Leisure Lodge

Kaling Lilin - Wild Orchids

2008-07-29T03:49:00.001+08:00

Kaling Lilin - Wild Orchids
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

I salvaged this plant that was weeded out by the gardener during routine maintenance. This species is really rare or rather faces extinction in my neighbourhood now. It’s a rare sight if I could chance upon a cluster now. These beautiful greens have been removed and I wish they have been relocated and grown somewhere.

This pot of Kaling Lilin is now placed near to my neighbour’s Thai Rose for better lighting and condition. Let’s hope it will grow well.

Wild Flowers and its Fruits

2008-07-22T12:54:00.002+08:00

Wild Flowers and its Fruits
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Rare beautiful wild plant that I enjoy looking at, the only one I saw in Punggol Town, in fact in Singapore, which brought back fond childhood memories. Before ER and I could take more photos using another camera, the gardener had uprooted it just few days after ER took this photo! What a pity!

Thai Rose - Fruits

2008-07-16T15:31:00.001+08:00

Thai Rose - Fruits
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

I was really delighted to have chanced upon this Thai rose that has fruits in Changi Village. In fact it was some fake pink hibiscus flowers tied on a plant that drew my attention to it. It was my first to see its fruits and the biggest plant I have ever seen outdoor.

I have two of them and they rarely bear flowers, most probably due to lack of sunlight. My neighbour’s Thai rose, which was place in a better lighting position, bears flowers frequently.

Here's a photo of my Thai rose., which is precious gift from my sister, PG.

Bougainvillea Double on Monday Morning

2008-04-27T19:38:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea Double on Monday Morning
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

The indoor environment has changed its colour so much! Have a look at these photos: Bougainvillea "Crimson Jewel" and here.

Star Fruit Tree

2008-03-22T09:42:00.001+08:00

Star Fruit Tree
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

The only Star fruit tree we came across at Changi Beach Park, Singapore.

This is among the many fruit trees that my father grown in my childhood home in Selangor, Malaysia. They were so many of them then. In those days, when the young green fruits were about 5 cm long, we would wrap and tie a piece of paper around each fruit to protect them. When they had reached certain sizes, it was always a rewarding time for us to take a peep at them before plucking the ripe ones. We always had more than we could eat. Sometimes, I would slice up the matured but unripe ones and ate them with a sweet dipping sauce made with both light and dark soya sauces, sugar and some sliced red chillies. This sauce is good with unripe mangoes too :)

Along Geylang East Central

2008-03-02T12:21:00.001+08:00

Along Geylang East Central
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Love the greenery and tranquility of this trees lined street, common sight in Singapore, when we pass by.

Scene along Kallang Road

2008-03-02T12:12:00.001+08:00

Scene along Kallang Road
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This view caught my attention while ER and I walked past this area as we were heading to a nearby bus-stop just metres away from this scene. I like the greening effect with trees, green field etc!

At the bus-stop, ER checked out the bus services suitable for us. When he saw bus service No. 80, he remarked: Wow! It is so new and beautiful! At first not knowing where it will take us to, I said: Let’s board the bus for a ride :). He then signaled to the bus driver just as he was about to move the vehicle out of the bus bay! Yes, we hopped on!

Anyway, we had a wonderful joy ride on Service No. 80, which was so new and clean! Best of all, we found two empty front seats at the upper deck of the bus and had an enjoyable time taking in the sights as well as photographing all the way along our journey till we alighted at Hougang Central where we did our shopping.

Little India, Singapore

2008-02-02T10:42:00.001+08:00

Little India, Singapore
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

ER and I were on our way to Mustafa Centre, located at Syed Alwi Road, to buy some essential baking ingredients. It is also a place we like to be whenever we need Indian spices.

Interestingly, today we also picked up a packet of rice flakes after asking a young Indian lady shopper there about its uses. When she was approached, the first thing she asked me was: Do you use Indian spices? On hearing an affirmative reply from me, she then carried on with our conversation. She told me to rinse them in running tap water, set aside for a while and then used them with stir-fried vegetable dish flavoured with Indian spices.

