D-Brief Edition 13 - Flowers & Unique Plants

D-Brief

Edition 13

Flowers & Unique Plants

D-Brief Bangkok, 21 September 2011

Dear Partners & Friends, Whilst renowned for its white sandy beaches and crystal blue sea, South East Asia would not be the tropical paradise we all love without its incredible diversity of flowers and plants.

This edition of D-Brief explores the fauna of Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and offers a snapshot of iconic plants or flowers throughout the region. We have collected interesting facts and ideas for different types of activities focusing around this theme. From canopy walks in Borneo or hardcore trekking in Bhutan, to a luxury stay at a Sri Lankan tea plantation, we are sure you will find the ideal inspiration for your customers.

We hope this edition of D-Brief inspires you to look, now and in the future, more closely at Southeast Asia‟s “green side”.

Sincerely,

Your Diethelm Travel Team

Flowers & Unique Plants Asia harbours an incredible biological diversity and some unique landscapes, ranging from the monsoon forests of Myanmar to Borneo‟s rainforests.

Whilst assured you will encounter the lotus flower on any trip to Southeast Asia, few visitors know about its significance and usage; in the coming pages we will reveal the secrets of this gorgeous flower.

As widespread as the lotus flower is in the region, as uncommon is the blue poppy, the national flower of Bhutan. For a long time, the blue poppy was believed to be a myth, being one of the rarest flowers in the world. After having explored the fauna of high altitude Bhutan, we will take you to the biological „treasure‟ that is Borneo, where, if you are lucky, you may find a blooming Rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world. Furthermore, we introduce you to Sri Lanka‟s tea production, a story of heritage, and explore Singapore‟s lengthy

and ambitious environmental efforts revealing how the city became rated Asia‟s greenest metropolis.

You will quickly notice that Southeast Asia‟s fauna is not only of interest for the hobby botanist; the fantastic colours and irresistible fragrances, turn everyone into an enthusiast.

Thailand Bhutan Malaysia Sri Lanka Singapore

Lotus – The Flower of Buddhism Whilst visiting Thailand and its neighbouring countries, travellers are bound to come across the lotus flower. It plays a very important role in Buddhism and Thai life in general. Found in ponds, khlongs, swamps and as decoration in temples and of course hotels, the lotus is not only beautiful to look at, but is considered the flower of Buddhism.

Nelumbo nucifera is an aquatic perennial and comes in hues of white to dark pink.

Whilst the roots grow in the mud, the stem grows up though murky water and rises 20 centimetres over the surface to bloom with amazing beauty. In Buddhist teaching the lotus‟ growth pattern signifies the voyage of the soul from the mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, until it finally reaches the sunshine of enlightenment. As a result of this belief, the flower stands for the purity

of the heart and mind. Not surprisingly, every Buddhist deity is linked in some manner to the flower. Images of Buddha show him either seated upon a lotus, standing on two separate flowers or holding a flower in his hands.

Thai Buddhists offer the lotus at temples to pay homage to the Triple Gem, or „Pra Rattanatrai‟ which refers to the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings of Buddhism) and the Sangha (Buddhist monks).

In addition to its spiritual meaning and use in places of worship, the local people benefit from lotus plants in uncountable different ways. Whether for medical purposes, as a food ingredient or to make precious articles such as lotus silk, the lotus has been a part of Southeast Asian life for hundreds of years.

Find out more about the flower‟s usage and benefits over the next two pages.

Usage All parts of the lotus plant, the roots, leaves, stems, flowers and seeds, are used in some way or another; either medicinally, as food or to weave silk.

Food: The starchy root is eaten as a vegetable, while the big leaves are used to wrap food and the seeds are either eaten raw or processed into the famous lotus seed paste used in moon cakes. A favourite dessert in Thailand is the lotus root preserved in sugar syrup.

Medicine: Traditionally lotus is used for the treatment of fever, skin conditions, fungal infections and diarrhea. Western researchers have found that the latex sap found within the flower has great antibacterial properties and that the plant can also be used for treatment of diabetes and arthritis.

Lotus silk: At Inle Lake in Myanmar silk fabric is produced from the lotus plant fibres. The stems are cut and twisted to reveal the fibre, which is then spun into threads and hand woven into high quality, natural looking scarves and fabric.

Interesting Facts

Did you know?

• Thais have three names for lotus and water lilies: Bua, Pathum and Ubon. Due to their positive association with the flower, these names are often used to name people, monasteries, villages and provinces.

