26/02/2012 Tropical Spice Garden

Tropical Spice Garden is situated in what was once an abandoned, rubber plantation along Penang's north-western shores. It took the vision and determination of David and Rebecca Wilkinson funded by Bertam Consolidated Rubber Co. Ltd. who with a talented team that have included Lim In Chong, Frederick Walker, and still include Katharine Chua and husband Kenneth Khoo, have transformed an overgrown plot into this garden of unique design and soul into a remarkable eco-tourism venture.

Actual work on-site took 1 ½ years to complete, and involved the major challenge of harmonising over 500 species of tropical flora with the natural valley fronting the Straits of Malacca. It was crucial to preserve as much of the original indigenous flora and fauna while maintaining the original topography of the site to give the Garden a timeless, natural feel. Many of the existing rubber trees were left undisturbed, to give shade and shelter to visitors (and also to the Garden's smaller inhabitants).

Water plays a prominent role in the Garden, and the design team was able to skillfully re-route the water from a small nearby waterfall through a series of man-made canals into a pond by the visitors' entrance. From many parts of the Garden, visitors can hear the gentle, relaxing gurgle of water meandering through the grounds.

(source: http://www.tropicalspicegarden.com/about.php)

My friend from Kuala Lumpur visited me on the last 2 days, as Penangnites, I decided to bring him to the Tropical Spice Garden for some photo shooting. Below are some of my works: