Borneo Orchid Show

Borneo sounds exotic and more often than not conjures images of unexplored jungles,
primates and in the minds of the uninitiated, people still living in tree tops.

However the reality is quite different. On this large island are three different nations, the largest of which is Kalimantan, a part of Indonesia and the sovereign nation of Brunei sandwiched between the two Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah.

Just a few days ago the Borneo Orchid Show was officiated by the country's TOurism Minister. It was showcased in one of the shopping malls in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of East Malaysia.
The air-conditioned premises made it more comfortable to view the displays of many varieties of orchids in Sabah.

Indeed the different species of orchids are beautiful to behold.
Some blooms were large while others were tiny, just about one centimeter across.



The Slipper Orchid, a very rare species,
has been chosen to be Sabah's official bloom, just as the red hibiscus is Malaysia's national flower. Its beauty is ethereal compared to the rafflesia, the world's largest bloom.



Flowers are always associated with beauty and different flowers carry messages, for example, the red rose symbolises love which is why on Valentine's Day, red roses are de rigeur. Orchids have always been regarded as exotic blooms, rare and expensive, a highly valued gift and to have a hybrid named after one, is indeed an honour. How would you like to be compared to an orchid?