Arts
The unbearable lightness of Tree
Balsa tree is the most lightweight wood in the world. It grows in the tropical forest of America; the weight is one-tenth over the same volume of others. It was therefore also given the name ‘Light wood’.
Balsa is one of the fastest growing trees in the world. The tree trunk is huge and tall, leaf like Phoenix tree, and it’s green all year round.
It has a wide range of application. Just to name a few, it can be produced into bottle’s cock; life saving items; electricity insulation and soundproof acoustics.
The balsa wood is also an ideal material for construction of aerospace and marine engineering.
This light tree is just right to reflect the unbearable lightness of being ‘The Tree’.
The Armoured troopers
This giant Weta can only be found in limited area of New Zealand. It can grow up to 10 cm in length, 5 years in lifespan. Giant Wetas can weight more than 60g, which makes them one of the heaviest of all insects.
The name ‘Weta’ was derived from New Zealand Maori words, meaning ‘spirit of ugly things’. The physical appearance of this insect may looks like katydid, grasshopper or cricket but the hind legs are enlarged and spiny. Many of them are wingless and predators.
Wetas are not great leapers like their cousins – katydid, grasshopper and cricket. But with the surprisingly speed and the power of the rear leg, and tough skin he always put on, this solider is like an army trooper with fully armoured protector in the battlefield.
A tale of Orang Laut and Singapore River
According to legend based on the history of pre-Rafflesian time of Singapore, Orang Laut or Sea Gypsies was the communities who lived ‘in the numerous bays, inlets ad creeks surrounding Singapore.’
Half of them lived on water, in little canoes that could scarcely stretch themselves. The water lodgings were equipped with 1 or 2 cooking pots, earthy jars and mats made of pandanus leaves that allowed shading from sun and rain.
They spent most of their time on boat, where birth, marriage and death took place therein. As they were accustomed to life on the boat, they are easily recognized with their wadding gait on land.
The other half of these people lived in huts on the banks near Kallang River and at the wider portion of Singapore River.
During the times of British settlement, Major-General William Farquhar (1774-1839), the First Resident and Commandant of Singapore was appalled by the Orang Laut wearing no clothes, so he distributed money, clothes and rice to them. Their children were terrified by the newcomers, merchants, laborers from all over the world.
One even jumped into the sea and got drowned when people approached near their boats.
And now, if you attempted to jump into the water, hoping to stay closer to the legendary tale, I think that is the only best reason I could agree upon.
More than cloud and sky
By courtesy of http://www.flickr.com
According to a local article written by photographic journalist, Lee Tian QI (李天锜), about 30 numbers of birds of prey transited through Singapore as migrant in September.
By courtesy of http://www.5b.biglobe.ne.jb
They flew all the way from Northern Hemisphere to Southern Hemisphere, some stay for 1 or 2 days, while some stay up for a few months.
By courtesy of wildlife.site88.net
During the stay, the birds frequently visited Sungei Buloh, Seletar, Changi and Jurong Lake, where most of the wetland and mangrove are. While others look for footprints, the avid interest of Lee prompts him to hunt for ‘birdprints’.
He had experienced witnessing a Japanese Sparrow Hawk chasing a group of birds.
By courtesy of ibc.lynxeds.com
I thanked him for the great discovery and generously sharing this information with us. Ever since reading the article, it is not just sky and cloud appearing in my eyes whenever I looked up to the sky.
By courtesy of birdgroupsingapore
There are more things beyond that. I believe this is what the writer is trying to tell us. There is certainly something to look for on this little red dot.
Why are white flowers more fragrant than others?
Did you notice why white color flowers gives out stronger fragrance than other colored flowers?
Plants bear flowers for fruits and propagation. It requires helps from external sources like insects and wind to pollinate.
One way to invite insects is to cosmetic or beautify oneself so as to enhance the chances of visiting.
Nature has its way for survivor and its objective to live. White flowers present themselves by offering unique scent to potential visitors just like the strategy that applies to all beings.
If you sight a frangipani flower wearing a pure white gown waving at you, please do not doubt its intention, it’s as pure as its scent!
What’s the story beneath this island?
What character does it carry?
In Sanskrit, it signifies Singa for a lion and Pura for a city. “Lion City” is the complete word.
In 1160, Sri Tri Buana, Sang Nila Utama, the ruler of an ancient kingdom saw the white shore of this little island, described by the annalist.
He asked, “what is that stretch of sand, we see yonder?”
“Your highness, that is the land called Temasek”. One of the companions replied.
When they reached the shore, he saw a strange animal “very swift and beautiful”, with a bright red body, its head jet black and its breast pure white. The beautiful animal has the size of a he-goat.
The companion said, “Your Highness, I have heard that in ancient times, it was a lion which has that appearance”.
Sang Nila Utama then established a city at Temasek and name it Singapura.
This is a short story about how the name of my country came by.
The differences between the 2L
The 2L represents Lotus and (water) Lily
Basically, they are different plants, but they look so similar.
To some, lotus and lily are the same. To some, they know the differences but might not be able to differentiate them.
Lotus has broad round leaves that are held above the water. The flowers have pungent fragrance and usually come in pink. Also, the flowers and stem grow above water. It produces a perforated seedpod and the seeds and roots can be eaten.
Water lily has pads that float on the water surface. They come in various colors. Flower sits on the water. The fragrance is softer and less pungent compared to lotus.
Why leaves always come with pointed tip?
The shape of a leaf is just like human being, born of different kinds of shapes and sizes. Different shapes like round, sword, oval, heart, diamond and spoon etc. But, majority of the similarities are derived from the sharp pointed tip.
Why is it that most of the tips are pointed than others?
Reason being that when water drops on the surface of the leaf, it will be absorbed as much as so. The remains of the droplets will be discharged as fast as it can to save the leaf from rotting.
Nature has design the pointed tips for water to be channeled easily and disperse the extras as fast as it could be to the ground for the survival of other life.
Take a piece of cake just enough for yourself, and share the rest with others. This is the moral of the story that we should learn from nature.
A calm river at Geylang
Geylang River project is part of the Public Utility Board’s (PUB), Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme.
This programme allows the river water to transform into clean water with vibrancy.
Kallang Basin is the merging point for Kallang, Geylang and Rochor River. After 10 years of project cleaning up from 1977 to 1987, we must be thankful to the authority involved for the returns of the original face of the water body.
Now, both sides of the warehouse had been demolished. It is left with trees, green and beautiful memories to make up the beautiful nature landscape of the riverbank.
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