my BINTULU clicks

#Re-activation of blogspot # - images of Bintulu

2011-11-22T07:54:00.001-08:00

Coastal Hibiscus

2009-07-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

Bintulu is near the sea and its coastline faces the open South China Sea. Indeed if you are to sail straight north you would have beached at the coasts of Vietnam. The sea sprays, distinct dry weather, sandy soils and lots of monsoon rains have made the hibiscus plants here high performers. Two species that are native here are the Sea Hibiscus ( Hibiscus tiliaceus) and the Rose of Sharon ( Hibiscus mutabilis). While the Sea Hibiscus need to be planted closest to the sea or even in waters, the rose of Sharon prefers a well-drained soil. One peculiar habit common to both is the changing nature of its flowers as the day progresses. In the case of the Rose of Sharon,it starts white early in the morning and gradually develops into a dark pink as the day progresses. In like manner, the Sea Hibiscus starts the day in strong yellow and changes to orange when evening sets.

CU of Sea Hibiscus

Sea Hibiscus near the beach at Kidurong township

CU of Rose of Sharon

Rose of Sharon shrub

P.S. For many other colours of the Hibiscus flowers, click here.

Delicious local fruits

2009-07-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

The month of June is special for the abundance of the local Malay Apple fruits called " Jambu Bol". I love these fruits for two reasons. First when half-ripe they are best taken with soy sauce or shrimp paste ( the famed Bintulu 'Belacan') as salad. Secondly when sufficiently ripe they are sweet tasting and soft to eat. When eating them do not remove the red skin covering, just like eating normal apples. But remember there is a sizable seed inside that gets removed easily. From the ripe seeds you can propagate the tree easily.

A bowl of Jambu Bol like above fetches for RM 5.

This is my special favourite in Bintulu. Being close to the coast, you can get any amount of fresh coconuts at Bintulu's tamu or jungle produce market which is located somewhere in the center of Bintulu town. After drinking the juice I would normally eat the flesh which is very soft and sweet too. Here you eat it with a 'spoon' made out a wedge from the coconut skin. Hmm... does the job of scooping the flesh splendidly. A piece of coconut like above fetches for Rm1.50 .

A Hard Day's Work

2009-06-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day harvesting some ripe oil palm fruits at my eco-farm. Most fruit bunches are still small because the trees are barely two the half years old. At the picture ( inset) the cross section of the fruit shows a thick yellowish pulp, a thin shell containing a white fleshy core . Presently the average diameter of the fruit is 2.5-3.0 cm. which is considered still small. High quality oils are derived from the fruit pulp and the kernel of the seed.

Notice how close to the ground the fruiting heads are. The variety of oil palm planted here are of the Elaeis guineensis, GH 500 series. In Malaysia the oil palm parents here originated from Africa. Thus sometimes the oil palm Elaies guineensis is called African Oil Palm. Oil palm trees thrives in Bintulu due due its tropical climate,ideal soil type and hilly topography. Once established oil palm trees are hardy and will bear fruit for the next 20 - 25 years. I would say my pension lies in the trees.

Yesterday's harvest totalled 120 kilos. The present market price for fresh fruit bunches is RM 350 per tonne. By the trend of things, next month I would be able to harvest about 200 kilos. Such is oil palm farming, you need to have patience to accumulate enough quantities to sell the to the millers.

A Tree Much Wanting in Bintulu

2009-06-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

It surprises me why this lovely tree is not planted all over Bintulu. I saw this stand at Medan Raya shopping area today. The Coral Tree ( Erythrina) has brilliant scarlet flowers that stay long on the tree. As such it is a useful tree to grow in areas where you want to see colours everyday. Having not seen one for a while now especially one that is flowering, I took a lot of close up shots of its flowers. A few are shown here. Notice the bean-like pods that contain ripe seeds below.

If you are to visit most hotels and resorts this tree is usually seen in their landscaping design. I guess most landscapers love its red bunchy flowers that envelop the tree. Further I think choice is determined by its growth characteristics. It is slow growing and suitable for places near water bodies where you can watch the dark green leaves and flowers touch the water surface and reflecting its brilliant colours. We need more such trees in Bintulu.

Bintulu Fishes

2009-06-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Soon I'll be missing all the fresh fishes of Bintulu. That's because I'll be on my way to Kuching this coming Monday. Bintulu is a haven for fresh seafood. There's hardly any good fish market in Kuching City that is even 50% of what Bintulu is. Anyway this afternoon I dropped by at the fish market along the Sebiew River which is greatly patronised by fish lovers here.

What have we got here? I bought a reasonable sized tuna fish for RM 10. Back at the farm I barbecued it with a dressing of salt and crushed black pepper. It's all about the little things we enjoy in Bintulu......fresh fishes of all types and sizes for diverse menus and likings.

Grasshopper in Emperor's Clothes

2009-06-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

I had an excellent half-morning workout at the farm just now. Top on the agenda was to thin the Lengkuas shrub for propagation purpose. Indeed from two big shrubs I managed to plant another 5 very well established clumps. Lengkuas ( Alpinia galanga) are useful plant to grow for its rhizomes. In traditional medicine the rhizomes are considered a aphrodisiac. However I take it as an appetiser and the young shoots can be taken as salad. And goes without saying, you need to eat it with the famed Bintulu belacan!. There are also grown commercially for the rhizomes that are processed into capsules to counter sea sickness.

Then while I was thinning a section of the vegetation island of the Heliconia Valley I came across a unique phenomena. My eyes were caught by a slight movement among the leaves of the Cempedak ( Artocarpus integer). A grasshopper in camouflage. Yes this is the first time I came across at the farm a grasshopper that has its wings resembling the Cempedak leaves. Thus I had a field day photographing this unique natural phenomena. Below is the grasshopper posing for today's show.

Well, what you see is what you get. No tricks. It's a grasshopper in the Emperor's clothes. Note the rhizomes of the Lengkuas ( inset).

Sunset at the Farm

2009-06-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

Though the closest beach is about 25 km away from the farm, we do have the chance to enjoy the beautiful sunset from the farm looking west. Over the distant hills and about 25 km straight on is the Tg.Batu Beach where the best sunset can be watched in Bintulu. Well today I'm blessed with a Bintulu sunset as I finished the day at the farm.

Sweet tasting , sweet tasting...

2009-06-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

This morning my taste buds turned wild. I harvested two ripe fruits of the Terap ( Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco). They came from a tree I planted about three years ago and thus there were not many fruits on the tree just yet. Among the Melanaus of Bintulu the fruit is also called 'Ong Lumok'. And the joke is if you're somewhat bald -headed don't feel offended if someone call you 'Ong Lumok' . The thick soft skin has soft hair-like spikes that are nice to caress. The white fleshy part of the fruit is very sweet . The ripe fruit is very soft and it needs a slight turn of the palm to open it up.

The 3 year old Terap tree I planted at my farm.

The Mango Tree

2009-06-20T04:57:00.000-07:00

This is the only Mango Tree standing at the Bintulu Town centre. I grew up with this tree because it was planted not far from the government quarters where our family stayed in the 1960's. Where the tree is located was about the farthest end of the government quarters area at that material time. All older buildings built in and around 1960's are gone. Thus the Mango Tree is the only reminder of the old Bintulu . It is my fervent hope that this will tree will be preserved for posterity.

On the left is a picture I took of the tree when its was flowering heavily in April this year. The picture below shows the tree bearing tiny fruits. Unfortunately just weeks ago I notice that someone had cut a main branch of the tree to collect the fruits and as a result damaged much of its beautiful form.

The Mango tree bearing young and tiny fruits , before the main branch being cut.

Close Up of the tiny fruits.

Shrubby Dillenia ( Dillenia suffruticosa)

2009-06-18T19:09:00.000-07:00

Feeling slightly better today, I decided to have a walk around the farm. The rashes that developed over my body slowly disappeared and my body temperature has subsided and returned to normal. According to the good doctor I was suffering from a viral infection which is self-eliminating. Feeling upbeat, I took shots of the Shrubby Dillenia or what we call here as 'Simpoh Air' ( Dillenia suffruticosa) that grows abundantly at my farm. The 'Simpoh Air' is indeed a suitable tree to plant along streams and near houses.

