Jelly Beans

This Wednesday, when meeting the branch-manager of a BEA Bank, we were given two red packets of gifts for our two grandchildren. The manager said that the bank wanted to produce a “new” image to the customers and this time it gave out jelly beans to younger generations of the customers.

Each paper packet when opened, we find a small packet of colourful jelly beans made in Thailand. They appear like oblong beads, having each a hard sweet shell on the outside, but jelly in the centre. The taste is not bad and our grandchildren ask for more when they have finished their shares.

Unlike those bank-note issuing banks, BEA really makes their customers feel at home because from time to time it cheers them up with gifts. For us, we have so far received cinema tickets, umbrellas during wet seasons, adaptors for electric appliances (especially good for travels), ball-pens and passport /card holders.


We hope that the bank keeps on giving us new surprises when we visit it.

Pontoon Bridge at Curacao

Curacao is the largest of the Dutch Antilles "ABC" islands, within the Caribbean (less than 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela).  (ABC stands for Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.)  The main city on Curacao is Willemstad.

Willemstad has a river running through the middle of two areas named Punda and Otrobanda.  Punda and Otrobanda are connected by a movable bridge called the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge.  The bridge opens and closes to allow boat traffic to move in and out of port.

The photos show the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge. It is an interesting sight in seeing such kind of a movable bridge

Conservatory in the Gardens by the Bay

The conservatory complex in the Gardens by the Bay won the World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival 2012. Inside we can study different plant species from around the world such as cacti (仙人掌), nepenthes(豬籠草), baobabs (very large trees native to Africa) and date palms.

There are totem poles, beautiful flowering plants, strange trees in deserts, small waterfalls and ponds around. The conservatory is just like a museum of plants,

Electronic trees

Gardens By the Bay, a real life technological masterpiece modelled after the movie Avatar, were built and officially opened on July 29th, 2012 at Marina Bay, Singapore.

Visitors to the gardens may amaze at the giant electronic trees which light up the sky at night time in colours of pink, green, yellow, blue, white or more.

These super-trees also generate solar power, act as air venting ducts for nearby conservatories, collect rainwater, absorb and disperse heat, and, of course, generate shade. One of them will even have a treetop bistro perched on it before long.

掃上眼影的啡鳥

難得昨天在家附近公園草坪上偶遇一隻劃上眼影的小鳥。當時牠正在模仿澳洲袋鼠在一大幅草地原上蹦蹦跳。牠的羽毛顏色殊不鮮艷，但肯定會為牠在樹林中帶來保護色。嘴巴呈尖銳而彎，相信是一位啄食專家，在這裡的小蟲和螞蟻一定成為牠的午餐。眼影部分是灰白小色，並不像我們女仕們經常用的藍色或綠色，但已經很有吸引力。

這隻小鳥絕不怕人，主動跳向人群，相信牠已經一早適應了城市生活。大概牠相信除了自己覓食之外，愈接近人類，就愈容易得到餵食，何樂而不為呢？

Soap bubbles are Adorable

To Elly, soap bubbles are adorable. This morning, she found a boy blowing bubbles with a plastic "gun" at a children’s playground.

Elly always loves looking at light soap bubbles flying in mid-air. Carrying a smiling face this time, she waved her short little arms like a conductor in order to catch or hit any of the bubbles that floated in her way. The bubbles flew away in an unpredictable manner because of different currents of air around, so most of the time she missed them, not even touched them. It seemed to me that she never give up her hope of catching some with her hands.

To raise the chance in catching these bubbles, Elly walked close to or even followed the boy who was holding the bubble gun. That was a good tactic! It was unfortunate that most soap bubbles soon burst and went out of sight, but they had won the heart of our little Elly.

A Yaumati Ferry

The photos show a model of the type of ferry which ran between Yaumati to Wanchai in the 60’s. On my way to school every morning, I boarded the ferry at Wanchai Ferry Pier which was just two streets away from where I used to live.

HYF (printed at the funnel) represents Hong Kong Yaumati Ferry Company Limited. In the past, the company provided the people of Hong Kong ferry services between various parts of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

This ferry was a double-decker which narrowed down at its two ends like a leaf. On the upper deck, the central portion was a closed cabin, which provided a shelter for passengers from wind and rain. On each side was a wooden white door which could be lowered through ropes by a sailor as a gangway. The two sharper ends were wide open with railings at sitting levels. Canvases are lowered when there were winds and rain. The seats were long wooden benches with movable backs. At the centre of the ferry was the big funnel which came from the engine room through two decks and out of the top of the ferry, so it was warm when one was standing near the funnel.

The lower deck was not so comfortable as the upper because it was noisier (closer to the engine) and very often strong ropes were laid at the aisles which made walking over them difficult. Moreover, one may get wet when sea water splashed overboard at times of huge waves and strong winds. The large wooden rafts hanging at the sides of the ferry usually blocked parts of the beautiful scenery around. After all, the only advantage of sitting on this deck was the cheaper fare.

