Paphs. in situ - here: Paph. niveum

After we left the island of Sumatra after ten days of vacation, the islands of Penang and Langkawii were on our travel program. This trip took place in 1986 and the photos were taken as slides, which lost some of their quality when scanned - I apologize for that.

To get to Penang Hill, we wanted to use the cable car. Two school classes also had this idea that day - patience was required.

At the mountain station we saw the object of our desire – a Paph. barbatum blooming in a flowerpot.

Unfortunately, we were unable to get any information about the location. We then looked for different ways to get a little deeper into the jungle. We were accompanied by a deafening noise from the cicadas, some of which sounded like circular saws.

Here, too, we were guided by pictures by Dr. Fowlie from the magazine Orchid Digest.

the green hell:

Although the vegetation we found looked very similar to Dr. Fowlie's pictures from the Orchid Digest, we did not find any lady's slippers.

A great day in the middle of the jungle was about to end, although we got a little lost in the meantime - everything was just green.

The next day we continued on to the Langkawi Islands. In 1986 there was only one luxury hotel on the main island, but a few bungalows. Everyone fetched water from the well with a metal canister - that's how you shower too.

Over the next few days, we visited the main island and quickly found the first orchids along the way.

Fighting fish were offered at the market for little money. Anyone who stays in the jungle has to expect leeches.

The many small and uninhabited islands offered unique beach experiences - pure relaxation.

and directly on the beach Bulbophyllum

Our actual goal, however, was to search for Paph. niveum. We showed our pictures to countless people - only one local wanted to know the location. We arranged to go on a boat trip to an offshore island the next day.

We circled the island once without seeing Paphios on the rock. Without great expectations, the boat driver dropped us off on the island. But on the small hilltop we found the object of our desire: Paph. niveum growing directly in loamy but crumbly soil.

The strenuous climb was once again worth it. The soil sample we took was analyzed at home.