I was able to save more than two hundred dollars in my recent travel to Kuala Lumpur from the Philippines. Instead of boarding up for the week in a cheap hotel, I discovered the week prior to my leave that an old friend had migrated and taken an expatriate status in the Bangsar area of Kuala Lumpur, one of the better-looking districts of Malaysia’s capital. We weren’t really close to go out of our ways to see one another outside work but we were close enough to share a few rounds of alcohol.
So she told me to give her a ring when I arrived in Malaysia. From the Philippines I took a flight to Singapore for a conference and took the bus to Kuala Lumpur, a good five hour drive down the long highway connecting Singapore to KL. She had offered me her place to stay for the week long vacation I decided to take this opportunity to extend my escape from the Philippines, as I still fondly remember. As it turns out she would be leaving (for Singapore, also for a conference) and really didn’t mind entrusting her place to me for the time being. I would jokingly call myself “her kept man." This was probably the kindest gesture someone ever did for me and there I was, in one of the nicest condominiums in KL for an entire week.
And it took days for me to figure out what to give her in return. You see the catch was that my flight to the Philippines and her flight back didn’t coincide. I would be left leaving an empty condominium, dropping the key into the drop box in the administrator’s office for her to pick up a day after I left.
I usually spent afternoons in the coffee shop a good five minutes away from the condo and right beside it a grocery store where I’d get my cereals for the day and wine for the night. Part of my “returning home gift" for her included me restocking her pantry with cereals, cheese, bread and a bottle of house wine. But there was still something missing. Looking around the furnished condo I knew I was missing that special touch. And then it dawned on me as I glanced at the counter near the television. I ran back to the grocer and picked up a fresh batch of assorted flowers. Back in the condo, I emptied the vase of old water with withered flowers and replaced them. Good as new, her place now had that special touch.
Days later she leaves me a message on the computer saying she was very thankful for the pantry gesture - and especially gleeful about the floral arrangement in the living room. It’s a great feeling to know that you can make someone so happy even when you are so far away. Since she moved in, this was the first time that vase’s contents were replaced.
The Philippines is renowned as one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The tropical archipelago is well-known for its beautiful tourist spots, beautiful people, and of course---beautiful flowers! There are several unique species that can be found only in the Philippines. These exotic flowers grow almost anywhere in the hot and moist environment of the country, from well-trimmed hedges to the natural setting of the countryside to the wild, vacant lots smack in the middle of the metropolis.
One of the most distinctive flowers that can be found in the Philippines is what is locally known as the sampaguita. It is the national flower of the country due to its popularity among the natives and its deep involvement in the local culture and traditions. Its American name is Arabian Jasmine while its botanical term is jasminum sambac, being a species of jasmine with small, white, heavily-scented flowers indigenous in South Asia, specifically in Southeast Asia. Its distinctive fragrance is one that is known by every Filipino. In fact, the flower is so popular that it is usually sold on the streets stringed together like a necklace to use as a cheap car air freshener or as a tribute to statues of saints in Churches and in homes. It grows almost anywhere, loving the heat, and does not require a lot of fussing.
Another exotic flower found in the Philippines is the hibiscus or rosemallow which in the vernacular is called gumamela. The shrub is a popular ornamental plant in the country with brightly-colored, five-petaled blooms in red, yellow, pink, purple, white, orange, and various other color combinations. Aside from being an ornamental plant grown in most gardens and hedges in the country, it is also used as a medicinal plant. Gumamela leaves and flowers are used to treat coughs, fever, dysentery, UTI, headaches, swelling, bronchitis, high blood and other common maladies. There are very few flowers in the Philippines cannot equal the medicinal value of the Gumamela.
The ylang-ylang flower is a small, greenish yellow flower which has petals that extend like a starfish. The name is derived from either two Tagalog words----ilang, or ?wilderness?, and ilang-ilan, or ?rare? It is widely known for its essential oil used in aromatherapy, lowering blood pressure, treating skin problems and as an aphrodisiac.
The sampaguita, gumamela and ylang-ylang are only some of the most popular exotic flowers in the Philippines. There are virtually thousands of other unique flowers that serve to highlight the breathtaking beauty of the Philippines. It may be a small country, but flowers in the Philippines are some of the best and most captivating in the world.
Timothy Spencer has sinced written about articles on various topics from Arts, Gardening and Entertainment Guide. About the Author:This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - . We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit ou. Timothy Spencer's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.