Bird Watching

Bird watching here is good if you want to be here early. Spring and fall migrations are also good times.

Plants and Flowers

The botanical life here is spectacular!! It is amazing for people who live in the city and don't see many plants and flowers.

Food

The food here is pricy, but it's worth the money if you are going to be there for awhile.

Overall

A great one day vacation. If you are visiting Chicago or the area, it's a great place to stop.

The Grand Canyon was declared a nation park on February 26, 1919. It is not the largest canyon both The canyon has two rims, the north and south. The North rim is an average of 1200 feet higher than the south. The south rim is open 365 days and 24 hours a day. The North Rim is only open through May to November. All Firearms and fireworks are prohibited from the park. Pets are allowed in the park but not recommended and they must be on a leash at all times.

When hiking in the Grand Canyon it is highly suggested that you bring at least a gallon of water per person because of the hot dry air can easily pull moisture from your body. Water sources are available but are not available on most trails.

The Bottom of The Grand Canyon is 1850 feet above sea level and the highest point on the canyon is 9,000 feet above sea level. The canyon is 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide and covers over 1.2 million acres.

The place…? It's in Sarawak, a place that is considered off the beaten trek, on the northern strip of lands of Borneo Island, Malaysia's biggest state.

But it is considered by many as “heaven on earth” as far as balanced ecology is concerned. Away from the busy, rat race of daily routine and the grind of “stiff competitions” such is the ideal get-away place to revive tired souls.

The environment is in good shape, thus providing an excellent refuge for flora and fauna. The result ... clean oxygen is plentiful.

Unlike Bali, you will be able to enjoy the music of chirpy birds that are native only to Sarawak's jungle. Feel the cool, misty morning air that might not be available elsewhere in the world.

It's the place where the ecosystem is still managed and balanced, despite the advent of "developments".

In such jungles you will find clean, clear fresh water rivers abound where fish and other marines live. There too, you will find waterfalls generating the calm streams into oxygen-packed brooks for the fish, animals and people around them. The good thing is that such places are easily accessible by roads, by 4-wheel-drive (4-WD) pick-ups and on foot and only several kilometers from people's settlements.

Walking on foot will of course provide healthy exercises to your body, and also a better way to learn about plants, birds, beautiful sceneries along the way. Moreover, it's the best means to bask in the abundant unpolluted air and inhale it as deeply as possible.

Deeper into the primary forests you'll still meet up with the famed, people-like orangutans in their original habitats. This is despite the logging and oil palm activities. For the orangutans live in certain types of jungles away from these human commercial activities.

Birds, animals of Bornean native, monkeys, insects and more live in peace, with enough foods from the forests available for each and every one of them.

Come therefore to find out for yourself. For that is the best way to prove claims such these or otherwise!

To get to Sarawak is easy. You need take the plane from either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore to Kuching, the state capital. There are daily flights from the Kuala Lumpur route, using the Malaysia Airways (MAS) or the economy AirAsia plane.

If you choose to go to from Singapore there are several during the week using MAS.

You can also come to Sarawak through direct flights from Hong Kong that land in Kota Kinabalu in the state of Sabah, also a Malaysian state.

Their mission is to connect people with plants and to encourage them to take care of them. Also, to let them know how important the plants on our daily living.

Because of its outstanding dedication of the people behind this since it was started in 1951, its artistic presentation and real work of art, the garden becomes the favorite destination for more than 55 years. They are believed to be the outstanding resource of the country.

The people who are behind the garden's success and its highly acclaimed study on plants, they share a wealth of information and educate the people as well to be more inspired and learn while they're exploring the gardens.

There are more events and exhibits to inspire the guests especially those who love plants and flowers. Also, there are more items at the gift shop like unusual tools, fountains, seeds, vases, books, jewelry, soaps and stationary products, as well as gardening gift items for adults and children that you can purchase if you want to avail.

They offer the complete garden experience and give you education about plants and most importantly, how to preserve and conserve the plants around us for it ads beauty in our environment.

The highland is surrounded by lush rainforest said to be among the oldest in the world. Due to the thin air of the Highlands, one may find it slightly difficult to breathe. It is said that Cameron Highlands has 150 species of wild orchids and 1,500 species of ferns along the meandering road to the resort at higher latitudes. If you are lucky, you might even spot a mountain goat. The nature enthusiasts are recommended for a Hill Forest Nature Walk in search of pitcher plants and other flora. It is a 2.6 meter forest walk and it takes less than two-hours to complete. The enthusiasts will marvel at this unspoilt natural beauty along the journey, especially the wild blooms like lipsticks and orchids.

Terraced flower gardens, strawberry farms, orchards and vegetable gardens are the main features of Cameron Highlands. The flower gardens are grown with beautiful and fragrant flowers which come in many colors. One can buy the rose plants at a 20% discount and roses at 10% discount. You may bring home some rare roses plants for your lover or parents. In the strawberry farms, one can see lots of planted red strawberries. Ripe strawberries are sold in boxes according to sizes. You can also buy a bottle of homemade and tasty strawberry jam. Fresh fruits and leafy vegetables which can be eaten raw are grown in the vegetable gardens. There are also many fresh and big tomatoes grown here. The tea bushes are grown mostly on the hillsides. The tea leaves will pick and toss by the women carrying baskets behind their backs every seven or eight days. The leaves are then taken to the Sungai Palas tea factory for further processing. A picturesque tea plantation to Gunung Brinchang is an aerial view photography stop. Visitors may also amazed by the varieties of tea served at the "Umphh Tea Shop".

It is really an exciting cool highland to visit in Malaysia!

This garden is significant because it used to be a quarry and up until 1964 was an eyesore for the residents of Mount Eden and Epsom. Jack Clark, a horticulturist with vision had set about transforming this five acre blemish on the landscape into a haven for the enthusiastic gardener and a sanctuary for the birds. He and fifteen other volunteers converted the old quarry into an award winning Auckland Garden. It is a safe haven for the shy Fantails and when walking through these gardens you will see that they are very much in abundance as are the cheeky Tui birds. These gardens are a national showplace now and are maintained and developed by volunteer workers who give freely of their time and labour.

This is a map of the garden which is made up of paths whose names are a commemoration of Society members who were prominent in developing that particular area.

The terrain can be tiresome for some, as it goes up to lookouts and down steep inclines but there is a wheelchair available and access along the paths is generous. There is a drinking fountain on one of the paths and a café to sit down and enjoy the scenery and a have a tasty lunch. The facilities are very welcoming as are the people who are working here. There are plenty of seats along the way so you can sit and enjoy the birdsong and the quiet of nature. If you are into photography there are many photo opportunities to take advantage of too. It would be easy to spend some time here.

The plants of year round interest would have to be the native ferns, Rhododendron vireya,Palms, Conifers and Bromeliads. This garden has the largest and most varied collections of Camelias in the country. There are horticultural shows hosted throughout the year and of course varied seasonal attractions.

For further information about the garden go to Eden Garden.