tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21461853612155791582024-03-15T02:49:59.208+08:00Crystal and Bryan in SingaporeChronicling our adventures in Singapore and beyond, with a focus on wildlife and natureCrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-4276137981083520892015-11-01T10:24:00.000+08:002015-11-01T10:24:10.196+08:00Singapore Books: Saving a Sexier IslandNeil Humphreys really can’t get enough of Singapore. <a href="http://amzn.to/1Hi2Cgb">Saving a Sexier Island: Notes from an Old Singapore</a> is his fifth book (reviews on the first four are <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/10/singapore-books-notes-from-even-smaller.html">here</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/11/singapore-books-scribbles-from-same.html">here</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/04/singapore-books-final-notes-from-great.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2013/10/singapore-books-return-to-sexy-island.html">here</a>) about Singapore, and the second one he’s released since publishing the increasingly inaccurately named <a href="http://amzn.to/1NH47ZW">Final Notes from a Great Island</a>. After touting the wonders of the “new Singapore” in <a href="http://amzn.to/1P2hhEc">Return to a Sexy Island</a>, Humphreys wanted to explore “old Singapore.” In celebration of fifty years of Singaporean independence, he chose fifty sites that embody some aspect of Singapore’s history or character. He visited each site and wrote about his adventures.<br />
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The book was a fun tour of some of Singapore’s lesser-known gems. Some of the places were ones I'd visited and enjoyed - like <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2012/02/bukit-batok-town-park.html">Bukit Batok Town Park</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/03/bukit-batok-nature-park.html">Bukit Batok Nature Park</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/11/jurong-bird-park.html">Jurong Bird Park</a>, and <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2009/10/haw-par-villa.html">Haw Par Villa</a>. Others, like Cafe Colbar and <a href="http://www.nus.edu.sg/cfa/museum/about.php">Baba House</a>, I hadn't heard of, but definitely sounded worth a visit. However, it seemed to me that some of the other places he chose were unknown for a reason. I didn’t get much of a thrill reading about Singapore’s first concrete bus stop, or that big empty field he hunted down in Chapter 2. In an attempt to keep things fresh without recycling his older material, I felt like he skipped some of the more obvious historical landmarks (like <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/07/bukit-brown-chinese-cemetery.html">Bukit Brown Cemetery</a> or even less popular places like <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/05/singapore-art-museum.html">Chijmes</a> or <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/03/kent-ridge-park-and-more-more-more.html">Reflections at Bukit Chandu</a>) in part because he’d covered many of them in previous books.<br />
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As usual, Humphreys brought the humor, but as with his previous books I found that his jokes were sometimes forced. I think they may have been even more forced in this book because he was trying to infuse drama and excitement into some of the mundane places he visited. Not much joke material lurking around that bus stop, I guess.<br />
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Humphreys can also adopt a sanctimonious tone sometimes. In his previous books, he’s often been condescending toward other Westerners in Singapore, and that continues here, especially with his utter disdain for a western-looking woman having her nails done in a beauty parlor. He said, "I was again taken aback by that smug documentary I had watched days earlier at the National Museum of Singapore, where locals waited on their colonial masters hand and foot. The scene was playing out in front of me. I heard a plummy narrator saying: 'And in Tiong Bahru, there is no need to queue among the common folk as shop visits are by appointment only...there are always a couple of natives on hand to remove that troublesome bum fluff from the crevices of your toes.' The buffed woman in the chair yawned. She had obviously had a hard day," (pg. 109). I found it irksome that he stood on the sidewalk and judged a woman getting a manicure without any context. Maybe she was tired. Maybe she’d had a long day fighting crime or feeding orphans and she needed to unwind with a manicure. Or maybe she really was a shallow, vain foreigner reveling in being fawned over by the Singaporeans doing her nails. The point is that Humphreys doesn’t know one way or the other, and it seems mean of him to be so judgmental without any context. It also seems hypocritical. Sure, Humphreys takes pride in frequenting the hawker centers of Singapore, but the truth is that he's likely enjoyed a more upscale meal on the island at some point, and when he did, the "natives" were probably on hand to wait on him "hand and foot" too. <br />
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One of the main themes of the book was the rapidity with which Singapore reinvents and renews itself. The island is constantly making itself over, and this often means leveling an older building to make way for a newer, “better” one. Humphreys and I are in total agreement here – newer isn’t always better, and Singapore would probably be a more lovable place if more of its history was left intact. I’ve blogged before about how<a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2013/08/on-loving-singapore.html"> it’s difficult to love Singapore</a> because you never know when the places you love most will be replaced or “improved.” However, I think that Humphreys sometimes advocates for total stagnation instead of respectful, discerning progress. For example, he waxes sentimental about Beauty World Centre across from <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/09/monkey-baby-boom.html">Bukit Timah Nature Reserve</a>. Beauty World Centre is decrepit and hosts almost no viable businesses. The building is crumbling and outdated, and most of the shops are vacant. Yet Humphreys wants to see it preserved. Why?! Unlike Bukit Brown Cemetery or LKY’s residence, there is no great history here. I agree that the businesses that are there should be offered some respect and consideration, especially given that they’ve survived against such great odds. But total preservation of this crummy site doesn’t seem like the answer – there are other options. Why not advocate for a new, up-to-date shopping center (with cockroach-free toilets) in which the current shopowners are offered spaces at the same rate that they currently pay rent? Their businesses would be more likely to continue to prosper if they were surrounded by other viable businesses instead of vacant shops with papered-over windows. Singapore won’t move forward by declaring every crappy out-of-date shopping center a heritage site, but it can move forward with some respect for the people who have helped it to become the great country it is today.<br />
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Anyway, Humphreys and I don't agree on all the details, but I think he always raises interesting points. And he's good at hunting down and advocating for some of Singapore's great hidden gems, even if he includes some duds in his list too. So pick up a copy of the book, and go visit Bukit Batok Town Park....but you can skip the concrete bus stop of Choa Chu Kang.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-47196224143126771762013-10-09T10:21:00.000+08:002013-10-09T10:22:15.828+08:00Singapore Books: Return to a Sexy IslandI was pretty enthused when I heard that <a href="http://www.neilhumphreys.net/">Neil Humphreys</a> had a sexy new book. I read his first three books about Singapore (reviews<a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/10/singapore-books-notes-from-even-smaller.html"> here</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/11/singapore-books-scribbles-from-same.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/04/singapore-books-final-notes-from-great.html">here</a>!!) and enjoyed them for the most part. But his first three books were a little dated, and sometimes covered places that are no longer around. In <i>Return to a Sexy Island</i>, he documented his return to Singapore and his quest to only visit places that were new or had been totally revamped recently. It was the perfect thing to read just before my trip back.<br />
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Of his four Singapore books, I had the most fun reading this one. Reading it was like a trip back through time (or a trip through my old blog posts). He wrote about <a href="http://www.a-star.edu.sg/Biopolis-Fusionopolis/A-Great-Place-to-Work-Live-Play/Fusionopolis.aspx">Fusionopolis</a>, where Bryan used to work! He wrote about <a href="http://www.pinnacleduxton.com.sg/">Pinnacle@Duxton</a>, which I used to see from Duke-NUS every day. He went to <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/06/pulau-ubinagain.html">Ubin</a>, one of our favorite places in Singapore. He ranted about <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/07/bukit-brown-chinese-cemetery.html">Bukit Brown</a>'s plight far more eloquently than I have. He visited <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/08/marina-barrage.html">Marina Barrage</a> and <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/03/kent-ridge-park-and-more-more-more.html">HortPark</a> and <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/popup/hendersons.html">Henderson Waves</a> and <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/05/labrador-nature-reserve.html">Labrador Park</a>. It was so fun to turn page after page thinking "I've been there!" or "I LOVE THAT PLACE!" or "I once fell down those very same stairs!!" Good stuff. <br />
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My only criticisms of this book also held for the last three: if you haven't stayed in Singapore for an extended period of time, a lot of his jokes and references are likely to go over your head. I've also criticized his negativity in previous books, but it was much more under control in this one (for real though, don't tell Humphreys if you like to gamble. He will judge you <i>harshly</i>). Overall, he once again wrote a book full of laughs and nostalgia for anyone who's spent time in Singapore.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-85245583793108239742013-08-06T08:47:00.000+08:002013-08-06T08:47:27.094+08:00On Loving SingaporeWhen you love a place and leave it, you romanticize it while you're gone. While you were there, you always thought that the food from that vegetarian place was really great, but now that you've been gone a while you're starting to wonder if that was possibly the best food you've ever eaten in your life. The neighborhood you lived in for three years was just okay when you lived in it, but now you can't even think of it without a wave of nostalgia. <br />
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But to love Singapore is to love a place that's constantly changing. That
was never more obvious to me than on my recent trip back. I returned, eager to see those things I'd been reminiscing about since I left. Only 11 months later, I figured not too much could've changed. I couldn't have been more wrong.<br />
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Our neighborhood was almost unrecognizable to me. When Bryan and I moved there four years ago, there was one mall - a slightly outdated (by S'pore standards) place called <a href="http://www.imm.sg/malls/website/index.aspx">IMM</a>. By the time we moved away three years later, a fancy new mall had opened up less than a half mile away from IMM. <a href="http://www.j-cube.com.sg/malls/website/index.aspx">JCube</a> is shiny, new, and crowded. So you can imagine my surprise when I stood on the Jurong East MRT platform last week and saw...ANOTHER mall. <a href="https://www.jem.sg/">Jem</a> is brand spanking new, huge, and seems to have sprouted up from nowhere. From the MRT platform, you can see IMM, Jem, and JCube all at the same time. I don't understand the need for so many malls, but I miss how quiet our neighborhood used to be. It will only get more bustling with the completion of the massive <a href="http://www.juronghealth.com.sg/page.aspx?id=97">Ng Teng Fong General Hospital</a> in 2014.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jem - image from http://www.jem.sg</td></tr>
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The transformation of our neighborhood was a surprise, but there was a <i>way worse one</i> in store for me. When I found out I was going back to Singapore, one of the first things I said to Bryan was, "I CAN'T WAIT TO EAT NTU FOOD!!!" Now, you might be surprised that, in a country renowned for its cuisine, I was pumped to get my hands on some college cafeteria food. But I have no shame. NTU's canteen B is set up like a regular Singapore hawker center, with an added bonus - the cost of the food is subsidized by the university, so you can get lunch for SG$2. No joke. In addition, it has a vegetarian stall that <i>literally </i>has my favorite food in all of Singapore. It's amazing. They have superb mock meat dishes, and they make this orange spicy chickpea gravy type stuff that's my favorite thing I ate in Singapore. I've never seen it anywhere else, and my Singaporean friends tell me it's an old-fashioned dish that isn't around much anymore. I planned to eat a bucket of it when I got back.<br />
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My first day, I ventured to Canteen B, hot, jet-lagged, and ravenously hungry. I was greeted with this sight:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heartbreak</td></tr>
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I'm completely serious when I say that I almost cried. Jet-lag makes me fragile. All the stalls were closed, and by that time I was so hungry that I was starting to worry about fainting. After dejectedly staring at the closed food stall for about 5 minutes, I went to the nearest open cafe, which I'd never been to before. It was American-style. Their only vegetarian option was pizza. For my first meal back in Asia, I had a pizza and a Coke (in <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/nieo/Pages/PitchStopCafe.aspx">Pitchstop</a>'s defense, the pizza was delicious).<br />
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Confident that the canteen was just closed for school holidays, I returned a few days later. It was still closed. I asked around and found out....<i>Canteen B is closed because it's being remodeled.</i> REALLY remodeled, and it's rumored that the same stalls may not return. The plan is to turn it into more of a food court than a hawker center, thus further homogenizing the food options on campus. All this despite the fact that the same place was <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/odfm/whatisnew/facilities/Pages/CanteenBRefurbi.aspx">just remodeled in 2009</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally fine just the way it is</td></tr>
