tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68748404564345832482024-03-12T13:50:26.036+08:00Budding BirdwatcherAbout birds, birdwatching and my Johor roots. Including the natural heritage, food, culture and wildlife of Malaysia, particularly Fraser Hill, Southeast Asia, Japan and beyond. Everything and anything bird, food, animals, travel-related and my family.tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-31374451776810544222024-03-11T19:23:00.010+08:002024-03-12T13:49:24.635+08:00Finding the Japanese Robin <p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My Neighbours The Yamadas was a very light-hearted animated series which had comical characters that were endearing, relatable and gave me a glimpse into the middle-class family life of Japan. The grandmother (祖母) in that cartoon series reminded me of my late maternal grandmother from Kedah who according to my mother would use a wooden bat to whack her children should they misbehave, just like how this Japanese grandma would continue to discipline Mrs Yamada when the latter forgot to run some errands for the family. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1C9ujuCPlnY" width="320" youtube-src-id="1C9ujuCPlnY"></iframe></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="909" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWqrgg1eUep4w0uKz-NhAFKNeSyo028Df_-aP3Gdg8ddhcJV0H2UeGztj9RKHGvBgolbfTZG4taK3EN4q_GS2EElCVmeg3TmbrUReNrjtcM9iY91IgkIVAdXqeVQEpnE9DZA2xGY8Oculdo45IDY9VxtJetKJl15IHwP5kqmpqQVbBhgd6_WDQH2V-zJ8E=w640-h372" width="640" /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">There was a call of a songbird in one of the scenes (screenshot as above) in which I could identify the call as that of the Japanese Robin. This was cross-checked against the audio of this Japanese Robin species which I came across in a checklist submitted to <b><a href="https://ebird.org/japan/home" target="_blank">eBird Japan</a></b>, the checklist of which is as below:- </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">https://ebird.org/checklist/S140736868</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">To find, record and observe my first Japanese Robin remains a lifelong quest of mine which I really hope to embark on when I get the opportunity to travel beyond Malaysia. eBird Japan website highlighted a campaign on Waterbirds and a screenshot of their website (translated from Japanese to English) is provided <b><a href="https://ebird.org/japan/news/2023bbw_report" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Wild Bird Society of Japan has an English website which can be viewed <b><a href="https://www.wbsj.org/en/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. One of eBird Japan sponsors listed was Suntory Group which is a global leader in consumer products such as beverages, beer and wines, wellness products. Suntory's sponsorship could be seen as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to protect wild birds and their environment. Clicking through their logo at the homepage of eBird Japan leads me to a website which appears to be dedicated to migratory birds highlighting five in particular which are illustrated in mid-flight, with their sounds made available by clicking on their respective pictures. An example is shown below and you can visit their interactive website by clicking on image below:-</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.suntory.co.jp/eco/birds/#." target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="1366" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQihCJeQZ1YeOmQLZ-qrRBrMDNkKQ1tkPAj07pc-NDWjVBWZAZSsGfioQ-WkkXjn89zFilL8fTgtLowoJNVAWtbLUBEkd0ZECMofGdEJsggB8m0EkR4XPh1ynpCJ17-uo6YJmD6GOPxL43dnOtoX5BZQqiZRG6yLkuXszRCc2Zl_U9PTXBYcTyte0c_or/w640-h283/Screenshot%202024-03-11%20191547.png" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-44594421563441776832024-02-19T19:31:00.001+08:002024-02-19T19:31:29.825+08:00Welcoming the Wood Dragon in Johor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1JlIlcVwRzsDpQ0vT4l6E1pjnAj5h6bzh-eEGTbhiKli0AygFU0Cm8NwDdsvoxJAbbhAvoFOo0UnFnXf6hM7-Vsf2aDyRMcuT1LKIx4weI2tR8Ob-uxtqPZJysZNO4EsEZUf6fF3uvrvY2GXIb_LUcklwXn7XxIiaaoDq78W_L9kMfTHZRzU8BbjYPef/w640-h288/IMG20240209202503.jpg" width="640" /><span style="text-align: left;">The Dragon display was resplendent and shinning brightly in </span><i style="text-align: left;">Abdullah </i><span style="text-align: left;">New Village as the association goes all out to welcome the Wood Dragon in 2024. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5m8bIUBiP8x4_iNwOrRoC2XDWn4eKUfZdPIesX5gaUnUnFiKbu4NIcgNNv_80mWuYY8dN2TVs_BVVMSIrzuYKwsLwdgKCcZbti3y4C53kr-1YU0ZOUtdD0mnhOmRl0ZiLKVBR5VGy92909qqwaLyHFwLNDZe9u92jOAhBnPz3Ky_SG5VESuEMlJf5sPl/w288-h640/IMG20240209202854.jpg" width="288" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All 12 Zodiac Animals (including the Tiger above and the Dragon below) were represented in life-size mascot floats which were securely pinned onto the ground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7D6yP3j9s26fh4_JcXFUOdbSRH_d511pU9GzmQpJsYQuAU_Hma9M5q7Q96ZxVkwTTRP4MqUJsrdGrKTUoBkZrGXoWfeD2_igpOwTlX7Izlhuy8mfWRudNTwNF4NlTzpgiFG7SaK10YwTYnxvNVtqmWv7ewTA631nS_VSY2R5POMx301-AoWad2lqShp0p/w288-h640/IMG20240209202919.jpg" width="288" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">The ball of fire in front of the dragon was suspended in mid-air by thin strings. The light displays were impressive and though it was of a much smaller scale compared with the record-setting ones at Dong Zen temple in Jenjarom, Selangor, this New Village in Segamat, Johor set the bar in the District of Segamat, Johor. After all, amongst the twelve animal zodiacs, the dragon is the only mythical animal which represents auspiciousness, renewal, strength, values of which are sorely needed for us to pull through together and make up for the years lost to covid-19 pandemic and for us and our nation to recover fully economically, socially and politically. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCRK9SQ_0f9L3BPh6FUaiNaDIPMuKKguVwBhoatXcxaHHvQUqyZUJ5Qk0ymB9hO3F2Y-fX1MWJkMvS5nKwknxVPJVrCMXRCI_-rn7EDITyFjSNdMqCLrwncFiT1pYS6-J7_SrP8Kf16m3BwiTD9v1Eo84suDphNuib5kMv49pOHrcWKsg0HEwdFJ8TZXp/w640-h288/IMG20240209203011.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My mum was delighted to visit the light displays below:-</div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4U8rRfcwPJFAGcslNVkXFHQGBRh4m_1eqiKDhENiI0QsbnTXIi8BE7KuNFtYmTUQPdm6FOfehH_y96O1x2kFOn6VAbHyNjj9LTMF2QcyvvsTyCs4_cQnNneEGzY_njlXpVoC8EL66X8BN4Y2j72wTH-2PfRjt72s037IZxXk8P4-6ljRXc1YYtPCPypV/w288-h640/IMG20240209203244.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="288" /></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chinese New Year and how it was celebrated worldwide in pictures by Says portal can be viewed <b><a href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/beautiful-photos-lunar-new-year?fbclid=IwAR1iEnjjSeYmJNZ_yw1J8aVvB1RP988XsOgaT494BjjWhwug1PtTXjfUfyQ" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. The seven days of Chinese New Year and what each day signifies, as explained by The South China Morning Post which you can read <b><a href="https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3165166/chinese-new-year-different-days-new-year-and-what-each-them" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> - Ren Ri is also the day employers must not reprimand their employees. A very good practical advice for Chinese bosses and generally good tip for all employers. Employees should behave well not just on 7th day of CNY but all year round to minimize such reprimands:) </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Schumi Wu (birding friend from Taiwan) shared a very beautiful picture of the crane in his Chinese New Year greeting as pictured below. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">The </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lantern Festival myth has its origin in the killing of the Jade Emperor's crane by villagers and how the emperor's merciful daughter warned them of impending wrath. Read about this myth <b><a href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/folklores-legends-that-shape-how-we-spend-our-chinese-new-year?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook+status&utm_campaign=meta+status&fbclid=IwAR3XYlCy43QDa44CPosWhwq7h6-RSYvaOT27sXIxnWsHwq4037slsjSZzrc" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmKWiIE4xjlBoXRKcV1YNSyVpqSc1dyGuMKdhyphenhyphenP1Y29WkRS4qNrdJmL29AKZg5yrpAUQJQU3d1rXzB52FAbFEWXxuGMNdjXzHCqLPwkIdMaS52IH3vWJrF7AJt0UYEJys8pKwH5xEWFtNuMqiFt5MzqCVyagWPlIGtvdR6FG1UaONeR5RuB4ZcYyzy6AA/w640-h428/IMG-20240209-WA0034.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgeOuG1F2DoNNUsKhFbSlbYaaz-rI_P-C4-t58jaEy9LP4rqVZDDXFf09ENGDCFlbg3ZlDx-EOKFQrfMzkCL3zEtkO-AwOFLfj3yX-MFYYvvTusjIrrIdTBl0F241g0V1XsHJ59YSyZuoxeaCMFhGwpdkIP4reGDDyWBC10CRfVyNXCu3TpPdhvmbamzh/w640-h288/IMG20240211115457.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My mum visited her friends in Jementah on the second day of Chinese New Year. Pictured above are her friends from the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA). We had visited my mother's good friend Mr and Mrs Tan earlier that morning. We had previously bought pomelos from Mr and Mrs Tan. However due to current economic situation and viability of fruit crops, they switched to planting durians of Musang King variety instead for the past few years. They did have friends who still maintained pomelo plantations and had kindly gifted some to us. Jementah's agricultural background is evident in that almost every house had a plot of land filled with home-grown vegetables, fruits including sugar-cane, yam etc. Really reminded me of the villages I came across when I visited Chiayi, Taiwan years ago. </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6PXO04p7dLB56RlCo0yK8vRCpgytjdOYPdjZ7U-0H1YWEonn8HudOD6ut6N2Ow77QN_qZQCCS2oRq86LkSCnW2kVHtk1f4rMkCboJxPa8I3LNn9RKJgpVJFCdwd5REDR1EP6LHO3QsyN3Bc0VhxMbMEDI-sjpW8oGLXTku0SgATOOXxex9MKSfik4JUn/w640-h288/IMG20240211135035.jpg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lovely mural painting on the side walls of this corner shop-lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShARUvdG4XE9buwzyfLyjDsqJJ2QWcwg4w75pk776oO_T-wzKpfqV04V9UKfNHXXp2oeR4kyux6pr7uwhMZP2gMmn_pgOBJmcYwxtJ1XV7DL0Xv36HXoeHzuhlWbaLnfCstU0q1usQW1I4qLc8g7Zk68TWDNAD9as5nWeBWUUbsJAo12nx5Wx0WuT5_9E/w288-h640/IMG20240211135045.jpg" width="288" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grove of bamboo plants painted on a section of the wall with a sink. Gives a calm effect when washing hands after a meal:) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_iLSmZuPirew2OFkn7e8wgYmDBBRcHw4UNkTJ3Th6eyRoT5xlJ89bQ_uxjLxZ8hxEvFtqhCJRk6Ey-XxvqVjRluAOlEP7Jc9_xsAXM8UQNOKWI7KMHdLwFSe24Q7uRLbX102M_NQ2DqiURHcOf-hXHUy2DNNeLZbd-8pIOvb5oYh2Eo9PkW4UBFXzpMD/w288-h640/IMG20240211135746.jpg" width="288" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mum enjoying her half-boiled eggs and toast at the only coffee shop that was opened that afternoon on the second day of CNY in Jementah. The nasi lemak was bought from a Makcik nearby. Not pictured above were the yummy cendol which we bought from a mobile stall next to the Chinese Guanyin temple. The Malaysian Indian couple speaks fluent Mandarin and we were very glad to know their children continued their cendol business legacy and their grand-daughter speaks Mandarin as well! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O-U8iZg_57X0Ccbb2KF-tbtj7ahimG-LoiSIAiZO8SnxxL6BACIeIAVyMHVrl-n2FnJucJW7LvxWqAoz4DzdyxIgcbhKrsk7bIEIIbnywViy1enb2qH47TK5yzmu2fgzZ3G1Gx1qkzPpiLoBj0-4dSH8KEwla2nq8w92-titItHOs4NnWncEa1oMGWS8/w288-h640/IMG20240211135122.jpg" width="288" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wall art of cat and dog peacefully co-existing with each other. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm7I9_6IRVkwU_zGsMU3Yt3Bj8ZbGGopTd-F54PB5kMN7k8Ih9svh25_V7sxt5Z52o6EOni8b27AJr-1tQYpODGEgFuTQy_HRVKcJHamm7E1-iZ5uJKmXJAniYv07IPV9GGYy3jPfNxGJzeJH8AZ7c89vLefUt72Jk3k4_SN8how-ItuIuFRGgMj32197/w288-h640/IMG20240211141602.jpg" width="288" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A quiet green corner at the end of the row of shop-lots. My sister calling me to resume driving after we had completed our afternoon tea at Jementah. </div></span></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-50245490427968396942024-01-22T00:29:00.012+08:002024-01-22T00:34:03.860+08:00Enter the Dragon <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Spring festival or the New Year is about to be welcomed by Chinese all over the world with the largest human exodus expected in China. Food and fruits with auspicious-sounding names are a necessity for Chinese New Year. Dunkin Donuts are selling CNY-themed donuts which are pineapple-shaped (Ong Lai) and those with red-toppings layered with a gold coin ingot (Red Fortune). These can be viewed <b><a href="https://www.dunkindonuts.com.my/promotions.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Whilst I was out grocery shopping to stock up for the coming Year of the Dragon, I came across a colourful packaging of a Yee Sang set which featured a pair of swallows:-</span><img border="0" data-original-height="2979" data-original-width="3701" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93UjODQS-ciy3MCDbLAOv8NzEOjNukbE3dFh_qSJNQFVj8dqxl4JAJD6KrDR8bkDUTBS8lXtgVngxmwHsJ4O_8gc5_h3hK2OxIRJeBxQ81zwvvRI3ZtErV29Wqmq0XEmDFE5yonDynD2pDADBKnCq1kZ98lEIKFvVfnyQEM6jzCrfu_yAxK7pTUgNomFK/w640-h516/IMG_20240113_115245.jpg" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" width="640" /><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the i</span><span style="font-size: medium;">nteresting websites highlighting the Year of the Dragon include Genting Malaysia's website below:-</span><a href="https://www.rwgenting.com/en/event/chinese-new-year-in-the-sky-2024-awaken-the-dragon.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="1346" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbj33zYdp98nUk6LCK4jnf46Nx29lN8Iafyg8IBHAiIPyZROArUS0qJ0Ss6DgU0Uxn2tuxkRKJkoDQXwo0zpp-oJe0J8JgNuMEKZwa1JSPiQDvN9d0Rd6tU04n_bKI3apX9QQOfb0D0Av-E8RWJikB5F50HaPCHGseROvtCBzmP8HIGqcu1HLMzQuSnDc/w640-h194/Untitled.png" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">Legoland Malaysia boasts a dragon built entirely out of plastic bricks, as displayed via their website below:-</span><a href="https://www.legoland.com.my/explore/shows-entertainment/lunar-new-year/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="593" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlrQNHO0utJSjacWrEdYdKIkjHaD-Couhmof9-2naGHlaWUq3MtAWAJI9SUefST7axZZ2Iv2apYZQoZig1uUQ84DtOoFsw5_w2-2LeBQXb3tO9pZPPNKGwzCs3cpSvajf11fSaTavX10or0ijPU0QvIhoPNqcNXV-4FCdNIUGfo48Ysqrs4f8MknYWqrn/w640-h288/Untitled.png" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Watsons Malaysia is having a Chinese New Year promotions contest at their website </span><a href="https://www.watsons.com.my/promo-cny-recipes-contest" target="_blank">HERE</a><span>. Fengshui guru Datuk Joey Yap gave some tips on how to prepare for the Year of the Rabbit. As the rabbit hops away to give way to the dragon, his predictions for the 12 Zodiac animals can be viewed below:-</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/reP1k0q2Fh0" width="320" youtube-src-id="reP1k0q2Fh0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Animal Signs in 2024 – Your Guide to the Wood Dragon Year [Joey Yap]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EOWcFI9reTg" width="320" youtube-src-id="EOWcFI9reTg"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Two competing alcoholic beverage companies have a lovely website layout and a unique play on the characters HEI which means joyful celebrations in Cantonese, to market their products for the Year of the Dragon (as below). Internet users will need to verify their year of birth before entering the websites and where disclaimers are displayed reminding the user to be above drinking age in Malaysia and a non-Muslim before browsing the websites. