It is probably not a respectful name for (apparently) the world's largest flower, but to be honest, he stinks. Up close, I have not smelled, but it certainly was not the smell of rose petals all fly to the large brown-red case attracted. Very special to see, especially knowing that Rafflesia's only once in their life for a few days flowering.
Incidentally, it was not so easy to find these stinky flower. This morning we were picked up with an old Land Rover, one without tread on the tires. We were not worry. Three minutes later the paved road ended and we got the signal 'offroad'. It sounded exciting, but has proved rather frightening. Without profile had the 4x4 sometimes quite difficult to cross the narrow, muddy and especially furrowed path to get there. Twenty minutes and many firmly squeezed hands later we arrived at the end of the road.
The guide told us, perhaps for us to rub that in some parts of the year for the path to the jeeps were impassable and people than the entire trip (without waders) were up dunk. Well said relativised our drab stage soon to continue with the walking part. That was bad. We made a nice jungle hike with some scrambling and slipping, but without all the other annoying that such a trip can make (such as mosquitoes and flies).
At the end of the walk we were face to face with the Rafflesia, almost as if the flower from the enchanted forest from the Efteling was picked. The leathery petals and orange-brown color called a papier-mâché image. Of course we kept tidy the flower, but the picture we could still use it ...
Anyway, the rest of the day we have some near rondgekard. A bite to eat at a local Indian restaurant (lekker!), a visit to the local tea factory of BOH and look around at a butterfly farm and strawberry farm. At the butterfly farm, they had but a few exotic butterflies insects: beetles never seen such great! Of course we have some fresh zomerkoninkjes (with whipped cream and honey!) Consumed for now uitgevloerd a reasonable plan for the evening. Perhaps with a few people in the pub and have a talk about flowers that smell of cheese and a rhino beetles?