• During the Thai “Wai” greeting the palms are raised and cupped in the shape of a lotus blossom.

• It was believed that the lotus flower closes at night and sinks underwater in order the rise again the next morning at dawn. However, what actually happens according to botanists is that the flowers close at night while new ones are forming under water ready to bloom. In the meantime, the flowers, which have reached the end of their life cycle, wither and submerge back into the water.

Blue Poppy – Bhutan’s Best Kept Secret Not long ago, blue poppies were considered a mountain myth by many Western botanists, just like the Yeti, a tale lost to the legends of the Himalayas.

Meconopsis grandis, or the blue poppy, as it is commonly known, is the national flower of the kingdom of Bhutan and can only be found along high mountain passes, from the far eastern parts of the kingdom to the west.

Even though a failed Mount Everest expedition of 1922 claimed credit for discovering the blue poppy, and reports dating back to the 1800‟s about the discovery and re-discovery of the flower are available, only a few people have actually ever seen the flower in its natural habitat. The blue poppy was introduced to the worldwide public at the British Royal Horticultural Show of 1926, causing much excitement. However, it soon became clear that the plant is

extremely difficult to grow in English weather conditions and today it is a great achievement if a hobby botanist succeeds in growing the plant. It is beyond doubt that the blue poppy is one of the rarest flowers on earth, only blooming during the monsoon season, when Bhutan‟s rivers are high, the highland paths are muddy and slippery and the alpine meadows are carpeted with wild flowers of an immense vibrancy.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Nature in Bhutan reported that while 150 blue poppies were seen at the Chelela pass in the 1990‟s, only 11 flowers were spotted in 2002. Sadly, this rapid reduction in numbers is mainly attributed to people digging up the beautiful flower to be grown in their own gardens.

Where and When to See it One advantage of visiting Bhutan during the summer months (June, July, and August) is that you might get to spot a blue poppy. The flower grows on rocky terrain, above the tree line, where normally only moss and lichen can be found. Once seen scattered all over Bhutan and growing in abundance at high altitude, the plant has been severely depleted in recent years and has become extremely rare.

Bhutan is home to thirteen types of blue poppies; however, to the untrained eye all different types of species look similar and people recognise the flower as blue poppy because of its mesmerising blue and violet petals.

The large poppy-like flower is about 10 centimeters in diameter and the leaves have a velvety texture. The plants can be up to two feet in height and can grow from sunny to partially shade areas. There is no way you can possibly miss a blue poppy should you be one of the lucky travellers to spot it in Bhutan.

In Search of the Blue Poppy…

Jumolhari Trek If a quest to find this mysterious flower interests you, travel with Diethelm Travel‟s “Jumolhari Trek”, which takes twelve days starting from Paro via Lingshi and ending in Thimphu.

The flower can only be found during the monsoon season after reaching a high altitude lake at 4,100 metres. Therefore, make sure you travel to Bhutan in the summer and you might be fortunate enough to see the blue poppy in its natural habitat. Witness first hand the breathtaking snowcapped peaks of Mt. Chomolhari and Jichu Drakey looming in the background on your search.

The “Jumolhari Trek” we advise is only suitable for avid trekkers and customers with a high level of fitness, as it includes hikes of up to six hours a day.

The camp altitudes reach over 4,000 metres above sea level at some point of the trek and can take its toll on your body. Saying this, it‟s a once in a lifetime adventure to be relished.

For more information and the detailed itinerary, please click here.

Borneo – The World’s Oldest Rainforest Covering the island of Borneo, the oldest, primary rainforest in the world, a biological “treasure” like no other, opens itself up to visitors. Estimated at 130 million years old, the rainforest is 70 million years older than the Amazon rainforest and hosts a biological richness unmatched by any other rainforest found on earth.

The Borneo rainforest is home to approximately 15,000 species of flowering plants and over 3,000 species of trees. Over the past three years alone, sixty-seven new plants have been found, underscoring the rainforest‟s extra-ordinary biodiversity. Sadly, due to logging and the large forest fires of 1997 and 1998, Borneo is losing its rainforest fast. Shockingly, to date, Southeast Asia has the least remaining amount of primary rainforest in the world.

Hundreds of plant species and animals are in danger of becoming extinct, including the iconic Borneo orangutan, the Sumatran rhinoceros and the Sumatran tiger, to name a few well known species.

Hence, when visiting Borneo and its forests, we urge you do your part and travel responsibly.

