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Hey Readers, It’s amazing how the new year has flown by us just like that. Not too long ago we were happily cheering away the arrival of 2012 and now we’ve already completed our Chinese New Year and are awaiting Valentine’s Day. Regardless, WAVES Lifestyle Magazine is always excited to bring about new material to read. Do check out our awesome Valentine’s Day special articles, with tips and tricks from our lovely contributors that would help spice up your love life. Have a read through our motivational column as well as various features sent in by our contributors. Get interior decoration tips, view amazing shots from our travel feature, and as always, indulge in the food reviews we bring to you every month. So here’s wishing you a Happy February, Happy Valentine’s Day and a delightful time reading our new issue. Love is in the air,
Manisha Dhalani
Email the editor today!
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a d v e r t i s i n g
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Disclaimer WAVES LIFESTYLE is a publication of True Soul Entertainment. Although WAVES LIFESTYLE magazine does its best to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of its contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibilities for errors, mistakes and inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the rights of this product and no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher. Competitions/Contests are open to everyone, with the exception of employees of WAVES LIFESTYLE. All photos submitted for competitions and editorial may be published by WAVES LIFESTYLE magazine. Letters and reader's contribution may be edited at our discretion. KDN PP 17343/04/2012 (029691) MICA (P) 130/12/2011 PUBLISHED BY TRUE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT PRINTED BY PERCETAKAN GEMILANG SINAR / gan seng printing ( m ) sdn bhd
on the cover! e female model Yumi Yu uR ab Pr an m lo So l male mode apter photography Click Ch Photography parels wardrobe RediZen Ap ay makeup Attica Murak
10 12 08 18 EVENT
05 06 08
Eco Recycle Rally & Passion Night Miss Tourism International 2011 Monsoon Mayhem FEATURE
09 Logos Hope & Neway Kbox 10 Interview: Decor with Love 12 Man vs Wild 14 V Day: Men 16 V Day: Budget Gifts health
17
contents 22
RECIPE
26
MONEY
27
COMMUNITY
28
TECH
TRAVEL
32 34
Sula Vineyards Sights of India
All Natural Aphrodisiac 36
MOTIVATION
37
CLASSIFIEDS
38
Things To Do
F&B
18 20
Serve Up: Cendol Starhill Golf & Resort
EVENT
Eco Recycle Rally MBJB’s Kiosk Pelancongan Laman Tun Sri Lanang held an Eco Recycle Rally on the 24th of December to promote ecological awareness. The days’ event included an explorecycle race, colouring contest for kids, a treasure hunt and recycling activities. The event, organised by the Tourism Ministry and supported by Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru, was graced by the new Mayor, Tuan Haji Burhan Bin Amin.
Party like there’s no tomorrow The Passion Night Wet Party organised by Next Alliance on the eve of Christmas and on the eve of New Years’ was a smashing hit! With performances by Malaysia’s No.1 Club Emcee Mr. Micstarr Vibe, DJ Jeri and DJ French Chris all the way from France, the party lived true to its name as the skies contributed some light drizzles and the water guns used by the bevy of Next Alliance beauties made it a Wet Party indeed. The party goers enjoyed the good music and danced the night away making it a fitting party to usher the in the new year with a bang. Visit www.facebook.com/passionnight2011 For future event reference or contact : 013-691 9090 Event Organised by : Next Alliance Artist Management Team : Next Alliance Photographer : LivelyArt Studio
WAVES 05
EVENT
Miss Tourism International 2011 Delegates State Visit to Johor WAVES Lifestyle was invited to the most anticipated international event - the 15th Miss Tourism International 2011 which was held on the 25th and 26th of December 2011. The event was hosted by The ZON Regency Hotel, Johor Bahru (The ZON) in collaboration with Jabatan Pelancongan Negeri Johor (“JPNJ”), Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (“MBJB”), PLUS Expressway Berhad (“PLUS”) and Yayasan Harmoni. Miss Tourism International is an annual international beauty contest run by D’Touch International Sdn Bhd who is also the franchise holder of the globally recognised pageant. This exclusive event is also franchised to more than 80 countries in its 15 years of pageantry. The ZON hosted beauties from 54 countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Panama, India, Sri Lanka and Guinea and many more. The visitation aimed to enhance international promotion, ties and publicity for Johor State, particularly City of Johor Bahru (JB) and Iskandar Malaysia. The delegates also got the opportunity to gain better
WAVES 06
understanding and insights of the Johor State, cultural diversity, customs, tradition and scrumptious cuisines. On the first day of the State visit (25th December 2011), the 54 International Beauty Pageant Delegates arrived at the Toll Skudai JB from Sunway Hotel Resort & Spa and were welcomed with a traditional dance performance by Yayasan Warisan Johor and flyers distribution by PLUS on the road safety campaign. The delegates’ were then transported to The ZON via 40 Vintage Classic Cars, escorted by Traffic Police and 30 high cc Harley Davidson’s. Once at The ZON, the delegates were welcomed by a Chinese Drum Performance by Tadika Reenah’s students. In conjunction with the delegates’ State Visit to Johor, the hotel organised “The ZON Little Princess Contest 2011” and grand finale of 20 Beauty Kids Pageant & Talent Show finalist. The winner of this contest was 11 year old Emily Anne Manjit, from Kulaijaya and she was crowned by Miss Tourism Malaysia, Miss Aileen Gabriella Robinson.
