Evolution wonder

The Comex Show was swarming with people as usual. They went for the big value items - LCD panels, printers, computers, laptops. The big names were all there - Sony, Samsung, Singtel, Starhub, Nikon, Canon. Yes, Canon. I went for Canon and bought myself the upgraded sister of my trusty IXUS 800. Double the megapixels - 8 now vs the 4 megapixels of 2 years ago. Bigger and brighter LCD screen , faster start-up and focusing. Improved access to functions. The function dial has disappeared and the camera is now slimmer and prettier. I love it!

I also love the fact that at such mega IT exhibitions, the prices are cheaper and you get a lot of freebies too. I got the Canon freebie package that consisted of one 4 gig SDHC card, one 8gig SDHC card, one HDSC card reader, $30 worth of NTUC vouchers, one camera casing, a small camera bag and one small tripod for my purchase. I am mighty glad I did my homework the day before so that no time was wasted as I targeted the Canon products the minute I ploughed my way through the hordes of people spilling out from the escalators. I must say that I made off with an excellent bargain yesterday evening.

Flowers for prayers

I was in the vicintity of Waterloo Street when I saw these huge Chrysanthemum flowers at one of the numerous stalls in front of the Waterloo Street Kwan Yin Temple. I asked permission to photograph these impressive looking flowers that you could buy to offer to the Goddess of Mercy when you pray at the temple and was told that the colours of these flowers, except the yellow ones, were artificially infused.

Lotus buds are the preferences of some devotees at the temple.
The bright and cheerful colours of Waterloo Street.Tomorrow is the first day of the eighth month in the Lunar Calendar.

Colours to liven up the weekend

A long time ago...

In Dec 2002, I took these photos with a 2 Megapixel Olympus camera, the C200Z. Since that time, the technology of digital cameras have improved by leaps and bounds and even though this camera is still in good condition and functions well, it cannot compete with today's point-and-shoot type of digital cameras both in terms of looks and capability. Through the years I have upgraded from the humble 2-megapixel camera to the current 7.1 megapixel Olympus SP550OUZ with an 18X zoom facility. In between there is another Olympus 10X zoom of 4 megapixel and a Canon Ixus (my favourite camera because of its size and its reliability to produce reasonably sharp pictures). Compact digital cameras just get smaller and better and needs therefore are neverending. I need another camera. Or, more precisely, I have needs that my current cameras are unable to fulfill. Therefore, I should go and check out the best deals at the Comex Show at Suntec City before it ends. You should too!

Lagerstroemia indica var. alba - Crepe Myrtle

The lack of colour in this flower is made up for by the interesting form it takes. Wavy petals all crinkled up probably gave it its common name - 'Crepe Myrtle'.

Thunbergia lauriflora - Blue Trumpet Vine

Longing for sunshine, so I pray that the heavens will give the rains a break because I need to feel the warmth of a sunny day.

Averrhoa carambola - Starfruit

Outside, the heavens have opened up pouring buckets of water onto the earth while we are snug and safe indoors. I am sure many of us are waiting for the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics this evening and I hope the weather in Beijing will cooperate to give the Olympics a grand closure of the games as anticipated. Years of training have paid off and for some, handsomely. For others, just being there to participate must have been the achievement of personal dreams. For a humble starfruit tree like this one, flowers and fruits are part and parcel of ensuring the survival of the species but the cycle it goes through must be similar to the Olympic dream. I know because, I only take the easy way out by taking pictures of flowers and fruits. I dare not take on the task of growing my own fruit tree because I can't even grow lemon grass to an acceptable standard for cooking. So to be representing one's country in the Olympics - that must be a massive task. Well done Singapore! At least we make it to the medal tally list. Next time, another dream can be made to come true and I hope that there will be more loving kindness and compassion along the way as well as at the end when the dream is attained.

Fragrant Orchid

The colours are dull and that makes the flowers not at all outstanding because they sort of blend into the background. What makes them attractive is their fragrance. Yes, these are fragrant orchids at the Singapore Orchid Garden.