Why does Borneo have such a rich biodiversity? Millions of years ago, when the northern and southern hemisphere went through several ice ages, the climate of the Southeast Asian region, due to its equatorial location, did not change substantially. Whilst sea levels rose and fell, the region was able to maintain its forests in small pockets, or “reservoirs of wildlife”. It is in these cut-off reservoirs that the flora and fauna followed its own evolutionary path and, in reaction to the restricted surroundings, resulted in an amazing diversity of species.

Rafflesia Arnoldii One of these incredible species only found in Indonesia-Sumatra, Java, Malaysia including Borneo and south Thailand at altitudes between 500 and 700 metres is the Rafflesia, Sabahâ€&#x;s official state flower.

Rafflesia arnoldii is not only the worldâ€&#x;s largest flower, but one which is very difficult to see bloom in its natural environment.

The actual plant cannot be seen for it has no leaves or stems and its root system grows inside its host vine. As the flower only blooms for a few days, it is very hard to locate and once found is an exceptional experience. Imagine a flower as large as one metre wide with five big, reddish brown petals! A spectacular sight in full bloom.

The flower was first discovered in 1818 by an Indonesian guide working for Dr. Joseph Arnold, who named the species after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the leader of the expedition. This is how rafflesia arnoldii the biggest and thus most well known of the Rafflesia flowers received its name.

Rafflesia Factbox

• Rafflesia arnoldii produces the largest individual flower of any plant on earth.

• These flowers are red in colour with five leathery and speckled petals. They can have a diameter of up to one metre and a weight of up to 11 kilograms.

• Rafflesia plants live as endoparasites in certain types of vines and can only be seen when the plant develops a flower. The plant has no visible stems or leaves.

• It takes around nine to twelve months for the plant‟s buds to develop to Rafflesia flowers.

Once the flower bud is the size of a large cabbage, it transforms into a flower, usually around midnight in the rainy season.

• The blooming period only lasts for around five to seven days, after which, the flower turns black and rots.

• The intense smell of rotten flesh which comes from the flower gives it its local nickname “corpse flower”.

Canopy Walk in Poring A great way to get a glimpse and first understanding of Borneoâ€&#x;s rainforest and to appreciate its complex ecosystem, is to observe it from a canopy walkway.

Estimations say that approximately 75 percent of all tropical rainforest animals spend most of their time high in the forest canopy. Situated more than 20 metres above ground, the canopy is a suitable place of escape for many animals and, because they seem to be less fearful high up in the tree crowns, it is the best place to observe them. The Poring Canopy Walkway in the small town of Poring, Sabah, covers a total length of 373 metres and boasts a height of up to 41 metres. Essentially, the walkways are rope and steel cable suspension bridges which zig-zag through the crowns of the Menggaris tree, or king of the forest, with the tallest measured specimen being 85 metres high.

157 meters of the canopy walk are open to tourists every day from 9 am to 4 pm. Guides and staff on hand to assist the visitors during the 20-minute walk and it is essential to wear sensible footwear as the steps and bridges are fairly steep and can be slippery in wet weather.

Rainforest Discovery Centre Another great way to access the rainforest in Sabah is by visiting the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), a centre for environmental education situated within the famous Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Home to the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, it is located just 34 kilometres from Sandakan Airport and is easily accessible. The centreâ€&#x;s main goal is to create public awareness and understanding of the importance of conserving the rainforest.

RDC features a 800 metres long Rainforest Discovery Trail with information panels along the way to highlight special or interesting trees. Additionally, RDC is equipped with a 147 metre long steel canopy walkway 28 metres above the ground and giving spectacular views of the Sepilok rainforest. Visitors will get the chance to spot many of the 250 species of birds, including hornbills, kingfishers and the Bornean bristlehead, which live in the forest crowns.

Half day excursions to the RDC from Sandakan are now bookable through Diethelm Travel Malaysia.

Contact us for more information!

Sri Lanka’s Tea Heritage On the discovery of Sri Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, and the island‟s promising opportunities for the growth of coffee, James Taylor, a Scotsman embarked in 1840 on a journey of a lifetime. Little did he realize that Sri Lanka was at the brink of a revolution; the tea revolution.

Taylor, whilst exploring the potential for growth in the coffee industry, ventured into what seemed to be a goldmine of opportunity. Among the many acres of coffee cultivation at the Loolecondera Estate, Taylor also planted a few acres of tea seeds which, as the story goes, he had smuggled in. „The ugly little shrub‟, as it was known, provided large yields yet Taylor did not recognise its full potential until a virulent leaf disease devastated his entire coffee plantation.

