ECO-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS AT HYATT REGENCY KINABALU

This festive season, let Hyatt Regency Kinabalu ignite the spirit of sharing and giving with joyful celebrations as we usher in the New Year.  Hyatt Regency Kinabalu unveiled its eco-friendly Christmas 2016 theme during the Christmas lighting ceremony last night. Guests arriving at the hotel will be fascinated by a collection of unique driftwood Christmas trees and decorations filling the spaces from the car porch at the entrance, atrium lounge and throughout the hotel. A warm Cranberry Cinnamon scent greets the guests upon entering the hotel carrying them away into the joyous Christmas spirit.

Leaving the traditional Christmas decoration using plastics and non–recyclable items behind, the concept of using driftwood as the theme of this year’s Christmas decoration was mooted by the General Manager, Thor Gervasi, who is passionate about the continuous effort of creatively recycling everyday items for nature conservation.

Hyatt Regency Kinabalu’s Artisan, Railin Kindod constructed three different types of Christmas trees with a total of thirteen six feet trees installed at the car porch and restaurant outlets, and a massive twelve feet tree placed at the Lounge. The star tree toppers, wreaths and snowmen decorations ,all made from driftwoods,  are enhanced with low-wattage LED lighting which complements the contemporary rustic ambience that perfectly fits the theme at The Lounge.

The detailed planning, preparation and actualization of the project which commenced in October, kick-started with the activity of collecting driftwood, from the shore of Bongawan to Tanjung Lipat, by the hotel associates. The weekly activity clocked a total of 200 man hours inclusive of the hours spent to assemble the trees and the daily two-hours allocated to complete the eco – friendly hand crafted ornaments.

All fourteen Christmas trees - were crafted from 1,800 kilograms of driftwoods, whereas, 100 fused bulbs collected from Engineering, 200 toilet paper rolls collected  from housekeeping; 120 popsicle sticks, 60 paper cups  and self-made salt dough concocted from  four kilograms flour, one kilogram of salt and two litres of water, were used to create the eco – friendly hand crafted ornaments.

  

“Christmas is all about giving, love and care. I am amazed and proud with the team’s effort in materializing the whole concept of this year’s Christmas decorations that is truly unique and one of a kind in Sabah. At Hyatt, we care for our environment promote an environmentally harmonious living and safer earth with the same commitment with which we care for our guests and colleagues” says Thor Gervasi, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu.

Visit Hyatt Regency Kinabalu for the unique Christmas experience from December 1st onwards, and join in the various activities organized for in-house guests, as well as, patrons on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Listen to the mesmerizing Christmas carols serenading The Lounge from December 22 to 24, from 7:30pm to 8:30pm and December 25 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm and 7:30pm to 8:30pm.

Hyatt Regency Kinabalu Festive Dining Highlights

 Take advantage and enjoy the festive dining presenting the Chefs specialties and offerings at their restaurant outlets.         

           

Tanjung Ria Kitchen

Explore unique Christmas classics at the exciting live stations of Tanjung Ria Kitchen.  Highlights of the bountiful buffet include carving stations that feature Roast Turkey with Cranberry Sauce, Grain Fed Roast Beef, Barbequed Lamb Ribs and Salmon Wellington.

The festive Christmas Eve dinner buffet is priced at MYR 158 net per person.  The Christmas Day traditional buffet at Tanjung Ria Kitchen is priced at MYR 120 net per person for lunch and RM 158 net per person for dinner. Wrap up this Christmas dining experiences with desserts such as Mont Blanc Christmas Log, Linzer Torte, Christmas pudding and Mince Pies as well as free-flowing wine and soft drinks with an additional of MYR 100.

Nagisa

A taste of nostalgia is promised in the exquisite settings of the Japanese winter cottage at Nagisa. Carefully prepared and beautifully presented by the Chefs, Nagisa will be offering three hearty set menus with tantalizing varieties -  Miso Beef Tenderloin, Grilled Salmon and Cod in Teriyaki Butter or Fresh Sashimi and Unagi Roll, all served with fresh salad and miso soup.

           

Seal this Japanese dining experience with green tea ice cream for dessert and free – flowing wine and soft drinks with an additional of MYR 100.

Mosaic

Lay your table with our mouthwatering selection of seasonal homemade gourmet Christmas spread for your festive family or office gathering. Recommended selections include the Slow – Roasted Whole Chicken, Classic Roast Beef and a Bone –in Leg of Roast Lamb. From the patisseries, be prepared to be spoilt by choices by the wide range of traditional Christmas sweet treats, such as Gingerbread cookies, Homemade Pralines, Christmas pudding, Classic Rich Fruit Cake, Stolen, Dundee and varieties of Christmas Cookies – all which are sure to raise the holiday spirits. 

