SAN ANDREAS

I watched this movie on my birthday in Taiwan. It was my first choice because I would prefer to watch a chinese movie while I was there but this was the only feasible choice then given the time.

Starring Dwayne Johnson as the lead Ray, Carla Gugino as his ex-wife Emma, Alexandra Daddario as his daughter Blake, Ioan Gruffudd as the cowardice real estate developer Daniel, the asian actor Will Yun Lee as Dr Kim Chung, Colton Haynes as the helicopter rescuer Joby, this was a highly unrealistic movie where Ray, a helicopter rescue pilot, went about with his helicopter and a boat to save his ex-wife Emma and daughter Blake from the killer earthquake which measured 9.6 on the Richter scale, the tsunami, and all the effects of the catastrophe e.g. crumbling buildings.

Kylie Minogue had a cameo role as Emma's sister Susan and she died together with an entire building of people, except for Emma who managed to make it to the rooftop of the building and was rescued by Ray on his helicopter before going all out to locate Blake, who was saved by a stranger Ben Taylor, who later became her boyfriend, and his younger brother Ollie, before the father came to the final rescue.

Well, I looked past how unrealistic the plot was, and enjoyed the movie for what it was - an action-packed movie.

the collapsing Hoover dam 

seismologist Lawrence Hayes and the reporter Serena

San Franciso destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami

Ollie, Blake and Ben (L to R) watched on with horror as the tsunami hit their building

Ray and Emma

HORTPARK PART 4

I didn't have the time to walk through the entire park and so only took snippets of some of the theme gardens.


At the Home Garden, I was extremely pleased to see the slow growing and weird looking Trevesia palmata (common name: Snowflake Tree, Snowflake Aralia; Family: Araliaceae) in bloom. This is a plant I first learnt about in HortPark and have never seen the flowers until now. Although the flowers were not completely opened, it was still an honour to see the actual plant blooming right before my eyes. I was also glad to see the naturalized Impatiens walleriana adding some colour to the green background.


Christmas is just 2 hours away, and what better way to celebrate this festive occasion with a pair of snowy reindeers and red-leaved Poinsettias right in front of the HortPark signage at the main entrance of Hyderabad Road.


As I made my way to Alexandra Road, I noticed most of Floral Walk was relandscaped to give it a new look. So long HortPark and Merry Christmas to all and sundry!

SOUTHERN RIDGES 6

This is the end stretch of the Southern Ridges trail. There are many open areas where new trees with coloured leaves were deliberately planted.


It was also here where I spotted an unassuming Chestnut Bob skipper butterfly on the Clidemia hirta weed. There was also another unknown tree with interesting fruits and the familiar Claoxylon indicum that I often see from Alexandra Road. The Horsfieldia irya trees were also fruiting.


Finally, we crossed the Alexandra Arch and reached the last destination HortPark.