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It doesn't seem like a big deal, but it represents one of the things that I find really frustrating about Singapore. Change isn't always bad - Singapore has made tons of positive steps over the last few decades, obviously. But so often a perfectly good thing is shut down to make way for something "better." Often the results are, to me, less appealing than the original. Old-fashioned hawker centers are losing a lot of their charm as they're converted into more modern, air-conditioned food courts that look like something you could find in a mall in any American suburb. <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/07/bukit-brown-chinese-cemetery.html">Bukit Brown Cemetery</a>, a beautiful tribute to local history, is being partially destroyed to become a housing estate (yes, I've complained about this for <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2013/08/chinese-heritage-center.html">two posts in a row</a> now). Plans are now under way to disrupt the Central Nature Reserves, the only remaining safe haven for much of Singapore's wildlife, <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/lta-begins-talks-with/706774.html">to put it yet another MRT line</a>.<br />
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Loving Singapore means that at any time, you could show up to find your treasured place gone, or worse...turned into another mall.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-82791925645622357402013-08-02T10:53:00.000+08:002013-08-02T10:53:53.726+08:00Chinese Heritage CenterI spent a lot of time at <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Pages/index.aspx">Nanyang Technological University</a> when I was in Singapore. When I was employed by NTU, it was our base of operations for monkey research. So I spent hours slaving away in the lab in the Humanities and Social Sciences building. And every time I went there, I admired the adjacent <a href="http://chc.ntu.edu.sg/Pages/Home.aspx">Chinese Heritage Center</a> and thought, "I really ought to go in there sometime." And I never did. So when I went back recently, I dedicated an hour to checking it out.<br />
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The outside of the place is decidedly impressive. There's nothing discreet about it. It really stands out from the rest of the more homogenous campus buildings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why didn't I visit sooner?!</td></tr>
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The CHC was founded in 1995, and serves as a library, research center, and museum. The best part is that admission to the museum is free. You just have to be willing to haul yourself all the way over to the extreme west side of the island to get there!<br />
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As soon as I walked into the lobby, after noting the impressive interior architecture, I noticed something that really amused me. China is kind of known for copyright infringement (think of all those Chinese knockoffs, like Gocci or Addidas), so I found it funny when the first thing I saw upon crossing the threshold of the museum was the illegal usage of a copyrighted photo. Someone had made a cute little <i>zongzi, </i>or rice dumpling, with a face. But if you look closely at the eyes, you can see the watermark that indicates that the image of the face is copyrighted and should have been purchased for use. Pretty silly.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the words on the left eye</td></tr>
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Anyway, the interior of the building was impressive enough to tear me away from the copyright-infringing dumpling in only a few seconds. From the lobby, you can see straight up to the third floor.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJGa309ycfRNyaFYGctWTAeO31sKJzML0X6TdvNEciv0-OAigsjfMDM6jLnCoMbFMmBoOnq-hfvt-b0FehGFjs4yhEoHd0xrJXRIV94poefQMm3XclWhmA3NT_RwCuX_0l7BSSZ8gojOb/s1600/P1140695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJGa309ycfRNyaFYGctWTAeO31sKJzML0X6TdvNEciv0-OAigsjfMDM6jLnCoMbFMmBoOnq-hfvt-b0FehGFjs4yhEoHd0xrJXRIV94poefQMm3XclWhmA3NT_RwCuX_0l7BSSZ8gojOb/s400/P1140695.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a bad view!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I was there, there were two main exhibitions. The Nantah Pictorial Exhibition opened in 2000, and covers the history of Nantah University, which existed from 1956 to 1980. During its short lifespan, it was the only Chinese-language university outside of mainland China. In 1980 Nantah University merged with the University of Singapore to become the <a href="http://www.nus.edu.sg/">National University of Singapore</a>, which went on to become one of the top universities in Asia. In 1981, NTU opened on the former grounds of Nantah University. The exhibition covers a lot of this history, and includes 130 photographs from the time period. Although it wasn't all that long ago, the photographs kind of seemed like ancient history to me. They're a strong reminder of how far Singapore has come in such as short time. The artifacts were pretty neat too.<br />
<br />
The most interesting set of artifacts included original roof tiles from Nantah University and a replica of Nantah Arch, which once marked the entrance to Nantah University. Apparently the <a href="http://remembersingapore.wordpress.com/jurong-west-nantah-arch/">original arch still stands at Jurong West Ave 93</a>, and there is a replica in Yunnan Garden (opposite the CHC) at NTU. I've seen the replica before, but didn't understand its significance until visiting the exhibition.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiWIjEF_0h51sP9t5FSR7x34O0HsvC6qnUcz1VNzaTRhvF4FL4wMlHcGgUwOY1unFc0knYs1C-B-zx3hftcAUcQnlqbTXMZxu1Ahnoe5vWI_Dv1vA3DORYKRzGRBg32JQgDZOzMdLLLuk/s1600/P1140702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiWIjEF_0h51sP9t5FSR7x34O0HsvC6qnUcz1VNzaTRhvF4FL4wMlHcGgUwOY1unFc0knYs1C-B-zx3hftcAUcQnlqbTXMZxu1Ahnoe5vWI_Dv1vA3DORYKRzGRBg32JQgDZOzMdLLLuk/s400/P1140702.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artifacts are a rare commodity in rapidly-evolving S'pore!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Before moving on to the next exhibition, I poked out onto the second floor balcony, which had a great view of the HSS building where I'd worked.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_pKfP7ZvxLsCpcXcT_hE954YL9sQp4X8qzwGe0W3fAYszA33t95xx06uyooy7J2GoLEais_zDPLFU6zj5FtEfzz-_KKRrY6TdFh3lMwENIGqBoeC8r11qw9aJBhbF8CQ105SGKO5g-Sv/s1600/P1140723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_pKfP7ZvxLsCpcXcT_hE954YL9sQp4X8qzwGe0W3fAYszA33t95xx06uyooy7J2GoLEais_zDPLFU6zj5FtEfzz-_KKRrY6TdFh3lMwENIGqBoeC8r11qw9aJBhbF8CQ105SGKO5g-Sv/s640/P1140723.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's way prettier from the outside than from inside a stuffy office!</td></tr>
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<br />
From the other side, there was a lovely view of Yunnan Garden.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1C8HigmKLQVKK2ry8EaGPV6noJf9kIMicBPbJnXfge3zZCdbdXZdwpq9UhbnTKEQ8WpDmkdLDIXRH9lex7H7aEoz7lBkDJEctg9j0lo-i2BSL9ubFtePEnOOnXSrDL5FQRZbh7A6ZoHl/s1600/P1140718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1C8HigmKLQVKK2ry8EaGPV6noJf9kIMicBPbJnXfge3zZCdbdXZdwpq9UhbnTKEQ8WpDmkdLDIXRH9lex7H7aEoz7lBkDJEctg9j0lo-i2BSL9ubFtePEnOOnXSrDL5FQRZbh7A6ZoHl/s400/P1140718.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily the haze wasn't so bad that day!</td></tr>
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The other exhibition was called "Chinese More or Less," and focused on the various, heterogeneous identities of mainland Chinese people, and how those identities were maintained abroad. I found this exhibit really fascinating. I've heard a lot of talk in Singapore about what it really means to be "Singaporean." National identity seems tricky when there's such a hodgepodge of cultures existing together in a small place that's always changing. But I haven't given much thought about Chinese Singaporeans and how they identify as Chinese, and how they're "Chinese-ness" differs from that of mainland Chinese, Chinese Americans, or Chinese people living in the UK, or Thailand, or Vietnam. This exhibit covered those issues around the world and across time.<br />
<br />
There are seven galleries, and each one has a different focus. Throughout was a discussion of what it meant to be Chinese while away from China, and how cultural identities were maintained and transformed in new locations. The galleries focused on questions like "How Chinese am I?" and "What does it mean to be Chinese?"<br />
<br />
One gallery focused on outsider perceptions of Chinese people. It was interesting to see racist interpretations of Chinese just around the corner from displays of cultural pride. The most intriguing image was an American caricature from the 1800's, depicting a greedy Chinese merchant. It was a commentary on the Chinese monopolization of trade goods production. I have thought of Chinese production as something that has only recently started to bother Americans, and was surprised to see that it was a point of contention 200 years ago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5yFilqYzUOgSRTUg5WBO0w_t5pmVXQ8YphqtwP6E5BExN1heRl4qSCWKO4_2_c9wWvShgx5ArXk1mvDJqrPjWBgWSSUxKJ-2Eg9kOuCzZ5RSxJsfWlSXDgApgQNDrDGWcuImIax58Ehe/s1600/P1140707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5yFilqYzUOgSRTUg5WBO0w_t5pmVXQ8YphqtwP6E5BExN1heRl4qSCWKO4_2_c9wWvShgx5ArXk1mvDJqrPjWBgWSSUxKJ-2Eg9kOuCzZ5RSxJsfWlSXDgApgQNDrDGWcuImIax58Ehe/s400/P1140707.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racism at its weirdest</td></tr>
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<br />
The history of Chinese abroad created some strange juxtapositions - the workers at labor camps were just around the corner from the fancy colonial family.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK3RAa6lnGxM55PujO9Z4RqzGDc3e3nzjc3619_No4Lb6mNQWMurZZ9xlq8BrrlZC5buuUY9j0KNYjfPvDAomo1tvfroGWCLG7kEE0vMJYWP7O0Uz_L_ME5kcDKEs5rG9o_MCk3uqciEe/s1600/P1140709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK3RAa6lnGxM55PujO9Z4RqzGDc3e3nzjc3619_No4Lb6mNQWMurZZ9xlq8BrrlZC5buuUY9j0KNYjfPvDAomo1tvfroGWCLG7kEE0vMJYWP7O0Uz_L_ME5kcDKEs5rG9o_MCk3uqciEe/s320/P1140709.JPG" width="252" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu-3hmf11-UEljKvBFCaNT6ATK2fB8QQdy59kDD8xsdCQd8ZPKpsJkmJr9rj8qqDJX9Y6SSPch-RyulXCtDqT1gRqjtutrD5Dzg6kGGqJXkZdijsF0Ycqm_j_GpUStadm0JTUzp9WU3UH/s1600/P1140716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu-3hmf11-UEljKvBFCaNT6ATK2fB8QQdy59kDD8xsdCQd8ZPKpsJkmJr9rj8qqDJX9Y6SSPch-RyulXCtDqT1gRqjtutrD5Dzg6kGGqJXkZdijsF0Ycqm_j_GpUStadm0JTUzp9WU3UH/s320/P1140716.JPG" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sidenote: Wax colonial family made me think that <br />
CHC might make a good
setting for a horror movie <br />
about wax figures coming to life.</td></tr>
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<br />
I poked around the CHC until about 10 minutes past closing time, when there were still no signs of the place shutting down. I went up to the third floor, which I don't recommend, since I don't think I was supposed to be there. But I was happy to see that there were lots of people around, taking in the exhibits, shopping in the gift shop, and taking pictures. It's good to see that a place like CHC generates some interest.<br />
<span id="goog_2002553443"></span><span id="goog_2002553444"></span><br />
I think the CHC is a great way to preserve some of the history of Chinese people in Singapore and abroad, but I think more efforts should be made to protect actual local historical sites. The CHC has a short history - it's only 18 years old. Places like <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/07/bukit-brown-chinese-cemetery.html">Bukit Brown</a> have a long, rich cultural history but are not being afforded the proper respect, as historical preservation takes a backseat to constant "progress."Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-58901028268629420192013-07-06T03:32:00.000+08:002013-07-06T03:32:50.779+08:00In a HazeAs it turned out, I couldn't have picked a worse time to return to the Little Red Dot.<br />
<br />
Every year there's a haze situation. It results from bad agricultural practices in neighboring Sumatra. Palm oil companies use illegal slash-and-burn techniques to clear land for more oil palm plantations. These plantations have been in the news before, because they replace diverse rainforest habitats with monotonous palm trees that support almost no wildlife. As such, they're devastating to already endangered species such as Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran rhinos, lar gibbons, and <a href="http://www.saynotopalmoil.com/suffering-species.php">many, many more</a>.<br />
<br />
However, this year was unlike any other. At first the haze wasn't anything that I hadn't seen in the years that I'd lived there. It was no worse than when <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/10/haze-descends.html">I blogged about it in 2010</a>. But that gradually changed. Over the next two to three days, the visibility got worse and worse as the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) skyrocketed. Soon <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22998592">the news</a> was covering only haze-related issues. The PSI was always on the corner of the TV screen. Then the news reported that the PSI was the highest that it had ever been, shattering the record of 226 set during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Southeast_Asian_haze">Asian Haze Incident</a> of 1997.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77nmNCtXALfgfsYf1YnYJtwcBAvkyOlkeSmORmFH7QpIh21-D3qNbo2WPZ9CgXw3x_EEPn7-WAEg5fgpeSkfUiEBWJkaRGi4jhESYcuGc3Qxvj2VW-z5MJc2JjQhFPF1E1f6blastq5K-/s1600/P1140743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77nmNCtXALfgfsYf1YnYJtwcBAvkyOlkeSmORmFH7QpIh21-D3qNbo2WPZ9CgXw3x_EEPn7-WAEg5fgpeSkfUiEBWJkaRGi4jhESYcuGc3Qxvj2VW-z5MJc2JjQhFPF1E1f6blastq5K-/s400/P1140743.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stadium on Pioneer Road, through the haze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVgi1hs7GdaLQp_ZgdX1zfefBhDkQbmPH7EB2KAad5Jnp4K2bDJo2ffIVuXTB8nPe7vVTXRM-Ln3Quo4ugZ5vKWiLmTfhAOPajpFYoPQwWKMKGMF6wJOLR6hfpXRzSD3k2hzPJ2qU_oJn/s1600/P1140745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVgi1hs7GdaLQp_ZgdX1zfefBhDkQbmPH7EB2KAad5Jnp4K2bDJo2ffIVuXTB8nPe7vVTXRM-Ln3Quo4ugZ5vKWiLmTfhAOPajpFYoPQwWKMKGMF6wJOLR6hfpXRzSD3k2hzPJ2qU_oJn/s400/P1140745.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, at least I won't get a sunburn...</td></tr>
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The government was advising people to wear heavy-duty N95 masks to cope with the unhealthy amounts of pollution. People were freaking out and stockpiling the masks, creating artificial shortages. When I tried to get one, the stores I went to were sold out. Lines were over an hour long at the one store I found that still had them. I opted to continue wearing my floppy, ineffective surgical mask instead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_iynTqbQG8hnkoiBa6b1bNFz1Dv2P-fUrBzHhs5PiNEWICw6nZudVORFZuQ538jeM5UYbZroXdTXVbZKigE0YU6eRJZho-zkg6RnL6dOOzspyGCs7mxUeQIZ5wujTgm7Yo0AXxp9EPbE/s1600/P1140764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_iynTqbQG8hnkoiBa6b1bNFz1Dv2P-fUrBzHhs5PiNEWICw6nZudVORFZuQ538jeM5UYbZroXdTXVbZKigE0YU6eRJZho-zkg6RnL6dOOzspyGCs7mxUeQIZ5wujTgm7Yo0AXxp9EPbE/s400/P1140764.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing says style like sweating through your surgical mask</td></tr>
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<br />
While Singaporeans struggled to cope with the haze, the Singaporean government was in constant contact with the Indonesian government, offering assistance, and I'm sure, putting on some pressure for them to get the situation under control on the quick. Indonesian officials did not react well to this, and one accused Singapore of "acting like a child." The relationship between the two governments seemed a little strained, which, as a foreigner abroad, made me a little nervous.<br />
<br />
