literature
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….
Wall of Art – Sengkang Public Library
Sengkang Public Library is part of the National Library in Singapore. It is located in the North-east of Singapore, in Compass Point Shopping Centre. A place for shoppers to acquire knowledge and a place that creates community bond within the residents.
Sometimes, the library organizes activities like reading and sharing session and conduct art exhibitions. The objective of these events is to create an art atmosphere both for the young and old and to extend art juices beyond the library.
For this season, the display glass panel outside the library’s entrance showcases art pieces of selected artists from the Meow Meow Art Studio. The owner of the studio, Ms Diana Lim is a caricaturist, if you are keen to explore her immense talent, log on to http://dianalimcaricaturist.blogspot.sg.
Meanwhile enjoy some of the art pieces I’ve captured…and we shall look forward to another season of showcase!
PCN – Punggol @ Promenade
Punggol @ Promenade is one small part of the PCN – Park Connector Network in Singapore. Stepping onto this piece of green in the morning, you’ll be stunned by the wonderful scene of the surrounding.
The fresh air accompany by the scenic landscapes are always so alluring. People gather around. Joggers, cyclists, even stalkers are here seeking for moment of calm and serenity.
Awakening of Sungei Serangoon / Serangoon reservoir.
Thousands of rippers flowing like million of shrimps. A common scene on this old Sungei Serangoon.
It flows by the side of Sengkang and Hougang estates, the point ended and reaches the heart of the heartlanders.
One side of the trail is meant for cyclist while the other for strollers or joggers. Another course of action is to choose the middle path to fasten your body’s bolts and nuts!
Sitting on the wooden bench while enjoying this beautiful moment of dawn, looking into the mist between the forests, what could be better than a lifetime in this minute?
Besides health seekers doing their leisure walks, you’ll discover some fairies around the corner waiting for your exploration.
They are always there, humming and listening to the footsteps of passer-by.
The sunlight cast a silhouette on the Halus Bridge, at the same time casting away our worries and defilements.
When the bridge faces the sun, he shows his fantastic countenance!
Welcome! The river of the rising sun!
A warm smile from the Sun above Sunrise Bridge, will lead you to the enchanting mangroves and wetlands.
The curvy timber design walkway lures people for a dance of Waltz!
Birds of the wild enjoy loitering around for a simple breakfast.
And what about the wild flowers happily wearing the newly crocheted web gifted by brother of nature?
Not just one or two…but uncountable!
A rigid but wave-like timber platform bridge leads to further side of Punggol.
A mangrove calmly present you with a new beginning of the day.
As you step down from the bridge, a reddish-soiled path welcome you like a red carpet as you start the next scenic trip to Coney Island.
Dream Song
I dreamt a dream
An angel came sat next to me
She pats me with a warm hearten wings
And walked down from the soothing sunny stream
Served me with a green ice-cream
And a cup of hot coffee
What a lovely dream it is
What a lovely wish it could be
When will I see her again?
Let’s see…
I dreamt a dream
An angel came stood next to me
He opened up his pure fairy wings
He glides down from a glory sunny stream
To scratch my sensitive itchy skin
And offer me a truck of turkey meats
What a lovely dream it is
What a lovely wish it could be
When will I see him again?
I wish…
Amazing root-way of this Kapok tree
This is one of the Heritage tree in Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Kapok tree.
According to the information board, this tree loves the sun and is fast growing. In the past, people made used of this white cottony pulp to stuff cushions, pillow, mattresses and life jackets etc.
This tall tree is native to tropical America. The broad, straight trunk is the distinctive feature of this old tree.
Standing next to it you’ll be amazed by how huge and tall the portrait of this tree is!
I have no clue and there isn’t a sign stating how old the tree is. By the snake crawl-like roots, it’s enough to judge and convince he is a decisive and fortitude man.
This also crocodile like roots exposed the hard side of nature. So, do these roots inspire you? Have you wonder how deep can he penetrate and how far he has traveled?
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