During this special season, try our special themed Christmas drinks and gelato prepared by Chef Tunku Farazil and our Barista, Alden Kuan. Their recommendations include Orange Caramel Macchiato and Cinnamon Spiced Hot Chocolate, as for gelato, opt for Chestnut, Walnut Caramel and Cinnamon Honey Raisin.

Available from 1 to 31 December 2016, all these Christmas goodies can be purchased at Mosaic located at the hotel’s street level between 10.00am to 11.00pm daily.

For more information and reservation, please call us at +60 88 22 1234 or email

BKIKI-outlets1@hyatt.com .

About Hyatt Regency Kinabalu

Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, a 288-room hotel, is located in the heart of Kota Kinabalu’s business, shopping and entertainment hub, overlooking the beautiful coral islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and the South China Sea.   Hyatt Regency Kinabalu offers newly renovated guestrooms, exceptional service, modern comforts, and a dazzling choice of local and international cuisine.   Reservations for Hyatt Regency Kinabalu can be made by calling +60 88 22 1234 or visiting www.kinabalu.regency.hyatt.com

About Hyatt Regency Hotels

Hyatt Regency offers a full range of services and facilities tailored to serve the needs of meeting planners, business travelers and leisure guests. Properties generally range in size from 200 to over 2,000 rooms and are conveniently located in urban, suburban, airport, convention and resort destinations around the world. Hyatt Regency convention hotels feature spacious meeting and conference facilities designed to provide a productive environment. Hyatt Regency hotels in resort locations cater to couples seeking a getaway, families enjoying vacation together and corporate groups seeking a relaxed atmosphere in which to conduct business and meetings.

Labuan International School 1st Swimming Championship

The First Labuan International Swimming Championship was successfully organised by Labuan International School on 19 & 20 November 2016 with 318 swimmers from Borneo region participated in this championship! 

There were 20 swimming teams/clubs from Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak, West Malaysia, Brunei and Philippines arrived Labuan on 18 November for this first ever international meet organised by the school since its swimming pool launched earlier this year. The turns-out rate with approx. 400 swimmers, parents and officials was very encouraging. 

The championship started from 8am on 19 November and ended at 2pm on 20 November with 150 events and the total of 270 heats conducted within that 2 days. This championship was supported by Labuan FSA, followed by Gold sponsors: TOS Logistic and Shipping Sdn Bhd, Mariner Hotel Labuan, Aewon Garment & Embroidery, and Thirteen K Trading Sdn Bhd. Other contributors were: 

Alpha Testing Services Sdn Bhd, Shermadef, CIMB Bank Berhad Labuan Offshore branch, AMS Trust Company Limited, Labuan Liberty Port Management, Fast Global Link Services Sdn Bhd, and Anonymous Art. The organiser would like to acknowledge each and every sponsors, LIS staff, parents, students, officials and volunteers that made this event successful.

1^st Labuan International Swimming Championship results:

Overall Champion:

Category	Team	Resuts
1st Place Overall Champion	MASUM	29G, 13S, 8B
2nd Place	PREPS	25G, 16S, 19B
3rd Place	PJMS	16G, 16S, 16B

Individual Best Swimmers:

Category	Boys Best Swimmers	Results	Girls Best Swimmers	Results
Open	Ng Kee Nain (MASUM)	2G 3S	Tham Khai Xin (MASUM)	7G
Group 1 (15-19)	Alex Tiong Sie Hung (MASUM)	8G 3S 4B	Heng Khor Jin (MASUM)	6G 1S
Group 2 (13-14)	Gerard Tsen Xiang Zh (PJMS)	5G 2S	Ilyani Shairah (PREPS)	8G 1 S
Group 3 (11-12)	Jeremy William (PREPS)	4G 2S 1B	Lee Wei Len (VSA)	3G 2S 1B
Group 4 (9-10)	Jay Lo Vui Seng (PJMS)	8G 2S	Sharifah Destinee Dickerson (PREPS)	3G 4S 1B
Group 5 (8 & under)	Tom Parrot (RBRC)	4G 1S	Kayley Goh (RBRC)	4G 2S

Labuan International School as the host also bagged 2 Golds, 9 Silvers and 13 Bronze. This is the first time the swimming team participated in this international meet since the swimming team established this year under Head Swimming Coach Clement David. This result is very significant and meaningful for the young swimmers.

