my little teenie tiny fish pond

When I was working in Brunei in 1996,there was a fish pond outside my work place. In the evening, when the sun set, it was lovely to stand outside the compound feeding the little fish and watching them coming up to get their food.

  Now in 2019, after my tiny garden was created, I decided to make a small fish pond.

So these days mostly in the early evening when the sun set and the 

atmosphere gets cooler, it is lovely to sit outside my garden with a good cup of tea, and watching my little pond with its inmates to enjoy the evening

Tiny DIY fish pond😁

Items for a 32inches X 14 inches shallow fish pond: 

Blue canvas sheet 32 “ x  45”

Orange bricks X 10 pieces for the inside layout

Orange bricks X 12 pieces for the outer layout

1 pail of water (preferable rain water)
water filter pump less than Rm5
 A few white stones for decoration Rm3.50 a container bought from stone shop
A few pots of indoor plants and some wild hyacinth plants ( from my garden)

Method:

1.   Lay the 10 pieces of bricks and arrange them as shown in the picture below.


2. Place the 32" X 45 " blue canvas over the brick and neatly created a space for water to be filled in later.

3. Place the remaining 12 bricks for the outer layer to secure the canvas. Once water is filled into the space it will automatically secure the canvas. You have an option whether you want to trim off the excess blue canvas. I just leave as it is and you can add white pebbles to make it look more beautiful and at the same time covering the  excess blue canvas.

4. Add water. Preferably rain water because tap water contains chlorine. If there is no rain water, you can use tap water. Leave over night in a bucket or add anti chlorine solution for fish tank will help.
5. Position the pump and add in the white stones and  indoor plants.
6. Leave the water in the pond for at least 24 hours
7. The next day when the fishes are ready , leave the fish inthe bag floating in the water for at least 30 mins for fish to adjust to water temperature in the pond

   

 

When my fish pond was completed, I put some indoor plants,given to me by

 my friends to make it look pretty. They do look good around the pond😊😊😉😉

The 7 little fishes were still alive, actually they have reproduced!!

"

In August 2019, the 20th, I began to notice there were little tiny baby fishes in my little pond. My little fishes multipied!!!😁😁😁

It's exciting to see tiny little baby fishes swimming in the pond.😍😍

A paddy field within our city

One fine day, in August 2019, I was using a new route for the first time to the airport. It is the "Bongoong Kodundungan Ganang road" . On the way, I came upon a beautiful paddy field that caught my eye. This field had been there all along, yet I never knew about it. It was the second batch of planting of the year. One of the farmers told me, they plant the rice twice a year and harvest in April/May and end of November.

I googled to learn more about this paddy field. According to the Borneo Post news in 2015, the ex District Officer, Luvita Koisun had  to put up with criticisms from those who didn't support or understand her reasons for wanting the paddy fields to remain as they were.  

Thanks to her, at least we can now witness a paddy field right in the middle of our city, just 5 minutes drive from the airport.

On the 25th September 2016, the area Kodundungan was declared a Paddy Conservation area. Phew😅! At least the area would not be converted into high buildings with shopping malls or condominium! That would spoil the nature's beauty.

I have visited many countries before and I have never seen any paddy fields within the cities, including Thailand. You need to go further from the city into the interior or remote places to see one while in Singapore, you can't even find one at all .😂😂😂

I salute those villagers who still kept their fields and preserve them.

When I was a child, my parents' house was facing a Paddy field, Kg Ganang Kepayan.

 Now that field has become a housing estate. How sad😢. We must encourage those who still have their paddy fields that it is important they remain as they are, especially the city area. 

Not only paddy helps to feed our country as its our staple food but for the tourist, the sight of a paddy field has a beautiful panoramic view. The sight is as equally beautiful as the lakes and snow-capped mountains in Scotland. It's a breath taking view.

View of the rice field from the road side near a big shopping mall at Penampang

The above is one of the most beautiful Paddy field views at Kampung Kodundungan. The wind blowing the paddy, swaying in the field has a calming relaxing effect on me😊.

Every 31st May is a harvest festival day which the native Kadazan dusun celebrate as thanksgiving to the rice gods after harvest and egrets will be flying about the fields, looking for left over paddy. 

Years ago the buffalos (kerbau) used to plough the fields but now due to high tech, they are replaced by machines.

 

A short video of the Paddy swaying when the wind was blowing😊

 A short video of  the rice field at sunrise early in the morning, along the Bongoong Kodundungan Ganang road just 5 minutes to airport.

I was lucky to take  this video when the haze had not started yet and the sky was so clear and blue.

Road passing by a rice field early in the morning before sun rise.

Every morning, when the sun comes out, the paddy field is still a good sight to view ,even on cloudy day.

The 4 pictures below were taken within a minute difference when the sun was coming out in the morning in August 2019. How fast the views change when the sun came out, shining on the rice fields

 This time of the month was when the paddy plants were going to produce rice soon.

It's 17th Sept 2019 - Haze from Kalimantan started to spread to this area too. It covered the sun at 11am in the morning, spoiling the morning fresh air. Haizzz....How sad😥!

