Remembering South Review magazine

After my MBA, I was jobless for a while. I was fortunate to get a research assistant job with my supervisor, Sieh Mei Ling. I also did other freelancing jobs, including designing websites, writing articles for local magazines, etc. My first real job was at SNN Sdn Bhd, which published a magazine called South Review. I was recruited by my MBA classmate Datuk Tengku Rethwan bin Tengku Mansor as CEo of the company. 

South Review was an independent international current affairs magazine published in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by SNN Sdn. Bhd. during the early 2000s. It was an offshoot of South ​magazine, a monthly magazine launched in 1980 ​published by ​South Publications Limited for the Third World Foundation in London, United Kingdom, that ceased publication in the 1990s.

The magazine focused on international political and economic issues from the perspective of industrialising and developing countries, covering topics including international trade, finance, technology, the environment, and global current affairs. Surviving library records indicate that the magazine was in publication by 2000 and continued through at least 2002.

Cover of Volume 1 Issue 3

South Review was established by SNN Sdn. Bhd. (Company No. T-328702) and operated from its registered office at: 

2nd Floor, No. 40, Persiaran 65C, Pekeliling Business Centre, Jalan Pahang Barat, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The magazine was conceived as an independent publication offering perspectives from the Global South on international affairs. At a time when global news coverage was largely dominated by Western media organisations, South Review sought to provide analysis of political, economic, technological, and environmental issues affecting developing and industrialising nations.

The editorial staff included:

General Manager: Dr. Tengku Rethwan Mansor

Managing Editor: A. Sri. K. Nayayagam

Assistant Managing Editor: Fadlullah Wilmot

Contributing Editor: Farish A. Noor

Sub-Editor: Dilip S. Mutum

I remember the secretary's name was Siti. I can't recall her full name. 

Although South Review had a relatively short publication life, it represented one of a number of independent Malaysian periodicals that attempted to engage with international political and economic issues from a Global South perspective during the early twenty-first century. Because few issues have been digitised, surviving information about the magazine remains limited.

Trip to Medan

 This was my first trip to Medan in Indonesia. This was in May 2023.

I took the MAS flight and it was quite smooth.

I was there to attend the Global Total education fair at Medan today. I delivered a seminar on Social media marketing. Representing School of Business, Monash University Malaysia at the fair.

Stayed at Adimulia Hotel Medan. The hotel was really nice. Did not get the chance to do much sightseeing. Was able to take some pics from the Taxi rides. Medan has some really nice buildings. 

Here are some views from the Hotel

Also experienced my first Grab bike taxi ride - scary, without a helmet but exciting.

Foods to Avoid and Food that are Good for Blood Pressure

 I recently found out that my BP is sky high. I had been experiencing migraines, tiredness and body aches, and I suspected it, as I had been diagnosed with high BP a few years back. However, I stopped taking medicine after a few weeks and was able to control it. However, I have gone back to my bad habits – sleeping late, eating junk food and a lot of stress, and here we are. 

Have been researching a lot and according to most sources, there is not a cure for BP, and you have to take medicines. I have relented and started as well, as I do not want to have a stroke or heart attack.

Anyway, I don't want it to get worse. I found out that the worst foods for BP are the ones I love – savoury snacks and others listed below. I don't smoke or consume alcohol, and I am vegetarian.

Food to avoid for people with high blood pressure

• Saturated fats
• Crisps and salty snacks
• Sugary drinks
• Bread
• Canned tomato products
• Soup
• Cheese
• Pizza
• Caffeine
• Pickles
• Condiments

 The Best Foods for High Blood Pressure

• Citrus
• chokeberries
• blueberries
• raspberries
• strawberries
• grapes
• Kiwifruit
• Leafy greens
• Nuts and seeds
• pumpkin seeds
• flaxseed
• chia seed
• pistachios
• walnuts
• almonds
• Legumes
• cranberries
• Amaranth
• whole oats
• quinoa
• brown rice
• corn
• whole grain bread
• whole wheat pasta
• Olive oil
• Carrots
• Eggs
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Yogurt
• Herbs
• Potatoes

Let me know if there is any food I should add to the lists. 

My mother defeated the COVID19 virus and is back home

 A post I made on Facebook a few days back.

Our Ima is finally back home and happy. 

