Singaporean vs Malaysian Food

Whether it’s due to their proximity to each other or because of the cross-over cultural influences, there is an assumption that food in Singapore and Malaysia is the same; however, in nearby countries like Indonesia and Thailand, this isn’t the case. So the question remains, is there really a difference?

Both Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine take influence from Chinese, Indian, Malay and Peranakan cultures, but then they have their own regional differences – from Chinese dialect groups, Malay regions and more. For example, in Singapore, the Chinese cuisine is strongly influenced by Hokkien and Teochew traditions, whereas in Malaysia, Cantonese traditions play a bigger role. The best way to see the differences between Malaysian and Singaporean food is by looking at some of the famous dishes found on both sides of the Johor Strait.


Chicken Rice is widely considered Singapore’s most famous dish and one of the city-state’s national dishes. The dish’s popularity certainly rose after Anthony Bourdain included it as one of his top meals to eat before you die. In Singapore, a bowl of fragrant rice made using the chicken stock is served alongside a plate of sliced poached chicken breasts and a selection of condiments for adding to the rice. In Malaysia, however, the chicken is served roasted or even in a BBQ or honey-style sauce. The rice differs as well, served as tightly packed rice balls but still with an array of soy and chilli sauces.


Another hugely popular dish found on both sides of the border is chilli crab. Generally considered to be Singaporean, its true origins came under fire a few years ago when Malaysia’s Tourism Minister claimed that it, along with several other dishes, had been co-opted by other nations. The dish is made similarly in both countries with various species of crab cooked in a tomato sauce and garnished with chilli and eggs, resulting in a sweet and spicy sauce.


The dish that best shows the culinary differences between the two nations is curry laksa, a popular spicy soup that can have a wide assortment of ingredients. In Singapore, it is sometimes named Katong Laksa for the famous Joo Chiat restaurant, 328 Katong Laksa. The version found across Singapore is a thick coconut curry soup, and other ingredients include fish cakes, prawns, and a large serving of noodles. By comparison, the Malay dish is assam laksa, sometimes called Penang Laksa. This dish is sour, and the soup base comprises tamarind (which gives it its sour taste) and fish stock. An array of vegetables, ginger, fish slices and vermicelli are then added to complete the soup.

What do you think, is there a considerable difference between the cuisines of these two countries? The best way to find out is to come out to Asia and try them for yourself!

Species of Otters (Part 2)

European otter

The European otter (Lutra lutra), also called the Eurasian otter, inhabits Europe, most of Asia and parts of North Africa. In the British Isles, they were common as recently as the 1950s, but became rare in many areas due to the use of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, habitat loss and water pollution (they remained relatively common in parts of Scotland and Ireland). Population levels reached a low point in the 1980s, but are now recovering strongly. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan envisages the re-establishment of otters by 2010 in all the UK rivers and coastal areas they inhabited in 1960. Roadkill deaths have become one of the significant threats to the success of their re-establishment.

North American river otter

In some areas, this is a protected species, and some places have otter sanctuaries that help sick and injured otters to recover.The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) became one of the major animals hunted and trapped for fur in North America after European contact. River otters eat a variety of fish and shellfish, as well as small land mammals and birds. They grow to one meter (3 to 4 ft) in length and weigh from five to 15 kilograms (10 to 30 lb).

Sea otter

Unlike most marine mammals (such as seals or whales), sea otters do not have a layer of insulating blubber. As with other species of otter, they rely on a layer of air trapped in their fur, which they keep topped up by blowing into the fur from their mouths. They spend most of their time in the water, whereas other otters spend much of their time on land.Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are classified as marine mammals and live along the Pacific coast of North America. Their historic range included shallow waters of the Bering Strait and Kamchatka, and as far south as Japan. Sea otters have about 26,000 to 165,000 hairs per square centimeters of skin, a rich fur for which humans hunted them almost to extinction. By the time the 1911 Fur Seal Treaty gave them protection, so few sea otters remained that the fur trade had become unprofitable. Sea otters eat shellfish and other invertebrates (especially clams, abalone, and sea urchins). Otter populations are affected by the density of prey they hunt. Because the otter food source is easier to excavate from rocky-bottom habitats, opposed to soft-bottom habitats, more otters tend to live in waters with rocky-bottoms with access to shallow-burrowing prey. They frequently carry a rock in a pouch under their forearm and use this to smash open shells, making them one of the relatively small number of animals that use tools. They grow to 1.0 to 1.5 m (3.3 to 4.9 ft) in length and weigh 30 kg (66 lb). Although once near extinction, they have begun to spread again, from remnant populations in California and Alaska.