Abbreviation:

MASUM – Malaysian University Sports Council, Penang

PREPS – Persatuan Renang Penampang, Sabah

PJMS – Kelab Renang Akuatik PJMS, Sabah

RBMC – Royal Brunei Recreation Club, Brunei

VSA – Victoria Swimming Club, Labuan

For more information, please contact Kimlee Choy (Labuan International School) at 014-9292820.

A Family-Oriented Event with Borneo Surf Festival 2016

From left: Ronny Rizal (BSF's head judge), Mohd Yunus (Rip Curl representative), Charles Mawan (Vice president of Sabah Surfing Association), Ivan Tan (President of Sabah Surfing Association), Rizal Ikhwan (BSF organizing chairperson) 

Sabah Surfing Association is proud to announce the third installment of Borneo Surf Festival. This yearly anticipated event is slated to be held on it's home ground venue at Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai Kota Kinabalu for 2-days from Dec 17th through Dec 18th 2016 and is open to the public to attend. As with the previous years, this year the event promises an exhilarating surf competition open to local and international surfers alike.

This year Borneo Surf Festival is presented by main sponsor Rip Curl alongside Happy Plugs and supported by The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Tourism Malaysia and Sabah Tourism Board.

“We are extremely excited to partner with Rip Curl again this year and getting strong support from tourism agencies like MOTAC, Tourism Malaysia and Sabah Tourism Board. We are also delighted to have Happy Plugs to be a part of Borneo Surf Festival”, says Ivan Tan, the president of Sabah Surfing Association.

This year will see the event being graced yet again by Rip Curl's PRO surfers from Bali after the success and overwhelming response from the previous event. They will be having a demonstration to impress the crowd with their surfing techniques and skills over Sabah's very own local waves.

Apart from the competition, the public can expect many fun and family oriented activities to be enjoyed with their family and friends at The Borneo Surf Festival. Among others is Tamu Pantai bazaar that offers varieties of local sourced products and services ranging from clothing, arts and crafts, food and drinks, self-pampering and family fun activities.

There will also be chill beach music performances by local talents throughout the 2 days event. Sabah Surfing Association is looking forward to a larger crowd this year seeing that there has been a healthy growth and awareness towards the local Sabah surfing scene locally and internationally fuelled by the recent acknowledgement and inclusion of surfing as part of the upcoming Olympic 2020 in Tokyo.

The Association also hope to be the catalyst to the potential of surfing a as a sustainable tourism product and growing Sabah as a surf touristic destination.

Borneo Surf Festival coordinates the following surf categories:

- Men's Open 

- Local Men's Closed

- Women's Open 

- Grom's Open (below 16 years old) 

This festival is a family-oriented event concept to the community with varieties of family activity you can enjoy such as horse riding, surf lessons, games, and even go on a picnic and many more. It would be a fun family weekend getaway - if the weather permits of course and preparing your family with the dry-and-wet-event essentials are necessary.

This event is supported by Kementerian Belia Dan Sukan (KBS) 

Do follow them on Facebook for more updates. Click HERE to view their Facebook Page.

SUGAR & AGEING

BY DR. CHARLES LEE
CONSULTANT PLASTIC, COSMETIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON
KPJ SABAH SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

IT’S ALL ABOUT FOOD

Before and After Treatment

Anyone who is familiar with the wrinkle-free, blemish-free, perfect even complexions of Japanese women will be unsurprised that the key to redefining beauty in Japanese skin care is what you put inside the body. Traditionally, in Japan, beauty is natural, simple, and edible! The theory is that appearance reflects the food you eat and women should not apply anything on their skin that is toxic to the body because skin is porous.

Hence natural, plant-based skin care is of utmost priority in redefining beautiful skin. The secret to natural Japanese beauty is all in the ingredients of a well-balanced Japanese diet which is full of vitamin-rich vegetables like broccoli and lots of fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids and extremely low in meat and sugary foods. This helps to reduce the body’s production of the inflammatory chemicals involved in the ageing process.

ADVANCED GLYCATION END PRODUCTS (AGEs)
Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are a complex group of compounds formed when sugar reacts with amino acids, proteins or lipids. This occurs in everyone’s body and skin cells. Along with oxidation, glycation is one of the major causes of cell death and ageing because it affects the molecular and cellular mechanisms that promote and restore cell growth and development. Restriction of dietary intake of AGE’s and exercise safely reduces circulating AGEs with further reduction in oxidative stress and inflammatory markers thereby delaying the ageing process.


TOXIC SUGAR AND THE SKIN AGEING PHENOMENON
Of all the molecules capable of inflicting damage in our body and speeding up the ageing process, sugar molecules are probably the most damaging of all. The older we get, and the more sugars we consume, the more glycation damages our skin.

