Comings and Goings

You know, just one of the many awesome sunsets I get to see almost EVERYDAY! =D

Well, it's been 2 whole months since I have been here, and so many things have happened. A month and a half of school has just flown by and it all seemed so surreal before the school term even started. Once school was in session, there was no looking back and days just flew by without waiting for me to jump on the bus to catch up with the events of each week! Honestly, it was seriously a big jump from tertiary education back in Singapore and I have really forgotten most of my plant knowledge as well, yikes! =/

Getting caught up with so many assignments week after week is not a beautiful place, but I take comfort knowing that I have friends who are going through the same thing together with me, and we can depend on each other. Just like old times eh....

Aside from the ever-depressing school life, living circumstances are sort of different from back home, where everything is provided for. Here, things are out there, just waiting for you to go and get'em! It's not as simple as looking for something in a convenience store or just an MRT station away. The process of looking for things is kind of fun because you spend time and effort to crack your head just to look for something which you want ever so badly.

The people here are also more open,sadly I haven't got many chances to get to know the locals here, except for a few Subway lassies who make small talk with me everytime I visit the joint. I would really love to get to know the locals and their way of life here because it's something that I came here to do as well, and I hope it can be fulfilled before I leave.

Missing home? You bet! So many things are still back in Singapore, but I guess starting to live in a new country in a new environment is all part of change. It can be good and bad, depending on how you look at it, but to me, every experience is a new one, and I'm really thankful for the opportunity to be able to experience this! I'm definitely looking forward to more exciting times here, and hopefully, the days will not just come and go like the neighbour's yellow eye-ed brown cat.

~moey out~

The Queensland Effect

Well, it's been a whole week since our party first arrived in Brisbane, and I must say, it has been a whole journey on its own. We had so many things to complete on our to-do-list! Thankfully, things got done in a matter of days and we could rest better.

1) The first thing I noticed about the streets of Brisbane was that it was just as clean as that of Singapore, but with a lot fewer rubbish bins. They were strategically placed at intersections and they were huge ones to boot, so it could hold a lot more rubbish as well. I haven't really seen any road cleaners around, so I would assume that the Australians like to keep their country clean, I mean who wouldn't? The cleanliness of streets of any given country, in my opinion, represents how socially conscious the community is, and I dare say the Australians really regard it highly. They get a big thumbs up from me.


2) Apparently the national culture of work-life balance is quite obvious, because the roads are quickly flooded with people and vehicles all heading home from work around 5.30pm onwards. The usual traffic jams similar to those we often experience on Singapore highways and roads do happen, but they dilute just as quickly. And I feel this culture of leaving work to relax is a good thing because it encourages people to GET A LIFE. But I would assume most of their time is spent at home because around 7.30pm onwards, the streets are quite empty already, even in the city. So there have been many occasions where we were stranded out on the streets with nowhere to go to shop or eat, which is really awkward to say the least.


3) Talking about eating, the food here is not as affordable as back home, and a simple meal can cost up to AUD$10. However, having said that, the portions are huge and we have tried a lot of different cuisines, and most of them turned out better than expected. No doubt I was reluctant to spend so much on a meal, but I think it's really normal because I think the Aussies earn a fare bit more as well, so meals at that price is fine with them. Honestly, my friends and I have been eating quite a lot as well, and I won't be surprised that we will be putting on weight sooner or later. But hey, the weight can be shed off easily, and I'll just take the extra weight gained as food reserves for the coming winter season. =)


4) How's the weather here you ask? Well, it's actually quite similar to Singapore actually. It's hot and the sun is really powerful, but it's not as humid here, so the sun burns the skin more easily. The sun rises extremely early in the morning! It starts to light up the sky as early as 5am(that's 3am to those of you back in Singapore), and it kind of messes up your sleeping pattern and body clock. But hey, that's all part of adapting to a new country and environment right? It's also starting to rain more and more already, preparing for winter I guess. The nights here are starting to get colder and colder, and it has been particularly cold for me the past few nights because I don't have a blanket or a quilt yet(which I will get it by today!).


5) The prices of things here in general are more on the pricey side as well. Basic household supplies are not as affordable, but the house-brands are a mark lower than the branded ones, and honestly, some of the house-brand goods are actually quite good. I guess the cost of living here is high, and as students we have to settle for cheaper alternatives, but hey, I guess it's a whole new experience on its own as well.


