The Citrus

The common citrus in Malay culture, Lime has been used extensively, from adding jest in dishes, more often than not, is to weaken the fishy smell in laksa's gravy, budu, belacan or grilled fish, to refreshing drinks. It is also used for "mandi langir" in the olden days when soap and shower foam is not yet available. The lime is also a must item in "bomoh" rituals, either to use for spriritual cleansing or prophecy. Those who tried the "mandi bunga/mandi limau" knows what I mean...

The kaffir is used for the aroma, either from its fruits or leaves. Only after the influx of "tom yum" in Malaysia about some 20 years back, sees the popularity increase of the kaffir leaves used in cooking soup. Otherwise, it is used as one of the many herbs for the "mandi serum" for mothers in confinement and the sicks, to help improve blood circulations.

While the kalamansi is getting popular about the same time as kaffir - used as drink or milder alternative to lime.

The lime sapling, bought in Balok Pasar Tani at RM9/tree - from branch graft - so it is ready to produce fruit anytime...

The lime flower - emitting sweet citrus aroma. Look at the flower bud - a bit strange, with its 4 halves, but blooming out 5 petals...

The kalamansi sapling - bought at the same place at RM7/tree. Compared to lime, kalamansi is easier to care and has higher resistance to pests. That is why lime is fetching higher price in the market...

The kalamansi flower - also emits sweet aroma...

Kaffir tree - this one is transferred from my sister Jamilah's pot. It grows better in the farm, but the tree looked less "bushy" than it should, for both mother and son keep on plucking the leaves for "tom yum" and instant noodle respectively... hahhaha

Catching the Dew

Sometimes the morning dews were caught on the leaves and spider webs attract more than a passing attention, especially when the morning sun rays hit them...

...like a sparkling jewels

...one web in the grass

...the other on the ground next to the chili tree

...from a different perspective

Perfect Love....

The heart shaped leaf of "ubi besar" (big tuber) that we planted late last year, has sprouted and growing well, climbing the young duku tree - faster than u can say "go"!

Bird's Nest

Firstly, I apologize for neglecting the blog for quite sometime. Pressing priorities...


Recently a sparrow (we guess) built its nest on the young duku tree. I have not seen the bird yet, (despite I was in the farm almost every day). Quite surprising when the bird choose to built the nest so near to the pondok, and hanging low...


The young duku tree, about 6ft tall...





Neat work of art, stiching 2 leaves together. How long will it last? The most is until the leaves grow old and fall. Hopefully until the eggs hatch and the babies started flying...





Look at the stiches... and the small holes - how is it possible for the bird to make tiny holes like that and not breaking the leaves into pieces... I have been wondering also what made the yellowish thread... and the domestic waste, instead of the all natural building material?





A peep into the "living room" and found nobody home...

...Mushroom Again! - The Oyster

I hope I didn't bore you with the mushrooms postings... They are simply fascisnating! Another variety growing in the farm. The Oyster mushroom was in the earlier posting, however, I didn't get tired capturing its pictures and had hard time choosing the pictures to share with you as all of them are beautiful - from all angles - see it for yourself...

...Mushroom Again! - The Cousins

Rosnah came for a visit the other day, with a "quite new" camera. The more powerful, higher density, plenty of features and bigger screen (4x bigger!) compared to mine... Must admit that I am envious of her hehehehe. Nevertheless, we have good time together - as we were clicking our cameras, shooting the mushrooms.

As I mentioned earlier, Miss Pinky @ Alien was quite rare i.e. I have not seen before. To come across another similar type is a nice surprise, not only one, but two at one place, under the old durian tree!


First encountered this one, it was the day before that I spotted the budding mushroom, but I don't have a camera at the time... So, this is the picture on the day when the mushroom in full bloom... This type actually looks edible, I am quite certain it is the same type that was indicated in the book of England wild mushrooms.

While inspecting this mushroom, I spotted another one nearby, still budding...


Unlike the Pinky cousin, this one is almost pure white, with a hint of softest pink.



The sunrays make the picture looks heavenly - similar to the turmeric flowers earlier... On second look. it reminds me of the British Guard black hairy hat...


The day after, the bud is slowly opening up and its top torn in several places...


She really looks delicious!

Its Raining and Mushroom Again!

It was raining almost daily for about 2 weeks already, following the months of dry spell. Not only the greens grow healthily, the mushrooms are sprouting all over the place. Reminds me of the upcoming seasonal mushroom period circa June, July - am looking forward to the season, hopefully abundant of edible mushrooms - the "kulat paha ayam", "kulat kawan", "kulat bertih" and "kulat susu musang". Delicious soup or spicy stirred-fried, I need no other dishes. The mushrooms sold in the supermarket somehow cannot substitute the wild taste... Well, that was for another report, in the meantime here are the inedibles (as far as we are concerned...). I am featuring 2 types of gano mushrooms. Here are gano varieties as mentioned in the gano remedy website:

• Akashiba (red Royal Gano)
• Kuroshiba (black Royal Gano)
• Aoshiba (blue Royal Gano)
• Shiroshiba (white Royal Gano)
• Kishiba (yellow Royal Gano)
• Murasakishiba (purple Royal Gano)

This is the white fungus, growing from a rotting coconut stump. The Shiroshiba? Whatever...

Notice the dark base?

...pure white goodness? Not that we ever tried to consume this type of mushroom...


This is the blue type, growing on a rotting kuini trunk.

Reminds me of blue cheese. U think? Hmmm been quite some time since I last stuffed the crakers heheheh...

The cow dung mushroom grows in group on a fertile burned soil under the old durian tree.

Pretty small umbrellas eh?