ABC Wednesday-T For Turtle

ABC Wednesday-S for Sungei Buloh

Today theme for ABC Wednesday is letter S. My letter S is Singapore, Sugnei Buloh nature park in Singapore. This is one of my favorite places to visit especially with kids.

Singapore is a small country with a lot of shopping centers. There are not many places for us to explore nature. But one of a unique places of exploring nature is Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve which is the famous bird sanctuary too. This is a natural bird sanctuary which is especially created for migratory birds which coming to Singapore from all parts of the world. I am not very crazy on bird watching, either a very professional photographer, but birds are the most easily seen among the wild creatures in our urban city, watching them is an enjoyable thing, at least to me.
 

     Click to view larder image

Apart from birds, you can find a variety of animals in Sungei Buloh National Park too. Smooth Otter, Monitor lizards, squirrels, they are all the guards of this natural wetland. There are prepared walking routes around the park that we can choose from. A shorter route, only five hundred meters long, also called the Mangrove Boardwalk, is the most popular among visitors because of the chance encounters with wildlife. I almost can find monitor lizards, crabs, angel fish, mud lobsters, shellfish, water snakes, spiders, moths, and mudskippers every time during my visit, but not even once I saw crocodiles, I was told there is crocodiles there.

My camera is not good enough to capture a clear photograph of those lovely birds and wildlife. (Click to enlarge picture)

My another favorite is get a better view of the mangrove when the tide is slow. The roots of the trees in the mangrove really stand out. All these trees help in preventing shore erosion and also are home to crabs, mud-skippers, snakes and birds.



Sungei Buloh is also a good place to see Archerfish and needlefish during high tides…

Archerfish, they are well known for the ability to shoot down insects and small creatures resting on foliage or mangrove roots. They can spit out a strong and accurate jet of water. With their tongue against the groove on the roof of their mouth, they form a tube, and force water powerfully out by snapping shut their gills. However, aside this ability, they actually preferred to leap up out of the water to catch their prey in their jaws when it is close enough.

Needle fish are living in the Sungei Buloh too..

Singapore housing estate reflection

Weekend Reflections hosted by James, that is a fun Meme, I like the challenge of finding reflections to post, it makes me pay more attention to my surrounding area.

ABC Wednesday-R for Respect

The wife of opposition politician Tan Lead Shake has been sentenced to a total of 16 years in jail

You can find the headline on almost evry forum and media, Channel News Asia, http://www.insing.com/, breaking.sg, even our STRAITS TIMES HEAD LINE IS Tan's wife gets 16 years…
All news point to the words opposition politician, that is very funny, does all the Singapore media copy the news from each other? So many reporters, does any one write something new on the murder case, or does any one really care to study the case further, why why why, the lady Wu Yun Yun will kill the brother-in-law?? That is not a simple thing for a person to kill another person. Every one in the family play a very important part in this sad family story.

In one word-Respect! ABC Wednesday, R for respect.

Every one said it was jealousy that drove Wu Yun Yun to stab her 34-year-old brother-in-law to death and to slash his wife. Yes, jealousy is one part of the reasons, but mainly, she doesn’t respect herself, she married to a man she didn’t know well in the arrangement of the father, she doesn’t respect herself, as a human, she has the right to choose the husband, again, when she was so so so unhappy with the marriage, she still had choice to break the unhappy marriage, she is still young and quite pretty looking, she has chances to rebuild a happy family with someone else, she didn’t respect her own right rather than stay on in the terrible relationship with the whole family which she can’t get along with. The worse thing is she doesn’t respect life! Our life are given by God, how can we simply want to take away other people’s life or our own life.
As a mother-in-law, She can don’t love the daughter-in-law, she can don’t care about her, she can don’t talk to her, she can even chase her out from the house if the house is hers, but she has no right to scold a person so much…According to the report, the Wuyunyun did get scold from her, right? Wu Yun Yun is a woman, an adult, a human, the wife of his own son, she need the respect in life. Outside the courtroom, Madam Ng Bee Hion wailed that the sentence was too light for a crime that cost her a son. I am sorry to say that if she knows how to handle the family problems, the family will be a happy family now. But it is too late, I feel sad for her, for the whole situation.
I don’t know how to say about another sad lady in the story, Madam Huang Meizhe, she came from China too, if she pay a little bit attention to WuYunyun, and being a good listener, or try to do something to resolve the bad relationship among the family members, she will be a happy wife now.
The person most reserved to blame in this family sad story is the husband. If he does respect and give more love and care to the wife, move out from the big family to start their life, simple life as husband and wife and kids only…I believe the store will be different. If a man can’t provide all these basic needs to a lady, he shouldn’t get into marriage. It doesn’t matter he belongs to what side of politic party, opposition politician or PAP, as a man, they are all same, they are someone’s son, they are someone’s brother, they maybe someone’s husband, some kids’ father, a man, he doesn’t even able to settle his own family problems, how is he going to lead the country.
I just don’t understand Chinese culture, why mother-in-law, sister-in-law etc so many in laws like to stay together when every one is not happy with each other. They are fighting for all the small matters in life all due to different life style of their own. Why they can’t respect each other and just stay away if can’t stand each other, rather than allow this kind of sad family affairs happen. And I believe there are many many more ladies like Wu Yun Yun in Singapore, those who married to Singaporean, if no one will learn something from this sad news, I bet it will happen somewhere, someday again in not too long future.
Basically I don’t think Wu Yun Yun is a very bad person, and she has paid for what she has done, 16 years in jail, the life has gone for a lady. I don’t think she will hurt some other people again, Whoever died already died, just forgive her. Will the family forgive her?
Does our media have the responsibility to teach our Singaporean learn something from the case?
Respect others, be kind to others, give more space to each other life as we Singaporean have many different culture, then our life will be more peaceful, we will be happier. This is what I see in life.
PS, the news forward as below:

