SARAWAK (KUCHING) PART 4

Today's weather - stormy

I wanted to complete the posts on the Sarawak trip before the end of the year but I guess it was not meant to be.

Anyway, we visited the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and saw a lot of interesting plants e.g. Mesua borneensis (synonym: Kayea borneensis). There were quite a number of fascinating creatures too, such as the yellow centipede. The mosses and Lycopodium growing on the trees and ground were so beautiful.

At the centre, it was Orang Utan feeding time and many tourists actually went there to see the activity. However, the apes remained elusive and just when most people were leaving, a family of them came out, grabbing the food that was tied to the trees to lure them out. We were warned not to get too near to them because there were past vicious attacks on visitors before. So I stood at a distance to capture their photos.

NB on 3 Apr 14: This is a Raphidophora creeper.

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS

I don't know if I am going to watch this movie but I certainly watched the cartoon series when I was younger and I just love the way they talked. So, naturally I love the songs they sing too, but anyway I have attached below some video clips of some recent beautiful songs from Lady Gaga and Katy Perry below from the new movie.

SARAWAK (KUCHING) PART 3

Traditionally, the men have the Tongkat Ali (scientific name: Eurycoma longifolia) to boost their libido whilst the women have the Kacip Fatimah (scientific name: Labisia pumila). Known as the childbirth medicine, it is often used to ease delivery, tighten the reproductive system after birth, regulate menstrual cycle and so on.


I am not sure of the identity of the palm but it certainly has lovely white and red fruits. It was a surprise to see the Congea tomentosa at this nursery area and the flowers looked like sprays of orchids from a certain view. There was also this rare Sanchezia with red bracts that I came across. Unfortunately, it is not available for sale.


Along the journey, we crossed a river and saw a few beautiful trees in the distance. One was a Ficus with spectacularly coloured figs. Too bad, I wasn't able to reach it too. We reached a nursery and I was astonished to find lots of bonsai-shaped topiaries for sale. The owner is from China and indeed I saw a number of plants that originate from China e.g. Loropetalum chinense, Nandina domestica. We left soon after when the approaching dark clouds beckoned us to leave.