My world Tuesday: Prince William visits New Zealand and Australia.

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http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/


Frangipanis are used by the Polynesians to make leis to welcome people. My polynesian students tell me that when a woman wears the Frangipani on her ear, you need to be careful. If she wears it over her right ear, she is available. If she wears it over her left ear, you should not flirt with her, otherwise her husband will cop your ear.

If I was younger, I would have a lei ready at the airport in Australia to welcome Prince William. I will also be wearing a Frangipani over my right ear, as the water engineer is in Auckland, too far away to cop Prince's William's ear. LOL

I watch on TV, women as old as me waiting for him in Auckland as though stalking him.

I tell everyone when his parents came to Auckland, I was working at 246 building, at Queen's street. All of us cheeky girls told the boss we were going down the building to see them. The boss said, "OK, just ten minutes." We dashed to the elevator and fought to get in first.

We cheeky girls went down early and disappeared for more than 1/2 hour. The next 1/2 hour when we came up, we gossiped how pretty Di was. There was no work done for the rest of the day. The boss could only say," TSK!TSK!"

I can imagine, this time round the girls of another generation would be wearing the Frangipani over their right ears and have dreamy eyes for the rest of the day.

Perhaps, they could become the future queen of UK, NZ and Oz. Sorry Kate.

Macro Monday: Mellow yellow: Allamanda flower

http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/
http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

When I finished high school in Borneo, I had a gap year and became a teacher before I went to university in Canada. The kids adored me as I was just a kid myself at 19, not much older than some of the students who have come from Chinese schools.

That school, Kai Chung school in Binatang aka now as Bintang, divided the students into houses named after flowers. I was in charge of the Allamanda team. This yellow trumpet like flower is very potent, the sap is poisonous.

This flower from a shrub I found on the Gold Coast of Australia is slightly different to the Borneo ones. They have those extra petals in the middle.
Common Name: Stansill's Double, Flore Pleno Allamanda
Botanical Name: Allamanda cathartica 'Stansill's Double'

The Borneo ones are look like a trumpet and have a hole in the middle.

This Monday, I am combining this post for the meme, Mellow Yellow which I normally post on my other site. http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2010/01/mellow-yellow-fire-evacuation-sign.html

sunday stills: Moods and emotions.

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Moods and Emotions
Posted in Sunday Stills Challenge of the Week, the next challenge with tags Sunday Stills, Sunday Stills Challenge on January 10, 2010 by Ed

This will take a bit of explaining. This challenge is for you to get a shot that enables a response in the person who views your pic not one that is your personal emotion. For example if I see a pic of a tranqual stream or a sunrise I feel mellow, If I see a pic of doggie smiles or a horse doing his rolling in dirt thing It makes me smile, you get the idea. So lets see just how much talent we have out there and have some fun with this one, I’m already writing ideas in my notebook for pics and can’t wait to get started.

Later…Ed

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

These are all taken in Australia. They do evoke my emotions, and I hope they evoke yours too. No commentaries from me, but I shall love to hear yours.

Friday shoot out: Birds

http://mytownshootout.blogspot.com/
http://mytownmrlinky.blogspot.com/

Jan. 15 - "Birds (Real & Otherwise)"
by Scritor Senex

Whilst visiting some of the town bloggers, I had noticed that photographing birds in the garden was a popular pastime so my first thought was to suggest a subject of garden birds. But then I realised that not everyone has the equipment to photograph the real things.
That made me look out for alternatives and I noticed sculptures, posters, little models and various other things with birds on them so I hope that your town will prove equally
productive and am really looking forward to seeing your birds (real or otherwise).
All the best,
Scriptor Senex
[Photo by GingerV - Bruges, Belgium]

This summer in Australia, I am woken at 5 am to the ARK ARK ARK of the crows. I could have thrown a shoe at the #### birds. The whole day, they go ARK ARK ARK.

To the Chinese, this is an unauspicous bird. When my mum first went to live in Australia, she hated this ARK ARK ARK. Now, I have become my mum.

