My new iMac has arrived.

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Just wanted to give a shoutout that last Wednesday (18 May) I got my new Imac 27". It comes with an Intel Core i5, 2.7 GHz quad-core, 8 GB of RAM and hard drive capacity 1 TB.

I've copied everything over now and everything is going smoothly.

Click on the above photo for high-res image2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with 6MB on-chip shared L3 cache.

Little Heron displays Fishing Tactics

I spotted this Little Heron (Butorides striatus) in the shallows of a lake in Japanese Garden, Singapore, and watched it stealthily, stalk around on the hunt for small fishes. This bird thinks critically just like a human to catch fish. It uses a piece of bread as bait to lure the fish within range for it to prey on.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageCrouching motionless, it waits to ambush its prey.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageUses a piece of bread as bait to capture fish.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe neck extended to make a swift strike at the fish.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageResumes crouching position and wait for the next fish victim.

The Pelican Flower

Aristolochia grandiflora - or Pelican Flower - is a herbaceous vine with heart-shaped leaves that is native to the Caribbean. It is commonly known as the Pelican Flower because its unopened bud resembles a sleeping pelican.
The flower buds open early in the morning and the flowers only last for roughly 12 hours. They emit a foul smell and attract flies which are their natural pollinators. The opened flower has a brownish-purple background that is covered with a complicated network of white veins which radiate outwards from the central, intensely dark purple throat towards the edge of the lobe.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageFrontal view of the spectacular, foul smelling flower. Heart-shaped, about a foot long and 8 inches wide. As added adornment, a foot-long, slender tail hangs from the flower.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe name "Pelican flower" was given to Aristolochia grandiflora because its unopened bud resembles a sleeping pelican.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageWhen the flower opens it emits a somewhat foul odor. The flies, attracted to the smell of the open bloom, alight on the inner walls of the flower, which then closes, trapping the flies inside until the male flower has matured.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageA close-up view of the bloom showing a pollinating fly inside the open flower.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe high climbing plant with heart-shaped leaves up to 10 in. (25.4 cm) long.

Plucking the Greens 采青, Chinatown 2011

From Wikipedia: During Chinese New Year, lion dance troupes will visit homes or businesses to perform what is called “plucking the greens” (採青 – cǎi qīng), a quest by the 'lion' to pluck the auspicious greens normally 'vegetables' like lettuce which in Chinese is called 'cái' (菜) that sounds like 'cái' (财) (fortune) and auspicious fruits like oranges tied to a "Red Envelope" (known as Hóng Bāo in Mandarin, Ang Pao in Min Nan, Lai See in Cantonese) containing money either hung high up or just placed on a table in front of the premises. The lion will dance and approach the "green" and "Red Envelope" like a curious cat, to "eat the green" and "spits" it out leaving the peeled oranges in a nice arrangement like some auspicious Chinese characters but keeps the "Red Envelope". The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the business and the troupe is rewarded with the "Hóng Bāo".

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThese musicians are members of the Singapore Chin Woo Athletic Association (新加坡精武體育會), one of the oldest troupes in Singapore. They accompany the lion dancers, playing gongs, cymbals and drums. Every gesture made by the lion dancer is choreographed to a particular beat in the music.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageLion dancers getting ready to perform the Cai Ching ritual of plucking the greens at a storefront in Trengganu Street, Chinatown.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageSome dramatic head thrusts to the sound of drums and gongs.
Shake it to the left, shake it to the right . . .

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe Lion made great use of its prancing legs in its dance.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageBefore approaching the Greens, the Lion has to move about cautiously to ensure a safe path to the lucky green.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe ‘Greens’ (or the “food” for the lion) is usually presented to the Lions together with a "Red Packet" ( Ang Pow) and some oranges.

Click on the above photo for high-res imagePeeled oranges spat out by the Lion were arranged into auspicious Chinese characters -吉祥如意 ( ji xiang ru yi ) which literally means "Good fortune as one wishes; good luck and happiness to you". Thanks to かつ なが for the translation.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageA close-up view of the Southern Lion's head.