Paddy beginning to show in the fields😃😃💪

At this time, the farmers put out pieces of cloth or plastic to chase the birds away which were feeding on the paddy before harvest.

Scarecrows were set up to scare birds away from the field where the rice are growing.

18.9.2019

The haze spoiled the beautiful view of the rice field but it didn't stop me from visiting often😜

Nature is wonderful - the egrets, the green paddy field and the hills💓

Look at the Egrets! Eying at the rice field😁

Egret taking flight 

 It's lovely to watch the egrets flying so freely and gracefully

 machine to harvest the paddy.

Paddy collected to be transported to factory for packing .

These rice from the field are grown, packed and sold only for the local consumers.

Egrets all over the fields, taking their chances to feed on the left over Paddy after the harvest.

Lately, a friend posted me her beautiful padi field from Tambunan. It was so beautiful that I couldn't help not posting it here to share. 

Thank you Flora and Florida, for contributing such a lovely photo of the Padi field in Tambunan 🙏

A simple Fried rice ( 1-2 person) using "rocket stove".



Those who had read the story I wrote about "Rocket stove" with a recipe on fried noodle will know what i mean. For those who haven't, no worries, just click "Rocket stove" and it will link you in.😊

Ingredients:

a bowl of cooked rice (preferably a few days old to a week rice)

Diced red & yellow pepper and chopped spring onions.
Crushed garlic.

Steamed sweet corn

 

1-2 eggs beaten

cooking oil, soya sauce, pepper and salt

Method

1. Add little oil and fry the beaten egg into omelette, then sliced thinly and keep aside.


2. Heat oil in another wok, Add chopped garlic and fry till fragrant and slightly brown

3. Add the vegetable (red, yellow pepper and spring onions) and fry till cooked. 

Add prawns/sliced meat if desire. 

4. Add rice and fry for a min or two.
5. Add seasoning.

Add sliced omelette and stir fried for another min in slow fire
Garnished with chopped coriander leaves and sweet corns

Serve hot.

Labuan by road and ferry- Part 2

4 days 3 nights trip 

Compare to Part 1, this chapter is mainly about updates for any new changes in Labuan and the journey by road/ferry. 

We revisited Labuan using the same route but on a different ferry on the 23rd July 2019. The ferry Wawasan Perdana as mentioned in Part one was replaced by Galaxy which will depart by 11.30am.
A friend advised the Bongawan route to Kuala Penyu and then all the way to Menumbok. But I felt more comfortable using the previous familiar route and that was by the Limbangan road. I didn't want to risk getting lost, which may have meant we may miss the ferry.  I did though try that route on our way back to KK. My conclusion and review of using the other route is at the end of this story😜.

There were some changes in menumbok compared to the trip which we took in 2013..( Labuan by road and ferry Part1 )

The big car park is now controlled by the security to only allow cars to board onto the ferry. I mean that was good . otherwise every tom dick and harry parks there, and hinder those who need to go on the ferry.

 

New management in car park with a public toilet which was not there before in 2013. To use the loo is 50 sen

As usual, it's better to book the ticket early before going. It's risky to book only when you reach the Ferry Terminal, unless you don't mind driving for one and half hours and then find it's fully booked.

You can call 087831045 to book the ticket and then pay the ticket at the ferry point in Menumbok.

Give the info of the car and necessary documents like your IC or passport.

The fare for my car with driver was 40 Ringgits. And return is Rm80.

Each passenger in the car is Rm2.50 for locals.

Then I had to pay tax of Rm14 from Menumbok to Labuan. From Labuan no tax needed.

Compile all the tickets and tax receipt to show to the ferry staff before boarding the ferry.

Those who fancy a speed boat can go for this counter. It only takes 30 mins to arrive in Labuan from Menumbok but my friend who tried it once said she would rather go with the ferry even if it took one and half hour to arrive. The description of her experience - a horrible one. The boat was so fast she felt like throwing up in the boat and it's scary😨😱

The fare for speed boat for Local is Rm 9.70 while Non local is Rm17.20

Some things never change since 2013 - The cafe. If possible, get your breakfast or lunch before arrival, try to eat before arrival. Food and drink at this small shop was very expensive.

Coconut with gula melaka bun Rm 2.60

a bottle of coke RM 2.80.

and ice 50sen! 

 

Arrival of our ferry at 10am sharp

Ferry point

Betsy on the way to Labuan😂

Passenger boarding the speed boat on different wing of the terminal

South China Sea was calm. The sky was so clear unlike our trip in 2013 which was hazy.

The 2 tips are seperated by South China Sea- Looks near yet unreachable by land.

Left is the sight of Labuan island and the right is tip of Kg Lambidan near Menumbok

Passing by another car ferry from Labuan to Menumbok

Daat Island (Pulau Daat)

Sight of Labuan

Familiar sight as in year 2013

Dorsett Hotel and the Financial building

We arrived at Labuan Ferry Terminal at 1pm. We stopped by at KFC to have our lunch before we proceeded to Siang Homestay, our favourite accommodation during our stay in Labuan.

   The impression Siang Homestay has left us, made us come back. We hadthe same room.

