Kuala Selangor Nature Park - Silvered Leaf Langurs & Mudskippers

We were very taken by the quiet, gentle nature of the Silvery langurs (Trachypithecus cristatus) at Bukit Melawati, overlooking Kuala Selangor Nature Park. We appreciated that the troupe was there because the of the ready supply of green bananas and bundles of yardlong beans being sold by the hawkers for the tourists to feed to them. The langurs obligingly ate the offerings all up with a quiet, solemn dignity.

The hawkers instructed people how to distribute the greens without causing spats. We wished they were perhaps given a little more training on safeguarding the langurs' well-being, that they might make sure people didn't attempt to stroke the langurs, especially their new born. Perhaps people would better self-regulate themselves if there were information boards explaining how human disease can be transferred to primate populations. Having said this the troupe seemed relaxed and well-fed.

Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP) is a truly heartwarming good-news story. The site was proposed for development as a golf resort in 1987. The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) stepped in and has since been managing it as a nature reserve which encompasses three important habitats a (man-made) brackish lake, mangroves and mudflats surrounded by secondary forest. The site is made accessible to all with a visitor centre, well-maintained paths, boardwalks and bird hides.

We only had time to take a short circular walk around the brackish lake system but saw many beautiful butterflies,a monitor lizard and a couple of Brahminy kites. We had come especially to see the phenomenally charming little critter that is the mudskipper- we'd only once previously seen them in Berlin Zoo. We watched in sheer delight as they skipped and skittered in the mud, posing and parrying in seemingly perpetual territorial friction.

The reserve is a 20km drive from KL and is well worth the visit. To top the trip off we indulged in an excellent fish dinner at a riverside restuarant in Kuala Selangor village where we watched the fishing rigs come in under the evening sun. A big thank you to B and family for treating us.

Section 17 Market

We couldn't get enough of these calamansi, we squeezed them as condiment on spicy dishes or drank them as a refreshing tart drink served crushed in a tall glass with ice, a preserved sour plum and sugar to taste.

The choice of fresh greens at Section 17 market was truly inspirational, we've simply got to try and grow a wider variety of green leafiness. The market is open mornings Tues - Sun.

Old cucumber and chayote - good for soups

Perhaps we ought to try growing and pickling our own mustard greens since we like to eat them so much.

We indulged in a selection of Nyonya kuih.

The oval shaped kuih placed on a piece of banana leaf is an Ang Ku. It is moulded in the shape of a turtle to bring longevity, and is usually coloured red or orange to bring prosperity and good fortune.

At this time of year, Chinese New Year, they are placed on altars as offerings. It is believed the chewy sweet kuih will leave a sweet taste in the deities' mouths and they will bless the New Year with prosperity. The kuih is made of a sweetened mung bean paste centre, wrapped in chewy, sticky glutinous rice flour skin. This kuih was particularly good, the skin thin and not too tough, the paste smooth and soft.

It being Chinese New Year we indulged in nian gao a sticky glutinous rice cake. We think the only ones worth eating are those wrapped in banana leaf because it imparts a subtle flavour.

We ate the nian gao fresh, straight out of the skin, dipped in coarse grated fresh coconut. The cake hardens as it ages when it can be pan-fried coated in egg and flour, for an extra treat it can be sandwiched between slices of purple yam before being coated and pan-fried.

A favourite tropical fruit snack, green guava sprinkled with crushed preserved sour plum.

... and the nutty, caramel flavour of chiku (sapodilla).

This putu mayam, coconut milk rice noodles daubed with gula melaka (coconut palm sugar) became our favourite breakfast.

A trip to @kewgardens to see #KewOrchids.

The grandeur and proliferation of the swathes of orchids, bromeliads and pitcher plants in the curated displays outdid those we remembered from last year. We enjoyed the hunt, of wending our way around the paths of the wet tropics zones and admiring the jewel colours and complexity of the specimen plants, most of all.

We feel we would have liked to have been able to read a little information about the plants on display.

Helleborus thibetanus, discovered in the mountains of Southern China in 1869.

Today's visit was made all the more memorable by the heady scent of the aconites that greeted us on our arrival at Victoria gate, the delicate Helleborus thibetanus in the Davies Alpine House and the trilling of the robins in the sun.

♥ Snow ♥ #londonsnow

#seedysunday Brighton

Our stash to swap.

This was our first jolly to #seedysunday Brighton. We arrived early enough to purchase entrance tickets and get our hands stamped without having to queue so we were surprised to see the hall crowded so soon after opening. Our stash burning in our pockets we shuffled into the throng around the shrine of #seedsovereignty that is the seed swap table and marvelled at the abundance of choice.

We were thrilled by the assortment of stalls, informative stands and schedule of talks (including a spot by Christine Walkden). We were overawed by the offer: heritage rhubarb, snow drops in the green, cyclamen, hellebores, interesting fruit bushes, canes and trees (we spied Chilean guava and quince), wasabi, purple asparagus and artichokes, tubers, garlic and onion sets. We'll have to make plans for next year.

Our haul: we enjoyed picking a motley selection of flower seeds by whim and the flourish of handwritten labels as 'tis written in our 'to do list 2015' that we will try our hand at blooms this year. Frankly, we didn't have the stamina to continue the shuffle around the table to leaf through the boxes of vegetable seeds.

The seed swapping was smoothed by the helpful volunteers immediately to hand who explained the process and pointed out where types of seeds were laid out. If you had seeds to swap you could exchange a packet of your own seed for a packet from the table, if not you could donate 50p per packet.

Another of our 'to do list 2015' directives: 2nd Early: Shetland Black, early main: Vitellote & Salad Blue, main: Mayan Gold, late main: Kerris Pink. We indulged in the profuse pick and mix assortment of tubers from @Pennard Plants. Oh joy!

We learnt a great deal and endeavour to collect seeds with intent this year - not only for landrace and largesse but to swap for lots and lots and LOTS of lovely flowerage and herbage for Plot 57b.

A big thank you to @SeedySundayBton for organising such a profound event.

Counting Beans For #seedysunday Barter