The ferry could move forward and backward easily because it had two propellers, one at the front and the other at the back. The pilots could navigate the ferry at either bridge at the roof-top. Each time when the ferry embarked at a pier, we could see the pilots walk to the other bridge to steel the wheel for the next journey.

In speed comparison, this type of ferry ran a little faster than a giant vehicular ferry because it was much lighter. In terms of time, the ferry journey between Yaumati and Wanchai took about twenty minutes.

Cripps Pink (Pink Lady Apples)

So far, in my heart, Pink Lady Apples are the best. Not only they are sweet, but long-lasting.

Wikipedia describes the Cripps Pink like this:

Cripps Pink is a variety of apple, from which apples meeting quality standards can be sold under the trade mark name Pink Lady. The Cripps Pink variety was originally bred by John Cripps at the (then named) Western Australia Department of Agriculture by crossing the Australian apple Lady Williams with a Golden Delicious in order to combine the best features of both apples. The apple is tart and crisp.

The Cripps Pink variety is owned and licensed by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), which has plant breeders’ rights in multiple countries. The peak industry body for Australian apple and pear growers — Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) — owns and manages globally the intellectual property in the Pink Lady family of trade marks, which is registered in more than 70 countries.

Registration of the Pink Lady trade marks in Australia has been a challenging process. This is primarily due to the apple being widely known by the industry and public by the trade mark name, Pink Lady, rather than the variety name, Cripps Pink.

The apple shape is ellipsoid. It has a distinctive blush red mixed with a green "background," and taste is tart. The Cripps Pink variety requires a long, 200-day growth period and a hot climate, making them difficult to grow in more temperate latitudes or climates subjected to early winter freezes.

They are principally grown in Australia, but are also grown in New Zealand, Chile, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Uruguay, Brazil, Japan, Italy, Spain, France and in the United States since the late 1990s.

In the United Kingdom, the Pink Lady brand has increased in popularity in the 20 years since the first shipment of apples from Australia. In 2012, for the first time, Pink Lady brand apples replaced Granny Smith apples from the number three spot by value in the United Kingdom.

Pink Lady brand apples must meet certain trade mark quality specifications. Criteria for the specifications include sugar content, firmness, blemishes and colour. Inspections are regularly performed to ensure both the quality and traceability of the apple from the orchard to the shop.

Cripps Pink apples are the earliest to blossom (late March/early April in the Northern Hemisphere and late September/early October in the Southern Hemisphere), and some of the last to be harvested (end of October/early November in the Northern Hemisphere and late April/early May for the Southern Hemisphere). It is the significant change in temperature between night and day in the autumn that gives the apples their colouring. However, they must also be well exposed. Therefore, the trees must be carefully pruned and their fruit production well managed.

We are sure to buy and eat these lovely apples whenever we see them on the racks of supermarkets.

Flowers and Climate

These beautiful flowers bloom quietly but feverishly in a garden in San Francisco Bay area. They all adapt to the Mediterranean Climate in California. It is funny, isn't it? San Francisco is never in the Mediterranean!

Besides looking at the flowers, let us study the climate of San Francisco.

San Francisco has mild summers owing to the upwelling of cold subsurface waters along the coast producing regular summer fog that does not reach far inland.

In fact, coastal California experiences “Cool-summer Mediterranean climate”. This subtype of the Mediterranean climate is the less common form of the Mediterranean climate. Regions with this subtype of the Mediterranean climate faces warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 22.0 °C during its warmest month and an average in the coldest month between 18 to −3 °C . Also, at least four months must average above 10 °C. Winters are rainy and can be mild to chilly. In a few instances, snow can fall on these areas. Precipitation is heavier during the colder months, but there are a number of clear sunny days even during the wetter seasons.
Regions with this subtype of the Mediterranean climate closely resemble an Oceanic climate. Unlike typical Mediterranean climates, for the majority of the year, these regions experience generally cloudier and damper conditions. During the summer months, these regions experience sunny, dry and warm conditions, where almost no rain falls.

To learn more about the flowering plants that can be found in San Francisco, the Conservatory of Flowers in the Golden Gate Park is worth visiting!

Another Bus Story

This is a story told by Kevin Tsang:

 A CityBus (fleet no.: 445) retired yesterday. It was unexpected that the very last route it operated on its last day was 170 (a long-distance route crossing three tunnels, namely Lion Rock Tunnel, Aberdeen Tunnel and Cross Harbour Tunnel). 445 is a unique one in CityBus due to its all yellow body whereas ordinary CityBus Buses have yellow blue and red colour as standard colours of the company. The reason for it having the special all yellow body still remains a mystery to bus enthusiasts. It is a Volvo Olympian with TD engine. It revealed the long hidden KCR logo on the Sha Tin Station route display since most buses have already got their display changed but not for 445 as it usually operated on local routes like 1, 5, 5B, 10, 70, 72, 75, 90, 97, 592 etc. and seldom operates on long distance routes like170.