Leaving the tea plantation intact, it appeared the tea plants were immune to the damage of the deadly disease.

Pioneered by Taylor, the Sri Lankan tea industry went from strength to strength and in 1872 Taylor had set up a fully equipped factory. Consequently, in 1873, a range of the finest Ceylon teas were sold for a very good price at the London auction. Thereafter, within a period of only 7 years, the production rose from just 23 pounds to 81.3 tons and by the end of the next decade, to a remarkable 22,899 tons.

Sri Lanka has since consistently boasted the world‟s finest tea and is in fact the second biggest exporter of tea globally.

The multiple varieties of Ceylon tea have a distinctive flavour, an exotic fragrance and a rich heritage unlike any other.

Join us to discover Sri Lanka‟s tea heritage and learn more about the exquisite white tea over the next couple of pages.

Virgin White Tea The legend of white tea, known as silver tips tea, recounts that the tea leaves were never touched by human hands, but were exquisitely cut by virgins with golden scissors onto golden plates for the Chinese Emperor.

Also dubbed „virgin white tea‟, due to its historic origins, this unique beverage has a delicate flavour with a soft touch of pine and honey infused into a golden coppery blend. The tea is indeed highly prized around the world due to its rarity. Sri Lanka is among one of the few nations that are bestowed with this gift of nature, as it was first grown on the mountain slopes of Nuwara Eliya near Adam‟s Peak between 2,200 to 2,500 meters above sea level.

It is a common myth that different types of tea, such as black tea, green tea and white tea, are produced from different tea plants. All these tea varieties come from the same plant camellia sinensis and the differences between them result from the different processing procedures.

Sri Lanka’s Tea Heritage So, what makes white tea so special?

Simply put, white tea production involves minimal processing and is made from the sliver buds and selected leaves of the camellia sinensis plant which have been steamed and dried. Being the least processed form of tea, white tea contains more antioxidants than other types of tea and is thus the ultimate “health tea”.

Did you know?

In 2009, Virgin White Tea sold for an astonishing 1500 US dollars a kilo and was more expensive than silver (source AFP). And this is why: the tea is plucked and processed without it ever touching the human skin. In keeping with the Chinese tradition, the tea is cut using gold plated scissors. The virgins that the Chinese used to cut the tea are, however, no longer a requirement for the Virgin White Tea production!

Ceylon Tea Trails The trail of your own tea story…

A journey to experience Sri Lanka‟s rich history of tea production first hand would not be complete without a stay at one of the island‟s tea plantations. Sitting on verdant green mountains thousands of feet above sea level, you will find four luxury cottages, designed in colonial style with all the modern amenities you could wish for. Ceylon Tea Trails is only a few hours away from the capital, Colombo, with four estates scatted in the Golden Valley of Tea, the Bogawantalawa Valley.

Each villa, designed and built between 1890 and 1939, carries a stamp of authenticity and tradition, rich with period furnishings and drapery, taking you back to the time when the tea story began. Yet amidst the grandeur and elegance of the colonial heritage, Ceylon Tea Trails offers a homely atmosphere, unique to each bungalow, together with a Manager, Chef, Butler and support staff who cater to the guests‟ every need.

Sri Lanka’s Tea Heritage All bungalows are linked with trails famously known for the breathtaking scenery from any spot on the way.

Guests will find themselves lost in the simple yet insightful life of working at a tea estate. Andrew Taylor, the Resident Tea Planter, takes our guests through the remarkable tea making process; first, on a trek through the jungle in search of the best slopes of the plantation and then to watch the skilled tea pluckers as they pick the best leaves. You are then taken to the factory, complete with traditional British machinery, where the process is concluded and the tea leaves are converted into a delicious blend of Ceylon black tea.

Diethelm Travel Sri Lanka works in close partnership with Ceylon Tea Trails and is happy to arrange a stay at this beautiful Relais & Chateaux property including sightseeing options and a morning spent with Andrew Taylor.

Contact us for more information.

Singapore – The Green City Singapore is dubbed “The Garden City” in many tourist brochures and boasts numerous parks and tree-lined roads all over the island. To have almost fifty percent of the Island covered in greenery is the result of a long term “greening” process which began in 1963. It was back then, in the sixties, when Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launched the annual treeplanting campaign and envisaged that Singapore would become a clean and green city in the future. Since then, much effort and considerable resources have been expended to fulfill his vision.

