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Visitors of Kuala Lumpurs nightlife district situated around Changkat Bukit Bintang will not fall short from venues offering life music. One of the quiter places is the Opium bar and restaurant which pleases its vistors with the gentle sounds of Chinese classical music.

The young lady producing the beautiful music is Catherine Chaw (25), sitting in the corner of the terrace and playing a traditional chinese string instrument called Guzheng. Three times a week Catherine entertains her audience from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. MALAYSIA INSIGHTS had the chance to talk to her and learn more about herself and her instrument.

Catherine, you are playing a quite unique instrument, please tell us why did you opt for learning the Guzheng?
My mom chose it for me when I was 13 years old. So now it is almost 12 years I have been playing…

Is it a popular instrument in Malaysia?
It starts getting popular but still many people do not know it. The Guzheng is a Chinese variation of a zither which you might be familiar with in Germany and it has 21 strings.

Did you enjoy learning the instrument from the beginning or would you rather have done anything else?
At the time I just followed what my mother wanted me to do. She likes the Guzheng so much. I only started to enjoy it when I joined an ensemble in 2009.

Tell me about the ensemble, what other instruments does it contain?
We all play the Guzheng, only for a few songs we will add drums and flutes. We are called Oriental Strings Malaysia and you might find our demo at youtube.

Apart from playing at the Opium almost every night, where else are you performing?
Sometimes at private shows, like tomorrow I will be playing with the ensemble for an insurance company. Otherwise I am also a teacher for the Guzheng.

What kind of music is in your repertoire?
I play traditional music when teaching, following the exam list. When I perform I do mostly classic Chinese songs, sometimes I throw in some western songs, too.

Do you also like to listen to Western music?
Sure, I like many different kinds of music. Classical, romantic music, sometimes jazz.

You said you started playing when you were 13, is that a good age to begin?
Actually I was a bit late , most children pick up the instrument at 6 or 7 years.

[accordion id=“my-accordion“] [accordion_item parent_id=“my-accordion“ title=“MALAYSIA INSIGHTS FAST FACTS: The Guzheng“ open=“true“] The guzheng, also simply called zheng is a Chinese plucked zither. It has 18 or more strings and movable bridges, and the modern guzheng usually has 21 strings and bridges. Plucking is done mainly by the right hand with four plectra (picks) attached to the fingers. The history of the instrument can be traced back to the Warring States period (475 to 221 BCE). The modern zheng however is very different from ones made centuries ago, mainly due to natural evolution influenced by local as well as historical environments but also because of the adoption of Western musical styles.  [/accordion_item]  [/accordion]How long would it take to master the Guzheng?
We got 9 grades, approximately you would need one year for each grade. If you practise hard you can be faster, though.

Obvisiously you practised hard because you play very well.
Thanks (smiles)

Do you enjoy playing at the Opium?
Yes, I do and I appreciate very much that my boss and Opium give me the chance to play there.

What are your future plans, and how long will you be playing at the Opium?
My contract at Opium is renewed every month, so I do not know how long it will be running. My future plans? Personally, I hope I can travel and visit many countries to learn about their culture. Especially I am interested in Japan. Secondly, I hope we can develop our ensemble and become more successful and also musically more diverse. We want to add other instruments and do more Chinese and western music. Hopefully our dream comes true.

Our latest issue of MALAYSIA INSIGHTS was presented during ITB 2018. It is available for download now.

One of the main topics this time is travelling in Malaysia. In our feature “Best of Malaysia 2018”, we introduce some of the touristic highlights in Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Borneo.

Other topics: Our renowned Malaysian chef Dr Shahrim Karim contributes two recipes for seafood à la Melaka. Guest author Nils Wolters (MIDA) shares insights on the visit of Malaysia’s Trade Minister to Europe.

You can download the complete issue here:

www.malaysia-insights.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MI10-smallsize.pdf;

Or browse it on Magzter (free registration needed);

Or go directly to the individual articles:

1. New Direct Flights to Malaysia
2. Linguists Discover Previously Unknown Language Spoken in Malaysia
3. Malaysia at Hannover Messe
4. Strengthening Economic Ties Between Malaysia and Europe
5. Travelling in Malaysia
6. Best Of Peninsular Malaysia
7. A Trip to Borneo
8. Seafood from Melaka

A big „Thank you!“ to our advertisers:

• Borneo Nature Tours
• Condor
• ITB Berlin
• MATRADE
• MIDA
• Restaurant Seri Melayu

Often overlooked, the Malaysian state of Terengganu has beautiful islands off its shores. Here are some you should not miss:

Sabah is one of two Malaysian states located on the island of Borneo. The country below the typhoon belt offers a colorful variety of activities.

For all nature fans, be it adventurous or culturally oriented, Sabah with its diverse landscapes and the fascinating indigenous peoples is a piece of land full of attractions. Whether you opt for climbing Mount Kinabalu, immersing yourself in one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world, or learning the culture and traditions of Sabah’s people, the country never gets short of sights and nature spectacles — stretching from the lowland rainforest to an altitude of 4,095 meters to the summit of Mount Kinabalu.

The Kinabalu National Park is one of the most impressive parks on earth and was the first World Cultural Heritage in Malaysia. The area offers everything the mountaineer and nature lover heart desires — from the largest flowers in the world, called Rafflesia, to the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu. Climbing Kinabalu is worth every effort because the view from the summit to the 754 square kilometer area is incomparable. Tropical islands and atolls are waiting to be discovered.

