Smelliest flower in the world

Sir Thomas Raffles, otherwise known as "the father of Singapore" and namesake of the famous Raffles hotel, died in 1826 at just 44 years of age. A statesman of great wit and ability, he was amongst other things, honoured with introducing partial self-government in Java and stopping the slave trade.

After leading an expedition to Indonesia, he was given the dubious honour of having a unique genus of flowering plant, Rafflesia, named after him. Credited with one of the largest single flowers of any flowering plant in the world, the Rafflesia are pollinated by flies, which they lure with the smell of rotting flesh...not the sort of flower you'd put in a vase and take home for Mother's Day! This one was photographed in Sabah by Chris Sanderson just recently.

Chris also saw the beautiful Raffles Malkoha (you guessed it, also named after Sir Thomas Raffles), Proboscis Monkeys and a range of other spectacular wildlife (see http://sabah.birds.wildiaries.com).

Raffles Malkoha

The Countryside is Rock Music

A departure from the usual posts to this forum, I thought I'd mention the arrival of British Sea Power on our shores this week. BSP are a highly acclaimed band with an incredible bibliography that includes guest appearances on Jools Holland, David Letterman and have even covered "I am a Cider Drinker" with the Wurzels"...it doesn't get much better than that!! The band describes themselves as "inspired by the countryside" and as "oddball, eccentric, English Indie rockers". They've even appeared on the TV program Countryfile...they performed the following song outdoors on Canvey Island:



They are no strangers to the world of ornithology. In fact, they have been known to appear in the famed Scillonian Club on the Isles of Scilly during the usual October birding extravaganza in the UK. Last week, guitarist Martin Noble assembled his own bird song compilation (http://caughtbytheriver.net/2010/01/birdsongs/)...a demo of the Great Skua can be found on this link. There'll be a new (fifth) album out we are told, following the Australian tour.

The last album, which is well worth a look, is a CD/DVD compilation which features their music set to a 1930s black and white film documentary about "Man of Aran". It features amazing footage of a basking shark hunt using traditional techniques. If going to gigs isn't your thing and the idea of rock music offends your palate, then try out Man of Aran for a taste of British Sea Power's creative brilliance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0RAdfrQwvo.



Albums

• The Decline of British Sea Power (2003)
• Open Season (2005)
• Do You Like Rock Music?
• Man Of Aran

British Sea Power are playing at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne (19 February 8.30pm), in Perth from 17-18 Feb and in NSW from 19-21 February. For more details, see http://www.yourgigs.com.au/artist/?102143

Here's another of my favourites...

LIGHTS OUT FOR DARKER SKIES