I came across it heading for Wah Fu.at noon yesterday outside the Cross Harbour Tunnel Since I have not had lunch at that time, I did not jump on to it. However, after dinner, I  decided to take a ride because I have had quite a lot of childhood memories with this bus so I took it to Sha Tin. There was a saying that it would operate its last journey from Sha Tin Station to Wah Fu at 23:45 but since its license expires after midnight, it would become illegal owhen running on roads of Hong Kong. The bus company decided not to take the risk, hence, 445 took its last journey departing from Sha Tin at 21:20 to Wah Fu. There were kids  who grumbled at their parents saying that they wanted a newer bus instead of 445. Nevertheless, when the kind-hearted driver told them they were lucky to take the very last journey of 445, they became excited and took a lot of photos with the bus. After arriving at Wah Fu, another bus (fleet no.:325) was ready to take up the remaining journey of the day and 445 had to return to the depot to end its service. The driver was extraordinarily kind that he allowed us to take enough pictures before driving the bus away. He even offered us to change its route display. I immediately changed its display to route 10 while somebody suggested changing it to BYE but I insisted number 10 because I took it every day to  my elementary school and it is the route 445 for 17 years. When the driver was driving it away from the terminal in Wah Fu, he suddenly opened the door again and waved to us signalling us to board the bus again! We were the last 4 passengers of the bus which was supposed NOT IN SERVICE!! While making a brief stop at the Ocean Park depot, the driver warned us not to get off the bus and we hid inside the bus in order not to be discovered by the depot manager since it was not appropriate to have passengers on a PRIVATE bus. We got off the bus outside the depot in Chai Wan finally -- I was the last passenger getting off 445 and we witnessed the staff labelling it as "RETIRED" What an amazing experience to me!


Top Photo: Taken at  Wah Fu Bus Terminal after its last service journey on 170. I changed its route to number 10 at last and some one suggested N10, an overnight version of route 10). After that it remained its display as N10 North Point.

Bottom-left Photo: Taken at Cross Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza.

Bottom-right Photo: Taken at Wah Fu estate, with the route display of Sha Tin Station with KCR logo

教畫老師筆下的舊巴士

Eric是女婿的舊同事，現在開畫室教人畫畫。最近Eric送了這捲筒式的懷舊畫作給女婿，而女婿和女兒知道我是一個巴士迷，於是轉送給我，當然我欣然接受。

這般圓型筒子上有兩幅直立畫，我一眼就看得出其中一張是以前九龍巴士行走尖沙咀至官塘1A線或佐敦至慈雲山3C線之一種重量級雙層巴士。這批巴士因高齡關係，現已消失得無影無踪。鮮紅色的車身，配上一條粉黃色的腰帶及上層車行走九龍新界及香港島的九巴是人見人愛的金色巴士。

另外一張圖畫是那種色藍車身前中華巴士的中型巴士。曾幾何時這些輕型巴士在港島狹窄的馬路奔馳，功勞可算是不少。 這兩幅畫值得觀賞的地方是巴士色彩真實，背景則艷麗奪目，尤其那幅中巴天空上縱橫交錯懸掛的凌亂電線正是反映出從前港島區中上環，甚至西環路上的情景。

這卷圖畫內裏有乾坤：原來打開筒頂的膠蓋往內看則見到一家大小都愛吃的Calbee蝦條，不過今次這些是勁辣的那種。

Grow, Grow, Grow…

A few weeks before, Abby and Elly each brought home from school a small seedling of 萬壽菊。These seedlings came back in very tiny plastic cups with very little soil. The class teachers told the girls to nurture the plants until flowers grew out.

Grandma picked up the responsibility of caring these plants. First she bought two bigger pots, one green and one orange and a medium-sized bag of dark soil. She suggested to bring the seedlings home because our home is rich in sunshine than the girls’ home. The seedlings stand with tiny leaves at first. Slowly they develop into stronger branches and bigger leaves as water is poured in and sunshine help photosynthesis.

Happy moments come when small flowers buds appear at the tip of some shoots. “What colours are the flowers?” is our question. As Abby’s plant was the bigger and stronger one. It grew faster than Elly’s. The first flower was orange in colour. It was the right time to bring it back to school for her class-teacher to look at. That was a few days before Chinese New Year. After the weekend Abby handed the pot back home. We found that the only opening flower was bent at the stalk near the receptacle and the plant began to dry up. Grandma gave the plant water and supported the drooping flower. As magic, the plant was saved after water was added and became lively again.

The first flower that grew out from Elly’s plant was yellow. We decided to have Elly take the potted plant back to school after the Chinese New Year. What will Abby, Grandma and Elly say to these plants?
Well, Abby will say, “Grow, grow, grow…”
Grandma will say, “Magic…..”
Elly will say, “Sunshine, water and soil.” Do you know why? Well, Elly has learned the three important factors for a seed/seedling to grow already from a book.

Volvo Olympian 11m

Kevin Tsang recently sent me two precious photos of Volvo Olympian 11m (shown at the top). Kevin made his photos of this type of buses an old look. My collection of the same model bus can be seen at the bottom.

