early

I am not an early bird by nature. But necessity finds me up before the sun rises on most days (I drive Loving Husband to school so I can have the car – he likes to be in school round about 7am). Despite being heavy-eyed, I do enjoy my runs & walks before the heat becomes uncomfortable.

The Yellow Simpoh, or Simpoh Air, caught my eye on a morning jaunt in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

This is what Yellow Simpoh fruit looks like, if you find it early enough, before they split.

Ambling past, I did a double take and had to retrace my steps: there seemed to be both yellow flowers and pink flowers on the very same plant.

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Upon closer examination, what first appeared to be the pink flower was actually the fruit split open.

Upon googling, I discovered that Yellow Simpoh is a plant native to Singapore. Its large leaves are used to wrap tempeh for fermentation, and in more gentler times, as a coned receptacle for traditional “fast foods” like rojak. The things I learn when I am up early enough.

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This post is my contribution to One Word Sunday: Early hosted by Debbie at TravelWithIntent.