But I was more nervous about the fact that I was starting to feel the effects of the haze on my health. I was staying on the fourth floor of an apartment building, and all week I'd been easily hustling up the four flights of stairs. On the day that the PSI shot above 400 for the first time, I found myself stopping to wheeze on the second floor landing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccIlY23C-hhhhioTZIp82OpO975ta1Ttgg1_UdoKlfBTF5D2zFI72t7SgKstGttwIvjlMBGJQUv7VwAI19P4HFsVpPm0gzx-us75W3iwVlVzsRIn5YNWjem66d0sTN1V0bekk8LdkrEe4/s1600/psi_singapore_401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccIlY23C-hhhhioTZIp82OpO975ta1Ttgg1_UdoKlfBTF5D2zFI72t7SgKstGttwIvjlMBGJQUv7VwAI19P4HFsVpPm0gzx-us75W3iwVlVzsRIn5YNWjem66d0sTN1V0bekk8LdkrEe4/s640/psi_singapore_401.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From<a href="http://app2.nea.gov.sg/anti-pollution-radiation-protection/air-pollution/psi/psi-readings-over-the-last-24-hours"> http://app2.nea.gov.sg/anti-pollution-radiation-protection/air-pollution/psi/psi-readings-over-the-last-24-hours</a></td></tr>
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<br />
One of the strangest things about the whole situation was seeing nearly deserted places that were typically bustling with activity. I went to meet some friends for dinner at Clarke Quay, which is a popular spot for dining along the river. Not that day - everyone was eating inside, and it looked like a lot of people had just stayed home altogether. Holland Village was also eerily quiet. The MRT trains were less crowded than usual, and they were slower - speeds had been slowed to cope with low visibility.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeDqVcJjfYkRMyti3F1EP8tuv_mvJfjoesTKUG_tp9il9UGSEPE-6foEEraQh4dE6kG05ZXZjJSpsdn9CJV9X7J2Zh4hsdiRL-e1Hmn1FEEJrRya0248EVI_nnaeJp4Xb4GnbxJ85JVXq/s1600/P1140752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeDqVcJjfYkRMyti3F1EP8tuv_mvJfjoesTKUG_tp9il9UGSEPE-6foEEraQh4dE6kG05ZXZjJSpsdn9CJV9X7J2Zh4hsdiRL-e1Hmn1FEEJrRya0248EVI_nnaeJp4Xb4GnbxJ85JVXq/s400/P1140752.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The haze at Clarke Quay</td></tr>
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<br />
The haze eased off, dropping below 100 in my last two days there. Even so, the air still smelled like bonfire. I never thought I'd be so happy to breathe the fresh St Louis air!!<br />
<br />
Despite my temporary reprieve, the government warned that the fires are incredibly hard to fight, and could rage on for months. The seasonal winds will continue to blow toward Singapore, and the haze is likely to yo-yo up and down, possibly into September or October. It's a horrible situation, but the silver lining is that it has forced people to think about palm oil plantations and the devastating effects that they're having on the environment. Boycotting unsustainable palm oil is a way to help protect endangered species habitat, and to ensure that Indonesians, Malaysians, and Singaporeans have fresh air to breathe. If you're interested in learning more, <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-stop-buying-palm-oil-and-help-save-the-orangutans.html?page=1">this </a>is a great resource! And <a href="http://www.saynotopalmoil.com/how-to-help.php">this</a>!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-14283759438174797482013-06-30T12:17:00.002+08:002013-06-30T12:17:40.369+08:00A Temporary ReturnWhen <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-last-farewell-to-singapore.html">I left Singapore 11 months ago</a>, I didn't really know when I would be back again, if ever. Flights to the opposite side of the planet are costly enough that I didn't anticipate dropping by to visit friends for a few days. But about two months ago I got a phone call from a colleague in Singapore with an offer I couldn't refuse - fly to Singapore to give a talk about the monkeys and to work on some research for two weeks, all expenses paid. I almost laughed when he asked if I'd be "willing to" return. Of course! Where do I sign?!<br />
<br />
So I went back to Singapore. I mostly worked while I was there, but I did have some time to squeeze in fun and friends. I'm bringing this blog out of retirement for a brief time to share some posts about my visit. I hope you enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL6UJtHTR2RIvllvoaRhXd6L8RRNnkzL2Mz8586blLUsT_ZiN9gPuIl18zqvL6Xsg6E9Wdc330FEeRn6k_veLcaMtyxAzjut8c5ZKiJDKOLIbgRToOnT0Sy1BH6b74ZmIyoa29qWzqjFP/s1600/P1050589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL6UJtHTR2RIvllvoaRhXd6L8RRNnkzL2Mz8586blLUsT_ZiN9gPuIl18zqvL6Xsg6E9Wdc330FEeRn6k_veLcaMtyxAzjut8c5ZKiJDKOLIbgRToOnT0Sy1BH6b74ZmIyoa29qWzqjFP/s400/P1050589.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to the land of the merlion!</td></tr>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-91737262170649264962013-01-13T05:31:00.000+08:002013-01-13T05:31:12.298+08:00Stick with us at our New Blog!Many of you have been following this blog for the past few years, and you already know that Bryan and I relocated to St Louis, Missouri, USA a few months ago. My intention was to keep blogging at a new URL right away, but planning a wedding, an international move, and starting at a new school was a lot to take on at once! Now that the wedding is done (Yay! We're married!), I finally got around to getting a new blog set up. I hope you'll follow our American adventures at <a href="http://bryanandcrystal.blogspot.com/">Bryan and Crystal All Over </a>(<a href="http://bryanandcrystal.blogspot.com/">http://bryanandcrystal.blogspot.com/</a>).<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading all about our Southeast Asian adventures!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-7244196546820200472012-12-12T12:10:00.000+08:002012-12-12T12:10:11.930+08:00A Last Farewell to SingaporeAh, you thought you'd heard the last of me, huh? Well, it turns out I have a couple more posts left in me after a four-month hiatus from blogging! I want to tell you about my bittersweet last week in Singapore. And I also wanted to let everyone know that I'm going to keep blogging, but at a new URL that I'll share soon...so stay tuned!<br />
<br />
So I left Singapore at the very end of July, 10 days after Bryan had already departed for the US. It was a strange time for me - I was running all over the place, trying to wrap up work and get all of our affairs in order before leaving. I was so busy that I hardly had time to process the fact that I was really going back to the US. But I did take the time to take myself on one last Singapore outing.<br />
<br />
The Blog Awards occurred my last Saturday in Singapore (nope, we didn't win, but props to <a href="http://www.spinorbinmusic.com/">Spin or Bin Music</a> and all <a href="http://www.spinorbinmusic.com/">the other winners!</a>) I went solo to the Blog Awards, which took place on the Singapore Food Trail. Honestly, it wasn't the time of my life - it was hot and crowded and I couldn't hear very well. But it was cool to see some of the other bloggers, especially the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/liangjiasun">super adorable little boys who won the Best V-Log category</a>. But for me, the big highlight was the free ride on the Singapore Flyer that came after the awards ceremony was over!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6Oxjtg7stP8Y-RwV5pEKKpzPYKQ47xyLrGvAa53snjwbBJdVhL66NegfckfMbS-gxY4aLRsfFDamZV83Vqj63n4W0zYDgRkVo6CNEh0Oz0flhBnzEppdGf8LWUd2RUEfpWO-Lngy-X3z/s1600/Singapore_Flyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6Oxjtg7stP8Y-RwV5pEKKpzPYKQ47xyLrGvAa53snjwbBJdVhL66NegfckfMbS-gxY4aLRsfFDamZV83Vqj63n4W0zYDgRkVo6CNEh0Oz0flhBnzEppdGf8LWUd2RUEfpWO-Lngy-X3z/s640/Singapore_Flyer.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flyer from afar</td></tr>
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<br />
The <a href="http://www.singaporeflyer.com/">Singapore Flyer</a> is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world (well, technically it's an observation wheel, but whatever). It's one of the most noticeable landmarks on Singapore's skyline. I'd been avoiding it for the past three years because Bryan's not a big fan of heights and the cost for a ride is a bit high (SG$33 per person). But of course, I'm always game for a free ride!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRHzebV-UjhSM3Cds9ieqQ-I6uam7ARCnGqnN4wWVlWs76lSQgxHXfR2uW-XXt30yiKIaRnsQ_IcUr-YyBf_aOxyXPHdB0eg6KVHsbYuI8b8Elmv4yAbX-AKzvVaNbLFbGA9lZH8I_XhN/s1600/Singapore_Flyer_building.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRHzebV-UjhSM3Cds9ieqQ-I6uam7ARCnGqnN4wWVlWs76lSQgxHXfR2uW-XXt30yiKIaRnsQ_IcUr-YyBf_aOxyXPHdB0eg6KVHsbYuI8b8Elmv4yAbX-AKzvVaNbLFbGA9lZH8I_XhN/s640/Singapore_Flyer_building.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wheel's rotation brings it right down into the building where you board the Flyer.</td></tr>
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<br />
A visit to the Flyer starts with a walk through the melodramatically named "Journey of Dreams," a little museum. There was a hodgepodge of interesting stuff in there, including a funky art installation by artist David Chan Kien Wai.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSABq4z14K0MtFodNMpp5BYAu1jfD5Ox3eDkJtOOQl3Xm_abGtjcSKn17NRK1aICDkIZ-QG4X74JdOo35tjLrny9f0EXrm_7EjUq9YZGw3zq8zAPkA8tey6DjorXe4CFPt19BmX5X6IdD/s1600/Oneirois_Orb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSABq4z14K0MtFodNMpp5BYAu1jfD5Ox3eDkJtOOQl3Xm_abGtjcSKn17NRK1aICDkIZ-QG4X74JdOo35tjLrny9f0EXrm_7EjUq9YZGw3zq8zAPkA8tey6DjorXe4CFPt19BmX5X6IdD/s400/Oneirois_Orb.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oneiroi's Orb, made of 1500 everyday objects</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8dCSHdc_6adaSZUgtmDez_EsJg1G9UtX6ipH1k4fjR9P1l36jVV13CLgMCv9Cpo9cUdbUFFA9eLfOauviLJ5-m53O_ag9mr37wi4xaGLY1e3BVUPnKeJXPVhyYb9qatDbfaY86iGrv93/s1600/Mini_Flyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8dCSHdc_6adaSZUgtmDez_EsJg1G9UtX6ipH1k4fjR9P1l36jVV13CLgMCv9Cpo9cUdbUFFA9eLfOauviLJ5-m53O_ag9mr37wi4xaGLY1e3BVUPnKeJXPVhyYb9qatDbfaY86iGrv93/s400/Mini_Flyer.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also featured was a miniature Flyer. <br />
Singapore loves miniatures. I support this obsession.</td></tr>
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<br />
I didn't spend much time in the Journey of Dreams since I was eager to move on to the main event. I passed through a turnstile and onto the "flight deck," which had a cool view of the giant space-age capsules that you ride in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGd_pobwC_FAA9wgd93fnuNqfuugMImPnH2AGAXawACZC5qi8Du9LS2dIx7V_vk-X637lGRMbPBVPmPjiRmsjv3TizJ2kd0bBgrgxX7ymeCH1zBj0zV3GL_4SmoZ9WYG3x_y34m4GOCea/s1600/Singapore_Flyer_capsule.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGd_pobwC_FAA9wgd93fnuNqfuugMImPnH2AGAXawACZC5qi8Du9LS2dIx7V_vk-X637lGRMbPBVPmPjiRmsjv3TizJ2kd0bBgrgxX7ymeCH1zBj0zV3GL_4SmoZ9WYG3x_y34m4GOCea/s400/Singapore_Flyer_capsule.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each capsule holds up to 28 people!</td></tr>
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<br />
The wheel turns really slowly and doesn't stop for people to get on and off. You just have to hop on and watch your step! The loading platform is really long and curved, so there's enough time for the people in the capsule to get out, and for new people to board on the other side. So I piled on in with about 15 other strangers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezcg_Inkd9QpxIKWbRX1L5joKOA1n34yzxew11lIu9YpWqVqP3E-JBv_VAj4x5CewzS55qix2bNz9kwVaMqxBk0LnM-SE86M1ixryHz-YPjnBEyhURhyBCwgrGqReZUgE09BwK91VWQfk/s1600/singapore_flyer_beginning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezcg_Inkd9QpxIKWbRX1L5joKOA1n34yzxew11lIu9YpWqVqP3E-JBv_VAj4x5CewzS55qix2bNz9kwVaMqxBk0LnM-SE86M1ixryHz-YPjnBEyhURhyBCwgrGqReZUgE09BwK91VWQfk/s400/singapore_flyer_beginning.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The capsule ahead of us, just as we start the ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6kVlANy_aMqB-WoScY_sVbIU7B3wptPVg0JVKygFsXWItq-OCx7HAvtMvpwdzu_S0kFGcYotVuWjN7QhfkBASP1XKzDNu_2wRSg0AyAJMyexYC1ye6FELWZ9-cW9Da3bSEq_W8QIXdeh/s1600/Sing_Flyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6kVlANy_aMqB-WoScY_sVbIU7B3wptPVg0JVKygFsXWItq-OCx7HAvtMvpwdzu_S0kFGcYotVuWjN7QhfkBASP1XKzDNu_2wRSg0AyAJMyexYC1ye6FELWZ9-cW9Da3bSEq_W8QIXdeh/s400/Sing_Flyer.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't look very secure, does it?!</td></tr>
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<br />
It was a gorgeous, clear day, so the visibility was great. One of the first things I noticed was that the aerial view of the new <a href="http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/home.html">Gardens by the Bay</a> was really awesome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VkYT-psbnKQUAv4fV2SJRUiPwML7wWvvbqBJZssNNqKffqPDgQnMD5ZG1-FgZkCic0QiOi8y0VIjpF49ua8eIOK5Ls8Y7KfRSSALIT2RMZCJ8EA_TuF4eOEB5hOohJthUcsu4MMM39ab/s1600/supertrees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VkYT-psbnKQUAv4fV2SJRUiPwML7wWvvbqBJZssNNqKffqPDgQnMD5ZG1-FgZkCic0QiOi8y0VIjpF49ua8eIOK5Ls8Y7KfRSSALIT2RMZCJ8EA_TuF4eOEB5hOohJthUcsu4MMM39ab/s400/supertrees.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous supertrees</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpMfzoIsyWvfqdCQwutng-Ua_HKl-3XET5CuDlBd7sYhCdFrjZde2b7fu4ou7WK6s7lnCk6e14CLRATRxECEhDYnnbek199biGtNmx9-fB6xJBW3GaGe0B0qvbvdH7yExGbKuR9k2xDc9/s1600/Gardens_by_the_Bay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpMfzoIsyWvfqdCQwutng-Ua_HKl-3XET5CuDlBd7sYhCdFrjZde2b7fu4ou7WK6s7lnCk6e14CLRATRxECEhDYnnbek199biGtNmx9-fB6xJBW3GaGe0B0qvbvdH7yExGbKuR9k2xDc9/s400/Gardens_by_the_Bay.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supertrees and greenhouses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRo9e4DFjl4GHaVg0YZDPDoFRAABAR4qAGE6uMbLhSVoYyewPA3JvjUJggQPu3kzq8GMVuhoSRuO70mGydDuV4vfDeEkmlo5f9JAdAGs2eNDImIzUsLH9oOwc4VC4njDE2f7P8mvAOWWQ/s1600/Crystal_Singapore_Flyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRo9e4DFjl4GHaVg0YZDPDoFRAABAR4qAGE6uMbLhSVoYyewPA3JvjUJggQPu3kzq8GMVuhoSRuO70mGydDuV4vfDeEkmlo5f9JAdAGs2eNDImIzUsLH9oOwc4VC4njDE2f7P8mvAOWWQ/s400/Crystal_Singapore_Flyer.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me up in the air!</td></tr>
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<br />
