Rafflesia: I’ll have to Settle for Normal Flower Seeds
Author: admin
© Antoine Hubert
Sumatra has had its share of sadness in the last decade. It's been shaken by earthquake after earthquake and washed over by a monster tsunami. But while most people think of carnage and disaster when you say the island's name, the truth is that Sumatra is a fascinating and beautiful place to visit.
Lake Toba in Northern Sumatra is the world's largest volcanic lake. The 60 mile long lake has a super volcano sitting on an island in the middle of the lake. The volcano is thought to have been the site of the largest volcanic eruption in human history about 70 or 80 thousand years ago.
The city of Palembang in the southern part of Sumatra was once the seat of the huge Srivijaya Empire that covered much of Southeast Asia and lasted over 600 years. The empire was responsible for the spread of Buddhism in Southeast Asia.
But the natural wonders of the island are the greatest attraction, in my opinion. Tigers, orangutans, and the Sumatran rhinoceros come to mind. But the plant life is just as fascinating. I was lucky enough once to see a rafflesia in the wild. It's the biggest flower in the world (and the worst smelling). As much as I'd like to have something this exotic growing in my own backyard, I'll have to settle for normal flower seeds, I guess.
Sumatra should not be missed.