The red fruits are attractive to birds and are enclosed in several segments.

The large yellow flowers look brilliant in the sun. The thick broad and oval-shaped leaves are used to wrap food or to ferment rice like in the local delicacy called 'Tapai'. The young leaves are eaten raw as salad.

Ong Balem

2009-06-18T04:59:00.000-07:00

When I arrived at my farm last week, I noticed the huge 'Balem' tree ( Mangifera pajang) bearing tiny fruits at the very tips of the branches. This is the first time I see the tree producing fruits. This tree could have been here for about 50 years now judging from its height and size. It's indeed very difficult to see them in the wild these days because forests keep on disappearing. In the picture (inset) is a close up of the Balem fruit with its thick skin peeled. To eat it you need to slice the flesh into small pieces.

I am looking forward to see the tiny fruits grow big and will blog about it as and when necessary.

The Balem tree is about 25 meters high. Note the tiny fruits at the tip of branches.

This is how big the fruits will grow when ripe. Among the Ibans the Balem fruit is called 'Bambangan'

A Day by the Beach

2009-06-16T04:01:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have not update any pictures here. The reason is that I was very busy in Kuching for the last month. However I'm back and wish to make up for lost time. Since I arrived Bintulu on the 7th of June I fell ill and just felt better today. There again, my computer got into problems because of a faulty power pin which needed replacement parts from outside Bintulu. That problem got solved by late afternoon. Before I picked up the notebook, I went to see Pantai Temasya or the Tanjung Batu Beach, just 10 minutes drive from Bintulu Town centre. I thought by spending an afternoon by the beach would help me further recuperate from my illness which was caused by a fall when I climbed the slopes to gather some fruits last Friday at the farm. Well all's well that ends well. Below are pictures that I took at Pantai Temasya ( Temasya Beach, Tg. Batu)

View of Pantai Temasya shoreline from the northern point of the beach.

Tall Carpentaria Palms ( Carpentaria acuminata) line up this footpath at the lush greenery environment within the beach landscaped areas.

This is where all cars that enter the beach area make their turns. The park at the Temasya Beach is richly planted with trees. Here tall casuarina trees ( Casuarina equisitifolia) dwarf the coconut palms below.

Bintulu in Yellow Flames

2009-05-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

It has been a week since I've been back in Bintulu where the weather has been very dry, sunny and hot. I guess this distinct dry weather has stimulated the Yellow Flame trees here to flower gregariously. That was the scene when I went around the town today.

Lines of Yellow Flame ( Peltophorum pterocarpum) trees that were mainly planted about 20 years ago were in full flower. Yellow Flame trees are tall, some reaching 20 m high. They are ideal for roadsides because of their spreading crown which provide much shade and beauty . The Yellow Flame tree is native to Malaysia and that means Bintulu too. Sometimes locals call them ' Batai Laut'. They love the coastal areas and are somewhat deciduous in habit. New shoots begin to develop about a week after the leaves have fallen.
The inflorescence's are terminal on the new shoots and are panicles of large, bright yellow flowers.

They are fast growing but can also be grown as an instant tree if you wish to enjoy its shade and beauty sooner. These trees are better planted in big open spaces and I don't encourage it to be planted in residential premises for the main reason that its adventurous roots can choke up underground services. They are easily grown from seeds. I understand that the bark of the tree can be used to make dye by batik makers especially on the Indonesian island of Java.

Licuala Palm ( Licuala spinosa)

2009-04-04T01:07:00.000-07:00

Walking below the jungle canopy behind my chalet, I checked on my collection of the Licuala Palm.Licualas are important for the locals here because the leaves are used to thatch sleeping mats, sun hats or to wrap food. They are native to Borneo and therefore Bintulu.

Licualas can reach 4 meters high. The leaves are borne from a long stalk. The Licuala stem is very short and mostly hidden in the thick humus rich environment of the tropical rain forest like ours here. They prefer filtered light and do not grow well in a potty environment. I've tried many times to grow them in pots but to utter failure. The best policy would then be to leave them in peace on the jungle floor where they truly belong.

Unripe seeds of the Licuala Palm
Finally what a field day when I saw a Licuala clump ( unfortunately being hit by a fallen tree trunk) with a bunch of unripe Licuala seeds . Guess I'll use them for germination later.

Call to Prayer

2009-04-04T00:14:00.000-07:00

The Bintulu mosque, Masjid Daerah Bintulu - circa 1920

Yesterday I went to Masjid Daerah Bintulu to perform my Friday prayers. After that I took pictures of the 'Beduk' which is a big drum made of wood and goatskin. In the good old days, the drum would be sounded five times a day to call Muslim to prayers. Nowadays, people use loudspeakers and microphone to amplify the call to prayers or 'Azan' over the PA system.

Observe the very top picture. On both towers is faintly shown the 'Beduk' which is the same as above. As a young kid I used to climb the tower and hit the 'Beduk' in successive drumming and tempo at the point of 'Azan' to indicate prayer time. It is my fervent hope that this instrument will forever be kept as a historical relic by the Bintulu mosque authority.

Menara Kidurong

2009-04-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

Here's another view of the iconic building belonging to the Bintulu Port Authority. Called the 'Menara Kidurong', it is designed in the form of a huge ship. Bintulu Port Authority undertakes the operation of the Bintulu Port through another sister company called the Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd.

Traveller's Palm ( Ravenala madagascariensis)

2009-03-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

I guess Bintulu will need to plant more of these 'palms'. Called the Traveller's Palm ( Ravenala madagascariensis ) there are a delight to see as a distant. Looking like a huge fan, they look tempting to travellers as if waving them to come and stop by . Such icon would be good for Bintulu's tourism. Strictly speaking, these are not 'palms'. They belong to the banana family. However its palm-like in habit i.e. having a single trunk and a crown of leaves that is one-sided and making a symmetrical fan-shaped pattern. The above picture is taken at my eco-farm in Bintulu.

Simpoh Air( Dillenia suffruticosa)

2009-03-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Considered a wild shrub and having potential to grow into a small tree, the Simpoh Air or sometimes referred to as the Shrubby Dillenia ( Dillenia suffruticosa) is a very useful tree. The young leaves can be eaten as salad. The broad leaves are used to wrap food . I've seen recently in my travels up to Tebedu border near Kuching where the tree is used as 'live' posts for pepper vines. This picture was taken at one of the vegetation islands at my farm yesterday. I always welcome these trees around the farm because they produce red fruits that expose red fleshed seeds attractive to the birds. The Simpoh Air loves the open sun. The yellow flowers are eye-catching.

One Kick Up

2009-03-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

The Bintulu Taekwondo Association held an exhibition-cum-championship competition at the Park City Mall yesterday ( 29th March). I was informed that Bintulu Taekwondo Association has about 800 members comprising school children and adults . It one of the most active Teakwondo Associations in Sarawak. The presence of so many spectators reminds me that Bintulu is no more the tiny town it was thirty years ago. Bintulu's population seem never to stop increasing due partly to its young population structure, unfettered urban migration from the poorer and isolated areas of Sarawak and influx of foreign workers.

One kick up to the Bintulu Taekwondo Association for an excellent show.

Eugenia polyantha flowers everywhere

2009-03-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

While in Japan the coming of Spring is heralded by the cherry blossoms at this time of the year, in Bintulu as I drive along the Tanjung Batu coastal road today I was greeted by rows and rows of flowering Eugenia polyantha trees. In the above picture, both sides of the road are planted with eugenia trees and at the central median the same trees are planted but heavily pruned to resemble topiary. The last time I encountered flowering on these trees were in September,2008. Thus it is safe to say that they flower at every 6-7 months interval.

Close up of the fluffy and creamy white flowers of the Eugenia polyantha.

Grilling fish

2009-03-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

Bintulu is for fresh fishes. And what I like to do most when they are so very fresh is to grill them. At my farm I used jungle wood to provide the fire and smoke. Yes nothing like the smell of smoke on grilled fish.

