Around the NCKU campus there are these gigantic banyan trees. They must be about 100 feet in diameter and about 100 feet tall. They're all over the campus and provide shade from the sun and shelter from the rain. You can see some of the picnic tables under these trees.
You have to get way back to get one in a single shot.
This is a shot of the same one from the opposite site.
The Banyan tree is a fig tree without a single trunk but a trunk of runners built up over the years. Supposedly in Taiwan there is Banyan tree more than 240 years old. That is a tree that experienced the Qing Dynasty.
Here are the runners.
For the branches to reach 50+ feet from the "trunk", they have to be massive. They have a sinusoidal curve to distribute the load.
I usually think of a good topic for a blog entry and then create a folder for pictures on my computer. When over the weeks I have enough good pictures I write about that topic.
Although moon cakes are the traditional snack for the Mid Autumn Moon Festival, I have yet to meet anyone who likes moon cakes. I know that no one in my class of 11 likes them. I guess it's like Christmas fruit cake, a tradition but nobody likes it.
One of the fruits I tried before was like a pamello, it is called "youzi". We had some at the Chinese Language School party today. It turns out that it is a traditional fruit for Zhong Qui Jie. You can cut the skin and remove it in one piece and then use it as a hat. I'll try to make a hat and show you next time.
Pamello is sold at Costco but it's yellow and looks like a big grapefruit.
4 comments:
Both you and I like pamello very much. We bought a lot last year since it was tasty and sweet. Now you can eat it to your heart's content.
In Maui, there is a big Banyan tree in downtown Lahaina. I guess it must the Pacific area tree. What is the Chinese name?
Moon cakes come with different kinds from different regions. All the ones you had are probably Cantonese style. The Taiwanese style is different.It also looks differnt. It has white cover and usually do not have egg yok. They usually come with not too much packages, no boxes. You should try it. The new style of the moon cakes even have ice cream in it.
Your blog today makes me think of Hawaii, too. I remember seeing many banyan trees there. I never knew, though, that they are fig trees and didn't know the name of the curve that allows them to grow branches so wide. I always appreciate your descriptions--I learn something new each time I read your blog.
I am curious about moon cakes now. I'll google and see what different ingredients are in them. Maybe I'll make some and let you know how they turn out. Larry might like them with vice cream on them.
After looking at the picture, I know what the Chinese name is. It is on your first picture. It called "Zron" tree. It appeared in many Chinese stories and poems too.
Mike - I have to tell you that Lyle really likes fruit cake. I often get him one at Christmas--but then, he likes lutefisk too, so there's no accounting for taste. Mary
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