Butterfly - Punggol 21

2008-01-15T09:20:00.001+08:00

Butterfly - Punggol 21
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

A kid was chasing after this butterfly around a patch of ixora shrubs and trying to catch it while his parents were chatting nearby. ER and I could see that he was having a wonderful time. At a closer look, we found that this insect was one of the more beautiful species we had ever seen here. As the butterfly was flying and fluttering above the sparsely flowering ixora shrubs, I had to speak with him in order to take this photo. “Please wait a while and let us take a photo of it.” He obliged and later smilingly waving to us as we left the common greens.

@ The Banks of the Singapore River - Boat Quay (Set 1)

2007-10-04T10:45:00.001+08:00

@ The Banks of the Singapore River - Boat Quay (Set 1)
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

I think this is a great place to sit and relax on a fine morning or evening if one has time.

This picture is taken from the steps of UOB Plaza, a-two high-rise skyscrapers at Raffles Place.

Raffles Place - Sparrows / 麻雀

2007-10-04T10:36:00.001+08:00

Raffles Place - Sparrows / 麻雀
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

These sparrows were so snug with their environment that they just hopped and stayed there and were oblivious to the constant stream of passer-bys. These birds didn’t really seem to mind.

Waterloo Street Pedestrian Mall - Lotus Flowers

2007-10-04T10:34:00.001+08:00

Waterloo Street Pedestrian Mall - Lotus Flowers
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Lovely blooms especially the eye-catching lotus flowers, devotees would buy them and offer them to the gods.

Lantana @ the compound of Lasalle College of the Arts

2007-10-04T10:32:00.001+08:00

Lantana @ the compound of Lasalle College of the Arts
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

So happy to see the lantana shrubbery is growing well here!

Flowers II

2007-07-23T00:12:00.001+08:00

Flowers
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Unknown

Flowers I

2007-07-23T00:10:00.002+08:00

Flowers
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

ER and I had no intention to shop at Giant Hypermarket this time but I wanted to have the flowers of these creepers taken, hence we walked to the car park where they are grown. The wind was causing this bloom to move and I had to hold on to the vine in order to have this picture taken.

Bougainvillea III, Kovan

2007-07-08T12:35:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Bougainvillea II, Kovan

2007-07-08T12:34:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Bougainvillea I, Kovan

2007-07-08T12:33:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Purslane II

2007-07-08T12:29:00.001+08:00

Purslane
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Succulent and delicate, double-flowered Purslane in an array of bright, beautiful colours

Purslane I

2007-07-08T12:27:00.001+08:00

Purslane
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Succulent and delicate, double-flowered Purslane in bright, beautiful colours and look like little roses to me...lovely!

Fleshy stems and leaves, they are one of the very few annual succulents. They tolerate heat and drought and need a sunny position to be grown successfully in poor, sandy or gravelly soils. The soil must be very well-drained.

Morning Glory?

2007-07-08T12:24:00.001+08:00

Morning Glory?
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Is this species morning glory? Does anyone know?

Pitcher Plants II

2007-07-08T12:22:00.001+08:00

Pitcher Plants
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Pitcher Plants I

2007-07-08T12:21:00.001+08:00

Pitcher Plants
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Orchid

2007-07-08T12:18:00.001+08:00

Orchid
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

ER and I once had spent more than S$200 dollars on orchids as indoor plants in our home. They did produce continuous beautiful blooms. Sadly, they did not make it once repotted.

"Xu Zai Choy"

2007-07-03T09:00:00.001+08:00

"Xu Zai Choy"
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

These plants are called "daun pucuk manis" in Malay. These plants are our choice of vegetable to go into our handmade home cooked noodles/ban mian instead of the use of "choy sum" or mustard green /mustard leaves. Only the leaves and young shoots are used in cooking. Love the special taste of this vegetable and the leaves usually would render the soup a little green.

Found at the backyard of someone's shop in Changi Village, Singapore.

