by aya
Toronto
Brazil
London
Niagara Falls
Paris
Singapore
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Little Island of “Komodo Dragon”
Meet a modern day dinosaur.
The Nusa Tenggara islands are rich in history and culture. One island, however, is particularly famous for being the home of the world’s largest reptile, the Komodo Dragon. These huge monitor lizards are nephews and nieces of dinosaur, so it will come as no surprise to discover they are capable of swallowing a small water buffalo in one sitting.
Ferries that navigate the treacherous waters between Sumbawa and Flores call at the small island if Komodo, national park and the haunt of “dragons”. A survivor of another age, the Komodo Dragon is in reality an oversized monitor lizard, a species which has been in existence for 200 million years.
Guides take visitors, “dragon spotting” and there’s also a gruesome twice weekly feeding time, when up to 15 reptiles tear apart the body of a goat with such avidity that within minutes not a trace is left. More of giant lizard, live on the neighbouring island of Rinca, also reached from Flores and Sumbawa.
Futher off the beaten track, Labuhanbajo and Komodo are umpressive enough for elite of international underwater photographers to return year after year. At Lembata you can wangle a dive with pearl shell divers. Kupang promises plenty of wall diving with caves and big fish. Roti is rocky, with plenty of slopes and drop-offs profuse with soft coral.
Dive Season, possible all year round. Best weather is in April and October.
Highlights
A visit to Pura Lingsar (Lombok) the only Hindu shrine where both Hindus and Moslem worship.
Searching and underwater gardens of Flores for the rare and exclusive Blue Fire-Goby.
Cooling your heels on magnificent Senggigi Beach, Lombok.
Taro scent the air while the trio of volcanic lakes on Mount Kelimutu (which appear chameleon-like in different colors from burgundy red to turquoise green).
Photographing the magnificent Sindeniggile water fall (Lombok).
By Indonesia Tourism Promotion Boards. (Indonesia a World all its Own)
By This Way Indonesia (James Hardy)
Photo by Gery Bell (Oceanwide Images)
The Nusa Tenggara islands are rich in history and culture. One island, however, is particularly famous for being the home of the world’s largest reptile, the Komodo Dragon. These huge monitor lizards are nephews and nieces of dinosaur, so it will come as no surprise to discover they are capable of swallowing a small water buffalo in one sitting.
Ferries that navigate the treacherous waters between Sumbawa and Flores call at the small island if Komodo, national park and the haunt of “dragons”. A survivor of another age, the Komodo Dragon is in reality an oversized monitor lizard, a species which has been in existence for 200 million years.
Guides take visitors, “dragon spotting” and there’s also a gruesome twice weekly feeding time, when up to 15 reptiles tear apart the body of a goat with such avidity that within minutes not a trace is left. More of giant lizard, live on the neighbouring island of Rinca, also reached from Flores and Sumbawa.
Futher off the beaten track, Labuhanbajo and Komodo are umpressive enough for elite of international underwater photographers to return year after year. At Lembata you can wangle a dive with pearl shell divers. Kupang promises plenty of wall diving with caves and big fish. Roti is rocky, with plenty of slopes and drop-offs profuse with soft coral.
Dive Season, possible all year round. Best weather is in April and October.
Highlights
A visit to Pura Lingsar (Lombok) the only Hindu shrine where both Hindus and Moslem worship.
Searching and underwater gardens of Flores for the rare and exclusive Blue Fire-Goby.
Cooling your heels on magnificent Senggigi Beach, Lombok.
Taro scent the air while the trio of volcanic lakes on Mount Kelimutu (which appear chameleon-like in different colors from burgundy red to turquoise green).
Photographing the magnificent Sindeniggile water fall (Lombok).
By Indonesia Tourism Promotion Boards. (Indonesia a World all its Own)
By This Way Indonesia (James Hardy)
Photo by Gery Bell (Oceanwide Images)
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Products after TSUNAMI in Indonesia
AMI is the brand name given to small-scale business products manufactured by community groups living in coastal villages of North Sumatra badly affected by December 2004 tsunami. For generation, collecting shrimps, fish and oysters has provided income to the coastal communities. This way of life was severely altered after the disaster, which left many families helpless after ecosystems supporting them were destroyed.