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.carlsbergcny.my/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1346" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_YlydkhJw20oGrp02T6hEn4jjzsr7q5l8X5oQCnShqp522zPOV3SYOQ577VMF6gjNfR31cc82fomm6KodGiK92XIlP3xbXVAB1_dyHnr4A7K8CQ_f2St8i8hrZrpM4NVh5dvsSvsW8l9zFM1Mh5O8csxNjEFZwfu9qQlHuI1qZreeM11B1fUi3bYMDTb/w640-h286/Carlsberg.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.heinekenmalaysia.com/news-article/heineken-brings-more-hei-to-gong-hei-fatt-choy/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1145" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XDY-kXkr8H2AJsE_M7z-EyxrNy7PyX-S2T17uSXGyjSwOtUoU40o7abBvCYhi6iZ0aTafFi5cwcntRY0LCAPgVaMVyQeAV6GazJrCCujdH7fQH3LRQMtgRJG9pMFzcVvfavsSxUqv7bq54xprZJ_rIDqROnjsl_M753ssrAFk2S0mVMSHqf2bfaA8Ez4/w640-h360/EEF29CF1-1CFA-43F3-9644-194300971C04.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I stumbled across a website from the </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/how-do-people-celebrate-chinese-new-year" target="_blank">Royal Museums Greenwich</a></b><span style="text-align: justify;"> where the Newham Chinese Association explained how Chinese New Year is celebrated by Chinese communities outside of the UK, what decorations are made, what stories & myths are told, what is considered bad luck, why do people have lion and dragon dances, what things bring good luck, what food do people eat and regional differences during CNY celebrations from Northern to Southern China. There's a traditional lion dance performance in the Museum which was featured in this website. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-54295369963357509462024-01-03T20:37:00.028+08:002024-01-03T23:00:02.895+08:00Where the Tapioca trees grow there you’ll find the Stilts<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2023A (2024) has dawned upon us. It has been three years since Covid-19 wrecked havoc and tested the resolve of medical frontliners all over the world. I visited Tanjung Karang on the eve and first day of the New Year. After driving past a row of tapioca trees, I drove onto a road alongside rows of paddyfield fields and spotted a flock of Black-winged Stilts roosting in a block of paddyfield that was filled with water. This was on the eve of New Year’s Day. Tiny dots of stilts in this field as pictured below:-</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsBKroxW4Ead9Ffa6985hsF7Ga8ZoolQ5oki5ymMBV4WfmlPgYIF98tpFcrQW4cTpiYPtPYh2hHFqf7bgNBnweszoViEQCzqhJGsl2liRt73mIIqBaOJBdCmDe45iAqFqjYnuvfI7XlM27w_DxYBnPTIz8FeHYHbxspKylBgwCe8GBbfvdKaZ4JWrqYFi/w640-h480/IMG20231231161838.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Selangor's well-known tourist spots along coastal areas would be places like Kuala Selangor, Kapar and Port Klang. Taman Alam Kuala Selangor is a wetlands nature reserve, and Jeram beach areas are wetland sites where one may venture to find waders and shorebirds. I've read about the shorebirds count conducted at Kapar Power Stations. I've personally never done a count there before. A smaller flock of stilts was seen on same ricefield paddy block on New Year’s Day below:- </span><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O_loQRhKW7MEHadCUOh0fCLn9aItghLLMs5MTQlDFd2gAH1UKGpXI0rW2zJt_ByogLzcl_Y5jw5bEZMgQEV-utDzqp_gnyoNGfiZ8WjWYRzbAqO6zNYkdRuZroBnZya2M6H3S0AJ44aNEjijcYziSYOs3djo50h9K3I4Uxe6I73VoUim23ARcC3aP6Ym/w640-h480/P1220045.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A global not-for-profit organization called Wetlands International has an office in Malaysia and their website can be explored <b><a href="https://malaysia.wetlands.org/" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>. They safeguard and restore wetlands for people and nature and 2023 appeared to be a busy period for them as they hosted climate week in Johor, a Mangrove restoration programme in Bagan Pasir, Selangor, a workshop in Penang amongst others. Wetlands International appear to be the only international organization that is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmL3WcCod2Os5dKV1fAQ5AvzUxTmp7m3ZaIRofi0VKHTBvazhGyvLs8KnIVZowY_eoJmfbYg8EQ9M9J1jNHRsa3QZMNi8pXPmz0aQi3w5qhyphenhyphen_n-ILgae5eHNE-6RE3laRwMeSCky_G3tNYacJSv2LkuMmKN583e37h1XbCsUmX5-V2chyphenhyphen91ZqSUTrMi9g/w640-h480/P1220044.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Elegant-looking Stilt in the middle of this picture, stretching its pinkish-coloured leg like a ballerina would during warm-ups before a dance. </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span></p><div class="tenor-gif-embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.75" data-postid="14762214" data-share-method="host" data-width="100%"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><a href="https://tenor.com/view/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97-%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2-%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%96%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82-heart-gif-14762214">योगा लालरंग GIF</a>from <a href="https://tenor.com/search/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BE-gifs">योगा GIFs</a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> <script async="" src="https://tenor.com/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script> Tiny dots of stilts which I viewed through my binoculars (from inside my car) and hearing their calls from quite a far distance on New Year's eve when I was headed out of the paddyfields around 5pm that Sunday. Whilst on my return trip to KL, I managed to buy my mother’s favourite asam laksa from the Selayang night market. Not been birding consistently so seeing and hearing this flock of stilts was pure joy to me as I began my New Year thinking about these stilts which I kept mixing up with stints. In February 2022, flocks of Grey-headed Lapwings were spotted in one of these paddyfield plots in Tanjung Karang. A picture of one of these flocks of lapwings as depicted below and a photo which captured the beautiful emerald hues of a Northern Lapwing on the cover of Taiwan's Nature Conservation Quarterly Winter 2023 edition (see below) both showcase two different species of lapwings. Peninsular Malaysia has had a record of a vagrant Northern Lapwing sighting in Rompin, Pahang before. Here's to many more records of such sightings of both Grey-headed and the Northern Lapwings! </span><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="3997" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJItsSL-SeboQPVfR4uXjx8D1-64uEcQdsB_IhuxeXDJEacQoPucru-Yd-eYwPXs7dN1Gf-ji-wM7-zphMG9kNkR0I51p3bJZUJ3EF6JnFepYS_nBscd2aPjgJD8wGSzMJTuF_CzHcP9Wq4hIoA0gAEGWqtlx7ev9CgsX9eBh8KyxrVjrvFfrKb6RjOyg/w640-h246/GHLapW-10.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1424" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BBR75O1F067q-6Qo9LoFmMvr45c3rULRLVxR2AbaBxeGVEbdSRPhiTkMqgMwQAyhVYOINtENZU-93AtsVfXFastt9WtoAD0YYl9BdUYQgZFsCUnMKB4_aKs5VV4zryXU8ioy1SOwogvsX4thStZcQneBngfF9pL0_ziDPgGY56xL3rq88RNyJdqfmle_/w446-h640/414993135_7259399434110375_2716890826501588754_n.jpg" width="446" /></div><br /><div><br /></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-35872476790428647932023-12-08T14:48:00.008+08:002023-12-08T14:54:29.086+08:00Of Chocolates, Mountains in Malaysia and Switzerland<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rain poured down from heavens above, as I sat under this small cabin at the base of Berembun mountains in Negeri Sembilan, watching the forest in silence. I was happy being serenaded by Stripe-throated bulbuls once the rain stopped. The flowerpeckers and sunbirds were just too fast-moving that afternoon for me to get a good glimpse through my binoculars. A flock of unidentified swifts and swiftlets were circling above the forest canopy throughout the downpour. </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0bMOQBo-7oJDcmHG2hxkdXR1gc7fKyTFyzwlnHGTYR8OgAgk_NlQHkTeNVeBP8S2z8k1Jv9Xe9IHBkselboYksl362BnjmGcmftU-j6vfU5bOrsw_qDE9WrUQKt_OTm8NnluNadhkbiwn8vZlh_UbhMz9MRVPOvYO1GWHEgm1vFUDOIJMIUTVvwzWHPg/w640-h480/IMG20231204152252.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I had a quick lunch at the Oriental Foodcourt at Super Seven Supermarket at Semenyih Vista Valley. The Supermarket has a website which can be viewed <b><a href="https://www.super7.com.my/v8/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. The vegetables and seafood look very fresh and I was seriously contemplating a revisit to stock up for Chinese New Year 2024 BEFORE the Dragon approaches. Took me less than 1 hour to reach Pantai District from Semenyih (via LEKAS highway) and I got lost trying to locate the road that headed towards the base of Berembun mountains. A very informative blog written by a hiker from Singapore on her hike up the Berembun (Dew-like) mountains in Negeri Sembilan can be read <a href="https://catchingtravels.blogspot.com/2019/09/gunung-berembun-jelebu-day-hike.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HERE</a><b>. </b>She included a story about the wreckage site from World War Two which hikers will come across at the hiking trail up the mountains of Berembun. Apparently there are also identically-named mountains named "Berembun" in the states of Perak and Terengganu. I've not seen products in Malaysia such as chocolates or coffee etc. which depict any of the mountains in Peninsular Malaysia but I stand corrected on this. There's Mount Kinabalu Coffee whose locally grown arabica coffee is described further in their website <b><a href="https://aramaitica.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mount Kinabalu by itself holds the record as the highest mountain in Southeast Asia and Kinabalu Park is a designated World Heritage Site under the management of Sabah Parks which you can read more about <b><a href="https://www.sabahparks.org.my/kinabalu-park" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98KuMuvk_-ysyE9zHcfLciPQkGakx8hjVVxoxD2j6ZgZes0QEjFITRiuO_CW6gSMw_pXk1tiZWIagott-4rA7Vv5JvW6IQLwmBLVJCwZsFG-TIlOkQxnC9nqR2MmQsRQTBIMapo5TqFMAjmziA-PXmEXNUPoxzCU3W3k-vT5AO4_QrBzuUbYjbP8I8iQt/w480-h640/20181217_130855(0)%20(1).jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Matterhorn mountain from Switzerland aka Swiss Alps region is depicted in many products, one of which is of course in a chocolate bar under the trademarked name of Toblerone. Toblerone Chocolate and personalization of their products as demonstrated by yours truly holding a bar bought by my sister from Down Under when she visited, years ago - my bar still had the Alpine mountain depicted on it hence the Swiss-connection. It is after all one of many popular products owned by Mondelez and the removal of the iconic Swiss mountain from the packaging was covered by the Guardian newspaper of UK which you can read about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/05/matterhorn-mountain-toblerone-packaging-design-switzerland#:~:text=Matterhorn%20no%20more%3A%20Toblerone%20to%20change%20design%20under%20'Swissness'%20rules,-This%20article%20is&text=The%20image%20of%20the%20Matterhorn,the%20use%20of%20Swiss%20iconography." target="_blank"><b>HERE.</b></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Matterhorn is said to be one of the most photographed mountains in the world according to the Switzerland Tourism website <a href="https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-my/destinations/matterhorn-symbol-for-switzerland/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>. It stands at 4478m compared to Mount Kinabalu's 4095m.</span></div></div><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV2Qcv6qPUmeOrfGay0dQEDIFXkPInsK3EwhZ0MB5f5NGtFeS42bSUbP_yE_mOKCoTNoyX0S2kCXR9XWnNZ1tiMYiwHVHNlZKUGj0EnGbVDf81NnM_YVd_18hJNvJKrsi2CA2otuv2ZrWzJaCZVgNxx2E8wN7sDXAmgHn73rVrQqFTTSDivRVBvG0AL2x/w640-h480/IMG20231204133256.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">My lunch at Sekinchan - Hakka Pan Mee with crunchy anchovies. </div><div><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLtJuxVLqG8F30KQlAVdkVn8LuGVmAp6PrDDCJ9iXEChB2EUygZkLywFICtZVZFyFzipzSTRwHzeEwJrsLWmo0Mj4uKc6_IqKrShOl0ARpbfUVWPO-M0d8plSg4YGyBpUCr5pslKi0F073-t92bJMiMVyUKqqNWMgX9aGJnBsQ23LTrvs_4-rcGyCd0XD/w640-h480/IMG20231204152826.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The Berembun forest and all its magical glory after the rain.</div><div><div> <p></p></div></div></div></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-21472362498264082222023-10-25T18:44:00.004+08:002023-10-26T21:39:00.118+08:00Down Memory Lane during Mid-Autumn Festival <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCevs9CXYL3cdpwzvpdI1q62ONx9EimexOBsXW-8T4jAbwpOPoAJsu4Q6AXlpi88LT_E-wIk-ow6_n78uyXk3gzRLqngeReyBGIvH4-mK5e3ibgBuc-nIefuACWos7fpSW4pQyIaSb8vgc1P1-suQe495Kn2IttRea6dMt1faovUKreUrJIsocoFIN7PFZ/w640-h480/IMG20230924180631.jpg" width="640" /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Had dinner with my mum at Odon, a Hong Kong-style cafe at Atria Shopping Gallery one of the Sundays when my mum's helper was on her day off. The cafe's tagline was authentic Hong Kong Malaysian cuisine. This cafe has a webpage at Linktree site <b><a href="https://linktr.ee/odon.my" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Malaysian food is becoming world-famous thanks to positive stories shared by travelers such as iChang, etc. through their YouTube channels. A video on their sponsored trip to Johor can be viewed at the end of this blog. Johor State Government has a portal which is available <b><a href="https://www.johor.gov.my/" target="_blank">HERE </a></b>for their residents which works as tool for the State agencies to provide services to <i>rakyat</i>, public servants, tourists and employees working with the State Secretary. Tourists can venture beyond the state government's portal to explore the attractions around the State through a web portal maintained by Johor Tourism <b><a href="https://johortourism.my/explore" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>.<br /><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbYajT4Q7N1XQnJlS-X_SXbeJsTYJQ2GRR_wnOQ_d_GedeSREvX38j1nLN46KJ8KvPjWxs00qBw9uzYVJrNujQ7rl0BTkyZl_rh1f6vUem8dZzqg7b_Zi7guOMS4yMfsMvbSRxEAoF_SOlrRtNUBdmtj4taarQMvRWb41YXDpK_sSWfqq9DHdlUhULis2/w640-h480/IMG20230924153018.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With an old friend from our neighbourhood in the older part of</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Segamat town, Johor. She was visiting her daughter in KL.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUfg2s9W9ncDVGKZLG0KzCUuwj2OA-9Q-sXceK2pVt73nlquT0A6YxM_ct_TyWsYEIX9Id0a-TiNwoVDXsVvOpaMHUwXlHjW6aLXdV73wZtDcvMEIPhB-GiG1DQn2vKvR4ZnfvbwkE6-hAe5g5ctsxeMRLKdh2hf6GDwMc6OKV-1X8GHbxCsiT0xMrK-T/w640-h480/IMG20230924182556.