John Bay's Collection

There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other humans beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and if often more profound. (Diana Cortes)







There is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but an expansion, an interpretation, of one's self, the very meaning of one's soul. (Edith Wharton)
The beautiful photos above are compliments from a very dear friend, John Bays, who lives in the United Kingdom. He takes such fabulous photos (flowers are from his own garden); I just want the world to see what he sees. John and I share a passion in photography. Living across the globe from each other doesn't stop us from sharing our passion together. Thanks John, for our special moments :) Thank you for the trust and comfort,and always making days more special for me.

John is like a shady tree...beside a summer's way
He is like sunshine that makes my perfect day
He is like a flower that I wear close to my heart
He is definitely treasure...I will not wanna part

Frangipani

Plumeria Alba, although I prefer the name Frangipani, is one flower of beauty, charm and grace. It represents spring and new life. Can't believe this flower dates back to the Mayan civilisation, and they believed back then that this beauty symbolizes life and birth of human beings.
I first heard of the name Frangipani a few years back, when I made a trip to Bali. Bali is a haven for body massages and I had Frangipani oil all over my body. Fell in love with the fragrance and being so relaxed afterwards.

A little history: The name Plumeria came from the honorable 17th-century French botanist, Charles Plumeira. The name Frangipani birthed from a noble Italian family, a 16th-century marquess of which invented a plumeria-scented perfume.

Here in Malaysia, this strong-scented beauty is also as The Graveyard Flower. These trees are commonly found around cemeteries; believed to offer protection and shelter.
You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. NOW. (Joan Baez)

It's been a tough week for me. I lost a friend last Sunday. It was especially difficult for me because this is a friend whom I have never met in person before...always wanted to but never had the chance...always thought that that one day would come...assumed that there's plenty of opportunities in the near future...and now that one day is gone forever. I could not believe that I had to 'meet' him for the very first time in the funeral home.
Death ends a life, not a relationship. (Jack Lemmon)

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. (Anonymous)

Memories...
Six years ago, I was honoured to have been in the life of a very special young boy named Jonathan. Jon came into this world with lots of challenges...he was born was a 'blue boy' (had a hole in his heart) and obviously, along with that, came many more health obstacles. Doctors confirmed that he would only be able to live until age 2. Nevertheless, God allowed Jon to live 11 wonderful years in this world. He was one cheerful boy. His mom made sure that he lived to the fullest; home tutoring, junkfood and computer games!!!
I remembered a few days before he passed away. He was hospitalized; he needed to have surgery and he wanted so much to have a Nemo to hug. I made sure he had one specially air-flown from the city. Nothing could make me happier watching him smile when he saw me carrying the Nemo towards him :) Jon died a few days after, just before his 12th birthday. His mom made sure that Nemo accompanied him in his coffin.
Death is nothing else but going home to God, the bond of love will be unbroken for all eternity (Mother Teresa)

Wild Thistle

To see the world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower...hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour. (Willian Blake)

A weed is but an unloved flower. (Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

Can you believe this wild flower is a weed? A plant pest! Unwanted. Unnoticed. Yet, if you take a minute to actually look at it, it is gorgeous. This particular "pest" is known as a wild thistle. Although there are many species of thistles around the world, this thistle belongs to the Marsh Thistle family.

The colour purple on this thistle is simple breathtaking. A symbol of royalty and nobility, the purple colour certainly caught my eye as I was taking my morning walks. I could not help but stop and take some pictures of it.


The name thistle is a national symbol of Scotland. Hmm..why would Scotland choose a weed to be their national symbol? Well, the story goes like this... when the Vikings invaded Scotland, the sleeping Scots were saved when one of the attackers trod on a wild thistle with his bare feet. His cries raised the alarm and the roused Scots duly defeated the Danes. Hehe...saved by the thistle!
The grasshopper takes the lead in summer luxury ...he has never done with his delights, for when tired out with fun, he rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed. (John Keats)

Thoughts...
Child abandonment comes to my mind when I look at these beautiful yet unwanted flowers. Cases such as these are increasing tremendously in our nation, unfortunately. Poverty used to be the root cause of abandoning babies but not today. Fear. Shame. Irresponsibility. Stupidity! Recently (17 May 2010 The Malaysian Insider), a senator proposed that men who were responsible for babies to be abandoned should be castrated. Well, it takes two to tango! Women (or mostly, teenagers) have to be responsible too. It all boils down to the family institution and values. What is happening to the Asian world nowadays? Family values are evaporating fast. I have read about babies being dumped into drains and dogs eating them. I have read about gang rapes in school and causing unwanted pregnancy. We, like any other government, do whatever necessary to create awareness. Campaigns. Talks. Forums. And our young generation still pays no heed. Why???