Looking back down on the building that I was just in was a bit dizzying!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JL9eECwRLRCissmuS4VWaddBKJvjVmnlDVHCH9DWZXIy5bTDTPMrHiR8b78OueERW1d2pwZ19xLfnfvjtsfYQImhnpe7h0hQ_9jHxE1T-z1YzNYS6N6MbIPvvd1GehxwBhZ3MTygONTb/s1600/Singapore_flyer2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JL9eECwRLRCissmuS4VWaddBKJvjVmnlDVHCH9DWZXIy5bTDTPMrHiR8b78OueERW1d2pwZ19xLfnfvjtsfYQImhnpe7h0hQ_9jHxE1T-z1YzNYS6N6MbIPvvd1GehxwBhZ3MTygONTb/s400/Singapore_flyer2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see how someone with a fear of heights might not love it...</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jE3BDlrDys578rh9HJRKaw6hp-ykF0iBzGdN-t0gArefXlL2avPfy7eXtMIcnbpWfmgUPlJ3uHrki6BUSGlEteI91nQ5y8SJnP5M41cX7csZIJYgnyMysyRIj7_qMCS-6WgVAiS231sW/s1600/Sing_Flyer_center.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jE3BDlrDys578rh9HJRKaw6hp-ykF0iBzGdN-t0gArefXlL2avPfy7eXtMIcnbpWfmgUPlJ3uHrki6BUSGlEteI91nQ5y8SJnP5M41cX7csZIJYgnyMysyRIj7_qMCS-6WgVAiS231sW/s400/Sing_Flyer_center.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks a bit fragile from this angle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8n1w9Imtrzn03YGmqTBoaWjFxNhmHCCMWxO4jbpu-uGGzVVmBnTuIIn_s82QCt-PtFdHaHGT3LfBU3QWY18bvAttlgPPXejWmPs_XV5lph1bSdZE7pdY_NJ-3lWEhb264hIdGUwUgAk2/s1600/in_n_out_Flyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8n1w9Imtrzn03YGmqTBoaWjFxNhmHCCMWxO4jbpu-uGGzVVmBnTuIIn_s82QCt-PtFdHaHGT3LfBU3QWY18bvAttlgPPXejWmPs_XV5lph1bSdZE7pdY_NJ-3lWEhb264hIdGUwUgAk2/s400/in_n_out_Flyer.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking inside and outside at the same time was trippy too!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's amazing how much you can see from the flyer on such a crystal clear day! It really made me realize just how small Singapore really is.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHxQztDN1EDk9elyNhVvgBcCF-ykySlJmvY2R5VcgU-R3nRf_M2VLqOk0OOpTPa13rBc56X95_KiIRvIEsrvvAjaBPHif1somO17izkRtLHOfsObQCtvY0-Xxaih4Yv4Bs9SpNCu1XNNj/s1600/Downtown_sepia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHxQztDN1EDk9elyNhVvgBcCF-ykySlJmvY2R5VcgU-R3nRf_M2VLqOk0OOpTPa13rBc56X95_KiIRvIEsrvvAjaBPHif1somO17izkRtLHOfsObQCtvY0-Xxaih4Yv4Bs9SpNCu1XNNj/s400/Downtown_sepia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBUZxQq69c5ke99wKA4dVy9oII5Bgb-rl0_rzQ3NDKJbDctlX6R5KWEoB-693Hq_HpeZI_3v6REKUJhX4dEzDu2n3yVW76o0krguYAYhdTQ1xCXOaDueHnCEOm4lmfUjKK9sUBIxVAwmC/s1600/Downtown_with_Flyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBUZxQq69c5ke99wKA4dVy9oII5Bgb-rl0_rzQ3NDKJbDctlX6R5KWEoB-693Hq_HpeZI_3v6REKUJhX4dEzDu2n3yVW76o0krguYAYhdTQ1xCXOaDueHnCEOm4lmfUjKK9sUBIxVAwmC/s400/Downtown_with_Flyer.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown - MBS off to the left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJp1_xBWSVx9hNVT5jwJGWdonvxpwppv-hhW6O3eH3uJWm65X4l6j8Jbdk8uFJZEIh5jBqfXtc0WgvWeg6afZCdg1SDXNdwZaRSOeBnnfk6qn4HEYIsYDI23KI4SqJ8uxxAHzwL8tY3qk-/s1600/Esplanade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJp1_xBWSVx9hNVT5jwJGWdonvxpwppv-hhW6O3eH3uJWm65X4l6j8Jbdk8uFJZEIh5jBqfXtc0WgvWeg6afZCdg1SDXNdwZaRSOeBnnfk6qn4HEYIsYDI23KI4SqJ8uxxAHzwL8tY3qk-/s400/Esplanade.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Esplanade with the spaceship-esque Supreme Court building in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhmLbtSvBK2NqBgZIUtnK09FuAp6Gt_PHqYMwWFWjo4wjxl5WCNWoik3lJcXljrbf4f86isI_FokiVXdD2HPiFjcpwP5BNe_BmCp8-71d20gt6i65M92OaLKi0xop9ger244TSMoq3-Cp/s1600/ArtScience_Museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhmLbtSvBK2NqBgZIUtnK09FuAp6Gt_PHqYMwWFWjo4wjxl5WCNWoik3lJcXljrbf4f86isI_FokiVXdD2HPiFjcpwP5BNe_BmCp8-71d20gt6i65M92OaLKi0xop9ger244TSMoq3-Cp/s400/ArtScience_Museum.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Museum/">ArtScience Museum</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Remember how I said that there are tons of HDB buildings in Singapore?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcg-LdVXKlyUR7t9Ah29j9craXrIJX2rD1NwraJ4yn6q3SdoX6BnqfPsWfs9vamO48B2iAOBakvf6MojpvOgM-EtfKidu3FS3hb0iQIcgdZ8r1EwnELRM5DfArlteiKjirY_zlB3ZhUfjt/s1600/HDB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcg-LdVXKlyUR7t9Ah29j9craXrIJX2rD1NwraJ4yn6q3SdoX6BnqfPsWfs9vamO48B2iAOBakvf6MojpvOgM-EtfKidu3FS3hb0iQIcgdZ8r1EwnELRM5DfArlteiKjirY_zlB3ZhUfjt/s400/HDB.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wasn't kidding.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After I had my feet back on solid ground, I decided to walk over to the newly opened Gardens by the Bay, since it would be my last chance to check it out. It had looked so close from the Flyer, but it turned out to be a bit of a walk, especially because you can't cut across Marina Bay Sands areas to take the most direct route. It was a hot day, so I ended up stopping in at MBS for a cold drink, and eventually I made my way to the Gardens by going down to the MRT and following the signs from there. It's so frustrating to be able to see a place but not to be able to get to it! But in the end, it was worth all the hassle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06v29-eBBUh8gM4qoUpoJRImJHnx-CaKmGpf7UOjWIwr7w_Jo7lGgWZ8TbaG1Y3DFjyaMT71FOdC3_MeTTHU23eSLhEGq6OIsjUfn0AgZMRm4G60VvGisqk2oZI4ySmeGQK1QM0bO354p/s1600/dragonfly_sculpture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06v29-eBBUh8gM4qoUpoJRImJHnx-CaKmGpf7UOjWIwr7w_Jo7lGgWZ8TbaG1Y3DFjyaMT71FOdC3_MeTTHU23eSLhEGq6OIsjUfn0AgZMRm4G60VvGisqk2oZI4ySmeGQK1QM0bO354p/s400/dragonfly_sculpture.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragonfly sculpture at Dragonfly Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The supertrees were much more impressive up close. They're massive in scale - there are 18 of them, and the tallest is 16 stories tall. There are over 150,000 plants comprising more than 200 species planted all over them, and if that's not impressive enough, they light up at night!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJibWRwWtE2qhlv0wtI5BateS5OKWPTYz2XUyoWPw92eUN5nRaPcLQZa_7uFCS3AVS9iEI6_o7PcSFGsoGgiz4drpFEoPvb0WeKmLOiankfw93rkmiXZw1qbmbPAtohSEMCf8byyzED_l/s1600/supertree_grove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJibWRwWtE2qhlv0wtI5BateS5OKWPTYz2XUyoWPw92eUN5nRaPcLQZa_7uFCS3AVS9iEI6_o7PcSFGsoGgiz4drpFEoPvb0WeKmLOiankfw93rkmiXZw1qbmbPAtohSEMCf8byyzED_l/s400/supertree_grove.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supertree Grove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineN4etuwEn5P24Q-vKVU_-r186NOgewTAyJDpvHAjA0duPAB9ack7r4w8SiguPRf8iU6W4q3_t8K0I25aAK62Gp_E0WLtSb2rmrR8PnCUyKa1LtjrMqdgzSBSeSvrmI5pZNBZ2gAZX920/s1600/supertrees_close.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineN4etuwEn5P24Q-vKVU_-r186NOgewTAyJDpvHAjA0duPAB9ack7r4w8SiguPRf8iU6W4q3_t8K0I25aAK62Gp_E0WLtSb2rmrR8PnCUyKa1LtjrMqdgzSBSeSvrmI5pZNBZ2gAZX920/s400/supertrees_close.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a LOT of people there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The supertrees were amazing to behold, but the areas around them were crammed with curious onlookers, so I wandered into a less crowded part of the garden before long. The conservatories are also pretty beautiful close-up, but since the gardens had just opened they were really popular so I decided not to go in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTrEVMpk_KtqAm0HzHD621Eibu9aOaop34lMhEuRHIJ-1N2MR-zvp0QQaXsN_0SadK0yb4wQOopWs7sjjlbMSdBQ_53aoIEL4nKdnO8A5McBd_nVXqvCJblVkN1AUhJcYa5GiijrYQgfk/s1600/GBTB_conservatory.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTrEVMpk_KtqAm0HzHD621Eibu9aOaop34lMhEuRHIJ-1N2MR-zvp0QQaXsN_0SadK0yb4wQOopWs7sjjlbMSdBQ_53aoIEL4nKdnO8A5McBd_nVXqvCJblVkN1AUhJcYa5GiijrYQgfk/s400/GBTB_conservatory.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So futuristic...I expected lasers to start shooting out at any second</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were lots of neat sculptures scattered around the gardens, which made aimless wandering interesting and rewarding!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSkNpqoWc185xJPpyhK22o9BtKcLOuzYHKBZsDl7S6iB51N9OlEo8Xed3PGylofeKVrm6v8d5dRYrNN2BxKT_SauBddRnEyUKkN4pPo7d0Gaz5V9wcKkjCisSQUzwzk6g39-ROwd_38Ys/s1600/GBTB_sculpture_horse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSkNpqoWc185xJPpyhK22o9BtKcLOuzYHKBZsDl7S6iB51N9OlEo8Xed3PGylofeKVrm6v8d5dRYrNN2BxKT_SauBddRnEyUKkN4pPo7d0Gaz5V9wcKkjCisSQUzwzk6g39-ROwd_38Ys/s400/GBTB_sculpture_horse.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the India-themed part of the garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnM67844fXQ0XvezBoCDuIHaAK377u9nDF_iqr9Kjg_SDJfnQrKHeWsw5FRGyI41fYYi5rQv8pKyFPr3MS9mvcyCkCBewZi9HKw_V3uQm1kJwT8W19ooGI8w3Dna6Mv1Gb-gMIgigF8xk/s1600/bull_sculpture_GBTB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnM67844fXQ0XvezBoCDuIHaAK377u9nDF_iqr9Kjg_SDJfnQrKHeWsw5FRGyI41fYYi5rQv8pKyFPr3MS9mvcyCkCBewZi9HKw_V3uQm1kJwT8W19ooGI8w3Dna6Mv1Gb-gMIgigF8xk/s400/bull_sculpture_GBTB.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off in a quiet corner that I had all to myself!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Away from the main supertree grove is a smaller area with just a few of the impressive structures. I was able to stand and quietly admire them for a few minutes without being jostled by hundreds of other onlookers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ-V7JDDbP3VP4r0oG0iP90EW924U3CgKWtN5r2b20AzlHpoTovBb3MKxK6Mcw_gPbzeISZZ9RJ6zJe6wnlqIC6-JG-fccjFTtDLhDF_64GWu3v023e5bcI11oVZ-oaa_RsXlGAoCav5F/s1600/supertree_detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ-V7JDDbP3VP4r0oG0iP90EW924U3CgKWtN5r2b20AzlHpoTovBb3MKxK6Mcw_gPbzeISZZ9RJ6zJe6wnlqIC6-JG-fccjFTtDLhDF_64GWu3v023e5bcI11oVZ-oaa_RsXlGAoCav5F/s400/supertree_detail.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So geometric!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There's a nice view of Marina Bay Sands from the gardens too. It was weird to see it from the other side. The Garden area had been closed for a long time since it was under construction, so I'd never seen MBS from this angle. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l9PCEkvPfd56Hx9nzPGB3qVUwVgGlCDL_CrWLvnR4hCYnJtyo7DPUXbs6Lz3NB9dlCeZMlQNEyjQWhS5IZl9UbBB-qmQiBRz3HndM7jSycegAL5wVqV1YiLunR6XUdcNKURt2RMO9B8o/s1600/Marina_Bay_Sands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l9PCEkvPfd56Hx9nzPGB3qVUwVgGlCDL_CrWLvnR4hCYnJtyo7DPUXbs6Lz3NB9dlCeZMlQNEyjQWhS5IZl9UbBB-qmQiBRz3HndM7jSycegAL5wVqV1YiLunR6XUdcNKURt2RMO9B8o/s400/Marina_Bay_Sands.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy pants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I hadn't been at the Gardens very long, but it had been a long, hot day, so I headed home. As I sat on the MRT it occurred to me that this was my last big hoorah. I had lots of work to do over the next few days, with wrapping up my job and with getting my stuff packed and trying to tie up all the loose ends associated with vacating a country. I wouldn't have time for any more big adventures. It was strange to think about, but I was glad that I'd spent the day taking myself out on a date in the city. It was a nice farewell to the country that had become a second home.<br />
<br />
So that was it! I headed back to Ohio a few days later, and started making preparations for our impending move to St. Louis. Compared to our previous international moves, a move to St. Louis seemed like a cakewalk! Now that we're back in the US, I plan to start another blog. Once it's up and running, I'll post one last update here. Thanks to everyone who followed our Southeast Asian adventures over the past few years - we loved sharing them with you!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-70170768498615105512012-06-21T21:06:00.001+08:002012-06-21T21:06:43.388+08:00Ten Things We'll MissWith <i>less than a month</i> left before Bryan heads back to the States for good (I follow soon after), I thought now would be a good time to share some of the things we'll miss about living in Singapore:<br />
<br />
1) <b>Our friends.</b> We've made great friends here. Sometimes the
friendships you form when you're far away from your family can be
especially strong. We'll miss you, Brian, Andrea, Jayasri, Claire, Tei,
Tomi, Assad, Jim, Nancy, Martin, Hen, Mara, Garrett, Sean, Laura, Swati,
Gaurav, Eliza, Michael, David, Sarah, Amina, etc., etc., etc.<br />
<br />
2) <b>The monkeys.</b>
Don't laugh, it's true. I've spent so much time with them over the past
few years that it's hard for me to imagine not being around them. It'll
be strange to have to go to a major effort to see monkeys in the wild.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1N8hB7B1IyJ5aDaj-G6SWBWo3XbRioLSMvzS6yFuPbzP39qT1lYGvnuinlhFcSC2CAL3WJKoC6Sl2P53XdEERLXSUB3p1udecCZPpF_QxF3B58COZwMeMj5VRBOZtIZLSzSTKyvGyEX3/s1600/silly_monkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1N8hB7B1IyJ5aDaj-G6SWBWo3XbRioLSMvzS6yFuPbzP39qT1lYGvnuinlhFcSC2CAL3WJKoC6Sl2P53XdEERLXSUB3p1udecCZPpF_QxF3B58COZwMeMj5VRBOZtIZLSzSTKyvGyEX3/s400/silly_monkey.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to have a bad day when you're hanging around these comedians</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
3) I know I've complained about <b>the food</b>
on occasion - some of it is seriously weird, and I've gotten sick from
food more here than anywhere else I've ever lived, for sure. But there
are definitely foods we'll miss. I'll miss iced Milo, pandan chiffon cake, curry puffs, vegetarian kway teow, popiah, masala dosai,
Chinese New Year cookies, kaya waffles, and Hello Panda crackers. Bryan
will miss chicken tikka, satay, Thai green curry, and laksa. We'll both miss
readily available, cheap, insanely delicious Indian food, 100 Plus, and
more.<br />
<br />
4) Building on #3, Bryan and I will miss <b>our favorite restaurants</b>. Singapore is nothing if not overflowing with eating establishments.We'll miss lots of them - from the vegetarian stalls (especially
the one in Canteen B at NTU!!) to the fancy places (<a href="http://originalsin.com.sg/">Original Sin</a> being my top choice for special occasions). <a href="http://al-ameen.com.sg/">Al-Ameen</a>, <a href="http://anjappar.com.sg/">Anjappar</a>, <a href="http://www.spizza.sg/">Spizza</a>, <a href="http://www.brewerkz.com/">Brewerkz</a>, Jaggi's in Little India, <a href="http://www.breadtalk.com/dintaifung/">Din Tai Fung</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_477341571">March</a><span class="st"><a href="http://www.marche-restaurants.com/en">é</a>, and even the little KJM Curry House right next to our apartment - we'll miss it all. Sure, we'll be glad to get American food back, but I'm sure it will only take us a few months before we start saying "Man, I could really go for some good dim sum right now."</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OGrdmE81_wQhrZefPJiqY_4zmxxiarcjJ7dIljnL9YrIyZb1k0_oSomjxjutDj94D98mF7DD79d4r3wHFA3cxObfgNEWcPi5-RelT8WM3wXvpS671GUP-1vh9HZuqwEZNw_EiuypPBqj/s1600/Crystal_Bryan_Brewerkz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OGrdmE81_wQhrZefPJiqY_4zmxxiarcjJ7dIljnL9YrIyZb1k0_oSomjxjutDj94D98mF7DD79d4r3wHFA3cxObfgNEWcPi5-RelT8WM3wXvpS671GUP-1vh9HZuqwEZNw_EiuypPBqj/s400/Crystal_Bryan_Brewerkz.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hangin' out at Brewerkz, one of our favorite restaurants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
5) <b>Our apartment. </b>It's true that the
place has its drawbacks, including being a bit far from the MRT, but
it's been our home for the past three years. I'm looking forward to
having an oven and a bathtub, but I'll miss the huge kitchen, the ample
closet space, and the reminders of happy memories we've shared here.<br />
<br />
6) The <b>easily accessible nature</b>.
Despite being a big city, Singapore has awesome nature and it's easy to
get to. Hop on a bus or the MRT and in no time you can be in the
wetlands, the rainforest, at the beach, in the mangroves, at a lake, a
garden, and more. It's amazing. Bukit Timah and Sungei Buloh are favorites of ours, and will always have a special place in our hearts!<br />
<br />
7) This goes hand-in-hand with #2 and #5 but it's a little different. We'll miss <b>the wildlife</b>.
It's abundant and fascinating, Working on this blog has allowed me to
develop some expertise in identifying Singaporean wildlife. I'll miss
seeing the cool wildlife when we move away, but I'll also be sad that
all the knowledge I've acquired won't be getting put to use any more.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUehTUhxkB3ZPZ90vJQhc6ADDzmK3TVD03N_wLE8sRUpxHKtm5O2006Fvrf1k3s5d_gOUbcveFjEflEPWRQ-FQEkwQhHwRfMpplYyvAmCbYdOwi9IE141eerj8zSmZdbMo8pSpzhjMfS0v/s1600/bittern.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUehTUhxkB3ZPZ90vJQhc6ADDzmK3TVD03N_wLE8sRUpxHKtm5O2006Fvrf1k3s5d_gOUbcveFjEflEPWRQ-FQEkwQhHwRfMpplYyvAmCbYdOwi9IE141eerj8zSmZdbMo8pSpzhjMfS0v/s400/bittern.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Chinese Garden, a 15-minute walk from our apartment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
8) Singapore is one of the safest cities in the entire world, and I've felt a deep <b>sense of security</b>
while we've been here. I'll miss feeling like I can walk down the
street alone at 2 in the morning, confident that I'll be fine. I
certainly won't feel that way in any American city - I mean, even since
I've been here, someone in the US stole my credit card info and my
brother's house in the US got robbed. It doesn't really make me feel all safe and secure.<br />
<br />
