Encouragement

For the longest time, I have TRIED to bring reusable cloth bags when I go shopping. And for the longest time, I kept forgetting to bring the bags, or left them in the car, or ran short of the things. Lately, with everyone jumping on the bandwagon, i find myself so well-stocked with reusable bags that I can leave some in the car, stuff one in my handbag and have extras to give away things in. It's nice not to be the "weird" person who refuses to take plastic bags and spoons. All my regular stall owners are used to my refusal to take plastic spoons. Some ask where my container was if I don't bring one to tapau in. I've seen some guys bring their own containers too, what a comforting sight! It's true that change can be hard to implement, but as long as it's for a good cause, we should encourage it. Here's to a safer, cleaner planet. Amin...

Midnight Marauder

Heard a commotion outside the house a few nights ago. It sounded like something fell through the ceiling on to the roof! Peeped outside but couldn't see anything. Shrugged it off as the cats fighting and went back to playing Scrabble. Sometime past midnight, there was more commotion and heard the cats come inside through the upstairs window. I switched on the staircase lights and what do I see if not a common palm civet! At first it looked like a tabby cat, but the head belied its identity. And such a handsome specimen it was too! I was so chuffed to meet a wild visitor in my home.

By then my sis had also come out of her room and we went to look for it at the back. We tried to let it out but Leo was in the way and of course spooked the visitor. It ran off into the kitchen. We found it frantically trying to escape through the back windows, but the louvres were opened too narrowly. When I came near to open them wider, it went and hid itself behind the storage cabinet. We left him alone and shut the kitchen door so that the cats won't get into a brawl with the bigger animal. Vet bills are expensive, you know. Anyway, it was gone the next day, so I hope he's safely on his way. Good luck, pal. Nice to see you around!

The No Plastics Challenge

I know this is virtually impossible, since everything we buy is either encased in plastic or contains plastic. But then, belum cuba belum tau, right? Since the plastic bottle freak-out a few weeks back, I've been storing my drinking water in an old Nescafe bottle. It has been used as a vase since two days ago, and this morning I was tempted to go back to my previously beloved "space bottles" to tapau my water supply. In the end I decided not to and utilise the smaller Firefly bottle for my hydration needs.

Looking back, glass bottles are not as fragile as we often assume. They're not so heavy if you're only carrying one. So why depend on plastic for everything? Recycling plastics is not a real option, as most of them just end up wasted anyway. So I now pledge to avoid buying plastics unless it's necessary and for long-term use. Anyone joining me?

Tetra Pak now recycleable

Ok. I've left this blog unattended for more than a year. I have good reason. And in the meantime, technological advances has allowed the formerly indestructible Tetra Pak packages to be recycled. Thank goodness for that! All you have to do is to flatten your drink boxes and send for recycling. Someone else will tear them apart and recycle the separated parts, just like any other recyclable materials. Good news, eh? Start doing it now!

Bush's take on Climate Change

Oh My Poor Sharks...

I claim to be an environmentalist and therefore I frown upon the consumption of shark's fin soup. But sometimes, holding on to your faith is more difficult than most.

I don't often get served shark's fin soup, which is a relief to me. And when I do, it becomes very difficult for me to say no. Reason?

1) It's possibly an occasion like a wedding. My poor friend had forked out a fortune to pay for it. The fish is already dead and cooked and served in front of me. It is an occasion to celebrate with my friends and I don't want to be a spoilsport.

2) Someone will point out that there is more crab meat than shark's fin in it. Again, fish is already dead and cooked.

3) Mercury content is very high, but then... you know... a bit hard to explain to everyone at the table why you refuse to eat the soup.

I have tried a few times to refuse the soup, but somehow I do end up ingesting it anyway, mercury and all. As it is, there is a very strong cultural link to it, which makes it hard to refuse the dish without being out of place and even rude! I so wish people would just stop serving the darn thing and save me this misery.

What I find most disturbing is the growing trend of non-Chinese ordering the dish which makes matters even worse. Something must be done to curb the demand. Anyone has any ideas on how to deal with this?

Answer to Pop Quiz

Very Good!! Though Loret doesn't really count as she's a pro.. He he.. Thanks for being a good sport, peeps :-) Details of the mammal is pasted below.

Source: http://ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/colugo.htm


Colugo or Flying Lemur


Adult, probably female, Bukit Tinggi, Singapore.

Order : DERMOPTERA
Family : Cynocephalidae
Species : Cynocephalus variegatus

Head-Body Length : 34-38cm
Tail Length : 24-25cm
Weight : 0.9-1.3 kg

References : M2

Colugos are mammals from an ancient lineage, with just two species comprising the Order DERMOPTERA. Confusingly they are also called 'Flying Lemurs', though they are not closely related to the Lemurs of Madagascar. They can glide long distances, however, as they possess a thin membrane stretched to the ends of the tail and each limb.

Generally they are mottled grey or green-grey in colour, with dark banding, but some specimens are reddish. Their diet includes leaves and young shoots. During the day they rest high in the trees, clinging to trunks or hiding in tree holes. At dusk they become active, gliding from trunk to trunk like sheets of paper blown on the wind. The young are carried clinging to the flight membrane.

Colugos range from Burma, Indochina and Southern Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java. They also occur throughout Borneo. A second Colugo species inhabits the southern Philippines.



Juvenile,
Bukit Timah Nature
Reserve, Singapore.