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2012 Biennial of the IPS - Part 1: South Thailand Pre-Tour


Trópico

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Endless rows of gum tree can be seen on either side of the road. It's amazing how perfectly straight they are planted. Note the slash and the cup underneath to pick the gum. Our guide explained to us how they achieved straight vertical growth by planting closer together then later on removing every other from the line. Sometimes they use the grounds below for pineapple plantations.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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If not gum tree, then oil palm is planted instead. Thailand is the third producer of palm oil, the first two being Indonesia and Malaysia. Oil palm production in Thailand is concentrated mostly in the southern provinces and small land holders produce about 80% of the total oil production.

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Part of the Ton Tok waterfall system.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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1:40 PM: Location: Ton Tok Waterfall, Palian, Trang.

Some South Thai background music:

We arrived at our first destination of the Biennial Pre-Tour. Since our flight was delayed according to the itinerary, we had to do some last minute changes to our schedule. This resulted in not being able to go to Na Khao Sia Village to see Metroxylon sagu :crying: and see the locals make sagu powder. Other than that, we did not have to cancel any other destinations for the rest of the Pre-Tour.

Members enter the park, which consists of a trail system interconnecting two main waterfalls: Ton Tae waterfall (post #42, last picture above) and Ton Tok (below). Ton Tae drops 320 meters and is called "king of waterfalls" in the area, while Ton Tok is a smaller one with a natural swimming pool at the bottom (with no leeches!).

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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We stopped to admire this large Arenga species.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Wooden bridges interconnect the path when small streams interrupt, which offers a good vantage point for both video or photos.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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A Caryota in habitat, possibly Caryota mitis.

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Slowly but relatively quickly we made it to our destination, Ton Tok Waterfall.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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The advantages of photo ranch hands: I can be in the pictures!

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Ton Tok Waterfall is truly spectacular, especially during the rainy season. Swimming is probably better during non rainy season.

Ton Tok's location in the Trang province:

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Thai scooters are an alternative to hiking, even over the flimsy wooden bridges.

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Upon return to the park's entrance we were treated with fresh Thai fruits. From left to right, bananas (do I have to tell you which?), langsat (in the bunches up front), rambutan (red hairy thingies), longan (loose bunch, behind), durian (spiky large fruit and cut fruit in the front), watermelon (the large red one that the guy is holding, with black seeds).

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Very fresh rambutan. Delicious!

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Langsat's innards.

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Cover your noses and say "ah!" Delicious durian. As our guide told us: "Costs like gold, tastes like heaven, smells like hell".

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Hi Frank, the coverage is amazing! We also had a Korean Air flight (which was 13 hours from Los Angeles!), but we even had the same meal...BaBimPa, or something like that. The pre tour looks great and the palms look great too, if you like that sort of thing!

I had the best time in Thailand and your pictures made me want to go back. I hope we meet again sometime.

best regards to you and your wife,

Peter

Peter

hot and humid, short rainy season May through October, 14* latitude, 90* longitude

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Frank,

The palm with the white fruit is Iguanura. Possibly I. tenuis, because of the white fruit. Unless it's some other species from Malaysia.

Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

and The Rainforest Collection.

Southwest Ranches,Fl.

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Frank,,

Thank you very much for the excellent coverage. Looking forward to more :yay: :yay: :yay: .

Robert

Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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"Infusions from this leaf make me happy..." Ok, really I don't remember what he was saying, and I came late just in time to snap the picture, but not catch a word of what those leaves are and what for. If anyone knows, please post.

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Pollo asado!

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Members sought cover after getting bottled water from the guides, just as the rain began to pick up pace.

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IPS Director Don Martin gets a towel from wife Heather just as member Dan Ashley (KONADANTOM) packs his green poncho.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Buses turned around, all ready to go.

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"You must not be taller than this to enter..." Ok, not likely, but interesting gate.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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25 minutes or so after we arrived at the fruit reception, IPS Director Grant Stephenson (palm a grant it) arrived all of a sudden, and dripping wet. He posed for a picture while members made funny comments about it. He was the only one to cross the river and venture very close to the waterfall. His passport survived, and probably his camera too.

