Reliving the Cactus Song
Yesterday, I received an email from a US based song writing and artist development company.
They’ve stated in the email that they were fond of one of my song series – The Cactus Song, which I have written last September on my 2nd month of blogging. They offered me a package into buying my lyrics but I have to pay an upfront. The company will then complete the lyrics with vocal and music to compile the song and do the advertising for me.
Though this is a brand new experience but I’m not sure why I felt uncertain about it. Perhaps I can take this opportunity to relive this song and recap my inspirations to my lover – the Cactus Song
I live in Texas my homeland, a desert an untouched ground
I love the sun being my clothes
And I love the sweet, warm breezy blows
With a grouchy cuckoo on my head
No autumn leaves or winter snow
No splashing stream or falling rain
Just an empty Paradise on my own,
With the rocks and stones.
I like to dance in the falling night,
With the cowboys dancing around
That is my homeland, a desert an untouched ground
I live in Singapore IKEA my homeland, a concrete desert ground
I love the air-conditioner being my jacket all year round
And I love the halogen light giving me a good shine
With a grocery shopper passer-by
No autumn leaves or winter snow
No splashing stream or falling rain
Just a perfect Paradise within my reign
With my color and little sands deco
I like to sing in my own shadow
With the shopper’s cajoling around,
This is Singapore IKEA my homeland, a concrete desert ground.
Friend (28) – The backyard friends
Backyard is not only a place for laundry or cooking matters. Backyard is a place where I could natters and observes my green friends grow. Though, space is a concern and constraint, we have to live with it. To me, space is not about how much you own, it’s all about how much you’re optimizing it.
We can’t change the size of the box, but we are able to change the setting within. A potted plant wouldn’t obstruct our movement so much. But when you feel so sick about the piled up laundry and the undone dishes, take a glance at this little green fairy, it’s smiling at you. You would be sure, all along you are not doing the mundane work alone.
后院不止是一个可以让我们晾衣服与展示厨艺的地方，它也是一个提供我们与绿色朋友交流的地方。虽然无法改变空间，还要去适应它。但对我而言，空间不在于你拥有多少，而是你利用了多少。
当然，外在的局限我们无法改变，我们也只好从内在的设计着手。就好比放一小盆植物，相信它不会占用你多少空间。而它的魅力就是当你把厨房的工作看做叠成山的碗碟当儿，你无意识地看它一眼，这绿色仙子其实在对着你微笑。这时你才了解你不是孤独的。
Sometimes, they will laugh over my cooking skill.
有时侯，它们会在那儿取笑我的厨艺。
Sometimes, they feel so shy to tell you.
有时侯，它们会不好意思告诉你。
Sometimes, they just can’t breath over the oily stuffs and trying to jump out of the window.
有时侯，它们会受不了油烟而逃出窗外。
You can consider owning air plant, if space is really constraints.
如果空间真的局促，可以考虑种植空气凤梨，空气草。
Some are slim and elegant.
因为有些即修长又优雅。
Some are just very space compromising.
有些还有包容心。
Most importantly, we need a space for green within ourselves.
最重要的是，心里要有绿色空间。
We need a friend, and you’ve got a friend.
This is a group of friends I get to know during my language enhancement course the year before. We got a chance to get around this Chinese New Year. Snap some photos after our meals. The treat is awesome but the gathering is even better than anything on the table.
We need friends all the time, we all know. Especially, the unsurmountable bond that we has shared, it can’t even be measured through times. Friends are not only beneficial to our well being, exchanging of ideas and care are just as important. So, I always make an effort to call or message my friends to see how they are doing and it’s purely out of my hearty concern.
I’m glad I got to know these few classmates through this path of my life. What has brought us together is just like what has brought us on this earth. Be it for a reason or not, it’s not important to know. The crucial point is we have been through the fun and have come a long way through the course structure. It’s just like a curvy stream, it’s cooling and smiley as a whole.
That goes the same as the law of nature. We need water and care for the green. Do not discard the withered, when the leaves turn yellow. Not capturing the best side of all, but the ups and downs in fact. That makes life more vibrant.
The Tree of Life
Baobab tree has many other names. Bottle tree, tabaldi, monkey bread tree or dead rat tree just to name a few.
It has a life span of up to many thousands years though the tree age can’t be verified by the tree ring, as bottle tree doesn’t produce annual rings like some others.
I see that these trees living in a corner of the Singapore Botanic Gardens are much younger compared to those living in Africa in terms of its stature.
There are many remarkable and iconic Baobab growing in Africa. Judging by the shape, this tree undoubtedly could be one of the famous trees in Madagascar.
The Baobab tree is also called the Tree of Life. Reason being it not only provides shade but food and water for living beings. The bark can be used as rope or cloth where the leaves are used as condiments and medicines. The tree trunk can store water up to hundreds of litres during rainy season and the tree are able to produce fruit later on in the year when everything around them is dry and barren. The fruit named Monkey Bread is rich in vitamin C and it’s edible. It is easy to see why baobab is referred to as The Tree of Life.