The creation of AMI Products was facilitated by local foundation, YAGASU (Yayasan Gajah Sumatra). This Foundation committed to species and forests conservation, environmental restoration and community development. After the tsunami, YAGASU focused on the rehabilitation of coastal ecosystem along the East coast of Northern Sumatra and on helping in inhabitants to achieve a-long-term and environment-friendly sustainable development.
Within the so-called “Coastal Carbon Corridor” stretching along 670 km from Banda Aceh to Pantai Labu, and with support from NGOs (PLANETE URGENCE, ISLAMIC RELIEF, MUSLIM AID), private companies (NEWMONT), international and national governmental institutions (BRR NAD-Nias, UNESCO) and many other donor fundings, YAGASU has provided the local communities with small business training, production process, marketing and product promotions. Since its induction, AMI has fast expanded and now contributes to the livelihood improvement of hundreds of villagers.
Some specific objectives of AMI products are give a prominent economic role to women in the community, and to bring the villagers to interact with each other. It also improves the confidence and sense of responsibility of everyone involved. With the tsunami, many women have seen their family destroyed with the loss of their husbands and children. Psychological reconstruction is also important : “When I am home, I am alone, when I came to work, I have friends.” says Minda, an employee of AMI Products.
AMI products consist of traditional handcrafts, homemade food processing, chocolates, a wide variety of coconut products, traditional designs of garment and embordery, and meubelair available for sale of at the AMI Products stores in the Banda Aceh airport, in Medan, in Jakarta and several supermarkets.
Two AMI Galleries, one in Jakarta and one in Bali have been established, providing extra jobs as well as a very good opportunity for the local communities to demonstrate their skills to a broader audience. The AMI Gallery will specialize in high quality handicrafts and garments, and will provide space for the exhibition art and music.
Thanks to funding from the NEWMONT company, the Community Learning Center in Kampung Jawa, Banda Aceh, is having its grand opening in May 2008. This Center will house the manufacturing and packaging handicrafts, traditional design of garments and food products, as well as training courses. Training courses will be provided to other communities in natural disaster affected areas, to gain skill in handicrafts creation and food production.
Creation People and photos by Asli Made in Indonesia
The creation of AMI Products was facilitated by local foundation, YAGASU (Yayasan Gajah Sumatra). This Foundation committed to species and forests conservation, environmental restoration and community development. After the tsunami, YAGASU focused on the rehabilitation of coastal ecosystem along the East coast of Northern Sumatra and on helping in inhabitants to achieve a-long-term and environment-friendly sustainable development.
Within the so-called “Coastal Carbon Corridor” stretching along 670 km from Banda Aceh to Pantai Labu, and with support from NGOs (PLANETE URGENCE, ISLAMIC RELIEF, MUSLIM AID), private companies (NEWMONT), international and national governmental institutions (BRR NAD-Nias, UNESCO) and many other donor fundings, YAGASU has provided the local communities with small business training, production process, marketing and product promotions. Since its induction, AMI has fast expanded and now contributes to the livelihood improvement of hundreds of villagers.
Some specific objectives of AMI products are give a prominent economic role to women in the community, and to bring the villagers to interact with each other. It also improves the confidence and sense of responsibility of everyone involved. With the tsunami, many women have seen their family destroyed with the loss of their husbands and children. Psychological reconstruction is also important : “When I am home, I am alone, when I came to work, I have friends.” says Minda, an employee of AMI Products.
AMI products consist of traditional handcrafts, homemade food processing, chocolates, a wide variety of coconut products, traditional designs of garment and embordery, and meubelair available for sale of at the AMI Products stores in the Banda Aceh airport, in Medan, in Jakarta and several supermarkets.
Two AMI Galleries, one in Jakarta and one in Bali have been established, providing extra jobs as well as a very good opportunity for the local communities to demonstrate their skills to a broader audience. The AMI Gallery will specialize in high quality handicrafts and garments, and will provide space for the exhibition art and music.
Thanks to funding from the NEWMONT company, the Community Learning Center in Kampung Jawa, Banda Aceh, is having its grand opening in May 2008. This Center will house the manufacturing and packaging handicrafts, traditional design of garments and food products, as well as training courses. Training courses will be provided to other communities in natural disaster affected areas, to gain skill in handicrafts creation and food production.
