Our lodging, the 'Morning Mist Resort', had pretty flora...

...and a nice view from the outdoor restaurant.

The plan was to do a hike in the rainforest in search of the increasingly rare Rafflesia 'flower'. Providentially it was a good time to find the flower which blooms for only a few days.

A short minibus ride took us to the start of the hike.

A couple of lengths of waste bamboo made excellent walking poles to cope with the steep rough track.

We were led by a park ranger.

A mature liana provided a swing seat.

Clusters of bamboo.

The track was challenging at times.

On reaching the site where the flowers grew, the first ones we came across were in the early stages of development.

In full bloom with my sandal for scale. There were a few insects inside it.

Three close together in the different stages of development.

Unreal !

Back at the lodging there was a good example of how bananas grow. A small bird with a long curved beak was sampling the nectar from the small yellow flowers which would become bananas. Clusters of small bananas can be seen growing below as the main mauve flower grows upwards.

In the evening we ate in the village and Is got us some food specialities to sample. Chillis, shallots, lime, lemongrass, galangal and more which you wrap up in a leaf and eat in one go. Additionally there was rice wine in shot glasses made from sections of bamboo.