Kevin said, "Volvo Olympian 11m are the very first batch of Volvo buses purchased by KMB and are characterized by their powerful Cummins engine with 3+2 seating arrangement. 22 Jan 2013 was their last day and it was unexpected that one of them (GG9879) operated on route 101 instead of short distance routes. A lot of bus enthusiasts including I went to witness its last moments. FYI, there are still a few buses having the same appearance as these buses that have not retired yet, but retiring soon. Some of them belong to the Shatin Depot with their reg number GL2220, GL7586, GL8078, GL8202. They frequently appear on route 85B."

Kevin owns quite a number of bus models at home, but I have just a few, simply because they are too expensive to me.

Daffodils 2013

Daffodils used to be my favourite flowers in the past. Back to Kowloon Tong’s Era, a week or two before each Chinese New Year, my father often bought home one or two “primary” bulbs, cut them at the right places and let the shoots grow out. To support the bulb(s), I put some pebbles on top of the roots in a water trough.

For me, I like the fragrance of the flowers. In the old days, Mr. Leung, the former Principal of the school I was teaching, gave me a bulb of daffodils as a Chinese New Year present. That saved me a little money and plenty of time in developing the flowers.

Downstairs yesterday, I saw some healthy daffodils which I thought I could turn them electronic so that they could stay in my computer as treasure.

Ladies’ Purse

Ladies’ Purse is a very nice name for a restaurant. We often go there to have lunches or dinners. Yesterday was not an exception.

As usual, every first day of Lunar New Year, we meet our dear relatives and chat for long there. Food is always promising here.

Yesterday, my wife chose fish as her main dish; me, a beef steak; my son, Malaysian curry chicken. Our first courses were respectively soup, dumplings and food-bar salad. Last of all, we did not miss the desserts which were lovely cakes of various kinds - cheese, chocolate, chestnut, etc. etc.

“ladies’ purse” is not only for ladies to keep money and cosmetics. To us, “Ladies’ Purse” is for enjoying good food and meeting our dear relatives.

再度有緣

今年農曆初一(星期日)往順利拜年，喜見上次匆匆離開的「蛇巴」泊在總站旁邊。這次心情大好，因為蛇巴路線版面顯示「暫停載客」，相信我有足夠時間把它照個飽。

蛇巴右側車身有捲曲了的蛇餅，以梅花襯托。這條蛇昂首吐舌，精神十足，絕對不是在冬眠。左側車身的蛇明顯是細了很多，蛇頭亦是向著車頭方向。黃色的鱗片細緻地圍繞著巴士的裙邊走，蛇紋的精粹就在這裡被發現。

上到行人天橋時，我才發現巴士頂另有一條蛇捲伏著，正是蛇四面埋伏(左、右、前及頂)，唯獨是我忽略了蛇尾部分，沒有把它攝入鏡頭裏!

在這裏向大家拜年，恭祝各位日日快樂，事事如意，身體安康!

Elly at play

While Abby was drawing, Elly was free to play the small toys of a funny giraffe and a fat pig on the floor. Her purplish blue antennae at her head resemble those of a butterfly or bee. She long accepts these funny swinging antennae as parts of herself, so whenever she goes out, she wears them.

She enjoys looking at the pictures her sister draws. Maybe Abby is drawing her sister Elly before a TV set.

Please note that this is my 2013th piece of writing.

Abby’s New Drawing

Abby has improved  a lot in painting as well as drawing. Recently, she is able to create her own drawings with delightful colours unlike those she used in Canada, being always dull grey, blue and black.

Her great improvement in Art comes from practices at her lessons at a local Art centre. Thanks much to the teachers at the centre. She has good potentials in Art. Hope that she enjoys drawing and explores more in her own "wonderland" and learns to be more attentive and patient at work.

What do you think Abby is drawing? You may need some imagination!

Chocolate Rain

One day in December, 2013, the display of Chocolate Rain dolls at Telford Garden attracted me to stop and take a few photos of them.

The creator of these dolls is a young girl who creates beautiful and colourful dolls made by cloths. They are special because their eyes close all the time. We never find any trace of “chocolate” or “rain” on these dolls.

In the display, I found a Volkswagon “beetle” made of cloth and beautiful trees without leaves.

Snake Bus

Tomorrow will be the first day of Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake. I wish my blog readers a Happy Chinese New Year in 2013.

Let me show you a Snake Bus from KMB. There are only two such buses running along the shores of Hong Kong and Kowloon. This one is an KMB bus, route 619, running to and from Central and Shun Lee.

Medical Examinations at PWH

Back to November 26, at around 4 o’clock, I felt cold and exhausted after walking rapidly to City One Station. Twice did I faint and finally I dropped flat on the platform ground. I woke up to find the station master who told me that he had called an ambulance. Immediately I informed my wife by phone about my accident. Soon I was sent to A & E at Prince of Wales Hospital. I was initially examined by a nurse and later a doctor. My wife arrived in a short while after my daughter returned home to take care of her children. A doctor came to tell me that I was admitted to the hospital.