6) Australians are actually quite friendly and warm, which is a strong part of their culture. Everywhere we go to, we are greeted with smiles and a simple "how are you today?" Even though it might seem routine for them to do so, it makes me feel welcomed and comfortable. It is definitely a big difference from the conservative society we come from, but I think it's a really nice thing to pick up during my stay here. I just find it awesome to be greeted constantly and to have the pleasure of reciprocating it back as well.


7) Surprisingly, I thought Australia would be a dry and arid land, but boy was I wrong. The vast expanse of land is covered by grasses and trees scattered here and there. Of course, temperate trees and plants are more common by the sides of the roads and highways, but there are a lot of tropical plants as well. We were able to spot quite a number of recognizable plants, and some which cannot grow properly in Singapore, are doing extremely well here! I guess that's the result of a different climate here, nice.

Well, it seems to me that there's more to Australia than I first anticipated, and it has been a wonderful time for me since I first set foot in this country. There are a lot more things to explore and experience and I warmly welcome anything new because that's all part of studying abroad. =)

~moey out~ 

The Big Move

It's already the year of the dragon and it's already February! Gosh, time really flies without noticing. It's just less than 24 hours more till I leave this sunny island to pursue my studies in the land of Kangaroos. The past few weeks have been consumed by administration procedures, sorting things out to pack, getting down to packing itself, and of course to spend my remaining few days with the people dear to me. Honestly, it's been a really long journey from just getting interested in all things planty and now it's about time to say goodbye and start a new journey once again. A journey where I won't know what to expect, I won't know how rough the road will be, nor the people I will meet along that road, but what I DO know is that God's looking down from above and I simply take comfort in that alone. Yes, it seems intangible, but it's something that I continually believe in and hold on to dearly.  

Well, my whole life has literally been packed into one single luggage bag, all shrink-wrapped and ready to see the new life I'm about to experience. I definitely have mixed feelings about leaving everything behind for about a year. 
Excitement comes to mind because who wouldn't be excited and eager to go on a totally new journey. Yes, there will be a lot of new things to experience, and a lot of new cultures to adapt to. But that is all part of the experience right? 
Sadness is also part of the package because I will be leaving everything else behind in Singapore. After living 23 years in the same house, in the same neighbourhood, same country, same environment, same people around you. There are so many things which I won't be able to pack into my luggage bag, and these are the things which I will most definitely miss sorely. 

My family is something which I will really miss a lot because they have been there for me my whole life, and leaving all of them behind is really heart-wrenching. I will miss my mum especially because being the only child, she has nobody else to take care of but me (not that I'm complaining). I will miss all her nagging, and even though I sometimes get ticked off by it, I think I will miss the sound of her voice, and home-sickness will kick in sooner or later. Family really keeps somebody going, and I'm glad they support me all the way.

 

Friends are the next thing which I will miss the most! Without them, life would be really boring. They always bring a smile to my face whenever I see them and I will dearly miss each and everyone of them. Having brothers and sisters in Christ really help me because it creates a community for me to grow and develop in. Having a common set of values to improve ourselves in really builds and strengthens the bonds between us, and I will miss all their crazy antics. My army friends have also played an integral role in my life because if not for them, NS would have been a real bore. I'm glad I met each and everyone of them and I will always remember all the times and moments we spent together doing weird and crazy things. I will also miss the boys because they bring so much joy and laughter every Saturday, and I don't know what I would be doing every weekend if not for them. Seeing each and everyone of them grow up from young kids to teenagers really makes me proud, and I'm sure they will grow to be fine young men when I return. I will also miss my secondary school and polytechnic friends (those who are not studying in Australia) because they have knowingly or unknowingly influenced me when I was growing up and I really treasure each and every one of them.   

I will also miss my plants just outside my doorstep. Though they are not some super rare species of plants, but they're special to me because I have also seen them 'grow up' when I first obtained them. Most have flowered religiously for me over the past few years and I'm really grateful for them as well because they really brought cheer and colour to the dull corridor of mine. I hope my mum will be able to take care of them and I will be able to come home to a beautiful corridor once again.

Of course in Singapore, food is an integral part of my life as well. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and most definitely Malay cuisine. I will miss each and every one of them because being delicious is one thing, affordable as well!? Who wouldn't miss it?! I know I would, and I'm sure cravings will slowly creep up on me when I think of home. But we will do our best to cook our own over there in Australia, and hopefully, it will satiate some cravings if possible.