Then there are the Ibises, I was delighted to see them when I first sighted them. I got my sister Helen to stop the car so I can shoot them with my camera. The locals tell me that they are pest and we are allowed to shoot them. They say, ibises even take food out of babies' mouth. You see them every where, and there are signs saying," Please do not feed the ibises." There are a couple that always come next to Charles' swimming pool. I try to get a closeup photo, but they won't oblige.

Sea gulls are everywhere. I was at Broad beach and I looked at the bay, a catamaran was sailing, and I see a swamp of birds like bees following the boat. I was told these are party boats. People have a party on these cruise boats, and the party goers throw the food to the sea gulls.

This black bird is a wild turkey. I saw this at the Tamborine Mountain. It is the same story, " Do not feed the birds." But the tourists find it too tempting to resist.

This undesired feeding causes and imbalance in the ecology. The birds become too lazy to hunt , and depend on man and then they become aggressive. Not a good sign.

My World Tuesday: Brisbane

c

http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

New Year 2010, I took the train from Surfers Paradise to Brisbane. We had fun especially in the Science centre.

Look at the gem Brisbane city gave to me. In the grounds of the Arts, Museum , Science centre, was a mother duck protecting 3 ducklings. She did not even move when spectators got very near to them.

Near by is the Brisbane Eye. I did not go on it because it was very hot and I don't like going round and round and round. Click on this , for a close up photo taken by the water engineer when he came on a work assignment trip.

Once the Singapore Wheel broke down for many hours, and people had no where to pee and it was terrible in the humid hot weather. This reinforced me not to go on a wheel. http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2008/12/singapore-flyer.html

Save the world, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com.html
http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2009/09/think-green-thursday_10.html


http://www.currumbin-sanctuary.org.au/

I spent a wonderful time of nostalgia and interests at this wild life sanctuary at the Gold Coast of Australia.

23 years years ago, I went with Mum and Dad and D to see the famous Kangaroos and Koalas. Mum and Dad have passed away, and going back there makes it a special place.

They have a new place, the Green trail adventure challenge which Sam completed. http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2010/01/scenic-sunday-currumbin-sanctuary.html
As I left, I chanced upon the artist who was selling her paintings of the animals and wildlife. I spoke with her, as I usually do with people of interests. Barbara Stockill sells her paintings and ther proceeds go to the Animal Hospital. She is there on Sundays and Tuesdays as an artist, and a volunteer on Thursdays. My Kiwi Paki-Paki (clap clap) to Barbara for her great part in Save the world and Keeping the world green.

*********

From the website:

With hundreds of native Australian animals on display in natural bushland and rainforest settings, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary provides a rare opportunity to get closer to our amazing native wildlife.

A place where you can enjoy exciting, interactive displays, presentations and dining experiences. Nestled within 27 hectares of lush eucalypt and rainforest, each day brings visitors face to face with extraordinary wildlife in shows and encounters. Every day at Currumbin is a new adventure. Cuddle a koala, get up close to a crocodile, get amongst a mob of kangaroos or check out reptiles, birds and marsupials in amazing wildlife shows and displays.

Our latest attraction, The Green Challenge high ropes adventure course, is the newest nature-based adventure experience for the Gold Coast. With Sixty-five challenges including giant flying foxes and a tarzan swing, the Green Challenge takes visitors higher and further into the spectacular natural setting.

I will post other photos and commentary of this amazing place another day.

Macro Monday: Mid night Glory

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This succulent plant blooms around mid night, and closes shortly after. So if you miss it, you miss it.

In Borneo, the Mid night Glory blooms once in a few years and usually only a single bloom. People regard it as an sign of good luck. They will buy the lottery when they see this flower bloom.

A friend holds a party and invites friends especially friends from overseas to see this unusual miracle.

In Australia, however, my brother Joseph's plant blooms numerous flowers often. May be that is why I am enjoying my holiday in the land of the rich and famous.