Memories of Shanghai

We do not remember days; we remember moments (Cesare Pavese)

It's been a good 2 months since my visit to Shanghai and I still think about my favourite moments there; especially when I am going through scorching hot weather here!!! I always feel that when the weather is cold, its easier to dream and wonder. When I am hot and sweaty, I turn into a cantankerous beast!!!
Believe it or not, the first flower that caught my eye was the Poinsettia @ Christmas Flower. So visiting Shanghai was very Christmasee to me. Poinsettias were everywhere. In our hotel. In the museum. In the malls. In the parks. It was amazing. Well of couse having a temperature of 0C to 5C at the time I was there, these flowers were really happy and healthy.

Life brings simple pleasures to us every day; it is up to us to make them wonderful memories (Cathy Allen)
Did you know that the holly tree is one of the sacred trees of Wicca? This is because in the barrenness of an English winter, the holly is unaffected. Very strong in spirit! In addition, it is revered for its protective qualities. It is known to protect one from mischievous spirits and have peaceful dreams.

In an old Christian legend, the Holly is said to have sprung up under the footsteps of Christ as He trod the earth; the spines of the leaves became the symbolic "Crown of Thorns"; the red berries represent the drops of blood associated with his suffering. Thus...the Holy Tree is well known as the "Christ's Thorn".

To me...when I see a holly tree...its just simple plain PEACE :)

Memories...stored in the refrigerator of our mind and the cupboard of our heart (Thomas Fuller)
Saw these bright pink Rhododendrons in the park...so beautiful and breathtaking as these flowers covered 3/4 of the garden. Had to stop and take some pictures of them. I could just sit there for the whole day, just photographing them.

These unique plants were also taken in a park. The white feathers certainly caught my attention. Hehe...I had to climb up a stone wall to take this picture!!! Worth it. Reminded me of the Las Vegas dancers as these feathery plants were just swaying in the wind; seems like they were whispering to each other, probably laughing at me for being so goofy just to take their picture!!!
Peony ...the official flower of China. The sun was almost setting and I saw this beautiful blossom still so happy and fresh. Immediately my mind wandered back to old China days where queens and princesses bathe in tubs filled with fragrant flowers. Haha...oh yeah...imagined myself there with my 12 maids to serve me hand and foot...heavenly *grin*
The white rose accompanied me at every breakfast time. Without fail, it's there waiting to greet me "good morning" at 6am every morning. Breakfast was alright, nothing fantastic but I always look forward to seeing the roses on our table. Somehow it starts off my day cheerful and hopeful.
Memories are forget-me-nots gathered along life's way; pressed closed to the human heart into a perennial bouquet (Clara Smith Reber)
An array of pansies was waiting for me at the Water Village at Suzhou. After a long drive from Shanghai, the pansy certainly brought merriment to my thoughts. The Water Village was my favourite tourist spot. At least I still can see for myself how old China looks like today. How people live by the river and do their washing there! The 3 pictures below were taken at the Water Village. Authentic. Breathtaking. Very romantic when the sun sets. I was enjoying a slow gondola ride whilst taking these pictures. Mmmm...

Don't forget a small moonbeam... fold in slightly with a dream...your lips and mine...two sips of wine...memories are made of these...(Dean Martin)

The leaves of memories seemed to make a mournful rustling in the dark (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Auganthus

A bluish purplish mystery flower...at least to me as I have no information whatsoever on this flower. Yet, I have had these "blue ribbons" in my garden for a few years now and they have always been a joy to watch. They fascinate me because they only have 2 petals and they wilt as easily as they grow. My Auganthus patch is never without flowers...never! Whether it rains or storms or during a long dry spell, there are always a few flowers ready to wave cheerfully.
Guess we can learn a thing or two from this mystery flower. Surprisingly, it's not very well-known throughout the world - even my Danish friend (my flower mentor) who has a vast knowledge of flowers has not seen nor heard of this particular flower. Yet, these blue ribbons are so determined and resilient in their own little way; not to be famous but to live to the fullest every type of day that they face.

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. (Abraham Lincoln)

Depending on where the sun ray hits the petal, this ribbon will somehow change its shade. It can vary from deep blue to almost light purplish. But mostly, they look blue to me. I love the colour blue; in all shades. It's the coolest colour. It's the colour of inspiration, sincerity and spirituality for me. It's soothing and calm.
Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed. (Corita Kent)
Blue skies filled with hope and hearts filled with peace, once...
For I had you to kiss, to touch, to hold...
Sitting on the rocks, gazing at the ocean and its wonder...
A constant reminder of dreams that never came true for us...
As my cold blue hands yearns for your single touch of warmth...

