Aktiviti mengenal bunga @ Nokonoshima Island

Nokonoshima Island is an island rich in nature in Hakata Bay that can be reached in ten minutes via a municipal ferry from Meinohama in Nishi Ward. We went to the island with Bad-Ana family and Shahrul-Tis family. This is the 2nd time for hubby & I to went to this island but definitely this is the first time for baby SN sebab masa gi tahun lepas, I tengah sarat mengandung 8 bulan. Kalau tahun lepas bawak perut yang boyot ke depan, tahun ni bawak baby SN dalam stroller pulak hik3x.

*from left: Irfan, Darwisy, Nazhan, Ikhwan*

*ahli rombongan menolak stroller*

The supposed to be started at 8 a.m journey, end up to begin only by 10 a.m *ikut jam orang Melayu* ekekeke. We took the Municipal Noko-Meinohama Ferry from Meinohama Port to Nokonoshima ferry terminal for 15 minutes to reach the Nokonoshima Island which cost us 440 yen (RM15) round trip per adult. Then, we take the Nishitetsu Bus bound for 10 minutes to reach the Nokonoshima Island Park which cost us another 440 yen (RM15) round trip per adult. The admission fee for Adults to enter the Nokonshima Island Park cots us another 1000 yen (RM36).

*at jetty and on the ferry*

This Nokonoshima Island Park is a nature park of about 150 thousand square meters stretching out in the northern part of Nokonoshima Island. The park is filled with blossoming flowers such as cherry, rape and cosmos all year round. Untuk entry tahun lepas I dah cerita tentang tempat2 yang ada di Nokonoshima Island Park ini → refer: Dating di Nokonoshima Island (click here).

*tulisan hiragana + katakana tu tulis → Nokonoshima Island Park*

Kali ni, I nak cerita pasal jenis bunga yang terdapat kat Nokonoshima Island Park ni pulak lah. Manalah tahu kalau ada pencinta bunga yang tengah baca entry hari ni, dapat gak tambah ilmu pasal nama2 bunga ni kan?.

(1) Livingstone Daisy
• Livingstone daisies have flat, succulent leaves up to 3 inches long, with the plants hugging the ground.
• Blossoms from mid-March through mid-May
• Flowers have dark centers and are colored pink, white, purple, lavender, crimson, or orange.
• Plants grow up to 8 inches high and spread to 12 inches wide.
• The flowers close at night and on cloudy days.

There are about 30 000 of the Livingstone Daisy spreading on the flower field area of Nokonshima Island Park with variation in colors : pink, yellow, purple, orange, and etc. Memang lawa giler pemandngan bunga2 ni bertaburan kat atas bukit tu. Memang rasa nak baring je atas bunga2 tu. Irfan & Darwisy were delighted to see the flowers as well sampai diorang melompat2 pijak kat atas bunga2 tu ekekekeke.

Baby SN pun seronok duk nak petik bunga2 tu, pastu masa mommy & daddy duk sengih posing ambik gmbar, baby SN kutip tanah pasir tepi bunga tu dan maksukkan dalam mulut dia....hohohohoho.

*tangan mommy tgh bersihkan pasir dlm mulut baby SN smbil sengih posing ehehe*

(2) Azalea
• Azalea is a flowering shrub whose pink flowers blossom in spring.
• Azaleas grow slowly and rarely need pruning.
• Prune for shape after flowers have finished blooming.
• Blooms from Early-April through Early-May

Kurume Azaleas and Hirado Azaleas are planted throughout the park. There are about 300 000 azaleas creating an incredible ensemble of colors to the park. I really loves the lovely view of those pink azaleas and cant take my eyes off those flowers. Subhanallah, memang cantik betul. We put baby SN on those carpet of Azaleas and he seems to enjoy it too hik3x.

