gac fruit and vietnamese red rice

I made Xoi Gac today.
I bought a gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinnensis) and opened it and take out the seed membranes and the pulp of the fruit. The substance is red and I mix it with washed rice and then add water and a bit of salt. I steam the rice for an hour and let it covered for 15 minutes. The result is the red rice that has a nutty and cucumber taste and nice orange red in colour.
It is full of vitamin A and antioxidants.
Here are some photos.
The male and female flowers are on different plants. The fruit is only picked from August to Jan in Vietnam but the flowers start appearing in April to Sept.

garden in rain 2

Thunbergia grandiflora is flowering, as well as Aristolochia contorta.

garden in rain

This is Paulownia tomentosa and Aristolochia tomentosa. Both have velvety leaves with fine hair.
I have them in my garden, Paulownia is about 5 years old and Aristolochia is about 12 I think.
THey form the mini jungle in my backyard.

Trip Plan revised

I have finally decided that despite the coldness, I will go to Vietnam in Jan 2009 before Chinese New Year or Tet. It will be relatively dry but cold. Best time to visit the national park as I am afraid of leeches. I am going to have new silk shirts made and shop for other nice items.
Day 1: Hong Kong, Shingmun Hiking to look for Aristolochia
Day 2: Hong Kong, Lantau Po Lin Monastery, and Big Buddha
Day 3: Hanoi, Hang Gai Street shopping for silk items, order custom-made shirts
Day 4: Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Cathedral, shopping, Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Day 5: Halong Bay
Day 6: Hanoi, French Quarter, bookstores, dinner at the Emperor's
Day 7: Hanoi, Temple of Literature, Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, Old Quarter's 36 streets
Day 8 Cuc Phuong National Park
Day 9: Cuc Phuong National Park, Hanoi, 36 streets, Hang Gai
Day 10: Hanoi, Highway 4 cooking Class, Markets, Hang Gai pick up custom-made shirts
Day 11: Back to Vancouver.

Aristolochia contorta

UBC botanical garden in August

Tengu

vietnamese vegetable

Not sure how to cook this veggie.

Phytocrene macrophylla male flower