Sunset Hibiscus

The Sunset Hibiscus, also known as the Okra Flowers or the Musk Mallow. You don't even wanna know what it's really called...Abelmoschus Manihot...so not pretty!!!
This plant is totally edible. Yupp...edible leaves, edible flowers, edible seedpods...in fact the seeds could be toasted, ground and used as a substitute for coffee.......NOOOOOOOOOT my taste, that's for sure!!!! However, its leaves are known to be the world's most nutritious leafy vegetables because of its high protein content!!! Believe me?

I love the pale lemony petals, blotched right in the middle with deep maroon. Somehow, this flower appears happy and smiley on the oustide, yet in the inside, it has deep faraway thoughts. An outgoing flower but with a tinge of mystery. Hmmm...

Sunset Thoughts:

Listening to Westlife's "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You"...
Brings me back to 1987...when I was just sweet sixteen. I was playing the organ and he was on the drums. I was doing a solo with this very song, with the drums as my accompaniment. We had practised almost every weekend for the past 2 months, getting ready for an annual concert. Our music teacher believed we were a great team. I looked forward to practise every single time. I could play that song blindfolded, haha...but playing with him was a different world altogether. We jelled well when we were on stage; both completely lost in our music. Well...he might be lost in the music but I was definitely lost in his eyes!!! When we played together, I could daydream right then and there. Always wondered how it would be to walk hand-in-hand by the beach, just enjoying the sunset together...thanks to the lyrics!!!

"Our dreams are young and we both know...they'll take us where we want to go..."

It's been over 20 years now. Haven't seen or heard from him ever since those beautiful days together. Whenever I see a beautiful sunset, he will come to mind. Never will I forget that we had been romancing our souls...with our song :)

We can't have everything together but together, we have everything. (Anonynous)

Chrysanthemums

Cheerfulness, Love & Longevity...that's what the yellow mums are all about...a lovely beginning of the "Chinese" year of 2010. Yupp...The Year of The Golden Tiger has arrived! A year promising challenges of all sorts. Hmmm...how will you choose to look at it? Well...I'd say...BRING IT ON! I am ready...for I choose to live this year with optimism and confidence. We all can achieve success when we put our hearts and souls into whatever we believed in in the first place.

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. (Hal Borland)

The Chrysanthemum flower, or more lovingly known as The Mums, is a noble flower of the Chinese noble class. It is believed in China that if this yellow bloom that has been used to wipe one's mouth after drinking wine is given to your beloved, it will promise undying love and loyalty of a partner.
Every Chinese New Year since I was little, Chrysanthemums are one kind of flower that I always see around the house. I always thought they are bought because they take forever to wilt! Little did I know, the Mums actually represent what everyone longs for...happiness, long life, and love.
This year, especially, someone special comes to mind. A Tiger! Someone very close to my heart. Someone who means way too much to me. Someone who, believe it or not, knows me better than my parents!!! Someone who is playful, charming, passionate, loving and intelligent. Someone who can be unpredictable at times, yet, is the same someone whom I can count on ALL the time. Thank you for all your encouragements and inspirations throughout the years. Thank you for always being there for me. Life would never be the same without you, that's for sure!
I found the perfect picture (below) of my Tiger friend and me, the chubby piglet, hehe!
To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world.
(Brandi Snyder)

Pussy Willow

Happy New Year to all on earth! I had the privilege to spend my new year's eve in Shanghai, China with my family. As a friend said to me "You went from oven to icebox"...haha...yes indeed, it was wonderful to freeze a little. Coming from hot and humid Malaysia, Christmas and New Year always seems better in the cold! Bet friends who are battling the snow and icy roads won't agree with me...hehe...
Pussy Willow...my furry buds...also known as "catkins"...was what caught my eye on the 1st day in Shanghai. I was walking around People's Square, after a visit to the Shanghai Museum, enjoying the cold and this huge tree caught my attention. Pussy willows are suppose to welcome the spring, I did not expect to see such healthy chubby buds at this point in time. Guess the buds were waiting for me to come say hi...
I love the name "Pussy Willow"...somehow it carries a little naughtiness and wildness...yet, a dreamy kind of feeling at the same time. Believe it or not, it symbolizes motherhood and everything that reflects femininity.
The origin of the Pussy Willow: There was once a farmer who had a cat. One spring, the cat gave birth to a litter of kittens. As there were too many kittens for the cat to nurse, the farmer threw the kittens into the river. The mother cat was devastated and went to the riverbank to rescue her kittens but she was not strong enough or able to rescue them all. She began wailing in grief, and her cries were carried by the wind throughout the river valley. The kittens also cried in their struggles. The willow trees along the bank heard the cries of mother and children. Each willow dropped its branches to the water. As the kittens washed through, the willows scooped them up into their saving branches. Today we see each spring the reminder of their saving ways. The image of the kittens nestles in the bows of the pussy willow.
Doesn't this picture resemble a picture of a Chinese brush? Amazing. I am sure many of you are familiar with Chinese brush painting that was started since 4000B.C. I studied this traditional kind of painting once and enjoyed it although it was hard work. Every stroke counts and every kind of brush makes a difference in the painting. It's one kind of painting I pray that will last through many generations to come.