9) Easy <b>travel opportunities</b> to exotic locations. I mean, you can hop on a ferry and be <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/08/bintan-day-three-under-sea.html">on the beach in Indonesia</a> in an hour. You can get a cheap plane ticket and <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/07/day-at-beach.html">go to Phuket</a> for the weekend. <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/02/sumatra-day-three-mud-blood-sweat-and.html">Wild orangutans</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/03/cambodia-day-three-infamous-tenples-of.html">the ruins of an ancient civilization</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2011/04/thailand-day-two-ko-phi-phi.html">stunning ocean views</a> - all of it is a short plane ride away from here. We'll miss being able to take advantage of all that.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aniSeGvuBi6ybuoO-hIF63em5i3M9S3lr4PQ3Vg-d7q7Dm0nLgBSsHzGfFZG1ek691EAd9U6GqIG0qIbm35AWWKvdFEr1mQwDnWmz6woX9p8BkVd4kAI9iOcQPd3zHll-5AeT09KW7TA/s1600/Monkey_Trail_view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aniSeGvuBi6ybuoO-hIF63em5i3M9S3lr4PQ3Vg-d7q7Dm0nLgBSsHzGfFZG1ek691EAd9U6GqIG0qIbm35AWWKvdFEr1mQwDnWmz6woX9p8BkVd4kAI9iOcQPd3zHll-5AeT09KW7TA/s400/Monkey_Trail_view.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll miss doing stuff like this over long weekends!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
10) <b>Our jobs</b>. Bryan and I are off to other opportunities, but we'll miss the jobs we've had here. Bryan has enjoyed his colleagues and his research at IHPC, and I've loved being a full-time monkey chaser!<br />
<br />
Despite all this and more, Bryan and I are really looking forward to getting back all <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.sg/2010/04/things-we-miss.html">thing things we've missed </a>over the past three years! I think it will be interesting in time to see whether I've done a good job of predicting what we'll miss - maybe I'll update everyone in a few months to let you all know if we're jonesing for something unexpected!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">There's still time to <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2012/category/?cat=lifestyle">vote for us</a> in the 2012 Singapore Blog Awards!! You can vote once a day until June 30th!</span></b></i></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-50712112175922914122012-06-09T13:58:00.000+08:002012-06-09T13:58:36.400+08:00Silly Signs Eleven: The Australia EditionThe signs in Australia weren't silly so much as they were <i>terrifying</i>. Around every corner was another sign warning you of the dangers of doing anything: walking, swimming, breathing. It was scary at first, but after a while it just got kind of funny.<br />
<br />
First came the crocodile signs. They were posted near anything that could remotely be considered a body of water: rivers, ponds, billabongs, streams, brooks, large puddles, etc.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQn-wohGGUgMQa32P1qqZFbsXI1NeOWv-kI9dD5zGZPsIzDwpRJHgrcymcmDrUPz2EUBvQZWlpM6PAsfSPaLiGY3Zvib8_jj1_FIZIpwFgwFhPxUg9J4LL392ClNF_ZiCWr-vKHJfy118/s1600/crocodile_warning_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQn-wohGGUgMQa32P1qqZFbsXI1NeOWv-kI9dD5zGZPsIzDwpRJHgrcymcmDrUPz2EUBvQZWlpM6PAsfSPaLiGY3Zvib8_jj1_FIZIpwFgwFhPxUg9J4LL392ClNF_ZiCWr-vKHJfy118/s400/crocodile_warning_sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming is risky when giant, hungry crocodiles lurk nearby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE22A2Rw9iBr1o8VXvfqLcExalvxihYOCW07V-FrWrzMBHnRfdR-6-e4brCbV1UWhp_PTJA_0vP3WL9xNttGOJAyZXI1_ZzUm1KRhbVo8bqJYroGFECDvnv0CVn2G4-XHWkFYr8KQl2r1y/s1600/crocodile_safety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE22A2Rw9iBr1o8VXvfqLcExalvxihYOCW07V-FrWrzMBHnRfdR-6-e4brCbV1UWhp_PTJA_0vP3WL9xNttGOJAyZXI1_ZzUm1KRhbVo8bqJYroGFECDvnv0CVn2G4-XHWkFYr8KQl2r1y/s400/crocodile_safety.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crocodile will toss you around like a ragdoll before eating you for breakfast.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5B5TlepI1lVXil3g-DMhjQZInBHCh2aGPmknP-a8n_mM8Q-eVP_mzL4cNUDrVyW46_TZcnqyiJc7r_LbVvGtwy4OuqFaj7aIUiJOqExXSK_j0CrfXAy17d9xmqhQ-Ub3u83Rfw_iHw_K/s1600/crocodile_warning_Australia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5B5TlepI1lVXil3g-DMhjQZInBHCh2aGPmknP-a8n_mM8Q-eVP_mzL4cNUDrVyW46_TZcnqyiJc7r_LbVvGtwy4OuqFaj7aIUiJOqExXSK_j0CrfXAy17d9xmqhQ-Ub3u83Rfw_iHw_K/s400/crocodile_warning_Australia.jpg" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's that? Oh nothing, just another sign warning you <br />
of your impending death by crocodile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you're not eaten by a crocodile, you'll at least be munched on by some bloodthirsty insects.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGaRCcZbwQi6ZZNJeJtNv2b5MRbL5O2fr75VGYYEX_AVqN2qSjJTapUaLGMZbZRDeyGDbiibOtAO2kz3_y_BxRRhJDycMIrpIx15eUfvl5TN80mJ8FC198yCznykSTjyQNlzw5hPmZH5G/s1600/biting_insects_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGaRCcZbwQi6ZZNJeJtNv2b5MRbL5O2fr75VGYYEX_AVqN2qSjJTapUaLGMZbZRDeyGDbiibOtAO2kz3_y_BxRRhJDycMIrpIx15eUfvl5TN80mJ8FC198yCznykSTjyQNlzw5hPmZH5G/s400/biting_insects_sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Australian government wants you to stay bite-free, and to dress modestly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And if you manage to survive the crocodiles AND the biting insects, you still have to get past the asbestos and avoid developing a horrible lung disease.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZGXfp0RISsEDU0PbExcWup5kgGrol-iOaxF18a8RNSQVsGs0XPHIJqluBeF9Rqcbi7fet4yDQ3Y9sHRE8SDJCNOI4qOoykgAdkyOyN0LEgvZiCeWaRmo7VnK0OZBdAeW_hWCtK48H9-L/s1600/asbestos_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZGXfp0RISsEDU0PbExcWup5kgGrol-iOaxF18a8RNSQVsGs0XPHIJqluBeF9Rqcbi7fet4yDQ3Y9sHRE8SDJCNOI4qOoykgAdkyOyN0LEgvZiCeWaRmo7VnK0OZBdAeW_hWCtK48H9-L/s400/asbestos_sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ummm...shouldn't there be a fence or something?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the lasers and the bombs. Good luck dodging those while you're trying to escape the man-eating crocs, angry mosquitoes, and scary asbestos.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsFgfvljGsjCrwL3HxCVqVOY70Kh9QwtE4jLSR3Al1n1KB2QPgwWRZb3e-_IqwDc-vFuUMnj5buimaQ2q1Mf8V4FfoxrSax2eQZUsXNVfGim93srYzMGO_666V3P4o2d1SmVLZd-_sO56/s1600/laser_bombs_warning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsFgfvljGsjCrwL3HxCVqVOY70Kh9QwtE4jLSR3Al1n1KB2QPgwWRZb3e-_IqwDc-vFuUMnj5buimaQ2q1Mf8V4FfoxrSax2eQZUsXNVfGim93srYzMGO_666V3P4o2d1SmVLZd-_sO56/s400/laser_bombs_warning.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "no trespassing" seems unnecessary after the exploding bomb graphic...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Guys, if you make it through all that, you're in the clear. But ladies, you still have one more obstacle to handle. Nabulwinjbulwinj, the angry spirit, wants to kill you in a very peculiar way. The sign says:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>This is Nabulwinjbulwinj. He is a dangerous spirit who eats females after striking them with a yam.</b></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR7ck-bneZBZpJcMYeoPdRYv6nvdav9c6u4BRSHfdWhI_tc3zzFcgYcYdwGCUsTIl6NRDvhqALEfm6lD74bDHOdgCnN8tmDEwHDPLF94iQPyroIwe_0FdQ1sdR3nVkrUmZo_F1nP0FUKJ/s1600/Nabulwinjbulwinj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR7ck-bneZBZpJcMYeoPdRYv6nvdav9c6u4BRSHfdWhI_tc3zzFcgYcYdwGCUsTIl6NRDvhqALEfm6lD74bDHOdgCnN8tmDEwHDPLF94iQPyroIwe_0FdQ1sdR3nVkrUmZo_F1nP0FUKJ/s400/Nabulwinjbulwinj.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously ladies, watch out for those yams. RUN AWAY.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sometimes I think it's funny when Singapore gets all bent out of shape about their big "monkey problem" when places like Australia have to deal with crocodiles, dingoes, kangaroos, and wild horses.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg7DWNTtdE7qc0gge-GW9ptccOBSthUm1kY-lAbjeh7S2Nh8FAZAxypTGHHGIw6Zlb0fYhUKWrPlGfvxRjeV9CsxCSl756Du7QVe5NEkRbaaHmyscLK9V7rDAX8AuSACMEKQtL1tP_w34/s1600/animal_safety_australia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg7DWNTtdE7qc0gge-GW9ptccOBSthUm1kY-lAbjeh7S2Nh8FAZAxypTGHHGIw6Zlb0fYhUKWrPlGfvxRjeV9CsxCSl756Du7QVe5NEkRbaaHmyscLK9V7rDAX8AuSACMEKQtL1tP_w34/s400/animal_safety_australia.jpg" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many animal warnings! But seriously, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYtShiFHavQ">watch out for those kangaroos</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Apparently the Northern Territory floods like crazy, but the locals are troopers and they just drive right on through the water! Some of the cars even have snorkels on them!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGha8VFmbE6ae0heKaEnbDJ52nuvUxd4Z4OinJ5hna-vVvj0adAJ-5QrgdQJTTJBELoRqw2IYXAcn6KXRBzQQUO3iN_x1oSECIAX8O6a3wqdJYDkri8PF5gBf2u9avbls1FumZnOhQoVH/s1600/road_flooding_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGha8VFmbE6ae0heKaEnbDJ52nuvUxd4Z4OinJ5hna-vVvj0adAJ-5QrgdQJTTJBELoRqw2IYXAcn6KXRBzQQUO3iN_x1oSECIAX8O6a3wqdJYDkri8PF5gBf2u9avbls1FumZnOhQoVH/s400/road_flooding_sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The indicators went up to like 3 meters!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCtWVRdmQj-jzKBisIY4z2JPSDTsSAjyhJiuLTLk-oivCiTXH5J0BgxdbZuIlwNATMVfw5jvBtFj1g2bxSAuM0-m_UyzoXnjVMc1ALyVdyOHVRSO2KrgRtCjWm1Pg4FiVi22M2rR8Inz_/s1600/jackaroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCtWVRdmQj-jzKBisIY4z2JPSDTsSAjyhJiuLTLk-oivCiTXH5J0BgxdbZuIlwNATMVfw5jvBtFj1g2bxSAuM0-m_UyzoXnjVMc1ALyVdyOHVRSO2KrgRtCjWm1Pg4FiVi22M2rR8Inz_/s400/jackaroo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flooded roads are no problem for a JACKAROO (an actual car in Australia)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Australia may not have the funniest signs, but it certainly has the scariest!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: purple;">Hi there! Our blog is a finalist in the Singapore Blog Awards! You know you wanna <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2012/category/?cat=lifestyle">click this link</a> and cast a vote for us. Nabulwinjbulwinj will strike you with a yam if you don't!</span></b></i></span></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com9Northern Territory, Australia-19.4914108 132.5509603-27.138052300000002 122.44353830000001 -11.8447693 142.65838230000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-91610650364631337832012-06-05T22:09:00.001+08:002012-06-05T22:09:35.156+08:00We're LeavingBryan and I are moving to St. Louis, Missouri at the end of July. I'll be starting a PhD program in Anthropology (focusing on monkey studies!) at <a href="http://wustl.edu/">Washington University</a>. Bryan is still looking for work in the area, but we're hopeful about some of the leads he has.<br />
<br />
Leaving Singapore will be bittersweet for us. By the time we leave, we will have been here for almost exactly three years. We are unbelievably excited to move back to the US, and to experience all of the things that we've missed so much. We especially can't wait to be closer to our families and friends, to be able to call them whenever we want, to get back home without flying for 30 hours through 13 time zones, to eat all the Mexican food we can get our hands on, to drive cars, to snuggle with our cats, and to wear sweaters, build snowmen, and drink hot chocolate.<br />
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But after three years in Singapore, there are things that we'll miss about living here as well. We've made some excellent friends here, and we will miss them so much. It's been a joy working, laughing at monkeys, playing board games, eating delicious food, watching movies, and drinking Tiger with all of them. We hope that our Singapore friends will feel welcome in St. Louis, if they ever happen to be on the other side of the planet.<br />
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It'll be hard to say goodbye to our non-human friends too. As silly as it may seem, I've gotten attached to the monkeys here and it will be sad to leave them. We'll miss seeing all the amazing wildlife of Singapore, but we'll miss the monkeys most of all.<br />
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And of course, after three years of jet-setting around Southeast Asia, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.sg/2011/04/thailand-day-two-ko-phi-phi.html">chilling on the beach in Phuket</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.sg/2010/03/cambodia-day-three-infamous-tenples-of.html">admiring the ruins at Angkor Wat</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.sg/2011/02/sumatra-day-three-mud-blood-sweat-and.html">trekking through the jungles of Sumatra</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.sg/2010/06/bali-day-two-snorkeling-and-arak.html">snorkeling under the waves in Bali</a>, <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.sg/2012/05/australia-day-four-kakadu-and-darwin.html">watching the wallabies in Australia</a>, and <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.sg/2011/10/new-zealand-day-two-best-day.html">getting engaged in New Zealand</a>, we'll certainly miss this crazy lifestyle.<br />
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Singapore will always have a special place in our hearts. It's the first place Bryan and I moved as a couple. It's where Bryan had his first job after earning his PhD. It's where we were living when we decided to spend forever together. It's where I finally figured out what to do with the rest of my life. We've made memories and friendships here that will last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
While we'll always look back on our time in Singapore with happiness, we look forward to continuing our adventures in the newest chapter of our lives - as a married couple in St. Louis!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOT_YgVyoftWWlAd4V5PRJ-SLMbJMFKkrtu2F7h5EMcKSBkOH-5_ItBGxwyll01MQGHtTrocYmUqS34BRw3cLbnc0hp1YyebP7aiqEPLRA6nsHd1Vs9MbLviz18Vgh9CgMn9_1wwdsh3L0/s1600/Crystal_Bryan_engaged.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOT_YgVyoftWWlAd4V5PRJ-SLMbJMFKkrtu2F7h5EMcKSBkOH-5_ItBGxwyll01MQGHtTrocYmUqS34BRw3cLbnc0hp1YyebP7aiqEPLRA6nsHd1Vs9MbLviz18Vgh9CgMn9_1wwdsh3L0/s640/Crystal_Bryan_engaged.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for the next phase of our lives - in the good old USA!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-88787316085936327772012-06-02T13:31:00.000+08:002012-06-02T13:33:54.805+08:00Australia Day Five: One More Day in DarwinWe had pretty vague plans for our last day in Darwin. We slept in and checked out of our hotel pretty late. Our flight out of Australia left in the early evening, so we had almost a whole day to spend hanging around. Our first order of business was food, and I was eager to try a place I'd been eyeballing on our map since we arrived in Australia. It was called Simply's, and specialized in healthy vegetarian food. Bryan was less enthusiastic, but good-naturedly allowed himself to be dragged along. Man, I was SO glad we found that little place. It was THE best meal I had in Australia, and I didn't even have to feel guilty about eating it! Bryan seemed to enjoy his falafel, although he was perhaps a little less enthusiastic than me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20-wf_MvUabACXACZArHnmeK7Q26c5RxwWhbRsq-6AVdkRhIyqW_9Dinpa9pjWmiQToW8gooz2_D6Az-Ag4mUUEtqbjK4FUpe2LWH2idvPtMyye-HNoDqlaautLyFCfkAZCped_5Y0Qu9/s1600/simplys_vegetarian_darwin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20-wf_MvUabACXACZArHnmeK7Q26c5RxwWhbRsq-6AVdkRhIyqW_9Dinpa9pjWmiQToW8gooz2_D6Az-Ag4mUUEtqbjK4FUpe2LWH2idvPtMyye-HNoDqlaautLyFCfkAZCped_5Y0Qu9/s400/simplys_vegetarian_darwin.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mexican pie and SIX kinds of salad. Curried pasta salad was my fave.</td></tr>