"Ai Cao"

2007-07-03T08:54:00.001+08:00

"Ai Cao"
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

In my teenage years I used to consume the young shoots and leaves of these plants once in a while. They were 1st cleaned in water, rubbed with salt and then sliced coarsely. Next, pan fried with slightly beaten eggs and then cooked with soup and ginger laden with my mum’s homemade sweet glutinous rice wine. These leaves have a bitter taste, but I like it.

Found these plants at the backyard of someone’s shop. But, for a moment was disappointed because the battery of the camera was already flat. However upon activation, if worked and hence managed to snap this picture and a few more photos this evening :) At least, at least, could register some memories of the trip to Changi Village, a place we do not visit often. Above all really happy to chance upon these few plants for the 1st time in Singapore at this spot! In those days, they grew wild in the front yard of my childhood home.

Found in Changi Village, Singapore

Busking @ Waterloo Street

2007-07-02T10:07:00.001+08:00

Busking @ Waterloo Street
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

For more information about this group, please visit: www.cyclown.org/

Florist @ Waterloo Street II

2007-07-02T09:25:00.001+08:00

Florist @ Waterloo Street
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Hibiscus

Florist @ Waterloo Street I

2007-07-02T09:23:00.001+08:00

Florist @ Waterloo Street
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Flowers: Does anyone know its name?

Flowers that brighten my trip here besides a lady Caucasian and another Indian lady who smiled at me while I turned my head to their directions at a traffic junction near Serangoon Road and again while ER and I were having our dinner :) Having smiles around us always make a difference!

Lovely Sky, Punggol 21

2007-06-16T14:03:00.001+08:00

Punggol 21
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Photo taken on Friday, June 15, 2007 @ 7.35 PM

ER and Rika were still at work at this time of the day. Both YH and I have been frustrated with the inefficient, unstable internet connection for the past weeks. We were disconnected most of the time and if we could log online, it was very slow or we were intermittently cut off so very often. Sigh…

This picture was taken out of boredom when I looked out of my window. Once again I was attracted by the hues in the sky…

Between, ER called, spoke to the service provider and have it fixed today, Friday, June 16…hopefully, hopefully this connectivity will be smooth and will last!

Lantana Sighted Along Hill Street III

2007-06-12T10:09:00.001+08:00

Lantana
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

I was attracted to this patch of lantana at the central road divider while waiting for the traffic light to change in favour for the pedestrians at a crossing. I wanted to have some photos taken and ER walked through a narrow path and got a series of these beautiful blooms! I know it was rather odd for us to do that...some drivers on the roads were really looking, we have attracted unwanted attention! Anyway, I was especially happy with what we got. You may ask, “Why so enthusiastic about this?” Well, patches of lantana growing like this are not common sight to us!

Between, these are the little flowers I had played with when I was a primary school kid...

Photo taken near the Central Fire Station, Hill Street, Singapore

Lantana Sighted Along Hill Street II

2007-06-12T10:04:00.001+08:00

Lantana
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Lantana Sighted Along Hill Street I

2007-06-12T10:03:00.001+08:00

Lantana
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Lantana II

2007-06-12T10:00:00.001+08:00

Lantana
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Lantana I

2007-06-12T09:58:00.001+08:00

Sengkang Housing Estate
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

It is known as an invasive weed and grown as a hedging bush because it is decorative. Sometimes being called the "Cherry pie" because of the berries, which are quite sweet, and the birds love them.

Chameleon In Punggol 21

2007-06-12T09:44:00.001+08:00

Chameleon
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Can you spot it?

In my neighbourhood, Punggol 21, this creature is a common sight in the landscaped common gardens, along the pavements and sidewalks 4 years ago after we moved here. For now, we do see them appearing here or there sometimes, but not as many as before.

From young, I was told: If someone was bitten by a chameleon at 12 noon, he/she will die! Is this for real or just a myth or traditional tale? Believe it or not, being told repeatedly, the impact on me is: I am wary and watchful of it whenever I see one nearby!

This reptile changes its skin tones according to its surroundings, have to admit, it is beautiful sometimes!

