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The Jackfruit Tree (center)

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Jackfruit, or known locally in Malay as Nangka, is the largest tree borne fruit in the world. This tree is located at a field in my neighborhood. The tree is native to the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Nepal, but is also very common in Malaysia.

The fruits which stick out of the main tree trunk can reach 36kg in weight and up to 90cm long and 50cm in diameter.

Before cutting up the fruit, it is best to have some cooking oil handy. Apply generous amount of oil onto the knife and your hands, otherwise it will be difficult to get rid of the sticky sap, which can even be used as glue. If the hands or the knife get stained, apply oil even during the cutting process. Note that it's best to have a very sharp knife.

It's common to coat the fruits with flour and fry them in oil. The leftover seeds can be steamed and are delicious to eat, like chestnuts.

"Cheng Beng" Ceremony in April

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Earlier this month, on 5th April, we observed the Cheng Beng ceremony (All Souls Day) at the Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya where the ashes of our ancestors are kept. The ashes are contained in urns which are stored in cubicles at the columbarium in the temple.

Seven Buddhist monks sitting in lotus position in a row chanted suttras for the departed.

We were lucky because many others had to wake up very early and head for the hills where the cemetries are sited and where their ancestors were buried. They had to spend the whole morning cleaning up the sites, whereas we spent the whole morning listening to the soothing chanting by the monks.

Pineapple plant in backyard

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This is a pineapple plant in my sister-in-law's backyard in Kajang.

Origin: The pineapple is native to southern Brazil and Paraguay where wild relatives occur. It was spread by the Indians up through South and Central America to the West Indies before Columbus arrived. In 1493 Columbus found the fruit on the island of Guadaloupe and carried it back to Spain and it was spread around the world on sailing ships that carried it for protection against scurvy. The Spanish introduced it into the Philippines and may have taken it to Hawaii and Guam early in the 16th Century. The pineapple reached England in 1660 and began to be grown in greenhouses for its fruit around 1720.

Growth Habit: The pineapple plant is a herbaceous perennial, 2-1/2 to 5 ft. high with a spread of 3 to 4 ft. It is essentially a short, stout stem with a rosette of waxy, straplike leaves.

Harvest: It is difficult to tell when the pineapple is ready to be harvested. Some people judge ripeness and quality by snapping a finger against the side of the fruit. A good, ripe fruit has a dull, solid sound. Immaturity and poor quality are indicated by a hollow thud. The fruit should be stored at 45° F or above, but should be stored for no longer than 4 - 6 weeks.

Flame of the Forest

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This morning as I was driving in my neighbourhood I saw this gorgeous Flame of the Forest tree in bloom with its scarlet flowers. So I took a couple of pictures of it.

Flame of the Forest, or Delonix Regia, is often planted as a shade tree in parks because of its broadly spreading crown. However, it is more so an ornamental tree species recognised for its exuberant scarlet flowers when in full bloom.

A native of Madagascar, it was discovered by botanist Wenzel Bojer in 1820. Since then the tree has been planted in Africa, Asia and Southeast Asia.

The Flame of the Forest is a medium to large-size tree which can reach up to 60 feet high. The flowers are scarlet and fairly scented. The fruits are long pods dangling down sword-like from the branches.

Jambu Air (water guava) or Rose Apple flowers and fruits

Jambu Air is water guava or Rose Apple and comes in three colours, red, white and pink. Before a Jambu Air tree bears fruits, the whole crown of the tree will be covered with prickly and hairy light colored blossoms.

A Jambu Air tree in bloom will spread a refreshing light fragrance in the air. Jambu Air tree grows quickly and easily and is quite hardy. The fruits are very juicy, though not exactly sweet or sour. The white variety is sweeter than its colored sisters, although the red ones are more juicy. Jambu Air is an important ingredient in the local salad, "Rojak."

Subdued New Year celebrations

The festive season is still in the air, although on a rather subdued note due to the economic downturn. Picture shows a scene of chinese new year traditions in Subang Parade shopping center where not many people are seen to be around and most are just window shopping. However, the eateries are well patronised. People eat in celebrating the Chinese New Year.

Eagerly awaiting Chinese New Year

Also pictured here is my good friend Chris Y, an ethnic Chinese Malaysian, eagerly waiting for the Chinese New Year celebrations to begin. He will be celebrating it in his hometown Ipoh, in central peninsular Malaysia.

Chinese New Year celebrations

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Decorations and goodies at The Summit shopping mall in preparation for the Chinese New Year which falls on Monday, the 26th of January, 2009.

Sometimes called the Spring Festival, it is one of the most important traditional Chinese holidays. It is also called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside of China.

The festival begins on the first day of the first lunar month of the Chinese calendar and ends with a Lantern Festival on the 15th day, also called Chap Goh Meh.

Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese, it is considered the most important holiday for the Chinese. It had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction.

These include Aboriginal Taiwanese people, Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese and Vietnamese. In mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and other countries with significant Han Chinese populations, Chinese New year is also celebrated, and has, to varying degrees, become part of the traditional culture of these countries.

In Canada, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Canada Post Office issues Chinese New Year theme stamps in domestic and international rates.

In Malaysia, it is a 2-day holiday and the ethnic Chinese celebrate it in a very big way. There will be open houses and food and traditional Chinese New Year cookies will be served to relatives and friends who come avisiting.

The elders will give out red packets of money or "ang pows" to the younger ones who are not yet married. Inmates of old folks' homes and children's homes will also receive "ang pows", food and mandarin oranges. It is a time of great rejoicing.

My Friendly Dogs

My friendly dogs, Bam and Pete, putting on a good show. They are also excellent guard dogs.

Past Full Bloom

The Arabian Jasmine past full bloom and just about to wither, but with new buds coming out. This time the focussing is perfect, if I may say so.

Yellow Flowers

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Lovely yellow flowers in my neighborhood, but don't know what species.

Arabian Jasmine buds

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Determined to make good my Arabian Jasmine photos (below) which were not properly focused, I went back to the site but only to find that the flowers had faded away and had dropped off.

However, there were many fresh buds coming out and, as true Arabian Jasmine, were already heavily scented and fragrant even though they were only buds.

This time I used proper equipment - Olympus C740 Ultra Zoom camera in Macro mode.

Lone white flower

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Gorgeous picture of a lone white flower of unknown species. I will be thankful if anyone can tell me what species it is?

Common fragrant jasmine

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Two picture of another type of jasmine which is more common and flowers profusely, also heavily scented. These are popular with the Hindus who harvest them every morning to adorn them in their ornaments of worship.

Heavily scented Arabian Jasmine

A neighbour of mine has this flower plant called Arabian Jasmine or Jasminum Sambac. It is an evergreen shrub, that often reaches 5 feet high in pots.

The flowers are used in making perfumes and as a flovouring in tea. It is often called Arabian Jasmine due to its heavy scent.

It blooms all year round in the greenhouse. The flowers are white, 3/4 to 1 inch across and have a very powerful fragrance.

In Malaysia it is called Bunga Melor. It originated in India and was brought to Malaysia and Java around the 3rd century. It has since been widely cultivated throughout the Malesian region for its abundant heavily scented flowers.

It is the national flower of the Philippines, adopted by the government in 1937.

In Hawaii, the flower is known as "pikake", and is used to make fragrant leis. In South India, jasmines are strung into thick strands and worn as a hair adornment. In China, the flower is processed and used as the main ingredient inn jasmine tea.

Another beautiful bunch of flowers in the same garden. However, it is most unfortunate that I don't know its name. Anyone knows? Will be grateful if you can tell me.