Having taken my first plate of food at the waiting area, at about seven thirty, I was brought to Ward 10B where I was allocated to a bed called 1X at the corridor. There it was a sleepless night to me because of the occasional voices from a patient and the conversations among nurses.

On the next day, November 27, Doctor Wan came to see me with another doctor. He decided to transfer me to Ward 7C. In a single room at 7C, my blood pressure, pulse rate, breathing rate and oxygen content were closely monitored. The “warning” sounds from the machine, the regular measurements of my blood pressure at the arm and the coldness of the room had broken my sleep into pieces. Nurses rushed in at one time when my blood pressure dropped to 74 - 34. Perhaps I was at a dormant state after I was chilled for some time in the room. Well, they left after my blood pressure bounded.

The next morning at ten, November 28, I received a Coronary arteriography to see if there was any blockage in the arteries. The operating doctor told me that my arteries were fine. At 2 o’clock, I was bought to a room in the old medical building to have a 24 hour monitoring device attached to my chest.

Because of haemorrhoids, I consulted a specialist doctor on the morning of November 29 and in the same afternoon, the heart monitoring device was removed.

On November 30, Friday, at about half past eleven, I took a cardiac graph through a walking machine. The results were not bad. Unexpectedly, I was granted a “Home leave” for two days and three nights. Well I could get better sleep at home at the weekend.

I returned to the hospital on the following Monday as early as seven and stayed at PWH for four more days because I was still under observation. I was successfully discharged on Thursday, December 6. What a big relief to me!

On December 10, I went to PWH again and this time I received an ultrasound study (ECHO) of my heart. The result came out to be “Normal”.

Hard time came three days before I took the colonoscopy because only low-fibred food should be taken and on the day prior the examination, I could only drink thin congee and nothing else besides water.

Drinking of 4-litre water with laxative was a must to me at the hospital ward 7C on the morning of January 7, 2013. There was no question that I would be busy at the toilet that very morning. The colon examination started in the afternoon. I was given some medicine to pull me to sleep. Back to Ward 7C, I was told that there was no problem at my colons. Well, my worries had gone.

There would be some follow-up appointments for me to consult specialist doctors in Cardiology and Colorectal Surgery in the coming months.

Newly arrived photos of Sydney New Year Fireworks

What lovely and charming fireworks that blast over Sydney Harbour this New Year 2013! Let us see them here. Some of the photos seemed to show our happy teeth and paint brushes. These photos were really beautiful and skillfully taken. Thanks to the photographer(s).

另類朱古力

今年十一月十七日晚上是在下學生貝琪結婚的好日子。此包朱古力是放在我面前的婚讌桌上，相信是貝琪送給在座的賓客的禮物之一。

從禮物外貌來看，我推斷是朱古力，裏面可能是一包市面可以買得到其中一款現成獨立包裝的朱古力。究竟錫紙背後全塊是朱古力，還是朱古力威化，當時我是無從估計的。

朱古力外面的包裝紙相信是套上的，具有特色的設計主題是顯而易見的。這裏的新郎(約翰)是背起穿著婚紗的新娘(貝琪)而來，充分帶給當地嘉賓一種甜絲絲的感覺！

後來在家中，我打開包裝紙及錫紙，發覺它是名副其實的朱古力，咬下去是Kit-Kat級的朱古力威化，食落還有一對新人的甜蜜蜜的味道呢！

釣魚台列島

在地理角度來看，釣魚台列島包括釣魚島、北小島和南小島。

釣魚島上有兩山峰，名高華峰及神農峰。

釣魚島之東北方有黃尾嶼，上有黃毛峰。

在釣魚島與北小島，南小島之間的水道叫釣魚水道，而北小島與南小島之間則叫橄欖門。


電視台每次播放有關釣魚台的新聞片段時很多時見到南北小島，間中也會見到釣魚主島。

Peppermint Chocolate

The red coloured packet of Andes peppermint chocolate attracts my attention for some time. At the first sight, the word “pepper” makes me think of the hot stuff I often dip and taste. After looking up Wikipedia, it is clear that peppermint is one kind of mint that flavours our food, chocolate, chewing gum, tea and candy.

Here it is an extract from Wikipedia:

Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. It is a herbaceous rhizomatous perennial plant growing to 30–90 cm (12–35 in) tall, with smooth stems, square in cross section. The rhizomes are wide-spreading, fleshy, and bare fibrous roots. The leaves are from 4–9 cm long and 1.5–4 cm broad, dark green with reddish veins, and with an acute apex and coarsely toothed margins. The leaves and stems are usually slightly hairy. The flowers are purple, 6–8 mm (long, with a four-lobed corolla about 5 mm diameter; they are produced in whorls (verticillasters) around the stem, forming thick, blunt spikes. Flowering is from mid to late summer.