THE China-born wife of former opposition figure Tan Lead Shake was jailed 16 years for killing her brother-in-law and attempting to kill his wife on Tuesday.
Wu Yunyun, 27, looked dazed as the sentence was handed down.
Her mother-in-law broke out into loud sobs in the court's public gallery. Later, outside the courtroom, Madam Ng Bee Hion wailed that the sentence was too light for a crime that cost her a son.
Mr Tan, 40, who had visited his wife only once in her 11/2 years in remand, was not in court.
He was at his Paya Lebar home on Tuesday evening, looking after their two children. He politely declined to be interviewed, saying it was too painful to talk about the incident.
His wife was sentenced to 12 years' jail for killing Mr Tan's brother Lead Sane, 33, and four years for the attempted manslaughter of Mr Tan Lead Sane's wife, Madam Huang Meizhe, 36, who is also from China.
Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.

Looking at the sky behind the temple

Looking at the sky behind a temple…

Reflections of sunset

Relax, and enjoy more photos from the Weekend Reflections participant’s blogs. Weekend Reflections
hosted by by James.



Mosaic Monday: Turtles

Mosaic Monday hosted by our Dear Mary at Little Red House. The lovely turtles from my previous post.

Shadow shot of birds

Gypsy Lala see a  Lonely bird in her photo. Life as I see it: More lonely birds on my Shadow Show Sunday.

Six Words Saturday No12

“Rainy moody Saturday, I miss you”

“Time flies. One year end soon.”

Looking at the sky: Kites flying

Looking at the sky on Friday, I wish I could be those kites flying high in the sky…
If I am a kite, your courage and help is the contrary wind raise it higher, but no matter how high I will fly, in the end, I will still come back, I know you hold the string, using not only hands, but with all of your love in heart.

Reflection on the road after rain

New meme! Weekend Reflections hosted by James. James blog is the place I like to visit, but only discover this meme this week. I like his Newtown area photos. Well this is a photo captured one day after rain, I was on the way back home, after a heavy afternoon rain, the sun come out again, shine on the road, I stopped my car to take this photo.

Watery Wednesday No 9-Fall

Watery Wednesday

ABC Wednesday-O for Old Friend

I am thinking of writing a post about “old age” for this week ABC WEDNESDAY ROUND 5: O, since there are a lot of issues about old age people, old age life in Singapore here. I have been thinking quiet sometime about my old age time too, though it is still a long way to go. :) But I am unable to write this, my old friend came to Singapore this morning, he went to Maldives for a short holiday and stop by Singapore for a few days. Well, I am the host here, and should bring him around.
So this post just a simple note about “Old friend”.
An old friend, who loves me and teach me to dream and to laugh; An old friend, who is always beside me when the rest of the world step out from my life;  An old friend, who accept me as who I was, who I am and who I will be.

An old friend, he is the moon light in the darkness, guide me along walk out from the juggle.

One Single Impression: Elusive

I am always chasing the dream,
the elusive dream.
Just like I am always chasing the shadow,
the elusive shadow in the rainforest.
The shadow is something ineffable,
you will feel it but you never ever can catch it.
Who can ever catch the shadow in the rainforest?
The elusive shadow,
it exits but then escapes,
It is within reach but not within grasp.
My love in my elusive dream,
it is a pretty shadow when sun shines on it,
but I never ever can catch it.
it is easier to just let go,
or appreciate the beauty from far when it exits.
Chasing my elusive dream,
that seem like keeping the shadow in the darkness,
Tired of knowing the impossibility,
wondering the shadow where they belong.
Trying so hard to keep my dreams alive,
lost in the juggle ,
I am not the big tree,
either the lianas,
I am fighting so hard to survive.
Chasing the shadow of my love,
they are always coming closer and closer,
but never I can hold them in hand,
not even in my elusive dream.
Feeling the pain and trying to make sense,
where the shadow should go,
I lost in the promise I have never believed,
Struggling to make my elusive dream alive.