Chameleon In Sengkang

2007-06-12T09:36:00.000+08:00

Chameleon
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

ER spotted this one among the lantana at the compound of the Sengkang Polyclinic. It has turned green according to its surrounding. We do see chameleons here in Punggol 21 once in a while now. In the past, they used to be seen often in common grounds like landscaped gardens and the pavements during my first two years of living in this estate.

Sunset In Punggol 21

2007-06-06T11:30:00.001+08:00

Sunset In Punggol 21
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This early June sunset hues that sneaked into my home had prompted me to reach out for my camera and started snapping, hence the series of photos here [my photostream on Flickr] Today, it’s sort of beautiful with intensity, it had been a long time since the last sunset rays had brightened the sky like this!

City II - Orchard Road

2007-06-04T09:35:00.001+08:00

City II - Orchard Road
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Another photo of firecracker fern or Coral plant with blooms in pastel shade, lovely!

City II - Orchard Road

2007-06-04T09:31:00.001+08:00

City II - Orchard Road
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Firecracker fern or Coral plant: It was definitely exciting and happy to see flowering ferns like this that I like since I was a kid. We had these growing in my childhood family home. It was among many garden plants that I was not tired of looking at all evening.

In the housing estate I live in now, I have seen patches of these along Punggol field Road. Sadly, they are not growing well then.

My Neighbourhood VII

2007-06-01T19:29:00.001+08:00

My Neighbourhood VII
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Unknown: Enlighten me please if you know the name of the plants. These are the only few ER and I came across in the common greens near Punggol Plaza.

Hibiscus

2007-05-31T01:30:00.001+08:00

My Neighbourhood X
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Found along Punggol Field Road, Punggol 21

Pink Torch Ginger II

2007-05-31T01:24:00.001+08:00

My Neighbourhood VIII
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Etlingera Elatior (Pink Torch Ginger)

Same growing pattern as the Red Torch, but its bracts are a soft pink on a tall round spike.

Pink Torch Ginger I

2007-05-31T01:22:00.000+08:00

My Neighbourhood VIII
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Red Torch Ginger II

2007-05-30T02:14:00.001+08:00

My Neighbourhood VIII
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Etlingera Elatior (Red Torch Ginger)

A perfect blooming Red Torch Ginger flower bathing in the morning light!

Red Torch Ginger I

2007-05-30T02:12:00.001+08:00

My Neighbourhood VII
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Etlingera Elatior (Red Torch Ginger): Patches of these flowers were grown for landscaping in my neighbourhood. We do notice inflorescences sprout from the ground, but rarely do we see them in full blooms. That sets me wondering: Have some inconsiderate people cut them away for their own purposes?

Sold as rhizome(Root section). Its inflorescence comes out of the ground instead of the terminal spike, thus making it easier to cut as a cut flower. The bracts are cherry red with yellow edges. As the bract opens up the lower bract leaves turn down revealing a cone shaped torch. An exceptional ginger for the garden or greenhouse, give it plenty of room to grow. Height 12' to 17'. Needs a warm climate of greenhouse. Very exotic!

Source of information [ginger], click this: Alohatropicals.com

Singapore Rhododendron

2007-05-30T01:41:00.001+08:00

My Neighbourhood V
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This species of wild flower is known as Singapore Rhododendron [Melastona malabathricum], Straits Rhododendron, Chinese Wild Peony, Indian rhododendron, Lasiandra, Pink Glory Bush etcetera. ER and I found them along the undeveloped area along Punggol Central Road.

For more information: At Sungei Buloh Nature Park and Habitat News

Myna

2007-05-28T10:32:00.002+08:00

Ang Mo Kio
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This myna was seen at Ang Mo Kio Town Centre. It was aware of the human traffic, but not bothered too much by the passers-by. I stayed and observed its behaviours for awhile. All it did was flapping its wings and moved away and then comfortably back again picking up the bits of food.

Wild Mushrooms

2007-05-28T10:12:00.001+08:00

Wild Mushrooms
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

ER and I came across this patch of wild mushrooms along Edgedale Plains in one late afternoon; their caps were not fully opened then. I like them better that way. This photo was taken a day later.