"The Willow Cats" by Margaret Widdemer

They called them pussy willows but there is no cat to see
Except the little furry toes that stick out on the tree.

I think that very long ago when I was just born new
There must have been whole pussycats where just the toes stick through.

And every spring it worries me I cannot ever find
Those willow cats that ran away and left their toes behind!
Memories...

My first love-hate relationship...was with my husband's cat! Her Royal Highness Simba...ahhh...just look at her. How could one not love this obese-looking babyface pussycat? I first met Simba when she was already 2 years of age. Snobbish. Yet, I loved her the minute I laid eyes on her and had visions of her laying on my lap while I watched tv in the evenings...did not happen! I would have loved to cuddle her in bed...didn't get the chance to :(
She had her own life. She stucked to her ways and hated me.
OK fine...since I couldn't have MY ways with her, I decided to give her a hard time! Whenever she decides to take a nap on her favourite spot (on top of the refrigerator), I would be right at her face with my camera, irritating her to bits!!! I never gave her a moment of peace when she is inside the house...sweet revenge.
She is not with us now :(
We had to move to another city to live and bringing her along was out of the question. So we trusted her to a close friend. Knowing Simba, she must have hated that friend too and decided to go solo...in the forest. Sadness filled our hearts when the phone call came, informing us that Simba had gone missing. Gone forever...but never from my heart and mind...

Poinsettia - The Christmas Flower

Wow, Christmas is here again! My favourite time of the year and I believe it should be Christmas every day! Oh yeah...turkey...ham...stuffing...fruitcakes...Christmas trees...colourful ornaments...and PRESENTSSSSSSSSS!!!
The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes...(Frank Lloyd Wright)
Poinsettia...The Christmas Flower. Why? Because of its star-shaped flaming red leaves, it's also known as The Flower of the Holy Night? Hmm...still doesn't make sense to me.
Well...the Mexican legend tells the story of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. An angel encouraged her to gather weeds from the roadside and place them at the church altar where soon after, beautiful crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds. They then became known as "Flores de Noche Buena" in Mexico, which translates to Flowers of the Holy Night.

Poinsettia's history dates back to good ole 14th century and if you read everything about this beautiful shrub, it's most intriguing how it has become a favourite holiday flower and it even has its own special day in a year: December 12 is National Poinsettia Day in the U.S. What on earth do people do on that day???!!!


The poinsettia with its star shaped foliage pattern has been connected with the Star of Bethlehem shining at the birth of Jesus (Matthew 2:1-21). The poinsettia's blood red leaves symbolize the blood sacrificed for love of God. Scriptural events connected with the poinsettia include the deaths of the Holy Innocents, babies killed by King Herod madly in search of Jesus (Matthew 2:13-18) as well as the Jesus' death and crucifixion (all four gospels).

Christmas 2009...only one word comes to my mind right now at 12.05am...Peaceful :)
It has been a crazy week preparing for Christmas and finally now, I am sitting down with an iced cold rum & coke, sharing with you all my poinsettia pictures. A mysterious plant to me. It looks plastic! I love the fact that its leaves are red and not its flowers. Very misleading but extremely attractive. Although it's been associated a lot with the birth of Christ...I see it more of a "Christmasee" plant. A must-have plant to have in the house during Christmas, just cos it's bright red, haha!!! A plant that never fails to bring joy and smiles to people during this festive season.

Christmas happens everywhere every time someone reaches out to touch another life with love. (Carol Duerksen)

Christmas--that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. (Augusta E. Rundel)

It is so true. Christmas is always a time for me to be still and remember all the good and bad times, and the good always outweigh the bad, haha!

A thought for you: What is Christmas to you? Have you touched another life with love???