Despite the recent transport breakdowns and let-downs, I will also miss the regular buses and trains. Singapore being an island city, the transportation infrastructure is top-notch in my opinion, and I will miss the constant rumble of buses going by me. I will miss the safety of just making my way home alone at 12midnight, with no worries of being mugged by some homeless person who is desperate enough to do such a thing.

No doubt I will miss all these homely comforts, but I signed up for this knowing all the things I will miss in Singapore, but I will also be missing out on greater things if I don't go. Yes, I will miss Singapore, but there are so many things out there which I have yet to explore, so yes, I want to grab this opportunity to go out into the world to see new things! Well, I guess this is farewell from me within the yellow-orange walls of my room. 

~moey out~

The Miracle Root

"I know what a ginseng root looks like, but how does it look like above the soil?" 

That was the question that was posed to me by one of my friends, and being the ever-adamant horticulturist, I was stumped. *Insert gasping emoji* Well, I figured that I might as well find out the answer, so I can enlighten him (and myself) of how the ginseng plant looks like as a whole organism. So researching I went, and came up with a lot more than just how the plant looks above the soil.

The whole plant of Panax notoginseng

Ok, so the term 'Ginseng' is a collective term used to describe plants whose roots have medicinal value/uses. It is made up of various genera of plants, but of which, 'Panax' is the more commonly used one. 'Panax' in latin means 'cure-all', and it comes from the Araliaceae family. So you could say it is a cousin of Osmoxylon and Schefflera. It is mainly grown and cultivated in Asia, notably China, Japan and Korea. The Chinese know it better as 田七 (Tiánqī), which means 'three-seven root' because the plant mainly has three branches with seven leaves each. However, I think this is just a generalization because not all all of them look the same. Anyway, it tastes sweet and slightly bitter. 

Morphologically speaking, it enjoys shade, so it will probably shrivel up and melt under the hot sun if exposed to it directly. It also has the signature palmate leaf arrangement like Schefflera. It has tiny white flowers, which will bear bright red berries later on. 

Bright red berries

So why is it lauded as a miracle root? Well, it acts mainly as a haemostatic, meaning that it stops bleeding. Being antihaemorrhagic, it contracts tissues to seal up injured blood vessels. I'm no biologist, so I didn't really delve deep into the chemical and biological reactions to how it works inside the body. All I know is that ginseng contains 'ginsenocide' which helps to calm nerves, and 'dencichine' which is an amino acid, that helps to stop bleeding and encourage platelet formation. So essentially, it is very good for the blood system because it encourages blood flow and repairs. Now who wouldn't want that? Of course, the more mature the plant, the more potent the 'ginsenocide' content will be. 

There are mainly 2 different forms of Ginseng: Red and White Ginseng. Red ginseng is steamed after harvesting and dried, without removing the epidermis (outer tissue layer). So this will render the root turning reddish, therefore the namesake. White ginseng is harvested, epidermis removed, and just dried under the sun. 


There are also 2 different main types of ginseng: Asian and American.

Asian Ginseng: Panax notoginseng/pseudoginseng (人參)

American Ginseng: Panax quinquefolius 西洋参 (west ocean ginseng). But if you go to a Traditional Chinese Medicine shop, it is better known as 花旗參(Star-spangled banner). (Thanks Qian Yi for the information) This is actually native to the USA, but currently extensively cultivated in China. Due to overharvesting, it is now rare in the USA.

Panax quinquefolius

However, like everything, too much of a good thing might not be that good. So an overdose of ginseng might have side effects:
Headaches
Sleeping irregularities
Allergic reactions
Menstrual abnormalities
Not recommended for pregnant or breast-feeding women


Well, I hope this has somehow been enlightening in one way or another. I for one will still not get ginseng because it just costs so much for a root. =/

~moey out~

It's that time again.

Marathon. To some people, it's a once in a lifetime event that they always strive to outdo their previous timing. To others, it's a pointless event where people pay an exorbitant amount of money just to torture themselves for 42km, and I'm one of them. Well, I have just been through it and in my opinion, I still think it is still a crazy event where, unless you're a serious runner, you will end up with a pretty bad case of pulverized knees and destroyed ankles.

