Crossing Waterlilies

Last month, before I was away for trips, my 2 of waterlilies were blooming continuously: white and purple ones. So, I did some research about how they propagate sexually, I just wanna know if one day I can make unique hybrid.

Based on what I read on WGI website, I started to cross them. Here is what I did:

white flower as pollen donor (male) / purple flower as recipient (female)

I took pollens from white flower (1-2 days old), and place it into the nectar-bowl (stigma) of newly bloomed purple flower. Sometimes I drank the nectar before the pollination process, leaving it damp enough for the pollens to stick on.

the pollination process

 The next day, the stamens will curl to cover up the stigma, you can no longer see the bowl. I guess that’s when the magic happens.

what it looks like next day after pollination

Within a week, I checked the sinking flower if they rot or swollen. If they rot, the pollination failed. If they sunk and have curly stem and swollen butt, it’s a good sign that the pollination have occurred. Since I want to collect seeds, I put a clothbag. The butt will get larger and larger until ….

top left clockwise: See the diff on non-pollinated and pollinated flower / Pollinated flower has larger butt-size / Pod placed in clothbag to ease seeds collection.

I don’t know what happened next, cos I wasn’t around for a month. When I came back that night, I dipped my hand to check the clothbag (it was dark), I was so disappointed not to feel any pod in the bag. I can feel mushy stuff in it. I thought the whole pollination has failed.

The next morning, I went to check again, and guess what I found! The seeds have sprouted inside the bag! I missed the pod stage. The seeds already released from the pod, and sprouted into little plants. Oh, so many of them. Too many!

left-right: They sprouted inside the bag // handful of them // placing them in dirt

Then I removed them into a new pot, tried to dip them slightly inside the dirt. But they kept floating around. I hope I didn’t hurt them. Really hope they’ll stay alive and grow well.

Now I am away again, I hope when I come back next month, they’ll give me nice surprises again J

Note:

I guess there are some differences between my experience and what’s written in the website. I couldn’t argue about the exact period for pod stage, and sprouting age. But I know that it all happen within a month only, and I didn’t do any special treatment (cold-storage period) to stratify the seeds. They just sprouted.

Kids' Report

Another year has passed.
Lisa has been so kind to send all the tuition receipts and their school reports.
The kids have done a good job at school. I am such a proud foster mother. Hahaha.

I am getting a new kid this year, so it'll be 3 boys and 3 girls this year.
Would this action contribute to my "caga" attributes?
Dear, do you know how hard it is to keep up to your noble qualities?

Lucky Monkey

Early this month, I had to attend a meeting in Bali.

Of course, they also arranged a short tour for us there. 

So, on that fine afternoon, we all went visit a pura at Uluwatu. Before we reached the pura, our tour leader warned us about monkeys (Balinese Macaques) there. They are quite naughty, they like to steal glasses, hats, cameras, or any loose items.

We were all quite cautioned about the thieving monkey. But of course, accidents happened; a friend's glasses was grabbed by a monkey. Not to worry, the monkey did it on purpose; he just wants us to threw a banana, in return he'll throw the glasses back. 

After the glasses incident resolved, I told a friend, a myth said that if a monkey climbed on your shoulder (or head), it'll bring good luck.

Everybody thought it was a nice joke, I did too, actually.

a bonding moment with my little friend. He's not the one that attacked me :)

Not long after I threw the joke, A MONKEY JUMPED ON ME!!! Was on my shoulder for like 10 seconds. I was shocked, but not scared. I wonder what he likes from me, I didn't have any food or glasses on me. Anyway, the guard around Pura shoo-ed the monkey away.

My regional manager then joked that he waited to see what lucky stroke I would get by the incident.

At night, we had a fancy company dinner at Bebek Bengil. The company invited singers/game-organiser from Padang; the game called KIM - similar to BINGO, but the singer would sing out the picked-number spontaniously. She'll just create the song's lyric on the spot. Cool huh?

Anyway, there were quite a few round of the game, and the prize increases by the night. For earlier games, seriously I hardy get 4 numbers (we need 5 numbers in a row to win).

Before the last game (biggest prize) started, my regional manager teased me that the monkey that climbed me that afternoon didn't bring me enough luck, cos apparently I haven't win any.

I just laughed - well, I read about the myth in Benny and Mice's comic. I have no clue how true the myth is.

Plus at that night, I had an argument with someone dear to me, was really upset. Really wanted to go back to hotel and cry. Who cares about the prize, all I wanted was to clear the mess up.

BUT soon after that, I got 4 numbers, and voila, 5 numbers!!! BINGO!!! I WON!!!

I won the biggest prize of the night. Worth around USD1200. Wohooo!!!

So I guess the myth was right.

