Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Six Cool and Creepy Things You Can See on a Trip to the Rainforests of Borneo


Although it is slowly developing from a small town to a small city as far as opportunity and entertainment go, Kuching's best quality hands down is its proximity to the island's national parks and rainforests.

With approximately a half dozen parks within a two-hour drive, getting out into the natural world that surrounds the city is a must, as it is there that you will experience what makes Borneo, the home of one of the world's biggest rainforests, so special.

The Largest Flower in the World

The Rafflesia arnoldii is the largest individual flower on the planet, measuring in with a diameter up to 3 feet and weighing up to 20 lbs. It's pretty at first glance, but its fowl odor (rotting flesh) and parasitic nature quickly squash the fairy tale. Still, it's a special thing when you see it, as the flower blooms and withers within a matter of days. Your best chance to see it is at Gunung Gading National Park.

Pitcher Plants

This carnivorous plant uses a sugary nectar to attract and trap its prey, which include small moths, flies, wasps, and grasshoppers (other animals, such as tadpoles and mosquitoes, use the pitcher as a breeding ground). Monkeys have been seen drinking the water collected in the pitchers after it rains, which has earned them the nickname of "Monkey Cups." A look at the photo above and the plant's ability to blend into the jungle floor sheds additional light on why it is so successful in trapping unsuspecting prey. There are ten species of pitcher plants in Kubah National Park.

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