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Caryota mitis. As if somebody purchased it at their local Home Depot and planted it there. But no, this is an habitat photo!

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"Happy room, anyone?"

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Ton Tae waterfall behind a pair of Areca catechu.

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3:27 PM: Finally was time to hit the road.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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4:00 PM: Location: Peninsular Botanic Garden (Thung Khai), Yan Ta Khao, Trang, Thailand

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Located in the Thung Khai District (approximately 10 km south of the provincial capital of Trang), the Peninsular Botanical Garden was established in 1993 upon the suggestion of the Prime Minister Chuan Leekphai, who wished to have a botanical garden of international standard and to promote research in Peninsular Thailand. It is located in Thung Khai Arboretum, which is part of the Thung Khai Forest Reserve.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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They have some of the best Licuala peltata var. sumawongii

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Just behind the auditorium building they planted this nice Licuala peltata var. sumawongii forest.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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A Livistona, possibly rotundifolia.

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The Licuala forest above, under heavy paparazzi fire.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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4:13 PM: The IPS Pre-Tour sat on the auditorium to watch an introductory documentary about the Peninsular Botanic Garden.

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Possibly outdated or incomplete list of BG in Thailand.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Nenga pumila in habitat was a frequent sight in these parts.

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Borassodendron machadonis

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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The trail out of the auditorium and deep into the woods led us to the palm collection and eventually to the canopy walk.

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Just climb over here, and up there it is, the canopy walk! (for non people primates, maybe)

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Arenga

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The walk was relatively very easy.

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Itaya amicorum

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Livistona, but which one?

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Just beginning to trunk, but they can be tall!

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A dwarfish Areca catechu.

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Our guide showing us the underside of a leaf of Kerriodoxa elegans.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Itaya amicorum

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Members were given the privilege to leave a forever impression, by planting (we guessed) Licuala spinosa seedlings.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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This will look really nice in a few years

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Cruz de malta

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Salacca zalacca is cultivated in Thailand for its delicious fruit. This clustering, subterranean trunk palm is so spiny that it impales everything that touches it.

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A closeup of the leaflets, pictured only at the correct angle and focus, reveals yet another level of spines on its leaflets. This palm is only for the adventurous grower.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Its native cousin, Salacca wallichiana, has a much more interesting leaflet arrangement and is significantly larger overall. We saw it growing abundantly in many of the parks we visited.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Leaves of Caryota bacsonensis.

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4:43 PM: The group eventually reached the 175m long and 18m high Canopy Walkway.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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The evergreen tropical forest has four distinctive layers. The lowest is the Forest Floor Layer which is home to 4-12m tall trees, small plants, grass and mushrooms that only two per cent of sunlight can penetrate. It is inhabited by creatures big and small, as well as insects.

At 15-20 metres above the ground is the Under Storey Layer where only 2-15 per cent of sunlight can penetrate. It has bushes and small trees, birds, squirrels, butterflies, gecko, snakes and insects.

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After climbing to another level, looking back to where I came walking from. At 21-30m, is the Canopy Layer which boasts large trees with thick foliage like mersawa (krabak), hopea (takian) and Resak tembaga (khiam). Around half of all plant species in this world belong to this layer. It is where animals such as birds, flying lemurs, squirrels, slow loris and insects, live.

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Caryota

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Stairs to yet another level

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From the highest bridge

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The highest, called the Emergent Layer, is 31-40m above the ground. It comprises the tallest trees, which include mersawa (krabak) and Dipterocarpus gracilis (yang manmu) that can withstand heat and strong winds. It is home to bats, squirrels, flying lemurs, birds and insects.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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The Canopy Walkway allows for a better view of Salacca wallichiana's nice copperish new leaf.

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These look like Calamus seedlings.

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Calamus stem.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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On the way back, the climbing tree with odd corkscrew shape

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Arenga hookeriana

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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Nenga pumila has a formidable yellow crownshaft. It is closely related to Pinanga, hence the similarly sounding genus name.

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Frank

 

Zone 9b pine flatlands

humid/hot summers; dry/cool winters

with yearly freezes

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