wheat at say, breakfast. Go for eggs instead. Go on 'riceless' days. Go 'western' once a week. Take no rice and breads for one day every week.

That can't be too difficult. Appreciate the richness of your food. Go for taste, colours and smells. Make eating a culinary delight. Enjoy your food in the original flavours. Avoid the salt shaker or ketchup. You will automatically eat less rice. Eat your fruit dessert before (Yes! No printing error) your meals. The fibre rich fruits will 'bulk up' in your stomach. Thus, you will eat less rice and more fruits..

It's your life. Decide what you want to eat! But eat less rice!

Know the Difference between Cold and Swine Flu Symptoms

2009-08-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

Symptom	Cold	Swine Flu
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100�F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.	A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills	Chills are uncommon with a cold.	60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness	Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.	Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.	A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
,Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.	Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu..

Checklist Ramadhan

2009-08-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan
Wishing all Muslim friends - selamat berpuasa..

Ramadhan hampir menjelang dan persiapan hendaklah diadakan dengan memahami cara beramal di bulan Ramadhan mengikut sunnah dan jangan menjalani ibadah Ramadhan mengikut adat kerana Rasullah pernah bersabda didalam hadisnya :

Barang siapa menghidupkan sunnahKu ketika rosak umat-Ku maka baginya mendapat pahala seratus syahid. Oleh itu berhati-hatilah melakukan amal supaya mempunyai nilai yang tinggi dan mendapat kesan yang baik disepanjang bulan Ramadhan dan dibawah ini dicatatkan amalan-amalan mengikut sunnah.

CHECK LIST AMALAN DI BULAN RAMADHAN

1. Mengucapkan tahniah (Selamat datang Ramadhan atau Selamat menyambut Ramadhan.

2. Niat sebulan bagi malam yang pertama dan selanjutnya niat untuk hari-hari.

3. Sembahyang Isyak berjamaah di masjid/surau.

4. Solat Tarawikh 20 rakaat.

5. Tadarus membaca bersemak dan berturut-turut juzuk.

6. Tidur malam membaca 4 ayat terakhir Surah Al Kahfi supaya dikejutkan bangun tepat jam 4.00 pagi.

7. Bangun jam 4.00 pagi dan setengah jam untuk Qiamullail ringan (Solat Tahjud, Solat Taubat dan Solat Hajat)

8. Jam 4.30 pagi kaum ibu masak sahur.

9. Jam 5.00 pagi/5.15 pagi makan sahur.

10.Jangan tidur sesudah sahur.

11.Solat Subuh berjemaah di Masjid.

12.Tadarus pendek.

13.Matahari tinggi segalah, lakukan solat Isyraq.

14.Menjalankan kerja harian dan menjaga pancaindera.

15.Jam 11.00 pagi tunaikan Solat Dhuha.

16.Lakukan Solat Kafarah Baul 2 rakaat. Rakaat pertama selepas Fatihah baca Surah Al Kautsar 7 kali dan rakaat kedua selepas Fatihah baca Surah Ikhlas 7 kali.

17.Jam 12.00 tengahari tidur, niat tidur waktu Qailulah (ganti jaga satu jam diwaktu sahur)

18.Solat Zuhur berjemaah.

19.Tadarus pendek.

20.Sebelah petang kaum ibu menyediakan berbuka petang.

21.Solat Asar berjemaah di Masjid.

22.Jika masa petang jangan gunakan untuk bersiar-siar atau menonton TV yang melibatkan kemaksiatan. Sebaik-baiknya digunakan untuk mengikuti majlis-majlis ilmu atau berdoa kerana waktu itu amat mustajab.

23. Berbuka dengan ala kadar iaitu minuman yang belum dipanas oleh api atau dengan buah kurma atau buah tempatan.

24.Segera Solat Maghrib di Masjid.

25.Makan malam bersama keluarga.

26.Bersiap sedia untuk ke masjid menunaikan Solat Isyak dan Tarawikh secara berjemaah.