CU of the fishes I grilled today. I find that sprinkling the meat with black pepper and salt is a must. Eat them with soy sauce mixed with chillies,onions and lime.

Graffiti on Bintulu's Walls

2009-03-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

Today I came across an interesting graffiti done on the back wall of a public toilet at BDA-Shahida commercial centre. I have not seen any for many years now and this one somehow make me think that Bintulu should make graffiti-like art on all its public toilets and make it a special identity for Bintulu.

Fresh Evening Fishes

2009-03-07T04:20:00.000-08:00

In Bintulu one can shop for fresh fishes in the evening or at night time at many fish stalls that are set up by late afternoon at the Night Market situated at the heart of Bintulu town. A section of the market is devoted to fresh fishes that are harvested from inland fishery ponds operated mainly by the Ibans at the town's outskirts. Two species that are always available are the Patin and Red Tilapia.

CNY Cards

2009-01-20T23:31:00.000-08:00

Well, they do send CNY cards still. Come next Monday the 26th of January, the Chinese community in Bintulu will be celebrating their new lunar year of the Ox. I saw these new year cards still available these days of internet, sms and ICT. I guess some traditonal ways have a uniqueness that stays with time. Probably it is the nostagia, sentimentalism and anticipation that these cards bring that they are still very much a part of the festivities.

Rainy Bintulu

2009-01-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

Somerville Road in flash flood

The persistent winds and rains coupled with the king tide have caused a flash flood at Bintulu's banking street, Somerville Road.

I have not seen any such occurence since at least 20 years ago.

At the point of time the flash flood occurred the high tide at Bintulu reached a 6 m reading.

The newly renovated exterior of the Chinese temple in downtown Bintulu.

This picture is taken just after the rains have stopped and the carved walls appeared much darker grey than when dry.

The Tanjung tree ( Mimusops elengi ) opposite Pasar Utama.

I could hardly do much work outside or in the open this January and is easy to imagine how difficult it is for civil contractors to beat the weather in order to complete their projects in time. Going around Bintulu town and taking photographs from inside the car seems to be my favourite pastime in January. The above is a view of Tanjung trees that provide some shelter from the light shower. The ripe seeds are orange in colour, oval and about 2.5 cm long and it is from seeds that the tanjung trees are usually propagated.

The seeds are also very attractive to the birds.

The road leading to SMK Bintulu overhead bridge.

Fruit with hair-like appearance

2009-01-05T06:37:00.000-08:00

It is the 'rambutan' fruit which in Malay means a fruit with plenty of hairs. These hairs are actually soft and the leathery skin covering is easily removed by just twisting it with our hands. To eat, just pop the fleshy white pulp in the mouth and once the flesh is consumed eject the seed.
The rambutan is also called' little clouds' because the word 'nephelium' in Greek means 'little clouds', to desccribe the succulent fleshy pulp. In full the botanical name is nephelium lappaceum. The above fruits are harvested today at my eco-farm and comes from a wild rambutan species tree of which there are a few in stock.

January Sky

2009-01-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

There is something about today's sky over at my eco-farm in Bintulu. The white lining on the right and the light red colours on the left kept me wondering when the rains will fall on my roof tonight. Truly the rainy monsoon season is extending itself to the month of January, much to the delight of textbook writers. In our primary school schooling we were told that the rainy season will start from November right till February. Well, this year the rainy season follows the textbook. Like last month it rains daily, if not in the day then the nights would very very cold with the rains pouring non-stop from midnight till dawn.

Views of Sunset

2008-12-31T21:48:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of December, the skies at my farm exhibited wonderful colours of the sunset. The top picture is a view looking West and below it is the view from outside my chalet towards a South -West direction.

Morning Mist

2008-12-31T21:23:00.000-08:00

This is the view of the Kemena River very early in the morning, around 7.30 am with the morning mist having a light cover over the river. The small river craft to the right is called ' kapel tambang' which ferries the Kampung Jepak folks to work to the town proper everyday.
An adult is charged RM.50 per crossing. Ahead of the 'kapel tambang' is a small ferry that carries the kampung folks who ride motorycles to work. This morning the river is at low tide.

On the way out of my farm the other day, I was met by a heavy cover of morning mist though the time was about 7.00 am. The above view is taken before reaching the Kemena Bridge.

Bamboo for cooking vessel

2008-12-31T20:36:00.000-08:00

These bamboo culms( stem) are from a species of bamboo normally cut for use as cooking vessel.

The kind of food that is stuffed inside these young bamboo stems are like glutinous rice, chicken meat or fish. At the Bintulu tamu yesterday I saw them being sold at RM 1 a piece.

In the hot and humid tropical rainforest of Bintulu , bamboos are a very important forest resource. The ways of using bamboo are very much left to imagination. Bamboos are used to build all parts of a house except the roof, where thatched palm leaves are the preference. There are made into suspension bridges, scaffoldings to reach dizzly heights to harvest bird's nest on the ceiling of caves, river rafts, furniture, handicrafts ( e.g. coin box,baskets,table mats,chopsticks, walking sticks, etc) and young bamboo buds are eaten as vegetables, so called ' bamboo shoots'. Bamboos are the tallest of all grasses, reaching 30 meters and more. And as seen in Chinese movies you can jump and run on top of bamboo trees to execute your kung fu kicks:)))

Edible Seeds of the 'Cempedak'

2008-12-28T06:13:00.000-08:00

I had a fun time climbing the 'cempedak' tree today. The 'cempedak' fruit( artocarpus integer) is very much akin to the jackfruit( artocarpus heterophyllus). There are at least 5 trees that are fruiting profusely at my farm currently. The cempedak fruit is consumed in three main ways. In the above picture, its yellowish flesh which has a soft, custard-like texture can be eaten fresh. It can also be boiled with coconut milk and sugar to make 'dodol'. On the right of the picture, the seeds of the cempedak have been boiled and are ready to be eaten, preferably with honey. In Sarawak and therefore Bintulu for that matter, the fruiting season for cempedak is between the months of November right till February every year.

Silhouettes in Sunset

2008-12-28T05:36:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful sunset that appeared over at my farm this evening. Very inspiring and breathtaking. The above view is from my verandah , looking South-West.

A Typical December

2008-12-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

This year December is without doubt the wettest month of Bintulu. As I face the closing days of the year here I would like to post this picture of a view from my computer table of a typical December day. Sitting behind this huge window, I blog and get in touch with the wide wide world. Well, staying in a farm has its merits. The evergreen wash of colours over the fields is kind to the eyes.The abundance of oxygen that exudes the daily air from the tons of leaves are nature's gift to a healthy lung. The multitudes of wildlife become my companion and give much moral support to the projects that get stranded due to the heavy rains. We cannot push nature to the extremes and living in my eco-farm is like learning to live in harmony with nature. The song of the birds delights my senses as much as my spirit. The presence of wildlife jolts my soul to nature's joy of living. And the quietness of night gives me comfort after the bustle of daylight . Another day to celebrate with the rise of dawn.

Speed boats by Bintulu's river

2008-12-25T17:54:00.000-08:00

Just the other day while passing the Kampung Baru village, I saw these twin-powered 200 horsepower speed boats moored by the Sebiew river,Bintulu. These boats are normally used to go offshore by timber merchants or traders to inspect their logs before loading into foreign timber ships that are anchored about 10 - 15 km off Bintulu coast. They are also rented by tourists and deep sea fishing enthusiasts to offshore fishing spots some 75-100 km away to sea. Tourists use them to cruise the Bintulu coastline or to upriver for outboard riding.

Bintulu's Hardest Wood

2008-12-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

It is called the 'Belian' ( Eusideroxylon zwageri ) .The locals here have no doubts to its longevity and resistance to insects attack or rot. Pressed further they will say that their lives revolve around it. Belian timber are made into roofing tiles or shingles, floors, jetties, house posts, fences, steps and stairs, walkways, pestles and mortars, weapons, canoe hulls, telephone and electricity posts, stakes for pepper vines or piles for civil construction. It is so useful to the peoples of Sarawak that it is prohibitted to be exported. At this sawmill ,you can buy or order to size the timber from as thick as 30 cm to as thin as 4mm, normally the size used for roofing shingles. The belian timber is heavy and therefore will sink when placed in water or river. But when submerged for say half a century or more like the ones used as posts for village houses along Bintulu river, they are not subjected to rot. Strange but true.

