Thursday, December 25, 2008
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Christmas Day photos at Sunway Pyramid shopping mall show that, inspite of the economic downturn, lots of people are going out to spend money to enjoy themselves over Christmas.
The car parks were full to capacity and the shopping mall was packed with holiday makers watching Christmas shows or just doing their own thing.
The decorations were up in full swing and there were brightly lit Christmas trees galore for all to admire.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
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Inspite of the economic downturn, there seems to be no let-up in celebrating Christmas. Shopping malls are all decked up with decorations for the festive season, as can be seen in the photos taken at Subang Parade.
All other shopping malls in and around Kuala Lumpur have come out with excellent displays to equal many other cities in the world. But unfortunately I did not capture shots of them, for some reason or other.
However, you can view excellent Xmas shots of KL at the Star Photo Gallery.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Magnificent Traveler's Tree
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Near my house is this magnificient Traveler's Tree or Traveler's Palm.
Its Latin name is Ravenala Madagascariensis and as its name suggests, it is native to Madagascar, along the East Coast of the Continent of Africa.
It is not a palm although it is often called Traveler's Palm, but a tree that is related to the Banana Tree. The leaves are exactly like Banana Tree leaves.
The name "Traveler" is given because the bases of the leaves accumulate water which is said to be drinkable for those in dire need in the wilds of Madagascar. Moreover, cutting a stem causes liquid to gush out, which might be drinkable to thirsty folks.
The appeal of the Traveler's Palm is its sultry magnificence with a stately fan-shaped profile. Even a single plant is an impressive specimen in your landscape - a total half-circle of fan-like foliage - very nice to see. Planted in groups or in rows and you would have made a very bold statement in landscaping.
It thrives especially in tropical or sub-tropical regions.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
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A hardy sour fruit bearing Assam Tree thriving in my neighbourhood park. The fruits are used for flavouring Eastern cooking from India to the South East Asian countries where they are popular.
If you look carefully at the picture, you will be able to see that the tree is laden with the assam fruits, ready for the picking.
Some neighbourhood people will use a long pole to knock down the fruits and collect them in baskets to take home for their cooking.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Pink bougainvillea adorn a fence
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Another batch of flowers in my neighbourhood. Bougainvillea are popular ornamental plants in most areas with warm climates. They are rapid growing and flower all year in warm climates, especially when pruned. Bloom cycles are typically four to six weeks. The plants require little water to flower.
As indoor houseplants in temperate regions, they can be kept small by bonsai techniques.
Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America. Different authors claim between four and 18 species in the genus. The name comes from Louis Antoine de Bougainville, an admiral in the French Navy who discovered the plant in Brazil in 1768.
Bougainvillea is often referred to as "paper flower" because the petals are thin and papery. But they have very bright and vibrant color.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Brilliant bloom
Once again my neighbourhood Frangipani tree is in full bloom with strikingly brilliant yellow flowers.
These flowers are also known as Plumeria after 17th Century French botanist Charles Plumier. The common name Frangipani comes from an Italian noble family, a 16th Century marquess who invented a plumeria-scented perfume.
Frangipanis are now common naturalised plants in southern and southeastern Asia. In local folk beliefs they provide shelter to ghosts and demons. The scent of the flowers has been associated with a vampire, the pontianak, in Malay folklore.
In modern Polynesian culture, it can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status - over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.
This humble flower is the national flower of Nicaragua and Laos, where it is known under the local name Sacuanjoche (Nicaragua) and Champa (Laos).
Sunday, November 23, 2008
20th Birthday Celebration of SJBA
Subang Jaya Buddhist Association celebrated its 20th anniversary with a get-together dinner on 22nd November 2008 at the hall of Chee Wen School in USJ1.
The theme of the event was Through The Years reflecting on how SJBA has grown in the last two decades. The dinner was a 9-course one and we paid RM40 per pax.
As we celebrated, we recalled the history of SJBA. The idea of forming Subang Jaya Buddhist Association was first mooted by Bro. Cheah Seak Loon in 1987, with the objective of applying for a piece of land in Subang Jaya to build a Buddhist Temple to cater for the Buddhist community in the township. There were already a mosque, a Hindu temple and a church in Subang Jaya but no Buddhist temple. So, a protem committee was formed and Subang Jaya Buddhist Association was registered on 23rd November 1988.
Activities started at a rented premises and the early members contributed to the initial rental of RM650 and other expenses. With limited knowledge and experience but with good teamwork, they began to organise many Dhamma talks, meditation classes and retreats, community service and fellowship activities. Many more residents in Subang Jaya joined the newly formed Association and it became a community and spiritual centre for many Buddhists in and around Subang Jaya.
Realising the importance of providing Dhamma education for the younger generation, the Sunday Dhamma School was formed in 1989 headed by Sis. Gin Geng. In 1990, Sis. Teh Seok Im took over the responsibility of Sunday School Headmistress and had worked diligently to build a strong team of volunteers to expand the Dhamma school by leaps and bounds.
By 2003 the enrolment of the Sunday Dhamma School reached about 1,000 students in 4 sessions with about 70 dedicated volunteer teachers.
There was also a need to cater to the youths. Hence in 1993 the Youth Section was formed. In that year too the Association defined its mission to build a Centre of Excellence for the teaching of Buddha Dhamma and the Buddhist way of life.
Eventually, SJBA successfully obtained a half acre piece of land for a token sum of RM300 from the Selangor State Government to build the temple. The temple was completed in 1997 at a cost of about RM1.75million.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The rains retreat of the monks ends on the full moon day of October. During this Vassana retreat that lasts for 3 months, the monks would have served the community of followers in various ways such as giving sermons, teaching Dhamma and meditation, counseling and serving in many other ways. After this rains retreat the monks are free to leave the place where the retreat was held.
Before they leave, it is the custom of the devotees to hold a farewell ceremony for the monks. This is called the Kathina Ceremony or robes giving ceremony. During this ceremony many gifts are offered to the monks for their use as well as for the upkeep of the monastery.
Red lanterns light up the night
Lanterns on display during the Mooncake Festival. It is also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival where mooncakes and pomeloes are served under the moonlight.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
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