Next time you go to Bali, try to lure the monkey to climb to your shoulder. It'll bring luck. It's proven :)

SGS III

The new addition of my gadgets, the current champion: Samsung Galaxy S III
And guess what, it was a gift from a dear one! Love you, my dear!
To think about it, all my gadgets are gifts, even the previous ones.
How lucky I am! So blessed :)

My New Love: Nara

I am happy and proud to announce that I am officially an auntie to a teeny-weeny-baby-boy named: Narada Hugo Lawer
Born just when the clock shifted to the brand new day of 23 July 2012.
Here is my picture with this tiny fragile-looking creature. Definitely my new ultimate object of affection :)

Monday Morning

Monday morning otw to airport. This's bloody early for me, but when I see these swarming people on buses, cars, and motorbikes, they're all rushing for their work, I can see how lucky I am. Think back before, I always wanted to be confined in that shiny large buildings, wearing smart sleek outfits, busy look, rushing here and there, were so tempting before. No matter how happy there are in those glittery shining armours, I know I am luckier than they are. I just need to find out how to fill the big void I have in my chest now. And I think money can't fix it. Tell me dear, how to make me whole?

Chasing Virtue

About two weeks ago, a thread  Padang-originated “touching’ story was spreading around the Blackberry and Facebook world. So touching, that the true story was added too much seasonings which made way too dramatic. Naturally, it brought tears to those who listen or read the thread; and brought some sinister to those who happened to know the actual characters and despise them.

For those who were touched by the story, their reactions are predictable: they have a thought… “oh, how I wish I could help the kid and the mother”. THOUGHT ONLY, NO ACTION DONE. Well, some think by shedding tears, broadcasting and adding more drama to story is a noble action. Pfffttt!!! :p

But there was one guy who made an effort to get extra information about the mother and child, and he was willing to actually help. Since he wanted to give the most suitable aid, he asked me to tell the condition of them. I know those characters in the story, but not so much in detail. So, I decided to investigate their condition.  I guess I would be unwise to disclose it here, in case it’ll spread through irresponsible-broadcasting. The result of my investigation is, they are coming from middle-low family, staying in a decent house for free, get free daily meals from where they work, and they do have salary (below the government rate, but with the meals, I call it even)
Don’t get me wrong, I report to the guy as it is, without any personal opinions added. Until I wrote this, the guy is still discussing with his friends on what’s best to donate for the mother and child.

What I am trying to say is… any story, fiction, or even real event can be so dramatic with the power of pen – or maybe in the current world, the POWER OF FINGERTIPS.

I know those who wrote and spreading the story having “GOOD’ intention, BUT THEY ARE JUST LAZY and unwilling to put more effort YET they wanted to be acknowledged as the HOLY and GENEROUS one.

What I loathe most is those IGNORANT, NAIVE and SENSELESS people who broadcast and begs others to donate (in a forcing tone). Flooding timeline with dreadful pictures.  Adding  God’s name, Jesus’ name, Buddha’s name or whatever religious terms to intimidate others (or maybe they thought it'll add more good-karma points). Yet, I bet she/he’ll never every donate, not even a single cent. Click, click, click… and hoping good-karma flooding their merits’ account.

Almost on daily basis, I got broadcast from my FB and BB about sick people, poor people, needy people whose lives on a thread without people’s donation.  Some people don’t even check whether the information is correct. These kinds of donation-broadcasts are prone to misuse, some using private bank account to collect – it could be fraud, how sure are we that they are honest about it? And the most important thing, do those people really need it? Well, I am sure everybody needs extra cash when they get into trouble; but this is LIFE: when we get into trouble, don’t just sit and wait for people to help, u need to put some effort and fork out some from your own pocket too. Not just becoming a parasite with angelic face showered with tears (I got a bad experience from this event).
Some devious people can just become INSTANT-CON-ARTIST when given a chance.

Happy Birthday, Ming

Today is my birthday. Happy Birthday to me!!!
Last night and early this morning, I received "Happy Bday" from my loved ones. They remember!!!
Really appreciate it, since I never put it on facebook. They remember 'cos they care.
Very sweet of you :)
Love you

Rhino Chopstick

Today I received a pair of chopstick from WWF Indonesia as a token of their appreciation for my support. So sweet of them, isn't it?
The chopstick is made of wood coming from the conservation areas at Ujung Kulon National Park.

But I dunno if the varnish they used for the chopstick is food-grade at all. Hum... maybe better to keep it as a souvenir. Thank you WWF :)

Sate Daril

One of the Padang food that I miss most when I am away is sate Padang - a kind of beef satay in thick spicy sauce.
Note that Sate Padang have many different types, mostly differ on their sauces.
Not only the colour, even the same coloured one can taste abit different depends on the vendor.

There is one particular one that I love so much, it's sate Daril (Da = Uda, means brother in Minang language; Ril = the owner's name). It tastes SO GOOD...!!!
I think I had my first sate at his stall. He used sell right in front of the gate of SD Agnes, my late elementry school. I remembered that I used to order some kerupuk/cracker with the sauce ('cos cracker was the cheapest thing he sells), or only 1 stick of satay + 1 ketupat (rice cake)... The good old days when my pocket money was limited. Hahahha.
I guess all the SD Agnes graduates love his sate.
Many of them hire Daril to cater for their weddings too (guess they are all in marrying age by now).
My brother did too...  ^.^ Yum...

The satay stall is still there, now they are accross the street in front of the school, well, SD Agnes is no longer there.
But Sate Daril still exists in different form. Instead of the wooden cart pushed by man-power, now he uses a pick-up car for the stall.
Daril doesn't sit there to attend the stall now, he hires his relatives. Daril stays at home to prepare his secret recipe. Apparently he has more than 1 stall now. I think it's a beautiful successful story of one's determination and persistence.