Giant otter

Relation with humans. The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) inhabits South America, especially the Amazon river basin, but is becoming increasingly rare due to poaching, habitat loss, and the use of mercury and other toxins in illegal alluvial gold mining. This gregarious animal grows to a length of up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft), and is more aquatic than most other otters.

Otters (Part 1)

Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates. Lutrinae is a branch of the weasel family Mustelidae, which also includes badgers, honey badgers, martens, minks, polecats, and wolverines.

The etymology behind otters are the word otter derives from the Old English word otor or oter. This, and cognate words in other Indo-European languages, ultimately stem from the Proto-Indo-European language root *wódr̥, which also gave rise to the English word "water".

In terms of terminology, An otter's den is called a holt or couch. Male otters are called dogs or boars, females are called bitches or sows, and their offspring are called pups. The collective nouns for otters are bevy, family, lodge, romp (being descriptive of their often playful nature) or, when in water, raft.

The feces of otters are typically identified by their distinctive aroma, the smell of which has been described as ranging from freshly mown hay to putrefied fish; these are known as spraints.

The life cycle of an otter is very interesting. The gestation period in otters is about 60 to 86 days. The newborn pup is cared for by the bitch, dog and older offspring. Bitch otters reach sexual maturity at approximately two years of age and males at approximately three years. The holt is built under tree roots or a rocky cairn, more common in Scotland. It is lined with moss and grass.

After one month, the pup can leave the holt and after two months, it is able to swim. The pup lives with its family for approximately one year. Otters live up to 16 years; they are by nature playful, and frolic in the water with their pups. Its usual source of food is fish, and further downriver, eels, but it may sample frogs and birds.

Characteristics of otters are otters have long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs. Their most striking anatomical features are the powerful webbed feet used to swim, and their seal-like abilities holding breath underwater. Most have sharp claws on their feet and all except the sea otter have long, muscular tails. The 13 species range in adult size from 0.6 to 1.8 m (2.0 to 5.9 ft) in length and 1 to 45 kg (2.2 to 99.2 lb) in weight. The Oriental small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species and the giant otter and sea otter are the largest. They have very soft, insulated underfur, which is protected by an outer layer of long guard hairs. This traps a layer of air which keeps them dry, warm, and somewhat buoyant under water.

Several otter species live in cold waters and have high metabolic rates to help keep them warm. European otters must eat 15% of their body weight each day, and sea otters 20 to 25%, depending on the temperature. In water as warm as 10 °C (50 °F), an otter needs to catch 100 g (3.5 oz) of fish per hour to survive. Most species hunt for three to five hours each day and nursing mothers up to eight hours each day.

For most otters, fish is the staple of their diet. This is often supplemented by frogs, crayfish and crabs.[9] Some otters are expert at opening shellfish, and others will feed on available small mammals or birds. Prey-dependence leaves otters very vulnerable to prey depletion. Sea otters are hunters of clams, sea urchins and other shelled creatures. They are notable for their ability to use stones to break open shellfish on their stomachs. This skill must be learned by the young.[10]

Otters are active hunters, chasing prey in the water or searching the beds of rivers, lakes or the seas. Most species live beside water, but river otters usually enter it only to hunt or travel, otherwise spending much of their time on land to avoid their fur becoming waterlogged. Sea otters are considerably more aquatic and live in the ocean for most of their lives.

Otters are playful animals and appear to engage in various behaviors for sheer enjoyment, such as making waterslides and then sliding on them into the water. They may also find and play with small stones. Different species vary in their social structure, with some being largely solitary, while others live in groups – in a few species these groups may be fairly large.