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mid-Autumn festival decorations in the Shopping Centre</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">A Japanese couple who are currently living in Malaysia chronicles their food adventures through their YouTube channel iChang. They aired an interesting episode on their relaxing holiday in Johor which can be viewed below:-</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="312" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vIVFjts1Jgs" width="375" youtube-src-id="vIVFjts1Jgs"></iframe></div></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-84795476878086192252023-08-21T12:31:00.008+08:002023-08-21T12:37:11.504+08:00Birdwatching in Central Park, an incident and an inspirational journey to rediscover the Natural World <p style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-qd2XyGFTzk" width="320" youtube-src-id="-qd2XyGFTzk"></iframe></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The joy of birdwatching through Central Park, New York is so evidently displayed by Mr Christian Cooper in the video above. There was an incident that took place at a spot called the Rambles between him and a lady who was later dismissed by her employer. It appeared that the lady filed a legal suit against her employer for wrongful/illegal dismissal which was dismissed and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/woman-who-called-police-black-bird-watcher-central-park-loses-employment-appeal-2023-06-08/" target="_blank">it was reported that the appeals court in New York, USA refused to reinstate the lawsuit</a>. Mr Christian Cooper has since gone on to pen a New York Times best-seller titled "Better Living through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World" and you can read about his interview with The Cornell Lab <b><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/qa-catching-up-with-christian-cooper-host-of-extraordinary-birder/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. I hope I can rediscover the Natural World the way Mr. Christian Cooper has done after undergoing such adversities. Digressing to food, after dropping off my sister who is working in Singapore at the KLIA airport, I had stomach indigestion from a donut bought at the Dunkin Donuts branch along Mex highway (near Seri Kembangan exit) when I was driving towards the airport from KL. Note to Self:- No more donuts from that branch! Had a pleasant lunch the following day at Ipoh Vintage in Nu Sentral. Their branch here serves what I thought were quite authentic Ipoh dishes (as pictured below). Their website is available <b><a href="https://www.ipohvintage.com.my/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. The KL Botanical Park (Lake Gardens) is the nearest park to Nu Sentral. I did my GBD within the periphery of the park in 2018 which can be read <b><a href="http://fraserhill.blogspot.com/2018/05/global-big-day-2018-in-malaysia.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. It would be one of my ultimate dream come true to visit Central Park in New York and go birdwatching there 🐦. Perhaps a pit stop on the way to more birdwatching adventures in Central or South America or just on a work-related trip. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhGerpiYXWAE-HiOMkI-mMiFdzzupKdxrKTXuWm44FiBDX4NEgpEJlvPq8Q7kqnQXQ9bqqswgrIzJBl3qkdpTqMN6ZkzhUCZxYnZIR8wsTYuY96u0Po61fdlO7AaXweGoGMGjkaYV4Y3xAFRYFiUZOsc2rT6SQETo5k94PmLmEMS30p7TrDwPM5913Q-k/w480-h640/IMG20230813153345.jpg" width="480" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Lin Chee Kang </i>with colourful green & pink jellies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJlgL2T1AmfnWwgFjamGxKRf0dzQ3yVhr5tS0o9oxpiOBRlVVeEpQ37uI8CUVeuNZA08IGoMzXBsN3fk50SPw03zgq6HU5R_5AE6x5qnpHO8b5MKxbqVr5aV2TAPYLi1zbZf8fBADt65avC_jFbIl6-S0ibCIW8UzC9sGxAJqqMKY6OGHzmfcwyHMFeg5/w640-h480/IMG20230813153434.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Chee Cheong Fun</i> - just missing the crunchy <i>Foo-chuk</i> (Soyabean-based crackers).</div></div><p></p>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-40376387009594626252023-06-25T21:48:00.001+08:002023-06-25T21:48:20.263+08:00Walk Down Memory Lane at Kuala Selangor Nature Park <p style="text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlboNg0K8VJ0Z8H4w9e2L_f55Hp5UfxpNA4EBXfT8RbcExxmAzGf_aoMQc9XPvj24mWupXsQIc3kMxlq4uv1E7-Dqec1GZfuCVhGu9wCttFseUPKJ1vpB8RhsmR7TN2ppj2717rPqi4WFv0Or-Gn7X4ncbBhzdWUrMw6jGE3KbVhyvm7tx2rUWmuhaFcp0/w640-h480/IMG20230617192940.jpg" width="640" /><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunset over the Selangor River as my mum (her helper) and myself wait for our seafood dinner at Kuala Muara Kitchen. Did some birdwatching in the paddyfields and the Kuala Selangor Nature Park on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. The Ebird Checklists from<b> <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S141910281" target="_blank">Tanjung Karang</a></b> and <b><a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S141910769" target="_blank">Kuala Selangor Nature Park</a></b> (Taman Alam Kuala Selangor) are available by clicking on these location names. It has been a long time since I last visited Kuala Selangor with my family. My mum surprisingly still remembered the fireflies. This was a trip we took many years ago when the fireflies still existed along the shores of Kampung Kuantan. That is sadly a thing of the past. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QBgl4rVz3Ks" width="320" youtube-src-id="QBgl4rVz3Ks"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fireflies song by Owl City is a sad reminder of an incredible species of insects that once lit up the trees alongside the Selangor riverbanks at Kampung Kuantan. </span></div><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75epXHaBtK3EG7MRS9s4gHct0VHy2zU0tkjnUxBeNzXrO3VdnnGTadkTTwq9jiCg-g4w7NJ-wHCXGtk2RTyUgy_COOINIDUCzPnhktqE1wYVBu6V3I9UB2ZqoGHBHzAwl4vZB60DPMYbh3LMUSD5kZ4l5KCa-0fxEOxrPQ1SVw1F-AjBTU9oLy__GnI_7/w640-h480/IMG20230617192518.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><span style="font-size: medium;">Dinner at the newly opened Kuala Muara Kitchen next to Le-Shore Hotel. Aquamarine-painted walls were cool. Our dinner comprised mussels cooked in salted egg butter sauce, seafood fried rice (with a relatively large prawn), mango kerabu (which my mum rated as delicious and as a former nurse who worked in Perlis, Penang & Kedah, some of the best kerabu originates from those States so she knows how to rate kerabu) and fish & chips.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyeyKAmzllmwb5XauF1Pu28EbjJY_sF09ontAV5yHPSl8yNtPLZ0U1pAH4dIGnQlwctv66RM9CJhc7DeQgnFCc_KrfzWLwWDz4j2DmOwFknE_OoOmo-_gWkyRG5mFnSp37N2Vn_8iUehSOgOUm__imazm8Q3_Ih_C4UlyNAYXZUYJ7ppG1VL_XthqpT9T/w480-h640/IMG20230617130502.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /> <span style="font-size: medium;">Her first slice of BBQ Stingray (Pari) followed by .............. </span><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8rM0Hh1tpWu7H8lPFALQ664LCO7nMclNCYS5kYAxKh4CeWNeTAqTVxp9L9FbPK8TrOyvrIMwN5bzaLMpoyKQtqkOgCX5BvpZ4KACZv_U-XCmrbUv4cW9hC92i9fQsZZR6xVB6AkLkgJG7KM178XvzPzMeCGhZ5tlF_Qu3ngbnAr-9tKtPlSTKgIY8P4a/w480-h640/IMG20230617132837.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /> <span style="font-size: medium;">a SECOND slice of pari. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjg5BrSK2x6Go_j_uuo-0KAcGrrlpk_hG1u8FLfBqy00Bm3e5P6jIPwAF32IY1bp9t1gky5SGNax1NqVDGTai4nicCp5fc_Z7nAF0xB3fKBbqFr2U_JR2YxQZ0BlbfWpT9zOiukCp053x7S9UR81Ljz1dmUkbZR-6tmSqpe9DsOKMItqj4uQL7uBspJQ5/w480-h640/IMG20230617133927.jpg" width="480" /> <span style="font-size: medium;">PanTimor's BBQ Spread was irresistible. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="1386" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kaLqrkY0ASEQZOLGl3pVqGoMvcGl0ZBI6_EpynNFzxYyWj4DLsRS6SnDSMART1g_jOjR-tCkSd1qChkkuavP_vETyAAZvhN357eRaHogvTtNiCuTKRn8eoNQwfcNV7yPTodZBhcwfbu4g-umCu3UHcH4bitJY1RAFB4_qQWDprWi_w6AyiKvyhledgxO/w634-h640/IMG_20230618_165535.jpg" width="634" /> <span style="font-size: medium;">A nyonya heritage-looking shophouse with a cafe at Pekan Lama Kuala Selangor named Auntie Foo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDwbKT9xtoXm_NZ2BMRGBbP_br_sNA0Z25fJRlNHWVWDO8wZiyS_KLghEOAMzwE31J3EUAjmgnBDmukUpOFVRGumOGGlxFBtJW0xdRlhs6zIUJj7udhMUOaM0rcc_fvHM2sa7qdh0pRGdUsPxs3dN7e2tg7t1M9ADqW1IzNEIn4ovB19i9K047C13yfxy/w640-h480/P1210940.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A large monitor lizard ambles across the road nearby the temple in Pasir Penambang</span></div><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2x7ZHDiWvb1ZXqUZ3eFm8S7144dNyr2Q2w7fjoi9tlTabx_xiy_DgRp3lQNfQZajv_ff80ziKPQ7Kn45b3u61cp9utJVmOwADCT8uK0Zt4-KGeniQwiAHlkQluFOPUUdPkcnA3PKPLU8o_8jd1KfRTxeDQO8VkFBG8PoX2uffNMauc7-2oMjsb3Yr4fBA/w640-h480/P1210941.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Monkey King (Soo Wu Gong) gazes sternly at all who visit the temple in Pasir Penambang </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatxOkG14ZB_spj2fBzFQXfKlvLs6Mgdq3jGYSyopXmSxaXTIhdItML76jFCq_8lFy8Pa6KBXgbO21l9LweQ6Fz5xLmBdFdmi4J2JDdwCeLB0Bz8nUXpX2AlgFz27yXxnom-3CmTHVPMDkdpH8ksbpNHaFgZY5HZB-39iFyssdEqLsBg-cAAN7jeh0jVkq/w480-h640/IMG20230618155517.jpg" width="480" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Autan anti-mosquito lotion is essential to be slathered liberally across every inch of my skin before I began my walk into the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. The Collared Kingfisher is such a welcome sight at the entrance of the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. </span></div></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="548" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/585861011/embed" width="640"></iframe>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-72160417419341715122023-06-23T14:47:00.011+08:002023-06-23T19:19:44.346+08:00Dreaming of the Ferruginous Partridge <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFohuT6LyvS-B3WsBNr9h5ADp0yCG2snKNd9dnTdPhb8XOMX74BY4RT5esUKwjMg2bp8YQRn6ED81xe0rHnJm1JUDzCc4zj8tcjI5hDEuiYc9We_1BEyryz15rN2qhxYP5KIXvmdByJIC8TXSfOXRz-vazopcEBiWE-4_JEgMy4yp_ZM4X0UukACa64L-/w480-h640/IMG20230616172033.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At 3,500 feet this Japanese Gardens was reported as the first of its kind to be located on the highest elevation in the highlands of Malaysia at Bukit Tinggi in the district of Bentong, Pahang. I was observing black carpenter ants which were attracted to the sugar produced by the bright red flowers of a gingery-looking plant. Looks like some of the plants were facing aphids infestation. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn6vPAwRwVgaOBbDk91iKU5RHWoeg17nS65VFU9owrZsLULXOuM9y41NskIlFpN6vMz_-N0hOwDdrJQapC2q1BjVYj5L7q4-0Rk5CfOXBmzIzC_RAHl6rZxU9X-217OJbwh9quRq5k8YMMI_wNzZDRsBjetmUs8QIb-WdeWrpIlSdPa3zhA2sbpfZqrBe/w480-h640/IMG20230616172003.jpg" width="480" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Japanese tatami cottage below fascinated me and being in the midst of a forest, one starts to imagine anime characters from the likes of Totoro, the Catbus from My Neighbour Totoro. Studio Ghibli which created these fantastical anime cartoon series launched their theme park and their website can be viewed <b><a href="https://ghibli-park.jp/en/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Their first website was launched on 1st February 2022. Totoro is a giant, friendly forest spirit in Japanese and looks like an owl when perched on a tree branch. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77rMJRcHFkQoAvfqnBr5wGBTLeVyVaTAOGeV9JcYscwr8pjRzPyl2f1IaB9ns0cm10fLAfPOEarOafl3nR0cM8B_Bg5PJChPdc6Ls_LlN8MIQgPWbtoZLZXKRDZYyv_tlLWHQBSdC2IY9mcAgYAhgKZFIMcagztPSr4frhHx0cJLwby33wmNfdunpM-N4/w480-h640/IMG20230616171702.jpg" width="480" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/pYNhxuY2Xx528" width="459" height="480" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/totoro-my-neighbor-pYNhxuY2Xx528">via GIPHY</a></p>
Previous trips have been made to Bukit Tinggi with friends to look for the Mountain Peacock Pheasant, which can be read <b><a href="http://fraserhill.blogspot.com/2019/07/looking-for-birds-in-highlands-with.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. The hills were alive with bird songs that afternoon and seeing some of these such as the blue-winged leafbirds, cinereous bulbuls, grey and buff woodpeckers, as well as hearing the calls of the gold-faced barbets still brings so much joy to me. Wish I could continue birdwatching regularly again once I complete my online distance learning program with the IUMW.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFYOMk_K4MXVLcSYu_S5WOqChLY5INRf5XSy81wGz9zoBxC6NxdL4AeTkoUlQOC7Ju1_31WEM0ApoPQCku88kMkMmxoZtgboDoG5pGJIu6HLD9GHpajxg3szuvmGemQXIa-GR1P__pFVobNEVtl7DBCsmveb1FZsrMAUCI8NTM06A36F2BO19DBt6oGS7/w480-h640/IMG20230616162615.jpg" width="480" /></div><span style="text-align: justify;">The convenience shop is still operational at the top of the hill nearby the Japanese gardens with working toilets (as pictured above). Despite having a rubbish bin near the shop, youngsters still litter the area with ice cream wrappers. Spare the rod, spoil the child? </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR9S58Wutmk1IGbJZYf--ZRgVpDVHZ84nHTLbNUw-DJbYVe2B63SP-6hH1eyAvD0ahu0x70AlFetWsFRTz0wKnk84Uhr_dLhihItTJf9ML1wizDJpiCXdjArLoe_81seKCZ4NSYTzds64IQwAe_t8ZUORJbt4WJFx2W5CYb7ug73k4iOeC9pDQ2nrrqQ8/w640-h480/IMG20230616161625.jpg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Looking at the valleys beyond the hills which form part of the Titiwangsa Range of Peninsular Malaysia. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxr8neesHemeDxmkeXZP64O1UDio8iB0i5k5cVj_HOnJpr2xkp36bRY0TwxhH9QiUe8twwMa2JpaowhHZkyAKDKOExXUgtqK2k0hmVAq7Mf9GsUPtM3s9ZVUQ6s7ShmZ0rRCpuMPcOdaPG2_Ax-M8fz-sRQ5IBg9OqB1vl_YIP1BlZvKSIsyYl_ylPQqdP/w560-h640/IMG_20230616_213855.jpg" width="560" /></div><span style="text-align: justify;">It was wonderful to spot four different species of monkeys that afternoon which were the Dusky Leaf (as above and below), Siamang, White-thighed Surili and Pig-tailed Macaque. The Dusky Leaf was quite a big group jumping from tree to tree, and munching on young shoots. Checklists from eBird Malaysia from that short afternoon trip are available at https://ebird.org/checklist/S141923283 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S141923829 - hoping to make more time to birdwatch with friends soon. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="1713" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gs5D_QsixyZz99fMufJ06kClOW5kfQO_BV1nI-nyPiFT4I2XBE5NLx8cyGSVIuepFZFBLLlY3T-Hu1CsSACEwZQEKLby-EOpzlYuBG_C63LJednmzFVAlItJJ0GfJBfOfm-BA9ZE7PGMl0ocmSrjb_HzisYN9DNbGnIE97u_aT1C35732cna0PUg5nNS/w640-h506/IMG_20230616_201934.jpg" width="640" /></div>Two Dusky Leaf Monkeys viewed from afar (as pictured below). It was lovely to see a flock of Grey-Rumped Treeswifts roosting in a tree as I was walking back to my car. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8qaybICFAImv1-1IQG1x3MvnidtDKY2BvCYN7hNM2X9gZ8HUa38MwrR4K8NXCTazDBhXyK6rLTiFaOJE2WYiAfd5ytZs_9HOVJyvdaonmws0nzlM1HyNY-jbAgbgCRAXaezehAwlxibp0-daVYiMVtLPwdBhOohvvBeZ6JIJ-l1sG3pk0FcbdsJqpTcq/w640-h480/IMG20230616155552.