Nature Takes!

Frogs in a Net

2026-02-03T20:37:00.000-08:00

In a restaurant in Rawang, Selangor, I came across a net filled with frogs. One would mistaken them for rocks perhaps, but these frogs are edible and were there for sale. You would not consider ordering them for lunch, would you? For us, we had for lunch something more conventional:

A Potted Plant

2025-07-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

While attending a school dinner, a plant caught my eye. It was a big, beautiful plant and it was planted in a pot. Have not seen such a plant before. Could you identify it?

12.10.24

Durians, Durians!

2025-04-11T01:25:00.000-07:00

Remember there used to be a popular English pop rock band group called Duran Duran. Don't know what happened to the band members but never mind, now, it's more about durians!, durians! ; the king of fruits. Someone was kind enough to bring some thorny fruits from his orchard and gave a treat to all! Start digging, folks!

It's the soil!

2025-03-29T01:51:00.000-07:00

The chilli plant in the garden bore an awful lot of chillies. The chilli I grew usually bore a few chillies and they would drop off when you least expect it. The chilli plant in the garden was planted by someone else but I doubt she had that special green fingers. I guess it must be the soil used. The last batch of soil was bought from a nearby sundry shop and the soil appeared darker than the usual batch and cost more too. Yes, I am sure it must be the soil used!

Little White Crawlies !

2025-02-26T18:07:00.000-08:00

The bathroom is always a damp place; so, had thought the dampness had caused the wooden door frame to rot. Then, out of the blue, someone announced that there were termites there and indeed there were little white creatures crawling there.

Can you see the little white crawlies?

2025

To Prune or not to Prune?

2025-02-24T02:28:00.000-08:00

Have been thinking of pruning the pomelo tree in the garden before it grows big and unmanageable. Went to have a peep at the tree and lo, there was a bird nest there and a mother bird was sitting in it. I think it was a merbok, a species of the dove family native to Southeast Asia. Has to put the pruning on hold.

Can you see and identify the bird?

2025

Song Talk : The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2025-01-24T01:16:00.000-08:00

Came across a short clip on Clint Eastwood in Facebook. The American movie star, I remember became famous through an Italian movie, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. He was said to live a modest life despite his millions. Clint Eastwood made millions through his many movies and most certainly could afford anything he wants but chooses to live a simple life. There are good people yet among the bad and ugly...

Here, enjoy the song from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:

More Song Talks!

Marigolds for the Garden

2024-12-25T00:18:00.000-08:00

Came across a marigold plant while visiting an orange farm in Jeju Island, South Korea. The plant was blooming and it was a delight to look at. Have seen marigolds many times back home in hot, tropical Malaysia and each time it would bring much delight. Marigolds, I read has a strong bitter smell that puts off snakes. Mmm... that would be reason enough to plant some in the garden.

Animal Take : Animal, Man.and Gods

2024-12-16T21:48:00.000-08:00

Animals are much admired by human beings, don't you think? Remember Indian and Chinese deities are often portrayed with animals and now we have this:

More Animal Takes!

For things Chinese, click Dragon Descendants

Pray Not!

2024-11-17T22:42:00.001-08:00

Of all places to see a praying mantis! Jeju Island, South Korea! Was visiting an orange farm when the green mantis caught my eye. Haven't seen a praying mantis for a very long time. Remember spotting one or two on the guava tree when a kid. Pray not it is an endangered species.

Mini Nursery

2024-11-04T18:26:00.000-08:00

When out in town, I chanced upon a little nursery in a vacant spot nestled between two shophouses. Didn't know there was a nursery in town and a woman there told me it has been around for about a year now. The woman was selling currypuffs and drinks. Later, I found out she was in charge of the little nursery and moonlighting in selling snacks and some handicrafts too. What an enterprising lady!

See if you like the nursery!

25.10.24

Right Here Waiting

2024-10-25T04:46:00.002-07:00

Remember the excitement when the banana tree in the garden by the drain started to bloom. Suppose the green heart-shaped structure which first appeared must be the bud. This later turned maroon red and later when little bananas started to appear, I began to wonder when the bananas could be harvested. It must be months now and I am still right here waiting.

30.7.24

Cactus by the Roadside

2024-10-18T00:54:00.000-07:00

The Aztecs of central Mexico, I read consider a flowering cactus auspicious. A blooming cactus flower is supposed to bring good luck and the cactus owner will have good news in store. When I came across some cactuses by the roadside, I was astounded by the sheer size of them. Some of them were even beginning to bloom. Seeing those cactuses by the roadside alone was good news to me.

Are these cactus flowers or buds?

