If
you type these words, "tree of life meaning" on your search engine, you
will find many different meanings to it. Tree of life can be
related to religion, biology, literature, sculpture and even movies!
Reading these different references of tree of life can be so complicated and leading to deeper confusion. And so I found a true meaning of tree of life by chance in a simpler way, on a lucky drizzly morning.
Reading these different references of tree of life can be so complicated and leading to deeper confusion. And so I found a true meaning of tree of life by chance in a simpler way, on a lucky drizzly morning.
Tree of life from afar |
Can you see the blobs? Can you count them? |
Closer still... I bet you can see them now. I counted about sixteen altogether on this tree |
The closest object my camera can zoom into |
From the angle I was standing looking at this tree of life, I counted about sixteen Great Hornbills (Buceros bicornis) having an enjoyable time feasting away. There were no other disturbances on that morning.
The
great whooping sound of the wings as they flapped, hopping from a
branch to another. Plucking a fig gently and tossing into the air before
diving into the throat of a Great Hornbill was a wonderful snapshot
that will stay in my memory.
A male Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) tossed a fig before swallowing |
Some of them perched and had their wings
spread open while preening away. I watched with glee while sipping my
hot cup of coffee and munching my sandwiches. I stayed on with the
whole scene for more than one hour.
A Great Hornbill preening |
The local pakcik (an elder) came
along with his motorbike and stopped to watch the scene too. He was
delighted to see them on this tree of life. His comments were "When
there are tourists around, no Great hornbills. And when there are so
many Great Hornbills showing themselves, there are no tourists". I
laughed at his comments and nodded in agreement with him. I told him
that this wonderful event was meant for us to experience.
My
simple meaning of the tree of life in a rainforest is when a strangling
fig tree (Ficus genus) began to fruit bountifully, it brings abundance of live and
joy. A couple of Asian Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella) were fluttering around and there were others that came joined the party such as...
Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) peeping through the foliage |
Black giant squirrel (Ratufa bicolor) ... and it thought that it could get away without being spotted! |
Strangling
fig trees are vital for all in a lowland rainforest and huge birds like the
Great Hornbills are in great need of such habitat for their survival. Langkawi
is blessed with the richness of flora and fauna. This has made her
really special to those who has the genuine heart to witness what she
has got to display.