The leaves and flowering tops are used; they are collected as soon as the flowers begin to open and can be dried. The wild form of the plant is less suitable for this purpose, with cultivated plants having been selected for more and better oil content. They may be allowed to lie and wilt a little before distillation, or they may be taken directly to the still.
Peppermint has a long tradition of medicinal use as far back as ten thousand years ago. Peppermint has a high menthol content, and is often used in tea and for flavouring ice cream, confectionery, chewing gum, and toothpaste. The oil also contains menthone and menthyl esters, particularly menthyl acetate. Dried peppermint typically has 0.3-0.4% of volatile oil containing menthol (7-48%), menthone (20-46%), menthyl acetate (3-10%), menthofuran (1-17%) and 1,8-cineol (3-6%). Peppermint oil also contains small amounts of many additional compounds including limonene, pulegone, eucalyptol, caryophyllene and pinene. It is the oldest and most popular flavour of mint-flavoured confectionery. Peppermint can also be found in some shampoos, soaps and skin care products. Menthol activates cold-sensitive TRPM8 receptors in the skin and mucosal tissues, and is the primary source of the cooling sensation that follows the topical application of peppermint oil.
Peppermint is commonly used to soothe or treat symptoms. Examples would be nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, irritable bowel, and bloating. It is also used in aroma therapy.

One animal study has suggested that Peppermint may have radio-protective effects in patients undergoing cancer treatment.

The aroma of peppermint has been found to enhance memory.

Peppermint flowers are large nectar producers and honey bees as well as other nectar harvesting organisms forage them heavily. A mild, pleasant varietal honey can be produced if there is a sufficient area of plants.

The peppermint chocolate shown here comprises two layers. The top layer is white chocolate inserted with small particles of dried peppermint. The lower contains fully red peppermint paste. To me, the taste and colour of this kind of chocolate are miraculously interesting and far different from traditional dark or milky brown ones. No wonder I like it.

Some15-storey-high fountain through 45 minutes

In Melbourne, residents near Knights Drive scrambled to save their homes from flooding yesterday after a burst water pipe sent water shooting up to 50 metres in the sky.
















Water was flowing into homes, and residents were being urged to move their cars from the Drive, where a metre of water was flowing down the street.

At least one house has been significantly damaged, with water flooding into its lounge room and the garage roof collapsing.

The water was shut off after about 45 minutes. The “fountain” vanished and the "curtain" dropped.

A Sweet Gymnast in London Olympics 2012

In Rhythmic Gymnastics, the women gymnasts always wear very attractive costumes and are highly made up by cosmetics.

Here is a Korean beautiful gymnast called San Yeon Jae competing in the Individual All-round Rhythmic Gymnastics, London Olympics, 2012. She swung the red ribbon round or up and down as she performed gymnastics, following the rhythms of the music she chose.

The performance involved much of the beauty of a girl and her costume, the ever-changing movements of arms, legs and body, the flying of the ribbon with the light music behind.

 Finally this young girl of eighteen ranked fifth in the competition. It was not bad at all.

納斯卡線

今次我利用維基百科全書資料及以下的圖片去研究一下有趣的納斯卡線: (左上角之四幅照片是現場空中拍攝的實景。

納斯卡線（Nazca Lines）是位於納斯卡沙漠上的巨大地面圖形。納斯卡沙漠是一座高度乾燥延伸53英里（多於80公里）的高原，在秘魯的納斯卡鎮與帕爾帕市之間。在1939年由美國考古學家保羅•柯索發現。雖然有些地方的人體石刻是以帕拉卡作為主題，但是學者認為納斯卡線是納斯卡文明於400年至650年所創造。有數以百計的個別圖形，出自簡單的線條，以複雜排列構成魚類、螺旋形、藻類、兀鷲、蜘蛛、花、鬣蜥、鷺、手、樹木、蜂鳥、猴子和蜥蜴。

除了從天空以外，納斯卡線條無法被認定成一致的圖形。自假設納斯卡人未能從這個有利位置看見他們的作品以來，已經有許多關於建造者能力和行動方式的推測，推估這些圖案可能在安地斯山的祈雨儀式中，扮演重要的角色。

納斯卡線的製作方法，依據未完成的遺址推測，首先，圖形是以大石頭來標示，並移除深色石塊的表層來界定邊界；接著，移除圖形內部的石頭，並匯集成堆；最後，這些石頭沿著邊界擺放，使圖形的邊緣較為突出。

至於螺旋形圖案的形成，依照考古學家的推測，首先，在圓心的木桿上，纏繞一根繩子，繩子另一端綁上一個棍子，以此方式設計圓形圖案；接著，繩子逐漸向外伸展，設計出愈來愈大的螺旋形圖案；最後，清除每圈螺旋邊緣的石塊，露出顏色較淺的地面，以使螺旋圖案更明顯。

