In this part of the world, we are accustomed to having chili peppers as one of the many ingredients that make up our dishes. In fact, it is one of the most important spices in the local Malay and Indian cuisine, most notably in curry dishes. The Chinese too, have curry mee, laksa, char kueh teow, and many dishes that utilize the properties of chili to give the dishes a kick.

However, do you know your Chili Peppers?

Clockwise: Habanero, Thai Peppers, Bell Peppers, Jalapeño

The three most common types of chili we consume are the Thai Pepper (Chili Padi), Red Pepper (Cayenne), and Bell Pepper. Most people would correctly identify that the Thai Pepper is the hottest of the three, with Red Pepper slightly milder, and Bell Pepper not hot at all. But did you know the hotness of any particular type of pepper is rated?

Enter the Scoville scale. The idea is simple, a score of 100 in Scoville scale would mean that the extract of the pepper has to be diluted 100 times in sugar water before no hotness is detected. However, modern tests (HPLC) is a bit more technologically advanced and the human factor is removed.

Turns out, while the bell pepper has a score of 0, the red pepper is rated between 30,000 - 50,000. The Thai Pepper though, is rated 2-3 times more, at 50,000 - 100,000 on the Scoville scale. The Jalapeño found in many Mexican food is at 2,500 - 8,000, while Tabasco sauce at 2,500 - 5,000.

If you want to get a bigger kick, try the Habanero, rated 100,000 - 300,000 with the Red Savina variety up to 577,000. I once cooked a pack of Maggie noodle with one of those and ended up feeling like my lips, mouth, tongue, throat, and stomach were burning. It didn’t feel too great going to the toilet 2 days later either.

It was an experience, I didn’t believe it was the pepper at first, and did a confirmation experiment a week later, it wasn’t exactly pleasant to confirm my findings.

You can get Habanero peppers from Cold Storage at Bangsar. I’m not sure if they are readily available anywhere else.

Tips: I find that Chili is usually milder when precipitation level is high while hotter during dryer times. This is probably due to the growth rate of plants.

Tags:  bell-pepper,  habanero,  jalapeno,  pepper,  thai-pepper

Posted by KY | 12 Comments »

Don’t you always feel very sien (frustrated/bored/pissed, sien is a very versatile word) having to stand in the LRT with dozens of sweating bodies right next to you, for half an hour just to get to the office? I feel for you, and hence let me teach you this awesome method of always getting a seat. Devised by yours truely after using the LRT for a couple years.

you can see the Kelana Jaya Station from Taman Bahagia’s

Here’s the easy-to-follow, step by step instruction:

1. Instead of boarding at the first station, Kelana Jaya, take the 2nd, Taman Bahagia. As it is very difficult to get a seat even from the first station, why? you might ask..
2. From Taman Bahagia, instead of taking the train to town, go to the other side of the track and take the train that is going back up to Kelana Jaya
3. When the train reached KJ, everyone (except the smart asses like me) will go off, and you’ll get an empty seat. The train will now go to KL.

crucial moment, when the train is/isn’t going to change track

The three easy steps mentioned above is sure enough, simple to follow, but there’s a catch! At Kelana Jaya station, the staff will sometimes make everyone go off, and then have the empty train go to town, skipping several stations to pick up passangers whom otherwise will not get a chance to board the trains that get filled up by the 3rd or 4th station. In this case, you’ll be stuck at KJ waiting for another train, which defeats the whole purpose of getting up from Taman Bahagia.

Of course, there is a solution. If a train is left empty, the next one will not. So, at Taman Bahagia, never take the first train that gets there. Let it pass, and look at where the train stops at KJ (it is close enough for naked eyes to see). If it is on the left side of the track, it will be left tempty, you can board the next train. If it is on the right side of the track, skip the next train as chances are high that it will be the empty train next.

Red path - empty train, Green path - normal train

Petrol is now RM 1.92 per liter, use the public transportation wisely. You don’t have a reason not to, now that you know the secret of getting a seat. Happy train-ing

Disclaimer: his only works for Taman Bahagia LRT station going to town. For other stations and routes, you can try to not bath for 2 weeks, I’m sure you will have an empty car all by yourself.

Posted by KY | 22 Comments »

I’m sure some of you, like me, read non-work related books while commuting to and from work. Now reading is a good habit and all, but sometimes it gets in the way of looking professional carrying your favorite story book with you walking in and out of the office (especially you tend to read on morally questionable topics.) Worry not, there is a solution in few simple steps.

just 4 simple-to-follow steps

1. locate a hardcover personal planner that looks professional
2. take out the original content
3. slide in your favorite non-work related book
4. pwn!

perfect disguise!

So you see, now you can carry your favorite book everywhere and still perfectly blend in to the office environment.

Extra bonus - when you “snake” home earlier, you look like you’re going to a meeting.
Extra extra bonus - when the meeting is boring, you can read your story book while appear to look extra productive!

Have a nice week!

p/s: does not work if your colleagues read this blog.

Posted by KY | 15 Comments »

From the having-too-much-time department, here is how to make yourself a wooden lock. Good for security, and simply excellent in aestheticity. Follow the steps…

First, buy yourself a normal lock, like the trusted SOLEX.

Next, get yourself from wooden stickers from hardware store. Like the HOME WORKS at SS2 opposite the McDonald’s. We went there so many times during the Koi Pond construction the owner got to know us pretty well.

Finally, apply the sticker on the lock with surgical precision. To achieve this you must have a nice and sharp knife, with alot of patient you cut the sticker to the lock’s dimension. As for the rounded hinge, use the hair dryer to heat up the sticker as to stretch it abit to make it fits better.

There you go, a wooden lock for that old school look.

Posted by KY_a | No Comments »

UNO, the game you have most likely played when you just about knew how to stop peeing in your pants, is a fun and exciting card game. It was a slow weekend, and since we don’t wish to gamble for money nor to force each other drink alcohol (that would be FA’s choice). We put in a very healthy reward and punishment system for the noobs.

It goes like this:

• When you win, you get nothing other than bragging rights.
• Loser with the 2nd highest card count gets to deal the cards for the next round.
• Loser with the highest card count gets to either do push ups, sit ups, or a humiliating squat and stand exercise while holding both ears. To the number of cards you have on hand.

Isn’t this a healthy game?

I did about 40 push ups, horny did a couple dozens too. Carol was the real athlete, she did over 40 sit ups, a couple dozen squat and stands, and probably around 10 floor hugging push ups. Huey Fang and Chan got away without having to do anything tho.. those lazy noobs. hehe.

We used to play the Chinese card game Big Two (chor tai tee) that way too. But if the game ended and you have 13 cards on hand.. it’s a painful 39 push ups… Try it, and get healthy!

Posted by KY_a | No Comments »