Decorative items for my cupboard : )

I have recently have some interest in some Buddhist/Fengshui ornaments. Not going to become a monk/fengshui consultant but just plain liking for those ornaments that is somewhat relates to Buddhism or fengshui (I have some interest in both and the interest has been with me on and off). Actually it might be due to the fact that I like resort, Indonesia or Thailand interior design style and such ornaments actually compliments the furnishing that I have at home. However my wife do not like those statues of scary looking ones (from Thailand or Indonesia or somewhere which I do not know), so I keep my hands and eyes off those. Anyway they are not so nice to me anyway. :P Will not bother to search out for any of these ornaments but if I chance upon it and like what I see, I would buy it (within my budget of course)! Also reading on mediation to keep myself relax but not much into it since I think proper guidence is necessary and practices is a must to attain what I want to achieve (Needs to work on it). : P

Was at Race Course Road after visit my Chinese physician at Boon Keng. I was looking for a Buddha hand incense holder to add to my collection to be placed at my cupboard. Found a few shops have it but does not want to reduce price for them. Finally went to one which we remember at the corner of the HDB flat and it was sold to me for $11. Actually looking for individual Buddha hand incense but not able to find any. Also got my Tibet bronze bowl. The shop owner told us how to use the bowl. It is now then I realise how the bowl is used, in conjunction with the stick that comes with it. That bronze bowl has 3 different sizes and the biggest cost $95, after $5 discount from the shop owner. The rest cost $55 (small) and $75 (medium).

The stick that comes with the bowl is used to go around the bowl's mouth. Then it would produce a interesting sound and it actually gets louder as you spin the stick around the mouth of the bowl. It would definitely be an interesting item to have for my cupboard!

This is how the bowl and the wooden stick looks like.

This is the Buddha hand incense holder that I have bought.

This is another picture of the Buddha hand incense holder.

Forgot to look for chinese "Tong Qian" or bronze coins as mostly sell in bulk, around $8 for 100 pc. Since I need only small quantity, maybe get from Bugis next time I'm there. : )

I have soaked the ornaments in sea salt (cannot find the one that I have previously bought so use the aquarium salt : P) overnight. Then I was drying them out at the living room. I was hoping to get some direct sunlight to boost the "Yang" energy of the ornaments before I display them. Since no direct sunlight comes to my house, indirect sunlight will have to do. Should be sunning them for a week or so before displaying them on my cupboard.

Desaru trip (takes some time to load with many pics)

I was staying at my wife's friend place overnight as it was more convenient (coach picking us up below). The trip includes visit to Temple, Fruit Farm, Herbal Farm and finally firefly viewing! The catch is also have lobster for lunch.

The temple is similar to the one in Muar (should be under the same organisation). Found some puppies kept in a cage and a monkey looking for anything to eat. It is beside a river. Here are some pictures that I have taken.

Picture taken from the back of the temple.
Another shot from the back of the temple.

Found these puppies kept in a cage at the back of the temple too. All dirty and stuff. Surely the owner did not take care of them well. So sad.

This monkey is also found at the back of the temple. Always looking for food. Its left chest seems to be cut and quite a deep cut there. Cannot see from this picture.

Pictures taken from the front of the temple.

It was drizzling when we reached the fruit farm. Did not bother to look at the trees with this weather. Also the fruits on sale are not any that we are interested in so we did not bother to buy any. My wife wanted some mangos but they are not very sweet so she did not get any.
There was some sales for honey products but not cheap so did not get any too.

Now then know must pay for this visit. Too bad did not see the fruit trees. Below are some photos taken at this place.

They also sell wild/unprocessed honey. Not cheap though.

Bees for your viewing pleasure.

Some interesting benches I found there.

Another one.

Does this picture looks like the fishes waiting for the cat to fall and have their meal??? : )
Can see some bird nest hanging around this place. However they are manually hanged there. Interesting.

We then went to the Herbal Farm. The tour guide told us that this farm initially was used to grow and sell aquatic plants for sale but in order to stand out, the owner decided to grow herbs instead. Here has a nice selection of herbs that the owner grows and he would give some to visitors upon requests. That is a nice gesture we don't get to see everyday here in Singapore! I was more interested in the aquatic plants but found only java ferns and common water plants. The owner mentioned that his stock just cleared so nothing much left here. However, since he find out that I keep water plants, he gave me some plants (look like arrow heads) but one green in colour while the other is slightly pinkish. Also took some photos there.

Some herbs that was growing in this farm. I do not have much interest in them so did not bother to take many pictures. Furthermore too many of them to take. Other than herbs, there are more plants that I have found there.

For those who have never seen a pineapple growing. : )

Personally I like these flowers. Looks like stars with nice colour.

Also a small pond found there. Got a Guanyin statue in front of this picture. Was told by my wife not to take it.
Too bad they only have java ferns and normal water plant there. These java ferns are tied to a driftwood.

Java ferns growing on soil. First time see them grown on soil. : )

Then we went to the final destination (a pier) to take a boat but not before we eat dinner first. The dinner here is much better than lunch. We were allow to shop around the area before we meet up for the dinner. Bought a pair of shoes and a leather bag (cow hide), since I recently got interest in getting a leather bag. Maybe next time go Thailand get another one. : D We had to wait for night fall (around 7pm) so we can see the fireflies. We proceed to the pier behind the restuarant and waited there for a while. Finally took the small boat and it took us to see some birds' nest before we travel to see the fireflies. It was too dark and the light the fireflies provide is enough for the eyes to see but not cameras to capture. So only have photos for the trip.

Where we eat our dinner...

The pier...

The river at the pier...

Life jackets... Since I cannot swim, can I take 2? He...He... Just joking.

All aboard and ready to go!

Some bird nests below a highway. Saw a dead bird hanging there but did not post it up here.
On the way to see the fireflies.

Well, it was too dark and camera is unable to capture the fireflies blinking. So took a picture of the tree that they would be on (they feed on the sap or something from this tree. So fireflies will die if this type of trees are not found. Some of the tourist managed to catch 1 or 2 fireflies. Male fireflies blink 3 times every 1 second while female fireflies blinked 1 time every 3 seconds. Interesting. This blinking is to tell predators that they don't taste good and also attract the females. Fireflies can live only for 4 months.

Then it is a long way back (one and a half hour's ride). Got stuck in the traffice jam for 3 hours before we can clear the custom and on our way home. So tired. "Yawn"...