CLOUD FOREST PART 4

After the Lost World, I made my way down the mountain walking along the suspended walkway. I enjoy the views of the mountain although I found it to be too flat. It would look better if it was more natural and 3D looking.


The Begonia, Arundina, Streptocarpella, Miltoniopsis etc and so on were all looking great. I also found a deer lurking in the background, to my amazement.

CHINESE PROVERBS

Today's weather - sunny






I feel there is still a lot of room for improvement on my Chinese language, so I will try to learn some proverbs and idioms from time to time. I will share two of them related to plants here.

The first one is "花开堪折直须折，莫待无花空折枝。" which comes from the work《金缕衣》from the writer 杜秋娘. In simple terms, it means "When the flower is in bloom and the branch is soft enough, pick it. Don't wait till there is no flower to pick the branch.". The author is encouraging the receiver to seize the opportunity when it arises before it is too late. How interesting.

The second is "良禽择木而栖" which is from the famous Confucius (孔子). The second part is "贤臣择主而侍". Essentially, it translates to "A bird chooses a tree to rest and an able official chooses a master to serve.". Confucius was trying to say that it is never the case of a tree choosing the bird and advised that a gentleman should see clearly who can put one's intelligence and ability to best use. Yes, one should learn to be wise enough to discern which side to be on to one's own advantage.

All these are really wise teachings eh?

PAINTED SKIN: THE RESURRECTION (画皮)

. I watched the first movie "Painted Skin" (画皮) starring Chen Kun, Vicki Zhao Wei, Zhou Xun and absolutely enjoyed it then. So it is without a doubt that I would catch this second part "Painted Skin - The Resurrection" starring the same 3 actor and actresses.

In this installment were also actors and actress such as Kris Fei Xiang, Yang Mi and Feng Shaofeng, who were both starring in the mainland chinese serial "Palace". Unlike the first movie, I wasn't captivated by this new love story, which seemed rather unconvincing to me. I was bored by the storyline and fell asleep at one point. I love Chen Kun but he was just so so here. Vicki and Zhou Xun did not seem to be in their best element though they were equally good. Yang and Feng played forgettable small roles, which are not really pivotal to the development of the story.

What is alluringly touching is the theme song "画心" (Painted Heart), which I attached here, sang by 张靓颖 which I remember from the original movie "Painted Skin".

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

Today's weather - sunny

After much anticipation, I watched this new Marvel Comics superhero movie starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field and so on. I enjoyed the earlier spider-man movies that were first made a decade ago in 2002 with Tobey Maguire as the lead and had my reservations with this new version with a new lead whom I have never come across before.


In comparison, Andrew seemed like an unlikely hero with his scrawny body. But I guess one shouldn't be too judgmental and stereotype anything or anyone. This movie proved to me that I still have lots to learn everyday. I admit that Andrew Garfield is brilliant in this role and I can't think of anyone more suitable to play this well-known character.


This new take explored a deeper side into Peter Parker's life and personality and showed how this angsty and cynical youngster overcame his personal demons, insecurities and inadequacies to eventually become a vigilante who protected the innocent lives out there. The awakening journey he took wasn't an easy one with the loss of both his parents when he was just a child and the loss of his uncle Ben, which he was partially responsible for. I love the transformation he went through from a geeky boy-next-door who was constantly bullied at school to a geeky boy-turned-superhero who tested his new-found powers to a new superhero who learnt to take on this calling and responsibility to protect the innocent.


Oh, and did I mention I love the new spider logo with the long legs? Well, I certainly do. And Emma Stone as Peter's new girlfriend Gwen Stacy was definitely much more appealing than Kirsten Dunst's character Mary-Jane Watson.

CLOUD FOREST PART 3

This is the highest point of the Cloud Forest. Known as The Lost World, it features some of the most interesting plants such as the following:

carnivorous plants 

American Pitcher Plant (scientific name: Sarracenia species and cultivars)
Sundew (scientific name: Drosera)
Butterwort (scientific name: Pinguicula)
Pitcher Plant (scientific name: Nepenthes cultivars)

orchid - Miltoniopsis cultivars
gesneriad - Stretocarpella
fern -  Adiantum sp.
Rhododendron
Begonia

CLOUD FOREST PART 2

This is the well-known Mulan (木兰) or Magnolia flower. Although the trees look straggly, the fragrant flowers particularly the pink ones, which resemble the lotus, completely overshadow the entire tree.

From inside the mountain, some of the arches were planted with numerous pendulous Lycopodium to soften the hard edges and frame the openings.