One of the most damaging AGE’s as a result of this metabolic process is the creation of 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG) which is responsible for much of the skin damage seen in ageing. Most of the 3DG gets sweated out of the skin during exercise but the residual product causes:

• Inflammation
• Decreased collagen production
• Collagen and elastin cross-linking
• Formation of further Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs)
• Oxidative stress and free radicals

IT’S ALL ABOUT SKINCARE
The most important beauty secret of Japanese women is a multistep skin care ritual that is as important to beautiful skin as the product themselves. The ritual of applying each product, from cleansing to face and neck massage allows the skin to detox the toxic effects of AGEs and de-stress the damage caused by free radicles. This helps you to beautify your skin from the inside out and at the same time allowing the body to restore and heal from the damage caused by the external environment.

A customized Anti-Glycation Therapy (AGT) will include: deep cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, toner, lymphatic detox, antioxidant mesotherapy, sheet mask, serums, moisturizer, and finally sunscreen.

The relationship between sugar and fine lines can be life changing. Esthe Twin’s Anti-Glycation Therapy harnesses the antioxidant and collagen-restoring powers of plant stem cells which activates the enzyme processes in the skin that restore flexibility and suppleness to glycated collagen fibers.

For more information, please contact KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital at 088-322 000. 

Find them at Lorong Bersatu, Off Jalan Damai, Luyang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. 

Website: www.kpjsabah.com

For the complete article about this subject can be read on this October to December 2016 issue of Parents Avenue Magazine. 

*Disclaimer: All information is for your general reference only. We (Parents Avenue) do not accept any responsibility whatsoever in respect of such information. 

FAQ About VACCINATIONS

By Dr Mohd Iqbal Iyen | Consultant Paediatrician | Jesselton Medical Centre

INTRODUCTIONS

Immunization is one of the most effective preventative health measures and has saved countless children from death or serious disability. However, misinformation may lead parents to hesitate or refuse to immunize their children. 

In the early stages of life, your child may be susceptible to various bacterial & viral infections which could affect their vital organs and bodily functions. Some of these pathogens cause mild complications while others may be terminal if left untreated.

WHAT IS VACCINES?

Vaccines provide pre-emptive immunity; while vaccination is the process of administering the vaccines into the body which can be done via injection, consumed orally, or through aerosol inhalation.

HOW IT IS WORKS?

Immunity is the body’s way of preventing disease. The immune system recognizes germs that enter the body (called antigens) and produces proteins called antibodies to fight them. Most of the time, the immune system isn’t able to work fast enough to prevent the antigen from causing disease, so the child still gets sick.

Nevertheless, the immune system “remembers” that particular antigen and if it reappears, the body will be ready and respond much faster next time round to prevent any infections. This protection is called IMMUNITY. Vaccination, on the other hand, helps your child develop immunity WITHOUT him/her getting sick in the process. Here’s how:

1. A weakened form of the disease germ is injected into the body

2. The body makes antibodies to fight these invaders

3. If the actual disease germs ever attack the body, the antibodies will return to destroy them.

TYPES OF VACCINES AVAILABLE IN MALAYSIA (LATEST IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE 2016)

ARE VACCINES SAFE?

YES. In fact, experts agree that vaccines are even safer than Vitamins.

The most common minor side effects from vaccines are: swelling or tenderness at the injection site and fever; in which will resolve spontaneously within 48 hours post vaccinations.

IS IT SAFE TO HAVE MULTIPLE SHOTS?

YES. Getting vaccines is no extra burden to the immune system; even for babies. Scientific data shows that vaccination with multiple vaccines at the same time has no harmful effects on the normal childhood immune system.

WHAT ABOUT AUTISM?

Scientific studies have concluded that there is no link between vaccines and autism.

While the rates of autism continue to rise around the world, autism rates are no different in vaccinated and unvaccinated children.

Recent studies on autism suggest that children with autism have too many cells in a key area of the brain needed for communication, social and emotional development. This type of brain development occurs during the second trimester of pregnancy; LONG before a child gets any vaccinations.

WHAT ABOUT HOLISTIC MEDICINE AND BREAST-FEEDING? IS IT ENOUGH TO PROTECT YOUR BABIES?

Holistic medicines may be helpful for some conditions, but only vaccines provide specific immunity to diseases. Only vaccines have been scientifically proven to protect against whooping cough, measles, mumps, and other diseases. 

Breastfeeding is very healthy for your baby, but breastfeeding alone cannot fully protect babies from diseases like whooping cough or measles. Also, antibodies passed on from moms to babies during pregnancy do not last beyond infancy.

