Plant
Friend 30 – Raindrops, 雨点
I’m so glad to see rainfall after 10 days of smoggy experience. The rain touches the ground, the colorless water colored the pale and grayish land where we lived.
经过十天的浓雾笼罩，今天终于看到无色的雨点，在我们这片灰土无色的地方涂上色彩。
We smell the nature gratefully. We saw the smiley plants and flowers, and the relief of the concrete floor dancing with smoke.
我们终于嗅到大自然的气息，看到植物与花朵的笑颜与地面上跳舞的水蒸气。
We saw peoples happily hiding under the roof. We heard thunder visiting by the window side, witnessed the birth of rain from the sky.
我们看见人们开心地躲进屋檐下，听见窗外的雷鸣声与雨丝如何从天空里落下。
I felt something moving in my heart. Shouldn’t we realize, shouldn’t we cherish the piece of land we are living?
这一刻，有一样东西在我心里头遄动，我们难道还没发觉，如何去珍惜这片土地？
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’.
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.
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 corner of MacRitchie Reservoir
The purpose of construction a submerged boardwalk at MacRitchie Reservoir Park is to filter rainwater from the surrounding through plants and stone beds. It acts like a filtration system to channel cleaner water into the reservoir.
At the same time, fun walker can have close contact with beautiful insects like dragonflies, damselflies and other aquatic life surrounding the area.
No pets and footwear are allowed on the shallow water. If that is the case, why not hand carry your pet and they’ll love you more than ever!
At times, helicopter-like damselfly may zoom across with their horizontal propellers.
Some are thoroughly in action while some are lone ranger.
Some are so insignificant but plays and important part to purify the water for our usage.
Some are living quietly without any titles.
Some water fairies whispering by the waterside.
This is just a corner of the park, but never neglect the rest!
What a sparking day at Punggol Promenade
“Lalang” in Malay, common name has known as blady grass. This special fibre-optics Lalang lights beautifully blend in with the lalang plants along the Sungei Serangoon. It’s supported by refine metal conduit pipes, skillfully curved it with a warm and cozy feeling for park-goers.
Besides lighting up in the night, I have another eyes for the sunlight grow on this particular lighting’s body.
As the sun goes higher and higher, the hot spot getting brighter and brighter.
The inner is support by metal pipes and outside wrapped by hard rubber.
A magical blur effect beautifully blends with the assorted colors.
Some look like stainless steel.
Some look like gold.
Some look like platinum.
And some mixed.
Most importantly, they are there together sharing a sparking day with us!
Something fit for a vegan
I had an awesome vegetarian meal at Beets located at 22 Dempsey Road. This unique restaurant offers a variety of high quality and creative range of food fits for non-meat eaters.
The foods and the lounge setting are equally refine, a new definition of modern vegetarian cuisine you must experience.
Tofu Burger
This is one of the signature dishes. The seaweed tofu burger served toasted with grilled pumpkin, truffle aioli, relish and pumpkin crackers are enough to make your mouth water and wanting more from every bite.
This dish may look bare but it comes with a taste you’ll never forget. Baby roquette, grilled butternut squash and tofu served with sambal olek dressing. The sweet, sour combination come just too perfect with the leaves. You will never let go this mouthful experience.
Char-grilled Vegetable Platter
A mixture of grilled vegetables come with a fresh selection of red and green pepper, Portobello mushroom, asparagus, roma tomato, corn and Bombay onion complete with the homemade garlic aioli. One of the most delicate dishes on the table, the crunchiness of the asparagus and the fragrant of the freshly grilled greens with a spray of flower petals will lure you back to the next visit. The edible flowers is new to my taste buds, It’s hard to resist the next trip there!
The restaurant is located at the entrance of Dempsey Road. Operation hour for lunch is 12pm to 3pm and 6pm-11pm for dinner.
For a stylist and healthy meal, this is the right choice. Just chill out..
A Bucida tree will never turn you down
I got to know Bucida molineti tree since the day I shifted here some 12 years ago. At that time, it was a man with the height of his childhood. But then, he’s as tall as a four storey apartment now, and I’m sure he is holding an important role in decorates our neighborhood landscapes.
Attracted by this lovely tree, right from the sleek silhouette to the elegant exterior it portrays. The tiny arms and the leafy evergreens express himself in a refine and delicate manner.
Leafs are gently small compared to the size of the body. By saying that, he seems like standing on a moderate path, offering the blue sky to us and at the same time shading us from the cheerful bright sun.
I like walking on pavements shaded with these trees, under their widely open arms. Sometimes, the dropping leaves may accidentally got stuck on my glasses, but the kiss of it is so light and soft that I felt like it’s the teardrops of the tree.
Taking a second look at it, does it strike a chord on you? Yes, it looks like an upside down Christmas tree. So the next time you bump into one, ask him “where have all the Christmas trees gone?” I believe his answer will never turn you down.
A tour to Swan Lake
What are they staring at? Is it something interesting or something so eyes catching to them?
Yes! The swan lake. You are looking at the lake as old as the Gardens. It was built in 1866, since than the charming beautiful memories start. There is an island in the lake planted with Nibung palms, these has to be the most remarkable and timeless iconic in Singapore Botanic Gardens.
The Banyan tree is old enough to be our great grand father, and also wise enough to play the old garden song.
Though feeding is not allowed, as long as fishes and the feeder is happy, like-wise the cameraman.
This wooden swan sculpture has been there for many decades but surprisingly; they just couldn’t get out of this place!
There are 2 white mute swans from Amsterdam, always there be an ambassador, gliding like a sub-marine, shinning like a chandelier.
Feed me! Feed me! How could you bear not to feed me?
I’m so lovely and charming bright!
They are not lonely at all
Today is the last day of Qing Ming festival. According to Chinese believes, Qing Ming duration stretch over 20 days that is before and after 10 days of the actual Festive season.
The Choa Chu Kang Cemetery is the biggest cemetery in Singapore, located at west side of the island that takes approximately an hour to reach from my home.
This is the only burial cemetery left in operation but this also proves that many friends will be known in this special community.
My ancestors are somewhere there, the rest are their friends, a group of long living friends!
This Golden Shower tree is a very special friend of everybody. He is the Guard man of this senior home as well as the directional sign.
Some, they like to wave at you and show you the colorful smile over this windy season!
Some, they prefer stay green for lifetime on your head!
Some like us; be a green follower!
And some are so sweet and beautiful!
Some are very union, putting effort to get close to each other and cheer up the environment.
That’s why I’m glad they are not lonely at all…
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