First Facts of Bintulu - First Garden Gazebo

2008-12-16T19:15:00.000-08:00

This is the best picture I have of the first garden structure built at a public space and for public amenity in Bintulu in the very early years of the 1960's. The structure was probably built in 1960. The roof was made of tiles and post of belian hardwood. The floor was tiled with mosaic . This public amenity was well frequented in those days and around it were other public amenities like the see-saw and swing. The garden lawn was planted with cow grass ( axonopus compressus) and the most interesting feature was that it was planted with trees. One particular tree that still remains to this day is the yellow flame tree ( Peltophorum pterocarpum) ( Please see picture below) which is fortunately preserved in the re-making of the park and its surrounding area which is underway now.

To the left of the yellow flame tree was a swing, which I used to play with and towards the right would be the public structure or gazebo. In 1961, I was 10 years old. Thus this tree is more than 45 years old now.

The center of attraction of the park today is this fountain. However, there are no rest or garden shelter built like it used to be before.

Farm road wet as a river

2008-12-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

The above scene is typical of Bintulu these days. Since my arrival here last Friday, it has been raining everyday, if not in the day it will surely rain at night. This morning while on the way out to fetch my worker I was met with heavy downpour that made the earth road slippery and negotiating up the steep hilly slope a tricky adventure. But I managed only because I used a 4x4 vehicle.

For Sarawak, the months of November to January are referred to as the 'Landas' season or the rainy monsoon season. The term monsoon was made popular by Arab traders who found that two monsoons a year come to tropical Asia bringing in solid downpour of rain in different places at different times. In Arabic 'musim' means season. For example the North Easterly winds that blow through the months of November till January will result in torrentious rain for Sarawak, Borneo, Sumatra and Java. While the South westerly winds will wet the areas of India, Thailand and the western parts of Peninsular Malaysia.

Strictly No Durian

2008-11-29T15:46:00.000-08:00

That's me taking a picture of the notice which says it all. On location shooting: At a hotel in Bintulu.

Driving Through Heavy Rains

2008-11-29T05:09:00.001-08:00

While nearing Bintulu town on our journey back after an overnight trip from Miri, we drove into heavy rains for about two hours. Below are pictures of our car driving through the thin and thick of a heavy downpour. November's weather is of the extremes. Dry and hot one day and the next day the rains may pour endlessy.

Feather-leaved Palm Living in Water

2008-11-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

From the feathered-leaved palm tree and the conical roofs across is a distance of about 300 meters.

I clicked this shot today as I was sending my worker back to his village from work at my farm.

The two yellow boats on the left are deep sea trawlers and on the right are smaller coastal fishing boats.

This river is called the Kemena River and as a small boy I used to row a tiny boat to reach this side of the river ( foreground) with my brothers to collect firewood from the sawmill which were all free for the taking. Our family used to live on the Bintulu town proper side of the river (where the conical roofs are) in the 60's-70's.

The conical roofs take the shape of our local 'Terendak' , a working hat used by Melanau men and woman for shade against the sun and rain. The blue conical roofs are the wet and dry markets, whereas the green one in the far background ( towards the left) is the 'Tamu' or jungle produce market.

The peculiar palm tree in the foreground is our kind of riverside tree. It grows submerged in water. Called the 'Nipah' in our local Melanau dialect, it grows abundantly along both sides of the Kemena River for kilometers up river where the brackish water at high tide is saline and at low tide fresh. Often people refer to it as the Mangrove Palm because it is prevalent in mangrove salty marshes or tidal mudflat areas.

A CU View of the Nipah Palm ( Nypa fruiticans)

A Candid Camera Shot

2008-11-25T04:22:00.000-08:00

A candid shot indeed. The motorcylist rides a motobike without helmet. While driving does sms. And on all counts serious for the fact that the motorbike he's driving has a 'P' plate meant for learners who should avoid doing any traffic offences. In reality however I was trying to click on the tall tree called the 'Malay Apple ' tree or 'Jambu Bol' tree ( Syzygium malaccense ) that stood tall by the road. This tree is also referred to as the 'mountain apple ' in Hawaii or in their local tonque as 'Ohia'.

Deep Sea Trawler

2008-11-24T09:55:00.001-08:00

I saw this deep sea trawler unloading its catch this morning at the Bintulu fishing wharf on the river bank of Bintulu town center. For generations Bintulu was known as a fishing village and the local Bintulu fishermen are almost all Melanaus. However with the coming of the deep sea trawlers the ship's crew are mainly people employed from outside Bintulu because the local Melanau fishermen prefer to go out to sea in their own traditional small fishing vessels like their forefathers before them. Deep sea trawlers appeared in the Bintulu fishing scene around fifteen years ago.

The delicious Terap fruit ( artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco)

2008-11-23T07:35:00.000-08:00

It is called 'Terap' in Malay or 'Ong Lumok' in the local Melanau dialect. The flesh or aril is succulent, very sweet and has tiny seeds the size of groundnuts which can be roasted or fried as snacks for afternoon tea. Since last month and through to December this fruit are easily seen at the local jungle produce market in Bintulu. A fruit of the above size will normaly sell for RM 3. The skin has short,blunt and soft thorn-like covering but not pricky.

The 'terap' fruit tree is indeed tall, can reach 20 m high. Therefore to collect the fruit one has to climb the tree and pluck them from their end branches being cautious not to let them drop as once dropped the soft skin will be smashed and the fruits squashed and littered. The climbers will pluck semi ripe fruits and keep them for a day or two for ripening before they bring them to market.The leaves of the terap are large, about 30 - 40 cm long and 20-25 cm wide.

There are many varieties of the terap fruit with arils in colours of red and yellow.

Here's another variety with covering looking like rough hairs so is called 'Terap Bulu' ( artocarpus sericarpus)to mean hairy 'terap'.

The terap fruit comes from the same family as the breadfruit ( artocarpus communis Forst or its synonym: A.altilis) and is considered a staple fruit among the Pacific Islanders and many areas of South East Asia.

School's Out

2008-11-22T05:50:00.000-08:00

This week the school term ended on the 15th of November and schools throughout Malaysia are now having the long end of year holiday . Already kids are frolicking in the mud playing football . As I watched them play in the late afternoon sun I remembered my days when I was a kid just like them too.

They reminded me now - Have Fun with Life.

Wild Durians of Bintulu and the Durian Theory

2008-11-17T04:32:00.000-08:00

People who are familiar with Borneo knows very well the cultivated variety of durians ( Durio zibethinus) or ' King of the Fruits ' as what they are fondly called in this part of the world. It is according to some theorists a very primitive fruit in the evolutionary ladder of our present fruit tree because of its strong armour, height , colour and smell it has been able to win over competition among other trees in the tropical forest environment and survived to the present day. Seriously, this theory is called the Durian Theory.

The cultivated durian fruit is notorius for its intense smell, offensive for some but a welcome fragrance to many who will part any amount of money to buy one good fruit. Meaning RM 30 for a perfect fruit!

But among hoteliers its a NO, NO fruit to be allowed into the hotel premise. Thus it is no surprise that notices like these appear on hotel lifts:

" NO Durians or Outside Guests of Opposite Sex Allowed "

Durio oxleyanus Griff.

Among the Ibans the wild durian fruit above is called 'Isu'. Slightly harder to open, it has sharp and long thick thorns. However is much priced due to its aroma and sweet ' heavenly taste' to many jungle inhabitants and dwellers of the rainforest of Borneo.

This fruit appears to come in season right now to make up for the disappearing cultivated durians species which are in its tail end of the fruiting season. It's a little hefty on the price tag because its sold now by the kilo, which is RM 15/kilo.