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I can only dream of seeing the Ferruginous Partridge again next time. I heard it calling in the valley beyond as I left the hills. The first Ferruginous Partridge that I saw was at Bukit Tinggi and that shy denizen of the forest floor can be viewed here via eBIRD Checklist below:-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">https://ebird.org/checklist/S41790284 <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="548" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/81369661/embed" width="640"></iframe></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-76765749984447978462023-06-14T19:39:00.010+08:002023-06-16T12:47:57.171+08:00Creative 404 Webpage Error with Flamingoes, Vultures and Collared Owlet (Mine)<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="800" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauMWtO_VAr6qfRcIiDoVZwUU_Vw77efiQ5rzhSnd3JHtdnvMdnlx2esZXag0iuo8ts_neFo15rPORILTWT8M2SacNipLsi85orccOnN3yLMkc0oJ7lBOGB7zj2vzypc7oK14gFKpyBlikC20e-Ywl1XPMMAKYcdZPyChpSWHAYyE0BiSwg6NRxIt_BQ/w640-h308/birdwatching-banner-birding-ornithology-horizontal-banner-template-girl-looks-binocular-obsirve-wild-birds-nature-local-255088950.jpg" width="640" /></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mallards in flight, a wader, and a family of grebe in the pond plus a flying swift/swallow species were being observed by a girl through her binoculars - this makes for a great introduction to birdwatching in terms of visualization should anyone starting a website or needing promotional material on birds & birdwatching, whether you are a teacher or a volunteer or journalist or website designer/administrator or a hobbyist or working with an environmental organization (local or international) and need c<span style="text-align: left;">ool graphics to promote events like World Migratory Bird Day, Asian Waterbirds Census, World Wetlands Day and more. </span>The banner above was sourced from this website which you can explore <b><a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/birdwatching-banner-birding-ornithology-horizontal-banner-template-girl-looks-binocular-obsirve-wild-birds-nature-local-image255088950" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>. Sometimes, organizations, schools, companies, etc have websites where web users may encounter a <span style="text-align: left;">webpage that does not exist, has been moved or has a dead or broken link. This is known as the <b>404 error code</b>, one of the most frequent errors a web or internet user may encounter. When that happens the IT team should be provided with innovative and creative website templates to alert, inform and educate the internet user accordingly about a 404 error occurring. INSIDER has compiled the most creative 404 error pages on the web in 2015 which you can read about, view (and chuckle accordingly) <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-404-error-pages-2015-1" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwpWq7RAtw_ltEjMwtqYzi2JMfKJr25Bdk4VGvubNqa0aMb2_YTuq6ReeuckWeTaxYeA_0DBELOGbzL--Molg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><p></p><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="canada-type-gibson" style="color: #2b2b2b;">The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has a very creative way to alert web/internet users who visit their website above. For more creative 404 webpages, you can browse through funny ones including Dilbert's tip to drain the Internet which the dinosaur-age manager takes too literally, </span><b style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: canada-type-gibson;"><a href="https://inzonedesign.com/blog/28-cleverly-funny-creative-404-error-pages/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b><span face="canada-type-gibson" style="color: #2b2b2b;">. Vultures were associated with DEAD LINKS for a 404 Page Error by Incore, a software development company (as demonstrated via their webpage below). You can see how NASA incorporated cosmic humour and LEGO's iconic bricks into their 404 error webpages <b><a href="https://inzonedesign.com/blog/28-cleverly-funny-creative-404-error-pages/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: canada-type-gibson; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="700" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JpKXchq6lp-svPTwdj4r1Typps4GKTxhb5HJC5paQh_UXSLjA2ksD873ke1JD99y0Ts_vuqXP4320DIjCyI3CKBqP_Q-Iaeug1LQtOvJ51u1Ispbxcxqg5ORpkb1OXk_mK5HSuwvSaFn2_iOJzH1RExFxkd25f4h_BpfDXjaDLQYwYzYl41QmAae6g/w640-h285/54aedea26da811d965e20944.webp" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: canada-type-gibson; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">For more practical tips including how to fix 404 error pages, find out through an</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: canada-type-gibson; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">article </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/404-status-code#:~:text=404%20and%20other%20response%20status,requested%20URL%20was%20not%20found.%22" target="_blank">HERE</a></b><span style="text-align: justify;">. The 404 error page for my website will feature pictures of the Collared Owlet which I took from Fraser Hill where I'd recommend for my website visitors to return Home to me by clicking on the Home page of my website:)</span></div><span style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLSKrnUI4MW4EI6zQlhg6QAR8wj6X7VcX9-THUV5B4cf_IZfypjiNkgPGxCcGZEqYwSwR1aA3otVdId2irNQDfPAiABqR216vavLEWq5j6nt55QNzRi4P6uHRz7LbnK2ZZ8q8ACDVsHvs-FZFNk5g4UpHKZlHVQEaKBxuES_EaJqQWRnK9_C0xah6Rw/w640-h360/404-page-owls.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div></span></span>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-78392987582894522672023-06-02T18:09:00.002+08:002023-06-06T21:21:55.072+08:00Banded Woodpecker, Flameback and the Californian Dream<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/oRo-i_QaDKk" width="480"></iframe><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Banded Woodpecker - a pair was seen pecking on the trunks of a tree within the National Archives Centre, Kuala Lumpur. It is a dream of mine to go on a trip looking for woodpeckers in California and to order and eat from a KOGI Food Truck which you can read about <b><a href="https://kogibbq.com/taqueria/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Pioneered by Roy Choi who had worked with Jon Favreau on the movie "CHEF." Both of them went on a culinary adventure via the CHEF food series on Netflix. The episode on San Francisco Bay area where they looked for oysters that were sustainably being harvested in the Bay area was fascinating. The Hog Island Oyster Co's website which you can check out <b><a href="https://hogislandoysters.com/our-story/oysters/" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>where six different oyster varieties including the </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span>Eastern Pacific oyster originating from the Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan (the Hog Island Kumamoto), and the Manila Clams are featured. The Oyster's Journey with the process neatly summarized from seed to nursery, their grow out, the tipping & flipping (which was demonstrated by both Roy & Jon using baseball bats), harvesting, and live wet storage (large aquarium environment according to the website). There's a Shucking 101 video by Chef Jamie on the Hog Island Oyster Co website as well. Seeing the oysters being eaten reminded me of the cautionary tale of the young and foolish Oysters who left the oyster bed and ended up in the tummies of the <b>Walrus and the Carpenter</b> in the Lewis Carroll classic poem (reproduced in full below):-</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span><div style="text-align: center;">"The sun was shining on the sea,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shining with all his might:</div><div style="text-align: center;">He did his very best to make</div><div style="text-align: center;">The billows smooth and bright —</div><div style="text-align: center;">And this was odd, because it was</div><div style="text-align: center;">The middle of the night.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The moon was shining sulkily,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Because she thought the sun</div><div style="text-align: center;">Had got no business to be there</div><div style="text-align: center;">After the day was done —</div><div style="text-align: center;">"It's very rude of him," she said,</div><div style="text-align: center;">"To come and spoil the fun."</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sea was wet as wet could be,</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sands were dry as dry.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You could not see a cloud, because</div><div style="text-align: center;">No cloud was in the sky:</div><div style="text-align: center;">No birds were flying overhead —</div><div style="text-align: center;">There were no birds to fly.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Walrus and the Carpenter</div><div style="text-align: center;">Were walking close at hand;</div><div style="text-align: center;">They wept like anything to see</div><div style="text-align: center;">Such quantities of sand:</div><div style="text-align: center;">If this were only cleared away,'</div><div style="text-align: center;">They said, it would be grand!'</div><div style="text-align: center;">If seven maids with seven mops</div><div style="text-align: center;">Swept it for half a year,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you suppose,' the Walrus said,</div><div style="text-align: center;">That they could get it clear?'</div><div style="text-align: center;">I doubt it,' said the Carpenter,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And shed a bitter tear.</div><div style="text-align: center;">'O Oysters, come and walk with us!'</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Walrus did beseech.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Along the briny beach:</div><div style="text-align: center;">'We cannot do with more than four,</div><div style="text-align: center;">To give a hand to each.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">The eldest Oyster looked at him,</div><div style="text-align: center;">But never a word he said:</div><div style="text-align: center;">The eldest Oyster winked his eye,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And shook his heavy head —</div><div style="text-align: center;">Meaning to say he did not choose</div><div style="text-align: center;">To leave the oyster-bed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But four young Oysters hurried up,</div><div style="text-align: center;">All eager for the treat:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Their shoes were clean and neat —</div><div style="text-align: center;">And this was odd, because, you know,</div><div style="text-align: center;">They hadn't any feet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Four other Oysters followed them,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And yet another four;</div><div style="text-align: center;">And thick and fast they came at last,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And more, and more, and more —</div><div style="text-align: center;">All hopping through the frothy waves,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And scrambling to the shore.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Walrus and the Carpenter</div><div style="text-align: center;">Walked on a mile or so,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then they rested on a rock</div><div style="text-align: center;">Conveniently low:</div><div style="text-align: center;">And all the little Oysters stood</div><div style="text-align: center;">And waited in a row.</div><div style="text-align: center;">'The time has come,' the Walrus said,</div><div style="text-align: center;">To talk of many things:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of cabbages — and kings —</div><div style="text-align: center;">And why the sea is boiling hot —</div><div style="text-align: center;">And whether pigs have wings.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">'But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before we have our chat;</div><div style="text-align: center;">For some of us are out of breath,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And all of us are fat!'</div><div style="text-align: center;">No hurry!' said the Carpenter.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They thanked him much for that.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Is what we chiefly need:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pepper and vinegar besides</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are very good indeed —</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,</div><div style="text-align: center;">We can begin to feed.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">But not on us!' the Oysters cried,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Turning a little blue.</div><div style="text-align: center;">After such kindness, that would be</div><div style="text-align: center;">A dismal thing to do!'</div><div style="text-align: center;">The night is fine,' the Walrus said.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you admire the view?</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was so kind of you to come!</div><div style="text-align: center;">And you are very nice!'</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Carpenter said nothing but</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cut us another slice:</div><div style="text-align: center;">I wish you were not quite so deaf —</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've had to ask you twice!'</div><div style="text-align: center;">It seems a shame,' the Walrus said,</div><div style="text-align: center;">To play them such a trick,</div><div style="text-align: center;">After we've brought them out so far,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And made them trot so quick!'</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Carpenter said nothing but</div><div style="text-align: center;">The butter's spread too thick!'</div><div style="text-align: center;">I weep for you,' the Walrus said:</div><div style="text-align: center;">I deeply sympathize.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">With sobs and tears he sorted out</div><div style="text-align: center;">Those of the largest size,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Holding his pocket-handkerchief</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before his streaming eyes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">O Oysters,' said the Carpenter,</div><div style="text-align: center;">You've had a pleasant run!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shall we be trotting home again?'</div><div style="text-align: center;">But answer came there none —</div><div style="text-align: center;">And this was scarcely odd, because</div><div style="text-align: center;">They'd eaten every one."</div></span></span></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Fourteen (14) different species of woodpeckers in California, with pictures, sound and some videos published on this website by Bird Advisors </span><b><a href="https://www.birdadvisors.com/woodpeckers-california/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b><span>. Another website mentioned there are fifteen (15) different species of woodpeckers in California with videos, audio and highlighting differences between male and female species which you can read, see and hear </span><a href="https://birdwatchinghq.com/woodpeckers-in-california/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a><span>. Sapsucker and Flicker are such unique names for these woodies in California. Brace yourself for one of the woodies named Gila Woodpecker and the last, a Californian native called the Nuttall's Woodpecker found only in oak woodlands and among the oak trees in suburban areas according to Birdwatching HQ. I like their tip which is to stay still when one hears the rattling (calls) of the Nuttall Woodpecker, which means an observer has a chance to spot them in action probing for juicy protein-rich (insect) snacks in the tree trunks:) Whilst I continue to work in meeting this Californian dream of mine, amidst my current obligations at work, to my studies and to my family, I present below our Common Flameback (formerly known as the Goldenback) species - a female which lacks the red colours on its crest. Only the male Common Flameback has this distinctive red crest. A pleasure to have spotted a pair at the KL Lake Gardens (Perdana Botanical Gardens) sometime back in September 2018 which you can read about <b><a href="https://fraserhill.blogspot.com/2018/10/flameback-in-city.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. I end my blog with a picture of trees standing tall in the Peace Hills (Bukit Aman) area of Kuala Lumpur post-meeting with the law enforcement authority at a government building hidden somewhere within the same vicinity as the Perdana Botanical Gardens. </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hpJf0fsZ3EYO_k6Tf0xTCeD1Llr9S-YWaXdRkxon9rQATYs5kIPv-a1w2hAB3Y1F_0ON4XRXxWq0d_owOfN2Ho6kHjj8mdrF0RhrOJT3Lt864gpdoZmOdUtCqcdkKbVgEVTZAiMkPiTYoprsIpSBTUE6okQPHjYwgC1VaHoXIBTwa3Ji55fMmyyxbw/w480-h640/IMG20230508120325.jpg" width="480" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-27807914362260953442023-04-14T18:11:00.000+08:002023-04-14T18:11:29.213+08:00Of Austria and Accentors with a hint of the Big Year<p style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F1oOhVfopk8" width="320" youtube-src-id="F1oOhVfopk8"></iframe></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I digress by beginning my blog about a very informational piece of video from the Domain Name Registry of Austria known as NIC.at which explained the importance of protecting a domain name under their country code top level domain for Austria which is <b>.AT (For Malaysia, our ccTLD is .MY</b>). I love how they compare their .AT domain name to that of a car and how it is important for one's car (in Austria) to be protected by insurance against the weather and wild animals like the stag/deer in the video above.