Shadow shot: gloxinia flower

Gloxinia flowers are one of my favorites, I brought them out form my living room to corridor to get some afternoon sunlight. I like this setting, cool purple flower in bright sun and shadows…

For more other wonderful shadows, click HERE.

Singaporean-Six words Saturday #11

“Heavy traffic near shell stations today”

Today, most of the shell Petrol Stations (excluding four of them never join the promotion) in Singapore are having a promotion, Celebrate the launch of new Shell FuelSave 98 and 95 at just $1 (nett) per litre, promotion stared from 10AM and will end at 6pm only for today, it caused heavy traffic jam anywhere near the shell stations. The CISCO have been activated for crowd control. Some drivers did horn non-stop while queuing for petrol promotion, some drivers were jumping into the queue, some were quarreling because of small matters during the queue…Again, the shell management are fancy showcasing the ugliest side of ourselves after the previous promotion on our national day!

The queue was just crazy! It ran more than 1 km outside the Shell Petrol Stations at many places. I was told by a lot of people they spent an hour queue for pumping the cheapest petrol. Ya, crazy queue indeed …I don’t know how much they can save, maybe $30, I bet for the max, but how about the time, an hour! Save money but waste the time and the petro while queuing, how much can you save? What is the purpose of saving? In the end only Shell is the winner, will be on the headline on the media.

I never joined the queue, for me the best way of saving money is to take public transport when I am not in a hurry. I always try not driving on weekend when I am not rushing between office and home. I try to take a walk for some short distance. Isn’t it the easy way to save money and save our environment instead of queuing for an hour to pump petrol.

The previous shell Petrol Stations promotion on National Day caused a lot of traffic problems too. I just don’t understand those who can afford a car worth tens of thousands of dollars, eat out one time can easily spend more than $50 for a small family, buying one TOTO spending more than $50, but yet they are scramble like ugly beggars for the small discount, are these our lovely typical Singaporeans?

Should I say “Happy Pumping!” ?

Looking at the sky from my window

A sunny day, I am looking at the sky from my window, still don’t feel like going back to office today, a hard working person like me seldom take any off day from work, I don’t know what to do at home except making some day dreams…And it is so so so good when I still can have some day dreams while struggling with work-life balance, stress, marriage and kid.

ABC Wednesday-N for Nature

ABC Wednesday-N for Nature. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve-My World Tuesday conitued: (Click picture to enlarge)

I like to see the big trees in the rainforest, some big trees reach up to forty meters, widely spaced and very tall, they have been living there for many many years, they must have a strong and competitive race to get to the sun for the leaves. I like to see the leaves in the rainforest, the leaves are quite waxy with drip tips to protect the trees from heavy rain, all the leaves are the beauty of nature, they are telling us the stories in the rainforest. The most interesting are those lianas, they climb across those big trees to get more sunlight, some hang down from the trees to the ground to get water, they make the vegetation more dense, but yet they are many many plants like fern type get to survive with few sunlight. That is life in nature, quite struggling if you ask me! Same as in our office, every working place is just like some kinds of rainforest, isn’t it?

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve-My World Tuesday

Location: 177 Hindhede Drive Singapore 589333 Tel :(65) 6468 5736 Getting There Take the MRT to Newton Station (NS21), then take SMRT Bus 171

Bukit Timah hill is the highest hill in Singapore, with an official height of 164 meters or 538 feet this is the highest point in the country. It is located in the centre-west of Singapore, a very good place for tracking and enjoy the nature. I went there for a walk last Friday. It was so relaxing to look at the sky through the trees.

 

I took about 45 minutes to walk around in this ancient forest and I didn’t have enough time to explore some interesting facts in nature, I am sure I will go there again. Here are some photos were taken in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

You can find quite a lot of long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. They are often seen jumping from car to car in the car park, resting on the roof top of the office  building, or swinging from the tree to tree. 

 

One of the enjoyable things to walk in the forest is the pleasant and tranquil feeling. The only sounds we hear were cicadas chirping away and some other insects buzzing away.

 

The sounds of nature are the most beautiful music for you to enjoy in the quiet forest. I was trying to look for cicada but couldn’t get to see any one.  The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a typical tropical rainforest, you can find a lot of interesting trees here. The tropical rainforest is similar to the human world in some aspects. Those capable of getting the sunlight would grow up tall and strong. Whichever that can't get the enough sunlight, would be growing at the bottom as a shorter tree or a shrub.

Some trees like those people in the office, step on other people’s shoulder to climb to the top, take other people’s hard work as their own credit. They are like Lianas in the rainforest. Lianas are woody climbers. Climbing from tree to tree, growing up to the top to get more sunlight.