Yellow Flame

While driving around Bintulu town this morning I saw lines of Yellow Flame trees ( Peltophorum pterocarpum) that were emblazoned with striking yellow inflorescence's . A considerable number of major roads in Bintulu were planted with Yellow Flame since 20 years ago. Next to the newly renovated Chinese temple in town I saw one very established stand that provided much shade and beauty to the surrounding area. Yellow Flame is also referred to as 'Batai Laut' in Malay and is a native tree to coastal areas of Malaysia, Bintulu included. It has a fast growing habit and mature tress can be planted as instant trees if you wish to enjoy its beauty sooner. Bintulu's sandy, well-drained clayey soils and sunny temperatures are ideal for its growth. Its golden yellow flowers are borne on terminal branches.
The leaves are dark green and its light grey bark is used to dye 'batik' clothes producing a dark brown colour by 'batik' makers in Indonesia especially on the island of Java.
Judging from today's excellent showing I wish more roadsides will be planted with Yellow Flame in future.

Shapely 'Kebaya'

Batik Sarawak with Orang Ulu designs printed in varying patterns and colours.

This morning we paid a visit to India Street upon the insistence of my daughter who will be going back to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow after a ten days break in Sarawak. She wanted to buy the 'kebaya' with Sarawak batik designs on it. The 'kebaya' is a tight fitting dress worn by Malaysian girls and women that to me make them look shapely and very attractive. The blouse is always long sleeved and highly embroidered. The 'sarong' ( long piece of cloth to wrap around the body from the waist) is now being given new lease of life by incorporating Sarawak native designs from the Orang Ulu and Iban ethnic groups.

The voile kebaya blouse matches well with the polyester silk sarong in intricate Orang Ulu design motifs. The Orang Ulu design motifs are derived mainly from their immediate environment like plant life ( e.g. ferns, flowers, leaves, buds, twiners, fruits,etc) and animal forms like lizards, birds, dogs, etc. The sense of movement is achieved by letting the spiral lines flow, connect and merge like Sarawak's many rivers flowing into the open sea.




The middle kebaya on the right is hand painted in contemporary batik style with abstract and free flowing motifs. I love the mixture of colours and the soft texture of the material used.