When my daughter's family were here in KK to spend Christmas and New Year with us; Nathan, my grandson had already planned in advance to do some specific things in Sabah. Having read about Rafflesia flower and pitcher plant from a book he borrowed from the library, he was very keen to see these two items. We were very keen to make his wish come true.
So immediately after checking out from The Village Mersilou at Kundasang on 26 December 2017, we set out to Bombon at Kg. Merakau Fish Spa in Ranau to have "massage by live fish" first. This is the specific site my daughter has identified to have the fish spa. At first, I thought the kids might freak out after seeing so many huge fish in the river. But they stepped into the knee-deep river in no time. They kept luring the fish to suck their hands by holding the fish food pellets in the palms. It was their first experience to be able to touch and caress live fish in a river. That was an exceptional experience for all of us! We totally enjoyed the sensation of being kissed, nibbled and sucked by the soft lips of the fish.
Just when we thought the boy would be disappointed because he could not see a real Rafflesia, a casual chat with the counter staff at the Entrance to the Botanical Garden gave hope to the boy's dream. We were told that a Rafflasia has just bloomed at the Poring Hot Spring. It's 75cm diameter and a fairly huge one. Immediately, we made a return trip back to Ranau to the Poring Hot Spring.
Everyone was overjoyed of the perfect timing of the blooming of a Rafflesia which coincided with our visit to Ranau. Rafflesia, recognized as the world's largest as well as the rarer flower really has no specific season to bloom. Once it blooms, it lasts for just three to five days. Hence, one is considered really lucky if he/she manages to see one. This particular Rafflesia flower we saw is considered even more rare because it has 6 pedals instead of the 5-pedal species. Nathan is indeed one lucky star!
So immediately after checking out from The Village Mersilou at Kundasang on 26 December 2017, we set out to Bombon at Kg. Merakau Fish Spa in Ranau to have "massage by live fish" first. This is the specific site my daughter has identified to have the fish spa. At first, I thought the kids might freak out after seeing so many huge fish in the river. But they stepped into the knee-deep river in no time. They kept luring the fish to suck their hands by holding the fish food pellets in the palms. It was their first experience to be able to touch and caress live fish in a river. That was an exceptional experience for all of us! We totally enjoyed the sensation of being kissed, nibbled and sucked by the soft lips of the fish.
After the fish spa, we drove to the Kinabalu National Park because we knew of a huge Rafflesia replica and pitcher plants in the Botanical Garden. Of course the kids knew immediately that the Rafflesia was not a "real" one. But fortunately, his wish to see pitcher plants was fulfilled.
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| Rafflesia replica in Kinabalu National Park is the usual 5-pedal species. |
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| "See there, the pitcher plant!" |
Everyone was overjoyed of the perfect timing of the blooming of a Rafflesia which coincided with our visit to Ranau. Rafflesia, recognized as the world's largest as well as the rarer flower really has no specific season to bloom. Once it blooms, it lasts for just three to five days. Hence, one is considered really lucky if he/she manages to see one. This particular Rafflesia flower we saw is considered even more rare because it has 6 pedals instead of the 5-pedal species. Nathan is indeed one lucky star!
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| Rafflesia starts with a tiny bulb on the root of the vine. |
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The bud gains in size and the shape is similar to cabbage. There is no guarantee that each and every bud will bloom. The fact it, the chance of a bud of becoming a blooming flower is rare.
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