Durio kutejensis

The local Ibans in Sarawak call the above fruit 'Nyekak'. The Malays call them 'durian kuning '( yellow durian) on account of its yellowish colour flesh or pulp.

In this species, the thorns are short, skin and flesh yellow and are easily opened by applying a slight pressure of both hands on the fruit. It has brown seeds, much smaller than the cultivated species and in many cases have tiny or no seeds at all. Tastes sweet and does not give the hiccups if you take too many like the durians. A small size fruit like above weighs half a kilo and at present price in Bintulu is RM 5 per fruit.

Kuala Tatau Water Festival

2008-11-16T19:01:00.000-08:00

A race in progress.

The Kuala Tatau village was a buzz today, roaring to the powerful outboard engines like the ones above as part of this year '45 Years of Sarawak's Independence Through Malaysia ' celebration.

A section of the large crowd of spectators by the river bank.

A fishing boat decorated with the Malaysian flags greet spectators as they walked up the ramp after disembarking the small boat that ferry them to reach the main village across. Rates: Adults = RM 1.50 per person. Children = Free.

Strong winds and choppy waters in Bintulu today

2008-11-12T05:38:00.000-08:00

The first sign that a sudden change in weather was imminent was when I saw these grasses bending low at the Bintulu Waterfront Promenade.

Very quickly strong winds slammed the palm trees, sending visitors scurring for cover. Suddenly there was not a soul taking a stroll at the promende.

Going further up to Kidurong Housing Beach area some 20 minutes drive from the mouth of the Kemena River ( where sits the promenade) I saw many small fishing crafts moored at the lagoon area seeking safety from the choppy waters offshore and impending stormy weather. This is typical of the end of year weather at Bintulu ( Nov- Dec) when strong winds can send waves up to three or four meters high making the sea most dangerous for small fishing crafts like these.

Bintulu expecting Chinese tourists?

2008-11-07T03:54:00.000-08:00

This is the main street when you drive into Bintulu town proper. However the signboard seen today is not the norm. Is Bintulu expecting Chinese tourists? In the Parliament session yesterday, the Tourism Ministry encouraged the use of mutli-language signboards in certain locations. For example in Kuala Lumpur, where there are hundreds of thousands of Middle East tourists coming yearly, the use of Arabic in the signboards will help the tourists to find their way around KL. By the same virtue, is Bintulu expecting more Chinese tourists soon?

Seasonal Fruits - Rambutan ( Nephelium lappaceum)

2008-11-06T05:27:00.000-08:00

Today is a day within the rambutan fruiting season. When I went to Bintulu town, there were red and yellow rambutans by the baskets and van loads. From November to February every year, the rambutans without fail show themselves on trees. 'Rambut ' in Malay means hairs and the name rambutan refers to the mass of hairs ( .5-2cm) stuck on the skin of the rambutan fruit. The rambutans are oval in shape and in some varieties the oval shaped could be slightly enlongated. The unripe fruit is green and sour. When ripe the rambutans' flesh or pulp are very sweet especially the hybrid ones. To eat the ripe rambutan, remove the skin by a slight twisting movement of hand, then bite into the flesh or pulp and soon the fleshy pulp is peeled off from the seed.
In Borneo there are at least 25 species of the rambutans. The trees flower up to 300 ft above sea level. Thus on higher altitudes rambutan don't bear fruit. Rambutans , like the 'mata kuching', 'lici' and 'pulasan' belongs to the genus nephelium. In Greek 'nephelion' means 'little cloud' refering to the delicious pulp surrounding the seeds of these fruits. The peeled flesh are now canned and in some cases are mixed with pineapples for added appeal and taste. By the way in one sitting you can eat as many rambutans as you can.

Fresh tuna at Bintulu's market

2008-11-06T00:03:00.000-08:00

One one my favourites routine when in Bintulu town is to drop by at the fish market situated at Kampung Baru ,tugged by the lazy the Sebiew River. At this market you can get fresh tuna very easily because Bintulu is rich in deepwater fishing grounds. Trawlers and small fishing boats are plenty in Bintulu, a town once known only as a fishing town but now a showpiece of industrial progress.

The fish monger today has sliced the tuna into slim pieces and a plate of the above costs me RM 8, weighing slightly more than a kilo . Today the going rate is RM 6/kilo. I like to fry tuna though it can be barbequed, grilled or prepared in curry or soya sauce.

By the way the local Bintulu Melanaus are great fish eaters and as they say fish is good for the heart. They live longer here. They even eat fish raw in the form of 'umai' . If you happen to be in Bintulu and never tried 'umai', you would have miss the real Bintulu.

Bintulu town fountain

2008-11-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

This town fountain in Bintulu takes the shape of the 'terendak' , a Malay traditional hat or 'saong' in local Melanau dialect. However it is built entirely of stainless steel. The same shape is also used for the town's market roof structure in the background. It is increasingly becoming an icon for Bintulu especially amongst out-of-towners and tourists.

Wild banana ( M. hirta) lilac spikes

2008-11-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

As an ornamental plant favourite this wild banana plant called 'pisang lengki' ( M. hirta) by the Ibans is an ideal plant for landscaping because they are relatively short, grow in small clump and produces brilliant lilac bracts and light orange inflorescence.

The leaves of this plant as well as its soft stem ( inner core) can be cooked as vegetables. The terminal spike which contain male flowers and are closed towards the remaining end ( called the 'jantung' in Malay) can be cooked with coconut milk or grilled and eaten as salad, preferably with the famous Bintulu shrimp paste, the belacan.

At the very early stage of flowering, the wild banana flower spike squeezes itself out from the tip of the banana stem showing its beautiful bracts. I hope in later postings I can show more pictures of this plant as it produces more flowers and finally fruits.

Seasonal fruits - Ong Balem ( Mangifera pajang)

2008-11-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

'Ong Balem' are what the local Melanaus here name the seasonal fruit which look like canon balls in the picture above. They have a thick skin but are easily removed from the flesh as in the next picture below. The Ibans refer to them as 'bambangan'. They are found wild though many are nowadays cultivated in rural orchards. These fruits can weigh between 1-2 kilos and can reach 10 - 15 cm long or 10 - 15 cm wide. Most of them are spherical. Because of this unique shape and quality ( i.e. without hairs) the Melanaus would jokingly refer to a bald headed person's head as 'ong balem'.

The thick yellow flesh are fibrous and can be fine or rough in texture. The skin can be chopped into vegetables , eaten as salad with 'sambal belacan' or shrimp paste and pickled.

Above, the slices are ready to be eaten raw. Depending on the variety the flesh can taste extremely sweet or sour sweet. Because the skin is thick, the fruits once harvested can have a long shelf life averaging about two weeks. After peeling all the yellow flesh away, what is left is a big seed which tastes bitter and seldom eaten.

Seasonal fruits - Dabai (canarium odontophyllum)

2008-11-03T06:12:00.000-08:00

It is the moment of seasonal fruits in Bintulu. Towards the end of every year, all kinds of seasonal fruits will be seen in the market place. Two kinds of fruits shown above are the rambutans ( red and yellow varieties) and the black fruit is called the dabai.

The dabai is sometimes called the tropical olive or Sibu olive. Sibu being a town in Sarawak where they are found in abundance .

Dabai fruits in baskets

Going to town today, I dropped by at the Tamu ( jungle produce market) to buy a kilo of these rare fruits. A kilo of dabai, depending on their varieties, tastes and sizes fetch around RM 6 - 15 a kilo in peak season.
How do you eat the dabai? First dip them inside a bowl of warm water for 15-20 minutes. Then add salt or soya bean sauce for flavour. The fruit tastes buttery and has a yellowish soft texture. Size is about 3-4 cm long, 2 cm wide. The trees can reach about 20 m high and initially the unripe fruits appear white in colour and changes to red and finally black in its successive ripening stages. The black skin is eaten together with the flesh but not the seed which is very hard. Here people eat the dabai with their rice.

A dabai tree by the roadside at Kampung Jepak, Bintulu. Note the unripe white fruits at the tip of the branches.