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While hanging out at the restaurant, we dug through our wallets and admired all our Australian cash. It's so pretty! I think every country has more colorful currency than the US!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1n38ahgpm-r0AVRWT4O4CbP6X19i96vkUJNV4MrbPxCheHe-2Muzuxd_DL8FX7SS6nVwbABzLdYi7bIEsVmn-cjkG2ZbBM5YG_336hv3wOFSNbAnxOKtAJC_nXoEuqzQzi8d-XF1GhXH/s1600/Australian_currency.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1n38ahgpm-r0AVRWT4O4CbP6X19i96vkUJNV4MrbPxCheHe-2Muzuxd_DL8FX7SS6nVwbABzLdYi7bIEsVmn-cjkG2ZbBM5YG_336hv3wOFSNbAnxOKtAJC_nXoEuqzQzi8d-XF1GhXH/s400/Australian_currency.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like Monopoly money, but with kangaroos on it</td></tr>
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After lunch, we walked over to a little Irish pub and had some cider while we watched bowls on TV. Have you ever seen bowls?! Apparently it's some huge thing in Australia. It's kind of like bocce ball, except that instead of doing it casually at a cookout with your family like Americans do in their backyards, Australians do it professionally at bowls clubs and they are <a href="http://www.bowlsaustralia.com.au/">DEAD SERIOUS</a> about it. It was pretty fun to watch, so I see how people get so into it.<br />
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Eventually we peeled ourselves away from a riveting bowls match and walked over to the Esplanade. There's a path along the Esplanade that meanders along through a park area and along the water, but there isn't really any beach to lounge around on. We did see some neat stuff, including some more birds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogldGcQcd_waXz2Jy1VAGMIjz-agXOk68oUUuFplw2rVbwp82EBgUtpEFMfp_dejbHWB8rHxOhBdCf__RmZA2XTZZ8O3az-ePTR3VtFkSLPYGVRHdAOoK9U16qWl3CdF1EEqzJDlO6SGa/s1600/P1140250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogldGcQcd_waXz2Jy1VAGMIjz-agXOk68oUUuFplw2rVbwp82EBgUtpEFMfp_dejbHWB8rHxOhBdCf__RmZA2XTZZ8O3az-ePTR3VtFkSLPYGVRHdAOoK9U16qWl3CdF1EEqzJDlO6SGa/s400/P1140250.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow bee-eater</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVup1_QkfUEu_jFrd7mkyIC08VpBDIfYOF2nGEVwp7E-Uh5c94Z6oxhGlBNV_MGtXEjv0B5Uv8B9jAe4vtEL-GuFb6FNpFk1TCn5iBJpieF4rfsBjgO06nC2kvCze8v2oaLGuipwnJw3LI/s1600/P1140257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVup1_QkfUEu_jFrd7mkyIC08VpBDIfYOF2nGEVwp7E-Uh5c94Z6oxhGlBNV_MGtXEjv0B5Uv8B9jAe4vtEL-GuFb6FNpFk1TCn5iBJpieF4rfsBjgO06nC2kvCze8v2oaLGuipwnJw3LI/s400/P1140257.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two zebra doves</td></tr>
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In our aimless wanderings, we meandered into a historical district with cool old buildings and neat sculptures. One of the most impressive buildings was the <a href="http://christchurchcathedral.org.au/about/history/">Christchurch Anglican Cathedral</a>, built in 1902 and still in use as a church today. The church even survived being hit by a bomb during World War II!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcug5nq36tGM66z17phuQaOLnOt3CA53uDJA3YGJFpe-4DBHOFyZu1w1rAtDr2sGYdfDX8oOmukvCNXbjOAOTegocSlwwVvlR7GWdyiEbmLgkKTb4N90Fwl_FhqDYGUBiRuFSpDAMrtAO/s1600/Christchurch_Anglican_Cathedral.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcug5nq36tGM66z17phuQaOLnOt3CA53uDJA3YGJFpe-4DBHOFyZu1w1rAtDr2sGYdfDX8oOmukvCNXbjOAOTegocSlwwVvlR7GWdyiEbmLgkKTb4N90Fwl_FhqDYGUBiRuFSpDAMrtAO/s400/Christchurch_Anglican_Cathedral.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christchurch Anglican Cathedral</td></tr>
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The sculptures scattered around the historical district were pretty cool. These were two of my favorites.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06ErAZAeW_gLPk3zwp-PHKJBLlSUN6iucFamXOnfyGWDwS8ysZzQPDYV6EKDCzpa7NMjDLZW0pBBZ_iAUuBEYTTF35jfbQgKyiy1HkPITP5VIKTISV2MQmhzkvkOMNw6Ah_bdW5KiWqBN/s1600/P1140263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06ErAZAeW_gLPk3zwp-PHKJBLlSUN6iucFamXOnfyGWDwS8ysZzQPDYV6EKDCzpa7NMjDLZW0pBBZ_iAUuBEYTTF35jfbQgKyiy1HkPITP5VIKTISV2MQmhzkvkOMNw6Ah_bdW5KiWqBN/s400/P1140263.JPG" width="137" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reminded me of demons!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZsT_X6QxWYwWYE8nGUuie4E8IxQH-mo5g8ypj8Md4h75rUTjNWrPGyCPI6ATTMckRj_aJd6ZJkxD4WcsyiC7D_feMyDSAK13B0epjuhoAErKWAIrdEm8kNvDJPd21Q_pgfd2VKyoXfxE/s1600/tawny_frogmouth_owl_Darwin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZsT_X6QxWYwWYE8nGUuie4E8IxQH-mo5g8ypj8Md4h75rUTjNWrPGyCPI6ATTMckRj_aJd6ZJkxD4WcsyiC7D_feMyDSAK13B0epjuhoAErKWAIrdEm8kNvDJPd21Q_pgfd2VKyoXfxE/s400/tawny_frogmouth_owl_Darwin.JPG" width="361" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tawny frogmouth owl sculpture named "Chinute Chinute"<br />
by amazingly named artist
Koolpinyah Barnes</td></tr>
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We wandered town a while longer, but the historical district was really the last interesting thing we saw before heading back to the airport, where we had a very strange dinner at <a href="http://www.darwinairport.com.au/shopping-dining/dining">Fannie Bay Ale House</a>. We got nachos that had....marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese?! Probably the strangest interpretation of nachos I've ever seen. It's like something I'd come up with when we're running low on groceries.<br />
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After dinner and a very thorough security screening (Australia <i>does not mess around<b> </b></i>about airport security), we boarded our <a href="http://www.jetstar.com/sg/en/home">Jetstar</a> flight back to Singapore. It was very strange - that flight was the last time that we would be flying back into Singapore! But more on that later...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="color: purple;"><b>Oh yeah! Did I mention that we're finalists in the Singapore Blog Awards?! It would be super if you'd <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2012/category/?cat=lifestyle">vote for us</a>! </b></i></span></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com3Darwin, Australia-12.4628198 130.8417694-12.4783243 130.8220284 -12.4473153 130.86151040000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-3511601297487986562012-05-27T21:55:00.000+08:002012-06-02T11:23:58.593+08:00Australia Day Four: Kakadu and Darwin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On our last day in Kakadu, we enjoyed a quiet morning, sipping coffee and listening to all the nature sounds just outside our door. Around mid-morning, we reluctantly lugged our bags out to the car. But we had a surprise: a wallaby send-off party! In the clearing where we'd been night-time wildlife watching the past two nights were four wallabies, placidly grazing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii50YsTO3YvD_YqdB1VsIDtMJSvNnvysx1f0L6jEQlhyBpqSek03Gk86RET2a-jUy6C5mB7JchvSpycTEZsV2Cru_Fu7Lg-iUgVlGI0PNJVK9A6iM2qyAudO-M4QEFJlT1yrCFrrOrG3YX/s1600/wallabies_grazing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii50YsTO3YvD_YqdB1VsIDtMJSvNnvysx1f0L6jEQlhyBpqSek03Gk86RET2a-jUy6C5mB7JchvSpycTEZsV2Cru_Fu7Lg-iUgVlGI0PNJVK9A6iM2qyAudO-M4QEFJlT1yrCFrrOrG3YX/s400/wallabies_grazing.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omnomnom</td></tr>
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After a while, the wallabies noticed that they were being watched. They hopped closer to the forest edge, stopping every few hops to glance back suspiciously at us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYZ1xHLb8WgRdGNwMrbEh5dKE_4GVoiALn6JIJdTFTMnkmcrt-7ArzPnsf-8FRXgigMTP-2zr0i2LyIa9FqWfIfKzjcXBxIUfppySzVdKckgqPfbBlIaGMxrcQA_2KV-Z7aq00ppl4xzv/s1600/hopping_wallaby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYZ1xHLb8WgRdGNwMrbEh5dKE_4GVoiALn6JIJdTFTMnkmcrt-7ArzPnsf-8FRXgigMTP-2zr0i2LyIa9FqWfIfKzjcXBxIUfppySzVdKckgqPfbBlIaGMxrcQA_2KV-Z7aq00ppl4xzv/s400/hopping_wallaby.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey! Quit lookin' at us!</td></tr>
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We decided to leave the wallabies in peace, and headed out. We were planning to head back down the Arnhem Highway to Darwin, but first we decided to swing by the South Alligator River one last time, just to see if we could spot any of the crocodiles we'd heard so much about. We didn't have any reptile luck, but we did spot a very exciting bird - a kookaburra!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOACuFQLdm9OQOdsfDOMao_Jlu74zr5atB-QYn25NxBA4mVnE9BEZRZA8LTQz1JCXTkLSHozCSvDmWkVag4YwI342z9KYlxxU0abMKoWrYScfFMOJI1hVuKTcMxnX-aYyKYQCOdHaGMXhY/s1600/blue-winged_kookaburra.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOACuFQLdm9OQOdsfDOMao_Jlu74zr5atB-QYn25NxBA4mVnE9BEZRZA8LTQz1JCXTkLSHozCSvDmWkVag4YwI342z9KYlxxU0abMKoWrYScfFMOJI1hVuKTcMxnX-aYyKYQCOdHaGMXhY/s640/blue-winged_kookaburra.JPG" width="522" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-winged kookaburra</td></tr>
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I immediately started singing <a href="http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/k003.html">the song</a>:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
♫ Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Merry, merry king of the bush is he</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Laugh, kookaburra! Laugh, kookaburra!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How gay your life must be ♫</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
I think it's kind of funny us American kids grew up singing this song at school - none of us had any idea what a kookaburra was!! But now I know that the kookaburra is a very large kingfisher that's well known for their propensity to eat snakes - I've come a long way since second grade.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RLbz0zGbUNlvf4UAos75ig-Cu4idK0Czp1sC0_IMdxMglrrOMHXKtLvzLGe0y0HhSOg-XjSVxia2FpRa332rc-Hqmyd9KbSem3j2N0t_tEBBZvBlUDDnUCk5u8VHvdKGZpx-NFRsdOsU/s1600/flying_kookaburra.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RLbz0zGbUNlvf4UAos75ig-Cu4idK0Czp1sC0_IMdxMglrrOMHXKtLvzLGe0y0HhSOg-XjSVxia2FpRa332rc-Hqmyd9KbSem3j2N0t_tEBBZvBlUDDnUCk5u8VHvdKGZpx-NFRsdOsU/s400/flying_kookaburra.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fly, kookaburra! Fly, kookaburra!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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The kookaburra was the most exciting bird around, but it wasn't the only one. As usual, there were magpie-larks hanging around. And below the kookaburra's tree was a purple swamphen. We'd seen those birds around in New Zealand, and it was neat to see one again.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s1r_gld5m1hACT_KJKYdNx0diZ85Z4m3sHuwUTa3RxvVFge0ehJ6dHLWlk7O01uG0BeCyq-Nc5vw4S2T9b2IV6PdPVyJbCdtyNm1VqFeWH2LvjqX-L_cBNMBQyE8gwErPOUYdYAVZifg/s1600/purple_swamphen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s1r_gld5m1hACT_KJKYdNx0diZ85Z4m3sHuwUTa3RxvVFge0ehJ6dHLWlk7O01uG0BeCyq-Nc5vw4S2T9b2IV6PdPVyJbCdtyNm1VqFeWH2LvjqX-L_cBNMBQyE8gwErPOUYdYAVZifg/s400/purple_swamphen.JPG" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple swamphen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After some time spent admiring the birds and the river, we got started on our journey back to Darwin. We took it slow and kept an eye out for wildlife. We were pulling into little side roads along the way, hoping we might see something interesting.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdXIvOO0E3ytkGP1FjmAQLBCDVkI9f_YSvb4d2aucq9A9a38KEWPd7uQMOkFUfOPRHsWS8ERZCcbeZWfbEvKurlPP3Tn5OF2U_qbzz2RgnPk1X7e7mCOKgKoab2qKXBLguPAgG6xeP8nR/s1600/Kakadu_side_road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdXIvOO0E3ytkGP1FjmAQLBCDVkI9f_YSvb4d2aucq9A9a38KEWPd7uQMOkFUfOPRHsWS8ERZCcbeZWfbEvKurlPP3Tn5OF2U_qbzz2RgnPk1X7e7mCOKgKoab2qKXBLguPAgG6xeP8nR/s400/Kakadu_side_road.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our random detours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We got lucky right away when we saw some more wallabies - and one of them had a little joey in its pouch (a WALLABABY)! We stopped and the mom looked up at us, then reached down and shoved her baby all the way into her pouch! I thought it was cute to see her being so protective, but apparently her baby didn't appreciate it very much. We could see him wriggling around inside the pouch, and pretty soon his head popped back out.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON4hNDLPbsYpfqLXJCgEETyeA8aj31XWPta6xy_-z14pM0WuTKkV6OlUJEVaFsnszN5IRQWASs4RziTPLItykBr7BPAUeLO5kGZQ2Y5uaLH-8LYRugM1L4RjDYppY9062GZEVpKeB36Ak/s1600/wallaby_with_baby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON4hNDLPbsYpfqLXJCgEETyeA8aj31XWPta6xy_-z14pM0WuTKkV6OlUJEVaFsnszN5IRQWASs4RziTPLItykBr7BPAUeLO5kGZQ2Y5uaLH-8LYRugM1L4RjDYppY9062GZEVpKeB36Ak/s400/wallaby_with_baby.JPG" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mooooom, let me OUTTA here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Further down the road we stopped again to watch a flock of galah that were hanging out on the shoulder. They're such beautiful birds!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJNWBRHSS0rYPxmk7GSiIRwzIT1vkIsBvrMPyNKuVJFwgSXySppd-TC95dmM2GE4FATsjm_FjdV0Jr9TKdDLi2hEvV0uRS6wfXLy_SPxdMBUyU2VFNXzZ04BtW1HQc93OWAFqk0xS1PvX/s1600/rose_breasted_cockatoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJNWBRHSS0rYPxmk7GSiIRwzIT1vkIsBvrMPyNKuVJFwgSXySppd-TC95dmM2GE4FATsjm_FjdV0Jr9TKdDLi2hEvV0uRS6wfXLy_SPxdMBUyU2VFNXzZ04BtW1HQc93OWAFqk0xS1PvX/s400/rose_breasted_cockatoo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For obvious reasons, also known as the rose-breasted cockatoo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Vffl2k1RQPncxgMZin4aj42yGstJYw_eUrHK7ufRgr00U2yL6NIdfWXSUsQMMbYu9jmNWs1QkHEJ2U3y0eixVX2MFFdTLsYNHAz2EjBXQqwGVVzfbCGAT1qSdebX2OBc1XsBl17X390g/s1600/galah_on_ground.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Vffl2k1RQPncxgMZin4aj42yGstJYw_eUrHK7ufRgr00U2yL6NIdfWXSUsQMMbYu9jmNWs1QkHEJ2U3y0eixVX2MFFdTLsYNHAz2EjBXQqwGVVzfbCGAT1qSdebX2OBc1XsBl17X390g/s400/galah_on_ground.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So weird to see cockatoos in the wild!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We all know how much I love abandoned stuff, and there was some cool abandoned stuff along our route, including the burned out car we'd passed on our way in.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEIKHLE_HZVYE6N5er_3-ZFMyE9yQQTZLRLBK-fIKRfMpBFPX96OMI9WLUctAuzgESLTosA8S7zFPOjdnymPd01R2TEngHD5uz14Y7a-fxJeOz6KMYRpIgy759k3WSbG4kI3JQotILWyO/s1600/burned_out_car2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEIKHLE_HZVYE6N5er_3-ZFMyE9yQQTZLRLBK-fIKRfMpBFPX96OMI9WLUctAuzgESLTosA8S7zFPOjdnymPd01R2TEngHD5uz14Y7a-fxJeOz6KMYRpIgy759k3WSbG4kI3JQotILWyO/s640/burned_out_car2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably one of the best abandoned cars I've ever seen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZ_cvu18u0T2b2ZsG-6ht2IVQq0DNZl8KI2FlszVZ3__pxHK4DA421162VOkrUXS3w4UJIJZmxRVj-Llslbi-XxxjU0SJfcNin8RwrRwBx4x7myP-eL-CdH8F_AnhyphenhyphenbfM8f5UhP2v9h5E/s1600/old_barrel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZ_cvu18u0T2b2ZsG-6ht2IVQq0DNZl8KI2FlszVZ3__pxHK4DA421162VOkrUXS3w4UJIJZmxRVj-Llslbi-XxxjU0SJfcNin8RwrRwBx4x7myP-eL-CdH8F_AnhyphenhyphenbfM8f5UhP2v9h5E/s400/old_barrel.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banged up barrel to match the beat up car</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We often saw huge trucks on the Arnhem Highway that were
longer than any semis we'd seen before - they were like regular semis,
but they were pulling three trailers behind. They had big signs on the