The delegates subsequently proceeded for the “Meet-thePress” session. YB En. Raja Muzafar Bin Raja Hassan (Organizing Chairman of Miss Tourism International 2011), Datuk Danny Ooi (President & Managing Director of D’Touch) and YB Dato’ Mohamed Suhaimi Bin Sulaiman (Pengarah Yayasan Harmoni & DFZ Capital Berhad) also attended this session. At 7.30pm, the much anticipated gala dinner hosted by The ZON with a theme “A Christmas Affair with World of Beauties” kicked off promptly. The prestigious dinner was graced by Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza who crooned her top hits and favourites. There were more than 600 guests and the dinner started off with talent show performance by the beauty pageants, a magical saxophone number played by JARI, Christmas caroling performance and many more. The dinner also included a charity event in which RM50,000 from the proceeds was channeled to charitable foundations namely Handicapped and Mentally Disabled Children
Association Johor Bahru, Persatuan Orang Pekak Johor, Sekolah Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Johor Bahru, The Spastic Chidren’s Association of Johore and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas (SKPK) Princess Elizabeth. During the second day State Visit (26th December 2011), the 54 delegates visited various places of interest in JB. They departed from Danga Bay’s jetty for a cruise ride to Puteri Habour, Nusajaya and were brought to Kota Iskandar for a tour and photography session. After the half day state tour, a farewell cocktail took place at The ZON where delegates were entertained by Fusion band performance and Tarian 1 Malaysia. Tokens of appreciations were presented to sponsors and all the delegates. After a full two days Johor State tour, the delegates departed back to Sunway Hotel Resort & Spa, Petaling Jaya for the preparation of the Grand Finale of Miss Tourism International 2011 which was held on the 31st December 2011.
The results for the 15th Miss Tourism International 2011 winners are: 1. Miss Tourism International: Aileen Gabriella Robinson (Malaysia) 2. Miss Tourism Metropolitan International: Carolina Del Carmen Brid Cerrud (Panama) 3. Miss Tourism Global: Patsaraporn Khonkhamhaeng (Thailand) 4. Miss Cosmopolitan International: Amanda Leong Li Ting (Singapore) 5. Dream girl of the year International: Jana Kopecka (Czech Republic)
WAVES 07
EVENT
6th Monsoon Mayhem International Surf Challenge The 6th Annual Monsoon Mayhem International Surf Challenge 2012 Asian Surfing Challenge (ASC) was held from the 6th to 8th of January 2012 at the Golden Sands of Desaru Beach, Johor with the support of Johor Tourism and Tourism Malaysia. The event featured professional and amateur surfers with over 80 participants from Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Maldives and, of course, Malaysia. The prize for the challenge was over SG$6,000 in cash, prizes and ASC championship points. The surfing action included the Men's Open Division, Women's Division, Masters (over 35 years of age) Division, and a Bodyboard Division. In addition, there was also a skateboarding Slide Jam competition followed by a party at the hotel; giving the attendees a full weekend of fun activities. The Brainchild of Bigfoot Industries, Nazir “Ajil” Saleh, who is a surf and skate product retailer in Singapore, said that the Monsoon Mayhem event continues to grow popularity each year as a surf, skate and music event. This is the second year the surfing competition has been sanctioned by the ASC, and it looks to be breaking records again in drawing surfers, skaters and fans alike! Current Asian Surfing Champion, Raditya Rondi from Indonesia took the Men's Open victory, battling it out in a 25 minute battle against Mohd Nazrin from Malaysia, Abdullah Areef from the Maldives, and Gilang from Indonesia. The swells of the ocean of the final day challenge lived true to the ‘mayhem’ catchphrase, with waves up to 2 metres.
“It's been lots of fun, so to take the win today just caps it off and it's a great way to start off the year. We were really lucky that the weather conditions got better in the finals, with the wind which made it easier to find a couple of nice waves. It was also cool to see all the Malaysian crew again as I really enjoy surfing with these guys here and the whole experience," said Champion Raditya Rondi. The closing ceremony was officiated by the Director of Johor Tourism, Mr. Mohamad Isa Bin Abdul Halim. Nazir "Ajil" Saleh from Bigfoot Industries said he was very pleased with how the event came together and he plans to make it even bigger and better in the future. “It's been gratifying to see the event grow from just a couple of small tents on the beach and a dozen surfers, to having the ASC come and help us run the event and draw dozens of surfers from other countries”, he said.
The Official Results for Monsoon Mayhem 2012 Men’s Open: 1st - Raditya Rondi (Bali) 2nd - Super Yen (Malaysia) 3rd - Ismail Miglal (Maldives) 4th - Gilang (Batu Karas Indonesia) Women’s Open: 1st - Anissa Flynn (Thailand) 2nd - Nurhawanni (Malaysia) 3rd - Micheala (USA) 4th - Brenda Lee (Malaysia) Masters: 1st - Toshikazu (Japan) 2nd - Sean Gilhooney ( Australia) 3rd - Decha Sithidej (Thailand) WAVES 08
4th - Hideyuki (Japan) Bodyboard: 1st - Ali khusruwan (Maldives) 2nd - Ibrahim Shiman (Maldives) 3rd - Ali Javeed (Maldives) 4th - Mohd Luhushan (Maldives) Best Local Johor Surfer: RM500 - Haikal (Tanjung Balau/Malaysia) Best Local Surfer: RM 300 - Mohd Nazrin (Cherating/Malaysia) Best Wipeout: RM 200 - Ismail Miglal (Maldives)
FEATURE
Education sets sail WAVES Lifestyle caught up with the crew on board of Logos Hope when it opened its decks to the public in Singapore last December. The charity organisation that sets sails across the globe, docking at many countries, has nearly 400 volunteer members on deck from various part of the world and we were honoured to meet them this time. Twenty-two year old Mr Jocelyn from France, who has only been on the ship for about 16 months, explained that he came on board to learn about the various cultures of the world. Initially studying management and marketing, he wanted to do something different with his life, and his journey with Logos Hope has allowed him to pass knowledge through the books sold on board, as well as gain knowledge regarding other countries. Jocelyn told us how he was touched by villagers in Sri Lanka and Egypt who showed him that one doesn’t require much to help another human being - what mattered was that we gave our time and attention to the less fortunate. Members of the public could also tour the ship’s deck for a small fee. Our team was guided by Logos Hope’s media relations officer on board, Ms Jessie LaPlue from USA who showed us around the cabins, the deck, the canteen, as well as where the captain ran the ship. The highlight of the entire ship, of course, was the sea of books offered for sale. To avoid confusion with currencies, the books are tagged as “units” and the staff on board convert this units to the local currency depending on where they go. The books are offered at a much cheaper price, for example a book can go up to 100 units (equivalent to only SG$4). For more information on the ship’s schedule, please visit gbaships.org.