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I have ZERO knowledge of the bird species in the European region and more so for Austria so it was a delight to come across a blog that was written about some of the birds spotted such as Alpine Accentor, and Common Blackbird in Austria. These were included in an American birder's listings through eBird during her birding trip to Austria, as posted in her blog aptly named Bird Chick which you read about <b><a href="http://www.birdchick.com/blog/2017/3/24/ebird-is-the-best-passport" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Her earlier trip in 2013 where she spotted the Alpine Chough can be read <b><a href="http://www.birdchick.com/blog/2013/06/austria-and-cl-pocket-binoculars" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. I'd be lucky if I could have dreams of Innsbruck, Austria which I had first visited with my family after graduating from the University of Manchester in 1996. It was a very hectic trip where we toured 6 European countries in 9 days. We slept in the coach (our driver was an Italian national - that much I remembered) for 4 nights traveling through several cities in Europe, staying 1 night only each in Germany, Italy, France, and the Netherlands. I do not recall seeing a single species of bird during that hectic tour. Ebird is an amazing portal that belongs to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, USA. They count the <b><a href="https://eurobirdportal.org/ebp/en/#home/HIRRUS/r52weeks/CUCCAN/r52weeks/" target="_blank">EuroBirdPortal</a></b> as one of their regional partners & collaborators. EuroBirdPortal has an impressive LIVE time mode of the Barn Swallow and Common Cuckoo species in their portal, where anyone can visualize the traces of these two species as well as three species of Swan (Mute, Black, Whooper) and five species of Goose (Bean, Pink-footed, Lesser White-fronted, Greater White-fronted and Greylag). The Euro Bird Portal listed one of their objectives was to adapt and improve the current EBP demo viewer and the spatial bird distribution models to reliably display detailed and up-to-date European-wide spatiotemporal patterns of bird distribution in near-real-time. You can learn more about them including the funding they received from the EU <b><a href="https://life.eurobirdportal.org/overview" target="_blank">HERE</a> </b>and about the European Bird Census Council which is described as an association of <span style="text-align: left;">like-minded expert ornithologists cooperating in a range of
ways to improve bird monitoring and atlas work and thereby inform and improve
the management and conservation of birds populations in Europe</span> <b><a href="https://www.ebcc.info/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </b> A screenshot of the portal's front page with the time mode and bird species display is shown below:- </div></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1365" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihCZdPsT2DjcLtoR3k_m14oMmVjQlWOgMIAUOuxdthIjZ6psc7QER4kSN1ZcB7xaq1gYn9W7itLxyHo3R3WivJAjYGxOTsK15u1nOBfUnXgw_7VVmKFD2iTjcVocD4-SZ9lNBPsX88L3ryvg7N5dbCbU1IMLorF2-Gkbhh0RBg6f3juUmV7kcCK6x4kQ=w640-h294" width="640" /></div></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Pink-footed Goose sticks in my mind as this species was mentioned by Jack Black's character in the movie about crazy birders "The Big Year" where he goes looking for it in Boston as part of his quest to become the best birder in America. Take a look at the Behind-the-Scenes snippet from the movie starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson below:-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dZxfLwmM9Fw" width="320" youtube-src-id="dZxfLwmM9Fw"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><br /></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-57720515937711961882023-03-05T18:51:00.000+08:002023-03-05T18:51:46.669+08:00Back to Nature thanks to the Good Widow<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlja1azr2GlHgtKZFSPumQRTfStr6bmcIq7fS5mOkGCh4nzFwGxGLivUm8XkN23lrwhTG_nL90AQ0VQct-yoTLg7Zxe-IXSdsuR-nwSSdxZe0YwJdDer2Urpwb1hnvEcAqQrxBiGVbIS61c_O1Mj-0Rz3yqDP2nbv1nnF9GCo2RbPcQgJZk2WbaD84MQ/w480-h640/IMG20230226160902.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was finally able to analyze my research survey data through SPSS software after hitting 100 responses by the second week of February 2023. It was not easy getting 100 responses to my questionnaire. Quantitative data analysis was (and still is) very new to me. One Sunday was needed to reconnect with Mother Nature and re-charge after work and study. My mum had not been outdoors for several months now so it was time to visit the nearest green hills to Kuala Lumpur (other than Genting Highlands). She hesitated to order tea-set from the cafe at Pineyard, Tanarimba preferring to gaze at the greenery beyond (as pictured above). The opening and closing hours of Pineyard are listed <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/pineyard.jandabaik/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Her appetite returned as we headed to the quaint village of Bukit Tinggi for an early dinner. She was happy though with the seafood fried rice and stir-fried french beans with salted egg yolk that I ordered for our dinner. The Bentong Soy Sauce and Bentong Ginger were a happy find for her as well. The latter has been certified as a geographical indication in 2015 by the Agricultural Dept of Pahang and its popularity as a high-quality ingredient for cooking was acknowledged by Michelin Guide <b><a href="https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/travel/Bentong_Ginger_Malaysia" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Dare I venture beyond and onwards to Bentong, Pahang one day? I just might.</span></p><p><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lu51DUexbnFO706__-jpH7mRvkPChvTq06KGB28MVXj2WLGJJAqO26ibh39Ul2MFupPMQQzSkfbbNHGrpL0FManeYaGRjcqqfl12SarLi-OVUzUcx6SWtI2H8DaZRumxPsesVgYEp7tuF_UNxmV-eRd86LhJ_4QiQqyCRNXG4FmMv0a3P4c6gs7hsg/w640-h480/IMG20230226174120.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Quaint village of Bukit Tinggi in Pahang. This road leads toward the police station.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTiIvsfi-8cKpq1KZM37HG_rCevPv18Om6Rk-1MANCEy_X58waHalqdLRLZZl-NlNFYQmS9taxKk39J9DyxWiml4Hm__mWrTDI7jAlHl3nDYn_Oiy-mFdf_53WyL9Ze2yUUIfLAeb2dAC1UPDnofZz4zTGGdA5iEamuCFgTMI8h0imcnDffT8aibEpg/w480-h640/IMG20230226172321.jpg" width="480" /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">My mum - contented with this dish of stir-fried french beans with salted egg yolk. </div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGteHzDJRLA7Io2C86zkH0T3xWYKqTCt36QhNPROlhf42Eismh6skJIlilzYFcTFaDNP5UeVSpRE4AiLyqbEN-toZxdxC5I_R4KC8_e-Aw_JcJbETSN0Ja9YpDuByY5oXYr-wtEuq5fMihyc8fe-QuRMEErXH1LVHODTyoTEuu3buY3mLFlxXFEAZCQ/w480-h640/IMG20230226162352.jpg" width="480" /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">Waiting for me at the entrance to the Tanarimba Halls.</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELdPXqoHBKWusHdf7HHQs7HMrUCe5UoXXZqfGYQ7e5wfgIhlz368Ax0OUD2llmRlTSQfnqXaJJUsfIfboLpWL85YSM6ggxfkj9lGkOtC0oatIHktHnUZS9ZSz86_jf0ZKUPs_EWxsBtRUCZhT362Eu-GhUnazl2jQtIBOdWeLrPW2ku-pEEYCM2nIaw/w640-h480/IMG20230226160426.jpg" width="640" /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">Best view ever that Sunday afternoon. </div></span><p></p>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-84946137312111841022023-02-08T23:00:00.000+08:002023-02-08T23:00:10.772+08:0015 days of CNY 2023 and Sad News from Jenjarom Temple<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzamdcMFHc_i-weUpycWtpUPh0tYUwr8B4Ss4zAkatduU_464GvGzvZrcywN_huv-9rxKUHGnXx3op7RAIUJxrrGQ78AoMg8lAixfrd2c6jsalFtnOV1WDU0Ri7JUhHNyavWlrWOLAt00JaQm3kA2K9pJfl5xpG1vxauuXMLCAV98xN_00Hsr_ozfG7Q/w480-h640/IMG20230125173152.jpg" width="480" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is heartening to see the re-growth of my potted orchid plant after 2.5 years. This pot of phalaenopsis orchid species was purchased way back in 2019 and the orchid flowers fell off after a few months. It never did well on my condo balcony so I got some tips from the friendly staff at Pudu Ria Florist who suggested I hang this pot in a tree. I scouted for and found a suitable tree in my condo rooftop garden sometime in 2019 and left this potted orchid plant there. It survived the lockdown phase. It was only when my sister and I returned to KL from our 2023 Chinese New Year trip to Johor that I happened to pass by the tree and saw the new flowers. I must learn how to maintain orchids with tips from the World of Orchids farm in Hulu Yam. Their website can be visited <b><a href="http://www.waltexbiotec.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1040" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0V21od8jST0D2HQ_P1ATi2c4u-Atx-TjZFzm8tEOQr5K7IW-ka_yZAyKNvcbQtwkJszdmpN3bNaPPFUFoLvZ9nLsJrudv4GXJ_KHvhoyNUvnmobT_XuFnTrHSD007ssz8nbFCHAeBwt3I8N3BM6WiqNlLo37yxO6bouZEnLvqDcKpCxrtKK_ODqVwAg/w640-h480/IMG-20230128-WA0015.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="445" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5WFp-6fNjkM71wDfYqT-88TP7piR9aaQXBJDSl7ua54THt92_f9r_XVtzmiS2KcP8viKNlL5o5dfllR3Q3U3aq9LaXOMFQ059IHfdNT05VjgrYMfy5OffXTt0NUBXyh3CxhbZvb1zzEJkD9w8_ISOnuSdliEBlwRZfndL2MwXCb8dO0R86k7Qygzdw/w478-h640/YeeSang.png" width="478" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Customary to toss Yee Sang on the 7th day of CNY 2023 - my mum tossing the salad I bought from Village Grocer (pictured above). Ren Ri celebrates</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> the birth of human beings. The first humans were created out of clay by a Goddess according to Chinese myth. This reminds me of the Greek myth of Diana aka Wonder Woman who was created out of clay by Queen Hippolyta and given the breath of life by Aphrodite, she was a demi-god according to this article on </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://theconversation.com/the-truth-about-the-amazons-the-real-wonder-women-78248" target="_blank">the Truth about the Amazons</a></b><span style="text-align: justify;">. Mandarin oranges being unpacked from boxes post-second day of Chinese New Year at Lotus Kepong. A quick picture of the cut-out board with the tagline "Sama-sama Huat" courtesy of Lotus Mall below:- </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3276" data-original-width="2729" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9EkVxAyuJuoYmsfhE29xSDJo9lTLgqHrTOmGoLMNIFfyqeKeOzFY-r9g2DKSwDHvW4sQNhXT1AjFdJKT8cij9DMiVZN-P2CdJscg8pA0S9wKURY-OaryJ3UP5c3d_qdRFTfXJeQReeVlyAeKmvfMJLBxi5t6jO6lbkFZ5Sbf0k1GIaykp0YvQLK2Aw/s320/IMG_20230124_161513.jpg" width="267" /></span><img border="0" data-original-height="2746" data-original-width="2497" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rJuU8GNDKecdEnzlJUOOtIeJCS0kpLchljxacL4C9KAexqgOlX-sbSFb8lf3w0lVyr0JzE_koVPi1E_cUAZt5-fq9I3pwiAFejZznx2J3gYBrZe_v4VYfSJkuczVq0fIY9Z79_zVG5U7gN0c0p4GvPwdvUhwrAxvT5Fl_GmyOLY1fUNhPUCFc-6cLA/s320/IMG_20230124_161544.jpg" style="text-align: right;" width="291" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hong Leong Bank Malaysia paid tribute to Sekinchan's KayaPo in their CNY 2023 YouTube video which can be viewed<a href="https://youtu.be/Swqqpf3_BLM" target="_blank"> HERE</a>. This coincides with the bank's partnership with PayNet to transform Sekinchan, Selangor into the first cashless village community in Malaysia according to their website <a href="https://www.hlb.com.my/en/personal-banking/news-updates/hlb-partners-paynet-to-transform-sekinchan-into-the-first-cashless-kampung-in-the-country.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. There's something magical about fruit trees. Even a small lime tree such as the one below:-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnG47o6Dkg8Ah7ecWIjc00A519aoSBtqZd7geS8JUVwIliUwUjjL6k_JKz2I5sE1hsSbz8gQzFd5rhTmEvq2n8aA1aHRF1n_9GkHWvAQZBXDgpSrudx5bCqNDG31-oIv8fPCAEz6GNLz1DZcAac_pkdkAHu41io0qDPwe-RrN2XCuQRZX6iKyUNsffw/w640-h480/IMG20230121152345.jpg" width="640" /> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sad to learn about the demise of Fo Guang Shan founder, Master Hsing Yun who passed away on 7 February 2023, after Chap Goh Mei, the 15th day of CNY. The Fo Guang Shan network of Buddhist temples and schools extended beyond Taiwan to include a temple located in the village of Jenjarom, Selangor. News of his passing away at the age of 95 years old was reported in China Daily <a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202302/07/WS63e1ea8ea31057c47ebad64e.html">HERE</a> and in the Focus Taiwan web portal <a href="https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202302060006">HERE</a>. The </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">monastery was created with the purpose of promoting the principles of Humanistic Buddhism and fostering peace and harmony among all peoples of the world. The <b><a href="https://www.fgs.org.my/" target="_blank">Jenjarom temple website</a></b> paid tribute to the late Master Hsing Yun by posting a black and white tribute in Chinese script, screenshot as below:-</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1089" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWC8TeB58mqOy5kbBI0kX7EEosjU7fCZV4ave7xmwNXu-9hTfqPBIDJNPnlUxXJrG7HMk3eCcz7QeqgQEbW99K5xfyc0VHBMU4QS3iWFP4h3AqexA-JJb2DbLHTtVMKoAAH5ACyOg73197Pe200fPUzzxFILhYpbIXoiGmpN43ysQYPIsxCE21RFlMw/w640-h400/FGS-7Feb.png" width="640" /></div></span></div><p></p>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-78124755952960285602023-01-26T15:45:00.029+08:002023-01-29T14:31:38.956+08:00Year of the Water Rabbit just around the corner<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2644" data-original-width="3892" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkjVblTAqMYrB5nlV1LRobcR_bBjRuqT3txxYextkrhZxQimoiCPbAoL8Mw8pLoYbqf85ETfLPtTnxKoyDhetwRSZbIh01w-ejFMBJSGWccoFIXd2Jl2uplENeAo_rHgo_56ulf0UJ2COHizHiuzQhs6jsMH53tiPl2OEUCJWChp3N5sGjTKAYREEXA/w640-h434/IMG_20230114_145042.jpg" width="640" /> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The Chinese community from all over the world would welcome the Year of the Water Rabbit in 2023. The Vietnamese, Japanese, and Korean communities would celebrate the New Year as well in their unique ways through food, dance, and honouring the elderly, particularly our parents. Here in Malaysia, the </span><b style="text-align: justify;">Lion Dance culture</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> has evolved to include acrobatic performances. The Lion Dance societies and clubs have included girls and boys from different racial backgrounds (Malay, Chinese, and Indian). Watch </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://says.com/my/fun/malay-girl-in-hijab-performs-lion-dance-with-chinese-partner?fbclid=IwAR0iqSXKr5APNZIXn7-2ptWKi891jPX999f5oJqA-wzuJuaRNiymGVVNM5o" target="_blank">HERE</a></b><span style="text-align: justify;">. I drove to KLIA airport happily to welcome my sister (who works in Singapore) home. Watched the Missing Menu together with my mum and sister. </span><span style="text-align: justify;">A Hakka Cook Book author wrote about </span><span style="text-align: justify;">the Missing Menu after watching it on Netflix </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://thehakkacookbook.com/tag/the-missing-menu/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">. A quick trip to Pudu Ria Florist on the last two weekends before the Chinese New Year celebration begins on 22 January 2023 in Malaysia, was needed to pick up my two pots of Kalanchoe flowers. Managed to take a quick picture of their center-stage display of cartoonish rabbits and bigger pots of flowers before hurrying back to my car. I bought a potted Phalaenopsis orchid before at this Florist and one of their friendly employees gave me a good tip on how to maintain this orchid plant. Pudu Ria Florist's website can be found <b><a href="https://prflorist.com.my/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Wish this florist had a wheel-chair-friendly cafe and toilets else I would have brought my mum here for breakfast. We started our journey back to Segamat, Johor on Friday morning. This year I exited the North-South Plus highway through Tangkak. We stopped for lunch at a Bak Kut Teh restaurant in Tangkak named FA LAI which has been blogged about by <b><a href="https://johorkaki.blogspot.com/2012/04/fa-lai-bak-kut-teh-in-taman-tangkak.html" target="_blank">Johor Kaki</a>. </b>We were lucky enough to be served the final claypot soup dish of the day and side</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">dishes of steamed chicken feet which we wolved down with bowls of rice (as pictured below):- </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2708" data-original-width="3991" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7q0VCKHWF0jt5TDf47c-1nWPVgn4SSK8N-Me_mE6wkbIEILJN_DbUbsbf0WLiJPNsHG_ohyB4ivnBR59jh-fb-UhxXwKskik_UfFDNZn8J2TdQUgTTe7RVGNsA4upcsEiaTNhL7JTkiAVNt5ZAvBdQKu-SexIcEGFYT92rYIaJYPFQXPWqcQG30aBkA/w640-h434/IMG_20230120_151445.