13.10.24

A Different Hornbill

2024-10-08T00:42:00.000-07:00

Thought it was the sound of some animals from the nearby zoo. The sky was getting dark and just as I reached Taiping Lake Gardens' Raintree Walk, two big birds flew down and rested on the dark, mossy branches of the raintrees. They were hornbills and the bigger one, the male hornbill, I thought; landed on a thick branch as if a stage. From where I was, I could see it pecking away on the tree bark, sending some falling down to the tarred road below. The hornbills apparently, were of a different species from the one I saw the last time.

What is special about this hornbill?

3.10.24

Nursery With a Difference

2024-09-22T02:59:00.000-07:00

When in Bukit Mertajam, didn't expect to visit a plant nursery but this place called H2O Garden in Permatang Tinggi is a plant nursery no doubt , one with a difference. Many people visit it probably not to buy plants, soil or fertilizers but to escape the dull, long weekend. On the Sunday when we were there, a big crowd was evident. The parking lot was packed with cars. A ringgit was charged for each car. The establishment probably made a bundle out of this, if not from food sold to guests in the building with food stalls. There probably was a pretty manicured garden there but we didn't buy a ticket to enter that section of the nursery. Instead, we just browsed through some plants offered for sale there.

Happy browsing!

15.9.24

Not Cheap

2024-09-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

Often, one would hear that it is very expensive to have a surgery. That would be about surgeries performed on a human body of course. Rarely would one talk about surgeries on animals; I haven't heard of one until I visited a friend whose dog met with an accident. The latter had to take her dog all the way to Penang to be operated on. She said it didn't cost much but I think 5K isn't a small amount. What do you think?

9.7.24

A Little Blackbird.

2024-09-10T20:59:00.000-07:00

There was a time when the goslings were growing up in the garden when I noticed a little beautiful black bird there, stealing their food. It was not a magpie I was sure since I had seen a live magpie before outside the classroom while in primary school. When the goslings grew up and the geese were too big to be kept in the garden, they were taken away to a farm by the rightful owner. After that, I hardly see the little blackbird.

See the goslings turning into geese!

Song Talk : Beat It!

2024-09-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

Beat It is one of Michael Jackson's best songs. The American singer and songwriter had said that he wanted to write a song that children and college students would really enjoy.

A friend of mine however didn't like this version:

More English Songs!

I Spy: A Little Pot

2024-09-03T01:27:00.000-07:00

I spy a pot in a pot.

More I Spy!

2.8.24

Labu Flower

2024-08-29T22:27:00.000-07:00

One day, the new Indonesian maid pointed to a little plant in the garden. Labu! She exclaimed excitely. Labu could be labu kuning (pumpkin) or labu air (bottle gourd); and I guessed it could be the former since there were always pumpkin dishes in the menu. A few weeks had since passed and the labu had flowered many times over but a fruit is yet to be in sight. Sigh!

Just have a look at the lovely labu flowers!

13/24. 8.24

Lucky Pigeons

2024-08-26T03:46:00.000-07:00

Came across a lot of pigeons while visiting an Indian temple in Kuala Lumpur. Nearer home, just across the road, there is a population of pigeons too. An Indian neighbour has been feeding them and he has explained to another neighbour that pigeons bring good luck. Now, I wonder if it is true...

Green Cockscomb

2024-08-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

Still remember the cockscombs that grew and prospered in the garden by the drain years ago during the lockdown when Covid-19 was reigning supreme. The cockscomb were a bright red and were rather eye catching. During an orchid fair, came across some cockscombs sold by a vendor. Surprised to find some cockscombs bearing greenish flowers. Not very attractive, I thought.

28.2.24

First Bloom

2024-08-19T01:14:00.000-07:00

The banana tree used to be in a pot. Then, it was transferred to the garden by the drain. It probably has been there for over a year. Now, it is producing its first bloom. Was surprised to find that it was green.

22.7.24

Song Talk : Dancing Queen

2024-08-15T18:20:00.000-07:00

The Swedish group, Abba recorded many beautiful songs. It was a surprise to read that it had only one number one hit in America. Dancing Queen which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame also only managed to reach the top five songs in many other countries.

Here's Dancing Queen

More English Songs!

Dry Spell

2024-07-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

The papers reported that 2024 may be the warmest year. Don't know about other places but it could just be true to our little raintown which always boasts as the wettest town in the country. While it used to rain a lot, these few weeks see an extremely dry weather. The sun seemed to glare instead of shine and taking a shower at night takes on a new experience. The water was unusually hot even with midnight approaching. Just the other day, the paper also reported that the lakes in the Lake Gardens were drying up. Well, have a look!

22.7.24