Creation People and photos by Asli Made in Indonesia
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Be Straight at All Times and Speak the Truth
Rule 97
“I have found the being honest is the best technique I can use. Right up front, tell people what you’re trying to accomplish and what you’re willing to sacrifice to accomplish it.”
Lee Iacocca, President of Ford and of Chrysler
The rule follows right on from the previous Rule. Obviously if you think your boss is an idiot you don’t go and tell them - that’s taking honesty just a shade too far. But don’t lie, or cheat, or steal, or abuse, or defraud, or take advantage, or con, or trick, or swindle, or hinder, or worsen.
As a manager you have been given a privileged position – one of trust and honour. You are responsible for human lives – no, really, real human lives. You screw up and people get hurt. When they go home after working for you all day they carry on living and breathing, feeling and loving, hurting and dreaming and hoping. You upset them or offend them or abuse them or lie to them and they take that home and it affects their close family and friends and relatives. You must speak truth to them at all times. If you can’t say anything nice, say nothing, but don’t lie.
Don’t lie your bosses. They don’t employ you to do that. They employ you to be straight and to tell the truth. If you’re not going to make your figures, don’t fudge the issue – tell them. They can then take measures to help you or take action because your not making your figures might have knock-on effects. They might be let down but they will be grateful for the warning. Better to know, than to hope and be disappointed.
Don’t lie to customers. Obviously in all this there is measure for artistic truth telling. If a customer asks if your products are superior to your competitors you don’t have to lie because they are – or you’d be working for the competition, wouldn’t you? But if they ask if certain products have been successful and they haven’t you are entitled to creative truth telling. Say, ‘We have been somewhat surprised by sales so far but there is always room for improvement’, rather than. ‘These really bombed but we’re hoping you’ll take a load off our hands’.
“Managing Yourself
The rules of Management by Richard Templar”
Photo by Microsoft
“I have found the being honest is the best technique I can use. Right up front, tell people what you’re trying to accomplish and what you’re willing to sacrifice to accomplish it.”
Lee Iacocca, President of Ford and of Chrysler
The rule follows right on from the previous Rule. Obviously if you think your boss is an idiot you don’t go and tell them - that’s taking honesty just a shade too far. But don’t lie, or cheat, or steal, or abuse, or defraud, or take advantage, or con, or trick, or swindle, or hinder, or worsen.
As a manager you have been given a privileged position – one of trust and honour. You are responsible for human lives – no, really, real human lives. You screw up and people get hurt. When they go home after working for you all day they carry on living and breathing, feeling and loving, hurting and dreaming and hoping. You upset them or offend them or abuse them or lie to them and they take that home and it affects their close family and friends and relatives. You must speak truth to them at all times. If you can’t say anything nice, say nothing, but don’t lie.
Don’t lie your bosses. They don’t employ you to do that. They employ you to be straight and to tell the truth. If you’re not going to make your figures, don’t fudge the issue – tell them. They can then take measures to help you or take action because your not making your figures might have knock-on effects. They might be let down but they will be grateful for the warning. Better to know, than to hope and be disappointed.
Don’t lie to customers. Obviously in all this there is measure for artistic truth telling. If a customer asks if your products are superior to your competitors you don’t have to lie because they are – or you’d be working for the competition, wouldn’t you? But if they ask if certain products have been successful and they haven’t you are entitled to creative truth telling. Say, ‘We have been somewhat surprised by sales so far but there is always room for improvement’, rather than. ‘These really bombed but we’re hoping you’ll take a load off our hands’.
“Managing Yourself
The rules of Management by Richard Templar”
Photo by Microsoft
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Be Aware of Your Responsibilities and Stick to Your Principles
Rule 96
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
Albert Schweitzer
As a manager you have a responsibility to people in your team. You must make sure they don’t come to harm while they are in your care. You have to make sure they are sale, healthy, cared for, well fed and watered, comfortable, kept well away from hazardous substances and equipment, and that they wear suitable safety clothing if necessary.
Now you also have a responsibility to the environment in much the same way. You mustn’t do anything that is going to do harm, cause lasting damage , put anymore at risk of health or life, cause any land to be utilized in a worse way than it was before you came along. You don’t have to be an eco-warrior but you do have a responsibility not to cause harm or damage. Can you put your hand on your heart and say your managerial role is ‘clean’?
