Tuesday 29 March 2011

Rafflesia Power

Poring Springs, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
Melody and I are in search of the Rafflesia Plant.  We had asked many of the locals and the taxi driver, Peter, but the answers were all negative. We had given up hope and were just going to pay to enter the Botanical Gardens when Melody spotted a sign with a crudely painted on Rafflesia.
Pretty Snazzy
The business women
the fearless leader
So we aborted the garden plan and followed the arrows.  We came to a little shelter in front of the jungle with two ladies and their baby tending it.  We bartered them down in price, then followed our guide lady deep into the jungle.  The pathway was very muddy as it had been raining the past few weeks.  All the locals are puzzled as it is supposed to be dry season but the rain isn't letting up.  Anyway, we sloshed our way through the jungle in our flip flops. It was super humid, you could have cut the air with a machete.  So here we are, sweating our brains out, slapping the mozzies away and in mud up to our ankles, when we came to a 'staircase'. It went down this sort of cliff side, and was made of sticks tied  and nailed together.
THE STAIRCASE
Down we went, anything for this darn flower.  We finally arrived at the site and it was so cool!                  
 This flower is particularly interesting as it only blooms for 5 days, then eats itself. A carnivorous flower!  Don't get cooler than that in the world of plants.
After we left the Rafflesia, we hired a private car and set out to Sandakan where we were to meet up with Kerry, our friend we had met on the way to Mt. Kinabalu.  From Sandakan, our plan is to go on a river cruise on the Kinabatangan River, which has Orangutans, Asian Pygmy Elephants, Proboscus Monkeys, Macau Monkeys, Crocodiles and assorted birds in the rain forest.  Should be a fantastic trip!

2 comments:

  1. Hey Bec!

    Cool flower!

    It reminded me of a HUGE FLOWER, I think it's from Africa --but it really stinks. I forgot what it's callled.

    Anyway,
    I enjoy reading your blogs, look forward to the next one!

    Love,
    Pritika

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  2. holy huge flower...what a sustainable little creature, eating itself and all :)

    ReplyDelete