Sing and eat your hearts out! Looking to spend quality time with your loved ones? Bored of the same old dinner and a movie? Then head down to JB City Square’s Neway Karaoke Box (Level 5) for a notto-be-missed experience. Open from 10am till late daily, this entertainment hub allows you to show off your vocal skills as well as indulge in a fantastic array of delectable cuisine. With their wide selection of music to choose from, you are able to enjoy your karaoke sessions with your family and friends in a room that can accommodate everyone comfortably, thanks to their choices of small or large karaoke rooms, quality microphones and speakers, as well as assistance at the click of a button. On top of all that, their newly renovated outlet offers a dining experience that includes a buffet spread of healthy salads, local cuisine, sushi, a teppanyaki counter, as well as a mouth-watering spread of desserts and thirst-quenching selection of drinks. So why wait? Call +607-228 1499 to make reservations today, or visit www.newaykb.com.my.
Produce this Cash Voucher!
Neway RM10 cash voucher - Voucher is valid exclusively at Neway City Square, JB outlet. - Every spending of RM100 can redeem this RM10 cash voucher. - Voucher can be accumulated. - Voucher is not valid for purchase of cigarette and hard liquor. - Photocopy of this voucher is not acceptable. - Voucher is not transferable, exchangeable or redeemable in part or in whole for cash. - Neway reserves the rights to amend the terms and conditions, to suspend or terminate the offer without prior notice. - Expiry date: 31st March 2012
WAVES 09
Decorate your home with love... Bhavani Sahadevan caught up with her relatives who are home-grown interior designers. Check out the lovely pictures from their house and get inspired with their tips and tricks on how to decorate your love nest with your better half. Madam Kanagavali and Mr. Soondram have been married for 26 years and have developed a great passion in interior designing since their early years as young adults. Madam Kanagavali is a housewife and her husband is an electrician but due to similar interests in interior designing, they decided to take the first course of action by designing their homes. This worked positively to the extent they have had people having makeup photo shoots around their house. Check out their lovely home below! Master Bedroom To achieve a grand look, they started by installing sliding cupboards which are not built in but act as a frame around the cupboards to prevent dust from entering. The curtains are dark as it goes well with the wallpaper and helps create a cosier ambience. To complement the wallpaper, they got a black and silver patterned table lamp. As for the television (TV) that is attached to the wall, they created frills to work as a background screen for the TV. Living Room The design of the living room changes every season to match the new curtain colours the couple get for their windows. They designed their showcase for the TV by attaching it to the wall. Madam Kanagavali believes that readymade TV display sets take up a lot of space and are difficult to maintain. With Mr. Soondram’s measurement skills, their total cost was only S$100. Main Hall The hall is divided into two portions and is fitted with 34 spotlights and downlights. The wall is painted white to give it a brighter and larger look. The mirror attached to the wall was created by Mr. Soondram and cost him only S$300. If the same was created by external designers, it may cost up to S$1,000. Black sofas were chosen to contrast the wall and to complement it further, an inspired star-light stand bought from IKEA for only S$9. Additional Touches They also bought a chandelier from a warehouse sale in Singapore for only S$199. The bomb shelter was also creatively designed by the couple. They decided to make the background checkers with an added touch of designer sticker for the door. It was fully designed and painted by Mr. Soondram and it took him three days to complete the measurements and paintings. As for the borders around the cornice area of the ceiling, stickers were bought from a normal DIY store in Singapore. Finally, the two classy arm-chairs near the entrance were further enhanced with a beautiful vase and self-made flower arrangements. The spare room is a place where the couple showcases their creativeness. It is decorated with pretty wallpaper, matching curtains, ornaments and furniture. The wallpapers can be bought at Geylang, Singapore or any DIY store. Madam Kanagavali is a fan of candles and candle stands. She loves all the unique and patterned candle stands that have crystal-like structures in them and it works great as an additional decorative piece around the house.
WAVES 10
FEATURE Madam Kanagavali and Mr. Soondram spared some time to share their tips and tricks in designing their own home, specially for the readers of WAVES Lifestyle magazine. Where do you usually get your items from and which are the places you would recommend? For reasonable pricing and creative items, head to places such as IKEA, Geylang, Bras Basah Complex, Mustafa Centre, DIY stores and Arab Street in Singapore. How to keep up with the trends while still sticking to the budget? The whole point is to find something really attractive yet affordable so you have to explore many places and travel to see what would suit your budget. Madam Kanagavali takes the time to look at magazines and newspapers daily to look out for affordable decorative items and get inspired by designs. It is also an added advantage that Mr Soondram is a professional in DIY works and he prefers getting all the items and working out the designs himself. He even sews sofa covers, bed sheets and curtains with the materials bought at affordable prices. Is it easy to manage such a classy house? It is definitely not easy to manage such a classy house as it takes a lot of time and effort to tidy up. “If we arrange all the things at home in such a way as above, then it is easier to clean and would not be a problem to manage and maintain”, says Madam Kanagavali. Besides that, they have a grown-up son and it’s easier to maintain cleanliness and avoid any breakages of decorative items. Any advice and tips for those who want to decorate their house by themselves? For example, to create a showcase, one can do the following: 1. Paint a particular section of the wall in your house in black. 2. Cut out normal wooden partitions and join them together to make a patterned border. 3. Add some beadings and modify it to fit into the TV showcase. 4. Finally fit an in-built blue lamp at the back of the TV to give it a classy look.
Lovely candle stands for that extra effect
Professional photoshoot taken at the couple’s home
Self-constructed television display showcase WAVES 11
Some keep it domesticated, some prefer it naughty while some just run wild! And no, we’re not just talking about imaginations; we’re talking about courtship rituals! Have you noticed how our guys and girls seem to mirror the animal kingdom a lot when it comes to wooing their suitors? We’ve come a long long way from the time where men used to raid villages and kidnap their wives to be! Nowadays, most of us think that our courtship customs are exclusive but here are some comparisons to prove us otherwise and to give you a head’s up. So, the next time you head out for a date, keep a look out for any familiar courting rituals exhibited… if you can liken it to an animal you can probably guess the outcome of the evening!
THE ONE NIGHTER The spiked hedgehog (hogge = derived from its piglike snout) is primarily a nocturnal animal which means it’s up and about when everyone is snoring away. It’s main way of attracting a mate involves walking round and round the female hedgehog; sometimes for many hours on end until she decides she is ready to mate. Once mating has occurred, both hedgehogs go their separate ways. Sounds familiar? We can think of a few guys and girls right now!
