Adenium Obesum @ Desert Rose

THIS IS NOT A ROSE BUSH! 

These Desert Roses were taken in The World of Phalaenopsis in Ulu Yam. A hot climate flower, these flowers hailed from East Africa and Arabia and does really well in a humid country like Malaysia. Whenever I see a desert rose, I see beauty. Not the pretty kinda beauty, this flower represents beauty that is a result from strength, stubbornness and perseverance. 

For the Chinese, this is one of the auspicious Lunar New Year plant which is believed to bring wealth to the owner. It is known as fuguihua or "wealth plant". This plant usually has a fat base stem, or rather it looks more "swollen"! The larger and fatter the stem, the more abundance and wealth the owner will gain throughout the year.

I see the fat stem as stubbornness; it looks as if it has absorbed every kinda vibe on earth and kept it to itself to protect the world. They grow very well in sunlight but their leaves will start falling when they get comfortably cold. 

I see strength in its life as it actually grows really well in heat where one would feel lethargic and grumpy. So, through the scorching heat and not much water, it lives its life to the fullest.

I see perseverance in the beauty of the flower it produces. Through stubbornness and strength, it perseveres to give the world everything it can offer. Not mediocre results but the best! Look at the brilliance in the variety of colors. 

Can you relate the desert rose to your life?

Would you persevere through stubbornness, and in strength, to not give up until you see beauty in your life?

A thought for today....

Phalaenopsis Orchids

All these beautiful orchids were shot at The World of Phalaenopsis, an orchid farm situated at Ulu Yam, a town in the state of Selangor. We were fortunate to have a chat with the owner and he happily told us that this 6-acre orchid land started out of a hobby. Wow! Hobby...passion...million-dollar business! Talk about a dream.

A little history from The American Orchid Society:

Although the genus Phalaenopsis was established by Dr Karl Ludwig Blume. a Dutch botanist, in 1825, it is believed that this orchid actually goes back almost another hundred years. It was first found in 1750 in the island of Ambon Island in Indonesia. However, it remained as Dr Blume to establish this particular genus Phalaenopsis where he derived the generic name from the Greek phalaina "a moth" and opsis "appearance"- because of the fancied identical features the flowers portrayed as white moths in the tropical jungles. 

Today, the Phalaenopsis orchids are found from Assam and the Eastern Himalayas to Myanmar, the Andaman Islands, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The Philippines is the primary center that carries about 15 species whereas Borneo (East Malaysia) is well-known for about half a dozen, several of which unknown anywhere else in the world. 

Enjoy, my friends.

When two friends understand each other totally, the words are soft and strong like an orchid's perfume. (Martin Luther King Jr)

A human being isn't an orchid , he must draw something from the soil he grows in. (Sara Jeanette Duncan)

An orchid in a deep forest sends out its fragrance even if no one is around to appreciate it. (Confucius)

Love is an orchid which thrives principally on hot air. (Myrtle Reed)

With your heart (noble) like an orchid, your speech (elegant) like embroidery, you have shown great magnanimity and abundant affection. (Confucius)

When speech comes from a quiet heart, it has the strength of the orchid and the fragrance of the rock. (Stephen Mitchell)

If you are in the company of good people it is like entering a room full of orchids. Confucius)

The orchids'  fragrance should be enjoyed by royalties in their residence but they now look so solitary amongst grasses in the wild. (Confucius)

As Confucius always says, in classic and modern literature, the 4 main noble plants are the Plum, the Orchid, the Chrysanthemum, and the Bamboo.

Beauty is beyond measure
Strength is sturdy yet softhearted
Colors create smiles
Fragrance propels memories to the heart
Truly
Evidently
Absolutely
The Orchid.          (Jo-Ann Tan)

O & S Kopitiam

O&S Kopitiam @ Coffee Shop is a corner "food court" located at Paramount.  The best kopitiam so far as ALL of the stall food are simple deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious.  I usually only get the chance to visit it during weekends and I have to make sure I am there by latest 7.30 AM. If not, you gotta "fight" for a table! People are most willing to share their tables with you too if you don't mind. Here are some of the photos I took of the food there (over a couple of months, of course!). They look mouth-watering, don't they?

Wantan Noodles

Wantan Noodles

Wantan Noodles. One of the best so fat I have tasted. Sauce is dark, potent, and tasty.

Yong Tau Foo

Yong Tau Foo. Self service. You may go pick whatever you like from the stall. They have steamed and fried stuff for you to choose.

Char Kuey Teow

Char Kuey Teow means fried flat noodles. Gloriously tasty. You can have it spicy or non spicy.

Assam Laksa

Assam Laksa

Assam Laksa is famously known in Penang. They are rice noodles cooked in spicy sour soup which is fish based. Rich in flavor. Very appetizing.

Beef Noodles

Beef Noodles. The beef noodles here are good too. Beef is tender and the soup is good-tasting.

Pork Noodles

Kon Lou Noodles means "dry" noodles drenched in gravy.

Square Pork "balls" Noodles

Chee Cheong Fun means rice noodle roll served with sweet sauce.

Lou Shee Fun means rat-tailed noodles. Ohhh just look-alikes. Not eating rats, thank you very much! This dish is super tasty and actually fun to eat as the noodles are slippery.

Wantan means steamed dumpling. Comes with noodles or you could choose to have just the dumplings in soup.