KELEBIHAN-KELEBIHAN YANG LAIN

1. Menghadiri majlis ilmu setiap langkah di beri pahala ibadah sunah setahun.

2. Mengekali berjemaah diberi balasan dengan disediakan sebuah bandar khas di Syurga.

3. Membuat hubungan baik kepda kedua ibu bapa, Allah pandang dengan penuh kasih sayang.

4. Isteri taat kepada suami diberi pahala seperti pahala Asiah dan Mariam.

5. Sesiapa yang menyampaikan hajat saudaranya disampaikan 1000 hajatnya di akhirat.

Mengurangkan berat badan di dalam menjalani ibadah Ramadhan

1. Sebelum puasa timbang badan

2. Kawal berbuka puasa

3. Pastikan semakin lama menunaikan ibadah puasa akan semakin kurang berat badan

4. Elakan daripada makan berlebihan

RANCANG PENINGKATAN IBADAH RAMADHAN

1. Sepuluh hari yang pertama adakan muhasabah amalan.

2. Sepuluh hari yang kedua, pastikan keimanan bertambah kuat dan selaraskan dengan sempena Nuzul Quran.

3. Sepuluh hari yang ketiga kuatkan azam untuk beramal di malam Al Qadr :

i. Dengan melakukan Solat Maghrib,Isyak dan Tarawikh berjemaah.

ii. Atau ditambah dengan Solat Subuh berjemaah

iii. Duduk dengan air sembahyang dan baca Al-Quran, Ayat Kursi, Surah Al Baqarah terakhir (Amanarrasul), Surah Az -zalzalah, Suraah Al Kafirun, Surah al Ikhlas dan Surah Yasin.

iv. Bagi kaum ibu yang uzur, baca zikir.

v. Bangun pukul 1.00 pagi tunaikan Solat Sunat Wuduk, Solat Hajat, Solat Tasbih, Solat Taubat, Solat Istikarah.

vi. Jika sedang beramal, badan terasa sejuk dan terharu maka inilah tanda-tanda mendapat Lailatul Qadar.

SELAMAT TINGGAL RAMADHAN

i. Pastikan Tarawikh terakhir

ii. Ucapkan Selamat Tinggal Ramadhan dengan penuh terharu dan berdoa semoga dipertemukan sekali lagi dengan Ramadhan yang akan datang.

25 Health Benefits of Lemons

2009-07-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

1. Lemon being a citrus fruit, fights against infection. It helps in production of White Blood Cells and antibodies in blood which attacks the invading microorganism and prevents infection.

2. Lemon is an antioxidant which deactivates the free radicals preventing many dangerous diseases like stroke, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

3. Lemon lowers blood pressure and increases the levels of HDL (good cholesterol).

4. Lemon is found to be anti-carcinogenic which lowers the rates of colon, prostate and breast cancer. They prevent faulty metabolism in the cell, which can predispose a cell to becoming carcinogenic. Also blocks the formation of nitrosamines in the gut.

5. Lemon juice is said to give a glow to the skin.

6. A few drops of lemon juice in hot water are believed to clear the digestive system and purify liver as well.

7. The skin of lemon dried under the sun and then ground to make powder can be applied to the hair for a few minutes before bath which relieves head ache and cools the body.

8. Applying lemon juice to acne dries the existing ones and prevents from getting more.

9. Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightener and skin bleach which reduces the pigment melanin and prevents the risk of chemical allergic reactions which is common with hair dyes and bleaches.

10. Lemon juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis, and inflammation of the tongue.

11. Lemon juice is used to prevent common cold.

12. Lemon juice is given to prevent/treat urinary tract infection and gonorrhea.

13. Lemon juice is applied to the sites of bites and stings of certain insects to relieve its poison and pain.

14. Lemon juice relieves colic pain and gastric problems.

15. Lemon juice soothes the dry skin when applied with little glycerin.

16. Lemon juice used for marinating seafood or meat kills bacteria and other organisms present in them, thereby prevents many gastro-intestinal tract infections.

17. Lemon juice with a pinch of salt (warm) every morning lowers cholesterol levels and brings down your weight.

18. Lemon juice is the best drink to prevent dehydration and shock in case of diarrhea.

19. Lemon juice can also be used as a mouthwash. It removes plaque, whitens the teeth and strengthens the enamel.

20. A table spoon o thick lemon syrup everyday relieves asthma.

21. Lemon juice relieves chilblains and itchy skin.

22. Gargling lemon juice relieves throat infection and also used as a treatment for diphtheria.

23. Lemon juice is an excellent treatment for dandruff and greasy hair.

24. Lemon juice, applied over the face, removes wrinkles and keeps you young.

25. Lemon juice helps to prevent and cure osteoarthritis.

Lemon is not usually allergic or toxic to many, so why not try its natural benefits first, then go on to medicines.

