Rare, really smelly Sumatran “Corpse Flower” to bloom at Houston museum

by Laurel Miller on

The botanical world is a fascinating thing, but fans of “Little Shop of Horrors” will be especially excited about the eminent blooming of the endangered Amorphophallus titanum, at the Cockrell Butterfly Center at Houston’s Museum of Natural Science. Nicknamed the “Corpse Flower” for the unholy stench it emits in bloom, the phallic-looking plant is one of the largest, rarest flowers in the world. Native to parts of Indonesia (I’ve seen Raffelsia, a similar flower from a different family, on a trek in Thailand’s stunning Khao Sok National Park) these suckers can reach up to 10 feet in height, with a diameter of up to six feet. Early explorers in Sumatra actually believed the flower was a man-eating plant.

“Lois,” Cockrell’s resident Corpse Flower, is about to bloom for the first time, and visitors can check it out for themselves in person, or via webcam. Lois even has her own blog, and Twitter account (not affiliated with the museum). Says Dr. Nancy Greig, director of the Center, “The Corpse Flower is unique because it’s totally unpredictable. No one really knows what triggers a given plant to flower, and [it may] flower once in its lifetime. We’ve had ours for six years and this is the first time it has bloomed-we’re very lucky. It may be the largest, smelliest flower in the world, but its beauty is unparalleled.” Lois is one of perhaps only 30 cultivated Corpse Flowers to ever bloom in the U.S..

If you want to see (and smell) Lois for yourself, she’s due to flower at any second; the museum is open 24 hours until she does. Check her blog for updates.

[Photo credit: Flickr user lornagrl]

Is Thailand Safe Now?

by Andrew Evans on

Yeah, pretty much.

A full month has passed since Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the slightly Orwellian-sounding CRES (Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation) gave themselves an all-clear. The official sigh of relief follows a few weeks of fairly intense civil unrest–the chaos of ongoing street protests between yellow-shirted PAD and the red-shirted UDD claimed 88 lives and caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage and lost business. The violence only ended following an agreement to hold general elections this coming November. Since then, the Thai government has been implementing a number of important changes in order to return the country back to normal. (But honestly, was Thailand ever normal? I mean, does anyone fly 16 hours to a country because it’s normal?)

Although the emergency decree remains in place, the curfew has been lifted in Bangkok and the country. (That’s a very good thing because Bangkok with a curfew is like going on a date with your parents in the backseat.) A far more encouraging sign is that the US State Department has ended their travel advisory for Thailand, even disappearing it from their website.

If it was anywhere else in the world, this on-again/off-again safety status might seem alarming, but those who know Thailand understand how quickly people settle back into a peaceful, “life-is-good” sort-of existence. It’s also important to remember that the most recent protests were concentrated in very specific areas of Bangkok. Few signs remain that anything was ever amok.

Hesitant tourists are the unfortunate result of any political instability, no matter how short-lived. The resulting drop in foreign visitors to Thailand has instigated a price war among hotels and resorts across the country–if you thought Thailand used to be cheap, it just got a whole lot cheaper. A number of awesome deals are up for the taking, like Thai Airwarys’ Discover Thailand pass (fly to any 3 cities within Thailand for $278).It will take a long time for tourism to recover, for sure. To encourage reluctant travelers, the Thai Tourist Authority is now waiving visa requirements and all fees for any American traveler wishing to stay beyond the normally-allotted 30 days. Already eager to please as a culture, Thai businesses are also bending over backwards to accomodate visitors. All flights are running normally at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, which, for the record, is a far more efficient airport than JFK and LAX put together.

Regardless, travelers to any foreign country should always follow a “Stay Informed” mantra. Before you go anywhere (be it Ireland, Italy, or South Dakota), it’s best to make yourself aware of the political situation. People versus parliament is a universal struggle (see Tea Party) but in Thailand, there is a long back story to the back and forth between people, government and military. There is also a very long history of peace. The beaches aren’t bad either.

(Photo Credits: Ratchaprasong and The Media Slut on Flickr)

Photo of the Day (05.22.10)

by Mike Barish on

What is it with kids today? They always have their hair in their eyes, scowls on their faces and loud music blasting in their iPods. Why all the angst? And why do they all smell like they sprayed an entire bottle of Abercrombie & Fitch cologne on themselves? I blame the MTV. Or maybe it’s that Justin Bieber. Speaking of which, who the hell is Justin Bieber? Anyways, it’s nice to see that emo haircuts and forlorn looks have made their way to rural Thailand. Flickr user AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker found this hipster in a hill town in Chiang Dao. I’m guessing he loves Twilight.

Have a picture of a kid who hates his parents? Or maybe just some awesome travel photos? Upload them to our Flickr pool and we use one for a Photo of the Day.

Top Travel Trips: April 2010

by Melanie Nayer on

Festivals come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re heading out for a ride on the carousel at your town’s local spring gathering or booking flights to partake in parties around the world, there’s something exciting about the festival. This month, we found two of the most diverse and entertaining festivals to highlight:

Songkran Festival, Thailand: Of all the feasts and festivals in Thailand, the Songkran Festival is the most expansive because it’s widely observed in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and the Lao State. Songkran is a Sanskrit word which means the “entry of the sun” into any sign of the Zodiac – in this particular instance, the sun enters the sign of Aries or the Ram. This celebration of the vernal equinox coincides with the Thai New Year. The Songkran Festival begins on April 13 and ends April 15, 2010.

Coachella Valley Music Festival, California: The three-day annual music and arts festival takes place in Indio, California, and features music from alternative rock, hip hop, and electronic music legends. This year’s lineup includes everyone from De La Soul to Jay-Z. Festival passes are currently available for $269 for all three days (April 16-18).

Photo of the Day (3.31.10)

by Melanie Nayer on

Traveling – whether by plane, car, boat or train – can be a dramatic experience. This photo of the day, courtesy of feserc, is properly titled “Traveling” and was taken at Ao Phang-Nga National Park in Thailand.

This photos shows that even a still shot can embrace movement, and that travel (despite it’s bad rap for chaos and diversion) can be a peaceful experience.

Have a photo you want considered for our Photo of the Day? Upload it to the Gadling Flickr Pool, and we might choose it as a feature. Enjoy your journey!