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SZ6nHKgdN0AAhMlg_8INQkQT8qfHI0nFEcSvpDTTjBZ4KkRPW6LIPo9e08X80nMBJQb69I-hhBKNfx6LpaNTYIYi7vfnlGFdFE9uZs3ghmow2B14c2SVpGc6boGklubBmIw3-Y25EngpK2vp_tqptcB9DSVWryxzutOUpxYNkIG6d1PY6KGXrI8nDQ/w640-h480/IMG20230120150221.jpg" width="640" /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Collected freshly plucked Pomelo (Giant Grapefruits I call them) from my mother's friends Mr and Mrs Tan who operate a fruit orchard in Jementah. They grew durian trees, the Musang King variety and generously gave us some to sample. I fell in love again with cold, creamy durian. Really tasted like ice-cream! The view of the Ledang mountains from Jementah (as pictured above) always amazes me. The red pineapple which was grown for decorative purpose and will be offered to the deities during prayers, added to the festive vibe of Chinese New Year although it will be a very quiet welcoming of the Water Rabbit for me and my family in 2023.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFi687aJuydcgVIQppje7IoBc2zbGAR4a5VQ6kw6GpbbmspMsYRaVagw9tEObgtgn4TYyC6K2vjGAwStGGVVW2yQQW61mQl9DlIxvop0EWiffmU6DP3yGptjjnlbiRbZDI_i-MeFGOHeqAXCqHLsrP0XZUlo27nhlfsvvGS73_wWacoU7mVVIdU6O0DQ/w480-h640/IMG20230120150301.jpg" width="480" /></div></span></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-89239971921113599682023-01-17T19:07:00.002+08:002023-01-17T19:07:24.577+08:00A New Beginning and Living with the Cobra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0L3-75WeU0M" width="320" youtube-src-id="0L3-75WeU0M"></iframe></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There's a beautiful score in the movie "The Last Samurai" which I came across during the Covid-19 lockdown period. I would listen to this score before my online classes at IUMW started. There are a few lessons from Mother Nature and her creations that are contained in the teachings of the Buddha and told through stories by Buddhist monks, one of whom is the late </span>Ajahn Chah. He has a few chapters which are available <b><a href="https://www.ajahnchah.org/book/index.php" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>, including the <b>Chapter on Living with the Cobra</b>, a paragraph of which is extracted below for further contemplation:-</div></span><p style="text-align: center;"><i>So we say that mental activity is like the deadly poisonous cobra. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>If we don't interfere with a cobra, it simply goes its own way. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Even though it may be extremely poisonous, we are not affected by it; </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>we don't go near it or take hold of it, and it doesn't bite us. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The cobra does what is natural for a cobra to do. That's the way it is. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>If you are clever you'll leave it alone. And so you let be that which is good. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>You also let be that which is not good - let it be according to its own nature. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Let be your liking and your disliking, the same way as you don't interfere with the cobra.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Watching Sunrise again in order to move on to the next chapters of my life. This is what I need to do soon through traveling. I really do not wish to be stuck in a b</span><span style="font-size: large;">ad mood for 40 Years else I end up looking like this grumpy character from Steel Magnolias below:- </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="642" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXgqFgjVrCPGgTEfGZLacZmADM05uNDn5ARNvFEkDvJ4Gj3LgoHGd3D_-o0-jbtSk4Lt8nYpCyH8jnDzljRL27e8kSqc0NKYE07ZoagYuogSMnWGWjTIY3pIi1dwm4VGzosJz92Jn-pfgZagRncWqjGgJrBxDxnRKrbV7JuXp8l012U7Oogv1CmYYJA/w640-h426/0001_bad-mood.webp" width="640" /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-70218485937788713322022-12-04T22:23:00.000+08:002022-12-04T22:23:34.812+08:00The School Where my Late Father taught <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZz7qhB5lpiUh9m-th6oCceoJaWDJsWVB7ydzwPuJj8A3yjyq_Gy6vsXRlJW5x1VxEtt6GP1d_ROfugxeE7PC83fr50MpvHKEJZh4mByzBVuvIH6Buj3DVpmwr5zL1OXbDsfydFDaXPKT6hENt5Qlw2rzbCtl0hPhoB6psdSqgPwYULMFrfJi5S8O_w/w480-h640/IMG20221104171302.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">My father was a teacher who taught biology to secondary school students in <i>Sekolah Tinggi Segamat</i>. I was quite surprised to see the school having their own edu.my website <b><a href="https://profil.sts.edu.my/v2/index.php" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. It was a Government English School which was established in 1930 even before Malaysia's independence from British colonial rule. There's an ancient-looking picture of the school in the main page of the website and a class of 1969 photo in the Nostalgia Alumni section of the website. My father had started teaching by 1972 and I know this due to the lovely condolence bouquet from the Class of 1972 (COSTERS). The COSTERS had remembered my late father and their messages about him were touching. He had attended their reunions which were held in Kuala Lumpur. I remembered one of his students, Mike Leong giving him a lift to one of the reunion dinner. Those reunions made him very happy as he got to relive the good times from his teaching days. My late father studied in Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid and went on to obtain his degree from the University of Malaya. This was at a time when Singapore was still a part of Malaysia. To Sir with Love was </span><span style="text-align: left;">one of my late father favourite movies and this scene of Mr Thackeray trying his best to teach a bunch of unruly tyrants in one of the East End school as per clip from YouTube below, reminds me of how tough it would be back in the 60s and 70s to teach the youth. The challenges faced in the 80s would be different but the core values remain the same. My late father would spend a considerable part of his teaching life dissecting frogs and he does love planting trees as well, </span><span style="text-align: left;">volunteering to plant the bunga tanjung trees in the compounds of the new Hospital Segamat at Bandar IOI Segamat together </span><span style="text-align: left;">with my mother's friend from the hospital</span><span style="text-align: left;">, Mr Appu. </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/21FZpcqecbo" width="320" youtube-src-id="21FZpcqecbo"></iframe></div><div><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sidney-poitier-documentary-oprah-winfrey-180980830/#.Y4YKQoofS2E.blogger">Sidney Poitier Is Back on the Big Screen</a>: The late and great actor and the director is the subject of 'Sidney,' a new documentary produced by Oprah Winfrey. Mr. Sidney Poitier passed away in the same year as my late father, in 2022.</div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-28374110673465703342022-11-26T12:21:00.005+08:002022-11-26T12:21:39.996+08:00Of Navarone, Road Runner and a Promise to my Late Father<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0ORnL9WmOEo" width="320" youtube-src-id="0ORnL9WmOEo"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My late father's favorite movie was the Guns of Navarone, which was filmed in several locations around the Greek Island of Rhodes. I recall him watching it over and over again together with us during my school holidays. <span style="text-align: center;">Fond childhood memories of my late father waking us up in the morning on weekends, as he imitated the Road Runner iconic </span><a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x637x7j" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">"Beep Beep" calls </a>whilst<span style="text-align: center;"> drawing the curtains open to let in the morning sun into our room where all 5 of my sisters slept. He would allow us to watch Looney Tunes cartoons, on weekends where we fell in love with characters such as Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck, and of course Wile E Coyote and Road Runner. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVQiUexln-FqgBUn59Hn_UNFCbNniO5SX9DqJStcojwG3R50OnASrjFOF0pd8rU1a--G7_6l1HirmzGm_PmLmekcQSWjTrSBH9-iq4W5wJKLxbAbpogjgKWRlEhGotb7KK5vtNBOYpzFBAgVnfdJBcWm3zbI7EnkyZz-XzYcd0fM-ITCGvf9Mjc2zPQ/w640-h480/20200125_200619.jpg" width="640" /></div>Family treat at A&W in Segamat, Johor during Chinese New Year. My late father had brought us to the original A&W in Petaling Jaya during the days when he was marking examination papers in KL way back in the 1980s.<img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YIM1S2fJSlPnL5FOV-JtfU5JQvR38V5x3x5oCgBLVKtpiXn449s37B7Ib1NtMud1-gMQxq5xasPU8G-z4m8nLvbEA1CRmQHl_qccgCEOIOFUPVuRnAGJ2DRDt3HiIgVhGjR3LjKbnSd3hSK8pfFA9eCwI6_260NV63ctXgdUwhDqh8CEIeMQxXyCBg/w640-h480/20201018_143636.jpg" width="640" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chinese New Year in Johor (Pre-Pandemic) with family.<img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5_Wc6hkKAHNHYRu3L_mQbku3sgTvkg8ZlklqQGvCFicxpADS9MBMvEGOPl2CJVT2Bq_FsMtWaao7EafSlcj-xg5tbB3sJHV4FU-cHni96FHK2pKVqbyFAOqrloGLhfu5Pd6WfLHcK1sgQbMBm6K38YokzPBV5u_-8Xhy5IlsX9j-Kjdo69e_9Mx34Q/w640-h360/IMG-20140512-WA0044.jpg" width="640" />Gardens by the Bay with family.</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxgbjfEia2IJm3hICxFcB6YXQJV1vJFPcXcCdXUhUcsFLcP01WVe4xxFpMv4auOutMqQyevbf3TVAPH-kiAnONY7K_QoH5_XThOi2OSvG_yAL_fzmp14l_-4KEnEnWO9Y8aXLNTf0wQMQhPCWzVYjgFpu66QMANJ-2heOYgjiDoXmOQhK8p9HMAqzEw/w480-h640/IMG-20140511-WA0000.jpg" width="480" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Waterfall setting above from Gardens by the Bay. Remembering and cherishing the moments and the memories we shared with my late father. Completing my MBA Online Distance Learning program whilst working and being financially independent and taking care of my elderly mother and family, would help me to honour my promise to him. </span></div></div></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-24999364507937496912022-10-22T23:28:00.002+08:002022-10-22T23:28:21.669+08:00Peregrine Falcons from Melbourne Australia<p style="text-align: justify;">Pair of Peregrine Falcons from Down Under were observed on Monday, 17 October 2022 from my laptop with internet connection from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:) One of the adult falcons was seen shading the four chicks from the rays of the hot sun. The adult (not sure whether it was mama or papa) falcon was seen panting with its tongue sticking out as it struggled to cool off from the heat of the 1:14pm afternoon sun. The pair of falcons were seen together for a short period of time. One of it took flight by dropping off the ledge of this building at 367 Collins, Melbourne, Australia to presumably hunt for food which looked like a very fat de-feathered pigeon. The falcon is interestingly the mascot of the US Air Force Academy, the national bird of United Arab Emirates (golden falcon species) which is the hunting companion of the Bedouin tribe as well as a species entitled to its own passport. Learn more and listen to the calls of this fascinating raptor species including comparison with similar species from Cornell University’s All About Birds website <b><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/overview">HERE.</a> </b> A population study of tropical Peregrine Falcons in West Malaysia (ernestii sub-species) was published in a journal <b><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342914611_A_population_study_of_tropical_Peregrine_Falcons_Falco_peregrinus_ernesti_in_West_Malaysia" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Back to 367 Collins family of falcons, some of the screenshots from the videocam live project from YouTube are as below:-</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsqiiBiT-bsGHIIGsMMn7rfwm4EZARsP3rgC76mdqjpFpn7VkOOaztJ8U4gXMl_h82SZgtfLW4XxHluxDyVOwmAJZebntplo-3KDhFUhPb8I076KazTNKpG4VNm5kF5d4odDD0M3ih5ixsyyDeJBomakXBU-ebnKvK-qJbsDzBP0BJYnH930R2mWNWQ/w640-h360/PF-protectchicksfromHotSun-Oct17th.png" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Protective Falcon shielding brood from afternoon sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkAxlhoDC0bM3DaDky1aF6eUyVnnFdK4aGQYUZ35gsUyd6RxX7KijB-l7l_dXvXiakhhxQqTNC3ZLormvZqluJb98TcLR2w3i9bGUdYI4vzwJbR5KDtVX-ewVuPkgsqzYAhaOxUuQjREu3ShkTvXqZEJCvyOifNQJt9j2TNI_OiF9ONqJiHk3WlXkSQ/w640-h360/PF-ParentTakeOff.png" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Up, up and away as one of the falcons leap off the building ledge to hunt for the family of six.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaKpZWsO6Z9RkRq2P2ufgN5wRl3lS_uVjwJ8BT5_ULI_mF3wzFvWYEGKyVFBSjKMAYUHjNAEoUw0tHYIPybNXekfG_-rToTMAX5FRX_Ms3HEmXYcXSqNrN3yHxS6NEIep5SI3mEmViRDLE3kYJJDltkEGYJaFnM84IEvFhLLK8Px-GWGK99wnQ3qEdQ/w640-h360/PF-ParentsPrey.png" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ripping off chunks from a kill to feed the hungry brood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNjkRsBMiFsQM__wEelGzgpi2HZYavrgeU4jRWxf2C4MZ5ACWD7OkbsCh3icMI0EP6-KzolyNyfkAmT-EqFmxZ3qVKtJ08adW9hEnoaxY3rS0UWUhFDSKdTfKmQoJcsCnZ2ZnSYG2wFYjIP7MXB3lIK04gAS9l_eoZJMkGZ8xgjjr3fAW5QPGif4WXA/w640-h360/PF-Parents.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 367 Collins Falcons are such dedicated parents - protecting their brood from the hot rays of the sun and ensuring their brood are fed with daily supplies of pigeon meat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Finally on a lighter side of life, we can laugh at the comic depiction of the world’s fastest bird of prey courtesy of Arthur the Duck from the Sheldon comic series at Patreon below:-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60n1mHb5Y9x88dYsRZzruu3pSUvZPmXc7xel1xmie7b1HcnsMbKuchnl25ENN9otJNNBP8xxVjfb4wkbbrmpJw9H7w4_yr3mvmq6agN8npE3N4w7Uvg2JIhbhZ7I8TrwjCPbI31JXZQXL_bKrBT8H3vma39N8ulylbdoVcg5YY5huVIGdgqsHBg15PA/s1626/31DFE754-19C7-4B85-BF93-94CBF989BCCD.