*baby SN siap tepuk tangan excited dapat duduk atas bunga*

(3) Cherry Blossoms (Sakura)
• Blossoms from late-March to early-April only
• Scattered through the park are 300 sakura trees of several different variety whose fantastic pink flowers brighten up the park

*nice shot captured by mommy*

*nice shot captured by daddy*

Since it was already mid-April when we went to the park, there are only 1 tree left with nice bloom of the cherry blossoms. Pokok2 sakura yang lain dah keluar daun, jadi dah tak menarik sngat untuk di pandang mata. Kalau nak tengok gambar2 sakura kat entry I yang sebelum ni, refer : Hanami (flower viewing) at Reisen Koen, and Spring Equinox Day (shunbun no hi)


(4) Poppy
• A poppy is typically with one per stem.
• The flower color of poppy species include: white, pink, purple, yellow, orange, red and blue some have dark center markings.
• The center of the flower has a whorl of stamens surrounded by a cup- or bowl-shaped collection of four to six petals.
• Prior to blooming, the petals are crumpled in bud, and as blooming finishes, the petals often lie flat before falling away.

(5) Tulip
• The species include short low-growing plants to tall upright plants, growing from 10 to 70 centimeters tall.
• Typically have 2 to 6 leaves, with some species having up to 12 leaves.
• Tulips do best in climates with long cool springs and early summers, but are often grown as spring blooming annual plantings in warmer areas of the world.

(6) Rape Blossoms
• After blossoming, the rape plant bears slim fruit with bill-shaped projections.
• Once ripe, the fruits eject very small dark brown seeds, which are squeezed to produce rapeseed oil.
• It is referred as "rape" from the word "rapum", which is a term for a type of turnip.


The riot of yellow colors of this rape blossoms flower contrasting with the blue colour of Hakata Bay is just magnificent.

Memang tiba2 terus di landa rasa romantik yang sungguh mendalam bila berposing di celah2 taburan lautan bunga2 kuning ni....ceeewah. I guess those are the main flowers available during this Spring Season at the Nokonoshima Island Park during our visit on the last weekend.

Apart from magnificent view of flowers spreading all over the island park, there were also Children Playground area. Those 4 boys (baby SN + Ikhwan + Irfan + Darwisy) were very happy to play at the playground. It took us quiet some time to persuae them to left the playground to headed to another area of the island park. Huhuhu, budak2 tu siap nangis2 sebab nak main slides lagi.

*mommy & daddy lagi over-excited daripada baby SN bila dpt main slides*

There is also Omoide-dori area; which is a reproduced small old Japanese town where you can buy molded confections and toys from old days of Japan. As we put baby SN inside the traditional Japanese house, he steered his way to the traditional Japanese cushion to explore it. Agaknya baby SN pelik tengok kusyen cenggitu, tu yang dia beria-ria duk belek kusyen2 tu.

*budak kecik yang jakun tengok kusyen kat rumah tradisional Jepun*

*erm, nak masak apa dengan cili ni erk?*

There are also restaurants, a barbeque house and Fureai Zoo where visitors can get close to goats and rabbits. We had the experience to feed the rabbit with bread. Baby SN masa ni dah tidur dengan nyenyaknya dalam stroller. So, hubby & I spent only few minutes to feed the rabbits. *ceh, padahal tak mo ngaku yang I ni penakut dengan haiwan2 berbulu ni*. Pegang roti pun siap hujung2 je, pastu siap menjerit2 suruh hubby cepat2 snap picture ekekekeke.

*ni arnab jantan, tak mo makan kalau org laki yg suap ekekeke*

*pegang roti pun hujung2 je, dasar si penakut ngee*

*posing ber2 masa baby SN tidur*

We left the Island at about 3.30p.m. Sebelum tu, we already had our lunch and picnic under the tree as well as did perform zuhur prayer kat belakang2 pokok2 tu. Overall, it was a great trip and as usual I enjoy any outdoor trip with baby SN as informal way to educate him about life. I hope baby SN enjoys his learning trip about flowers on that day as much as I do!.

*mama + ibu + mommy posing ala2 model gitu*

*the boys tercengang2 tengok bunga*

*Shahrul-Tis-Darwisy + Bad-Irfan-Ana-Ikhwan + Solah-Yatie Chomeyl-Baby SN*

Pssssstttt : nasib baik ada stroller baby SN, leh tumpang letak makanan2 yang di bawa..tak lah lenguh nak angkut sambil berjalan turun naik bukit tu hohoho.