front that said <b>ROAD TRAIN</b>. It was kind of scary when they passed us, because they made a <i>whump-whump-whump</i> sound.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByC_1n2H5s781Dhjox9anJA1jGbHcYHWw5ZHrYWN5jbZZv8tR4MTscgABRbng_MCfyFT7fEsnCT9tVQCsRe8NwI07Ykap_boTfnqmRmm9SxwZvoXWVZtNtnr-64zilKewGmKIGds8YJ3v/s1600/Road_Train2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByC_1n2H5s781Dhjox9anJA1jGbHcYHWw5ZHrYWN5jbZZv8tR4MTscgABRbng_MCfyFT7fEsnCT9tVQCsRe8NwI07Ykap_boTfnqmRmm9SxwZvoXWVZtNtnr-64zilKewGmKIGds8YJ3v/s400/Road_Train2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The signs should say <b>TRUCK MONSTER</b> instead of<b> ROAD TRAIN</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There aren't a lot of places to stop between Jabiru and Darwin, but we did find a little place called the <a href="http://www.barkhutinn.com/">Bark Hut Inn</a>, where we could get some lunch. Vegetarian options were pretty limited in the Northern Territory, but I got by with some garlicky pita bread, and stole some of the fries that came with Bryan's burger. It was a nice place to eat - the Bark Hut Inn keeps a few animals (emu, cows, etc.) and we sat outside and watched them while we ate. Adding to the entertainment were the huge blackbirds that would swoop in to steal any food that was left unattended for even a second.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALnanJMUfOvOcEWJ8ESjvVb_PByBqYoZYBTqLlMr5qUlWtj0NBp-p9tc5SQZQQDiWdR9vNiB_KKAxNnamlOJKhL84dPwMqDrOdIg-8aV6lJASoCl4aFmmP9VXI2A22AgpDdowR7iiMRmX/s1600/huge_black_bird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALnanJMUfOvOcEWJ8ESjvVb_PByBqYoZYBTqLlMr5qUlWtj0NBp-p9tc5SQZQQDiWdR9vNiB_KKAxNnamlOJKhL84dPwMqDrOdIg-8aV6lJASoCl4aFmmP9VXI2A22AgpDdowR7iiMRmX/s400/huge_black_bird.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Expert food snatchers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After lunch and a little rest, we got back on the road. It wasn't much longer to Darwin. We stopped just on the edge of town to visit Charles Darwin National Park. As soon as we pulled in, we got the feeling that this park might be a bit past its prime. There weren't many people around and everything looked a little deserted. There was a beat up old camper in the parking lot, and it appeared as though people were living there, and there were a lot of signs warning visitors to lock their cars. Kinda strange.<br />
<br />
According to signs posted around the park, Darwin played an important role in defending Australia during World War II. Specifically, it was used as a "bomb dump," a repository for tons of explosives. There were bunkers all over the park. Cool!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNV0-N7tuZlOnUEKpfycyQODyniuZmuYoCryNV-23hlZNq_KJdieoizVd3M9lvPZ_fV59fiMImUP-AOHRULXThbFMEC2HbRrfZ1C65FPpqFAazRv5-ZtQvqPR_yzqtraQHyUVHiz_9Zqa_/s1600/Charles_Darwin_National_Park_bunker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNV0-N7tuZlOnUEKpfycyQODyniuZmuYoCryNV-23hlZNq_KJdieoizVd3M9lvPZ_fV59fiMImUP-AOHRULXThbFMEC2HbRrfZ1C65FPpqFAazRv5-ZtQvqPR_yzqtraQHyUVHiz_9Zqa_/s400/Charles_Darwin_National_Park_bunker.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old bunker for storing explosives</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of the bunkers was open and served as a little museum, full of artifacts from the WWII era.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SUGaJWyEIpfUEVsnmhpqzqxLLG1UqbmhfSUUTzAl_PTtPIJWrXhMzNZDhrzg3rx1xyQemlYFJWFEg1V4Mzo57cYTp5fsCEr8eR9z-evvQAMfVcKbdtM3Pe-DeQtzoLmwSLLzJg1UkJVu/s1600/Darwin_WWII_explosives.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SUGaJWyEIpfUEVsnmhpqzqxLLG1UqbmhfSUUTzAl_PTtPIJWrXhMzNZDhrzg3rx1xyQemlYFJWFEg1V4Mzo57cYTp5fsCEr8eR9z-evvQAMfVcKbdtM3Pe-DeQtzoLmwSLLzJg1UkJVu/s400/Darwin_WWII_explosives.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scary stuff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AbzZq-AJbJUmgfqCLYXom3UxFYON15kZK_HPXu46ZS9OHI-jNRon9LRTuNVkLn9sisEWPM3kU8El8cHMlIxHqD1hOajJ_Mf8A6wdLKNWdqRkZKAPNfcPsXghdFOPX2Z5oD2qACpCbDCO/s1600/Crystal_typewriter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AbzZq-AJbJUmgfqCLYXom3UxFYON15kZK_HPXu46ZS9OHI-jNRon9LRTuNVkLn9sisEWPM3kU8El8cHMlIxHqD1hOajJ_Mf8A6wdLKNWdqRkZKAPNfcPsXghdFOPX2Z5oD2qACpCbDCO/s400/Crystal_typewriter.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old-school typewriter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We followed a path off of the carpark and it meandered along, past bunkers, little skinks, and lots of neat plants that I couldn't identify!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd8L1RZ7-YvFkBxGwgWh450ZBy5n3HqClHfSreF5KBF0RcVXCY0iwkaA_I4A4rF6qlp9jjC2szNI3rp9zUWSQNSzSQvsXPq5oUdVsGlVjcfCOPEKijqNR70ftBN7frxktqk7DIe703a-P/s1600/twisty_plants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd8L1RZ7-YvFkBxGwgWh450ZBy5n3HqClHfSreF5KBF0RcVXCY0iwkaA_I4A4rF6qlp9jjC2szNI3rp9zUWSQNSzSQvsXPq5oUdVsGlVjcfCOPEKijqNR70ftBN7frxktqk7DIe703a-P/s400/twisty_plants.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool twisty plants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Some of the bunkers were open and some were locked up tight. Just as Bryan walked into one of the open ones, I saw some movement above the door. A 4 or 5 foot long snake slithered up over the bunker so fast we couldn't even snap a photo! It was pretty cool to see it, but I'm glad it didn't drop down on Bryan while he was in the doorway!!<br />
<br />
We hiked all the trails in the park before heading back to our car. It was nice to get out and stretch our legs after a few hours cooped up in the car. Back at the carpark, there was an open area that afforded a nice view of downtown Darwin. Unfortunately it was kind of a hazy day.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeYTx81K_0tuSXIoLk-fqMNodZ_2JsFZddUV9hrPnPuzkrM1rBu_dGzB67ntRoiOaM693hzWcZ0XO9_VnM_EV7tre2WAVb3vNrHDaaLrPuh0V7R7VlMpSMrxwU6vhMPV1AhanerDqMfYJ/s1600/Downtown_Darwin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeYTx81K_0tuSXIoLk-fqMNodZ_2JsFZddUV9hrPnPuzkrM1rBu_dGzB67ntRoiOaM693hzWcZ0XO9_VnM_EV7tre2WAVb3vNrHDaaLrPuh0V7R7VlMpSMrxwU6vhMPV1AhanerDqMfYJ/s400/Downtown_Darwin.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Darwin off in the distance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was late afternoon by the time we left the park, and we were ready to check into a hotel and then go get some dinner. We headed back to the <a href="http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/reservation/searchresult?destination=DARWIN%2CAustralia&sicreative=8105509757&sicontent=0&sitrackingid=261363594&siclientid=2763">Holiday Inn</a>, where we'd stayed a few nights before. It was a Tuesday, so we figured we wouldn't have any trouble getting a room. Boy were we wrong! The Holiday Inn was full, and the people at the desk informed us that the train comes in on Tuesday and we'd have trouble finding an available room. Uh-oh! We headed out on foot, and stopped at a couple places. We were temporarily encouraged to hear that there was one vacancy at the <a href="http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-1748-novotel-darwin-atrium/index.shtml">Novotel</a>, but immediately disappointed when we were told that the room cost FIVE HUNDRED dollars a night. We tried to keep a straight face when the concierge tried to offer us the sweet deal of four hundred dollars a night. We declined.<br />
<br />
After a few more discouraging stops, we decided that hotel-hunting would be easier on a full stomach, so we stopped at the delightfully named <a href="http://www.hogsbreath.com.sg/">Hog's Breath Cafe</a>. They had a variety of Australian ciders, which Bryan and I had become obsessed with on our trip, so we were happy to try a couple more.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGvaOvkfz5a7qoILYpQwY-s6boTOBlh3KXaWnxjpgYUdalFzY3KUGV8n8CcDMg1SBH_XY8kuKlFWNMFqg2wm_8sP5y1TJW3EKjeSHtX80GhL3IwIZ95_sPmFShk0z9C353oL3weh6RVKH/s1600/Strongbow_Aussie_Cider.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGvaOvkfz5a7qoILYpQwY-s6boTOBlh3KXaWnxjpgYUdalFzY3KUGV8n8CcDMg1SBH_XY8kuKlFWNMFqg2wm_8sP5y1TJW3EKjeSHtX80GhL3IwIZ95_sPmFShk0z9C353oL3weh6RVKH/s400/Strongbow_Aussie_Cider.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked both, but preferred the Aussie Cider</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Bryan and I both had great food. It looked so good when it showed up on the table that I immediately forgot about my intention to take photos, and just dug right in instead. I had an avocado and mushroom salad, which, I was amused to find, had deep-fried potatoes and mushrooms in it. Playin' it pretty fast and loose with the word "salad" there, but it was SOOO GOOD that I didn't mind. Bryan had what looked like something delicious that my mom would make - chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and gravy. He looked pretty blissed out on his side of the table. I think the Hog's Breath was probably the best food we had in Australia up until then!<br />
<br />
After dinner, we drove out of the main part of town and stopped at the <a href="http://vitina.com.au/">Vitina Studio Motel</a>. The friendly lady at the front desk told me that they had vacancies, and proudly informed me that they also had the cheapest rooms in Darwin (the rooms were cheaper than a lot of others, but were, in my opinion, still overpriced. That just seems to be the way things are in Australia). Anyway, we were grateful to have a place to crash for the night, so we gladly checked in and got comfortable!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hey! We're finalists in the Singapore Blog Awards! It would be super great if you'd <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2012/category/?cat=lifestyle%20">click this link</a> and vote for us!</span></b></i></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com4Northern Territory, Australia-19.4914108 132.5509603-27.138052300000002 122.44353830000001 -11.8447693 142.65838230000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-24400097355422039302012-05-24T17:23:00.000+08:002012-05-24T17:23:57.733+08:00Australia Day Three: Exploring!On our first full day in Kakadu, we spent some time lounging around our room. We made coffee and took it out on our little back porch. It was <i>loud</i> out there, but for a pretty cool reason: there was a flock of about 60 squawking cockatoos on the lawn and in the trees just outside our room!!! Most of them were little corellas.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZmx0jaZDezcjO2FXMzTZRt9g8CR-z1CPSSOoCTYiopehmhDJWldgmdjG6SSxSxBfYPDU8MESp6KML3ciIRf2ji6vO_TM98ugNRNKRgllT8I0KhsVIyjFp0azwheGFdsq-niiYEWlHaO4/s1600/little_corella.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZmx0jaZDezcjO2FXMzTZRt9g8CR-z1CPSSOoCTYiopehmhDJWldgmdjG6SSxSxBfYPDU8MESp6KML3ciIRf2ji6vO_TM98ugNRNKRgllT8I0KhsVIyjFp0azwheGFdsq-niiYEWlHaO4/s640/little_corella.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably the cheekiest birds I've ever seen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdGNEnMEiwopDRvrYIUDBdHD858SczQsFy4HTp7K87sJydWEdASfWp_xQpBeDX_hTWtATL0FPRYMRY5jycD3tl34tDATxsZiCsC08Hc4XcKlFvGnWBHtrw97JghQLU8cghUuRBic6MN7r/s1600/little_corella_taking_flight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdGNEnMEiwopDRvrYIUDBdHD858SczQsFy4HTp7K87sJydWEdASfWp_xQpBeDX_hTWtATL0FPRYMRY5jycD3tl34tDATxsZiCsC08Hc4XcKlFvGnWBHtrw97JghQLU8cghUuRBic6MN7r/s640/little_corella_taking_flight.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryan captured this photo at just the right moment!</td></tr>
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<br />
Apparently these birds are very playful. According to our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1864500328/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crystalandbey-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1864500328">Australian wildlife book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=crystalandbey-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1864500328" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />they have been observed swinging from telephone wires and riding windmill blades around until they fall off, then flying back to the top to ride the blades back down again. Pretty cute. Watching them on the lawn, diving in and out of the sprinklers and rolling around with each other reminded me of watching the monkeys!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtTGuy8JQKHXoNOunA3lJdpEJ8VdJ1iWBlHegjWkSjMg64L0QZzIHhkwwUNB6aGOkGdyh6doLbapnCTE7gKS8vd7mIKUhlpf3OlBa2wSp1UEnajxVA7IK5wtyOnFbV8ubmgPdmwubFSjH/s1600/little_corellas_playful.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtTGuy8JQKHXoNOunA3lJdpEJ8VdJ1iWBlHegjWkSjMg64L0QZzIHhkwwUNB6aGOkGdyh6doLbapnCTE7gKS8vd7mIKUhlpf3OlBa2wSp1UEnajxVA7IK5wtyOnFbV8ubmgPdmwubFSjH/s640/little_corellas_playful.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little corella play time looks suspiciously like little corella death battle time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NamQcikcO00AYDC3aY8NhVxGRdtsZmiFFeftG8wFCRZbysn5k2gp2LaX7HDOjRqZ2YaeRY9lLVoPx_8MTdbySPdWSlHBjeOahMZsnkL7ay9YdCV3_Lt02sfuTCLB3FRU6LZU_nC4G0I5/s1600/little_corella_grooming.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NamQcikcO00AYDC3aY8NhVxGRdtsZmiFFeftG8wFCRZbysn5k2gp2LaX7HDOjRqZ2YaeRY9lLVoPx_8MTdbySPdWSlHBjeOahMZsnkL7ay9YdCV3_Lt02sfuTCLB3FRU6LZU_nC4G0I5/s400/little_corella_grooming.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">♥Birdbrain love♥</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was a good morning for bird-watching. We sat on our porch and watched the little corellas for quite a while, but when we finally walked around a little bit, there were even more birds within about a 20 meter radius of our room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIURyDXQB8S0uH4gGM-La7JmoikobQiLWVC2eiW7kS2mlAnPnC81d6kEnObnmbAi9gnM1PWizlONKhLloB056D3nzgOi-9B6zgvzZHaMglxPkm90yVMZ30A_1GIfFZejBtBruYVF1dQcSB/s1600/crimson_finch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIURyDXQB8S0uH4gGM-La7JmoikobQiLWVC2eiW7kS2mlAnPnC81d6kEnObnmbAi9gnM1PWizlONKhLloB056D3nzgOi-9B6zgvzZHaMglxPkm90yVMZ30A_1GIfFZejBtBruYVF1dQcSB/s400/crimson_finch.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crimson finch</td></tr>
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<br />