奇妙的花環

今晨往食早餐途中，驟見花圃上的美艷棘杜鵑花自然地編織成圓形的花環在微風下向外飄搖。它們奇妙的造型特別搶鏡，立即將附近的植物比了下去。

我渴望天天都能夠見到這些的棘杜鵑花在爭奇鬥艷！

黃色小花

這兩朶小花吸引我不是它們的黃色，而是它們的花瓣數目不一。

大家不妨留意一下，其中一朶是四片花瓣，而另一朶則五片。究竟這種花的花瓣應該是四片，還是五片才是正常呢？我是不知道答案的，請諸君們為我解答一下。

再傳捷報

香港單車選手李慧詩(2012奧運銅牌得主)成功在2012年10月13日在場地單車世界盃哥倫比亞站中先後擊敗兩名英國車手、歐洲冠軍華莉舒和占姆絲，贏得爭先賽冠軍。

場地單車爭先賽是以一對一形式進行，李慧詩在資格賽以次名晉級十六強後，先後贏了委內瑞拉、日本和英國選手晉級決賽，對另一位英國奧運代表詹姆絲。決賽同樣是三場兩勝制。李慧詩和詹姆絲各勝一場。決賽一場，李慧詩採取終點前直路超越戰術成功，首次奪得世界杯這個項目的金牌。

我們這位單車選手的拼博精神是值得大家學習的。

On Sepulveda Blvd

Endeavour started its way on October 13, 2012, not to the sky, but to California Science Centre. All the obstacles on its route had to be removed, overhanging traffic lights, trees and lamp-posts. Crowds of citizens at Los Angeles watched this 37-metre-long giant space shuttle, as heavy as 80 tons, carried slowly and cautiously by heavy cushion trucks along the roads, wide enough for it to go through.

Space shuttles like Endeavour are clever inventions which carried astronauts and equipments to and from space. Tragically, two space shuttles, Challenger and Columbus were lost in accidents (the former in explosion soon after lifted off and the latter disintegrated during re-entry to Earth), otherwise space shuttles are perfect flying tools.

Thanks to Peter Ng who provides us a link to an interesting video to see how Endeavour was carried through the streets of Los Angeles to a specially-made storehouse at California Science Centre. 

Two works of Art

These are the art-works done by Elly and Abby.

The left-hand picture was painted by Elly, aged three, with a brush and water colours. She says that it is a park. Where is it? Well, it must be in her mind.

The right-hand painting was done by Abby, aged six also with a brush and water colours. Abby now uses lighter colours. In the past, she used very dark colours such as blue, brown, black or deep purple.

These pictures are unique and they carry some free images of children that some of us may not image.

大馨吉石林

大馨吉石林(Grand Tsingy)是全球面積最大的石林，位於非洲東部島國馬達加斯加(Madagascar)。由於是石炭岩地質，石林在經過長年累月的雨水侵蝕後，頂部呈現出鋒利的尖刀狀。人們在這裏走動是非常困難的，每每要用繩索攀爬才可到達目的地。
 
在這無法住人的險惡之地，生活著11種狐猴，超過100種鳥類及45種爬行動物；其餘的動物有小型肉食靈貓、貓鼬以及一些品種的蝙蝠。

這裏照片中的白色狐猴們會在鋒利的石尖上跳來跳去，就像雜技演員一樣。 狐猴早已適應了這裏的生活；牠們白天的時候前往石林裏一些小型森林去覓食， 夜間，牠們就棲息在石尖頂部。

Photo of the Year

Recently, I am awarded “the words of praise” from my son-in-law saying that this photo is my best photo of the year 2012.

The photo was taken on September 29. At that moment, Elly was walking on a raised ramp, pretending she was a gymnast and smiling with great satisfaction.

After taking a quick shot at her, I marvelled at the finished photo because it seemed to me that bright light was sending out from this little girl of three with the strong contrast of dark-coloured walls, ceiling and floor. The photo had created a perspective feeling that Elly was coming out from a tunnel and I considered the lighting was very good and Elly's smiles were rich.

If I give a title to this photo, I would say, “Elly glittering with smiles and light”.

碰碰運氣

在今年國慶日晚上，我們幾家人有幸可以上到坐落西九的「凱旋門」空中花園去觀賞煙花。從六十三層樓那裡向中環方面望，能見度不錯，一路視野無阻，不過距離發放煙花的躉船足足有兩至三公里。

我手上的相機只是一部便宜的小型傻瓜機，因拍攝速度有限，在黑夜捕捉煙花美景實在難上加難。當我在機背屏幕上見到燦爛煙花時去按快門制，應該是太遲了。要拍攝幾張像樣的煙花照片簡直是盲目中不斷按快門，碰碰運氣而已。