Chinese Temple in Bintulu town

2008-11-02T01:42:00.000-07:00

The Chinese temple in Bintulu town is undergoing renovation works. What started as a tiny wooden building ( 50 years ago) has grown into a full fledged concrete structure today. I took a side angle of its partly finished roof and wall with its extra bright red colours and intricate designs. The grey panels and round columns have not been painted yet.

My Beautiful Washing Machine by express

2008-10-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

On top of these long and highly powered river boats called 'express boats' in Bintulu, goods are stacked after all available space inside are taken up. On this morning's forwarding list are bags of rice, boxes , pvc pipes, food items in various packings and small engines that are done for repairs at Bintulu town . And not forgetting the beautiful washing machine.

This express boat is bound to Sebauh ,a half an hour journey upstream. It will invariably make pit stops along the journey to disembark passengers or goods bound for less than the full journey but all at locations along the Kemena River which snakes its way into the interior of Bintulu. The farthest these boats will go upstream is the town of Tubau, a 4 hours journey.

There are a main means of communication for people who live along the Kemena River for years now. But today their numbers are much reduced due to the fact that more of the river settlements ( comprising of longhouses of the Ibans and kampungs of the Malays) are reachable by road from Bintulu town.

These express boats are berthed at the pontoon reserved for them while waiting their turn to take in passengers and goods. The boat driver's cockpit is right at the front. It is so small that it can only fit in the driver.

A side view of the boat showing its tiny door and a dummy clock on the left of the door indicating departure time . To the right of the door a notice says " 30 penumpang" meaning 30 passengers only.

Satay for Breakfast

2008-10-30T04:46:00.000-07:00

Early in the morning the Melanau women at Kampung Jepak, some 15 minutes drive from my farm are already selling satay. Today I dropped by at one of the roadside stalls to buy some satay sticks while on my way to fetch my worker there around 7.00 am. At today's price, RM 1 will fetch you 4 sticks of juicy, hot and soft slices of grilled chicken meat as shown above. There is the gravy of crushed peanuts mainly to go with it. However it is customary to eat satay with steamed glutinous rice wrapped in narrow fragrant pandan leaves. Once prepared in this manner, the rice is called ' kelopez' in the local Bintulu Melanau dialect. Four pieces of these kelopez wrappings cost RM 1. With a cup of tea in hand, I thought how synonymous is satay to Malaysia. Just like Kentucky fried chicken to America. Well, here's to satay, kelopez and tea...Good morning to everybody...and enjoy life's little moments.

Wild Orchid at Eco-farm,Bintulu

2008-10-28T04:37:00.000-07:00

I was clearing the jungle at my eco-farm this morning. At one location on top of the hill, my eyes were caught by the brilliant yellow flowers of this wild ground orchid. There are thousands of wild orchids in Sarawak and this particular one must be one of the thousands. I am yet to find out the name of this particular species. Anywhere I have dug out and moved three of them to a new location to as a starter for my collection of wild orchids of Sarawak at my eco-farm.

The above is a CU view of the brilliant yellow flowers.

Bird's nest fern ( asplenium nidus) on my chalet steps

2008-10-24T21:34:00.000-07:00

It is raining this morning in Bintulu. I couldn't go outside to do any gardening. Therefore I decided to be an ' armchair horticulturalist'.

I am always fascinated by ferns and am thinking seriously now to establish a collection of ferns at one of the vegetation islands at my farm. Anyway, about the bird's nest fern I have one growing extremely healhty just at the steps at the back of my chalet as shown above.

Notice the sporangia ( containing spores ) on the underside of the frond. Appearing like dark brown to black lines, they are kept dry after every shower of rain. Ferns do not produce flowers and thus belong to a unique group of plants. Normally botanists identify plants whether trees or shrubs from their flowers or inflorescences. Spores are very light and easily airborne and thus able to colonise new habitats.

In the case of the bird's nest fern at my chalet, dead leaves from the eugenia tree I planted above it, collect within the middle of the 'nest'. Overtime more dead leaves are collected and compacted and they slowly rot. Other dead insects like ants,flies' lizards etc get accumulated into the rotting organic mass. I am always looking forward to new pale green fronds that emerge from the decaying leaves. Rain water is soaked up by this mass and stored until the next shower.

The above shows how you can have a beautiful display of the bird's nest fern. However, the best conditions for growing them are in moist and shady areas, which are easily present in Bintulu's tropical climate.

Trumpet tree ( Tabebuia rosea/alba) seeds in Bintulu

2008-10-22T00:55:00.000-07:00

In my earlier postings, I mentioned of the trumpet trees ( Tabebuia) flowering in Bintulu. Often times this tree is called the pink tecoma or Poui tree. Well, today I came across the first signs of the tree bearing fruits. The fruits resemble bean-like long capsules.

At one tree I noticed this fully ripened seed pod split open with some spaces empty due to the seeds being blown away or just dropped off.

I placed the seed pod on my car's bonet to have a cu view. The seeds are wrapped in an extra light , white thin feathery filament to make them easily airborne.

Scrambling Sailor in Bintulu

2008-10-21T23:09:00.000-07:00

I went to town yesterday and dropped by at my brother's place where I took this picture.

This is a fine example of the beauty of the drunken sailor ( Quisqualis indica ) I understand that it got stuck with this name because its flowers appear white in the beginning and then gradually reddens as it ages. It is a busy scrambler, weaving a complete screen as in this case the fence and the room upstairs. I mean thanks to the drunken sailor who is ever willing to shield my head against the hot afternoon sun while I enjoy my cup of tea. It is a perfect way to show off your drunkeness, I mean your passion with the drunken sailor. For a small or tiny space like above, the use of the drunken sailor is extremely effective because as a strong climber it is almost supportive of itself. Hah..contrary to its reputation.

The above is a cu of the drunken sailor's flowers. The flowers are scented and have long calyx tube which could be mistaken for a flower stalk. Likes the full sun and easily propagated by cuttings. It belongs to the family of combretaceae. It is native to South East Asia and as such is sometimes referred to as The Rangoon Creeper ( Rangoon is a city in Myanmar or previously Burma)

Pink Frangipani ( Plumeria rubra)

2008-10-21T06:36:00.000-07:00

Having been away in Kuching for about a month for the Hari Raya holidays , I am always excited to see what's new at my garden in Bintulu. I'll try to post the many surprises I had this week in the next few postings. Today's focus is on the pink frangipani ( Plumeria rubra) . This is from a tree about 2 meters high and I love the pink colours and the flushed orange in the center. It is very scented. My best pix of the pink frangipani so far.

Storm and rain at the farm

2008-10-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

The two shots below are taken after a lapse of about half an hour. When I was about to leave my eco-farm to send my worker home, I saw this gathering storm from the south moving rapidly towards my farm,which is on the right of the picture.

Half an hour later when I returned to the farm, the clouds have scattered the rains on the highway and also my farm.

If we are to follow the textbook, November till February is normally the season for heavy rains in Bintulu and likewise through out Sarawak. However for many years now this common wisdom has gone haywire due to drastic global climatic changes. We in Bintulu are no exception. Compared to Kuching however I notice that the rains here occur mainly at night whilst in Kuching it start to rain daily normally in late afternoon, say around 3-4pm daily onwards. For my civil contracting experience I find that as a contractor it's better to work in Bintulu because chances are you'll have more full days sunny than compared to Kuching where you have may to pack home early in the afternoon to avoid working in the rain especialy involving external works.

The Angsana tree

2008-09-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

A row of mature angsana trees ( Pterocarpus indicus) or 'pokok sena' in Malay with their dense crown of leaves provide much shade against the afternoon sun. This picture I took at the Taman Temasya, Tanjung Batu , Bintulu. No respectable landscaper in Malaysia will fail to incorporate this plant species in the design of soft landscape to public parks, roadsides, golf courses, schools and institutions of higher learning ,open spaces and city green lungs. Angsana trees was a hit in the hey days of town landscaping in Malaysia in the 80's. They are easily propagated from their branches, can withstand rough handling and grows in most soils . Their blanket of flowers are very fragrant though short lived. Its special appeal is in its ability to be grown as an instant tree where the need to achieve immediate results were critical in the greening campaign of the 80's. Today while landscapers prefer to introduce new flowering tree species ( and forgetting the angsana as a result) they remain after these years strong and standing stately as ever.

