THE ULTIMATE RAINFOREST.

SUNGAI KOOI WATERFALL

From Pulau Banding, we will enter Royal Belum state park by boat and reach a deeper part of the rainforest by trekking. It takes about 20 minutes from our boathouse by boat. The most unique is the Sungai Kooi waterfall with a height of 50 metres. We will follow the Sungai Kooi trail and pass nearby the stunning Kooi waterfall. We will have to climb a bit but it is not a heavy trail. 

During the trekking, there are an extraordinary view of the tropical forest where we can see various species of flora and fauna.The gushing water does not cascade but showers down. Hence, it is also known as the “shower waterfall”. When arrived at the upper part of the small elevation we will look for specimen of blooming Rafflesia flowers.

RAFFLESIA

The best product founded in this rainforest is the Rafflesia, the largest flower on Earth. This flower is found in tropical rainforests throughout Southeast Asia, the Rafflesia is an iconic symbol for Royal Belum. Then, a “normal” Rafflesia flower has five petals but recently, a flower with ten petals measuring 40cm in diameter was discovered at Sungai Gadong. There are several species of Rafflesia in this rainforest like Azlani, Kerrii and Cantley.

The Rafflesia can be found at altitudes of between 500 and 700 meters in the forests of Malaysia, Southern Thailand, Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. In these tropical rainforests, the climate is continuously warm and humid with very high humidity. It is especially difficult to see in bloom, the buds take up to 10 months to develop and the blossom lasts for just a few days. 

Rafflesia have small, brownish, scale like leaves and fleshy and various sizes. The distance from the boathouse, it takes about 20 minutes from the boathouse to Sungai Kooi rainforest by boat. Along the distance to the habitat of Rafflesia we passed by the Sungai Kooi waterfall. In order to reach at the Rafflesia Habitat’s it takes about 15 minutes hiking distance and we also can see a lot of herb’s plant that use for traditional purposes.

There are many benefits that we can get from the Rafflesia. It shows by the Rafflesia blooms that have not been collected by indigenous people to use in traditional medicine. The flower buds can be dried or cut into small pieces before it is dried. They use Rafflesia cooking water drunk by pregnant women and postpartum to clean and constrict uterus. It also use to shrink the stomach and for the youth. 

For example the Rafflesia hasseltii which buds extracts show to be effective on wound healing process. Wound can be treated with placebo contain in buds extract increased rate of wound closure and contraction.

Rafflesia is a strange plant. In fact, when it has flowers it produces extremely foul smell and plants are also quite heavy. Rafflesia has no leaves to process carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce sugar and oxygen. It also a parasite in which it is no necessary to produce it own nutrients. It is only necessary to absorb nutrients from their host where the host is also other plants.  It has no roots to absorb water and minerals from the soil to be processed as a protein. The tissues look like tiny tubes entering ling host plants.

ANIMAL’S MINERAL (SALT LICK)

A mineral lick also known as a salt lick is a place where animals can go to lick essential mineral nutrients from a deposit of salts and other minerals. Mineral licks can be naturally occurring or artificial such as blocks of salt that farmers place in pastures for livestock to lick.

Natural licks are common, and they provide the bio metals which is sodium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and trace elements) required in the springtime for bone, muscle and other growth in deer and other wildlife, such as moose, elephants, tapirs, cattle, woodchucks, domestic sheep, fox squirrels, mountain goats and porcupines. 

Such licks are especially important in ecosystems with poor general availability of nutrients. Harsh weather exposes salty mineral deposits that draw animals from miles away for a taste of needed nutrients. It is thought that certain fauna can detect calcium in salt licks.

After the Sungai Kooi trail, we are gets to motor boat and proceed to a salt lick area at Sungai Papan. It takes 25 minutes from the boathouse to arrive at salt lick. When we arrived there, we have to take suspension bridge in order to cross the lake. Then, it takes about 10 minutes from the suspension bridge to salt lick area by hiking. 

Along the hiking, we also can see various types of flora and fauna. For examples, species of insects also forest plants include “ketapang”, bamboo and “gaharu”. They provides an easy track for visitors to reach the salt lick area. There are 12 areas where wild animals would come by to obtain their salt nutrients. The famous licks are Sira Papan, Sira Damar Siput and Sira Rambau.

The types of soil of such area hold natural mineral deposits and play an important role in the diet of many animal species especially Asian elephants. It is not easy to spot wild animal since this species extinct. Salt licks are mineral springs or grounds that contain sodium and other essential nutrients such as zinc, magnesium and calcium. Animals come to obtain minerals for their bodies requires and to aid the digestion of food.

KELAH SANTUARY, SUNGAI RUOK

Kelah sanctuary is SUPERB guys. SUPERB! should I say three in one activities here? a little bit of hiking, the amazing waterfall and fish! yes fish guys. Tons of fish in the water, cause the water I'll test. hahah (thinking of you playin'). 

So basically it takes up to 10 minutes from the boathouse to arrive at Sungai Ruok. But, crucial guys, wear a safety jacket okay. And yet, 'remember' you are seriously not allowed to fishing here. Just spent your time to appreciate the nature. Can you? yeah great.

Oh yaa. for your notes, Sungai Ruok is having numerous species of Mahseer fish. This fish got many benefit guys. If I said that I'm having a foot spa fish there, would you believe me? hahah. Believe me guys. Put your trust on me. IT IS TRUE! For example, we can soak the feet as a spa fish. This will make us feel the real experience about the natural. Besides, many activities can be held such as recreation, bathing, feed the fish and take picture as a memorable moments.

Mahseer inhabit both rivers and lakes, ascending to rapid streams with rocky bottoms for breeding. It fetch high market price and are potential candidate species for aquaculture. Several of the larger species have suffered severe declines and now considered threatened due to pollution, habitat loss and overfishing.