Blog
4/26/2017 9:17:13 PM
The hibiscus flower has been used as a healing and cleansing tea for centuries. It is also the state plant of Hawaii, represents Haiti and it’s the national plant of South Korea and Malaysia. In the Hindu religion, it is often depicted as the flower merging into the Goddess Kali and is offered as a symbol of love to Kali and Ganesh. I am seeing so many different species here in Malaysia, more than I knew existed even while living in Hawaii and California, where this plant grows prolifically. The tea is made mostly from the flowers, the scientific name being Hibiscus sabdariffa. It may be recognized as being called Rosella in parts of the world also.
The many ailments hibiscus tea can help with can be from common ailments to more serious issues. The tea can help with digestion and inflammation; it is a diuretic so can help to flush the body. The immune system gets a boost with the Vitamin C content, there are also flavonoids which act as an antidepressant. The flower contains an acid called protocatecheuic acid that creates in the body apoptosis, programmed cell death, which helps to slow the growth of tumor and cancerous cells. It is a bitter taste and similar to cranberry so you may want to add a sweetener and some spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg or ginger root slices! It is delicious hot or cold and can bring down the temperature of someone with a high fever or even after exercise. Some research studies have concluded that hibiscus tea can lower cholesterol which helps to keep type II diabetes under control. It is a wonder flower of beauty and elegance, found in many countries around the world. From ancient days to modern ways, hibiscus tea can find a place in our tea cupboards and drinking mugs with low cost, easy preparation and enjoyable tea drinking days in the heat or cold. Be vibrant, be alive and be floral! If the colour alone doesn’t make you feel good, the product from the flower certainly will!
4/25/2017 9:54:02 PM
Tomorrow is my last day on Tioman Island, I am capturing a few of the local hibiscus flowers with my coloured pencils while enjoying some cool hibiscus tea. There are many medicinal qualities to this plant which I’ll list in an easy to read fashion on my health blog, Health, Happiness & Harmony, which can be located from “links” in the navigation bar, or, if you have facebook, I will be posting it there, top left link on my website. The hibiscus is a dear flower to me being the state flower of Hawaii so I am delighted to know it has received the attention it deserves here in Malaysia. When Malaysia received her independence after a long period of colonial rule in 1957, there was a call to vote on what should be the national flower. Among them were ylang ylang, rose, lotus, frangipani, jasmine and bunga taniung (a medium sized evergreen tree). In 1960 hibiscus rosa sinensis was chosen. The main reasons are that it blooms year round, grows everywhere without much cultivation or care and the large red petals are very eye-catching. In the rural areas, the locals use it a hedges and protectorates against the weather due to the sturdiness of the bushes. It was also chosen due to the 5 petals representing Rukun Negara, Malay for National Principles, which I list below.
I went to the Hibiscus Garden in Kuala Lumpur last month and enjoyed all the varieties to be seen, I will be back in KL for 5 days coming April 28th 2017 and am looking forward to a bit of city again before heading off to Sabah-Borneo for the month of May!
Rukun Negara
WHEREAS OUR COUNTRY, MALAYSIA nurtures the ambitions of:
- Achieving a more perfect unity among the whole of her society;
- Preserving a democratic way of life;
- Creating a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a fair and equitable manner;
- Guaranteeing a liberal approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions; and
- Building a progressive society that will make use of science and modern technology.
WE, HER PEOPLES, pledge our united efforts to attain these ends guided by these principles:
- BELIEF IN GOD
- LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
- UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION
- RULE OF LAW
- GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY
4/20/2017 9:39:27 PM
To take the time to “see” the variety of colour in nature you “think” you’ve seen can reward you with a contemplative afternoon that can spread into a lifetime. The blues of the skies, the greens of the gardens. Paying attention to the details in nature can help to ignite your awe and wonder at life, or renew it. At the moment, I am in Malaysia and pineapples are everywhere. The name of pineapple is believed to of been given in the 17th century due to the likeness of pine cones. The diamond pattern and colours on the outside of the pineapple are intriguing. I love all the varieties of greens, yellows, browns, purples and oranges! The fruit is a composite of coalesced berries that grow at the top of a fruiting tree and is a member of the Bromeliaceae family. A native to Paraguay and Brazil, it is now known throughout the world. Not only yummy to eat, there is a high level of vitamins and minerals including potassium, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, beta carotene, thiamine, B6, and folate, as well as soluble and insoluble fiber, and bromelain.
The pineapple is often depicted as a message of welcome and hospitality, hence carved pineapples on table legs in the kitchen or above doorways. The fruit is often carved creatively at receptions or in welcoming buffets when visiting foreign lands. During the colonization periods pineapple became like sugar because of the cost of importing it, a commodity of privilege. In this day and age we can all experience the privilege of having pineapple in our diets, even in canned forms! Of course I would always recommend fresh fruit when you can and summer will be upon us soon if living in the northern hemisphere, if not, fresh frozen comes next. Contemplation of the details around you can be a lesson in paying attention, being aware. Noticing things with fresh eyes and recognizing the beauty all around us seen in the minutest items can be awe-inspiring!
This small “observation” (6”x 9”) was made with watercolour pencils. This is a wonderful medium to work with because with the tip of a pencil you can really “dive into” the item you are studying with the smallest of colour tones, then slightly blend it with a watercolour brush and water! These kind of creative “practices” can lead one to see better what is truly in front of you and be aware of things that might have been “hidden” before…
4/7/2017 3:29:23 AM
Even though I work for myself and there is no outer time pressure (in general), the lifestyle I have created for myself does take continued vigilance as to how I spend my time, what projects to go forth with and which ones to let drop by the wayside for now. Remembering to sometimes have an "empty space" can always be a jump start to fresh paths. This photo is a representation of my inner self, the shadow, in "the brilliance of the Malaysian Sea as I accept the gifts brought to me" and burst inside with energies anxious to come forth. As I am into the 1st week of my island hopping time for the month of April, I am creating fresh ideas for writing and painting, educational ideas and sharing. The ocean always brings me loads of energy and creativity, it truly is like coming home. I'll be immersed in the rain forest after this come May set up for some good 2-4 months of "production-time", so I am swimming, sunning, reading, writing, biking, yoga-ing, sipping tea slowly as I watch the sunset...just allowing thoughts to develop.