THE BALLROOM GENTLEMAN The Sandhill Crane is one of the oldest birds to date, with the oldest being 2.5 million years old. The courtship starts with a long staccato duet before moving into an elaborate ballet where they take turns in bowing, crouching and leaping in the air, flapping their wings furiously. The female makes two calls for every single call of the male. Guess the old school is indeed the true school!
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THE ROMANTIC LOVER The Blue Crab is usually found in the western waters of the Atlantic Ocean and has a very heartwarming ritual for us to ponder upon. Female Blue Crabs only mate when they are in a soft shell condition. 2 or 3 days before mating, the male will cradle and carry the female and protect her soft shell from predators. After mating he continues to carry her until her shell hardens again. Very awe-inspiring, don’t you think?
THE BLACK WIDOW The Black Widow spider is the most poisonous spider in North America, but that’s only the adult female. The female Black Widow is easy to recognise by the red hourglass shape on the underneath part of her abdomen. The black widow spider is nocturnal and very dangerous as its venom is 15 times more dangerous than that of a rattlesnake. The Black Widow has unfairly earned a bad reputation for wanting to eat her mate as she often mistakes him for a meal! No offense ladies!
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FEATURE
WHAT NOT TO GET YOUR MAN ON VALENTINE’S Can these gifts possibly be a sign of the end of a relationship? Only a guy will know what he would NOT want to receive as a gift on Valentine’s Day. Sunny Mahtani writes the top no-nos for you ladies out there - hoping that his opinion will help to save your relationship!
“Enhancing” Gifts By all means, if you are blessed with a mutually satisfying union, go ahead and get what you know he loves. But beware! Products that may seem demeaning may give the message that he doesn’t rise to the occasion and men are not going to like it.
SELF HELP BOOKS On the whole, this is among the worst gifts of all time. Getting your man a self help book is like literally telling him he is flawed! Even if you just want to drop a subtle hint to your man to lose some extra pounds or to learn handiwork around the house, a self help book will most definitely not do the trick and perhaps even churn out some hatred. A man knows what type of book he needs and if he wants to get a self help book, he will certainly get it himself! If he needs tips on getting in touch with his feminine side, he knows his way to the book store. Valentine’s Day is the time to rekindle love and make each other happy so let’s not focus on any shortcomings.
Fitness products / gym memberships So you want him to lose weight? Sure, but Valentine’s Day is not the right time to remind him that he is fat because there is a real good chance he’ll remind you of your many flaws as well and expose all the lies he has been telling you! So keep away from diet food recipes, gym memberships, diet pills, fitness equipments and the lot. These gifts should only be given when you want him to feel like an unattractive loser who only managed to get a girlfriend out of sympathy.
CLOTHES THAT ARE THE WRONG FIT Forget about clothing of any sorts unless he openly expressed interest. Ties, socks, underwear, a size too small t-shirt, absurd looking maroon sweater that you think is ‘hot’ is a chart topper for inappropriate. Somehow the whole buying clothes for dudes only works out if you’re his mom. The worst is when you enthusiastically buy him a tight fit t-shirt and when he wears it, its actually a non fitter. Not all men fancy wearing tight fitting clothes and simply said, the tastes of men and women vary and the end result might drop sour plums on a memorable occasion. Photo credit: Click Chapter / Redizen Apparels WAVES 14
FEATURE
Valentine's On a Budget Photo credit: Click Chapter / Redizen Apparels
Valentine's Day is coming soon and is it possible to celebrate Valentine’s Day without spending a lot of money? WAVES Lifestyle team has come up with ten ideas on how to fascinate your loved ones without breaking the bank.
A stalk of rose or maybe some wild flowers What's Valentine's Day without flowers? Buy a stalk of rose or maybe even pick some wild flowers and pack it to look magnificent. You can either present it in a nice box with gifts and cards, or chocolates, or make it into a bouquet.
Create a home spa Enjoy the romantic, relaxing ambiance of a spa in the comfort of your own home. Dim the lights, play relaxing music and light some scented candles. A bath filled with bubbles and warm towels will let a couple feel peaceful and rejuvenated.
Cook up a simple yet amazing meal Expect restaurants to be packed and their prices to hit the roof on Valentine’s. Impress your loved one with a special home-cooked feast, or better, breakfast in bed. Create an easy and romantic menu with desserts to top if all off.
Have a weekend getaway or visit the beach Plan for a short trip or a weekend getaway or take a stroll at the beach to listen to the waves or pick-up the seashells together. Nothing beats the calm sea and soft sand to enhance the romance!
Bake a cake or some cookies What does your Valentine like? Chocolates, cakes or even cookies? Bake it yourself instead of buying it off the rack. Try baking some interesting Valentine’s cookies or make heart-shaped chocolates for that personal touch of love.
Creatively use flower petals You can either get free flower petals from the florists who usually throw away the outer petals or pluck some flowers from your garden and decorate your dining table, bed or float the petals in a bathtub to create a romantic and pleasant environment.
Make a Valentine’s Day card or write a poem All you need is a paper, colourful pens and some creative ideas and a lovely card for your dear one is ready! This is a great way to express your love and it doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket.
Take a walk together in a park Spend some quality time walking and sharing your thoughts while burning some calories. This can be very useful for those who work from 9am to 6pm daily and need some time to be out there with a loved one while enjoying the breezy air and some greenery.
Make a hand-made Valentine’s gift Create gifts using materials found in your home such as tissue boxes and paper roses for an everlasting bouquet. Alternatively, make a cute gift bag to store that special gift inside for your lady love.
Watch movies or listen to love songs at home Both of you can do nothing but pop in some DVDs of your favorite movies and just sit back and enjoy it. Alternatively, listen to some romantic love songs that will bring back memories of the good ol’ days.
WAVES 16
HEALTH
An all natural Aphrodisiac Missing heat in the bedroom? Lacking the punch in the pyjamas? You’re not alone in the battle… did you know that many married couples have intimate time only a few times a month? Fret not as help is here and there are an abundance of natural aphrodisiacs to experiment with to get back the tongkat in your ali so to say. The word “Aphrodisiac” is derived from Aphrodite, the name of the ancient Greek goddess of love. So on her grace, let’s get started!