You have to have some principles – that you won’t cause harm or damage. There has to be a line drawn – by you – somewhere, beyond which you will not go. You have to give something back. You have to be aware of what is going on around you. You have to be aware of what your industry contributes – or takes – from the environment. This isn’t stuff from the fairies or the hippies or the karmic religionist – this is real stuff. The more you put in, the more you get out. Be good and sleep nights. It’s not a bad philosophy to live by and to manage with.
“Managing Yourself
The rules of Management by Richard Templar”
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
Albert Schweitzer
As a manager you have a responsibility to people in your team. You must make sure they don’t come to harm while they are in your care. You have to make sure they are sale, healthy, cared for, well fed and watered, comfortable, kept well away from hazardous substances and equipment, and that they wear suitable safety clothing if necessary.
Now you also have a responsibility to the environment in much the same way. You mustn’t do anything that is going to do harm, cause lasting damage , put anymore at risk of health or life, cause any land to be utilized in a worse way than it was before you came along. You don’t have to be an eco-warrior but you do have a responsibility not to cause harm or damage. Can you put your hand on your heart and say your managerial role is ‘clean’?
You have to have some principles – that you won’t cause harm or damage. There has to be a line drawn – by you – somewhere, beyond which you will not go. You have to give something back. You have to be aware of what is going on around you. You have to be aware of what your industry contributes – or takes – from the environment. This isn’t stuff from the fairies or the hippies or the karmic religionist – this is real stuff. The more you put in, the more you get out. Be good and sleep nights. It’s not a bad philosophy to live by and to manage with.
“Managing Yourself
The rules of Management by Richard Templar”
Photo by Microsoft
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Go Home
Rule 71
Caspian Woods, from Acorns – How to build your brilliant from scratch.
Another manager I worked with stayed late, got in early, skipped lunch and kept his head down and grafted every second he was there. Guess who got promoted over him? Yep, Bob again from Rule 70 Mr. Cool Dude.
One’s of Bob’s favourite lines, to me anyway, was, ‘Go Home, Rich, go home. You’ve got a young family, go home and see them before they forget what you look like. Either that or send them a photo before they rally forget. ‘Naturally I went home. As did Bob, a lot. In fact he was at work so little he got promoted again. His secret? His team, of which I was one, would have done anything for him. We went that extra mile. We would never have willingly let him down. Bob inspired loyalty in his staff in a way I’ve rarely seen since. He made all of us feel grown-up, trusted, treated in a respectful way. He never shouted, abused, put upon, demanded, overworked, humiliated his team. I never saw him have to discipline anyone, ever. He was charismatic and charming, cool and relaxed. He cooked us all like small fish.
He said his secret was his family. For them he worked. He adored his children and would rather have been home with them than working. His love for them showed and he wore the badge of happy family man with great pride. He talked a lot about his kids and his wife and was obviously very happy with them.
He never stayed late because that would have been disloyal to his number-one priority – his family. This gave him great depth. He was well rounded and balanced. He was at ease with himself . He had nothing to prove at work because he was content at home. I’ve worked with some complete bastards and I can say the only thing they all had in common was bad home life. Their base camp was corrupt and it showed. So, my dear friend, go home.
“Managing Yourself
The rules of Management by Richard Templar”
Photo by Microsoft
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Get it Done / Work hard
Rule 35
“ Genius is 1 per cent inspiration, and 99 per cent perspiration”
Thomas Edison
The fundamental Rule of Management, I’m afraid, is get the basic job done, get it done well and work bloody hard at it. No good being a fantastic people manager if you let the basic job slip. You may have to get into the office earlier than anyone else, earlier than you’ve ever got there before, but get in early you must.
Once you have cleared your work out of the way you can concentrate on managing your team. Paperwork has to be done efficiently and on time. This isn’t the place to go into lengthy training sessions on time management and the like, but basically you will have to be :
* organized
* dedicated
* ruthlessly efficient
* focused
No choice I’m afraid. You have to knuckle down and get on with it. Management isn’t swanning around issuing orders and looking cool. It’s actually about what goes on in the background – the work being done where no one sees it.