Minyak Masak Kelapa Sawit Boleh Diguna Ganti Minyak Hitam

2009-05-26T06:10:00.000-07:00

PERCAYAKAH anda bahawa minyak masak berasaskan minyak kelapa sawit boleh digunakan sebagai minyak pelincir untuk kenderaan anda?

Malahan sudah terdapat segelintir penduduk di Negeri Sembilan menggunakan minyak masak sebagai minyak pelincir atau minyak hitam untuk kereta mereka tanpa menghadapi sebarang masalah.

Pengurus Pemasaran Sekolah Golf Michael Ismail, Nik Safian Afzani Omar berkata, beliau telah menggunakan minyak masak yang dibeli pada harga RM2.50 sepaket untuk enjin kereta Kancilnya.

"Kancil saya menggunakan tiga liter minyak hitam. Jadi, saya tuang dua paket setengah minyak masak untuk menyamai kuantiti itu. Dahulu, kalau servis minyak hitam, saya berhabis sehingga RM130, tetapi sekarang kurang RM10," katanya..

Jika dahulu beliau menggunakan minyak hitam semi sentitik jenama Castrol, kini Nik Safian Afzani menggunakan 'minyak hitam' yang dibelinya dari sebuah pasar raya.

Menurutnya, selepas menggunakan minyak masak sebagai minyak hitam, suhu enjinnya sangat rendah dan meter suhu tidak pernah lebih dari satu takuk.

Nik Safian berkata, ketika menghantar kereta ke sebuah bengkel kenderaan untuk ditukar penapis minyak, pekerja bengkel tersebut terkejut apabila mendapati keretanya menggunakan minyak masak sebagai minyak hitam tetapi mengakui ini merupakan alternatif terbaik sebab harga minyak pelincir pada hari ini sudah naik.

Sementara itu, pencipta alat penjimat minyak kereta berasaskan gas hidrogen dan air, Hisham Abdullah, 43, turut menggunakan minyak masak sebagai minyak hitam untuk kereta Proton Iswaranya.

Beliau sudah menggunakan bahan itu setahun yang lepas dan mendapati tidak ada kesan negatif menimpa keretanya..

Bekas jurutera sebuah syarikat Jepun serta graduan dalam bidang ekonomi dan kejuruteraan dari Universiti Arkansas, Amerika Syarikat itu berkata: "Minyak kelapa sawit merupakan minyak paling sentitik, tetapi kita tidak tahu mengenainya."

Mekanik kereta, Mohd Tajuddin Jalil pula, mula mengetahui mengenai rahsia minyak masak sebagai ganti minyak hitam kira-kira dua tahun lalu selepas bertemu dengan seorang pakar minyak dari luar negara.

Sejak itu, beliau menggunakan minyak masak berasaskan kelapa sawit sebagai minyak hitam keretanya, malahan beliau mengenali 67 pengguna kereta di Negeri Sembilan yang menggunakan minyak masak sebagai pelincir enjin kereta mereka.

"Hanya minyak masak berasaskan kelapa sawit sahaja boleh digunakan sebagai minyak hitam. Jangan pakai minyak masak berasaskan jagung, sayuran atau kacang kerana minyak ini pada suhu sejuk akan menjadi beku," katanya.

Katanya, harga minyak hitam keluaran pelbagai syarikat kini meningkat dengan sebotol empat liter minyak hitam semi sentitik kini berharga RM160 dan minyak sentitik sepenuhnya, mencecah RM200.

Bagaimanapun, beliau menasihatkan orang ramai supaya menukar gasket kereta mereka kepada jenama yang lebih baik sebelum menggunakan minyak masak sebagai pelincir enjin kereta.

Orang ramai juga boleh melayari laman web < http://www.nordicgr oup.us/oil. htm > http://www.nordicgr oup.us/oil. htm The300 Mile Facts untuk maklumat yang sama.