Bougainvillea VII

2007-05-28T08:55:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Bougainvillea VI

2007-05-28T08:52:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

These two potted bougainvilleas I keep as indoor plants are so amazing. They have been producing continuous blooms in hues of baby pink to baby orange and sometimes peach too :)

This photo was taken on May 26, 2007; the modified leaves have changed to pink bracts.

Bougainvillea V

2007-05-28T08:51:00.000+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This photo was taken on May 16, 2007; look at the modified leaves before they changed to pink bracts.

Beach Morning Glory

2007-05-19T00:16:00.001+08:00

Beach Morning Glory
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

The round shaped leathery leaves make this beach morning glory distinctive among the morning glory species. These creepers are growing wild near a monsoon drain.

Pretty precious last picture that ER took on 2nd attempt before the battery gone flat! Moreover, we have not seen these creepers flowering for quite some time although they are used for landscaping near my home.

Jade Plants

2007-05-18T16:12:00.000+08:00

Jade Plants
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This succulent is visual pleasure and a plant that I love to have around as an indoor plant. This young plant has produced lots of forking stems and branches. A few of its foliage has its characteristic reddish tinges. So far, I had bought two and I was unsuccessful in nurturing them...so sad :(

Thai Rose In The Afternoon

2007-05-18T15:50:00.000+08:00

Thai Rose In The Afternoon
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Thai Rose In The Morning

2007-05-18T13:50:00.001+08:00

Thai Rose In The Morning
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This crisp, fresh and beautiful bloom seen in the morning at 11:26 AM Thursday, April 5, 2007

This plant had been over watered about 2 months ago and this had caused its lower leaves to yellow. At that time I was afraid that its roots might rot! I stopped watering it for a while and loosen the top layer of soil to let it air and dry better. It survived the ordeal after losing much of its lush green leaves! Now, it blooms :) This is a precious bloom because we get to see one flower only each time and it will stay opens till the evening before the petals close up forever till it drops off!

This plant was given to me by my younger sister, PG who brought it over all the way from KL, West Malaysia.

Bougainvillea IV

2007-05-18T13:43:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

These are the unexpected continuous blooming tiny flowers and baby pink bracts, which are modified leaves that we have around right before the Chinese New Year~ until now, some branches still bear flowers.

Bougainvillea III

2007-05-18T13:39:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

It's rewarding to see continuous blooming! The wonderful thing is that bracts that will become colourful flowers are appearing from one of the young shoots! Too bad for me, I had cut away more than 10 branches after the 2nd blooming! Now the flowers started appearing from the leaf nodes of the remaining old ones~ however the consolation is, many young shoots are growing from the old branches that had been trimmed.

Bougainvillea II

2007-05-17T13:01:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Thursday, March 23 2006: So happy to see each branch is laden with flowers :)

Updates: As of today, Thursday, May 17, 2007 when this blog was created, my bougainvilleas have lost much of their lust green leaves as they matured. However, I am being rewarded with blooms since CNY 2007 and they are still flowering non-stop until today.

Bougainvillea I

2007-05-17T12:47:00.001+08:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Thursday, March 23 2006: Subsequent blooms in "baby pink/orange"

Interestingly as I read from Ohana Tropicals, this plant I have at home fit the description of Bougainvillea "Rainbow Gold" as it has soft orange/pink bracts. Really, I would like the bracts to be bright orange!

First Blooms

2007-05-17T12:36:00.001+08:00

First Blooms
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

First flowers in "baby pink" on Sunday, March 12 2006

Six cuttings that had bloomed before were planted in this pot last March [2005]. Only two survived and now they are in blooms one year later :) after two trimmings. I am really happy that besides the “baby pink” blooms, I have one in “baby orange”. Mild but sweet colour :). I am nostalgic with the orange one because it brought back memories of my childhood.

Attracted by the colourful blooms then, the very 1st bougainvillea cutting that I brought home as a primary school kid and planted by my father in front of the main gates of my childhood home in Malaysia was orange too though the colour is more stunning!

Back then, I have had pleasant and enjoyable time planting flowers with my father and elder brother :)