The internet was so fast, it’s as good as in Singapore. thumbs up for the cleanliness and internet speed👍 but you need a car. This place is suitable for those who have a car, rented or your own😊

Our favourite room- the twin bedded. the old-style bed and dressing table. The bed sheets and blanket and pillow were very clean. The freshness of the sheet determines the cleanliness of the place. The whole place including toilet was spotless.

Double bed for one or two person




Room for 3-5 people 

Reception and TV hall

Iron and ironing board

Little library with books, magazines and PC

Another sitting area of the other wing

Wet Kitchen for guests



Pantry for guest with Free flow of coffee and tea


Rice cooker and basic kitchen stuff for guest to use. 

Dining area for guests and an outside guests fridge for food

Washing machine and hanging lines for guest - only need to get your own laundry soap

Outdoor and smoking area

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Spotless clean toilet/ shower room

Parking space for guests with car

After we settled at the homestay, we drove back to town to do some window shopping😂

After that, went for dinner at a Mortar Cafe in town

Nasi Kerabu

XO fried rice

Fried Tuaran Mee Rm

24th July 2019- our 2nd day

On our 2nd day we drove to Victoria hawker stall for breakfast which was only 2 mins drive from the homestay

Rm5 for chicken and century egg porridge

Dim Sum Rm5 each

Fried Kway Teo Rm 5

After breakfast we went to town and became shopping maniac

We parked in Labuan town and parking cost 50 sen an hour .

We did some more shopping for liquor

 

Beer Rm58 (small can) & Rm78 (big can) per carton!!
Shandy (4 in a pack)  Rm 5.40 

 Labuan market which we skip on this trip. We visited once in 2013, nothing much to see there.

We stopped by Fisherman harbour restaurant for Lunch. I ordered a bowl of fish slice noodles. It's in the same building as AZ hotel.

The fish was not fresh like the ones we had in our home town. It's a bit over rated as advertised at trip advisor

but still there were quite a lot of customers.

Rm25 for a bowl of fish slice noodle in soup

I like the way Spoon, forks, chopstick soaked in hot water.

Apart from Fisherman Harbour restaurant, secret recipe cafe was also in the same building as AZ hotel

AZ Hotel.

Labuan still can get old stuff like this comb, white cake powder

old school razor and blade

Bought a bottle of Glenfiddich on the 2nd day

and some sweets and chocolate

Then we went for dinner at Welcome Lee restaurant.

Braised pork ribs

Fried rice

Sweet sour fish slice

Prawn in salad sauce

Homemade tau foo and the dinner cost us Rm121.30😅

3rd day in Labuan

Our 3rd day was mainly the beach after bird park.

Small bird park . Not many birds but a few good ones worth visiting

Ostrich

The golden pheasant.

After our visit to the bird park, we continued to the beach because it was on the same route.

The best time to take pictures was around 3pm. The scenery was magnificent. 

One of Labuan's beach - Pancur Hitam Beach

a drive to the united nation beach around 6pm

Esplanade on the beach.

Last day in Labuan:

Went for breakfast at this fish ball stall

Stop by at the Ferry international terminal and did some shopping at the duty-free shops

But still it's cheaper to buy from the normal shop. 

After that, we drove to the beach. 

We never seem to get bored with the drive to the beach because we repeatedly went there 😅.

A drive to the united nation beaches. Amazing nature how the branches of the trees bend to meet the other branches across the road, making it look like a canopy😂😯😮

We just love passing by these beautiful fascinating trees. 

A short video drive at the beach

We end our journey to another beach in front of Tiara Hotel

Had tea at the hotel and then a stroll on the beach.

Dim Sum at Tiara Hotel

After tea, we went for an evening stroll at the beach in front of Tiara hotel.

late evening sight of the beach in front of Tiara hotel. 

A short video of the beach in front of Tiara Hotel

We seemed to like the Mortar cafe because we came back for dinner again for the last night in Labuan.

This time we just had a simple meal because we late Tea at Tiara hotel😁. 

Departure day : Labuan ferry point

White building was the Public Bank to the right was the HSBC.Facing HSBC was the KFC

GoodWill Ferry to Brunei

Express Kinabalu passenger ferry to Kota Kinabalu city. about three and half hours journey. 

a glimpse of water village in Labuan

It was packed on the way back to Menumbok.

Good bye Labuan, We don't know when we will be back again😢.

The ferry scheduled to depart at 8.30am and so we arrived at Menumbok in time by 10am.
Since we arrived early at 10am we decided to drive from Menumbok to Kuala Penyu then to Main Highway A2 all the way to KK.

There isn't much to see though at Kuala Penyu. A small town with a row of old shop houses on one side and the new shop houses on the other. But at least we know what the place looked like.

We arrived at our home town by lunch. Stopped by Mac Donald's, grab a simple lunch before reaching home. 

 

Compared to our trip to Labuan in 2013, we spent more this time😜😜😜

As for using the familair road (Limbangan route) or the new coastal one (Kuala Penyu route) as advised by my friend, the coastal road is narrower and more isolated than the Limbangan route. My conclusion: I feel more comfortable using the familiar road and that's  Limbangan route.