PhotoHunt - Garbage

I came across this illegal dumping of garbage in an abandoned industrial near Penang and some of the vacant shop lots in the suburb. Apparently, the garbage has been there for quite some time and nothing can be done to stop all this. Everything from auto spare parts to rubber scraps, sharp metals to construction debris have been discarded in the area. I seriously believe that there are several illegal dumps like this occurs in other places as well.

It’s already bad enough that the precious air quality has been deteriorated due to the changing climate regime and now this! As I was passing by certain alleys, I could smell the putrid aroma which was not appealing and palatable. It looks like an absolute junkyard filled with piles of garbage bags, and empty boxes accumulating in driveways and alleys. I hope the city council would introduce new measures to curb the amount of illegal dumping in the city.

These pictures reveal a small glimpse of what an abandoned lot looks like these days. :(

What a terrible eyesore!

The improper disposal of garbage poses a threat to both the humankind and environment

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First Commenter

Wordless Wednesday - Butterfly

Are butterflies considered good luck?

It seems of late that whenever I'm outside, I come across butterflies in our back yard. I think they are fascinating to admire and love seeing them around. It certainly uplift my spirit when I see them fluttering around in the flowers. I was quick enough with my camera and manage to snap the wonderful creature perching in between leaves. Butterflies and moths are such delicate and remarkable creatures that reminds me of the fragile moments of this world.


First commenter - kenwooi

The perfect bite: Cempedak fritters

I've alway loved cempedak fritters and allow me to share with you a little tea time indulgence we’ve had yesterday, of which I can’t stop thinking about at this very moment. A stroll around any markets or pasar malam here will have you drawn towards the vast array of these aromatic fruits. With its pungent aroma, my knees got all wobbly and I couldn't resist buying them. Having them deep fried is simply delicious as the crispiness of the fritters are plain enticing to the taste-buds! As tempting as it may sound, it is one of the tropical fruits that is available once a year when it is in season.

Incase you are wondering, the scientific name is artocarpus integer but I find it hard to pronounce and it just sounds a bit weird to me. Cempedak looks similar to the jackfruit in appearance except that it is much smaller in size but it is definitely huge in comparison to other fruits. It is also sweet, sticky and when the fruit is ripe, it emits a strong, unique aroma that fills the environment, similar to the durians. If you like durians, it's no big deal for you to conquer the cempedak too.


The outer husk will turn light green when the fruit is ripe with dark brown spots appearing on the entire flattened studs. It also appears to be slightly sticky when you touch it due to the secretion of white latex through the husk.

As the fruit secretes sticky latex, it is best to apply a liberal coating of clean oil on your knife before and after cutting open the cempedak. The husk is thick, yet soft, so it is easy to cut it length-wise into half.

There are about 50 to 60 pulps which can be eaten raw and they are fragrant, sweet, yellowish-orange flesh which encases each brown seed inside.

Here's my version of quick and easy to prepare snack. The combination of flour, a tablespoon of rice flour, a dash of salt, sugar and ENO impart a delicate sweet, rich and delightful flavour. When the batter is set, deep fried until golden brown. Remove the fritters from the wok and set aside for at least 15 mins.

The delish fritters are always a hit in the household and voila, the whole plate was emptied within secs by the hungry kids. It's easy enough to prepare and perfect to snack on in front of the TV with a cup of flavourful tea. They are a popular choice amongst those who love crispy batter with that wonderful crunchy texture as you savour every bite.

The hard seeds are edible too when boiled or roasted but we don't eat them

So what are you people waiting for, savour these fruits which is in season now and have fun.

First Commenter - Ladyviral

PhotoHunt - Pink

Pink isn't my color so when I saw there was an upcoming pink theme, I was literally at a loss. Despite pink not being my favourite colour, I'm still looking forward to another great photo hunt this week. As I was hunting for photos, I thought of flowers. You never realize how many pink things surrounding us until you start searching. Anyway, my recent vacation to Cameron Highlands brought me into contact with pink blooming plants. They may not be glorious, but they are pink!



While going through my old photos, I also came across a few cache of photos that I took at Penang Safari Festival a few years ago. The main entrance itself was truly eye catching with the adorable pink hello kitties waving and greeting us. Being a fan of Hello Kitty, I was thrilled to witness up, close and personal of the famous cartoon character along with other dazzling and impressive lanterns brightened up the sky.






Happy weekend and Happy Pink Hunting!

First Commenter - Lina

Wordless Wednesday - Miniature Pineapples

The mini pineapple could remain on the plant for another couple of months from this stage.

After a few months, the leaves on top of the fruit gets considerably larger.

There is a patch of miniature pineapples with long narrow yellow-green leaves armed with sharp little thorns growing here in my garden. These are not edible but I like to use them in arrangements and decorations as they make really cute centerpieces.


First Commenter - Thrifty Living Mom