Category: Daily Whatevers

Pokok Berembang…in English is Crabapple Mangrove (Sonneratia caseolaris). A very important species of mangrove, and is a common habitat for fireflies.

It is also used as food. Leaves may be eaten raw or cooked. The ripe fruit are eaten by people from Africa to the Malays and Javanese, and are said to taste like cheese. In Eastern Africa the leaves are used a camel fodder.

Sonneratia caseolaris is used in poultices for cuts, bruises (Burma) and sprains and swellings. Ripe fruit are used to expel intestinal parasites (Malay) and half-ripe fruit for coughs.

Many mangrove creatures and plants depend on Sonneratia. They are the host trees of the fireflies (Pteroptyx tener) that perform spectacular synchronised flashing along the Selangor River in Malaysia. Sonneratia leaves make up the bulk of the food eaten by the fascinating Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) of Borneo. Other insects and small creatures also feed on their leaves and other parts. Being among the first trees to grow low on the tidal mudflats, Sonneratia stabilise the riverbanks and coasts, providing more favourable ground for other types of trees and plants.

The fragrant, night-blooming Sonneratia flowers are pollinated mainly by the Dawn Bat (Eonycteris spelaea), the Common Long-tailed Bat (Macroglossus minimus), and the Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis). These bats feed on nectar and pollen of flowers and rely mainly on Sonneratia for sustenance. The Dawn Bat in particular, prefers Sonneratia. They are the same bats that pollinate commercially important crops such as durians, bananas and papayas. Thus, without the Sonneratia, there would be less of these favourite fruits!

So remember, save our mangroves. Pity our next generation.

I was in Sekinchan yesterday, then went to Bagan Pasir (where I boarded the Kaleebso to go to Jarak back in November 2005), Pasir Penambang in Kuala Selangor, then went for dinner by the sea in Jeram, south of Assam Jawa.

You can view the pictures here, and I must say that some may interest you…depending on what your interests are.

คิดมากจัง เหมือนเธอไม่เคยรู้เลย ว่าฉันรักเธอกว่าใคร
แล้วตัวเธอ จะเปลี่ยนแปลงเพื่อใครนะ

คิดยังไง ฝืนใจตัวเองเพื่อใคร เมื่อฉันรักเธอแบบเดิม
ฉันรู้เพียง เธอคนเดิมล่ะดีแล้ว

Yes…that is what Hat Yai actually means. I’ve not been there since…hmm…September of 2004. Well, I passed by Hat Yai earlier this year on my way to and from Koh Lipe, but never actually stopped there.

So, what is it with Hat Yai?

My first time to Hat Yai was when I was posted north and was looking after that area. That was back in 1993. Spent some 3 years (almost). Hat Yai is the place that seriously got me into listening to Luuk Thoong (Loog Thoong to some) and learnt more about the Thai culture. And I loved the sanuk way of life. Everytime my shift as “Duty Officer” ended, I’d go to Samilla Beach in Songkhla, grab me a plate of chilli fried crabs, a mat, chow down, and sleep by the beach. I almost moved there back in 1996 after my tour in the Air Force ended.

I kept going back to Hat Yai, and Thailand in general during the after-years. However, it wasn’t till 2004 that I made more trips to Hat Yai (as well as to Bangkok). Those were the days when Steve, Nad, and I would meet politicians from that side of the border discussing certain things. It was fun to be there, especially watching this farang Steve confusing everyone there with his Isaan dialect and perfect Malay.

Now, as I sit here in front of this PC, listening to Hot Wave 91.5FM from Thailand, I miss Hat Yai. Well, I miss Thailand. I miss speaking Thai, watch the Thais go about their life, watch Thai TV and so on. I also need to replenish my Thai music collection.

Hmm..maybe I should also write about the day I visited Nang Nak‘s house next.

Oh my God…I’m cracking up! LOL! 😀

I want to got to New York and see the Vampire State Building.

This is hillarious:

Not many people go to Antarctica yet because it is under penguin rule.

Finally I’ve gotten to do my video page. I’ve uploaded the web version of the Twinkle Jarak Style, Perhentian Trigger Happy Trip, Aquaria KLCC Dive, Tioman Feb 2006 Trip, Tioman 3-4 June 2006 Trip, and the Do’s and Don’ts of Diving videos.

You can watch the videos BY CLICKING HERE!