Malaysian Food

In particular, Malaysian food is heavily influenced by Thai, Chinese, Indonesian and Indian cuisine. These influences extend from the use of the wok to the combinations of spices used in many popular dishes.

Malay food is generally spicy. Dishes are not always necessarily chilli-hot per se, but there will always, at the least, be a chilli-based sambal on hand. Traditional Southeast Asian herbs and spices meet Indian, Middle Eastern and Chinese spices in Malaysian food, leading to fragrant combinations of coriander and cumin (the basis of many Malay curries) with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, cardamom, star anise and fenugreek.

As elsewhere in Asia, rice is an essential staple. Local or Thai rice is the most common, but Indian basmati is used in biryani dishes. Nasi lemak (‘fatty rice’), a dish of rice steamed with coconut milk and served with dried anchovies (ikan bilis), peanuts, hardboiled eggs, dried shrimp, cucumber and sambal, is considered Malaysia’s national dish and may be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is often served with a choice of curries or a popular spicy meat stew (usually, though not always, beef) known as rendang. Noodles are another popular starch staple, as are Indian breads such as roti canai, idli, puri and dhosa, which are commonly eaten with breakfast.

Early Chinese settlers often wed local Malay brides and this gave rise to a generation of mixed Chinese-Malays known as Peranakan. The Malay word "nonya", a term of respect for older women, has become synonymous with the distinctive Malaysian-Chinese cooking style of the Peranakans. The best known example in Australia is the popular spicy noodle soup laksa, of which there are two main types, curry laksa and asam laksa. Curry laksa is a coconut curry soup with noodles, while asam laksa is a sour fish soup with noodles.

Malaysian desserts are wonderfully colourful and creative, including layered rice flour and coconut sweets, multi-layered butter cake known as Lapis Legit, and sweet coconut rice balls. A popular dessert is Kueh Bahulu, mini sponge cakes that are dipped in black coffee.

Dear Mr Kilmer

Suggest 1 character in the novel you have read whom you think is a role model to teenagers (2015)

In the novel Dear Mr. Kilmer, one character in the novel whom I think is a role model to teenagers would be Richard Knight.

  One of the reasons why I think Richard Knight would be a great role model to teenagers is because Richard is a very courageous person. Richard had decided to write a letter to Joyce Kilmer, a famous poet asking what should he do with his passion for poetry. He wrote the question, "Should I be brave and tell everyone about my poems, or should I keep on hiding them?" in his letter. Although the chances of Mr. Kilmer replying his letter was very slim, Richard was still brave enough to send the letter hoping that he would get a reply.

  Another reason why I think Richard Knight would be a great role model to teenagers is because Richard is a very compassionate person. During a Sunday morning, Richard, Gus and Pa went hunting for deers in the woods. When it was Richard's turn to shoot at the deer, he purposely missed his shot, sparing the deer in the process. When questioned why did he miss the shot by Pa, Richard cold only take a deep breath and replied, "I just couldn't do it. He was so fine and wild." Richard is also compassionate because he feels for Hannah and her family when they were mistreated. Richard signed a card to show sympathy to the Schemer family when their tavern was vandalized. He also offered to hand her the card himself. "But would there be anything wrong with me delivering it to the Schermers? Just from myself?"

  Besides that, Richard Knight is a very hardworking person. Richard helps out with the family farm during the summer holidays. "The hired hands were amazed at what a diligent worker Richard was." With every summer, his muscles seemed to develop even more. As stated in the novel, "Richard loved working at his father's side-plowing, planting and cultivating, as well as taking care of the animals."

  Finally, Richard Knight stands up for what is right. Richard card a lot for Hannah Schermer when she and her family were being insulted. Richard was the only person who willingly signed the card with a note of sadness to express the regret for what had happened to her and her family. Richard wet to see Hannah and passed the card to her in front of her vandalized family's tavern with the message "Dirty Huns!" painted on the white tavern wall. Richard tried apologising on his and the folks' behalf, saying "I just wanted to say I'm sorry it happened."

