Indonesia Quake

My heart goes out to our Indonesian friends especially to those who were affected by the Indonesian quake that hit the islands of Mentawai, West Sumatra on Monday . A magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale claimed several lives and destroyed properties. 

Record shows that there were 112 people who lost their lives, 500 people missing and thousands were evacuated from their homes.

This is another sad phase in the Indonesian history. With this, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to those people who died and suffered. May the missing people be found and i hope they are all well.

Sentosa Palawan Beach - Singapore

The size of Singapore compared to its neighboring countries is way too small. However, its economy is one of the strongest in the world. Its mixed culture, rich economy, man-made wonders, or modern skyscrapers for that matter does not make Singapore a great nation alone, because the beaches though not that famous can be a weekend getaways and make a great escape after all in a days work.

One such place that is ideal for relaxation while watching the sunset is Palawan Beach. Its suspension boardwalk leads you to Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, known as the closest point to the Equator in Asia. The tall shady coconut trees scattered around the place makes the place even more fascinating.

Local bars are something not to be missed. If you are into some chatty atmosphere, make your way down to Club Islander, Singapore's first beach club, or if you prefer a different ambiance where French and Latin Jazz goes all night, have a look at Bora Bora Beach Bar.

The list of activities while being at Palawan Beach is endless. And oh, just for the record, The Philippines has a province called Palawan which is considered to be the last frontier.Did you know that? Bet not!

The Parrot Flower

If we talk about nature's creation and wonder i consider this thing as surreal! I haven't seen one actually so don't get me wrong here. But imagine a flower with a light purple and carmine red color that resembles a parrot?

To verify the claim and the authenticity of the people who wrote stuff about this flower, I did a little research and found out that it's existence was disputed and pictures online were considered hoax. It goes to say that the minds of the people were clouded by its surreality, and that explains that I am not the only one on this plight. I told you it's surreal lol.

Well, Impatiens psittacina or commonly known as the parrot flower is a rare impatiens species which was first discovered by botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1901. This plant can only be found in the northern part of Thailand (Chiang Mai), Myanmar, and some other parts of India.

Real parrot

It has a very close resemblance to a parrot or a flying cockatoo, especially when viewed from the side. The plants grow to half a meter in height with erect branches and thick stems. And since it is very rare, buying is forbidden and Thailand banned the exporting of its seeds and plants.

Have a look at the pictures. Fascinating isn't it?

Borneo Bird Festival 2010

Do you LIKE birds? If the word LIKE is not enough for you perhaps we can use a strong word like LOVE? lol...Anyways, if you are into birds, why not take part in Borneo's Bird Festival this year at Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), Sepilok Sandakan, Sabah on October 15-17 ? The photography contest, Borneo Bird Race, childrens' activities and a lot more will surely gonna be a blast.

http://www.borneogeographic.com/2009/11/1st-borneo-bird-festival.html

While enjoying being there, you can explore the entire RDC where the famous Orang-utans live in luxury hehe. It is just 20 miles away from the airport and the most accessible rain forest in Sabah, just 14 kilometers from the town.

http://www.borneogeographic.com/2009/11/1st-borneo-bird-festival.html

And if you would like to learn more about some fascinating facts about the event from workshops, guided tours and lectures, you can do so with a minimal fee. Seats are limited so early registration will secure an added knowledge, and vocabularies too hehe....

Have fun!

Nang Rong Waterfall - Thailand

The beauty of a waterfall cannot be based on its size or even its height for that matter. My perception that the size and height of a waterfall matter is a thing of the past. Situated in HinTang district in the province of Nakon Nayork and gets its water in Khao Yai National Park, Nang Rong Waterfall erased all my doubts and made me believe that beauty can be seen in such a small thing lol.

It was in the middle of the day when i got there. Very humid and i was sweating profusely. So i went down the ladder leading to the water. I touched the water and it felt so good. It was so cool that the tingling sensation crawled from the tip of my finger up to the organ that pumps life to my very being.

Enough of being a poet, alright? Well, the water cascades down onto several rocks in different shapes and sizes. The forests surrounding the area with the greens being the majority, and the rainbow colors from flowers make the place even more breathtaking. Couple of resorts are just lurking nearby, waiting for you to attack them (they love being attacked for a night or two, and the longer you stay the better lol).