- Bernama

Don't Sleep Late

2009-05-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

Good rest and sound sleep is very Important... if u don't sleep well, the toxic in your body will accumulate..Affecting your health and your mood...

The main causes of liver damage are:
1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are the main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8. Consuming overly done foods also add to the burden of liver. Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our body to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

Because: Evening at 9 - 11pm : is the time for eliminating unnecessary/ toxic chemicals (de-toxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on her health.

Evening at 11pm - 1am : The de-toxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state. Early morning 1 - 3am : de-toxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 3 - 5am : de-toxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the de-toxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.
Morning 5 - 7am : de-toxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.

Morning 7 - 9am : Absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 -10am rather than no meal at all. Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood.

Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.

Malay Traditional House

2009-02-09T07:12:00.000-08:00

The Semalu

2009-01-19T18:44:00.000-08:00

Malay Weddings

2009-01-12T01:21:00.000-08:00

Abang Non & Kak Dah's wedding

Abang Halim Kak Zaini's wedding

Road to the village 1

2008-12-25T19:56:00.001-08:00

Perkampungan Tradisional Kampung ini terletak di Mengkuang Titi, Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah, lebih kurang 22 km dari bandar Butterworth. Aktiviti perkhemahan boleh diadakan di sini dan menjadi tumpuan, terutamanya pada musim buah-buahan.

http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/destination/mengkuang%20titi.html

Rural Playground

2008-12-25T19:37:00.001-08:00

(an article from http://magazine.virtualmalaysia.com/)

There is one thing I despise about visiting homestays – parting ways with my host family to head back to the city. My last homestay trip was no exception.

Just east of Butterworth in Penang, nestled in the shadows of Bukit Mertajam, lies a quaint hamlet called Mengkuang Titi Mengkuang Titi is one of a clusters of villages named after a riverbank plant Mengkuang whose serrated leaves are processed and woven into mats. Titi, meaning bridge, identifies this particular village from those around it as it centres on the small bridge across the Mengkuang River that runs through the village.

Mengkuang Titi isn’t my village, but there are aspects of it that trigger fond memories of a more carefree youth. My host, Makcik Mah (Makcik means aunty - a salutation given to older woman), is a disciplinarian. But when she woke me up early in the morning to the crowing of cockerels, it was so that I can have an early breakfast and quite literally go out to play. And that’s really the basis of the entire homestay experience – at least for the locals. I savoured the opportunity to take a break from being a responsible and serious adult.

There are roughly 70 families dwelling in Mengkuang Titi and 25 of them are homestay hosts. To date, they have received guests from Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Korea. Just a few months earlier, Makcik Mah hosted a couple of young men from Saudi Arabia who were studying in Kuala Lumpur.

The folks in Mengkuang Titi are spoiled for choice when it comes to night and farmer’s markets. Within a 4km radius of the village, there are four night markets held on four different days of the week. And all four markets take pride in offering the freshest produce - from newly caught fish and crabs to an enviable variety of fruits, which just a few hours ago were still hanging from its tree branch. The one I went to was in the small town of Penanti, a five-minute drive from Mengkuang Titi. Stalls with brightly-coloured umbrellas line the long stretch of road, hedged by shophouses. Beyond the road, in the far distance lies an old Chinese cemetery on a sloping hillside, making for an interesting contrast.

Incidentally, villages such as Mengkuang Titi are some of the best places to sample fruits and foods not found in cities and towns, such as jentik, which comes in a grape-like bunch with a brittle yellowish exterior. Snacks and savouries, such as sweet corn, spiced fried chicken and apam balik, are prepared on-site and compete on quality and taste. Not even the sweltering afternoon heat can dampen the buzz of shopping for great food at even better prices.

Early in the mornings, birdsongs float in the chilly morning air. Faintly in the background, I could hear Makcik Mah preparing breakfast. A cook by trade, she plies her guests with all kinds of delicious foods from morning till night. In the words of her daughter, Siti: “In this house, we’re rich with food!’

The revival of Mengkuang Titi includes a nascent cultural dance troupe called Suditari. The second night there, I got the chance to drop in on the troupe at work. Their performance, though a little rough around the edge, was honest and delivered with a lot of heart. The graceful women curl their fingers like hula dancers and the gregarious men trot their dance steps, but whether rehearsing or performing for an audience, their faces are always smiling, for they have plenty of time to perfect their craft alongside the development of the Mengkuang Titi homestay programme.