  In conclusion, I believe that Richard Knight is a great role model to teenagers as he possesses many great qualities.

How to Reduce Stress (Part 2)

Think about the ways you currently manage and cope with stress in your life. Your stress journal can help you identify them. Are your coping strategies healthy or unhealthy, helpful or unproductive? Unfortunately, many people cope with stress in ways that compound the problem.

Unhealthy ways of coping with stress

• Smoking 
• Using pills or drugs to relax 
• Drinking too much 
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities 
• Binging on junk or comfort food 
• Procrastinating 
• Zoning out for hours looking at your phone 
• Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems 
• Sleeping too much 
• Taking out your stress on others 

If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.

While stress is an automatic response from your nervous system, some stressors arise at predictable times—your commute to work, a meeting with your boss, or family gatherings, for example. When handling such predictable stressors, you can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose in any given scenario, it’s helpful to think of the four A's: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.

The four A's - Avoid, Alter, Adapt & Accept

Avoid unnecessary stress

It’s not healthy to avoid a stressful situation that needs to be addressed, but you may be surprised by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate.

• Learn how to say "no." Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress. Distinguish between the "shoulds" and the "musts" and, when possible, say "no" to taking on too much. 
• Avoid people who stress you out. If someone consistently causes stress in your life, limit the amount of time you spend with that person, or end the relationship.

• Take control of your environment. If the evening news makes you anxious, turn off the TV. If traffic makes you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore do your grocery shopping online. 
• Pare down your to-do list. Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely. 

Alter the situation

If you can't avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Often, this involves changing the way you communicate and operate in your daily life.

• Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering you, be more assertive and communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you've got an exam to study for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five minutes to talk. If you don't voice your feelings, resentment will build and the stress will increase. 
• Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you'll have a good chance of finding a happy middle ground. 
• Create a balanced schedule. All work and no play is a recipe for burnout. Try to find a balance between work and family life, social activities and solitary pursuits, daily responsibilities and downtime. 

Adapt to the stressor

If you can't change the stressor, change yourself. You can adapt to stressful situations and regain you sense of control by changing you expectations and attitude.

• Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time. 
• Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere. 
• Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.” 
• Practice gratitude. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective. 

Accept the things you can't change

Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it’s easier than railing against a situation you can’t change.

• Don't try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control—particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems. 
• Look for the upside. When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on them and learn from your mistakes. 
• Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on. 
• Share your feelings. Expressing what you’re going through can be very cathartic, even if there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation. Talk to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a therapist. 

How To Reduce Stress (Part 1)

It may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress. The bills won’t stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day, and your work and family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management. Stress management is all about taking charge: of your lifestyle, thoughts, emotions, and the way you deal with problems. No matter how stressful your life seems, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control.

Why is it important to learn how to manage stress? If you’re living with high levels of stress, you’re putting your entire well-being at risk. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life.

Effective stress management, on the other hand, helps you break the hold stress has on your life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun—and the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on. But stress management is not one-size-fits-all. That’s why it’s important to experiment and find out what works best for you. The following stress management tips can help you do that.

Firstly, you have to identify the sources of stress in your life. Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. While it’s easy to identify major stressors such as changing jobs, moving, or a going through a divorce, pinpointing the sources of chronic stress can be more complicated. It’s all too easy to overlook how your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors contribute to your everyday stress levels. Sure, you may know that you’re constantly worried about work deadlines, but maybe it’s your procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that is causing the stress.

To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses:

• Do you explain away stress as temporary (“I just have a million things going on right now”) even though you can’t remember the last time you took a breather? 
• Do you define stress as an integral part of your work or home life (“Things are always crazy around here”) or as a part of your personality (“I have a lot of nervous energy, that’s all”)? 
• Do you blame your stress on other people or outside events, or view it as entirely normal and unexceptional? 

Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control.

Start a stress journal
A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way you deal with them. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in your journal. As you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes. Write down:

• What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure) 
• How you felt, both physically and emotionally 
• How you acted in response 
• What you did to make yourself feel better