以上是我將僥倖拍攝到的煙花照片給大家看一看今年的國慶煙花，也許算是最近交的一次功課吧！

中國第一艘航空母艦

       最近中國繼美國、俄羅斯、法國、英國、印度、巴西、阿根廷、西班牙、意大利及泰國之後擁有航空母艦。

 
       這艘命名為京「遼寧艦」雖然是中國第一艘航空母艦，但意義重大。它肯定是中國建造未來新式常規及核能推動的航母作藍本，亦是一艘科研及供訓練海空軍的戰艦。

以下是一些關於遼寧號一些資料：

       這艘「遼寧」號的航空母艦其實在上世紀80年代初開始在烏克蘭黑海造船廠開工建造，最初的名字為「瓦良格」號。從1992年1月份開始，由於缺乏足夠的資金，「瓦良格」號便一直處於停工狀態。到1994年，俄羅斯最終決定放棄參與該艦的建造工作。

　　2000年，尚未完工（當時僅完成全部工作量的76%）的「瓦良格」號被烏克蘭以2000萬美元的「廢鋼價」出售給了中國澳門的一家公司。當時該公司宣稱將把這艘半成品航母改裝成一座海上賭場，但在其運抵中國後，中方卻開始著手修復並對「瓦良格」號進行了改裝。

　　在中國方面獨立進行的改裝過程中，在購買「瓦良格」號時獲得的設計圖紙發揮了重要的作用。

　　中國軍方此前曾多次表示，「瓦良格」號將被用作航母訓練平台，以便中國海軍熟悉使用此類裝備的戰術和技術，同時，為中國今後建造國產航空母艦積累經驗。

　　據中方消息人士透露，按照最初的計劃，中國首艘國產航母將採用常規動力，排水量在5—6萬噸，預計將在2015年完工。而中國的首艘核動力航母將在2020年下水。

　　中國的航母計劃已推進了20餘年。為掌握航母建造技術，中國曾從國外購買過多艘退役航母，包括澳大利亞的「墨爾本」號、前蘇聯的「明斯克」號、「基輔」號和「瓦良格」號等。

　　根據中國海軍的第一階段航母建造計劃，將在2015-2016年左右建造兩艘常規動力航母，並在2020年前組建兩支航母艦隊。在第二階段，中國將建造兩艘排水量達6.5萬噸的核動力航母。

　　未來，中國海軍將組建四支航母艦隊，分別部署在中國南海和東海水域。我相信中國海軍未來有一番新景象。

Endeavour was brought to Los Angeles

From TV news on September 22, (September 21, US), I learned that the space shuttle, Endeavour (奮進號) was carried by a jumbo 747 to Los Angeles International Airport and it will soon be brought to California Science Centre for display. It was an amazing flight around the city, which attracted a lot of citizens to watch it fly across the sky.

Here is an extract from Wikipedia:

Endeavour completed its final mission with a landing at the Kennedy Space Center at 06:34 UTC on June 1, 2011. Over its flight career, Endeavour flew 122,853,151 miles and spent 299 days in space. While flying Endeavour's last mission, the Russian spacecraft Soyuz TMA-20 departed from the ISS and paused at a distance of 200 meters. Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli took a series of photographs and videos of the ISS with Endeavour docked. This was the second time a Shuttle had been photographed while docked and the first time since 1996. Commander Mark Kelly was the last astronaut off Endeavour after the landing, and the crew stayed on the landing strip long enough to sign autographs and pose for pictures. With commander Mark Kelly and pilot Gregory Johnson at the controls, Endeavour's touchdown was the 25th time a shuttle performed a night landing.

One final mission, STS-135, was added to the schedule in January 2011, and Atlantis flew for the last time in July 2011.

NASA offered the three remaining orbiters for museum donation once they are withdrawn from service. After more than twenty organizations submitted proposals to NASA for the display of an orbiter, NASA announced that Enterprise (企業號) will go to New York's Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, Discovery (發現號) will go the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum, Atlantis (亞特蘭蒂斯號) will remain in the Visitor Complex at Kennedy Space Center, and Endeavour (奮進號) will go to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. It was finally delivered to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on September 21 2012. Soon, it will be moved along the streets of Los Angeles (La Tijera, Manchester, Crenshaw, and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards) to its final destination at the California Science Center.

Wooden-block Man

Elly is now able to assemble blocks as freely as she likes. Here is an example.

It is great news that she feels satisfied every time when the blocks do not fall. That involves her careful way in “building and balancing” blocks. Sometimes, failures may occur and they are really good experiences to this little girl, aged three, because she understands quite well that she may not be successful each time she wants to do something.

To me, her wooden blocks together (in the photo) seem like a “Man” wearing shorts and standing on two legs. The “Man” looks strong and solid and can stand up straight. After she has finished the assembling game, she is pleased and allows me to take photographs of her “master-piece”.

Feathery Palettes

Besides making clever speeches, Parrots show their beautiful feathers like palettes. The colours match so well to please our eyes. Peacocks also display their fan-like feathers when they feel pleased. I remember that in a Japanese Garden in Australia, the peacock did not show off his feathers in my camera's screen.






Even small birds can bear bright-coloured feathers which added much fun to trees that they land on.










Flamingos when they come together redden their favourable lakes or breeding grounds . Water ducks, in their beautiful feathers, fly and duck down to catch fish or small amphibians, worms or small molluscs at their feeding grounds.