Early next morning, I was off to one of the10 surviving rubber plantations in Mengkuang Titi. The two-acre plantation is owned by 42-year-old Rahmah Saari who was busy tapping the mature rubber trees when we arrived. Under the cool shade of the trees, we chatted for a while. This affable lady works the plantation with her husband for some side income. Small, privately owned plantations such as these are dwindling in numbers as vast plantations owned by conglomerates win out from sheer economies of scale. The hardworking couple also rears geese, ducks and chickens.

Just before I left the plantation, I slipped a handful of rubber plant seeds into my bag. I just couldn’t resist the shining, speckled brown globes which reminded me of my youth, when running cross-country through rubber plantations was a bi-annual primary school routine.

Back at Makcik Mah’s house, after a simple afternoon tea, I took a walk around the village to drink in the quiet afternoon. In front of an old wooden house on stilts, a group of young boys gathered around watching their friends play gasing, a traditional wooden top. Nearby, a few girls played congkak, another traditional game more popular with the girls. I sat and watched them, noticing their shy glances and timid smiles as they curiously regard this stranger in their village.

Dare to stay longer here and you’ll risk falling in love with Mengkuang Titi and its people. Like many homestays, it’s the people here that make the difference. There are charmed jewels in the form of elderly folks that give the village its memorable character. The friendly old lady who smokes rolled tobacco, or the old grandfather who ventures around the village on his beaten up pre-war bicycle. But arguably the most memorable is the old couple affectionately known as Tok Wan and Tok Nah.

If there is one thing Tok Wan can’t resist, it’s to startle Tok Nah whenever guests are around. You see, Tok Nah goes into a fit of latah whenever she is startled. A trait often seen in elderly women folk, when startled, they react by repeating the last word they heard. Sometimes Tok Nah would break into a song with that word in it. Other times she would act out the suggestion or question pounced on her. It’s difficult to explain. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.

There are a million and one things you could do at Mengkuang Titi, from trying your hands at rubber tapping, to fishing at the ban – the narrow channels of water feeding into the paddy fields. But on of the best things to do is to visit the private fruit orchards owned by almost every family in Mengkuang Titi. The one I went to belonged to an elderly gentleman named Saad Hashim. This generous, 70-year-old ex-soldier who once served in Congo is proud of his fruit trees and invited me to sample a type of rambutan he grows - lychee rambutan, named for its small size. In his two-acre orchard, several trees stoop low, its branches laden with bright red globes of ripe lychee rambutans. All we had to do was to reach up, pluck the fruits and enjoy it under the shade. A few feet away, dokong, durian, mangosteen and ciku trees are either already fruiting or in bloom, due to break out with fruits in a few weeks’ time.

My three-day, two-night visit ended before I could do all there is to do in Mengkuang Titi. I didn’t have time to visit Kamloon beach, a half-hour’s drive from Mengkuang Titi. I was told that along the road that leads to this beach, one can see the vast expanse of commercial paddy fields stretching for miles on both sides of the highway. Nearby, in the Kuala Muda estuary, local fishermen haul in their catch of the day. I wonder what the beach is like. Maybe I’ll get to see it on my next visit.

Program Homestay Tambah Pendapatan Penduduk Mengkuang Titi

2008-12-25T19:08:00.000-08:00

Oleh Muna Khalid

BUKIT MERTAJAM, 13 Ogos 08 (Bernama) -- Dulunya Mengkuang Titi hanya sebuah perkampungan Melayu di Permatang Pauh yang tidak dikenali, apatah lagi dikunjungi pelancong dari jauh.

Kini, kampung yang terletak di daerah Seberang Perai Tengah, kira-kira 25 kilometer dari Butterworth, mula didatangi tetamu dari merata dunia sejak adanya program homestay yang diperkenalkan mulai tahun 1997.

Namun selepas 10 tahun, ia belum boleh dibanggakan sebagai projek yang benar-benar dapat mengubah nasib penduduk kampung di situ, setidak-tidaknya bagi Mohd Nor Ariffin, 55.

"Pendapatan tambahan saya daripada projek ini hanyalah kira-kira RM300 sebulan," keluh beliau.

