Writer’s Workshop: Some Fruits this Spring

Dominique Parenting and Kids, Thoughts mama kat's writers workshop, Talkative Thursdays, thursday two questions

Water Apples

We don’t really experience Spring or the four seasons staying here in the tropics. It is either hot and humid or wet and humid. However during different times of the year there are different types of fruits in season.

During our recent road trip to Malaysia we brought the kids to the Desaru Fruit Farms. Being City kids they have yet to experience how it is like to be at a farm and see fruits still growing on the tree. Most of their encounters with fruit is based on seeing them neatly packed or stacked in boxes when we visit the supermarket.

Pomelo

We saw a variety of seasonal fruits at the farm. I didn’t manage to snap many pictures of the different fruits as there was a heavy downpour while we were on the fruit farm tour and had to run for shelter to wait till the rain subsided before continuing with the tour. Certain fruits were not in season so I didn’t manage to see the fruit on the tree as yet.

If you think that this Pomelo in the picture above look huge wait till you look at the jack fruit in the next photo which I snapped.

Jack fruit

This jack fruit weighed approximately 30kg and was considered medium sized. The guide told us that it is possible for the fruit to weigh up to 60kg or more.

Dragon Fruit

This is one fruit which I love to eat. It looks similar to kiwi inside and is soft and juicy. I have used this fruit as a topping for a chocolate cake which I baked once. The color of the fruit is really vibrant.

Thousand finger banana (Banana Musa)

Each banana on this long stalk is only 1 1/2″ long. This banana is mainly use for prayers instead of being eaten. Have you seen this type of banana before?

What fruits have you been eating?

What is your favourite?

March 13, 2013

Writer’s Workshop: WeiQi Anyone?

Dominique Parenting and Kids, Thoughts mama kat's writers workshop, talkative thursday

Wei Qi on a board

When I was in school I never had the chance to learn this game of GO (Wei Qi). This game is more then a normal game of black and white seeds which covered a checkered board. I never learnt this game when I was in school. It would be great as I would could have picked up 6 skills just from this game.

It is a game which teaches the following.

The importance of using strategies.
How to be patient.
Photographic memory by studying and reflecting on how to place the pieces optimally on the board.
How to guard and protect your territory.
Perseverance
Learn to be gracious and accept defeat while learning to be stronger.

During the weekend the boys chanced upon a WeiQi workshop while we were at the library. We signed them up on the spot for them to attend when we heard there were still some slots available as some registered participants did not turn up.

Starting off the game

We were given a brief introduction to the history of the game. It originated 4000 years ago from China but was made popular by the Japanese. This day the Koreans are the masters of this game and they even have a degree for it at one of their universities.

Deliberating where to put his piece

It was the first time that the boys are being introduced to the game and couldn’t wait to get started playing it. It wasn’t as simple as it seems and it took some time for them to get to know the basics of how to execute the game.

Monkey boy thinking where to put his seed next.

Doggie boy got rather exasperated as he kept losing the game to the elder brother. After some time he called it quits as he couldn’t figure out how to “overpower” his brother in the game. I too found it frustrating as R was paired up with Monkey boy and he does have some prior experience playing the game as compared to Doggie boy and me.

We decided that it was a good introduction that they had to this strategy game and we will certainly purchase a set for them to try out again at home as a family.