Liew Chin Chow led more than 35 members and day trippers to Gopeng and then on to Ulu Geruntum to see the world’s largest largest flower, Rafflesia which can be found not far from the vehicles parking area. It was not a leisurely trek but the pace was as the slippery and steep slopes caused traffic jams and slowed down the whole group. No blooms were seen but more than twenty buds of different sizes were seen. Member Lau Kah Hoo was among those who participated and it was so memorable he put in writing almost as soon as he reached home a report for Nature Notes And News (see A Trail To Be Remembered).

Although our objective was to see the Rafflesia blooms there were also other natural wonders to observe. Members got a glimpse of the lives of the orang asli villagers. Trekking along the kilometer long laterite road we saw how the orang asli catch butterflies to supply to a few licensed butterfly farms and exporters. It was a sad sight to see so many butterflies lay dead along the trail. The chairman noted the presence of a gesneriad that is not commonly seen, a Cyrtandra, but very common along the stream leading to the Rafflesia site. Also found growing profusely along the stream was a rhizomatous begonia. Both male and female pink and almos white flowers were found but few seed pods. Bird life was noted but difficult to identify because of thick foliage.