Moringa oleifera Commonly referred to simply as "Moringa" or drumsticks (Tamil: Murungai, Malay: Kelor/Gemunggal), this underestimated plant is an exceptionally nutritious vegetable tree with a variety of potential uses. Besides the leaves, the Moringa tree has many everyday uses. India's Ayurvedic medicine uses every part of the Moringa tree and considers it one of the most valuable and useful plants. It is said that other scientifically proven effects of Moringa includes anti-aging, anti-ulcer, anti-tumor and other diuretic properties, it was also found out that the plant also contain properties that eliminate toxins, fungus and bacteria in the body. The plant also decreases cholesterol, blood sugar, body fat and blood pressure. Moringa starts to attack the roots of diseases and kill it within one week. In Siddha medicines, these drumstick seeds are used as a sexual virility drug for treating erectile dysfunction in men and also in women for prolonging sexual activity. Rumour has it that drinking boiled Moringa leaves is better than Viagra! The Moringa leaves and its fruit commonly referred to as drumsticks can be cooked as curry, steamed or blended for consumption. The formula is simple, just boil a few Moringa leaves and drink them up once done. Best results will be to practice eating Moringa leaves and fruits on a normal basis. It seems that every part of the plant has some folklore surrounding its aphrodisiac nature! It's interesting to note that these traditions stem from several different indigenous cultures, and appear to be based on old traditions rather than new invention. So go out to your nearest market, buy your Moringa leaves and fruits and begin your journey of love!
Source of Photo: www.helpfulhealthtips.com
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F&B
Serve Up! Reviews by Nurul Syazwani Ismail
Cendol is a sweet dessert. A savoury Cendol is not possible! Or is it really? Tucked away at Taman Suria near the Giant Hypermarket once known as Xtra, Sofie Cendol has specialised in serving savoury Cendol for the past eight years. This open air roadside stall is easy to spot with the brightly coloured table umbrellas that offer shade from the sun when you dine in. The elder brother of the stall’s owner, Mr Jeffry, came up with the ingenious idea of mixing sweet and savoury together into a bowl of Cendol. Unlike most Cendol stalls in the area, Sofie Cendol’s signature dessert comes with pulut (sticky rice). The result is a fine balance between the sweetness of the gula Melaka and the creaminess of the pulut. Every spoonful of pulut with the Cendol is a wonderful surprise for the tastebuds. For those who prefer their bowl of Cendol customised any certain ways, either with more gula Melaka, with less red beans or even with Tapai (yes, you can choose to add Tapai to your cendol!), just tell any of the brothers who runs this stall almost every day. If you wish to grab some food to go with take-away Cendol, the stall offers an array of other dishes such as Fried Noodles, Nasi Ambeng and Nasi Tomato that is freshly prepared and packed each morning. This family-run business is a one-stop food corner and their Cendol with pulut is a must try for experimental foodies.
Name: Sofie Cendol Address: Taman Suria 12, Johor Bahru, Johor Operating Hours: Saturday to Thursday, 11am to 6pm Nearest Parking Area: Along the road of Jalan Suria 11 Rating: ~ ~ ~
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Why 3 out of 5 waves? Roadside stalls with open-air and shade. Cendol experts that are willing to customise to your preference. They also have a selection of other dishes prepared fresh daily and sold in packets at the stall.
Cendol Photography by Dia [RediSnapz]
Traditionally a sweet dessert from Southeast Asia, Cendol is a dessert comprising originally of milk, gula melaka (palm sugar syrup) and many little green Cendol “worms” made of rice flour paste. This dessert is served with shaved ice and is a wonderful thirst quencher. For dessert lovers, that Cendol craving will never be satiated until you get that perfect bowl. Fret not, this month, we’re sharing with you WAVES Lifestyle’s secret Cendol hideouts that will, erm, not be so secret anymore after this!
If you have ever visited the foodcourt at Woodlands Centre Road, you will know that there are many dessert shops there. Competition is inevitable but for customers, the result is a wide selection of classic desserts as well as innovative inventions at the many dessert stalls. From Cheng Teng to Ice Jelly, most traditional desserts are also served in other new variations such as Chocolate Ice Kachang. However, the best Alternative Cendol in the area has to be the Durian Cendol found at Long Quan Sugar Cane Juice stall. Ask for their Durian Cendol and you will be in for a very sweet treat. Made by the friendly uncle and aunty who has run this stall for 31 years, fair warning has to be issued that their Durian Cendol is not for the fainthearted. Served to look like an ice mountain oozing yellow lava, this volcanic dessert is topped with fresh homemade coconut milk and of course, gula melaka. However, once the ice melts, this bowl of Cendol is like a colourful treasure trove. With the green Cendol, brown grass jelly, assortment of soaked nuts and pink jelly, the kid in everyone will find this dessert a definite delight. Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth, sharing a bowl of Durian Cendol can make for a very sweet memory.
Name: Long Quan Sugar Cane Juice Address: #02-67, 4A Woodlands Centre Road, Singapore Operating Hours: Everyday 9.30am to 10pm Nearest Parking Area: Carpark in front of Woodlands Point Rating: ~ ~ ~ Why 3 out of 5 waves? Hassle-free location. A huge variety of desserts that will make you spoilt for choice. Must try Durian Cendol.
