Meeting Eleanor

Peter Tan, Wuan, Christine Lee, Dr. Kenji Kuno and Eleanor Lisney
Peter Tan, Wuan, Christine Lee, Dr. Kenji Kuno and Eleanor Lisney.

Eleanor and I met online through our respective blogs. She is a disability consultant based in Coventry, United Kingdom. We have been talking about meeting up for the longest time. The planning to come back here took a while. The infrastructure in Malaysia simply cannot provide her the mobility and independence like those in the UK.

Anyway, we got together last Saturday with Wuan, Christine and Kenji at One World Hotel where we spent a good four hours sharing information and experiences regarding disability issues. We were enlightened on the support and services provided for disabled people in the UK. Thanks Eleanor, for your time and the lovely afternoon tea at the hotel lounge. Here is wishing you a safe journey back.

Year Of The Cat At 1 Utama 2010

The theme for Chinese New Year at 1 Utama Shopping Centre is cats, not just any cat but the famous Maneki Neko from Japan. Wait a minute! There is no cat in the Chinese zodiac. There is a tiger but are they the same? Nevermind that. Being cat persons and being collectors of the Maneki Neko figurines, Wuan and I had fun taking photographs of these giant feline sculptures at the Oval of 1 Utama.

One of the Maneki Neko greeting shoppers at 1 Utama
One of the Maneki Neko greeting shoppers at 1 Utama.

Close up of the Maneki Neko trio at 1 Utama
Close up of the Maneki Neko trio at 1 Utama.

View of the Maneki Neko from the ground floor at Oval 1 Utama
View of the Maneki Neko from the ground floor at Oval 1 Utama.

Peter Tan posing in front of the Maneki Neko at ground floor facing the Oval 1 Utama
Peter Tan posing in front of the Maneki Neko at ground floor facing the Oval 1 Utama.
Photo by Wuan.

The Secret Garden Of 1 Utama

The Secret Garden of 1 Utama
Cacti, succulents and dry-climate plants.

Nature and I have an affinity. Greenery gives me serenity. I like to watch plants grow and bloom. All my life, until I moved into an apartment, I have lived in houses with big gardens. In those gardens, there were herbs, flowering plants, edible plants and even poisonous plants. I also like to watch the insects that the plants attract.

The Secret Garden of 1 Utama
My favourite subject – macro shot of eugenia sp.

Our house has a little garden here in Kuala Lumpur but the limited space is barely sufficient for us to cultivate all the plants we want. Therefore, we were happy beyond words when we discovered that there is a rooftop garden at the new wing of 1 Utama Shopping Centre. There were shrubs and trees there that we would love to have in our garden.

The Secret Garden of 1 Utama
Crown of Thorns – pretty but deadly.

The Secret Garden of 1 Utama, as it is aptly named, is a treasure trove of plants from different regions and altitudes. The printed guide, that is given out free, claims that the garden has “500 species of interesting, rare and unusual plants”. Indeed, there are more plants than I bothered to count. What I like about the Secret Garden is that the landscaping is contiguous and look natural. Many of the plants are also labeled.

The Secret Garden of 1 Utama
Star Calathea – pretty pink flowers.

I would not have believed that there is such an oasis of green just above the hustle and bustle of a busy shopping mall had I not seen it with my own eyes. We have been there three times to photograph the plants and flowers and generally to soak in the natural atmosphere. This is the testament to how much we like this place.

The Secret Garden of 1 Utama
In the pergola looking out to cannas, palms and crotons.

The Secret Garden of 1 Utama is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm. It can be accessed via the two elevators opposite the Rainforest. While photography is allowed, visitors have to adhere to several simple house rules stated at the entrance. This paradise in the city is a must visit for shoppers to 1 Utama. We plan to go there regularly because of its convenient location.

The Secret Garden of 1 Utama
Passion fruit.