Ixora

If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you. (T. Alan Armstrong)

The beautiful Ixora...more commonly known as Flame of the Woods, Jungle Flame, Burning Love...but I grew up knowing it as "Needle Flower" (Bunga Jarum in the Malay language).
Ixoras represent passion. Passion for love. Passion for life. Passion plays a vital role in our lives, won't you agree? Passion shapes our existence, fuels our inspirations and makes our hearts, minds, body and spirit collaborate to produce feelings, ideas and values.
Never underestimate the power of passion (Eve Sawyer)

As a kid I use to love sucking its nectar from the flowers. Then my friends and I would pluck the flowers patiently and connect them to make them into garlands. We would wear them and dance around, giggling...dreaming we were Hawaiian maidens :)
The pink Ixoras are my favourite so far. This baby soft pink looks sweet and happy. Pink is the colour of romance....:) Ahhh...a walk by the beach, hand in hand with your loved one, and a glass of champagne in the other....passion follows right after *grin*
Yellow is the colour of optimism and the promise of the future. Yes! With passion, whatever we do...we should continuously move forward and don't look back. Never regret on our past decisions. Take it as life's little teachings and move on...better, stronger, more determined.



Red...the ultimate symbol of passion. Red increases enthusiasm, stimulates energy and encourages confidence. Be it passion in relationships or work... one must have the heart. The yearning for success, the eagerness for achievement and yet, to enjoy it along the way. That's passion!

Passion lies in all of us, sleeping, waiting... and though unwanted , unbidden,...it will still stir...open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us...guide us...rules us all and we obey. Passion is the source of our finest moments...the joy of love, the clarity of hatred and the ecstasy of grief. If we could live without passion maybe we would know some kind of peace...but we would be hollow. Without passion, we would be truly dead. (Joss Whedon)
Passion in a young life...
Nicole, my 12 year old daughter, has a passion for writing. She started doodling and scribbling when she was 3. She loved pencils and papers. No one actually noticed what she was doing until a few years later, as my dad was tidying up the floor, he took up one of Nicole's scribbles and read it. She had written a short story! Dad suggested we keep her papers...who knows maybe one day...they would be useful. I did. Furthermore, I bought her thick notebooks to write from then on, hoping to create a more organized Nicole! Nicole one day blurted out that she wanted to be a writer. She wanted her stories to be made into movies. By age 10, she has written books and books of short stories. She carried a notebook everywhere she went. She would write whatever that came to her head at whatever time; even if we are in the middle of dinner! She made sure she had a notebook in her schoolbag; she would write during breaks. It was a joy to see her write. Writing seems to come so naturally to her. We had to do something about the stories that she had penned all these years. I compiled about 20 of her stories and sent them to a good friend of mine to be edited. We are in the process of printing Nicole's first book. I hope that when this book is finally done, it would be an inspiration for her to continue writing and let nothing stand in her way...Only passion, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things. (Denis Diderot)

Wrightia Antidysenterica

Snowflake, Arctic Snow, Winter Cherry Tree, Milky Way....all these names belong to this beautiful white flower and yet, to me, NONE appears suitable. What do you think? I prefer to use its botanical name. A unique name for a unique flower :)
I am dedicating this unique white beauty to all MOTHERS around the world as tomorrow is Mother's Day. If love is as sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love. (Stevie Wonder)
Wrightia A. is a tough plant. Tough to propagate. However, once you get it growing, it flowers all year round. Drought and storms do not bother it. I have had a row of these flowers for 3 years now and I have tried all sorts of way to make them multiply. I finally realize that the probability of it multiplying is about 20%. So the ones that managed to survived, I treasure them with my life :) But....I will go on trying...
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born! Once this flower is birthed, the plant weathers all kind of obstacles and produces beautiful blossoms all year round. Exactly like a woman who becomes a mother. As prepared as one might think she is, nobody is ready for motherhood. As soon as your baby is in your arms, you have this tendency to protect this tiny being with your life and are willing to weather all sorts of difficulties in order to give the baby a good life.

Surprisingly, this flower has no fragrance whatsoever. Being so pretty, it's kinda odd, don't you think?
I can relate to the "flower with no fragrance" bit very well. When I had my daughter 13 years ago, I remembered carrying her in my arms for the first time in the hospital, with tears of joy. I promised myself that I would give her my all and I did. For the first 7 years, I was literally like a flower with no fragrance. My daughter took over my life. She came first every single minute. Whatever I did, she was my priority. Today, I look back with no regrets. Nicole has grown into a beautiful independent intelligent young lady. As you sow so shall you reap.

Like this determined ant, I am happy to say that today I am able to search the person within myself. I got to know myself better after being a mother; how easily I break at times and how tough I can be most of the time. Looking back at all the experiences (mistakes!!!!) I went through; happy and sad times; I am definitely a stronger person today. I have a different perspective of life now. I choose to live! To live and love and enjoy my life in whatever small ways possible :)
Life can only be understood backward but it must be lived forward. (Soren Kierkegaard)
A little bit about My Mommy...
My Mommy will be 70 next year but she has a 16 year old heart! She has been the "funnest" mom since I could remember. She loves to laugh and joke. My friends love her. I swear...as she grows older...she is more goofy than ever!!! She has given me every thing I have ever needed in my life...my partial insanity, my love for sleep-ins, chicken drumsticks, and never-ending prayers!!! She is not very educated as she has no interest in studying (and never could understand why I choose to study at my age!) but she loves to read. That is how she keeps herself up-to-date with happenings around the world. (If only my students would read like her...haha...wishful thinking!!!). And, my mother will do everything and anything for me...oh yeah...me super spoilt brat :P My mother is my truest partner-in-all-crimes... *grin*