I have never thought much about starting a blog until last year when some people from overseas wrote in to our official website asking “where is Kuching”. I was very disappointed coz I thought that at least people would know where is Sarawak! And since my work has brought me to places like Sibu and Miri (Singapore and Penang), I have decided to start a blog using all the pictures I have collected to ‘promote’ Sarawak. Hey, lots of foreigners know where is Penang, why not Kuching?
Here are some pictures taken of Kuching and Sibu in the past year. Background music is one by Chang Siao Ying 張小英 a songstress from the 70s era singing 心戀.
Don’t get me wrong I’ll feature Bintulu, Limbang, Lawas, Kapit, etc etc… when and if I get the chance to visit these wonderful places.
This is the first time I came across a black bamboo clump. I thought it got burnt (silly me)… upon close examination it is phyllostachy nigra indeed. It originated from China and now has been propagating even in the States.
The young culms/canes are green. Over time it will turn ebony black. The leaves remain bright green. It propagate easily and non-invasive. It’s great for garden edge or if you’re building a Japanese garden. The shade of black and green is just striking.
For me I don’t have a garden… so I wonder if we can use it for pansoh manok(chicken cooked in bamboo)?
I was told about this big durian tree along Foochow Road and it is blooming with flowers, lots of them too!
From a distance the flowers look like plum blossoms.
When all the petals have shaded, you can see the baby durians.
For durian growers in Kuching, they would place newspapers/netting beneath the trees to collect the durian flowers. It can fetch up to RM6-8/kg, depending on the peak/low peak season. Separate the stigmas from the petals. Rinse the petals, then throw into a hot wok where you have your sambal frying. Wahlah!! You’ll have a bowl of most delicious, “crunchy” durian flowers!!! I had mine…yummieeee!!!
By the way, if you are from Penang, please try this because I found out that Penang durian growers do not know that the flowers can be eaten! What a waste when I saw all the durian flowers rotting at a farm in Teluk Bahang.
