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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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