Nepenthes which is the only genus of the Nepenthaceae family are herbaceous non-woody tropical plants which generally grow as long twining vines with pitchers. The pitchers are actually highly specialized leaves that act as passive pitfall traps (for little insects). Pitcher Plant are also known locally as Monkey Cup and can also be use for cooking glutinous rice.

Pitcher Plant being a protected species is extremely exotic and can be found on the lowlands and highlands jungles of Borneo and other part of the world. Each species may often be endemic on certain areas.

The photos below were taken at Pitcher Plant & Wild Orchid Garden, located at Kota Padawan township, 10 miles from Kuching, Sarawak.

More pitcher plants photos

Branched coconut tree

I have seen hundreds of coconut trees (if not thousand) with one straight stem up to the nuts cache (fruit brunches) and foliage burst until recently.

The coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a branchless trunk and branched coconut tree is very rare. It is not a freak of nature that the tree branched out and branching may occur due to injury caused by insect pests.

At a private land in Kuching, Sarawak, one coconut tree produced a branch as depicted below:



More photos on branched coconut tree.

Further readings:
* Coconut freaks, Roland Bourdeix of France.
* A forked coconut tree at Fort Sindhudurg, India.

Rajang Port, Sibu, Sarawak, East Malaysia

Rajang Port Authority (or Lembaga Pelabuhan Rajang) was established in 1970 and it's operation commenced in May 1971. It is situated at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan rivers, about 50 miles (80 km) from the South China Sea coast. As a river port, it serves small oceangoing vessels and exports timber, rubber, and pepper.

The headquarter is located in Sibu and it's primary function is to co-ordinate the activities of the five ports placed under its jurisdiction: Sibu Center, Tanjung Manis Center, Sarikei Centre, Bintangor Center and the Sungai Merah Oil Jetty. It manages operations in all the ports except the Bintangor Centre.

RPA HQ at Sibu

Related topics:
* Rajang Port Authority website.
* More photos on Rajang Port

Menara Kidurong, Bintulu, Sarawak, East Malaysia

Menara Kidurong is sited next to the old Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd (BPSB) administration block. Menara Kidurong is owned by the Bintulu Port Authority (BPA). Bintulu Port is privately operated and managed by BPSB but is governs by BPA.

The building itself is ultra-modern and among the tallest in Bintulu, possessed high-tech design but unfortunately quite vacant. The structure on top most of the building (the one that look like a "Star Trek space ship") is actually an observation tower.

More photos on Menara Kidurong

White Mushroom, Crepidotus applanatus

This morning, I brought my kids to an agriculture outlet called "Disiniland Argolet". An Agrolet is like an agricultural theme park, or someone's really huge backyard. Anyway, Disiniland Argolet (not Disneyland, ya) is located somewhere at Kpg. Segedup, off Jln. Batu Kawa, Kuching. The sole purpose of going there was horse ride and boat ride for my kids.

As for me, the only subject that attract my attention there was a cluster of white big mushrooms sticking out from a semi-dead tree. I think those mushrooms is no older than 48 hours old. Yeah, wild mushrooms grow very fast. See the image above.

I think the above mushrooms is of genus "Crepidotus applanatus" or "Pleurotus ostreatus".

Further reading:
* More photos on white mushroom
* The Oyster Mushroom

Sandakan, Sabah, East Malaysia

Sandakan is located on an inlet of the Sulu Sea, near the mouth of the Kinabatangan River. It was founded in 1874 as Elopura and was the capital of British North Borneo (now known as Malaysia state of Sabah) until 1947.

Main attractions in Sandakan:

* The Agnes Keith House

* world-famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center

* Sukau Gomantong Caves

* Pulau Sipadan

* Sandakan War Memorial Park

* Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey sanctuary

* Selingan Turtle Island

More photos on Sandakan

Tuaran, Sabah, East Malaysia

Tuaran town is located between Sepangar Bay and Kudat town.

The highway between Sepangar Bay and Tuaran is dotted with international class seaside resorts, including Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort.

Main attraction in this small town is the Ling San Pagoda and Temple. The pagoda is also known locally as Lung San Pagoda. The pagoda is nine floors high. "Ling San" literally means "Nine dragons playing with fire balls".

Beside the pagoda, Tuaran is well known in Sabah for it local delicacy "Tuaran Mee".

Tuaran Town (view from the top floor of Ling San Pagoda)

At Ling San Pagoda entrance. From left: RWS, CHY, RO and Robin

The majestic nine floors Ling San Pagoda

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More pictures on Tuaran
More pictures on Ling San Pagoda

Sepangar Port, Sabah, East Malaysia

Construction of the Phase I of Sepangar Bay Container Terminal (SBCT) at Sepangar Port, Sabah is nearing completion and expected to be soft-launch by June 2007. Note: Sepangar Port might be spelt as Sepanggar Port.

SBCT Phase I container yard storage capacity is 1,824 TEUs ground slots with traffic volume of 197,000 TEUs annually.

With the planned construction of SBCT Phase II in the coming years, SBCT would be able to handle containers volume up to 470,000 TEUs annually.

SBCT is operated by Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd. Once the RM400 million (estimated) Sepanggar Port is fully operational, the old Kota Kinabalu Port will ceased its operation and the Jesselton Waterfront project construction will starts.

Port Main Building

Midwater fenders

Access Bridge

Receiving and Delivery Gate House

More pictures on Sepangar Port (Sepanggar Port)

Directly opposite the Sepanggar Port is the Royal Malaysian Naval Base. The new Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), Sepanggar Bay Oil Terminal as well as Nexus Resort Karambunai which nestles upon the sandy fringes of the spectacular Karambunai peninsula is located nearby of Sepanggar Port.