Sungguhpun begitu, beliau masih berupaya memperoleh pendapatan RM1,000 sebulan sebagai seorang pekerja kontrak di kampung itu.

Dengan pendapatan itu, Mohd Nor menyara hidup keluarganya terutama anaknya, Mohd Nizam, 18, yang kini mengikuti kursus kejuruteraan komputer di Universiti Putra Malaysia.

"Perbelanjaan di universiti sangat tinggi, duit yang dapat bolehlah bantu anak saya belajar," katanya.

Peserta homestay seperti Mohd Nor mengharapkan kehadiran pelancong yang berterusan ke kampungnya bagi memastikan beliau mendapat pendapatan yang memuaskan.

Bagi mencapai matlamat itu, program homestay itu perlu dipasarkan secara berkesan bagi memastikan pelancong tidak putus-putus ke Mengkuang Titi.

Pengusaha restoran di kampung itu, Mohamad Mohd Nor berkata beliau menyediakan makanan dan minuman kepada kumpulan pelancong yang melawat kampung itu.

"Ia merupakan pendapatan sampingan saya. Setiap kali pelancong datang, saya memperolehi pendapatan tambahan kira-kira RM200," katanya yang lebih dikenali dengan panggilan Pak Ali.

Mohd Nor dan Pak Ali meletakkan harapan yang tinggi agar program homestay itu dapat dinaik taraf dan dipromosikan secara meluas supaya lebih ramai pelawat melawat kampung.

Mereka mahu bakal anggota Parlimen kawasan itu turut membantu mempromosi serta mendapatkan bantuan kerajaan untuk penambahbaikan program itu.

Penduduk Permatang Pauh akan mendapat anggota Parlimen baru berikutan perletakan jawatan Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sebagai anggota Parlimen kawasan itu bagi memberi laluan kepada suaminya,penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim untuk bertanding.

Pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Permatang Pauh akan diadakan pada 26 Ogos ini.

Sementara itu, Pengerusi Koperasi Mengkuang Titi, Rohaizat Othman berkata sejak dilaksanakan sebanyak 35 buah rumah dilesenkan sebagai homestay di bawah Majlis Tindakan Pelancongan negeri.

Katanya, untuk melayakkan sebuah rumah itu diisytiharkan sebagai homestay, pemilik rumah (anggota koperasi) mestilah memastikan rumah mereka bersih, cantik, kemas, persekitaran yang menarik serta mempunyai bilik tetap yang telah diasingkan untuk dikhaskan kepada para pelancong.

Setakat ini, Mengkuang Titi menerima kehadiran pelancong asing hampir setiap bulan antaranya dari Amerika Syarikat, Thailand, Jepun dan Sepanyol.

Rohaizat berkata sejak dilaksanakan, program itu berjaya menambah pendapatan pemilik rumah yang terlibat."

Setiap rumah boleh menempatkan sekurang-kurangnya dua orang pelancong dan kadar bayaran untuk satu malam ialah RM50 setiap seorang termasuk sarapan pagi, makan tengah hari dan makan malam," katanya.

Rohaizat berkata kerajaan melalui Unit Penyelarasan Bumiputera memperuntukkan antara RM5,000 hingga RM12,000 bagi membaiki rumah yang terlibat untuk keselesaan pelancong.

Dengan mengekalkan struktur rumah tradisi dan suasana kampung orang Melayu, setiap rumah yang terlibat ditambah nilai dengan menyediakan sekurang-kurangnya satu bilik tidur yang dilengkapkan dengan bilik mandi, tandas dan kemudahan asas lain untuk pelancong yang tinggal bersama keluarga terlibat.

Katanya selain program homestay, pelbagai program lain diadakan di kampung itu antaranya persembahan kebudayaan dan berkemah berjaya menarik seramai 274 pelawat ke Mengkuang Titi sejak Januari hingga April lepas.

Program Homestay adalah satu daripada program pembangunan fizikal oleh Unit Penyelarasan Pelaksanaan (ICU), Jabatan Perdana Menteri dilaksanakan oleh bahagian Penyelarasan Penyertaan Bumiputera Pulau Pinang dengan kerjasama Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Pulau Pinang (Perda) dan Pejabat Daerah.-- BERNAMA

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