Singapore Botanic Gardens

58) Building makes way to this tree

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This Panaga Laut tree is one of the Heritage trees in Singapore Botanic Gardens.  This species grow on sandy beaches and lowland forests.  It is widely spread over from East Africa to West Pacific.  You can find their footprints in Singapore too.

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This tree is slow growing and has low and massive branches with a broad, dense crown.  Different part of the body can be made into traditional medicine.

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This tree has home itself there for over 100 years.  The design of the building, Botany Centre has take into consideration the need to preserve this precious tree.  Walk ways were made narrow to accommodate the large spreading root of this tree.  The second floor void was created to allow tree branches to be retained.

Isn’t it a good way to show respect to nature?

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56) Leave your footprints behind

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When you visit Green Pavilion, Singapore Botanic Gardens, the easy environment not only keeps your mind free but the fresh air also leaves your lungs empowered with oxygen.  The footpath leading to the basement car park is as enticing.  The raw cement foot base is imprinted with bona fide leaves.  I believe it must have something to do with this charming and creative organization (owner of the park) that is much into biodiversity.

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Personally, I love Raphis leaves a lot.  They’re always asking you for a dance with their swinging leaves.

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The exotic Yam leaf with its broad shape reminds me of its undetachable relationship with the dew.  Not forgetting the yummy yam underneath the soil that provides aplenty of nutrients and nourishes our taste buds.

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This fan palm looks exactly like the straw fan I am holding now!  Both have similar characters but different owners, but they are still standing green as eco-ambassadors.

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Do stay a bit longer in a so-call un-expecting place in your next visit here.  Listen to their Hellos before you take a life up to the outer green!  Sometimes, your inner green is greener than others!

That is why I keep coming back to this little heaven; I just can’t get enough of it!

55) Crouching Tiger and the Hidden Dragon, Why are you hiding there?

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The wood sculptures are display at the Green Pavilion, Singapore Botanic Gardens.  They were carved from disused tree stumps with different hidden animals.

Perhaps they are happily gossiping behind us in their very own enclosure.

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One here, trying to hide away from us!

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Another one here!

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At last, I caught a Dragon. Oh no! Is a Godzilla!

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Beware! They always come in a pair.

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Come on, don’t be as slow as the tortoise!

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How many of them are there?  Hmm…yet to figure out.

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Oops!  Is that an octopus or a snake or other thing else?

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Are you the octopus or an “automated push button”?

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Are there anymore?

Most probably the Tiger has escaped in the bush!

22) Two articles in the toilet cubicle

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I managed to extract two informative articles pasted on the inner side of  toilets cubicle partition in Singapore Botanic Gardens.  The open-concept toilets surrounded with beautiful plants and chirping birds is indeed a good place for inspirations!

By courtesy of runsingapore.blogspot.com
By courtesy of runsingapore.blogspot.com

chiclets chewing gum

1) Do you know the milky saps from Chiku trees (manilkara zapota) produces a gum that was the original source of chewing gum?  Does it remind you of the ‘Chicklets’ brand chewing gums or others?

By courtesy of davegarden.com
By courtesy of davegarden.com
By courtesy of foodspotting.com
By courtesy of foodspotting.com

2) Do you know the sea coconuts in our local dessert are from the fruit of palm, borassus flabellifer.  The male and female inflorescences are born on different plants.

While doing your business, you’ll enjoy the beautiful plants and birds chirping around you.  What more, you can enrich yourself with this information.  Isn’t it an idea as brilliant as the beaming sun!

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47) Tembusu Tree Speaks You and Me

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Tembusu tree is one of the popular trees you can find along the roadside of Singapore. It can grow up to 40m in height with it large and evergreen portray. This tree in the picture is located next to the footpath, which heading Ginger Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens. Besides being a Heritage tree, it also serve as an appreciation to The Shaw Foundation in supporting for the Garden City Fund.

By courtesy of flowernypsbluebottle.blogspot.com
By courtesy of flowernypsbluebottle.blogspot.com

This huge tree bears creamy fragrant flowers that attract moths in the evening when the party starts.

By courtesy of berriesflick.com
By courtesy of berriesflick.com

It grows small and orange berries that I believe is nothings to do with Christmas.

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It can grow to a very large size on poor soil and low branches will develop when the tree left unpruned.

