Moonriver Lodge, Sigar Highlands
FOR OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDRENArchive for March, 2010
My Father’s Hands
My Father’s Hands
for my father
Ranger Gandalf Ah Kong
He toils and toils and toils. Most times without a word. Lately, he says a little more, if we ask him. Questions and answers between a father and a daughter, as perennial as grass.
Some place else. He digs with his bare hands. 1976.
Why do we have to put Bobby to sleep?
- He’s grown too old.
Why are we burying him under the mango tree?
- He’ll make good fertiliser.
Some time ago. 1982.
Why do tigers eat man?
- Man eats chicken. Tigers eat man.
That makes me sad.
- You can’t change that. That’s the circle of life.
Hamburger Hill. He sells some land for my education. 1990.
Why didn’t you just throw the letter away?
- You wouldn’t have forgiven me.
You’re right, I wouldn’t have forgiven you.
- I know.
He holds my hand. He walks me down the aisle. 1995.
What’s in your mind?
- (Beaming) You’re now your husband’s problem.
What’s the best thing I did?
- You found yourself a good husband.
He flies 10,000 miles. 2000.
I feel a terrible pain.
- It’s just an ant bite.
It feels much worse.
- What’s the sound of one hand clapping?
Moonriver Lodge. Christmas 2009.
What are you growing?
- A rose.
Why?
- For your mum.
He tells me to throw it in the air. No tooth fairies in Merdeka Garden. 1976.
Will my friends laugh at me?
- Box them on the nose if they do.
Will I feel better?
-You will be fine.
Will I ever feel happy again?
-You will feel happy again tomorrow.
Will my tooth grow back?
-You will always have teeth.
Will I still be beautiful?
- You will always be beautiful.
March 29, 2010
Poet-Artist Ranger PEK
I am a versatile herb with two names. What am I?
Coriander is so versatile it bears two names – cilantro for the roots and leaves and coriander for the seeds. Be sure to harvest the young tender leaves before plants send up flower stalks. Once it sets seed, the plant uses all its energy to produce the seeds and stop producing new foliage. Seeds can be harvested when seed heads turn brown but before they scatter.
Solar Panel Leaf
This fern (Dipteris conjugata) extends its solar-panel leaf to intercept the insolation of the sun. Chlorophyll, the green pigment of land-plant tissue, is the life-blood of plants, for without it, they would be unable to harness the energy of sunlight for growth and repair. Surplus energy is carried from leaves to other needy parts of the plant in the form of atomic bonds in sugar molecules.
(Source : Rain Forests & Cloud Forests by Sandved & Emsley)
Malayan Horned Frog
We have been hearing the persistent “honking” sounds from the stream and water area, and could not quite figure out which animal that was. Our resident staff finally caught this interesting species in a bucket from the stream – a Malayan Horned Frog (Megophrys Nasuta)
A forest specialist, the Malayan Horned Frog has remarkable camouflage; its colour and form mimicking the leaf litter to be found on the forest floor. Unless the frog moves to snatch some unwary prey, it is unlikely to be seen. Its distinctive shape includes a large head and wide mouth, and sharply pointed protuberances above each eye. Its call is a toad-like ‘honk’ and it feeds on forest floor invertebrates.
(Source : www.ecologyasia.com)
Red Palm Weevil
Th Weevils (Curculionidae) are the most numerous of all beetles and over 40,000 species have received names. Their distinguishing mark is the long snout, which has jaws at the end of it and is used for boring holes in the seeds, fruits, buds etc. in which weevils will lay their eggs.
The Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) lays its eggs on palm trees of various kinds. The larva tunnels in the trunk and crown of the palm and often kills the tree. This little weevil is a well-known pest amongst palm farmers and there have been many research and discussions on how to prevent and control this little “evil”!
(Source: Malayan Animal Life by Tweedie & Harrison & Wikipedia)
Baby Fern
The unopened leaves of this fern (could be the Etlingera littoralis) resemble the hairspring of a watch. Once uncurled, they will open to their mature size. The small bright green pods are densely covered with stomatal pores for rapid exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, a feature that allows the leaves to grow rapidly while they are opening.
Learn more about ferns in our Wild Asia@Moonriver Rainforest Conservation & Restoration programme.
(Source : Rain Forests & Cloud Forests by Sandved & Emsley)
Amazing Rafflesia
The world’s largest flower was first discovered in Padang, Sumatra by Dr. Joseph Arnold and Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the leader of the expedition in 1818. The “great flower” weighed fifteen pounds and held six quarts of water in the nectaries, created keen interest in scientific circles in London, and the press reported the find at great length.
The flower was named Rafflesia Arnoldi.
The Rafflesia in Lojing, Kelantan, Malaysia is the second largest flower, the largest in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Rafflesia is a true parasitic plant, without green parts, leaves, a stem and roots. Evolution has stripped Rafflesia of irrelevant organs, which have atrophied into functionless forms. Unable to manufacture food for itself, it lives at the expense of its host and is totally dependent on the sap produced by the liana for nourishment. It is inconspicuous until the bud appears on the host liana. The bud, which resembles a cabbage, take many months to develop, when it opens with a hissing sound.
You can see this amazing flower for yourself when you join the Rafflesia Flower Trek at Moonriver Lodge.
(Source : Rain Forests & Cloud Forests by Sandved & Emsley)
The Death of Craftmanship
We are proud to present our newly installed directional signage handcrafted in Ipoh using recycled wood. Some of you might find it not too visible from the road but the master craftman persuaded me to keep it natural and not use any paint. So, please bear with us.
As I worked on the signage, I found myself reflecting on how the Industrial Revolution brought on ’The Death of Craftmanship’. In our modern industrialised and mechanized society, there is a growing need for instant-gratification and a habit of finding quick fix solutions. Well, I can assure you that there is definitely no instant gratification in farming.
Red Snail
This mountain species, Hemiplecta (Platymma) tweediei, are mostly recorded from Cameron Highlands. The body is coloured black and brick-red with a flattened, coal-black shell reaching nearly 3 inches in diameter
(Source: Malayan Animal Life).
We nearly stepped on this native pulmonate during the Water Trail reccee with WildAsia team to identify areas for our Plant-A-Tree programme. This programme is currently under development for WildAsia@Moonriver’s Rainforest Conservation & Restoration Programme.
Silky Chooks
(At a plodding pace)
Chook, chook, chook, chook, chook,
Good morning Mrs Hen
How many chickens have you got?
Madam, I’ve got THREE!!!
Traditional Nursery Rhyme