World famous is the coral island of Sipadan off the northeast coast of Borneo. Around this small coral island, encounters with turtles and barracudas are guaranteed. Due to the protection status of the island and its maritime wonderland, only day trips are allowed to Sipadan. Only 150 visitors per day have the chance to be enchanted by the beauty of the sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is also the ideal destination for snorkelers and diving beginners with its clear, turquoise blue waters and its diverse aquatic biotopes.

Sabah is home to over 30 different ethnic groups. The three main groups are the Kadazan Dusun, the Murut, and the Bajau. An insight into the life of the locals is very popular with both national and international tourists. This is possible, for example, in the “Mari Mari”, a small settlement not far from the capital, Kota Kinabalu, which consists of typical houses of the various ethnic groups and serves as a kind of “museum” for those interested in culture. Guided tours take place every day, where the architecture, traditions, and ways of life of the tribes are illustrated.

The Kadazan-Dusun are famous for their traditional rice specialties. These religious ceremonies are directed by the Bobohizan, a female priestess. The Muruts still live in traditional longhouses and are mainly farmers and hunters. It is quite different with the Bajaus, which live on the east and west coast of Sabah. While the East Coast Bajaus are lake nomades and only come to the country to bury their dead, the West coast bays are known for their skillful riding skills. These beautifully dressed “Cowboys of the East” bring a distinctive Sabah note into every local festival.

The new issue of MALAYSIA INSIGHTS is online NOW! The respective print edition will be distributed from 1st of March, 2018

One of the main topics this time is travelling in Malaysia. In our feature “Best of Malaysia 2018”, we introduce some of the touristic highlights in Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Borneo.

Other topics: Our renowned Malaysian chef Dr Shahrim Karim contributes two recipes for seafood a lá Melaka. Guest author Nils Wolters (MIDA) shares insights on the visit of Malaysia’s Trade Minister to Europe.

You can download the complete issue here:

www.malaysia-insights.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MI10-smallsize.pdf;

Or browse it on Magzter (free registration needed);

Or go directly to the individual articles:

1. New Direct Flights to Malaysia
2. Linguists Discover Previously Unknown Language Spoken in Malaysia
3. Malaysia at Hannover Messe
4. Strengthening Economic Ties Between Malaysia and Europe
5. Travelling in Malaysia
6. Best Of Peninsular Malaysia
7. A Trip to Borneo
8. Seafood from Melaka

A big „Thank you!“ to our advertisers:

• Borneo Nature Tours
• Condor
• ITB Berlin
• MATRADE
• MIDA
• Restaurant Seri Melayu

Next month, tourism fair ITB in Berlin will open its doors. Malaysia will be participating with a National Pavilion again. Here are some impressions from last year provided by MALAYSIA INSIGHTS:

https://spark.adobe.com/page/gxs2qlyfwOcx4/?w=0_8348

by Uwe Fischer //

The Turtle Watch Camp is located on Tengah Island, about seven nautical miles from Mersing, Malaysia. The private island also hosts the Batu Batu resort and is the perfect hideaway for visitors who want to escape all the hustle and bustle of every day life. It boasts three wonderful reefs off its shores, home  to an array of colorful fish families, attracting visitors like dolphins and endangered sea turtles. MALAYSIA INSIGHTS visited the Turtle Watch Camp and was introduced to its work. At the time of our visit we spoke to volunteers Stephen Lee from Canada and Mariana Pereira from Portugal.

The hatchery was opened in May 2014 and the first relocation of eggs was in June 2014. In 2015, the hatchery was enlarged to accommodate 6 times more which resulted in the safe release of 3000 Hawksbill and Green turtle hatchlings. Today, the camp is relocating eggs throughout the entire state of Johor covering over 10 islands.

„Unfortunately, there is still a lot of poaching that happens in the area,“ says Stephen, „so what we do is, we try to work with the poachers to reform them into our collectors so they still can make live their livelihood out of that.“ The Camp then takes care of the eggs, protect the sea turtles until they hatch and collect the data on how many turtles are hatching. „By doing so we can get a success rate, so that we know that we are handling them properly. So far, we are doing very well.“ At the time of our visit, they had been collecting over 4,300 eggs and releasing more than 1,300 Hatchlings.

„After the female leaves the eggs, we need to wait 50 to 70 days until they hatch,“ explains Mariana. „So they have a 20 days period where they can hatch anytime normally during the night.“  The eggs are buried about 60 centimeters deep in the sand which means that „it actually takes a few days for the turtles to dig their way out“, adds Stephen.

„Recently, we expanded our conservation work to the preservation and monitoring of corals and the identification of the main fish species that inhabit Pulau Tengah reefs“, says Mariana, „and we will also start monitoring terrestrial organisms and vegetation“. But the camp’s mission is not only to preserve, research and monitor the marine and terrestrial habitats and its associated organisms. They also deem education on the need for turtle and marine conservation as a crucial part of their work. One of the goals for 2018 is to educate more local communities and resort staff.

Anyone who is interested to learn more about the camp and how to support its work can find more information and an application form here.

Related:

Save the Turtles!

One of Malaysia’s top attractions: Batu Caves in Selangor, easily reachable by comuter train from KL.