photography at Borneo highlands

[Robert]

Borneo highlands were part of the mt range separating Indonesia's Kalimantan and south western Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The highest point was 1329m. It was a recommended place for landscape and plant photography. Everything look fresh due to the altitude - the cloud laden moisture blowing over from kalimantan and condenses on plant foliages and the ground whereby making the ground soggy always. The "cloud forest" like phenomenon occur in early morning and would clear off, but very much depending on the wind direction.

misty morning





As in most rain forest one tree will support many plant form









Not sure what species the pink flowers belonged to, it was also a very common sight in lowland forest



This huge tree has mosses overgrown on the trunk


An unid orchid and macode petola making their home on tree trunk


Kalimantan view-accompanying some visiting singaporean photographers


kalimantan border view-large tract of forest still remain due to its remoteness, but how long?



A view towards kuching

I have made numerous visit in the past and everyday was a glorious day that has ever been - the wonderful display of light during sunset, sunrise,overcast skies, the sudden light showers by the low cloud and sometimes sun appear again soon as the rain was over.




The highlands and adjacent mountans of Padawan. Farthest on the middle of the picture was Mt Santubong.




flower garden and landscape view











fern trees a common plant found on the highland. The chalets we stayed were surrounded by them.


a little bit of lens filter effect


who would have thought the former PM has a house here-he hardly use


probably one of the imported plants.


August month was flowering time for the "tropical sakura" aka "eagle flowers". Its semi hardy stem vine up a tree it grows by, as it vines up off shoots are produced making the whole tree appeared belonged to itself rather tan the host.




The temp and humidity over the night


Needless to say the highland was one of the habitats for intermediate form of pitcher plants. Some years ago, on my first visit, when the highland was still on development stage i saw an N.veitchii plant growing epiphytically but i failed to locate it. Most neps seem to grow epiphytically, like this huge clump of fusca.



a young leaf insect basking in the morning sun.


wild ginger probably Kaempferia pulchra



Thanks for viewing

[TS]

Woah!!! Robert, that's really breathtaking & magnificent!!!
Thanks for "bringing us on a trip" again, I really enjoy your pictures as usual. Very nice place & superb photography
Where exactly is this place located?

[shawnintland]

Hey Robert, thanks for the nice shots! Truly looks magical in the rainy mists. Those pink flowers are 'impatients' and they make little explode-on-touch seed pods scattering seeds away from the parent plant. The "probably imported" plant with the orange hanging flowers is a Brugmansia. The 'brugs' generally have a wonderful nocturnal scent. I think the orange flowered one is B. sanguinea, but not sure. (hint for next trip- they grow very easily and well from cuttings, and also form cylindrical seed pods with loads of seed in each one!). I think that orange one is pretty strictly a HL plant, but after years of trying I've finally gotten two to 'take' from cuttings and one from seed in my hot temperatures here at sea level.

By the way, I love theJewel orchid leaf coloration and the 'lense filter effect' picture of the tree ferns! If you ever notice spores ready to release on them (or any other tree ferns) I'd love to give them a shot! It doesn't take very much quantity to get thousands of spores!

Thanks again for posting your pictures.

Shawn

[Marigoldsfail21]

So beautiful!

I'm jealous.

[Victoria]

Beautiful plants and absolutely stunning views! I like the fusca that is high in the tree, looks like it is enjoying the view from way up their! Thank you for posting all these great pics, I enjoy seeing all the beauty that is so far away from me.

[David]

Robert,

Each time you post pictures, it's like receiving a box of chocolate. You never know what you're gonna get! (Quote from the movie "Forest Gump"). It's a surprise and delight.

I like the misty morning pictures. Kinda transports me to the time of the dinasours. Also the pictures of the hills and clouds floating beside the hills. I guess that's the feeling of vastness and freedom that an eagle has when it flies above the clouds.

[Tarence]

Dear Robert

Magically bewitching. Thanks for transporting me momentarily to a land of giant dinosaurs, lord of the rings sceneries and postcard perfect images. Good work.

rgds, Tarencel

[bactrus]

Wow.... Borneo the land of the forgotten forest. So green and mystical- that's what came into my mind when I saw the pics. Really pretty. Thanks for a glimpse. Heart always skip a beat whenever beautiful nature photos are posted. Thanks brother.

those photos are excellent.

by the way, those pink flowers are impatiens.

[Robert]

TS. It was located inland, 45 mins drive from kuching.

Thanks for the flowering plants id, shawn. There is no definite time of revisiting. The local photographic society often arrange a trip and it was one place that i never like to miss. Most local photographers love to take shots of jewel orchids too due to their stunning coloration. some were so glued to it they spent lengthy time photographying it rom different angles

Hi marigold, me jealous too-but of those who can afford the property up there

Thanks for the nice comment, victoria.

David,Tarence, Bactrus and malowie-indeed the place was in the perfect beautiful settings on part of the highland. The low cloud formation passing gives the impression of mytical land. It was the foresight of the owner who developed it but keep the greeneries intact. He was a nature lover.