The Giant Flower - Rafflesia

One of the major attractions of Sabah, besides Mount Kota Kinabalu is Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world! On the way to Mount Kota Kinabalu National Park, a banner and a hand made sign board attracted us. It was a private plantation that had Rafflesia.

We were told that the flower stinks even before we could see it. First, there was a waft of rotten fish smell, but as we neared the flower, we forgot all about the smell as we were awed by its gigantic beauty!

Click on the photos to enlarge...

Rafflesia - in full bloom

The inlaid photo boasts that the flower was 83 cms large, and can be reached within 3 minutes walk. A 5-6 year old girl (probably the owner's kid), guided along the short trek. Well, it took us about 10 minutes walk, but it was well worth.

Close-up

The guide, the youngest one I've ever come across, was pretty good in explaining about flower. Here are some of the interesting stuff we heard from the guide:

• Rafflesia is poisonous, thatz why the flower was fenced off!
• Rafflesia is a parasitic plant that just absorbs food and nutrients from its host
• The flower can grow more than 100 cms in diameter
• The life of the flower is about 1 week, and
• It starts stinking terribly when it dies!

Rafflesia - Offsprings!

At least one bud will be around the full bloom, nature's way to preserve its species!

You might also like to read/see pics of my other Borneo experiences...

Poring - Canopy Walkway Bridge
Aerial Views - Borneo

Water ways of Brunei - Air Kampung, Venice of the East

Poring - Canopy Walkway Bridge

We were not attracted by the hot spring in Proing, but very eager to experience the Canopy walkway. Poring Hot Springs is in the Kota Kinabalu Park (Sabah state in the Malaysian Borneo) and it is one of the World Heritage sites.

We had to make a short hike to reach the bridge and on the way we could get a glimpse of the canopy high, almost on top of the gigantic Menggaris trees.

Except for the collage, you can click on the pictures to enlarge.

Placed my signature on the bridge, so that you identify it!

Close-up

Now, I was a bit concerned and wondered on how much weight could the bridge tolerate!

Canopy walk entrance...inlaid pic on top shows restrictions...

When we saw the warning in the ticket that declared we climb the bridge at our own risk, we thought it was just a mandatory stuff...but after seeing the bridge and hearing the wild shrieks from a couple of ladies who were crossing the bridge, I was anxious...

Go or not to go!?

Canopy walkway is a series of rope and steel cable suspension bridges built on top of very tall and strong manggeris trees. The bridge is made of aluminum ladders bolted together and suspended horizontally from cables. The open rungs of ladders are covered with wooden boards, which are creaky. At a time, only 6 persons are allowed to walk on it for safety reasons. Approximate height is 41 mts from the forest floor, so the minute you step on it, it starts swaying and try walking fast it rocks like cradle!

There are 8 bridges to cross. Actually, this walkway is meant for enjoying the top level flora and fauna of the jungle. But until I was in the middle of the 3rd bridge, I dared not to look up or down as I was busy trying to balance while walking. Then, slowly I turned sideways and took this 1st shot...

After a strong sway, I realized that if I keep my feet apart, I could balance well with least swing, so now I managed another close up...

I felt wonderful to watch the deep forest from the top!

Scenic Sunday

SOOC

Dog in Diaper!

Several times I've seen a neighbor playing with her toy breed dog in the garden area. The pup was cute, hairy and never used to barked. Yesterday, I saw that lady parking her car while the dog was constantly barking from the car. First I thought that she was bringing a new dog, but alas, she had given hair-cut to her pet and it was acting cranky!

Like children, the dog was wearing a diaper!

என்ன கொடுமை சார் இது?!

camera-critters meme blog

Wordless

Deep in thought or dreaming?

Nature's Defect

Note: Republishing this post for the following reasons:

• Heard from a friend, who recently visited my blog that she had seen a tree that was full of leaves like this. In this case, am not sure, if these holes in the leaf are because of bugs or is it just one of nature's wonder? Sounds dumb? But, I have this doubt!
• Submitting this for:

Scenic Sunday

Shadow Shot Sunday

Straight out of the Camera Sunday

I came across this handsome piece of nature during my evening walk...

Bug eaten?...but very cute, isin't it?

Sunset on the Move!

Throughout our Borneo holidays last week, we were using cab for sightseeing, so I had the luxury of taking pictures from a moving car for the first time, using Sports mode from my Canon 550D! These pictures were taken when we were passing by the Jesselton Waterfront area in Kota Kinabalu, (on the Malaysian Borneo).

 

Taken from a moving car, not a bad shot right?

Water ways of Brunei - Air Kampung, Venice of the East

Brunei, the first thing most of us remember is its oil and the Sultan who is one of the richest men in the world. The tiny country is in the Borneo island and has the same tropical climate as Malaysia. Abundance is seen everywhere and there is no income tax! The taxi driver who took us around commented 'RON 97 petrol is just 53 cents/liter, where as mineral water is $1 per liter'. Perhaps, it is cheaper to drink petrol in Brunei!!!

Let me come to the topic of this post, Brunei river spans through the country and here is a river view. Obviously, waterways is the major 'roadways' and 'water taxis' are common.

River view, besides Nurul Iman Palace

People who live in the Water village or Air Kampung, park their cars on the river bank and use the water taxis for commuting to their homes in the river!

River Bank

You have to flag down the boats, like how you hire a cab. Tourists like me, take these boats just to get a closer view of the water village life or take on long tours in the hope of catching a glimpse of Proboscis monkeys along the river bank. We just went for a water village round, as we had only a day in Brunei, because we had planed to go to Labuan and then to Kota Kinabalu.

Water Taxi

The boat man said that this water village was considered as the Venice of the East! Well, my husband who has been to Venice didn't see the similarity except the water taxi:) Whatever, it was a full fledged village, with all the modern amenities. Let's take a photo tour:)

Imagine speeding in this boat!

Such a Big School in the water!

Petty Shop

Taxi stand!?

Power cables

Dish Antenna!

Cute house

Road or lane

Junction!

We met with a local and made small talk while we walked down the junction. As the sky was overcast, I asked him, 'how deep is this river? are you not worried about floods?' for which he replied, 'center of the river is deep, but near our houses, its shallow and during low tides you can even see the riverbed! This part of the river doesn't flood, may be in Belait area, there are floods...'

Dilapidated building

Grocery Shop

Alley

Venice of the East or not, it was a great experience!

Close ups

It was after a heavy rain, and raindrops were glistening on raw palm fruits. I was tempted to try my hands or rather camera in capturing a macro and here are a couple of shots that I think are cute!

How nice it would be if I can string these beautiful raindrops and make a lovely necklace!