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Let’s be strong and hardly like this guy, carry on the battlefield in 2013.

45) I lost my Christmas Tree this Christmas

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I asked a mangrove tree, he presented me with a creative idea in return.

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I asked a poster, which told me the story of the forest.

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Asked a tortoise, which told me it is not in the water.

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Asked an autumn leaf, which told me it is not far away.

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Asked the fern trees, they reply “aren’t we gorgeous enough?!”

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Asked the restaurant staff, they showed me the Christmas set meal.

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Asked a delicate flower, she said, “I am not a tree”.

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Asked a mini-waterfall, he said, “I couldn’t hear you”.

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Asked a cannon ball tree, he said, you could take me as the ornaments.

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Asked an antique clock, he told me time is running out.

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So, so, where is my Christmas tree?  Is it hidden with you somewhere?

I lost my Christmas tree….lost it in the Singapore Botanic Gardens

44) I can’t find my way back home!

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This is not an ordinary street buzzing with pushcarts selling souvenirs in the core of Chinatown.  It has a certain background we should recall or try not to recall…the Sago Street.

By courtesy of btrt.org.sg
By courtesy of btrt.org.sg

Sago Street alias “sei yang gai” in Cantonese refers to “street of the dead”.  Back to the last century, funeral parlours stretching from one end to another are not an uncommon sight.

In the funeral living room, you see bodies covered merely with cloth lying on pallets in open cubicle, each with a table placed with offering items.  As the shops are usually small and dimly lighted, the atmosphere then was chilly and creepy.  It is definitely not for the feeble hearted.

When I was young, I remember having to pass by a few lying bodies just to reach the toilet situated right behind the backyard of the shop.  To me, attending funeral wake is always a hair-raising event.  It’s a frightening experience and one that left a deep impression behind.

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The picture was captured in the Chinatown Heritage Centre at Pagoda Street (a few lanes away from Sago Street) depicting the bitterness of life during that century.

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Those offerings are the basic needs for the deceased, it’s offered to serve them with a better life at the other side of the world.

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Today, if your soul traveled back home from the other side of the world, you maybe surprised by the overwhelming tourist crowd, waking you up next to the side of your soul bed.  Or maybe you would consider starting a new life again, this time with a more graceful surrounding.

22) A Tribute to the Dolphin

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English: Dolphin Show

Welcome to our homeland, my super star

Welcome to Sentosa Island

Welcome to your new ocean blue

Hugging your new kiddy fans

Dancing with your marine friends

Enjoy your lovely feast

Laughter in the air

Our kids willing to share

With their family joy and happy meal

Good to see your new home, my super star

You have come from a long way

My smiley honorable ambassador

By courtesy of guardian.co.uk
By courtesy of guardian.co.uk

Welcome back to your homeland, Wen Wen

Welcome back to Soloman Island

Welcome back to your ocean blue

Hugging your childhood friend

Back to your missile speed

Moon walking on the sea

Laughter in the air

Your dad is cheering for you

Your family joy and happy meal

Good to see you back home, Wen Wen

You have come from a long way

My honorable ambassador

Always a smile on your face

This post was inspired by a news article regarding Dolphins.  Wen Wen died suddenly less than an hour before the flight from Philippines to Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore.

Wen Wen is the third dolphin to die out of 27 which RWS acquired from the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific between 2008 and 2009.

32) Lady on a Hammock

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I am a lady swinging on a hammock
We are sculptures and the lovely all
Come and see us, you will know us more
To the Singapore Botanic Gardens just for a walk
Enjoy the trail and the nature fall

This is a sculpture at one corner of the Botanic Gardens
This simple poem is written and dedicated to the great artist, Sydney Harpley R.A and great man Mr David Marshall who commissioned and presented this art piece in 1989.

31) What so special about this tree?

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An usual tree that is unusual

This tree may look normal to us.  It is a tree of tropical rainforest which require humid climate though it can withstand dry season.
It is as special as its dedication to Mr Nelson Mandela, President of Africa who visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens 15 years ago, on 5th March 1997.
This Giant Cola Tree is among one of the Tree of Fame in the gardens

The extracts from nuts of related species are used in cola drinks and food items.  The cola nuts contain caffeine.  Chewing cola nuts can also ease hunger pangs and was thought to be remedies for whooping cough and asthma.
This is certainly an usual tree that is very unusual.