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F&B
Tantalise your tastebuds at Starhill Golf & Resort If you’re looking for a high end dining experience in Johor Bahru, Starhill Golf & Country Club is the place to head to. The ambiance of their Hilltop dining restaurant is very easy on the eyes with fine cuisine put forth by experienced chefs and kitchen hands. Our weekend lunch review began with a tasteful Italian minestrone soup. The vegetarian soup was the perfect start to the day with its fanciful taste, which actually reminded us of pizza. The western set of chicken cutlet served with Japanese sauce and salad dressing was well cooked without any excessive oil. The crispy strips of chicken dipped in the tangy Japanese sauce was a new experience all together as we are mostly accustomed to chilli dips. A pastry bread and blueberry cupcake awaited at the end of the meal to rejuvenate our pallets with some sweetness! Starhill is pretty well-known for their Japanese cuisine, and the Shokado Bento set meal was up to the expected standards. The set lunch had a sashimi array of salmon and tuna, grilled sliced salmon served with vegetables, deep fried tempura, Japanese sticky rice and finally a bowl of miso soup was complimented with wasabi and radish dips. The sashimi served was fresh and very tasty with the wasabi. The tempura consisted of prawn, carrot and eggplant deep fried to a slight golden brown with delicious textures. Staying true to the less grease concept of tempura sets, the authenticity of the dish is truly a compliment. The grilled salmon with vegetables blended well with the Japanese sticky rice and finally washing down the meal with the well balanced miso soup was the perfect end to a filling meal. The other meals on demand are the salmon sets, the Starhill Nasi Goreng (a fried rice meal served with tempura) Loco Moco American set, Japanese Breakfast and countless other Chinese set meals. The restaurant begins operations at 6am daily except Mondays. The restaurant was quickly filled by golfers and patrons alike enjoying the pleasurable food and not forgetting the wonderful scenery of the restaurant that overlooks the golf course below!
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RECIPE
RED WINE REDUCTION FOR CHEESECAKES (Sula Vineyards) Sparkling wines are always in vogue. They're not only a symbol of simple joy but also stand for prestige, luxury and of course romance.In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we bring to you a simple reduction recipe from SULA Vineyards that you can pour over a cheesecake for that special someone. Note: If you can't find a SULA brand Zinfadel, any other Zinfadel brand such as Jacobs Creek would do.
Ingredients:
750 ml or 1 bottle - SULA Red Zinfadel (or others) 1 1/2 cups white sugar/vanilla sugar 3-4 cinnamon sticks 4-5 peppercorns 3-4 cloves 1 Vanilla bean
Directions:
- Pour the SULA Red Zinfadel into a saucepan over medium heat. - Slit the vanilla bean lengthwise. - Add the vanilla bean, sugar, peppercorns, cinnamon and cloves to the saucepan and keep on low, rolling boil until the liquid reduces to about a cup. - Remove the saucepan from the heat and keep aside until the sauce thickens. - Spoon the luscious nectar over the cheesecake (can be store bought or homemade) and freshly sliced fruit.
NUTELLA CAKE By Bhavna Mahtani (adapted from Nigella Lawson’s recipe)
Ingredients: CAKE 6 large eggs 125g soft unsalted butter 400g nutella (1 large jar) 1 tbsp rum or water 100g ground hazelnuts 100g dark chocolate - melted 23cm tin-greased and lined (detachable bottom) ICING 100g hazelnuts (peeled weight) 125ml double cream 1 tsbp rum or water 125g dark chocolate
Directions:
- Preheat oven to between 150 to 180 degrees celsius . - Whisk egg whites and salt until stiff but not dry. - In a separate bowl, beat butter and nutella together, add rum/water, egg yolks and ground hazelnuts. - Fold in the cooled melted chocolate, then lighten the mixture with a large dollop of egg white, which you can beat in as roughly as you want, before gently folding the rest of them in a third at a time. - Pour in the tin and cook for 40 minutes or until the cake is beginning to come off at the sides. - Toast hazelnuts until golden brown. Let it cool on a plate once done. - In a heavy based saucepan, add the cream, rum/water and chopped chocolate. Heat gently. - Once chocolate is melted, take the pan off the heat, whisk until it reaches the right consistency to ice the top of the cake. - Unmould the cake carefully. Leave it on the base or transfer carefully on a large plate. - Ice the top with the chocolate icing and decorate with the hazelnuts.
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Story by Richelle Gan Design by Corinne Gan
Set in a strange afterlife universe reserved for people who have committed suicide, Wristcutters: A love story is a quirky and dark romantic comedy about Zia (played by Patrick Fugit) and his quest to find his girlfriend Desiree in Wristcutterville after learning about her death from a new suicide. Together with Eugene, his newfound friend, and pretty, feisty hitchhiker Mikal, whom they picked up during their roadtrip, the odd trio venture into this bizarre land in search of Desiree.
In this offbeat romantic comedy starring charismatic Joseph Gordon-Levitt and indie chick Zooey Deschanel, Tom Hansen (Levitt) reflects back on just over one year that he has known Summer Finn (Deschanel). Unlike the conventional romantic love stories however, 500 Days of Summer starts off after Summer has left Tom’s life for good, and the movie tracks back to the days that they have spent together.
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Love sends a country-born city boy on a surreal search through the streets of modern-day Bangkok. Despite his grandmother’s repeated warnings that he will grow a tail if he moves to the city, country bumpkin Pod sets his sights on Bangkok and soon lands an assembly-line job. When a factory mishap results in the loss of a finger and Pod opts instead for a job as a security guard, the city-stricken young man soon makes the acquaintance of obsessive/compulsive maid Jin (Sanftong Ket-UTong). Pod sets out on an enchanting journey through the neon-soaked jungle of Bangkok in hopes of winning the heart of the oblivious Jin. With a cinematography that almost mirrors french movie Amelie (Le fabuleux destin d’Amelie Poulain), Citizen Dog is a whimsy and fun love story that promises to charm you this Valentine’s Day if you are a fan of indie movies.
Love Me If You Dare starts of as just a game between childhood friends Sophie and Julien in France. A few bets later, the game becomes the best and most compelling thing in both of the children’s lives. They play, they love each other. Play, love, play and love again. In the end, it’s so much easier to just be friends so life goes by, the game remains up till their adult lives, increasingly intense, like passion. While they often act out to relieve one another’s pain, their game might be a way to avoid the fact that they are truly meant for one another.
Based on the novel “Leap of Love” by Singaporean author Catherine Lim, the story is about Li-Ann, a young Singaporean girl who meets her ‘special someone’ on 29 February. She decides to base her intuition on an Irish leap year tradition that no man will refuse any request of a lady and invites him out for a date. Together, they embark on a romantic journey that spans over 12 years, meeting only thrice in 12 years, on the leap year.
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MONEY
Marriage Finances It’s About the Money, Honey! Heading down the aisle or newly married? Here are some financial management advices for you to consider. Every couple planning a wedding knows that there are some argument-causing topics that they just won’t discuss. Maybe he will leave the choice of wedding colours to her and she in turn, won’t comment on his best man’s reputation! Money, debt and credit should never be on that list of taboo topics for couples preparing to wed. In fact, financial experts and marriage counselors agree that honest and open communication about money matters is an essential element for a successful marriage. Here are some pointers to consider:
Do not go over-board with the wedding preparations and do it within your means.