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60n1mHb5Y9x88dYsRZzruu3pSUvZPmXc7xel1xmie7b1HcnsMbKuchnl25ENN9otJNNBP8xxVjfb4wkbbrmpJw9H7w4_yr3mvmq6agN8npE3N4w7Uvg2JIhbhZ7I8TrwjCPbI31JXZQXL_bKrBT8H3vma39N8ulylbdoVcg5YY5huVIGdgqsHBg15PA/s320/31DFE754-19C7-4B85-BF93-94CBF989BCCD.png" width="177" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-65670664577912976102022-10-04T19:46:00.000+08:002022-10-04T19:46:56.371+08:00Peregrine Falcon LIVE from Melbourne<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/on3V22m60uQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="on3V22m60uQ"></iframe></div>Watching a Peregrine Falcon sleep on a LIVECAM project by a company working closely with Falcon expert Dr Victor Hurley from Down Under, in the city of Melbourne. I can hear the winds blowing as the falcon tucks itself in for a night's sleep on the ledge of a tall building at 367 Collins (screenshot below). More about the Peregrine Falcon can be read at this website <b><a href="https://367collins.mirvac.com/workplace/building-overview/falcons-at-367-collins" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. There could be an ample supply of pigeons around the city area for this pair from Melbourne, Australia to hunt for. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="736" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCEnN7v1DKxv-Iklszfc3NfG_UTUL3XplywhBGyjtSFSETlRwtxMqvE_6asV-kgVT1hciuoVQzCasGwqQBQEJAD50MoKXVKi5yeN_sPCxoHxCOA3WYoLyWF3yihv93gztrhTAIQflJhtL026ez9IBJ69qXlgX-0gw6RlXf_Kz-EbUSnkKjA8NrTDmAQ/w640-h404/PF.jpg" width="640" /></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-26364970003661325982022-08-12T21:02:00.004+08:002022-08-12T21:02:30.755+08:00Paddy-fields and a Promise from the Heavens above <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsQuTqMV-klrX_6d5U18cKTV47KSEilLp3KiEbAhh0W9cZufnFkHDensGF_hLF-dsTA_Yi-Kgjqa0zQHOkp8AENiy3sBYKl_HNoIhCzABnTPoYO0fBiHpVc9toaDIH-vP_Wmj-yhwvlnp4nkldEKrJTDXi40GJsSDcA4OvrEzeFkAZBi2HKSSW9oC2A/w640-h480/IMG20220807072822.jpg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sungai Balang on a rainy Sunday morning. Seeing a Rainbow as I arrived on a very wet and drizzly day reminded me of God's promise to Noah that mankind will not be wiped off the face of the earth by floods. In this day and age, getting vaccinated and taking safety & health precautions against covid-19 and its subvariants remain imperative to reduce the effects of an infection. The list of birds seen on that short morning at the paddy fields has been entered in Ebird Malaysia for <a href="https://ebird.org/malaysia/checklist/S116482399" target="_blank">Sungai Balang</a> and for <a href="https://ebird.org/malaysia/checklist/S116483425" target="_blank">Pantai Penyengat</a>. 2016 trip in conjunction with <a href="http://fraserhill.blogspot.com/2016/01/asian-waterbird-census-2016-in-johor.html" target="_blank">Asian Waterbird Census</a> was a very fruitful outing to record the waders in Sungai Balang with the star bird being the Small Pratincole, with all three of these migratory birds making a surprise transit through Peninsular Malaysia that year. <a href="http://fraserhill.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-place-where-crocodiles-once-roamed.html" target="_blank">2018 was my last trip there with my Wader Sifu Ang</a> before the Covid pandemic hit Malaysia, the lockdown disrupting all travel plans for two years. Seeing the blue skies of Parit Jawa and the rows of fishing boats at the jetty (pictured as below) post-birdwatching in the paddy fields calmed my heart and soul. It was very low tide mid-morning so no waders were in sight at Parit Jawa. I headed for Parit Penyengat to try and find waders, the list of what I could spot has been reported through Ebird Malaysia. This included Tern species, one of which was observed hovering just above the seawater before it dived towards the water and skimmed off the surface with or without a fish I couldn't tell as I had observed it from a scope. Three of those tern species were seen perched on top of poles in the seawater. Learn more about terns at the end of my blog. I headed back to Streetview Hotel, Muar as it was almost lunchtime and I needed to check out before 1pm. It was a three-star hotel with a dedicated parking lot, and they had allowed me to continue parking there as I chose to walk to Fung Seng Confectionary & Bakery for my lunch. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwxb4L7JAHtbVmGVVRSysbsWufVep8lN7ASpog9hNKzVfM6shiaa5F1KOIA5jHyz1ELojL64huea1PjvOpSixVNUuxG218xwksZ17cbDgwwUJSgpEiQuBGPLH3m8EFWWru9tPgQy4Y-HuyRfcaQ1qyH8eZ0dpTvFiOeECk7L07avR9d28hyzyjW0d6A/w640-h480/P1210850.JPG" width="640" />My room had a view of some of the shophouses alongside the street. The window view as pictured below:- </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPUhStcOXs5vEGlr6jHc97xGvCzjskuzJ1wKMIWxB-cQHe60Yh36gDb8zIGbs0Ekat8jyIxDcECsIZE4wnvoaM7hjW7bKUny3PIqw8MXv8x5CWCQYmvjZ0jEK3QDy3emkGwpSwfXOdjMN/w480-h640/IMG20220807113349.jpg" width="480" /></div>The year 1930 was etched on the facade of this shophouse that had ornate & colourful artworks, floor tiles, wooden door & windows. It looks well-preserved from the outside. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="1064" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKepnHsHtbM_3nT8RE2JCas69rZ3qoJ2DPRZHYNslOBZXYJw9ExLHTLlCxjuUQxeDXksGpzNh4H6OGVAq4g5-F9W40omFk2KYFECDF-yrD0C99IxB5p_fJsggdNgR3dp2KwujxEhIUDj3snD43Ls73BF1vA_G92AqZBO2E4VKx9pc-J4mqFLSOd4Rfjw/w320-h640/IMG_20220807_113255.jpg" width="320" /></div>I had a refreshing glass of iced lemon tea and cafe latte at Fung Seng. The kitchen was closed as I was informed that they were under renovations and would reopen soon with a proper lunch menu. I had to make do with otak buns and a chiffon cake for lunch that day before I headed back to Kuala Lumpur. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqmEQ6-JPtYzi6SD3eZvVRgRqr7KMEdnbL52RS1JVHfYGt-guF7vpeSI5gaUrSo2V0ifmoMc4CR0PWu6pRMV52-__zOfivQ18rCmHBTTA6Pxm7WgL_eanc6_Vbn3wZbB7jxIntKZfS7s3H-ko3fErhykxNQrf_dMB4BTGmklS54g0ziSX2oO6dEMAHQ/w480-h640/IMG20220807122643.jpg" width="480" /></div><div>2022 is the Year of the Terns with the EAAF Partnership launching the Webinar Series on World Seabird Day which can be viewed in this YouTube video below:-<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nu1kmWwVXfg" width="320" youtube-src-id="nu1kmWwVXfg"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-71143950321157733122022-07-19T22:39:00.009+08:002022-07-22T14:13:32.745+08:00Part 2 - Magical Mangrove Beach <div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">And the adventure continues.....</span><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaTUyf3IZZOdkGD9HRrrgvMpSs_OQb5GcKFD3X8NuTZwTouvvPakKgTC3C5TlfxPQzwtPhxwuZNWYU6eG0bCxvB1JqtfTexN8LB2-RsRMtAs8sEdyLEQbu2W4Pv-X_JfdRNRqDHmy9zkFQ0tyS_hgXdsoQIqhW_ZMhYrBFNf53r1d4398Yn61pAkUrg/w640-h480/P1210745.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An unknown species of fiddler crab with a pincer as large as its body makes it look as intimidating as a heavyweight champion boxer </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzNrrhOIrTLbblAlIO-PXCWV4yJTuIUG8APsSRpwXZoALiBkhDB96p_0yZn5fFL-OsxxtGpmyZEyEXqlxvsrORnUx40CPXdXprFuNKWOi3fz1PqRT26_8rVu1Zan0JGfps1_MmGfbQtQKL4EH11Kvp0zg5iMS2gAArRWpMmvm1-kLDaCPajB_xa2vGg/w640-h480/P1210746.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Low tide at the mangrove beach in Tanjung Tuan that late morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Z1_425OeKw3UHxJ6wbV_9gvL655pmL7JMyCExIKgmhszk69iHhjbE8pHZlGVVy3GTHF_-4fBah-QKybiQ32yFAAiHSCpi95dWrfJQUxm1x975AH04ngwjxFGvUqpE4g_8BaZoQZAhL7EEdyw3nZ3Tu7KOOGDwGW8vcMzUQqe52yKXAhHIPip4_M6-g/w640-h480/P1210744.JPG" width="640" />Some of the fiddler crabs that were scurrying on the rocks covered with bright green algae at low tide </div><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP89nbHHKwovZPipe8DGTgLc21lcwEfRbjcc4bZCjMUDb7ny_fOnw3p4Er2K7Xuz1y6T9cYOPOwAwURXoNpDQS74M4ArKDQ0cYafYKnOorfE8iGOcAWmCQJabbkjtej4yyfiV7gRVPH4-_X8K2Ymjwz08OG4_qOEyi6VSCkO3qcW99a5THUoaH__OsA/w640-h480/P1210743.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator"><div style="text-align: center;">A potential rival fiddler crab with an enormous pincer <img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDJBbTmHE1cqfJhaoe2orHqc03FV3hqzfhulT3OBeapV406xQkaXi9bLqi-RjRFoHHghSd0NDWVnFGB33AW2JmZq6lbnqWSaAbRlgyjArQXcoyRXNLE0yV3ObNvewPxf_fw5vbC1m9_gI1bdYT_zQfYufgWU1f2k9U4y25kYVS6ksKNfM-v2Lk_di8Q/w640-h480/P1210772.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dead pieces of coral (above and below) - sad evidence of bleaching, an effect of climate change </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9HEMx8stYwCCWAZ0ABMl8LlsEGIEgWHk2zHCxjM0jW36NaQkZSttmbpxTNdQzOIl_VtDCwadP-nKTFYus5HH7x_zhlYJRCXZ1Jq6sJv2sBc-r7qSIZA7R2eK0FvJ47LEpSQltS93aCLcaO8GFSnJbXSyw4oTZ8X0tXVngfv_krpfFBPhNdu_B1dstw/w640-h480/P1210771.JPG" width="640" /></div><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sDs4vjFJQaslSWCBMo-k8cO8NJ1bVjU3eIeYfNhPvMfbU0VQnJzeEmclbusrCVpslzCjDBEd6DYlZFNCykOF7pt8-VZg84fOu-CB_Y4GxG3YAQQI-KE8yqbTQ-PmnXa5EaOVplP5RsUwjX5Aw_rMErbXyxnCiShhwmAJEPLLmBLTSoUH3f8WW-VZRg/w640-h480/IMG20220711115442.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /> Vanilla ice-cream at Tino's</p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6DbcjqcviWu8S0xoQE_fURCvYTIQCoy82gClder9EXk165-4lid5TR4oqo8dToKQms9iA8DY1Pims9hhTLOyEYvWmCCp0ndnjlg0tLY7RHIYnAm6G3-97lsOjpp-1Yann-1dbaZyT_gCdQuxz6oQJbnsl8DDT7uCfwAslrLhAEKDx4RToIUmzL6Uyg/w640-h480/IMG20220711115002.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Gelato at Tino's Pizza, a restaurant hidden in one of the one-storey shoplots in the busier part of Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (as pictured above). The last time I had ice cream here was in 2014 during Raptor Watch weekend which can be read <b><a href="http://fraserhill.blogspot.com/2014/03/raptor-watch-2014-and-port-dickson.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> - it was creamier than a Magnum but whether or not it really tasted like the famous ice cream in Italy, I think I have to leave it to a local Italian to confirm this - the owner of this shoplot is of Italian nationality but I didn't get the chance to confirm it first-hand that day. In the meantime, there was a good review from TripAdvisor about their food <b><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Restaurant_Review-g303991-d7078860-Reviews-Tino_s_Pizza_Pantai-Port_Dickson_Negeri_Sembilan.html">HERE</a></b>. The <a href="https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/54996" target="_blank">Ring-legged fiddler crab</a> is one of the species that can be found in Malaysia, with a very important role that they play to maintain a healthy ecosystem in a mangrove beach such as Tanjung Tuan. </span></p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_hDbKwq2iYcALhnDvkRewrfg6qGYeqfEwlty8SJQSozCNdbXxT4G-rxUxxcu7kmauKWzhEXVYI3sRtHNfDH6_8DFUEv9tYoGooRPLYf0xgpq5oOgU8qvcLX-jmUBvHmXfsqsQZ7bc9tZ7y8-hqYgx_OT5Q1_mn60gWKKElktFJ_eH8XPabigYH6Fsw/w640-h480/P1210791.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><span style="text-align: center;">The Bridge over the River Linggi</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk4SUJT_ye3_BYyD0kNAVHupwQ5wKm7Jrx0j2z2ZD8hXUNoEUyP53K1nYfZSER17TPVr9deu7sRPmBXXrdjyTtAf0g7wOuTYM0EDI6mSNTwGlzSq0sbfIU21L-Y8dhvDLvVorlj1ek4atEnxXpIO05Uv8G4dJ7eaFwpCh037eYaAcZy-u7Y3kGhQsQg/w640-h480/P1210792.JPG" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">No crocodiles were seen that afternoon lazing around on that narrow strip of exposed sandbank</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxnJ-PV9MqOK29Yc27i_Z0VQxJUX8m5mzG77F-AfCkRiDHTEXHYCv3Yyh5VOdftWPO6_gXkVY_rIhysnxtNJVfovYQw_80x2x-ztxeo1pkwIm1GOkoVzzeSZrYrvOurEk0uISL9sZVsntXw0M1v8p3B3S643Pgn70HRSL9iivRbLLbRpvMxEkeiQNcA/w640-h480/P1210794.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A river that runs through Negeri Sembilan towards the sea. Crocodiles still inhabit this river. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH06edVXeycrfdp3fFINbFHRMJgM9OihGpYmhvYl6CzkI3kPof6QDpD3ZHRV8onzkP9iSFWoIvaldr617mnhosBsMC_PHZGfvZhNqjxalpF4sDviTfmdrD22HKgDm6Nhu7UbAKzeSumC7zcJuCKMpkrhJQKqnLt6ajAhyOa_EK3xD3yG5yVCKVS_Jitg/w640-h480/P1210795.JPG" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kuala Linggi - a small group of people were seen fishing nearby the bridge with prawns as baits. A crocodile had found itself unfortunately washed ashore onto to the road on top of this bridge during the bad floods that affected parts of Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and KL in December 2021. More about that can be read <b><a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/12/755666/croc-spotted-bridge-river-swells-due-heavy-rain-nsttv" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. No crocodiles were seen that hot afternoon but the close encounter with that reptile last year and the (dashed) hope of seeing one on a normal day either swimming in the river or basking in the sun on a sandbank in Linggi, reminded me of a poem about this fascinating creature by Mr. Lewis Carroll the author of Alice in Wonderland:-</span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">How doth the little crocodile</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">improve his shining tail</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">And pour the waters of the Nile</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">on every golden scale</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">How cheerfully he seems to grin</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">How neatly spreads his claws</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">And welcomes little fishes in</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">With gently smiling jaws.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Lewis Carroll)</span></div><div class="separator"><br /></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-32942230333771718722022-07-16T21:55:00.001+08:002022-07-16T21:55:19.016+08:00Tanjung Tuan and the Lighthouse Part 1<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb_3vhDcEroMBgkQBu__vNSfDAtS35vGWCtYwzfjOzg_saYPUAvzqOuVWClD76dI5GELpYhZ-dynqDJ2RmSVt2V9T7TzRQkM7wcgeu5oKZJxbBsTvTOlJBFVOhXZdus9I_qW-T7eVFKaEuHI1EKs-mK2zLUi8mb0SpXywKC2L9x9I0r6QjzPo0KOoYw/w480-h640/IMG20220710213607.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /> <span style="font-size: medium;">Dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant is getting the front-page limelight in my blog. It was worth the 45-minute wait with the waiter visibly stressed by the unexpected crowd of hungry folks in Lukut that Sunday night. We could hear her yelling every 10 minutes from the kitchen although it was not clear what she was upset about. Note to self - BOOK a table in advance and order dishes beforehand should I bring my family and friends here for the next trip:) It was going to be Hari Raya Aidiladha the following day which is a public holiday throughout Malaysia (and Singapore) so that could have contributed to the larger turnout that night. Almost 8 out of the 12 tables were occupied by Indian families. Good to know they too enjoyed the local Malaysian Chinese cuisines:) Malaysia is a multi-racial country although my nation has been in the front pages of many international newspapers and featured in many news portals, for all the wrong reasons. We need to leverage on diversity and appreciate the uniqueness of our natural heritage. The covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc throughout the entire world. A comedian joked that we were grounded by God for two years. </span></p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhnLVBw2hcz5zy6lZCsSID1ENPaqIwGm890lIjW0KbBLKhkjXj3lSFqjUB1uNzctEEyNmrpl8JHxvR9qEEnr1Ayp9a7Tj1rhdWRrK1zQBy0F3-_sYTluKYWlIdGvgFJwMz3qoTBP7BoKxHNVMbeN8r_DMmAeuTRjeetVs8gqBRlUVXIJt4GyPvhvHdA/w480-h640/IMG20220710214017.