And if you want to know if you are being a good manager now – take a look at your desk. Go on. Right now. What do you see? Clear space and order? Paper everywhere and piles of unsorted stuff? Do the same with your briefcase, files, computer even. Order or disorder?
You have to use whatever tools you have to hand to make sure the work is done, done well, and done on time. Make lists, use pop-up calendars on your computer, delegate, seek help, stay up late, get up early, get up earlier – obviously you still need to refer to Rule 71 : Go Home, you have to have a life. But get that work done and learn to be ruthlessly efficient.
“Managing Yourself
The Rules of Management by Richard Templar"
“ Genius is 1 per cent inspiration, and 99 per cent perspiration”
Thomas Edison
The fundamental Rule of Management, I’m afraid, is get the basic job done, get it done well and work bloody hard at it. No good being a fantastic people manager if you let the basic job slip. You may have to get into the office earlier than anyone else, earlier than you’ve ever got there before, but get in early you must.
Once you have cleared your work out of the way you can concentrate on managing your team. Paperwork has to be done efficiently and on time. This isn’t the place to go into lengthy training sessions on time management and the like, but basically you will have to be :
* organized
* dedicated
* ruthlessly efficient
* focused
No choice I’m afraid. You have to knuckle down and get on with it. Management isn’t swanning around issuing orders and looking cool. It’s actually about what goes on in the background – the work being done where no one sees it.
And if you want to know if you are being a good manager now – take a look at your desk. Go on. Right now. What do you see? Clear space and order? Paper everywhere and piles of unsorted stuff? Do the same with your briefcase, files, computer even. Order or disorder?
You have to use whatever tools you have to hand to make sure the work is done, done well, and done on time. Make lists, use pop-up calendars on your computer, delegate, seek help, stay up late, get up early, get up earlier – obviously you still need to refer to Rule 71 : Go Home, you have to have a life. But get that work done and learn to be ruthlessly efficient.
“Managing Yourself
The Rules of Management by Richard Templar"
Photos by Microsoft Office
Sunday, March 9, 2008
LEARN from YOUR MISTAKES
Rule 46
“A career setback can be like a romance gone bad. If you don’t learn from your mistakes, you’re doomed to repeat them, most likely in your next job. Many professionals are so eager to flee a bad job or fearful of being jobless, they jump from one job mismatch to the next, just like some people do in their personal relation-ships. If you’ve been knocked down but haven’t looked at what caused your stumble, you’re setting yourself up to fall again.
Bradley G. Richardson.
‘To Move Ahead Again, Learn From Career Setbacks’
We all make mistakes-we wouldn’t be the wonderfully creative, innovative managers we are if we didn’t. But some managers gloss over any mistakes they make. They cover them, bury them, forget about them. You, as a brilliant manager, won’t do that. You won’t beat yourself up over them, nor sit in a pit of misery over them but you will analyze what went wrong, discuss with colleagues why it went wrong and make a plan to prevent it from going wrong again.
Our mistakes could be anything from a badly handled appraisal, a lost sale, a badly thought our report, a poor use of time or resources, a failure to meet a deadline – when you start to write down how many failure there could be the list endless.
Once you have made your mistake the important thing to do as well as all the above is to find out the right way to do it next time. Being the manager is an ongoing learning experience. You never stand still and you never think know it all – you don’t and can’t. But you can have trusted people to ask and good reference books to hand to guide you – especially if they are short, sharp, snappy, and practical.
(See, for example, Roy Jay, Fast Thinking Manager’s Manual, Prentice Hall, 2001)
Mistakes are brilliant because they not only teach us where we went wrong but also how to fix it. You are a better manager, more experienced, have a wider spectrum to call on when you’ve made a few errors. We all make mistakes- admit them, learn from them and move on.
“The Rules of Management (Managing your self) by RICHARD TEMPLAR”
“A career setback can be like a romance gone bad. If you don’t learn from your mistakes, you’re doomed to repeat them, most likely in your next job. Many professionals are so eager to flee a bad job or fearful of being jobless, they jump from one job mismatch to the next, just like some people do in their personal relation-ships. If you’ve been knocked down but haven’t looked at what caused your stumble, you’re setting yourself up to fall again.
Bradley G. Richardson.