Canna hybrids (美人蕉 - mei3 ren2 jiao1)

On a fine and sunny day
Nature took out its palette
From colours of yellow, orang and pink
She repainted what was orignially created
to be pure and rich and individualnow with a brush here and a dab there
Mixtures that can never be replicated
But hold it they say, its not nature's work
Hybrids are not natural, they are doctored!
Anyway, I have no arguments about who done it
what, when, where and why
as long as the result is pleasant
and beautiful to the eye.

Medinilla cummingii - Chandelier tree

This shrub is one of my best-loved photography subject probably because its flowers resemble chandeliers. If I were to have a dream house, it will be lighted up only by chandeliers. That is why I find this shrub so fascinating each time it flowers.

Family: Melastomataceae
Origin: Philippines

Spider lilies

Today's date: 20 08 2008

These spider lilies are white in colour. Or are they?
These orchids could be described as having white petals with tinges of pink on them.

This painting was a still life of white crockery on a piece of white table or beige coloured table cloth. It was one of the early paintings I did under the guidance of my art teacher. I had thought that his choice of still life on that night was kind of boring. Afterall, white is just white and my painting, I imagined, would be really dull without any vibrant colours. At the end of the session, my painting did not resemble what was actually before me. In fact it turned out to be rather interesting. All because my teacher said that white is not what it seems. When you look at something white hard enough, you begin to realise that white takes on the colours of its surroundings. 有时候望着云朵会可能见到彩虹。

Strophanthus gratus - Climbing Oleander

I had wanted to bypass this shrub because I have already taken several pictures of these flowers and felt that I should exercise some restraint before I run out of storage space. In fact, I did walk pass it but then having thrown just a glance in its direction while doing so, I just had to back trek. Yes, I have seen these flowers many times before - the same shrub with the same type of flowers in the same place. But no, I just could not resist stopping by to admire their uniqueness. Actually every flower is unique because like us humans, each one bears a different form, a different look and a different allure. Looking at them was like looking at someone familiar and at the same time it also felt like seeing someone I had never met before. I was glad I gave these flowers my undivided attention for the duration it took me to appreciate them through my camera lenses. What I have in return is a lasting memory of a pleasant encounter.

Orchids

"Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will land amongst the stars" - a quotation I came across somewhere. Here are my best orchid shots taken on Sunday at the Singapore Orchid Garden for our Singapore Women Table-Tennis team and swimmer Tao Li who are now shining stars for their spirited and inspiring performances at the Beijing Olympics. The moon will still be there 4 years from now. 加油！

Bromeliads

Tonight is the Olympics Table-Tennis Finals in Beijing. I am counting the hours to this match between China and Singapore vying for gold. We are guaranteed a silver but there is no reason not to hope for gold. Life is unpredictable. What is expected can be upset by the unexpected and what is unexpected will appear without an invitation. That was exactly my experience this morning at the Singapore Orchid Gardens where the expected beauties were orchids of course. But in a corner were the bromeliads that were often given a quick pass over because the times I was there, I hardly saw any flower. One or two perhaps but not enough to hold my attention for long. This morning, however, the sighting of one beautiful bromeliad flower led on to more wonderful discoveries. The bromeliads were flowering and together as a bonus for me. So tonight, our table-tennis team should not think about silver but gold and if they think hard enough, the unexpected will turn up! Good Luck Singapore!

Sauropus androgynus

Fantastic Women's Table Tennis matches at the Beijing Olympics - Singapore in the finals! Yay! I missed the live telecast this afternoon and luckily managed to watch our Singapore team make it to the finals tonight in the repeat telecast. Table tennis is my game and tonight I dedicate these beautiful flowers of a not so common plant to my country's victory in the semi-finals over the South Korean team. I've never seen such fight ever in table-tennis. Wow! Kudos to all our women players for making history for Singapore.

Jatropha integerrima 'Pink'

I read that this is quite an easy shrub to grow. Maybe it is time that I bring something new into my garden.