The matured trees are usually hollow. It magnanimously provides a sheltered space for human and animals sharing with him the same roof and joining him as a family.
The fame of this tree can’t be denied. The Baobab tree is also being selected and featured in some Disney’s movie like ‘The Lion King’. So the next time you see a tree, you may be chancing into the Tree of Life, a tree of fame on this fertile earth.
Hundred sips for a day
It takes us a few mouthfuls to finish up a glass of water. Any ideas why we need hundred sips for this easy job instead?
This has to do with our number of stomach movements. Reason is simple. The movement of water gushing down our system equals to the number of movement created by the stomach muscles. So if you drink a cup of water with hundred sips, it equals to hundred times of stomach movements. By increasing the stomach movements, our intestines and digesting system become stronger and healthier.
In fact, it will be ideal if you can stop the sipping till a burp. The burping expels the stale and foul gas deposited in our stomach and discharge through it. The good time to do the hundred sips are in the morning with a cup of warm water. It warms up your body and gives a perk up of the day.
With practice, you’ll be able to feel the water gushing down into your system layers by layers. And the water vibration into the stomach as if finding a way to seep through the root to every single organs. Just like roots absorbing the moisture from the soil.
Its no magic trick, it’s patience and practice that we need. What good things can do without these two elements of life!
Easter Song
When I walk up to you
I lost my arms
The closer I move
I lost my legs
The closer I look
I lost my thinking and smarty head
How can I go on without all these?
Yes, you can!
You can!
Come closer to me
I’ll show you the way
When I walk up to you
I lost my face
The closer I move
I lost my senses
The closer I look
I lost my color and vibrancy
What can I cling on without all these?
Yes, you can!
You can!
Come closer to me
I’ll show you my way
I finally walk up to you
I lost my voice
The closer I move
I lost my melody
The closer I look
I lost my words and my final confessions
Where can I hang on without all these?
Yes, you can!
You can!
I’ll show you my way
My way of living
My face of Hope
A Hello to QingMing
Long before I could recall, the day has arrived again.
Today, I spent a trip down to Mount Vernon Sanctuary to pay respect to my ancestors on this QingMing Festival. QingMing (also known as Tomb Sweeping Day) is a big day and a yearly day of observance to most Chinese. It is a day to remember and pay respect to their late ancestors. Sweeping the tomb, offering foods and joss paper accessories are common practice on QingMing.
The sanctuary is sitting on Mount Vernon Hill. This delighting piece of land is going to be transformed into residential developments soon. My ancestors would have to move out from their long stay in no time.
It’s a place I love to visit, as the lush greenery and fresh air is awesome. The peace and calm I got from this piece of land is as good as emancipation. The lovely surrounding for all these ancestors is going to be a past soon, though their existence will always remain in our present!
Imagine them strolling along the road, sitting on the bench and chatting about their past.
Enjoying the offerings from the wonderful nature.
The tree, the fruits…
While the rain just came on time for a happy ending…
A Friday of Good Song
It’s going to be good, after this Friday
Looking at the shinning cross
Paying respect at this moment
Thus, we know of this day
Let’s enjoy walking down the street
A complete silent without singing
And no dancing
Follow the eyes of this man
Sorrow drifting away
Believe me or not
We are going to be fine, after this
Believe me or not
It got to be good, after this Friday
It’s going to be good, after this Friday
Looking at the shinning star
Watching the rise of this moment
Thus, we know of this day
Let’s enjoy walking down the street
A royal hour without talking
And no laughing
Follow the shadow of this man
Fear drifting away
Believe me or not
We are going to be fine, after this
Believe me or not
It got to be good, after this Friday
PCN – Sungei Punggol
This park which located along Sungei Punggol is also part of the PCN (Park Connector Network) in Singapore. You may wish to start your journey from Lorong Buangkok where the last Kampong in Singapore is situated. Alternatively, you can start the trail from Punggol Point and trail inwardly alongside the river.
Surau Kampong (the last Kampong in Singapore) – I wish it could be prolonged as long as it should be.
From the fruitful rewards of the rainforest trees, might pack along unstoppable echoes of cicadas.
You may be able to spot some fishes swooping from the water, or some dragonflies laying their eggs along the river.
Sight of Godzilla but it’s so much miniature.
According to the information board, this floating wetland is the first and one of a kind in Singapore.
Under the Active, Beautiful, Clean waters (ABC) Programme, it provides natural habitat to biodiversity beautifies the landscape and improves the water quality in the reservoir.
A lookout view of the Wet land under a concrete vehicular bridge.
You may hide away from the weather in this appealing Eggplant shape-like shelter.
Or just go on with the adventurous journey….
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