Traveller's Palm ( Ravenala madagascariensis)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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.