Perak - Taiping Lake Garden

Here are some photos taken at the Perak Lake Garden. I love the many trees lined along the roads which surrounded the lake. A must visit for those who love the tranquility and the beauty of nature. During the 70's and 80's, many couples love to come here and have their wedding photos taken by the lakeside. It still is a favorite spot for the local who come here for their relaxation.


When the water level is high, some branches are hanging so low that it looks as if they are touching the surface.

I like this photos. Very unique.

A pavilion at the lake.

Very old trees. Some are hanging so low that big tourist buses can't pass under it.

The trees also hosted a few other variaties of parasite plants.

Cool day

Tree and its many branches.

Another section of the lake

Boating services also available here

One of the many islands in the lake

Taking a stroll by the lake

The trees are so beautiful.

Bamboos

Heliconia 赫蕉屬

Heliconia, also known as Lobster claw or false bird-of-paradise, are beautiful, exotic plants which often used by florists as cut flowers and also for landscaping .

Heliconia Mariae - Beef steak heliconia

This is the first time I saw Beef steak heliconia. It looked exactly like a steak from afar.

Heliconia Mariae



Heliconia vellerigera which I gave a nickname Hairy Heliconia.

Heliconia rostrata - Fishtail heliconia

Heliconia bihai - firebird or macaw flower

Heliconia rostrata

Common Crape-myrtle - 紫薇

The Common Crape-myrtle ( Lagerstroemia indica , 紫薇 ) is one of the many beautiful flowers that captured our attention these past few months. Penang is blooming with flowers lately. It started with the Tabebuia rosea which many crazed over in late February and early March. Now is the season for the Common Crape-myrtle. It did not create a storm like Tabebuia rosea but it certainly did capture both me and my husband's attention.

The species , Lagerstroemia indica, has flowers which are in panicles of white, pink, mauve, purple or carmine with crimped petals. The one I captured is of beautiful purple color.

A visit to Snake Temple Penang 槟城蛇庙

My husband and I paid a visit to Penang Snake Temple with a group of members from Penang Heritage Trust recently. We were there for an update on the restoration done on the building. As my husband and the members were busy doing that, I roamed around and captured snakes pictures and the iguana at snake farm.

Some of the snakes were camouflaged and blended in the environment they were resting on. They didn't move at all so I had a few scared moments. They won't bite unless you got 'itchy' hands and 'play' with them.

These snakes have beautiful colors and can be found resting on the dried tree branches in the temple.

See their triangle heads, they are vipers and very poisoness. It is safe to view them and be sure not to venture too close. Warning signs were posted at the temple to warn visitors not to touch them at all time.

You can see a few big snakes were resting on this tree. Actually there were also many baby snakes on the tree.

These small snakes were on the same tree as shown in above picture. You won't notice them unless you looked closer.


Here's another one. Looks like tree branches to me.

Another one. It is a baby snake.

Baby snakes.

Huge iguana at the snake farm which was at the side of the snake temple. This is the first time I can captured animal picture minus the cage. The camera I was using can zoomed pass the cage and focused on the iguana. I was happy to be able to capture it.

Look at its eye, isn't it beautiful?

Close up on the iguana

It was looking at me!

For complete details on Penang Snake Temple, please visit my husband's website .

http://www.penang-traveltips.com/snake-temple.htm

Buddha's Hand 佛手

I saw this plant while traveling in Macau a couple of years ago. A first for me and I found this plant unique.

A close up view of the fruit.

Just like slender fingers.

Buddha's Hand is also called by the name of Fingered Citron. It is a type of citrus fruit which has a fragrant smell. It is lemon-like and has a thick peel, seedless and juiceless and only a small amount of flesh. As it is fragrant, it is sometimes used as air freshener. The other uses of the fruit is in cooking ( as zest ) and also made into candied peel called succade. It can also be used as religious offering where 'close fingered' fruit is more favorable than the 'open fungered' one. Close one symbolized the act of prayer.

Sea Hibiscus

Beauties in the sky

Flowers and fruits

Beautiful and relaxing beach

Yellow sea hibiscus- Hibiscus calyphyllus

Flowers on the sand

Orange-pink hibiscus

I captured the sea hibiscus while on a road trip around Langkawi Island. I have never seen this orange-pink type before and was fascinated by its color. They created a beautiful sight when they fell on the beach.

More information on Langkawi can be found at

http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/langkawi_travel_guide.htm

http://www.asiaexplorers.com/