Barbequed sting ray

2008-09-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

At the Ramadan Bazaar located at Bintulu Esplanade I saw these portions of the sting ray fish being barbequed. I have been a fish eater throughout my life and these appetising slices left me sliving. Like a swash buckling samurai I drew out RM 5 from my wallet to capture a portion.

Decorative Ketupat wrappings

2008-09-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

We are three quarter way through the fasting month of Ramadan and already the 'ketupat' decorative wrappings are on sale at the local 'tamu' or jungle produce market. These decorative pieces are displayed on the walls of Muslim homes during the 'Hari Raya Puasa' festival,marking the end of the month-long fasting season. Wait a minute, did I say jungle? Oh ya in their free time while waiting for customers the traders at the 'tamu' weave colourful strips of glossy papers to make these decorative 'ketupat' wrappings and sell them as seasonal items beside their routine sales of jungle produce items like vegetables, fruits,cakes or riverine fishes. The real 'ketupat' wrappings are made from young coconut leaves. They are filled with glutinous rice to be boiled and served with 'satay' or taken with curry to welcome the' Hari Raya Puasa' festival soon.

Plastic Flowers will do

2008-09-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

These artificial flowers overflow into the sidewalk. Made from plastic these flowers will find their way to households,cars, offices,restaurants etc, for their lasting appeal and low maintenance value. Freshness aside. The display technique I think is eye catching though it tends to crowd the sidewalk.

Blind man show

2008-09-17T05:07:00.000-07:00

With a microphone on one hand and his left hand playing the keyboard, this blind man entertains the passers by crowd at the Esplanade . His repertoire consists primarily Iban melodies with a limited song list of Malay songs. He moves location daily and today he is entertaining the Ramadan shopping crowd at the Bintulu Esplanade. He sits next to the trolley which carry his show hardware consisting of the car battery, small PA system, keyboard,chair and donation box.

Ramadan shopping hard hit by inflation

2008-09-17T04:45:00.000-07:00

The Ramadan Bazaar at the Bintulu Esplanade looked quiet and few customers are patronizing the food stalls nowadays. It is the sign of inflationary times. With the increase of petrol price and thus the means to travel and shop and the across the board increase in the ceiling prices of all goods, gone are the days of 'cheap' price. The people in Bintulu are learning quickly to avoid shopping unnecessarily , mindful of more hard times ahead. It is only the middle of Ramadan and today's crowd is not even half of the bazaar's opening day crowd.

Timber Industrial Zone

2008-09-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

From where I am staying, every drive to Bintulu town means passing the Kemena Bridge. Here's a view of the Kemena Timber Industrial area taken from the Kemena Bridge facing down river.This timber based industrial zone produces plywood, veneer, sawn timber, briguet,medium density fibre board,furniture etc for export. It was developed about 20 years ago to utilise fully the timber resources available in Bintulu's rich forests hinterland.

Yellow Bamboo Uprooted

2008-09-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

After the heavy thunderstorm and strong winds that hit our farm last night, I woke up this morning to a complete surprise at nature's fury. The yellow bamboo clump about 15 meters high was uprooted by the strong winds. Today we started to cut the fallen bamboo stems and clear the debris. One oil palm tree was damaged because the bamboo clump toppled on it.

Blooming Eugenias

2008-09-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

Driving along Tanjung Batu Coastal road this morning I saw a long line of eugenias ( Eugenia polyantha) bursting in white flowers. The flowers are small but grouped in large clusters giving the effect of a consuming white blanket of flowers over the small yet compact crown.

Eugenias are considered a small tree for landscaping purposes thereby making it a potential candidate for small residential roads or even sub-arterial roads like the one below. Eugenias have only recently being used as a landscaping tree in Bintulu probably to my knowledge in the early nineties. When planted very closely together, they assume a thick wall thus appropriate for buffering or screening purposes. It is a versatile tree too because it can be pruned heavily and 'bonsaied', meaning it can be used as a topiary plant to create as many and as varied shapes and sizes the gardener or landscaper wishes.
Another feature that is worth noting of this handsome tree is its young leaves which show a transition of colours as they mature, from light yellow to orange to red and bronze. The tree is evergreen. Yet when they produce young leaves, they give the 'autumn look' in an otherwise hot, tropical and humid Bintulu.

Most Unique Building in Bintulu

2008-09-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

This corporate building is owned by the Bintulu Port Authority. Located some 25 kilometers from Bintulu town, it is the tallest building within the vicinity of Kidurong Industrial Area.

Ferry comes, Ferry goes

2008-09-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

A husband and wife conversation.

O Gosh, people are already in their station. We are late. Watch the ramp. OK ,my Love.

Ferry comes, ferry goes. Within ten minutes we'll arrive Bintulu town. Just sit and stand still.

Fresh Pineapple for juicing

2008-09-12T09:42:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I bought four of these beautiful pinapples ( Ananas cosmosus) at the 'tamu' or local jungle produce market. The Malay word for pineapple is 'nenas'. One fruit like the above costs RM 1-2 only, each one weighing between 1-2kilos. I bought them to make fresh juice to break my fast today.

Flowers keep falling on my head

2008-09-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

It's springtime for these tabebuiea trees or sometimes known as trumpet trees on account of their trumpet-like flowers. In the above picture the flowers are pink and therefore called Tabebuiea rosea. Below it's the white flower variety and referred to as Tabebuiea alba.

Location: Open space at Medan Jaya, Bintulu.

Orange Fungi

2008-09-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

I found these two orangish fungal objects this morning at the farm. It's web-like 'fruiting body' or spore producing structures are very attractive to flies. I am at a lost regarding its scientific name.

A Home called PALACE

2008-09-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

Here I am Queen. I have a special place called " Daisy Palace". The place to lie back, raise my legs up in the clouds, dreams the impossible and proud to be a mother.

Poor Pipit

2008-09-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

The 'pipit' ( Cheshnut Munia) is a very common bird in Bintulu. They have pale blue bill and cheshnut coloured feathers. Feeding on grass seeds, they fly in flocks and produce rather loud continuous echoes of 'pit,pit,' from which derived their name 'PIPIT'( Malay word)

Poor pipit is prey to cats. Here Einstein a Bintulu born cat, seems reluctant to release his priced catch of the day when talked to.

Crossing River by Ferry

2008-09-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Early this morning when picking up my worker I stopped by the jetty where people from Kampung Jepak take a ferry boat to reach Bintulu town which is just across the Kemena River as seen below.

The ferry boat being a small rivercraft only takes passengers on motorbikes. No fees are charged. By courtesy of the Government. Time taken: about 7.30 am. The sun is about to rise in the East.

Here comes the ferry.

Brisk sales at Ramadan Bazaar

2008-09-07T04:11:00.000-07:00

My wife decided not to cook this evening and instead we went to Bintulu town shopping for ready made dishes for breaking of fast. From the stall above we bought Sarawak laksa, an assortment of cakes and fried mee.

The Ramadan Bazaar stalls located at Medan Jaya ( opposite Sing Kwong supermarket) are enjoying brisk sales from customers of various ethnic origin and the sight of them freely mixing and enjoying the different tastes and cuisines of the Muslim community augurs well for social integration here.

Enter the Scorpion

2008-09-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

This morning I met an intruder entering the front door.

The Black Scorpion!

Ready to attack.

In a deadly pose.

The menacing upright back posture.

BBQ Fish for Breaking Fast

2008-09-06T05:14:00.000-07:00

You can be spoilt for choices for your breaking fast menu at the Bintulu Esplanade where a temporary Ramadan Bazaar has been set up. Today I opted for barbequed fish. The above are 'terubuk' fishes which are very popular when smoked or salted. To my knowledge, in Kuching the salted terubuk eggs can fetch to as much as RM 300 per kilo.

Dutch Tuber in Bintulu.