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /></p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I ordered seafood taufoo but what was served looked like Japanese beancurds with minced pork. The piece de resistance that night for me was the prawns in salted egg sauce (as pictured at the top of my blog). If I had a piece of mantou bun, I would have wiped that plate of prawns clean off with the last bit of bun - it was very tasty. Kudos to this restaurant in Lukut, Port Dickson, named Mei Jing! They officially opened on 21 June 2020 according to their Facebook page. Find out more about this restaurant <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Restaurant-Mei-Jing/100063776552545/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. This was a brief escapade from KL. I had just completed the second semester of my MBA online distance learning course and needed a short break to remember what it was like to travel again. </span> <img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsHAj8gTG1rqA7MlJoWDCTfW7B50g5gP-F5Qrt9FixJtt8dBx5ucn_jn7vZUdqMZ-wvuoWPLE5_26R_FdzcQ8TX-0AOfdMjIms92-ZZ_BuIo2F-LrmAc0VMtz352I2IHEK-jlW9813ocnG1ABaS4SexyMeLT-giSPE3PZ31-GYBYBxWBww0cVj-Ymhg/w640-h480/IMG20220710214911.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBtc2FbKRLGyJOh7TKfB8ufnBH31YAM6CeUpv1ahsE2FBf-8PY2o51UduX7VgoKrf3XH16711bZFWpqZjB5GpNhyJk_KrR0jl80rOiVxAeIlflcY6KUyqM3segOEJdqs-vq8rPEWAzZT0IMJoTyvvt29LQgIeY2hxm-RNNxOyJdC_AyFoGLAkj2D6IA/w640-h480/P1210693.JPG" width="640" /> Seeing this Cape Rachado lighthouse again post-pandemic lockdown was pure joy! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6utWWiCakWOPSK6uZEy2OhPPtv21mpgOJzj0Ueh-pH_kGrNNxI6lNx7IragYMXqEnl5Ufo4OEFBoKkej5LlLP7fWm_uyKYcZajatSF310dF9c1wF3PbdAgdO9cahM6PXzwnZuKKZEjBK4_fVlZnu7SVgGysUa6AjR1xKT-dQXo41Lf1mAoFCSeFUKYA/w640-h480/P1210695.JPG" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tanjung Tuan (Cape Rachado) - view from the lighthouse</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKIbHZvLatxy-CfI1-jy1S4fNgf93srdI2g_kVqO8giRsV5WVd1UrJd3uVPwFLbJ8n_iw0lXs4ElyRvQdCZEXMAGn2PMoNVjIEG9oD7xN4EuItn8GYV5pFAf7Cjp1qhW0j0rntU_gbb_zPNAy8D0wbXilMTZc8PECOIxxmEIW7kGqkf2k2iphJGsbqA/w640-h480/P1210728.JPG" width="640" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On my way back to the beach after a good view of the coast from around the lighthouse area. There was a fruiting tree, nearby the lighthouse which was visited by the Red-eyed bulbul, Pink-neck Green Pigeon, Olive-winged bulbul, Asian Glossy Starling, of which I have noted down via Checklist at Ebird Malaysia <b><a href="https://ebird.org/malaysia/checklist/S114851860" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. The historical background of the Lighthouse (built by Dutch in 1817 who succeeded the Portuguese conquerors, before the British colonial masters took over subsequently from the Dutch) is provided in the Port Dickson Municipal council website <b><a href="http://www.mppd.gov.my/en/visitors/places-interest/tanjung-tuan-light-house" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> . The invisible lines of the borders between Malacca and Negeri Sembilan were well-marked by notice boards, at the entrance to the road leading up to the lighthouse, at the stairs toward the lighthouse and the entrance gate of the lighthouse perimeter. Bukit Batu Putih (Hill of White Rocks - will come up with a more colourful name for this site when I get there!) is the next place for me to explore and hopefully I’ll be physically fit with proper trekking shoes to walk on rocky terrain soon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OPo021A4azIeVWeJGlB0KyhOf07tV8zBhLu1XxI-5p_jckZ0HnqiAsqQhFPgUdPBXXCVDinS96c9UK-n4S7lraaFKF3YFlzt5abrDGk1hK7RaRET6hS3lqEKERgTQZVzQJvmWJVllCjNXaJa1-rUe4zrbhXyaNwVV0JXFgh26yEBoG7WxTWHLbuCIw/w640-h480/P1210732.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">High tide at the beach on foothills of Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest.</div><p></p></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-56463574187756610362022-07-09T21:33:00.005+08:002022-07-09T21:33:50.895+08:00Trip Down Memory Lane at Pinto Noodles<p style="text-align: justify;">It has been a roller-coaster ride from 2020 to 2022 with two years of lockdown taking its toll on many Malaysians. When the borders began opening, Inter-States travel resumed, as usual, and workers return to offices with the notorious traffic jams returning to Kuala Lumpur as we enter the endemic phase. Short holidays like Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Aidiladha, Labour Day saw an exponential increase of vehicles on the roads with bumper-to-bumper traffic along the PLUS highways. The tourism industry returns to life, with hotels fully booked, shopping malls packed with the public returning to shop (with a renewed vigour or vengeance I wonder, as if released from the "prisons" of their homes during the lockdowns and making up for lost time), flights overbooked, hair saloons busy with customers (I was turned away with the friendly suggestion that I book a day in advance via Whatsapp message to secure a place) and lakeside park in Kepong filled with walkers on a Saturday. It was a serendipitous moment because I then discovered a place called <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pintonoodle/" target="_blank">Pinto Noodle</a></b>, a Thailand restaurant specialising in Chiang Mai food. Located in an intermediate shop lot within Fadason Garden, Kepong, it was easy to imagine myself being in Thailand when I ate at this restaurant. PINTO is the transliteration of Tiffin from the Thai script (ปิ่นโต). The tissue holder, cutlery box, bottled condiments with Thai fish sauce and pencil holder added to the feel of being in Chiang Mai, the city at the northern tip of the Land of Smiles. I started flipping through the menu, pronouncing the Thai names of the dishes out loud in excitement with my heart bursting with happiness seeing the picture of the Mango Sticky Rice (<i>Khao Miao Ma Muang</i>) as it brought back the memory of the unforgettable dessert I had in a food court in Bangkok's shopping mall, in 2012. I had only visited Chiang Mai once when I was practising as a lawyer in Johor with nature-loving friends from Malacca and Negeri Sembilan and this was years before 2012 (hint - Social media and Messaging Apps such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram etc had not existed back then). We had travelled to Bangkok by train from Butterworth, Penang spending the night on the train where the seats were converted to a bed. The train stopped at Haadyai where food and fruit vendors came on board to sell us dinner which we happily bought and ate with relish. The train station in Bangkok had clean bathrooms and we could pay a modest fee for a hot shower before we explored the city through the Chao Phraya riverboats. We travelled by boats, buses and pick-up trucks from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai before returning to Bangkok by bus. It was a nostalgic trip filled with so many unforgettable adventures. I doubt my present circumstances will allow me to repeat the journey to Bangkok by train. To save time, flights to Bangkok and even Chiang Mai would be the only option at this point in my life. Doing my pre-travel planning and homework will be a must and websites like <a href="https://www.klook.com/en-MY/tetris/promo/intltravel/?spm=Home.CentralBanner%3Aany%3A%3AMwebHomeCampaignBanner%3ACampaign_LIST&clickId=bc0e6f1ee3" target="_blank">KLOOK</a> could come in handy. In the meantime, I get to imagine what it would be like to visit Thailand again through a simple dinner at Pinto Noodles in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3w5iWJ2Jh6OlcrwJXvsI_x_Vwv9aHw0CcK671AygF7NEYWsuIyjp7daHg4RGnVp5n7l6_kMghOIFXEl47cc6k5LhbG0Q5EptIKOeR65yzyHSrW3eCmj1Ey625jt6-mHIqVC6YMjceZFuiwMUTgOTCvhBDEpc_q9I50fjfGjpaaBIN8D2C-hW9gOx_Q/w480-h640/IMG20220709182043.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="480" /> <span style="text-align: center;">My imaginary trip to Thailand began when I sat down that evening at this wooden table</span><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQcyBKZ2ZYveCGhCsfTCZltiCWq9QQOKu2FRZS8N_PGMOEAjXvSYTFvRW39XAD192cOzVg6eaHhTlrABW9S-AlUKzF9hnMTi1j_udjVTTqBJIl6oBRDcPZmT0TCnJEzxvRRYY5yC9P_w7Okz_Ipy0F_DI4YrqLvellYW5My2IHEtwQI9vjlcKxbWA1w/w640-h480/IMG20220709183430.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><span style="text-align: center;"> Pad Kra Pow Moo (Stir-fried Pork Basil with rice & fried egg) on a distinct plate which I ordered was yummy! No room for dessert that evening. </span><img border="0" data-original-height="2419" data-original-width="4000" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FMWD7itSEU9TEPSrNAGBQs5i7blNNM9BLG9yFAf00b5_lGsYZCrrlrdaMnqf0sglnopYC3eRhb3L_y_Nr1MRy5OLDTN2nXXpB5OHraYr1b0Zhu0wEteNX8sBZZhrp7hQ405Ipo0iRQBbF9Ht3xkpfEhWJFga4GpqrdiOyqfzn1mVzMnbNimCZ88UQA/w640-h388/IMG_20220709_183228.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><span style="text-align: center;">Love the frames alongside the wall of this restaurant, colourful sweets & authentic food in tiffin carriers, stupa (with a Buddhist monk & a running dog), Ovaltine & Coca-Cola ads included. </span><img border="0" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="2286" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecJ5CEMP0lq01QJKRv8D77KmElSHAR8sgNRpW7OpwvbSnpDSjgjX2VdNMiQz6ay1CrrN-K4PEP_alBBDB4uBYoMG3doGuGwFqgsqq6ckXUu1H0femSomkTHnOKoJ6ebjYFb77z-IjU2yJHJv7pzK-amM_AOHF5sSh2qlFCpsXNuVpThnbKEZQmdwEyg/w640-h472/IMG_20220709_182559.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><span style="text-align: left;">Som Tam salad is prepared by one of these cooks, the traditional way via pestle & mortar. I didn't order any salads this time round, yet. </span></p><p></p>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874840456434583248.post-53105895393354849802022-04-25T22:27:00.000+08:002022-04-25T22:27:05.857+08:00Till we meet again Fraser Hill<div class="separator"><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeFrO5TOLzUBbkH3QxahbzY87XvN4jehgI73K91k7ecexhvolNC-VDAOnR3bANpWMII_1RXrE-HjLuis69Sf8_UmnVOQNYuRAPpEmh3Ff7qU1-R2GOW-aMIHA1iHQq7CLWU5TfPrhGc0ppInvrPdNECKxWEnKR-_uwQYMt8oc2Q0181bHEiGGXKiv0w/w640-h480/IMG20220419070102.jpg" width="640" />Waking up to a new day in Fraser Hill. My room looks out to the town square with the iconic (non-functional) clock tower. I started my walk along the Old Gap Road...... <img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VlwpaZabZK2x-HPyUTKfBV7sHEFMza75xr9xJrjZIwOpPNGdcD4yzGFWcDsA2O-aS2TriX5rTVz4wcvCTyky653Qi04x3uTPg80HQG99ScgOU0YxIKtPogsedxSZfV1a9GsXudYfVYekCWmPWrYHHfLuSAaQ_CBzyXejAMXPQ1h3ckp7QA2bF5fZGg/w640-h480/IMG20220419084615.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" />The welcome signboard display of Fraser Hill in BRIGHT red. Little Cuckoo Doves were flying all over the hillsides. A pair of these Doves flew across the Old Gap road to perch inside fern and bushes growing on the hill embankment.</p><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlwUhwKCUcsCgiHlL8x9CW1kwzh6OU05WuHERrB7trdinCv10kj3eSzv6eRgKaCG590YYey0FFfnQbe7kmgU1-_QT9s3zwU2fisl1lYZD1JX5gACM6JLDGxmImIXb5jlEaK25HSDWbJHhvMH1DogLYlKB7KbNr01kp_m0-hQg0EjTJAzm3VG85Xk-HA/w480-h640/IMG20220419084209.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /></p><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;">A small flock of Wreathed Hornbills were seen alongside the Old Gap Road that morning when the mist started rolling in. I heard the prominent swooshing sounds of their flapping wings, first before I saw this flock fly across the valley to perch on a tree. Always a delight to see hornbills! <img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAirugF9_YA3eVbF_rBmyqV678A7Y_xsssEehKcTcI_PbQ5cmY3lkQ8EaqKHJ4ratYok7txpkj65kT6c9YW2S4Q5UMt5X2oW0pY6JsMFbKrY5Sfp5IuxJtFvALis_Zyl982-LvnrIwUMJFvaFu-CwJnGZIgdwFdr2TpgbdtZYREz6IDW8VaggAmdL2A/w480-h640/IMG20220419081026.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /></p><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;">I sprained my lower back and back muscles late March which required an intravenous drip to lessen the pain. I had applied Acustop plasters for last three weeks, was on painkillers and had attended three physiotherapy sessions to reduce the swellings and back pain before making this trip. The slow walk along these lovely stretches of the Old Gap Road was very rejuvenating to me. <img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsszIPbpH1PlPt6emfQN7d8GzK53hyQBCCjpD4eWUz6-ijLR_DhFeWT-af-OckhG_tYn-n9XkJo33DC4-Rf2RZIMleSJVFuHYWDuS02jEgRT-59uzilttns4XAYD6y4yRktg_Y1q8ZipQevg12IrdWSyXJi9RskTpLJ29uZbi6YqRaYYqqBb5dV9Jqw/w480-h640/IMG20220419085053.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /><span style="text-align: center;">There is a new signpost which indicates the border between the States of Selangor and Pahang. A Police Station, Health Clinic lie beyond those red lines within the Pahang border of Fraser Hill. The old-style red telephone booth (phone inside is for decorative purpose:) is the latest on-site promotional item for the Little England of Malaysia. I missed out on the <a href="https://ebird.org/species/runpit1?siteLanguage=en_GB" target="_blank">Rusty-Nape Pitta</a> in this trip. Heard it can be seen in one of the off-beaten tracks in Fraser Hill, with one photographer injuring himself whilst in the pursuit of a picture. I was still recovering from a bad back sprain so alas, I had to assuage myself that I have heard this elusive Rusty-Nape Pitta before at the Telekom Loop, during pre-pandemic times. I pray for a chance to be able to see this Pitta species in Fraser Hill or any of the montane highlands when it chooses to re-appear, safely without injuring myself:) </span><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRFRApTkQoPPwLIXGN1FP0kJnCkOPZHnJuEUcoMMK49Kw3Og2gnNR9VsngBPoTCS70U_OwqBGqlMFlArH1m9sbVtj6NTfHR8IROZgJawDuEDOvN_YzLaKvo6Z_wx-J-w5IxHySHcisbGng0k07Hci3iyfVT1fqKPulVn4JO7eyTX-jbG_qvvV8hvasg/w640-h480/IMG20220419115633.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><span style="text-align: center;">The New Gap Road, is the exit from Fraser Hill towards KL or Pahang. The signboard looks to be simpler with the second alphabet in need of being glued right back securely on it. </span><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIU6hGWvgIJXFKF5FfSP2rsLXMYz-WhajHP7U_lZRiqMSvWtpVaOTfV_vGjWRf4KqoWaKOcb6_ET3_CjhwBZp5VQZGNycdUnPzXm0SmPVWIRjbaeMpZS44y56ib5MZEEk-WA9ORroeZvhATKPwaEMjpyCKTcI8W8MicJXq20Mkh7SryxXS6_440aadw/w640-h480/IMG20220419115638.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" />Stopped to bird a little alongside road shoulders at the New Gap Road, which I had blogged about in my previous post <b><a href="https://fraserhill.blogspot.com/2022/04/back-to-birding-basics-at-fraser-hill.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. It was mid-afternoon when I reached Kuala Kubu Bahru and the only meal sustaining me throughout the day was my half-a-plate of fried rice and two pieces of toast which I had for breakfast at Puncak Inn around 8.45am. <img border="0" data-original-height="2723" data-original-width="4000" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmYqmNAdyQTcr-i4QwZ8j7ANHYTJz4gNYBXSZlCvvCM-IvsAKLe3vsU5bVJjlYeudSESJ58QPqYaPFfgzNgnUoTOGBdun46UfdT6u9G2htozErtNhZxpRN5bE1IKcukrbhxAs0ZF-lnaLRxZIt2WXyK-FZNNzKz1OgYK_jeJp2g2wb1zOZSGl58936Q/w640-h436/IMG_20220419_153347.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" />This aunty and her family are still frying away delicious meals at this quaint shophouse in Kuala Kubu Bahru. I have yet to try their wok-fried kuey teow, I tried their snacks whilst waiting for my wantan mee during a very late lunch. The prawn fritters with crunchy pieces of Jicama (<i>Sengkuang</i>) were delicious although it would have been lovelier eating them hot off the wok:) <img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vEAIU_BX4xKdkA5r-YqgzB19XK0ChRzwiB4pV0dGOi-YdtgGNW6NySxDJqtfHEqHrqvxdxNEakcgNk65clU8p5KCwKyPVJbsaC7qaA695cc7QoKnSFix3CJ6Bx92bOWB1p_3KdHeD74vzk05GCDa2SPfhYApfpY2x40Abjf-bpCUTUc_zjdthoZJgA/w640-h480/IMG20220419145304.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></p></div>tripletrogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715634381544250145noreply@blogger.com2