Tog Tan

Thanks my buddy! I think a bunch of you should come over here for an eco holiday. It's not expensive cos my brother comes back from Philadelphia every now and then. Moreover, it's a small country with lots of forest so we don't need to run around like chickens without heads! If you try that in Thailand and Indonesia, you will go broke traveling. Food is great here and diversified, you can get Chinese, Malay(Northern and Southern), Indian, Western(all types) and Thai cheap. One end of the country to the other is only 10 hrs. Southern Thailand is only 7 hrs away. Fishing is great here and in S Thailand. We can always leave the 'fishy' guys to get us food(if they are any good as they claim) and we can go musa and plant hunting. Whadaya think?

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Chironex

3 of my favorite things to do, eat, fish and play with bananas!

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Scot

Tog Tan

Scot, I understand the first two love of your life, now the third one......I hope the ladies here won't think differently of you now......whadaya think Lorax?

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

buzzwinder

Toooo Funny to comment!

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Bill for my friend

Raules

Tog, photos very beautiful! Wild bananas beautifully look in jungle, let it and a weed, but it very much we love me. Many thanks for a photo and the information. And when it will start to blossom at you?

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Tropical agriculturist

Christian

I am only 3 days late to post on this!! Talking about being at the forefront of banana discovery...

We have all now established that Malaysia is the place to be, but most of us can't get there. So I think Tog you need to expand on your jungle reporting and start YouTubing!! I think we definitely need a banana channel on TV!

Talking about food: Biggest mistake I ever made in Thailand when I was still travel inexperienced was to eat Spaghetti Bolognese on a small island without electricity. Big mistake. I am happy I got down alive. And here is a word to all the hippy travellers you can find in those remote places because they apparently 'cool': 'You are a greatly unhelpful lot, just caring about yourself!'. No movie has ever revived memories of the past as much as 'The Beach'. Those who have seen it will know what I mean, I guess.

On a slightly more banana note: In Sri Lanka I came across a banana which was as waxy underneath as the one on your picture Tog. On top of that I seem to remember (but my memories are fading now) that even the upper side of the leaves were very waxy. It was in a botanical garden, but the plant was in a neglected corner, and I believe was not deliberately planted there. I now believe that that might have been the Musa acuminate ssp. that grows wild there. Gabe, please remind me of the name - I have forgotten. Your pictures Tog reminded me of this. I was so taken by the white appearance that I would have almost become a thief, would I have had some tools for digging.

Christian

Tog Tan

Ah... I think the plant you saw is the M-a-s-burmancoides. However, there is so much debate about it and the M-a-s-burmanica. Some experts say same-same, some say no same.

I am after one of the gang which comes from Bandung, Indonesia - the M-a-s-acuminata aka M-a var cerifera. Know why Christian? The locals use the wax from it undersides as the wax for their batik! It seems the wax is so thick that you get 'white' when you come into contact with it.

I find the Musa acuminata gang amusing(cofusing) and I am on a long(lonely) journey to collect hopefully all of its gang members.
Thanks for your kind words. About You-Tube-ing!, I need a leading man in my production, you interested? Great wardrobe provided, 'naner leaf loin wrap.

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Christian

If it is that waxy I want one!! What a centrepiece. And I don't really care if it is from Sri Lanka or Indonesia. :-)

Re YouTube production: I do anything, as long as I don't have to eat any more Bolognese anywhere in Asia ever again!

Christian

Christian

Tog, the Sri Lanka banana can not be Musa acuminata subsp. burmannica, as I just found out when researching a bit more. Burmannica is not waxy at all, but the one I saw was exceedingly so.

For general information there is also Musa balbisiana growing on the island.

Christian

Tog Tan

Actually I was referring to the M-a-s-burmannicoides if you see #27 permalink. Then again it could be the E glaucum as you have suggested. On the other hand, if they grow in a clump (if you can remember), they definitely can't be Ensetes. Oi, you are supposed to be the expert.

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Raules

Tog, You Tube, good idea! It will seems to me all are glad to look films about wild versions of a banana in their natural conditions of growth. I of anything similar yet did not see. Jungle it is interesting!

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Tropical agriculturist

bengtang

Tog mentioned the Orang Asli. Here is an old film showing them going about their business in the jungles of Malaya. They have fantastic bushcraft skills, and make a lot of use of banana leaves for wrapping and cooking food, as shown in the video.



The government has been trying to get them to settle in permanent villages and convert them to Islam, and I fear many of them may be losing touch with their jungle skills and culture.

Protests in Malaysia over indigenous lands
Protests in Malaysia over indigenous lands - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

Malaysia ethnic tribes 'forced to convert'