‘To Move Ahead Again, Learn From Career Setbacks’
We all make mistakes-we wouldn’t be the wonderfully creative, innovative managers we are if we didn’t. But some managers gloss over any mistakes they make. They cover them, bury them, forget about them. You, as a brilliant manager, won’t do that. You won’t beat yourself up over them, nor sit in a pit of misery over them but you will analyze what went wrong, discuss with colleagues why it went wrong and make a plan to prevent it from going wrong again.
Our mistakes could be anything from a badly handled appraisal, a lost sale, a badly thought our report, a poor use of time or resources, a failure to meet a deadline – when you start to write down how many failure there could be the list endless.
Once you have made your mistake the important thing to do as well as all the above is to find out the right way to do it next time. Being the manager is an ongoing learning experience. You never stand still and you never think know it all – you don’t and can’t. But you can have trusted people to ask and good reference books to hand to guide you – especially if they are short, sharp, snappy, and practical.
(See, for example, Roy Jay, Fast Thinking Manager’s Manual, Prentice Hall, 2001)
Mistakes are brilliant because they not only teach us where we went wrong but also how to fix it. You are a better manager, more experienced, have a wider spectrum to call on when you’ve made a few errors. We all make mistakes- admit them, learn from them and move on.
“The Rules of Management (Managing your self) by RICHARD TEMPLAR”
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Rule 10
Let them make MISTAKES
“A boss fixes blame, a manager fixes mistakes” (Anonymous)
There is an old Chinese saying that goes something like this: ‘Tell me and I’ll remember for an hour; show me and I’ll remember for a day, but let me do it and I’ll remember for ever.’ Fair enough. And if you are going to let people do it then they are going to do badly at first. They are going to make mistakes. And you are going to let them.
If you are parent you know the agonizing thing you go through with a two-years-old who insists they can pour their own drink – and then proceeds to spill most of it on the table. You stand by with a cloth behind your back because you know that :
- they are going to spill it
- it is you who is going to have mop it up
- the spilling process is important and you have to let them do it and they will progress to not
spilling but only once they have got the spilling out of the way first.
As parent you do that wonderful hovering thing, ready to grab the juice if it is going to spill too much, or grab the cup if it is going over, or even grab the child if it is going to fall off the chair due to such intense concentration.
I’m not saying members of your team are like small children – well, I am actually but don’t tell them – but it is imperative you learn to let them do the spilling if they are to progress. Make sure you have your cloth behind your back ready to mop up after them.
And after each spilling you don’t tell them off. Instead you offer praise – ‘Well done, brilliant job, incredible progress.’ Try not to let them see the cloth or the mopping up.
As parent you do that wonderful hovering thing, ready to grab the juice if it is going to spill too much, or grab the cup if it is going over, or even grab the child if it is going to fall off the chair due to such intense concentration.
I’m not saying members of your team are like small children – well, I am actually but don’t tell them – but it is imperative you learn to let them do the spilling if they are to progress. Make sure you have your cloth behind your back ready to mop up after them.
And after each spilling you don’t tell them off. Instead you offer praise – ‘Well done, brilliant job, incredible progress.’ Try not to let them see the cloth or the mopping up.
“The Rules of Management (Managing your team) by RICHARD TEMPLAR”
Photo by Microsoft
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Eating "Petai"
Little did you know ...... after reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at petai in the same way again! Petai contains three natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose. Combined with fiber, petai gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proved that just two servings of petai provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder petai is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way petai can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating petai. This is because petai contains tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS(premenstrual syndrome): Forget the pills - eat petai. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anaemia: High in iron, petai can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the petai industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power : 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating petai at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including petai in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a petai milkshake, sweetened with honey. The petai calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Petai has a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating petai for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness : Snacking on petai between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites : Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of the petai skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Petai is high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight: Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: Petai is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control : Many other cultures see petai as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Holland, for example, pregnant women eat petai to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) : Petai can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.
Smoking: Petai can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium petai snack.
Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, " eating petai as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%".
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of petai and place it on the wart. Carefully hold the petai in place with a plaster or surgical tape! So, as you can see, petai really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.
So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A Petai a day keeps the doctor away".
PM Dr.Aminuddin AHK
Dept.of Physiology Medical faculty of UKM Kuala Lumpur
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