Our journey began at 5.30 p.m. on the
10th March 2000 (Friday). Dato' Hashim, Mr.
Tan, Master Kevin Woon, Master Wong and Ms.
Shanny Lim provided their cars as
transportation. This 6 hours trip consited
of 20 members including our Danish visitors
Katrine, Marianne and Anja.
The Firefly Park Resort is located at
Bukit Belimbing, Kuala Selangor, along a
transquil river 300 feet wide and a few
kilometers long. Upon arrival, we were
greeted by the Kuala Selangore Court
Magistrate, En. Ahmad Sanusi and were
invited to a dinner at the resort
restaurant.
Right after, we were escorted to the
jetty, where modern fiberglass boats were
used. The boars are electronically powered,
ensuring optimum silence. The 20 of us
managed to fit into 2 boats, 10 in each, one
covered, the other open aired. We then
silently went upstream along the Selangor
River. The reason for the silence was an
effort not to alarm the fireflies.
As we were cruising upstream in the dark,
we started to make out faint patches of
blinking light on the river bank far ahead.
Slowly, we noticed the outline of the trees,
and the tiny lights on it.
The fireflies were inhibiting the
branches of the "berembeng" trees
along the riverbank. Millions of fireflies
were flashing in synchrony. The lights were
only about the size of pinheads but it
looked like a festival scene with lights all
over.
We were informed that the flashing of the
lights were actually a mating ritual. Male
fireflies would light up to signal their
desire for mates - and willing females
respond with flashes of their own. Another
enlightening matter is that the fireflies
only inhibit "berembeng" trees,
which explains why some trees were
unlighted.
It was a short 40 minutes ride up and down
stream a good mosquito feeding session.
However, appreciating one of nature's wonder
was truly an exhilarating experience worth
the effort.
At the end of the trip, we were invited
to a nearby hotel for refreshments by
courtesy of En. Ahmad Sanusi.
The whole trip was proven to be
interesting and knowledeable to all of us
proving yet another fruitful outing.
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