Around Singapore

An ingenious or marvellous design for channelling off excess rain water.... functional yet, beautiful!

More pictures... of the National Stadium (Bird Nest) and Swimming Pool (Bubble)

This is a lovely blood-white jade carving of a dragon in gentle embrace with a phoenix...

A more common version of the tripod and it is considered as one of the "14 precious things".

The Lama Temple or Yonghegong Lamasery: The Lamasery of Harmony and Peace was originally built by the order of Emperor Kangxi in 1694 and completed as a Lamasery in 1744, during the ninth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign. This temple has a 18 metre high statue of Maitreyathat made from a single piece of sandalwood. The following pictures shows a beautiful fruitingpersimmon tree in the grounds of the Lama Temple.

This pair of semi-red jade pair of Lion statues are destined for the frontage of either a commercial building or business or even a tradional Chinese restaurant. As usual; to the right is the Male lion who is playing with a ball of silk. While to the left of the picture; the Female is caressing a small baby lion. All figurines placed at buidlings should if possible be smiling; prosperous looking... not under nurished...

Raw materials and work in progress items...

If one has one's own garden, it is advisable not to anyhow place unknown scultures such as those in some of the pictures taken in the Imperial garden. This is because; under symbolism in Feng Shui, we try to avoid any objects that may look like "hungry mouths" or monster looking figurines.... these are considered inauspicous especially if their mouths are aimed towards one's home.

Yang Xing Zhai = Study of the cultivation of nature This two storey building was built in the form of the Chinese character that echoes with Jiang Xue Xuan = Pavilion of crimson and white. This building is secluded and has beautiful surroundings. Emperors JaiQing and Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty came here very often to have a rest or to read. It was also here that Sir Reginald Johnston, an Englishman gave English lessons to the abdicated last Emperor Pu Yi.

Jewelry of the Ming period More than 200 pieces of jewelry were unearthed from Ding Ling. Majority are hair pins and eardrops; made with gold, silver, pearl and precious stones. The patterns on these items are mostly of good luck and happiness. The workmanship is superb, almost reaching near perfection.

China managed to get the Temple of Heaven ready before the Beijing Olympic games. If not, there is no opportunity to visit it so close-up. Can you see the motifs on the roof sidewalls? The dragon symbolises Male while the Phoenix represents the Female. Many traditional Chinese wedding cards have a dragon and phoenix symbol in embrace....

In the forbidden city, these are the primary means of storing rain water. Common areas use earthen clay like water storage urns. While important areas use bronze or bronze coated urns.

Jade Belts Jade belt is an important part of the ceremonial attire of the emperors and empresses of the Ming Dynasty. Common officials were not allowed to wear jade belts. These jade belts were unearthed in Ding Ling. Both belts were made of high quality jade: One belt is of green jade. While the other belt is of cream jade. Most likely the material holding all the jadge pieces on each of the belt has disintegrated after so many years.

Wugong (Five Sacrificial Utensils) Wugong refers to the ancient symbolic stone carved sacrificial utensils. Can you spot the incense burner? It is of round tripod shape (this is an ancient style with two loop handles and with three legs). It has bothclouds and dragons carved on the lid. This incense burner is always in themiddle with candlesticks and vaseson eachside of it: making a total of 5 utensils on thesacrificial altar. Picture shows one of the Ming Emperor's tomb / monument...

Leather hat was the official hat worn by the emperor during summons, burning of incense and during sacrificial ceremonies

This has to be a very popular well liked palm! In Singapore, it is grown in pots. And it has thick shinny, deep green coloured leaf. Many Singaporeans will never imagine that it belongs to the palm family. Waxy plants dislike direct sunlight. And it thrives especially with fertilzer. It's trunk is also thick and everything about the plant symbolises "well fed" and with it's thick waxy leaves looks both high class and to some prosperous looking. It is equally very easy to grow... Often, one will see auspicious ornaments attached to the stem or red ribbon tied to the plant... A top choice for placing outside the main entrance door of many Chinese homes. Actual n…

1. The leaves of this vine (climber) has a fragrant smell. 2. It is common in some parts of South-East Asia especially by the Malays / Balinese to chew the leaves as some sort of an apertiser or rather a habit to chew it with other cordiments placed in the leave. People who regularly chewed this has a rather bad permanent stain on their teeth /mouth.... for those who yearn for white teeth.. this is a no no... 3. It's cousin is the wild betel-leaf. As the name suggests it can be cultivated or grown wild. A very hardy vine and can multiply very very fast. It's flower is cone-like white.. 4. The family name of this vine is : Piperaceae. And it originates from Bali and…

Name of this plant: Heliconia psittacorum x H. spathocircinata `Golden Torch'. Family Name: Heliconiaceae Origin: Tropical America This family flowers are similar to these exept that they come in varied colours like: Dark Red, Fire FLahs, Goden Torch Adrian etc...

More pictures of the Spider Lily flower...

The family name of this type plant is: Dracaenaceae This family of plants require only medium watering, it can be placed under direct or in-direct sunlight. It's family can be distinguished by two tone colours which run parallel to its "spear" like leave. And it's family has spear like leaves that are: tall and thin to fat and broad to thin and short.... Another very hardy and easy to grow; pleasant to the eyes and minimal maintenance needed when grown in a garden.

This is a very hardy fern. And often it is considered as a parasite plant as it can grow between the branches of a larger tree. This fern is widespread in both Tropica Africa and Asia and also found in many areas of the pacific. Needs little or no maintenance at all. Give it space, and it can grow into a large diameter of 1 metre all round...

This plant with beautiful "trumpet" flowers is known by various names: Firecracker Plant or coral plan. It belongs to the famly of: Scrophulariaceae : synoym: R. juncea And this plant originates from Mexico.. And it's family consists of pink or white flowers. It loves direct sunlight. That is why,you can see the plant trying to face sunlight. It only needs minimal water to grow.

Directly, trees not only provide shade but sustains an ecocosm of life of insects and other creatures especially birds. Landscaping in a condominium, landed property, surrounding greens and plants in common areas of government housing estates add to an overall better bigger picture of Macro Feng Shui. Singapore's 10 most common trees according to National Parks Board are as follow:- 1. Angsana 2. Sea Apple 3. Sea Almond 4. Trumpet Tree 5. Tembusu 6. Saga 7. Rain Tree 8. Yellow Flame 9. Senegal Mahogony 10. Broad-Leaf Mahogony

Some pictures of Botannia, at West Coast Park...