Sunset at the Farm

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...

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

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)

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

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

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

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.