Before you finalise the guest list and decide on a honeymoon destination, you should discuss your current individual financial status and how you’ll manage credit as a married couple in the future.
Full disclosure: You may not see the romance in a credit report but sharing your credit standing with your future spouse is an admirable and necessary gesture of commitment. It is also an essential step towards planning your future financial course together, especially if you will be buying a house or car or starting a family.
Knowing how much debt each of you has, can help you make proper and informed decisions about your financial future together. Discuss how you’ll keep track of spending and how much you’ll save each month.
Planning how you’ll manage credit in the early days of your marriage can help you work towards your mutual spending and saving goals.
While money matters and co-managing your finances is important in a marriage, it is not the only thing. Financial management experts’ advice newlyweds to discuss finances but put your relationship first. When money issues arise, keep in mind that your approach in handling them needs to be a team effort.
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COMMUNITY
Waiting for buses in Johor Bahru (JB) can prove to be a pretty long wait at times. The days of the semi efficient public transportation are being replaced by a more inefficient service, keeping commuters waiting for eons. With JB being upgraded under the Iskandar Malaysia tutelage, the bus service has however degraded itself to a substandard depression. Last year’s report that over 30% of the 1500 buses in Johor have ceased operations is nothing to be proud of. In simple terms, it means that more than 450 buses are now absent from the already floundering service. The operation hours have been shortened as well. One can consider themselves lucky if they manage to catch a bus after 10.30pm at times. Adding insult to injury is the bad conditions of some buses, with leaking air conditioners, torn seats and a general ancient look. Even more appalling is the haphazard attitude of drivers who still behave rudely and don’t stop at certain bus stops to mention a few. Johor, The Jewel of Asia seems to have a pretty obvious crack in the gem. As resilient ‘anak Johor’s’, we tolerate the incompetence of the public buses but it gets to a certain point of annoyance that we wonder why are the authorities tight lipped over the ineptitude which is only a hindrance to the public. Perhaps the people in charge should try waiting for a bus in their neighborhood bus stop for a few hours only to learn that the bus company has ceased operations to that area without prior notice and the nearest bus stop is nowhere in walking distance and more of a taxi ride away. Maybe then, the voices of the people won’t fall on short and serious measures will be taken to ease the situation. This article is not intended to find fault with any parties or to point out the ineptness of the obvious. It is merely the voice of another city dweller who is lost without public transportation and ashamed of the handicap of a city poised to be in the limelight as the city with the only Lego Land in Asia and the city that hosts the only Premium Outlet in South East Asia. We love JB for all its grace and beauty and with the right public transportation system, we will wear our hearts on our sleeves and sing the praise of the state without any hesitation.
NO MORE WAITING By Maisarah
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FB CONNECT Congratulations to our Contest Winners! New Year’s Resolution Contest Ms Vanisha Bharwani Mr Vishnu Dev MIKA SINGH Live in Singapore Contest Ms Desiree Tresa Gasper
WAVES LIFESTYLE FACEBOOK and TWITTER COMMENTS www.facebook.com/waveslifestyle || www.twitter.com/waveslifestyle Vybe MY Thank you Waves! Happy new year! @WNadiaa Flash Mob Dancer - launching @WavesLifestyle magazine at KSL Johor Bahru twitpic.com/7vfzuk FB LIKE COUNT: 1,090 LIKES
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Sula Vineyards Nashik Valley, India By Priya Manikam
Sula Vineyards is one of India’s largest wine producers with wide varieties to offer wine lovers. It has also gained a reputation of being India’s best wine producer since its launch in 2000 and Nashik’s climate and soil are the perfect recipe for growing a wide variety of premium wine grapes. WAVES Lifestyle had a little chat with Mr. Meenal Kansara, Senior Executive for Guest Relations of Sula Vineyards. Although they host other international brands as well, it is their 20 types of homegrown Sula Wines that caught our attention. It ranges from their Premium Reds such as the Rasa Shiraz, Dindori Reserve, Premium Whites (the Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Riesling), Sparkling Wines (Sula Brut), a Rose’ Wine (Sula Blush Zinfadel which is also India’s first ever Zinfadel), a Dessert Wine and Value Wines (Mosaic Grenache Syrah (red), Dia White, Madera (red/white/rose’) and more. The winery is open to visitors who can enjoy a tour, wine tastings, courses and fun events. Sula Vineyards is located on the outskirts of Nashik, which is about 180km from Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra. It is easily reachable by Indian Railways’ train services to Nashik city, buses, or even by taxi and auto-rickshaws. For a very reasonable fee of Rs150 rupees (RM9/S$4) per person, you are entitled to a 45 minutes escorted tour of the winery and tasting of four wines. The tours take place hourly between 11.30am and 5.30pm and provide a good insight into the wine making process. The harvesting months of January to March are the best times to visit Sula Vineyards as you'll be able to participate in wine stomping but anytime after the monsoon season (after July or August) is also lovely to visit. There is an annual festival called the “Sula Fest” which is a music concert held during end February in the outdoor Greek-style amphitheater that attracts a large multiracial crowd.
THE WINERY TOUR The famous and knowledgeable guided tour of the winery revels in the mysteries of the winemaking process from grape to bottle. Our tour guide, Amit, told us the history of Sula and showed us the vineyards, explaining the manual processes of plucking of grapes, its viticulture process right until the harvest. He then guided us towards the cellar and explained the varied process starting from sorting the grapes, removal of stems and leaves and their transfer to the grape crushing machine. The main difference between the red and white wine is that the grape’s juice used to make red wine contains skins, seeds, and stems. This is significant by leaving the juice to mix together with the woody bits (known as maceration) that causes the finished product to contain a deep red colour and tannins. Amit went on to explain that their main export is Sauvignon Blanc (white wine). Finally, we proceeded near the bottling room where the process of transferring the wine while separating the residues from one container to another before filling into individual bottles and capping took place. We were told that Sula wines are mostly young except for the Rasa Shiraz but that a full oaked barrel room will be ready for use in the near future. WAVES 32
TASTING ROOM
TRAVEL
The tasting room, designed by Californian architects, is open daily from 11am to 10pm. This makes it a wonderful place to watch the sunset and spend the evening with your loved ones. Since we never tasted any Indian wines, we were looking forward to it and were surprised by its quality and must add that they were excellent and can match on par with any Californian or Australian Wines! Therefore, do not doubt its reasonable pricing as it is all in the tasting.