With strained eyes and a wobbly gait, I was able to get out of bed just to wash up and freshen up at an ungodly hour just to make my way down to the train station, which has been active throughout the whole night just to ferry participants who will be taking part in the marathon. Constant stretching and movement was the name of the game upon arrival at the start point, and gradually, more and more runners appeared. The announcement was given for the animals to queue up and line up to go into their respective pens, literally. It sounded like we were farm animals being herded into their holding pens to be released soon after. Took a shot of power gel, which was my virgin power gel by the way, which tasted really sweet, just how I like it, with a punch at the back of the throat and a tinge of citrus flavour as well. With heavy-bassed music pounding in the background, the announcers counted down to the flag-off and then it commenced! With spirits high and heart-pounding(because of the sugar rush) I coaxed Bryan to give a war cry before we started off.

The journey was mixed with highs and a lot more lows. Like any physically demanding event, the energy always starts off high, and when the thought: 'Why in the world am I doing this!?' sets in, it really hits home, and the energy level, like a mana bar, just slowly drops bit by bit. A few moments of heavy-beat songs, like a timely mana potion, raises the energy for a while, and then it loses effect once the music is out of ear-shot. Then, like clockwork, the sun peeks out of the horizon and starts to shed it's light on anything and everything. I welcomed the light with open arms and ran with renewed vigour. Like Journey to the West, the characters are seen trodding through a boring and desolate desert all alone, it was a similar situation for me when I reached East Coast. It was a torturous stretch of park without an end in sight, and it didn't help when more and more people started to speed past both of us. Demoralising much. Not soon after, the Marina Bay area was in sight, and Apollo (who is the Sun-God if you didn't already know) decided to turn up the 'Heat' knob and it rained hot rays on the unsheltered route. Water points, power gels and muscle rubs were a welcome sight and helped to distract me from the pain for a brief period of time. This cycle of drinking,rubbing,eating and more drinking kept cycling over and over again, until it was the final kilometer.

It was an awesome feeling to know that the end point is near, and suddenly, all pain and fatigue just dissipated in an instant. With sunglasses down and feet raised for larger strides, I was really happy to be reaching the finish line. With one last final stride across the checkered line, it was finally over. A High-5 was given and a shout of joy erupted from the pit of my stomach. 7 and a half hours of torture was finally over(not counting the recovery period after that) and it was something which I'm glad I was able to experience once in my lifetime. Now, it's time for me to go lie down and nurse the still-aching legs and joints.

~moey out~

Thorns all around

Spiky cousins

I was just browsing through the hundreds of horticulturally related photos I have in my computer, and I chanced upon this photo. The thing is, I have absolutely no clue about cacti(plural for cactus for those of us who do not know). I mean, we learnt so much about shrubs, flowering plants, trees and all that good stuff, but we haven't really touched on cacti.
We see so many of them during the CNY period, those with the green stems( are they stems?) and red heads. From what I know, the red heads are actually grafted onto their green hosts. So apparently it works, and the cactus is able to survive, until some freak accident which will leave it 'headless', sort of.
We live in a tropical island, so it's perfectly natural for Singaporeans to not see cacti often. But office-folk like them to bits because they don't need as much sunlight, and watering them once a week is probably more than enough already.

So it's a hassle-free plant to grow, but is it? Hmmmmm, I have friends who grow cacti in their offices, and water them sporadically, but the cacti still start to rot due to excess moisture. So they turn black and soggy from the bottom up and eventually fall over due to the damaged/rotting/soft/nua base of the stem. It's probably due to the humidity and soil types being unsuitable for retaining too much water. But hey, I'm no expert when it comes to these spiky organisms, they just look pretty sitting there in their little pots. I might as well start reading up on them since I have slightly more time on my hands now. =/
Time to hit the books once again!

~moey out~

Canine love

Since I was a kid, I've wanted to own a puppy. I didn't know the various breeds of dogs at that time, neither did I know how much a dog costs.But I kept imagining that one was just wildly running around my house literally like a mad dog and it would probably poop at some weird part of the house. These furry balls of fur really get to me, and when I see people on the streets with dogs, it gets me all warm and fuzzy inside. When I was in lower primary, I used to just lie in bed and curl up like how a puppy does, because they look SO CUTE when they do that. So I actually pretended I was a puppy when I was about to fall asleep. Hahaha, how weird was I back then.
But NOW I know the cost of a dog, and they can cost SO MUCH! Just to buy them, get a license and the house-keeping costs look scary.
When I think about it, it would be good to have a dog around the house, but when nobody is at home, it's going to be really hard to take care of the dog, feed it and clean up after it, so this factor always prevented from getting a dog as a pet. Well, I can only dream about having one though, maybe when I have a family of my own then maybe we might get a dog for the family. Now that would be interesting.

~moey out~