Rafflesia Blooming

A beautiful morning to start our day. Today's plan is to visit Ranau's Poring Hot Spring, walk through the jungle leading to the Kipungit Waterfall and have fish spa, trek up to canopy walkway and if we are lucky enought to see rafflesia blooming.

Ranau is a town as well as a district located in Sabah, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Driving distance between Kudat and Ranau is 190 km more or less it almost 2 hours drive.

Along the way take a picure at Gong Making Factory signage. We were not able to visit the site because we are in hurry.

First Stop: Rafflesia Blooming

On our way to Poring Hot Spring we spotted immediately the signage that reads Rafflesia Blooming. We are very lucky and excited to see a full bloom Rafflesia.

A little information about Rafflesia according to Mr Wikidepia that this plant has no stems, leaves or true roots. It is a holoparasite of vines in the genus Tetrastigma (Vitaceae), spreading its absorptive organ, the haustorium, inside the tissue of the vine. The only part of the plant that can be seen outside the host vine is the five-petaled flower.

We need to pay MR 30.00 for foreigner and RM20.00 for local as entrance fee to see the flower.

The road to where the garden itself is not that easy becuase its quite elevated, rocky and unpave. So excited to see the flower because its my first time.

Young bud of Rafflesia. It takes 8 to 9 months before this bud bloom to its fullest.

The full bloom rafflesia it measure 37". Life span of this flower takes 5 - 7 days only. Take note that this flower is also called 'Corpse flower because it has very strong and horrible odor of decaying flesh.