Article: Connecting with nature

Monday June 8, 2009

By CHRISTINA CHIN

PENANG'S popular Botanic Gardens was busier and merrier than usual yesterday with parents and children going green with the The Star.

Joining in the fun during the Go Green programme were members of the Penang Down Syndrome Association (PDSA), Friends of Children with Heart Disease and St Joseph's Orphanage.

Green Blessings: Adults and children go on nature journey at the Penang Botanic Gardens under The Star;s Go Green programme.

The 300 participants enjoyed a free train ride around the gardens which gave them the chance to marvel at botanical wonders.

The three-hour event also included a nature walk and a talk.

PDSA advisor Dr Sim Joo Seng said the kids were "very excited" when they heard about the trip to the gardens.

Yummy treat: Goon from Cup Cakes Passion Cafe (left) distributing the colurful cupcakes.

Parent Lim Kah In, 38, said the nature activities were fun.

"I hope events like these which allow kids and parents to spend quality time together are organised more often," he said.

His nine-year-old daughter Zhi Yin who suffers from a congenital heart disease said she was "happy" to be at the gardens.

Adorable: Aaron hopes to keep his banana0eating monkey made from icing as a souvenir.

Another parent, David Bakewell, said Go Green was an excellent programme because "people need to get out more often to appreciate nature".

Lim Siew Kim, who attended the talk on garbage enzyme and their uses, found it "interesting".

Nature's gift: Samantha Chee, five, Christine Yew and Ong Paul Sherng, choosing their free plants to take home.

"I will definitely try using at home the enzyme sample given to us," she said.

Parent N. Santha, 37, said her son S. Gautham, 8, was down with flu for five days but insisted on taking part in the event.

"He has not fully recovered but was adamant about turning up since he loves nature," she said.

During the 45-minute walk with members of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS),parents and kids were heard chattering excitedly.

The Go Green programme is organised by The Star as part of its corporate social responsibility with the co-operation of the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and the gardens.

The event's sponsors are B. Braun Medical Industries Sdn Bhd, Queensbay Mall, Penang Sudarshan Kriya Organisation, MNS, Cup Cakes Passion Cafe, Aqua Bike Malaysia, PSA Exhibition Booth and Eng Hock Gardening.

Useful read: Participants lining up to purchase The Star newspaper as well as other company publications.

Star Publications operations regional manager (north) Chung Chok Yin said the company would try to hold such events more often as the response was tremendous.

"On the first day the event was announced, we received 120 registrations — more than our intended quota of 100.

Outdoor education: Ong nooi Yoke,57, and her granddaughter Kylie Goh, four, marvelling at the fruits of the Calabash tree during the nature walk.

Save the earth: A member of the Penang Sudarshan Kriya Organisation giving a talk on garbage enzymes.

"Many also called to take part in the event later but we had to turn them down as we could only cater to a small group this time around.

"We will try to accommodate more people next time since we hope to organise this event regularly," he said.

Chung said besides goodie bags containing food, beverages, educational magazines, soft toys and mugs, each child was also given a plant to take home so that they could "nurture it and watch it grow and be proud of their effort."

Alvin C.Y. Goon from Cup Cakes Passion Cafe — a cupcake bakery — was present with his two business partners to distribute the treats.

Ee Poh Yit, who designed the cupcakes to reflect the theme of the event, said more than 300 cupcakes were used to form a picure of the earth with dolphins, beaches, and adorable cows in a bed of flowers.

"This is my vision of an ideal world — beautiful and pollution-free," she said.

Eight-year-old Aaron Pua Han Xiang, who was eyeing a banana-eating monkey made from icing, said he would freeze and keep the little treasure as a keepsake.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 8 June 2009