We did not even have time to mourn the passing of our Baba, our Ima was hospitalised the same day. It was my childhood friend Dr. James Elangbam who convinced me to have my mother hospitalised. We thought that she would be in for a couple of days but in the end, it turned out to be a roller coaster ride of 21 days – emotionally, mentally and physically, especially as we are all so far away. It was like a Korean drama – my wife corrected me; it was more like a Hindi movie with a happy ending.   

She was initially diagnosed as asymptomatic, and the doctor expected her to be discharged in a few days but later her oxygen saturation or SpO2 levels dropped and she had to be put on oxygen. Later she became so weak, that she could not get up let alone walk to the bathroom. At one point, Dr. Goldie was visiting her and found that Ima’s SpO2 levels had actually gone down to 70 – something really serious for those who are not aware. Then, there was the problem of her blood sugar which was erratic – sometimes really low and then shooting up. Just a couple of days ago, she literally collapsed, and it was Che Thoi, who had the presence of mind to quickly feed her some food and alert the nurses.  She slowly recovered and we really must thank Che Thoi, our cousin, who really took great care of her. 

Anyway, we are really glad that she is out of the hospital finally. She is not out of the woods just yet but when they last checked her SpO2 levels before leaving the hospital, it was 99 (which is good) without oxygen support. 

There is a long list of people who helped us reach this point. First of all, I would like to thank the Almighty God who opened the hearts of so many people to help and guide us. Dr. James was among the few who got back in touch with me when I reached out to many of my doctor friends on Facebook. He along with Dr. Reena Arambam, part of the RMC colony gang, helped us to get Ima into Shija Hospital. Dr. Reena was in constant contact with us, even when she was down with dengue. Vimala Rajkumari who helped us to get Ima a room at the hospital. Ka Meghraj who was always there with us – advising and listening to us. This has brought us close to our cousins Che Thoi, Suranjoy Singh Loitongbam, Asangbam Satyabarta Singh, Sonalika Khoirom and Dipu Khoirom. Our Aunts Nene Mutum Hemabati and Nene Tondon. We don’t know what we would have done without them. We cannot forget Newmai and Rose who took care of Baba during his last moments. I also reconnected with Dr. Ashangbam Vivekananda Singh, through Dr. James. Thanks so much for the oxygen concentrator. 

Last but not the least, our spouses Ezlika Ghazali, Fred and Sumit Taluja and our children, for supporting us during these few tough weeks. 

Please forgive us if we missed anyone here. I know a lot of friends and family prayed for her. 

We will not forget your kindness.  May God bless you.

Dilip, Juliana & Diana 

Thabal chongba, Nati, Dabke and other similar dances

I was going through YouTube videos and came across Dabke folk dances from the Levantine. I realised that there are some similarities with the traditional Nati folk dances native to the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand in India. There are also similarities with the Thabal Chongba dance from Manipur and traditional dances from Greece. Nati from Himachal Palestinian Dabke Lebanese Dabke Kurdish Greek traditional dances Manipuri Thabal Chongba  

Reviewing Extra Virgin Olive Oil Brands

Have been trying out different extra virgin' olive oil brands.

Extra-virgin olive oil refers to oil from cold-pressed olives, not processed and often more expensive than regular olive oil.

So far I have tried 5 brands, namely, Filippo Berio (Italian), Colavita (Italian), Red Island (Australian), O' Forest (Malaysian brand but using Olive oil from Spain) and California Olive Ranch (American).

In the end, after the taste test (yes, we consume it raw) the clear winner is the Australian brand, Red Island. Really mild, smooth and delicious. 

It is also the most recently pressed 2020 as compared to the others which were cold-pressed in 2019. I am not sure whether it tasted better because it was the freshest. The others have a slightly more peppery after-taste. Supposedly the more peppery, the higher the antioxidants.

Let me know your favourite brand and why.

Blogiversary 17 Years

My Blogiversary passed and I didn't even realise it. I started blogging on my ah ok lah blog on September 2003. 

Wow! 

That was actually 17 years ago.

I was still single then, much slimmer and had just joined academia as a lecturer at Universiti Utara Malaysia.

Brings back a lot of great memories. 

I have not been blogging much recently but I plan to start blogging on a regular basis.

Happy Belated Birthday to my blog.