If I Could Turn Back Time…
Batu Caves, Selangor.
The Batu Caves is a limestone hill. It got its name from the river ( Sungai Batu in the Malay language ) and is the tenth ( Patthu – in the Tamil language ) which translates to the Tenth Cave.
Dedicated to Lord Murugan belonging to the Hindu religion, Batu Caves is located in the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan, which in Arabic means Abode of Sincerity. Devotees climb 272 steps each year for the festival of Thaipusam, which is celebrated during the full moon of the Tamil calendar ( January / February ).
The Golden statue of Lord Murugan is approximately 42.7 m high and the tallest in the world!
The 15 m Hanuman statue at the entrance of Hanuman Temple located to the left of Batu Caves. You see him standing tall before reaching the Ramayana Cave. If you notice, the Hanuman is ripping his heart open, and you see Rama and Sita, to whom he was loyal and devoted.
Statues inside the cave that depicts the mythology of the Hindu religion.
Just a walk around the caves. Some animals in the park for tourists.
Vegetarian Mince Stew.
1 cup Vegetarian / Soy Mince ( i used Quorn)
1 cup Green Beans or String Bean – sliced
2 sticks of Celery – sliced
5 Baby Plum Tomatoes – wedged
1 large Red Onion – diced
2 pips of Garlic – finely chopped
1 cup Vegetable Stock ( alternatively use a stock cube)
1 tablespoon Tomato Puree
1 tablespoon Paprika Powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
Method:
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Heat a soup pot with olive oil and fry garlic and onion till soft and fragrant.
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Fry the mince, beans and celery and fry for 2 – 4 minutes, in a medium heat.
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In a separated bowl, mix in the stock, puree, paprika. Pour this mixture into the pot and bring to a gentle simmer. 5 to 7 minutes.
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Add the wedged tomatoes and ground black pepper. Let it cook for a further 5 minutes. Turn off heat and stew is ready!
I like it just on its own. But I am pretty sure it tastes delicious with some buttered crusty roll! 🙂
My Homeland.
I am a Malaysian.
Proud to be One!
I grew up in a multiracial country which celebrates a diversity of culture, colours, religion, food and drinks. Traditions that humbles the soul and affections towards another human which brought us together as one big happy family.
Have you celebrated Eid, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Wesak Day and Vaisakhi? Inpite being a Hindu, I had the privilege to celebrate each and every festival by my neighbours and friends.
Because in Malaysia, your friends and neighbours are your extended family! You can never see this custom anywhere else in the world.
So, I am just going to share with you some of my joys through a stroll down memory lane… visually!
Selamat Datang! This means Welcome!
Travel Often, Broaden Your Horizons and Experience Life.
The past two months, I’ve travelled to five countries. The Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Lithuania, and Norway!
It has been the most gratifying moments that I have experienced in two years. As my statement goes from my previous posts;-
On each of my travels… not just the country, its’ people, their culture, and traditions or even their food, that fascinates me. It’s the discovering of self-adaptation through time spent in a land so foreign that humbles me. Often renders me speechless. – Sharlinie.
I understand not everyone could afford the time and luxury of travel. Not on a monthly basis, to say the least. Neither could I.
But whenever I get the opportunity and could make the time to travel, I just pack my bags and go explore the world.
Why? There are places on earth that are so beautiful, people who are kind and hospitalities that humbles you. An entire civilization that is extremely diverse than the one we have accustomed to. These are not at all a bad experience. In fact, it is so beneficial in every aspect for us.
Travelling helped me overcome my shyness and introverted personality.
When I travelled to the UK, I had no one to set me off. I took that as an opportunity to learn by communicating with other people. Yes, it was not easy but I had to take the initiative and depend on myself so I can set my path in the direction where I wanted to lead.
I share a lot of my travel experiences, a little more about the country I recently visited and a lot of photographs capturing wonderful moments, right here on my website. Please do check in and share the bliss of my adventures. Link below:
https://sharlinie.com/category/travels/
On looking forward to my holidays, the excitement and anticipation that build in me; there is a definite hope that everything has a positive side. My focus is on what I would be experiencing during my visit to a foreign land and the people I am about to meet and language that I would hear for the first time and food and drinks, and all this combined that make the smallest towns/villages a community.
Luxury – For me, it is the privilege of gifting myself the opportunity of a lifetime that keeps me going. Whether it is psychologically, socially or even at an emotional level. Of course, these are just some of the perks a holiday that money can not simply buy.
Tolerance – Getting to know people from around the world and their culture educates us to be more tolerant and respectful. I strongly feel that if we learnt another’s way of living and made efforts to understand each other, the planet we reside could be heaven!
Educates – It widens our horizons and broadens our mind outwards, so the normalities as we would have interpreted wrongly and unjustified due to the lack of knowledge of the outside world are much clear.
Self Awareness – We learn more about our self, our birth country, the land we are about to explore and understand the purpose of humanity and unity.
Health-wise – I’ve always felt more confident and happy after each holiday. Perhaps it’s the hormones combined with the atmosphere and surroundings. I am so confident this feeling alone helps fight any short-term or long-term illness as it’s an incredible stress reliever.
Memories – We gather memories that are ever-lasting. We capture moments of colour, culture, emotions, celebrations and we gift ourselves the opportunity to re-live it all over again and again. Isn’t that magnificent?! Yes!
So, go on and book yourself a nice holiday and just enjoy life while you still can!
Also, don’t forget to check on my Travel and Photography page. Just click! 🙂
Norway, the Worlds’ Happiest Country.
Just over a month ago, I visited Norway.
It all began with me Google-ing away adventurous holidays – hiking adventures, mountain climbing and polar bear encounters, whale watching and all the crazy fun stuff!
Since looking up places for an adventurous holiday was in the cards for me, I wanted to make sure I did it right, do my research and homework. It’s got to be something a little different, something a lot more unusual to the normal holidays that I am accustomed by.
I read blogs and articles, reviews on Tripadvisors, checked for holiday packages within the budget because I want a holiday that does not break the bank. This was my responsible duty for the next few days – just reading! Not complaining about it as I love reading.
Only when I stumbled upon an incredible blog by Silvia Lawrence ( the link below ), on Norwegians and the country, Scandinavian culture and architecture, the breathtakingly beautiful sceneries of the Fjords, that intrigued me to further my research on Norway.
Please check in her blog — https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/helpful-norwegian-scandinavian-habits/
I was enjoying my read so much and it made me very excited that I knew that instant, my next holiday had to be – Tromsø, Norway.
Tromsø – situated at the north most of Norway and close to the Arctic Circle, is and has been a major tourist attraction for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts and hunters of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights in winter and also the Midnight Sun during summer.
So, holiday and apartment booked along with a long list of to-dos!
I can tell you about the adventures that brought me a new perspective on life and the way it opened new opportunities. But then, where is the fun in all that without some visual actions? See, you smile and agree.
Go on. Check in to the photographs of my panoramic adventures; a 5-hour Fjord cruise and wildlife watching, my first ever mountain climbing experience in Kvaløya, hiking and a rocky climb to the Lyngen Alps and Blåvatnet ( Blue Lake, which lived up to its reputation).
It has been weeks since I came home from Tromsø this summer, yet the memories are as ethereal and bright as the midnight sun which I enjoyed day and night.
I still have more of Norway to explore. And I will go back again and again. Till then, these photographs will capture its beauty in my memory.
Because you are missed…
Before Colour – A Haiku in Black and White.
Where there’s love, there’s heart.
