Xmas Day Photos

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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.

All decked up for Xmas. Merry Xmas, everyone!

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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.

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.

The Assam Tree

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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.

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.

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).