2008-09-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

The above are young tapioca leaves just harvested at my farm this morning. Tapioca ( Manihot Esculenta Crantz )are a worthwhile plant to have in our immediate vicinty. They belong to the family of Euphorbiaceae. From its roots we get tubers that can be boiled and eaten with honey, sugar or meat including fish. They are alternative to eating rice or bread. The young leaves are plucked from its soft woody stems as salad or prepared with coconut milk as vegetables. In Bintulu these leaves are sold at the tamu or local jungle produce market at very reasonable price. For example the quantity above could be sold at RM 1 and would be enough for two or three persons eating. Locally tapioca is called 'ubi kayu' or 'ubi Belanda'. 'Belanda' means Dutch in Malay. The later name suggests that tapioca was indeed brought by the Europeans to this region from where it originated i.e. Tropical America.

Ramadan Bazaar

2008-09-02T01:03:00.000-07:00

With the coming of Ramadan, the fasting month, the Muslim community in Bintulu like elsewhere will shop for food,drinks and many other items at the Ramadan bazaar that seem to sprout like mushrooms. They are nowadays joined by other communities of different faiths to taste the various foods and cakes especially prepared for those taking the fast. In this way the Ramadan has an interesting social function.

This year the fasting starts on the 1st of September and will normally lasts a month. Besides the culinary aspect, the month is welcomed by all Muslims to renew their faith, clean up their souls ( by special nightly prayers besides the usual five daily prayers, doing good deeds, have good thoughts, ask God's forgiveness for minor sins whether known or unknown, etc)

The two pictures above are taken at a Ramadan Bazaar located at Medan Raya car parking area, in front of Sing Kwong Supermarket. Time: 5.30 pm.

Friday Prayers

2008-08-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

On Friday I join the Muslim comunity in Bintulu for the regular Friday congregational prayers.

On the way to the carpark, I stopped by the minaret which is at a distance from the main mosque building. Architecturally,the minaret is connected to the main mosque by a water body. I thought an interesting concept.

Independence Spirited Driver

2008-08-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

Sarawak's Independence is celeberated by this car owner by decorating his ( her) car with mini flags.

Location: A Car Park in Bintulu town.

A Pacific Islander in Bintulu

2008-07-30T06:54:00.000-07:00

The above is a long shot view ( LS) of the Sukun tree ( Artocarpus communis Forst. or sometimes referred to as Artocarpus altilis) . Originated from the Pacific Islands, it has now become a popular plant found in the gardens and farms of rural Bintulu. The tree can reach 30 meters. The leaves are wide i.e. around 20 -30 cm and about 30-60cm long.

These breadfruits are large, has thick skin and mainly cooked when they are semi-ripe as fritters,smoked or prepared with coconut milk as vegetables. There are of course many other ways how the fruits are cooked or prepared depending from which tropical area you come from. The fruits are non-seasonal and therefore can be available all year round in Bintulu. Depending on size each fruit can fetch a price of between RM 3- RM5 at the local Tamu or jungle produce market. The sukun fruits are seedless and therefore are propagated through root cuttings or marcots. The fruits are ovalish and cylinderical and the diameter can be between 10-30cm . It is believed that by drinking water from the boiled leaves can reduce high blood pressure and relieve asthma.

Colourful Jungle Sprouts

2008-07-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

I was out early this morning walking through the jungle tracks at my farm and found these colourful leaves sprouting out from the jungle floor. The one above are suggestive gestures of a dance like movement.

The dark purple oval young leaves of the forest climber above has just sprouted and soon will begin to find support to climb up the jungle canopy.

Red-fleshed seeds of Dillenia

2008-07-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

The Shrubby Dillenia ( Dillenia suffruticosa) which is locally known as 'Simpoh Air' has fruits when split open exposes the red-fleshed seeds that are a real treat for the birds here.

Angsana Trees Flowering in Bintulu

2008-07-26T05:17:00.000-07:00

The Angsana trees are in flowering mode right now in Bintulu. Bintulu has a total stretch of 25 kilometers of these huge ,compact and spreading canopies of lush green leaves since they were planted some 25 years ago, in a bid to catch up with the fever of urban landscaping comparable with major towns like Kuching (then but now a city). Angsana flowers are fragrant, bright yellow in colour and last only a day, after which they fall off to the ground leaving a carpet mass of yellow flowers.

'Tipuk' Fruits are in Season

2008-07-24T04:36:00.000-07:00

These are images of the local fruit called 'Tipuk' by the Bintulu Melanaus or 'Panyun' by the Ibans. They belong to the Zingiberaceae family ( Ginger family) and of the Hornstedia species. I took these pictures while doing my weekend shopping at the local jungle produce market we call 'Tamu' in Bintulu last Sunday. These fruits have a sweet sour taste and are eaten raw. The contents of the small bowl (in white) is sold at One Ringgit Malaysia.

Flowers of the Ironwood Tree

2008-07-24T04:22:00.000-07:00

The locals call it 'Penanga' and refers to the Ironwood Tree ( Mesua ferrea) which produces these attractive medium sized white petals and bright yellow stamens. They normally flower twice a year in Bintulu.

White Ginger Lily

2008-07-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

I made a cutting of this flower spike of the local White Ginger Lily ( Hedychium coronarium) this morning and had it placed in my living room. Instantly the whole room was perfumed with the sweetest of smell. Who needs room refreshers?

Wild Banana Inflorescence

2008-07-24T04:02:00.000-07:00

A close up view of the inflorescence of a wild banana plant , locally called 'Pisang Lengki'( Musa hirta) by the Ibans is seen at my garden. For the local Ibans, this flower spike can be smoked and eaten raw as salad.

Indian 'Goa Tree' flowering in Bintulu

2008-07-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

Goa Tree

Yesterday ( 17/7) while paying a visit to the wood factory at Bintulu town, I passed this flowering Goa Tree. Situated along the main highway into the Bintulu Town proper, just a few meters away from Ngiu Kee Supermarket , this Goa Tree ( well, you reckon the trees must have flourished in Goa, India and then brought over to this part of the world) was about its mature height i.e. 10- 15 m high. The flowers are small and purplish. In Bintulu it is grown as a roadside tree on residential roads and aterial and sub-arterial town roads. Good for shade and specimen planting, too. Its column of leaves are typically round in shape though when it gets slightly older the crown may look spreading. After the flowering season is over, the tree will bear fruits that are like almond- shaped ( like our local ' kedundong' fruit ( Otaheite or ambarella). Fruits of our local kedundong are edible but not the Goa Tree fruits. As a roadside tree, due to its height and spreading nature, it is best to plant them at a planting distance of 40 meters. Oh, ya just for the record, some people call this tree, the cabbage tree.

Grape Fruits Ripening in Bintulu

2008-07-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

Today I was spending a short afternoon rest at the Tanjung Batu shoreline. Much to my delight I noticed this Sea Grape tree ( Coccoloba uvifera) fruiting and on some branches the fruits were ripe in purple colours.

Sea Grapes are a tropical tree that does well along coasts, well drained soil and in full sun. Note the almost circular shape of the leaves ( about 20 - 30 cm long.

The ripe fruits are edible. I have tried to propagate them previously by seeds and I found that the germination rate was about 70 %. Presently I do have a healthy specimen grown at my eco-farm.

Sea Hibiscus

2008-07-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

At the beach along the coastline of the Kidurong Township one can see rows and sometimes big groupings of the sea hibiscus ( Hibiscus tiliaceus) This species of the hibiscus is native to Malaysia and grows abundantly along seashores and beaches of Bintulu. The flowers are bright yellow with large crimson centers, turning orange when they fade. The leaves are large and heart-shaped.

Fishing Boats of Bintulu

2008-07-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

I was passing the beach area in front of the Kidurong Township today. In the calm waters of the man-made bay are parked colourful fishing boats belonging mainly to part-time fishermen . Most of the fishermen bring their boats up to ten kilometers offshore to fish in their free time because most of them are employed by the big companies or organisations at Kidurong Industrial Zone, some 12 kilometers away ( by road).