WINE & FOOD PAIRING During our wine tasting, we were educated further as to its food pairing suiting an Indian/Asian palate. Sula Brut; a sparkling wine which goes really well with Tandooris and fried dishes and are perfect for dim sums and steamed food. It has a bit of fizz and bubbles and once poured, you should hold the stem of your glass to drink it and it should be served chilled. Dindori Reserve (white) has a light shade and is a young wine with interesting flavours of peach and lychee. This wine is best paired with seafood and spicy dishes. Upon pouring, you should swirl the glass a little to let the wine “breathe” as this also helps to enhance its fruity flavours. Those who are new to wine are encouraged to try these types of white wines before moving on to red wines which have stronger flavours. Sula Blush Zinfadel, a Rose’ (meaning Pink in French) wine is India’s first ever Zinfadel and having tried an Australian brand before; we were very pleased with its flavour. This is an all time favourite wine and is great for picnics, parties and on hot summer days, plus it’s a lady’s favourite. It has fruity flavours and a hint of strawberry at the end and goes well with poultry dishes and spicy food. Serve this wine chilled and upon pouring, don’t gulp it down but give it a sniff and slowly sip to get its strawberry flavour. A full-bodied red wine known as the Mosaic Grenache Syrah has interesting flavours of spice and smokiness to it. It pairs really well with beef, kebabs, lamb and curries and is best served at room temperature. This surprisingly became an instant favourite. Our purchase of a few bottles came up to about Rs800 (about Rs360 or RM21/S$9 per 750ml bottle) which was quite a bargain! The word is; Sula is in plans to make its products available in Singapore! So when it does, do give it a try.
RESTAURANTS AND ACCOMODATION The vineyard’s two notable restaurants are an Italian Ristorante - Little Italy and Soma, an Indian restaurant. Soma is a classic example of how wines can pair well with Indian food. Every recipe on Soma’s menu is created by Chef Kalra, whose family has been tantalising locals’ taste-buds for decades. Both restaurants are open for lunch and dinner daily. Finally, for the ones wishing to stay back and bask in the beauty of this place, Sula Vineyards has their very own luxury resort called “Beyond”. Located about 3km from the winery, it has a 23-room boutique hotel with a starting rack price of Rs6000 (RM351/S$144) per night for double occupancy with breakfast, wine tour and tasting, massage and more. Beyond also has luxurious bungalows that comes with private balconies, large living area, swimming pool, and an in-house chef - all at a rate of Rs20,000 (RM1170/S$480) plus tax per night on weekends. Mr. Meenal informed us that they can arrange for pick up and drop off to and from the airport and you need to liaise with them in advance regarding your travel plans. For further details or to make reservations, visit their website at www.sulawines.com or call +9178755 55725 / +9125322 30141. And since Valentine’s Day is around the corner, you can now impress your loved ones with the knowledge of wines and its food pairing or better still plan a trip to a vineyard for a quiet romantic time. Happy Valentine’s Day! WAVES 33
EL
TRAV
Sights of MUMBAI and NASHIK, INDIA By Priya Manikam There is so much to see when you travel to India and it’s not just the sightseeing but embracing the way the people live over there. Mumbai is also known as India's Financial Capital or land of Bollywood to most of us. The city was more popularised after the movie Slumdog Millionaire and the former is unfortunately evident on its streets. But not all is negative about the place as there are monumental buildings such as the Gateway of India, The Taj hotel, Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus or VT Station to the locals, Haji Ali Dargah and further away lies Kanheri Caves which has lots of Buddhist influence on its rock structures. About 180 km away from Mumbai, one can reach to a city called Nashik which has picturesque surroundings and a cooler climate. The city is known as one of India's holy city but also famous for its dam and vineyards (as shown in the previous pages). As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words", so enjoy the following collage of Mumbai & Nashik and make a visit there soon.
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MOTIVATION
Healthy Lifestyle By Ahmad Fadzli
In last month’s edition, we talked about ‘The Power of Dreams’. So, have you have become a dreamer yet? If yes, great! Make it a reality. To achieve our dreams, there are many factors to be considered but the most important thing is the consideration of our lifestyle. There is no point in becoming successful by sacrificing our health. This time I would like to share with you guys the ‘5 SIMPLE STEPS TOWARDS A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE’. 1. Get active every day Take the stairs, no elevators, please. I’m not telling you to take the stairs if your office is up on the 10th floor as that would just be absurd! What I’m suggesting is that you start using the stairs as part of your daily exercise. 10 minutes of stairs climbing will be perfect. The point is for you to be active as regular physical activity is important for a healthy growth, development and general well-being. 2. Choose water as your drink H2O, plain and simple with no added preservatives, sugar, soda or fructose. It’s the best way to quench your thirst. Say goodbye to all the artificial flavouring and embrace plain water today. 3. Eat more fruits and vegetables Eating fruits and vegetables every day helps our positive growth, boosts our vitality and can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. Eat two servings of fruits and five servings of vegetables every day! Have fresh fruits and veggies available as a convenient snack. 4. Switch off the screen and get active You face becoming overweight or a loner if you spend most of your time online or on Facebook. Get a life, meet people and quit just talking to them on a screen. This is the real beauty. Certain studies say that children and young people should spend no more than two hours a day on ‘small screen’ entertainment. Why spend so much time on the small screen when you can spend them on the big screen - you know, the one known as the world? Plan some physical activities with your friends and family as an alternative to your online world! 5. Eat Healthy and Live Happy! Remember, a healthy snack is the path to a happy life! Meet your daily nutritional needs with snacks based on fruits and vegetables, reduced fat dairy products and whole grains. So get start the healthier lifestyle today and continue to be a successful dreamer.
“The groundwork of all happiness is good health” - Leigh Hunt
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