08/03/2026

ON SUNDAY March 8, 2026 theSunday Special VIII

Chasing natural wonders in Malaysia BY ASHRAF WAHAB

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W HEN people talk about natural wonders, we tend to think of faraway places – Japan’s cherry blos soms, Iceland’s northern lights or Costa Rica’s rainforest. But here’s the thing: Malaysia has its own kind of magic, though many of us overlook it because it’s not hyped on travel shows. From glowing plankton and mysterious misty valleys to gigantic jungle blooms that smell like death, the country is full of extraordinary natural phenomena. You just have to know where and when to look. Here’s a guide to Malaysia’s most spell binding sights, the kind that remind you nature still has a few tricks up its sleeve. W RUOG¶V ODUJHVW ÀRZHU I W¶V WKH VWX̆ RI OHJHQGV ² D ÀRZHU VR ELJ LW can reach a metre across, yet so elusive it EORRPV RQO\ IRU D IHZ GD\V 7KH 5D̈ HVLD is Malaysia’s superstar plant, drawing both scientists and curious travellers alike. Found mainly in the rainforests of Borneo, this parasitic flower lives off WKH URRWV RI D YLQH DQG JLYHV R̆ D VWURQJ unmistakable scent that’s been described DV ³URWWLQJ PHDW ´ 7KH VPHOO DWWUDFWV ÀLHV which pollinate it. The most accessible spots to see it are Gunung Gading National Park in Sarawak and the Rafflesia Information Centre in Tambunan, Sabah. Gunung Gading is particularly well-known for regular blooms of the Rafflesia tuan-mudae species – the park even posts updates on LWV Ṙ FLDO )DFHERRN SDJH ZKHQHYHU RQH

opens up. If you’re in Sabah, head to Poring 5D̈ HVLD &RQVHUYDWLRQ &HQWUH QHDU 5DQDX where guides keep tabs on blooming sites and can take you on short treks to see them. Timing, however, is everything. 7KHUH¶V QR ¿[HG ³VHDVRQ´ ± EXW ZHWWHU months like November to February often bring a better chance. Bring sturdy shoes, expect mud and go in with realistic expectations. You’re ORRNLQJ IRU D ÀRZHU WKDW GRHVQ¶W SOD\ E\ KXPDQ VFKHGXOHV %XW ZKHQ \RX GR ¿QG one, that bright red bloom – alive, alien and massive – is unforgettable. Bioluminescent beaches and ¿UHÀ\ ULYHUV Y RX GRQ¶W KDYH WR À\ WR 3XHUWR 5LFR RU WKH Maldives to see glowing waters. Malaysia has its own luminous show after dark, thanks to millions of microscopic plankton DQG FRORQLHV RI ¿UHÀLHV OLJKWLQJ XS ULYHUV and coastlines. For fireflies, the best-known spot is Kampung Kuantan in Kuala Selangor. A short boat ride down the Selangor River takes you past mangrove trees that glitter like Christmas lights. The spectacle is caused by Pteroptyx tener , a species of V\QFKURQRXV ¿UHÀ\ WKDW ÀDVKHV LQ SHUIHFW unison – one of only a few species in the world that does this.

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Step into the shallow water, move your hand and watch it light up with tiny blue sparks – nature’s version of glow-in-the dark confetti. A few travel operators run evening or overnight tours from Pulau Pangkor or Lumut, but note that Pulau Sembilan is part of a marine park and overnight stays are restricted. Tour responsibly: Don’t stir the water excessively or use bright ÀDVKOLJKWV DV WKH\ GLVUXSW WKH SODQNWRQ Other islands, such as Pulau Lang Tengah and Pulau Perhentian, also oc casionally experience this phenomenon, particularly between April and September, when the sea is warm and calm.

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Local boatmen know the rhythm of these glowing insects and night cruises run nightly (weather permitting). To get WKH IXOO H̆ HFW DYRLG IXOO PRRQ QLJKWV DQG bright torchlight. The best time? Around 8 pm, when the river is calm and the darkness complete. Then there’s Pulau Sembilan in Perak, a cluster of small islands south of Pangkor, where you can witness bioluminescent plankton glowing along the shoreline.