My current assignment took me to the Sungai Liang—Labi
rainforest about 45 minutes away from where I live. It all
started with an overseas client request for photographs of large
pitcher plants known locally as Somboi-Somboi. Originally the
idea was to photograph the ones found at Belalong in Temburong,
three districts away. I approached a number of contacts who are
botany experts residing locally and abroad who know more than a
thing or two about the variety found in our backyard. Note that
in my anticipation of this assignment, I erroneously typed the
local name as Samboi-Samboi when it should have been Somboi-
Somboi. I want to take this opportunity to thank Hans Dols
(Brunei Shell Petroleum), Dr Ulrike Bauer (University of
Cambridge) for steering me in the right direction and also Neesa
Johnlee (University Brunei Darussalam) for her “big blue sign”
direction to where we eventually found these plants. She co-
authored this BBC Earth News article with her lecturer. Last but
not least, thanks Anthony for spend