falconz journey.- I will soar again...: Tree survey and CNY

Got jio-ed by Hang Chong and volunteered in a tree survey over at sentosa end of last month. Just in time for the entrance price increase. But heng everything including the exorbitant $7 parking fee was covered by nature society and lunch at Subway was all on sentosa's expense. There were quite a few plant experts including Dr Shawn Lum himself. It's quite impressive how they can identify and name (scientific latin names too!) each of the trees in the forest in a pinch.
Lotsa interesting "aunties and uncles" volunteering for this survey including the karate black belt Catherine whom I still owe the cicada moulds. There's also Moira who slipped from a tree she was climbing and next thing I know she was hanging upside down beside me! Lucky some of the vine was able to hold her weight. The next day as I was returning her cashcard, I found out that Cat's former IMCB building is now called Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine.

Right after the survey, Hang Chong and I continued on with the outdoor activities even though it was quite a humid afternoon. Went home, grabbed my camera and headed into the forested section of Mt Faber. It's been 3 yrs since I vowed to return and find the Japanese tomb. Did not manage to find it that day. Lots of changes in the vegetation and even construction work changed all the familiar sights. I'll be back another time. But hopefully the tomb have not been removed by then.

It's not an all loss trip. at least I get to see what's inside during the day. the previous trip was during the night. Tons of my "fav" termites in the forest made the trip quite an exciting one. Gotta get over my fear of them someday. Meanwhile took a few pics:

A common nephila masculata sucking up to a unfortunate cicada. It was still alive and struggling when this happened.

Another that was more lucky. Both Sentosa and Mt Faber seems to be filled with cicadas that day.

A common garden skink was spying on me while I was taking pics of the cicada. Prob the same species that freaked Baby out at KE.

Just as we were about to leave the place, Hang Chong was educating me about this tree and it's naturally peeling bark and why it was a good fire protectant characteristic. Somehow I just got this feeling that something was hiding behind one section of it's bark, so I just went and peel away that piece. My feelings are always spot on.

Hiding underneath was a small little scorpion.

This should be the third species of scorpions that I managed to spot in the wild. And a first during a bright sunny day.

The big block holiday season of Christmas/new yr/CNY came and went just like that. Did not get much ang baos but that's expected since we dun visit relatives anymore since a couple of years back. Which can be very good. I needed those 4.5 days of me time. Those free days also gave me time to keep in line with my plan to workout before term starts again.

So what did I do during CNY? Actually did not do much... took the time to nuah at home and catch up on alot of sleep. Continued resistance training as well as cardio (cycled to night safari again). On the way to night safari, I noticed that there are tons of things to shoot with my LCA. Definitely will try this type of lomography again. I also managed to spot a small abandoned hut along the way.. heheh...

Edited more pictures and portraits, blogged and visited lotsa temples to pray and shoot. Slowly starting to appreciate manual focusing. It ain't as bad as I first thought it to be. Just needs good lighting and subjects that ain't in a rush to go anywhere. Had a fun time with my FM2..... maybe I should go splurge on a Leica M7 already....... like real.... I hope my guessitmate on the exposures are correct and this new consumer film rolling inside the FM2 dun disappoint me.

The only ang baos I get this yr comes from my parents, mom's god sis's family (pic below!), Weixin's parents (on eve of CNY!) and Joyce's mom and grandma. That's all!

Brief and simple. No visit to relative's place or did any other Chinese cultural stuff except to go temple and bai tai sui....and maybe lau yu sheng with the Lim family! Hahahah... kinda unexpected...They are nice people and had a good chat with Joyce's mother who happens to be a Rat just like my mom. Here's a big thank you to Joyce and her 2 bros who entertained Weixin and me with all the card games (not to mention the unforgetable/unbreakable China Jenga blocks). They can rival settlers cafe with the variety of games at their place.

And 10q for the pillow! The illustration is just perfect! A voodoo ninja with a graduation cap.... It's just what this accursed ninja is looking towards.... my graduation! In the mean time, this pillow will be useful for many a sleepless nights searching for journals.....