However, over and beyond just being clean and green, the government is nowadays concerned with environmental sustainability to achieve a healthy life for its people. The three challenges Singapore faces are clean air, clean water and clean land.

From Green Vehicle Rebate for drivers of hybrid vehicles to smoke-free areas, water treatment and desalination plants to successful education efforts in order to reduce and recycle waste, it is no surprise that Singapore was recently rated Asia‟s greenest metropolis by the independent Economic Intelligent Unit (EIU). The study concludes that Singapore stands out in particular for its ambitious environmental targets and efficient approach in achieving them.

Being surrounded by water, the flora in Singapore comprises of both land and sea varieties. Along the coastline varieties of mangroves can be seen including some very rare examples such as the black mangrove.

Singapore has a number of hardwood trees and flowering plants too and is home to more than 3000 species of orchids including the Vanda Miss Joaquim Flower, the national flower of Singapore.

Singapore Green Walking Tours Whether you are a serious botanist or just a visitor who appreciates the wonder and beauty of plants, Singapore will not disappoint you. Below are some destinations for those who wish to discover and enjoy the flora of Singapore: HortPark HortPark is a unique venue where gardening enthusiasts gather for recreational, educational, research and retail activities under one roof in a park setting. Opening hours are from 6 am to 10 pm, and visitors can also enjoy a leisurely stroll through the various gardens. These include the Balinese Garden, the Spice Garden and the Floral Walk, just to name a few. Of special mention is the Native Garden, which contains the highest concentration of native plants in urban Singapore.

The Singing Forest Over 200 carefully selected fruit trees were planted at the Southern Ridges which span the hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park. An initiative by the National Parks Board to

Singapore Green Walking Tours celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity, the Singing Forest is a haven for bird lovers who enjoy listening to and spotting birds.

Singapore Botanic Gardens Opened in 1859 in its present location at Cluny Road, the Singapore Botanic Gardens occupy an area of about 183 acres. Visitors to the Gardens will be rewarded with a wide variety of equatorial plants and unique flowers to explore. Located within the premises are the National Orchid Garden, a small Rainforest and the Ginger Garden.

The Gardens are open from 5 am to midnight every day throughout the year and admission is free.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve If you are curious about mangrove forests, this reserve is the ideal place to visit. See one of the rarest mangrove trees in the world, take a leisurely walk along the boardwalks and marvel at the rich diversity of the flora and fauna in the reserve.

Opening hours are from 7:30 am to 7 pm daily. Entry is free except on weekends and public holidays.

Steamed Chinese Pork Buns Ingredients 2 cups plain flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup warm water 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons reduced-salt soy sauce 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 2 tablespoons Shao hsing rice wine 2 teaspoons cornflour 1 teaspoon sesame oil 250g Chinese barbecue pork (char-siu pork), finely chopped

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Preparation Method 1. Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add tablespoons of sugar and salt. Gradually add combined water and oil. Stir to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface.

Knead until smooth. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Recipe source: www.taste.com.au

Place soy and oyster sauces, rice wine, remaining sugar and cornflour into a jug.

Whisk to combine.

Heat a wok or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add sesame oil, pork and soy mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, or until mixture comes to the boil. Set aside to cool.

Divide dough into 10 portions. Cover with a tea towel to prevent dough from drying out.

Working with 1 portion at a time, roll dough into a 12cm round. Place a spoonful of pork mixture into centre of each round. Draw edges up to form buns. Pinch tops together.

Pour water into a wok or deep frying pan until it is one-third full. Bring to the boil over high heat. Line a bamboo steamer with baking paper and place over wok (make sure it doesn't touch water). Place 5 buns into steamer. Cover with steamer lid.

Cook for 15 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean. Keep warm. Repeat with remaining buns. Serve.

Recipe

Vegetarian Festival, Phuket: 27 Sep 2011 – 05 Oct 2011 During the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar (usually late September to early October), Phuket residents of Chinese ancestry observe a strict nine day vegetarian or vegan diet. It is believed that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the festival will help to obtain good health and peace of mind.

One of the most interesting aspects for visitors to Phuket are the various ceremonies that take place during the festival. The rituals are performed at the six Chinese temples or shrines scattered throughout Phuket and include acts such as firewalking and body piercing. Visitors can watch the street processions where believers walk in a trance, their cheeks punctured with knives and skewers.

Apart from the parades and festivities around the temples, visitors should try the various vegetarian dishes available at markets and street stalls during the festival. Food vendors who participate are easily spottable, as they mount yellow flags with red characters (Thai or Chinese).

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