On March-April 2016,I co-led a botanical tour focused on orchids. We visited several very interesting sites on both Sabah and Sarawak. Although, the number of flowering orchids was lower than what we anticipated, because ot the El Nino event, it was still, from my point of view, a very satisfying experience, one I will certainly remember for many years to come.
When I initially planned that trip, I wanted to cap my stay in Borneo with a mini-expedition of 4 days on Gunung Tambuyukon, one of the most interesting peak Sabah has to offer. So, after I waved goodbye to my guests and my expedition leader, friend Alastair Robinson, I returned to Sabah for a very short rest before I would embark for an ultimate ascent.
I have to say that after two weeks with a bunch of affable Orchid enthusiasts, I was happy to be with solely with a couple of friends, Damien and Clément, with no responsibility at all. I would thus be just another visitor of the mysterious Tambuyukon...
This post is the first of a series that will be exclusively dedicated on Gunung Tambuyukon. While we were girding ourselves for the stenuous effort that was awaiting for us by having a quick snack and a last checking of our material, I couldn't help to take the chance to observe the surrounding shrubs and trees.
I was happy over the moon to spot a lovely lantern bug that was hiding several meters above the ground. This was apparently Pyrops whiteheadi, a fulgoridae that is well known from Sabah. I saw this as a good omen and as we started our ascent a few moments later, I mused and wondered how many discoveries were awaiting for us. Oh, we would not be disappointed. :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment