Mangrove tree planting @ Sepang

Recycling paper

The kids tore newspaper into tiny pieces which were then soaked in water and blended into pulp.
The pulp was then drained on a fine wire mesh, sponged dry and left to dry out further in the sun.

After some video animation on environmentally friendly practices such as plastic bags in the sea would be detrimental to marine life, the kids got to plant mangrove pods into poly bags.
Fai refused to participate, saying that he has done this on his own in Port Dickson.

We had to pay for the programme and on the ride home, JY wryly commented "It is not worth the money. We could have easily Googled all the steps for recycling newspaper and done it at home"

So back home, I did some reflection .....
This trip didn't go too well because
1. we had been overscheduled - the car boot was still packed to the brim with stuff from Ipoh.
2. the kids' playground is at the mangrove tree by the beach and mangrove trees, roots, pods and all is something they encounter on a regular basis. With some coaching, Fai could have led the programme.


So this trip made me to resolve to cut back on travelling and to instead fully utilise what I already have in my backyard.

I Googled and found this website by WWF on mangrove actvities
All I need is to print out their actvity booklet and head for the nearest mangrove which is a 10minute walk away

Taman Warisan Pertanian - Explorasi Pokok Kelapa @Putrajaya

Off we go for a guided walk through the agricultural park

Zul, our tour guide explaining that the jambu air tree was pruned in such a way to minimize fruiting and maximize fruit quality

I learnt how to differentiate between a cempedak and nangka tree.
Cempedak leaves are hairy

Nangka has smooth leaves

Serai wangi used to ward off mosquitoes

Boys playing soldiers.

They were planning an ambush, waiting for the enemy to emerge from the drain

Zul thumping a nangka fruit - if its gives off a hollow sound, it's ripe.
We were also told that the nangka is the largest fruit in the world and it is the national fruit of Bangladesh.

Harvesting paddy

That whole patch would be able to produce just one bowl of rice!

Sniffing fragant pomelo flowers

Coffee beans

Coconut Workshop
From left(clockwise): lidi broom, coconut fruit, coconut leaves and ketupat

Showing how the 'lidi' broom is made.
First remove the blades of the leaves

The midrib

Tie many midribs together to get a very useful household cleaning device - for washing floors, sweeping leaves and removing cobwebs

Scrapping coconut

Doing it the tradional way.

Fai at work

The 3 coordinators were clearly impressed by this little girl - quizzing her about her schooling and her command of the Arabic language

A rubber tree and its milky white sap

Rubber tapping demonstration

Latex in water

Removing water

Pressing out more water. The sheet is put through the rollers 3x

Drying out the sheets

Taking a peek inside the smoky and hot smokehouse

Rice husker

Paddy farmer

JY's ketupat

Ean unravelling JY's ketupat as I enjoyed my lunch of rice and ayam goreng berempah at the foodcourt

Wreath

JY's unschooling friend from Penang came to stay for a few days.

The girls went around the neighbourhood looking for flowers and leaves one evening

Wire was looped about 3x around an 8inch cake tin to get the desired shape and size.

Leaves were then entwined around the wreath loop and secured with short floral wires.

Wreath hoop with leaves.
Now to add the flowers.

Wreath 1

Wreath 2

Han concentrating on his wreath. He was very proud of his creation and paraded around with it.

Canopy Walkway @FRIM

Our welcoming commitee as we started on the Rover Track towards the entrance of the Canopy Walk
Tickets for the canopy walk had to be purchased at the Information Centre. More info here.

The trek was pleasant on a Sunday morning.

Ean walked most of the way

The weekend crowd.

Only 5 people were allowed onto the walkway at each interval. And we had to space ourselves 4 feet apart.

We could imagine Emil, the German exchange student, waving his hands and singing his national anthem if he were to see this sign. I shall bring him here one day.

Walked up a steep, narrow staircase

Beginning of the walkway

He checked our tickets and ensured we kept our distance

The view was spectacular. If only we had more time to marvel at the scenery.

Lovely timber decking

We were more cautious on the trail down to the starting point. As there were a few sandy and slippery spots.

We were greeted by a wonderful picnic spot at the end of the trail.

Crystal clear water, shallow, sandy stream, huge boulders, devoid of a crowd......perfect!

On the way back to the carpark, Fai looked upwards trying to spot bird's nests and that was when he saw the trees with the Crown Shyness phenomenon - the kapur tree.
I was so intent on reaching the parking lot (it was drizzling slightly) that I had totally ignored the splendour around me.
Fai informed his sister and she pointed to the sky and said "Look!"
Everyone looked up and went "Wow!"