WHAT ABOUT “NATURAL IMMUNITY?

Some people think getting a disease is the “natural” way to trigger the body’s immune response, but this comes at a risk; many vaccine-preventable diseases can have dangerous complications, like pneumonia, blindness, brain damage, and even death. 

Vaccines safely trigger a natural immune response; but not the disease. Most vaccines are over 99% effective in preventing illness.

CONCLUSION

Having your child immunised; helps to protect them from many serious childhood infections, some of which may be life threatening. There’s no doubt that vaccines are the best option for both your child and the population at large. Com-pared to the risks of vaccinations, the complications of actually suffering vaccine-preventable diseases are much worse. 

Don’t wait, make the right decision and see your doctor to have your child immunised today. Don’t neglect booster shots, as they must be completed in order to effectively protect your child.

For more information, please contact Jesselton Medical Centre at 088-366 333 or 
for Emergency at 088-366 399. Find them at Metro Town, Off Jalan Lintas. 

Website: www.jmc.my

For the complete article about this subject can be read on this October to December 2016 issue of Parents Avenue Magazine. 

*Disclaimer: All information is for your general reference only. We (Parents Avenue) do not accept any responsibility whatsoever in respect of such information. 

What Is Cord Blood and Why Is It So Special?

CORD BLOOD BANKING

You have decisions to make, should saving Cord Blood be ONE of them?


What is cord blood and why is it so special?
The term "cord blood" is used to describe the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and the placenta usually discarded as medical waste after the birth of the body. It was not until the 80's that is was discovered the baby's umbilical cord is a rich source of potentially life-saving stem cells. The stem cells available in the umbilical cord are in the purest form and thus inherently superior.

Some of the diseases that can be treated.
Stem cells can develop into blood cells that fight infections, carry oxygen around the body and help with blood clotting. Currently, stem cells can be used in the treatment of some cancer, blood disorders and immune deficiencies. Among these are leukaemia, aplastic anaemia, thalassaemia, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

What can the best gift for your baby? Should saving cord stem cells be one of them?
The decision to save your baby's stem cells is an important one. Why? They are genetically unique to your baby and other family members. Banking them is one-of-a-kind opportunity that can open up new treatment possibilities.

Today, cord blood stem cells have been used in the treatment of more than 80 diseases, most of these diseases are genetic disorders and typically require a transplant. A sibling's cord blood is often the best match for a transplant.

Can your baby use his or her own cord blood?
Your baby can be treated using his or her own cord blood for a small number of non-genetic diseases like anaemias, bone marrow failure disorders and cancers. Leukaemias and lymphomas that develop later in life may also be treated with his or her own cord blood stem cells.

Currently, there are a number of clinical trials to study treatments for diseases like cerebral palsy, type 1 diabetes and autism, which require the use of a child's own cord blood.

Just like organ and bone marrow transplant, cord blood stem cells must "match" a patient before they can be used for treatment. Cord blood banking can greatly improve your family's chance of finding a match.

• Your baby is a perfect genetic match to his or her own stem cells

• Siblings have potential chance of being a match for each other

• Studies show that using matched cord blood from a relative will double the chance of transplant success

Best gift for the baby
If you are pregnant, your family and friends are probably wondering what to give you for a baby shower gift. Why not let your wishes be known? Your loved ones can contribute the cost of cord blood banking - help you take advantage of a truly amazing gift.

How cord blood can be collected
Umbilical cord blood is collected after your baby is delivered and the cord has been clamped and cut. The collection process involves stringent cleansing of the cord prior to collection of the cord blood. The blood is then drawn out of the umbilical cord via a closed, gravity bag system, which is the preferred method of collection in order to minimize contamination.

Easy, safe and painless

Why Stemlife?
Stemlife is the first and largest stem cell bank in Malaysia; Pioneering Malaysia’s stem cell banking industry since 2001. Over 50,000 families have trusted their precious baby’s cord blood with us. Internationally recognized establishment; Largest network in Asia with affiliation to Cordlife Group – in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Philippines, China and Thailand. Licence granted by Malaysia Ministry of Health, under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (PHFS) Act, to process and cryopreserve all cord blood stem cell units. 

They are the only public listed stem cell bank in Malaysia. Rest assured the stem cells stored with them are safe and secured should the need arises for therapeutic usage/s.

Get your FREE info pack HERE. 
Follow them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/StemLifeBerhad



Call 03-2166 3636 to speak to StemLife Customer Care Specialist or speak to your local Consultant at 016-832 9392 to learn more about the benefits and value of cord stem cell banking.

Their website: www.stemlife.com