Wordless Wednesday - Creepy Crawlies

Remember this alien-like predator ?

Now they have invaded my garden again. Argh..... I found myself feeling ill as they squirmed and wriggled around in slow motion munching my plants. Trust me, they will easily eat the entire plant to the ground devouring the flowers and leaves, leaving a very unpleasant sight. These moth caterpillars are big eaters and they poop a lot too.

the creepy crawlie warming up to me.

Look, he's waving hello to the camera

two caterpillars sitting on my hand. they are friendly and harmless. unfortunately, I don't like what they are doing to my plants

looks like they are enjoying a spot of intimacy.

I tried to imagine them being roasted or stir fried with a bit of garlic, butter and basil leaves, but I just couldn’t stomach it. :D Since my mom has tons of these plants in her back yard, I'll let them munch the host plant until they are ready to pupate and change into beautiful moths.

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First Commenter - Monica

New Zealand Manuka Honey

Ever heard of Manuka Honey? I actually had never heard of it until recently, when my friend brought me some from a trip to New Zealand. I particularly love the texture of it as it is rich and creamy, the taste is less sweeter than normal honeys and it has a unique unforgettable aroma which stands out amongst the honey varieties I've tasted.

For those who have never heard of this product, it's a medical grade honey that is derived from the nectar of the flower which grows on Manuka trees that is native to New Zealand and is renowned for its amazing antioxidant and anti bacterial properties. As this product is unknown to me in some ways, I did a bit of research and discovered that it contains the most healing properties compared to normal honeys.

More interestingly, I also discover the resources of the rating system known as Unique Manuka Factor or UMF. The higher the rating, the more potent the honey. If something sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. I know the good stuff with a UMF rating is relatively expensive to be given as souvenirs. Although the one that I got was just an ordinary manuka honey with no UMF trademark, but what the heck, sup it and enjoy it, and sure I have a nice looking souvenir jar at the end of it. :) I'm just thrilled to be able to get one from NZ.

I was told that Manuka honey is available in many Kiwi homes and is favoured by most honey fans. :D So people, if you ever visit NZ, don't forget to bring me back some of those tasty Manuka Honey.

Photo courtesy of Melissa. This is Manuka also known as New Zealand Tea Tree. Its leaves are small and prickly and its flowers bear white to pink coloured flowers.

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First Commenter - JL

PhotoHunt - Painted

I came across this painting during my stay in Paris a few years ago and just thought it was so cute and beautiful! There were other paintings along the walls painted by great artistes but this one specific piece of art literally caught my attention. I was impressed with the artwork that was painted in different color combinations which was visually appealing.

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First Commenter - Kenwooi

The Joys of being a KID

This is a picture of my nephew and my youngest daughter. They play well together, they eat the same food, they sleep at the same time, they are just full of energy and excitement. Their capacity of racing around doing new, exciting and different activities all morning and afternoon is unbelievable. They are the best of friends and they get along most of the time but once in a blue moon, they fight like cats and dogs though.

The kids are in a great mood. Look at them. Their laughter is filled with innocence, purity, spirited and honesty. Their mind is absolutely free from daily problems with no worries and so carefree.

Faces like angels. They look so cheeky and happy. They are adorable, charming, infectious and it warms the cockles of my heart into a thousand happy pieces. I miss being a kid.

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First Commenter - Nick

Wordless Wednesday - Dazu Stone Carvings, China

While I was in Chongqing for work last year, I had the opportunity to visit the Dazu Stone Carvings. Unfortunately, the bus ride from Chongqing to Dazu was rather bumpy and dusty with miles and miles of potholes, single lanes along the way to this countryside place. :( There were times when I thought the bus was going to tear apart in the middle of the crazy winding road. Thank goodness, I did not get dizzy and puke.

The Dazu Stone Carvings are generally depictions of scenes and figures, philosophies of Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist beliefs. "Dazu" literally means "harvest and abundance." There are a collection of more than 50,000 Buddhist stone carvings dated back from the 9th to 13th centuries and are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. With the rich sculptures as well as detailed inscriptions, the Dazu Grottoes are regarded as house treasures. It is unimaginable how these massive and intricate structures were carved with such simple tools ages ago.

It wasn't something we had look forward to visiting, but it ended up being one of the most amazing sights we visited during our entire journey in Chongqing.



The largest figure, a reclining Buddha, is over 31 metres long.

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First Commenter - Liza