Gallimaufry#21

Just a gallimaufry of photos ...

Butterfly bush (Rotheca myricoides)

Asian foxtail

FROM THE SHOEBOX — PHOTOS THAT RARELY SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY

CEBU 1994

Magellan's Cross

The cross is believed to have been planted by explorers of the Spanish expedition of the first circumnavigation of the world, led by Ferdinand Magellan, upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines on April 21, 1521.

Jeepney

Jeepneys are buses and the most popular means of public transportation ubiquitous in the Philippines. They are known for their crowded seating and kitsch decorations, which have become a widespread symbol of Philippine culture and art.

Views of my hometown (Ipoh) from my hotel window

Sungaiku hidupku in Malay translates as  my river my life.

Chinese New Year reunion dinner

African totem pole in a theme park

Which blog couldn't use a kitty!

Gallimaufry#20

Just a gallimaufry of photos ...

Golden shrimp plant

Princess flower

Thai mango salad

Recipe — https://www.lazycatkitchen.com/thai-mango-salad/

FROM THE TRAVEL ARCHIVES

Atonium, Brussels 2019

MALAYSIAN FOOD

Yong Tau Fu

Yong Tau Foo literally means stuffed tofu. Ground meat or fish paste  is stuffed into a variety of tofu products, vegetables and mushrooms and typically served in a clear broth with noodles or rice. Yong Tau Foo is a food of Chinese (Hakka) origin.

Bitter melon, shitake mushroom, chilie, eggplant, okra, snakebean are commonly used for stuffing.

Sculptures in a theme park

Mandarin oranges

During the Chinese New Year, mandarin oranges are considered as a traditional symbol of abundance and good fortune. 

Cookies and mandarin oranges are exchanged as gifts with family and friends throughout the 15 days of the Chinese Lunar Year,  kinda like gifting during Christmas.

Gallimaufry#19

Just a gallimaufry of photos ...

Bamboo orchid

Rattlesnake heliconia

Elephant ears

FROM THE SHOEBOX — PHOTOS THAT RARELY SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY

BALI 2001

According to Balinese custom, I was told by our tour guide that a frangipani worn over the left ear of a woman meant that she was available, over the right ear if she was married or taken. I later learned from a friend that it was the other way round. I think we were pranked! No wonder that old man across the room kept winking at us!!

So who is right?

Candi Bentar

Split gates or Candi Bentar are an integral feature of Balinese temple architecture. They mark the entrances to temples, drawing the boundary between the sacred grounds of the temples and the outside world.

They are also a depiction of the Balinese concept of duality — male and female, light and dark and good and evil.

4 Heavenly Kings

This dish screams royalty but really, it's just a fancy name for a stir-fry that uses 4 types of vegetables, namely eggplant, okra, stink beans and long beans.

Tea —  Éclairs

2022 is the year of the tiger

The 12 Chinese zodiac animal sculptures in a mall

I am a tiger! What are you?

Gallimaufry#18

Just a gallimaufry of photos ...

Pagoda flower

 Earleaf acacia

SKYWATCH FROM MY BALCONY

The sky looks like the sea today

Bahay Kubo

Bahay Kubo or nipa hut is an icon of Filipino culture. "Bahay" means house in Filipino and "kubo" means cube. In Malaysia, these huts are popular around beaches and resorts.

Dinner — Buta No Kakuni

Recipe — http://www.tofoodwithlove.com/2011/06/buta-no-kakuni-japanese-braised-pork.html

MALAYSIAN STREET FOOD

Claypot rice

Think Malaysian paella! Essentially, it is just rice cooked in a claypot with ingredients like Chinese sausage, chicken/pork and/or salted fish, resulting in a crispy crust at the bottom.

FROM THE SHOEBOX — PHOTOS THAT RARELY SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY

KOREA 2002

Alps Ski Resort

Note the time on the clock.

One of South Korea's first ever winter sports destinations, the Alps Ski Resort drew tens of thousands of skiers every year until it abruptly closed its doors in 2006. The resort still remains a ghost town today despite attempts to reopen it. Increased competition from more accessible rivals with newer facilities drove the resort's owner into bankruptcy.

An aerial shot of the abandoned resort  —  image source AFP/Getty Images (2018)

2002

2018

Creepy ski lift chairs hanging at the desolate resort  —  image credit  Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters 

Time stands still in this apocalyptic-like resort —  image source AFP/Getty Images (2018)

Uncanny!