Honey4Boyz

Making terrarium can be easy, quick and does not have to be expensive.   This was our first attempt to make a terrarium last year. We used our glass aquarium, or otherwise, any glass containers or jars would be fine. The most tricky part was choosing the small plants that were compatible and could survive indoor with indirect sunlight. Decorating the terrarium was the most fun part for the boys. Decorative things could be pretty rocks, marbles, figurines, driftwood or anything. But it was a challenge to ensure the plants could grow with the right amount of water and sunlight. Even though we did our research and followed all the steps diligently, the plants still did not survive long. Perhaps it's more difficult to keep the plants indoor, or it could be the overwatering problem. We're still learning.... We went to FLORIA (Flower & Garden Festival) in Putrajaya recently. The above was the award-winning terrarium. Maybe we can try one with cactus t

We often drive past the signboard to some waterfall names in Hulu Langat. Yet we have never thought of visiting these places. We can't be too excited about some place that's just half an hour drive away from our house - we can go there any time. But when we do, what a lovely surprise we have!  Sg. Congkak in Hulu Langat is beside orchards and a tropical rainforest. The weather is pleasantly cooling, with cascading rivers and a rich flora and fauna. We had initially planned for an overnight camp elsewhere with modern facilities, but at the 11th hour, they mixed up our booking. We decided to go to Sg. Congkak because it's available and near to our house. It turned out to be a blessing. Safety - there were a total of 9 of us including friends and we were concerned about safety. We felt that Sg. Congkak was not too isolated because it's supposed to be a popular picnic spot for locals and surrounded by villages. But we were there on a Friday, and were told that we a

Bak Chang or Rice Dumpling Festival is celebrated annually on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, it fell on the 23rd of June. We decided to take up the challenge of making our own bak chang. It's timely because my mother-in-law was visiting us at the same time. She has been making bak chang for her extended family since young.  We went to the wet market and found all the ingredients easily. We bought 2 kg of glutinous rice and have to estimate the portions for the fillings, ie dried Chinese mushrooms, dried chestnuts, salted egg yolks and the black eyed beans.  We also got the bamboo leaves and bundle of strings (many people prefer to use raffia string but we like the traditional reed string). It's common to include pork belly in the filling but we decided to make no-meat bak chang this round. We spent the night before getting ready the ingredients and stuff. Grandma told the boys they had to start learning from str

FLORIA 2012 - the Flower & Garden Festival is an annual event in Putrajaya. The theme of this year's event is Bougainvillea - Enduring Beauty. This place is always full of fresh, creative ideas and inspiring designs even for home gardeners like us. And most of all, it educates. The nightly floral parade accompanied by fireworks display..... There were a total of 15 floats cruising along the Putrajaya Lake. The best view was to watch from the Millenium Monument, overlooking the Seri Wawasan Bridge, the landmark of Putrajaya city. We also learnt our lesson - we visited the show on a weekday so we could take our time to enjoy the show and the gardens. The flower & garden show looked different in the morning...... The Grand Flower Bed - which is the centrepiece to the event - in full bloom. Besides, there were also a floral pavillion, showcase gardens by various organisations, garden bazaar, art square and other activities to spice up the show. On a w