A couple have visited the world’s ‘smelliest and largest’ flower which stinks of rotting meat and looks exactly like a villain from Stranger Things.
Chris Dinham and Rebecca Davies were stunned to see The Demogorgon in the flesh.
But it was actually a rather rare piece of flora, known as the Rafflesia Arnoldii or ‘The Stinking Corpse Flower’.
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The 33 and 34-year-old compared the smell to “rotting flesh or a garbage bag”.
In a clip racking up 978,000 views and over 58,000 likes, they get up close and personal with the menacing-looking flower.
“At first, there was no smell at all,” Rebecca, a full-time traveler, told Whats The Jam.
“It was newly bloomed, but apparently the smell gets worse as it gets older throughout the week before it dies.
“But then, suddenly it wafted.
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“It is an unpleasant, pungent smell, like a garbage bag.
“It does smell like rotting meat.”
The couple, who live in New South Wales, Australia, visited the rainforest in Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia, after reading about the flower.
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While intriguing, there were a few safety issues to be mindful of before travelling to see it – including protective tigers.
She said: At first [our guide] immediately warned us about tiger sightings that had happened in the area in recent days.
“The staff showed us videos of tigers walking around town.
“I asked them how serious the threat was and [if] they would be willing to go hiking to see this flower in the jungle.
“Pretty much everyone said they wouldn’t go, but [our guide] seemed up for it.”
Deforestation in the area is quickly damaging the tigers’ habitat; forcing them to seek food elsewhere.
Rebecca said: “On the way there, I was a little scared.
“But trying to hide it, I couldn’t stop talking about tigers to the guide, it was definitely nerves.
“I was actually shaking with excitement upon seeing it.
“The Rafflesia looked like something out of a fantasy novel.”
Despite the strong, unpleasant smell, Rebecca described the visit as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, saying that it’s definitely a bucket list item checked off.
Users have flocked to the comments to share their reactions.
One user said: “Wow!!! That’s so cool! Why does it remind me of something out of Pokémon?” [sic]
Another person added: “it looks like those salami roses people make for charcuterie boards in the best way possible hahaha.”
Emily said: “This is insane!!!! Such a beautiful plant and just so Jurassic, feel like a dinosaur is about to pop up behind you.”
Another user said: “Looks like something out of stranger things! How cool.”
One user added: “I am an Indonesian, I have never seen that flower in real life. Ure so lucky”
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