One of the prettiest birds we saw was a pink and grey cockatoo called a galah. They're common all over Australia, but they're still an exciting sight to see.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHacxB9iXkhetFEDPpcqBxKCdcNQ2hHi7tse8htIT7nSRjRSnsfZkit5AY8YLeVn8OMqOG-umau9-_PN6rCb17XM5WZ7SVG8BFDAxT_43lBKn2issRGTn1xtz4vUIdupTSS9CR6rsg1Pri/s1600/galah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHacxB9iXkhetFEDPpcqBxKCdcNQ2hHi7tse8htIT7nSRjRSnsfZkit5AY8YLeVn8OMqOG-umau9-_PN6rCb17XM5WZ7SVG8BFDAxT_43lBKn2issRGTn1xtz4vUIdupTSS9CR6rsg1Pri/s640/galah.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flocks of cockatoos can be as large as a couple <i>thousand</i>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We asked for some hiking suggestions at the front desk, but they looked at us disdainfully and said that most people get started a little earlier in the day. Well la-de-da! There were several trailheads right around the Aurora Kakadu, but unfortunately they were all closed for the season. So Bryan and I got in the car and set off down the Arnhem Highway on our own. We pulled off at South Alligator River to admire the view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpEQurzD_pLDwxqRK7ewusXxzUB4jjhDbs07Bw9fNZc5eUlrsaum5SwLCiW5SXODWKbIO9UVxZZF1F2lM8_oCEtsWtD46Li4ugSv6dXFDlNobACrxXZgvg8VW0i3jg9kmb9E4K1LdDwjq/s1600/South_Alligator_River.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpEQurzD_pLDwxqRK7ewusXxzUB4jjhDbs07Bw9fNZc5eUlrsaum5SwLCiW5SXODWKbIO9UVxZZF1F2lM8_oCEtsWtD46Li4ugSv6dXFDlNobACrxXZgvg8VW0i3jg9kmb9E4K1LdDwjq/s400/South_Alligator_River.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Alligator River, which is confusingly full of crocodiles, not alligators...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Bryan and I don't usually think of ourselves as big bird people - we don't go out looking for specific birds, we just look for any wildlife we can find. But in Australia, it seemed like there was a new bird around every corner! We couldn't help but be birdwatchers!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyzOGoccJzlGhWLNuPT0q1mpBxPlv4K73D64szyQKTMvEEa0irQb5ARdD_Xm_6fGS8Y6GnaPbPy_v8KYJZ6f8yiOSbTu9C0DaetK4ZTXL7DNb02942Uchnza0fYUNpjkhU1EtkR2sUGXb/s1600/eastern_yellow_robin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyzOGoccJzlGhWLNuPT0q1mpBxPlv4K73D64szyQKTMvEEa0irQb5ARdD_Xm_6fGS8Y6GnaPbPy_v8KYJZ6f8yiOSbTu9C0DaetK4ZTXL7DNb02942Uchnza0fYUNpjkhU1EtkR2sUGXb/s400/eastern_yellow_robin.JPG" width="376" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern yellow robin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDiUMyA8PN0QgaiOu_q1B9iHzZLSkDYzhjPQYhK5v6mRQwKL_8lnLiBk3rTe-BCHOkkizV4kN233urXFiBGVNTqr-tmkpI4d_Y8hFg0auoxjTamf86hvG8ZeqDGehGT31ks0jEsktxrQG/s1600/Australia_raptor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDiUMyA8PN0QgaiOu_q1B9iHzZLSkDYzhjPQYhK5v6mRQwKL_8lnLiBk3rTe-BCHOkkizV4kN233urXFiBGVNTqr-tmkpI4d_Y8hFg0auoxjTamf86hvG8ZeqDGehGT31ks0jEsktxrQG/s400/Australia_raptor.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were always raptors overhead. Watch out, little lizards!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We followed a little trail down closer to the river, and felt right at home when we saw some fiddler crabs, chubby mudskippers, and colorful dragonflies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaX0B0wovMcFAL0OdoqLijFt3gXS8YuYZTsNvLAWehwjY0rftu2Fc3lv6q78W2ew2B9lPAFZY0BjQiD_XkW8EhVt2YvyDALy4VvUzoOfj9JvLY0F8hNAHy99gYl4rsegB3IzrpfH1_8ID/s1600/orange_dragonfly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaX0B0wovMcFAL0OdoqLijFt3gXS8YuYZTsNvLAWehwjY0rftu2Fc3lv6q78W2ew2B9lPAFZY0BjQiD_XkW8EhVt2YvyDALy4VvUzoOfj9JvLY0F8hNAHy99gYl4rsegB3IzrpfH1_8ID/s400/orange_dragonfly.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes bugs are pretty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once we'd exhausted the area around South Alligator without spotting any of the massive crocodiles that we'd heard so much about, we hopped back in the car and drove back down to Mamukala, where we'd stopped briefly the night before. It was nicer in broad daylight! And, guess what was there?! If you said MORE BIRDS, you win the prize!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBi-IjXW73QJff8G8SsSQ5n_kYaMZt_AKOq8ewp7I823CHKORcFwm8vqDpmopH69DXlTRD5WBVBiSTDWf_ZbhNeRU2vRiOJJzYNKeus8807q74xQSogRBP_IRGmRGluHybdD8snq-0utJ/s1600/green_pygmy_geese.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBi-IjXW73QJff8G8SsSQ5n_kYaMZt_AKOq8ewp7I823CHKORcFwm8vqDpmopH69DXlTRD5WBVBiSTDWf_ZbhNeRU2vRiOJJzYNKeus8807q74xQSogRBP_IRGmRGluHybdD8snq-0utJ/s400/green_pygmy_geese.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green pygmy geese - they look so geometrical!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2Rnt217i9zwiutajNZtRmm7ql6ztvicYQaCryF3Ck_l5LgkkeQnZFgu52p3J_Sb1fqF7W08npmDXCXcBYzSvNebj__q0ERS4kEruHokoCrfiMsxyIOJ7yx9RIrsJRL2N5xr5RnTpDhZA/s1600/Australia_raptor2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2Rnt217i9zwiutajNZtRmm7ql6ztvicYQaCryF3Ck_l5LgkkeQnZFgu52p3J_Sb1fqF7W08npmDXCXcBYzSvNebj__q0ERS4kEruHokoCrfiMsxyIOJ7yx9RIrsJRL2N5xr5RnTpDhZA/s400/Australia_raptor2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another intimidating raptor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After hanging out at the wetlands a while, we drove on to the Bowali Visitor Centre. They were more helpful than the people at the Aurora Kakadu had been, and they gave us some advice on places to go where the trails were open. We headed for the Mirrai Lookout, a short hike where we were told that we might see some wildlife. Luckily, we saw some before we even got there! A couple of storks wading in the water were impressive enough to get us to stop the car along the road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLaDRQKq90bCW5_lN4ZO0v-3_7KaROHXJlSLFLgKXmefVzMByL97rFWYX6oFbVY6u9nXXEQHoqibvjNN1HRUtSfn5QAzHZvELX-Oq78G1CBK2y493pe4ffpq0oBkv3BdWlnm3GgHr23f6/s1600/black_necked_stork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLaDRQKq90bCW5_lN4ZO0v-3_7KaROHXJlSLFLgKXmefVzMByL97rFWYX6oFbVY6u9nXXEQHoqibvjNN1HRUtSfn5QAzHZvELX-Oq78G1CBK2y493pe4ffpq0oBkv3BdWlnm3GgHr23f6/s400/black_necked_stork.JPG" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-necked stork eatin' some delicious fishes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbajs1EXQTwwbBIRIxJSSTatxFg_qPM2dY3Set0_f-vnZZYefZZ_IeSoY2EQiT5EA13GoRMCS87G7B_V2iElreexU1s-w2RUkWohyw7jy7PISfLwiXOnhRJvArPTqE6UJPLOQOBsv3D3cM/s1600/fishing_stork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbajs1EXQTwwbBIRIxJSSTatxFg_qPM2dY3Set0_f-vnZZYefZZ_IeSoY2EQiT5EA13GoRMCS87G7B_V2iElreexU1s-w2RUkWohyw7jy7PISfLwiXOnhRJvArPTqE6UJPLOQOBsv3D3cM/s400/fishing_stork.JPG" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heeeeere, fishy, fishy, fishy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It wasn't long after our stork pitstop that we reached the Mirrai Lookout trailhead. We got started right away on the 3.6 km hike. It was pretty steep going, but as an older guy who passed us on his way down observed, "no problem for youngsters like you!" There was a bit of wildlife along the trail, including the ubiquitous droptail skinks and a couple other lizards, one of which I haven't been able to identify.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tqtpD0lg2_cPH8Xn3L1pz-lZqaE6nG4z1L_AK1c793-u0kFjH4XxAqLKUIHVuVUQrQBKB4mhmBnbZJvI-EGo5C1OqEXPfmFRtcac8RKNRj6qJDQRwA6BFatFmn6b4_XRukg2K-nlC6tG/s1600/Australia_skink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tqtpD0lg2_cPH8Xn3L1pz-lZqaE6nG4z1L_AK1c793-u0kFjH4XxAqLKUIHVuVUQrQBKB4mhmBnbZJvI-EGo5C1OqEXPfmFRtcac8RKNRj6qJDQRwA6BFatFmn6b4_XRukg2K-nlC6tG/s400/Australia_skink.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These skinks flick their tails slowly back and forth,<br />
like they're trying to hypnotize you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77h-MD7w8B1sDo3osUbA3eUhgmXw-Wp4S7fu-K181kZdo0FOk_adPkyN4pMFG2eHkEAqrEO8OLU_tabmDdduzWWj9QnmCvV0FA5ZP0mJ2SdSla9eBeLdVf5m4tJBl2qZ-LbWlznYz8tOL/s1600/Australia_lizard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77h-MD7w8B1sDo3osUbA3eUhgmXw-Wp4S7fu-K181kZdo0FOk_adPkyN4pMFG2eHkEAqrEO8OLU_tabmDdduzWWj9QnmCvV0FA5ZP0mJ2SdSla9eBeLdVf5m4tJBl2qZ-LbWlznYz8tOL/s400/Australia_lizard.JPG" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kind of looks like a changeable lizard, but I don't think it is!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After an hour or so, we got to the lookout point, which was a tall metal tower. The view from the top was pretty nice! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5_ruHjwOKlYPmbJsJM-YOuXwy1ZNRsYReywBCWEKAT_rsuBf0KcYyJgBqgjhYCEsvvB3JEpN5RZNYCvI9AhKLnAzrLg8qh8DouMCxjxz548BuMBGsEuZuF0MvKcYLJQcvy3hklwhLZ3h/s1600/Mirrai_Lookout_view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5_ruHjwOKlYPmbJsJM-YOuXwy1ZNRsYReywBCWEKAT_rsuBf0KcYyJgBqgjhYCEsvvB3JEpN5RZNYCvI9AhKLnAzrLg8qh8DouMCxjxz548BuMBGsEuZuF0MvKcYLJQcvy3hklwhLZ3h/s400/Mirrai_Lookout_view.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Mirrai Lookout tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In addition to the great view, the tower also had some wildlife of its own - it was FULL of spiders!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP1EvFCRZhMKChZP1ePA46c-bezeQLaQVeBUKZeZGZjBdL1hKZOADPg_9VDu9X-KObuRDm5KP2ao4sorRwqqKzCKkRJQGme4chQV4CaLd0W9XUIOhv5Ol-sl_rq3i-ctLeKGYO1-pN3uK/s1600/St_Andrews_cross_spider.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP1EvFCRZhMKChZP1ePA46c-bezeQLaQVeBUKZeZGZjBdL1hKZOADPg_9VDu9X-KObuRDm5KP2ao4sorRwqqKzCKkRJQGme4chQV4CaLd0W9XUIOhv5Ol-sl_rq3i-ctLeKGYO1-pN3uK/s400/St_Andrews_cross_spider.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Andrew's cross spider</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Xneq0b0TOSCMBVYM6bENb8FkSwFNnG6SxH9obe9crzpWWvXKG4pHzrBPbV_wHfM3jIWi0MvrNnc2ztSmUoJkn4VDPn0CJ2Qch0QSSxuRqwmbq6mCqSr4fzd_8kQhdOGpUImVXnKT6nS/s1600/huge_spider_Mirrai_Lookout.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Xneq0b0TOSCMBVYM6bENb8FkSwFNnG6SxH9obe9crzpWWvXKG4pHzrBPbV_wHfM3jIWi0MvrNnc2ztSmUoJkn4VDPn0CJ2Qch0QSSxuRqwmbq6mCqSr4fzd_8kQhdOGpUImVXnKT6nS/s400/huge_spider_Mirrai_Lookout.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was about the size of a man's hand! AH!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On our way back down the trail, we spotted some wallabies! We'd seen some the day before from the car, but it was neat to see some without panes of glass between us.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixVk4SuRcf3nSh4uqFjuy_EMp5HdoQhV7nMuy884aH9t7aav9qcaR0ltnwn_yjIonFQ5CyxVaJb8Cl23pHOYUtgqhJZdAHPeEDMsu95K6fPvL1wG0c2xVPmWqCCtdoFESMSF5ofMQxtXw/s1600/wallaby_hopping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixVk4SuRcf3nSh4uqFjuy_EMp5HdoQhV7nMuy884aH9t7aav9qcaR0ltnwn_yjIonFQ5CyxVaJb8Cl23pHOYUtgqhJZdAHPeEDMsu95K6fPvL1wG0c2xVPmWqCCtdoFESMSF5ofMQxtXw/s400/wallaby_hopping.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were still pretty skittish!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDwP_JIJLRnKLWKTxsYKrmILbPbj2xtl4hdkcDfbqY_mfgmNWQmT8OFG64jLAr93qlk5XrJLYBepAtScmscNyB9G-hAefkrK7HK7ySbcv9T8FscGxeXNWNQz6Vf4JK8eVrSFFW8oOXkYB/s1600/sweaty_Crystal_Bryan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDwP_JIJLRnKLWKTxsYKrmILbPbj2xtl4hdkcDfbqY_mfgmNWQmT8OFG64jLAr93qlk5XrJLYBepAtScmscNyB9G-hAefkrK7HK7ySbcv9T8FscGxeXNWNQz6Vf4JK8eVrSFFW8oOXkYB/s400/sweaty_Crystal_Bryan.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweaty wallaby-watchers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9w5LpXTmS2GfE6peelr-spR-HbO26kbPnzQsWj0UAFB8JXqC9DZUB9zP1fppOtwqQZinQIBR3KxbhiRVmPYBsVx_R33lYrhtm46umJEU6ciMuDr3qvsl3xH6zzLRvvwh0f5H5YBrADgg/s1600/Bryan_Australia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9w5LpXTmS2GfE6peelr-spR-HbO26kbPnzQsWj0UAFB8JXqC9DZUB9zP1fppOtwqQZinQIBR3KxbhiRVmPYBsVx_R33lYrhtm46umJEU6ciMuDr3qvsl3xH6zzLRvvwh0f5H5YBrADgg/s400/Bryan_Australia.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My outback explorer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Before long we were back in the carpark. We hopped in, planning to head for Nourlangie, a nearby destination that had been recommended by the people at the Visitor Centre. But just as we were pulling out, something crazy popped out of the brush next to us. It was a HUGE raptor, flying away with a HUGE animal in its mouth! The animal was about the same size as the bird! Unfortunately, we couldn't snap a photo fast enough, and the bird got away with its dinner. It was pretty cool though!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RAONBiaG1Y8jh-wFBZN2FETe76UFKRyH7EJqseTnremFXb10RDFjx9MiTp581mdi0nst0RC06Wd2yp6zcmXKDtRme2T53weV97GE7ZaAZrFbeddhY8XuJaxo1TgDoKSR_mFx7_2NjAWz/s1600/raptor_Northern_Territory.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RAONBiaG1Y8jh-wFBZN2FETe76UFKRyH7EJqseTnremFXb10RDFjx9MiTp581mdi0nst0RC06Wd2yp6zcmXKDtRme2T53weV97GE7ZaAZrFbeddhY8XuJaxo1TgDoKSR_mFx7_2NjAWz/s400/raptor_Northern_Territory.JPG" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He looked like this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On the way to Nourlangie, we saw more wallabies on the roadside.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dU91f-8IaujxZsYMOJCLQroNUELhLGlVE2cFXbQLcCLY9rohs54X4AkZzYyvo2MPnh5YC3YtmpUQDPwNIkR5KEWW2eap9WuxJ7WeA_nx9-nXTJ5TlEBTwWRqQHPqvkL_P9QmZSb6FzCL/s1600/wallabies_roadside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dU91f-8IaujxZsYMOJCLQroNUELhLGlVE2cFXbQLcCLY9rohs54X4AkZzYyvo2MPnh5YC3YtmpUQDPwNIkR5KEWW2eap9WuxJ7WeA_nx9-nXTJ5TlEBTwWRqQHPqvkL_P9QmZSb6FzCL/s400/wallabies_roadside.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eatin' some grass with an ADORABLE BABY</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Nourlangie hike (about 1.5 km) was neat because it had great views, and it was also a rock art site, with ancient aboriginal drawings.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqgFw3yWrIjB7hYklWS1xo7MbnkU93s8TB92TeOA0V3iUcRJLMVRFWjfFF0hqEFdPfZqzxal31vMAD7Pc1MU85rhgiLCpAkuw4_JmAlhgjgUUkj-_CEGQsubVyuivuP-o4Ee6yBYd_cBY/s1600/Nourlangie_view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqgFw3yWrIjB7hYklWS1xo7MbnkU93s8TB92TeOA0V3iUcRJLMVRFWjfFF0hqEFdPfZqzxal31vMAD7Pc1MU85rhgiLCpAkuw4_JmAlhgjgUUkj-_CEGQsubVyuivuP-o4Ee6yBYd_cBY/s400/Nourlangie_view.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty view from the Nourlangie trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We came upon the rock art pretty quickly. Some of it, like the kangaroo below, was referred to as "modern art," since it was completed within the last 1000 years. Modern indeed!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtUNUn0Y5uR9tunG1aIHv9xI7ptBJUclkZhak2Hxme5nhs6G0mt5t56Cb9E3hD-T09RdorWd0XOwcGwqkloHV3V9jagODyyX1i0JFiSAF8t61yCJPmfxzqP8bMVkgNthE5yYoQ74ka5Oj/s1600/aborigine_rock_art.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtUNUn0Y5uR9tunG1aIHv9xI7ptBJUclkZhak2Hxme5nhs6G0mt5t56Cb9E3hD-T09RdorWd0XOwcGwqkloHV3V9jagODyyX1i0JFiSAF8t61yCJPmfxzqP8bMVkgNthE5yYoQ74ka5Oj/s400/aborigine_rock_art.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A kangaroo and a...<i>kangaroo wrangler?!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaehFDnPYLfewroCgIexMoNOOSZ7GaKrI2iRMvlCQZsYw7AVDyRxqKU84Xc1NlB35GWczK91fsgojHYxJz-wLQawhIY-_I3Gc5hVcMIQtNZuy7cy3AltUoAJRFtym_wDvjpc5jCERr0Il/s1600/Bryan_kangaroo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaehFDnPYLfewroCgIexMoNOOSZ7GaKrI2iRMvlCQZsYw7AVDyRxqKU84Xc1NlB35GWczK91fsgojHYxJz-wLQawhIY-_I3Gc5hVcMIQtNZuy7cy3AltUoAJRFtym_wDvjpc5jCERr0Il/s400/Bryan_kangaroo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryan, petting a rock kangaroo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I liked the art that depicted dancing. From the drawings, it looks like the ancient aborigines probably thew some killer parties.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAiOaTVjssrIjCeIOrGDELY67SD9IjquOkIZvAINJhFfbBhusH2krkTkmVwICFYf7xxPieSBt54bxyDb7Kiay9b1fTIrIs-_1yGbvCKJfCAMF7W7cnMJ6V0E9KM7dfVuxRkAswlNX5Mhl/s1600/aboriginal_art_dancing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAiOaTVjssrIjCeIOrGDELY67SD9IjquOkIZvAINJhFfbBhusH2krkTkmVwICFYf7xxPieSBt54bxyDb7Kiay9b1fTIrIs-_1yGbvCKJfCAMF7W7cnMJ6V0E9KM7dfVuxRkAswlNX5Mhl/s400/aboriginal_art_dancing.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gettin' down, aborigine style</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This next one was my favorite. A quote directly from the sign accompanying this drawing. I'm totally serious. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="color: #b45f06;">This is Nabulwinjbulwinj. He is a dangerous spirit who eats females after striking them with a yam. </b></blockquote>
Yup. So ladies, if you ever see a yam flying at your face, don't take the time to think "What the HECK?! Who threw this YAM at me?!" RUN. Because you're about to be EATEN.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiIiI0zTTJ6HuLvyyW7QUsSRTuC1RKbZKUmo9UvvRBRtRTIFigCWrEUgmnPP7gm0ndQZkEtg6K7z6zTj5Giouu-ftp5SRkbh2XyiwzR97sRv7BKLY49uivnODAdRt0zkztJ_Ef8rLb0tM/s1600/Nabulwinjbulwinj.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiIiI0zTTJ6HuLvyyW7QUsSRTuC1RKbZKUmo9UvvRBRtRTIFigCWrEUgmnPP7gm0ndQZkEtg6K7z6zTj5Giouu-ftp5SRkbh2XyiwzR97sRv7BKLY49uivnODAdRt0zkztJ_Ef8rLb0tM/s400/Nabulwinjbulwinj.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nabulwinjbulwinj, yam-throwing lady-killer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Anyway, while we walked the rest of the trail, I kept a keen eye out for any errant yams. I didn't see any, but we did spot a lot of massive termite mounds.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DDLp70DIIBxRE_YYGzC4e1aipG17Ov3CcDxaR8Da-XNiMJcLdkz9-neHrnTV_8siAtnrH25iMeMYMAqOXU9_OkEUA2zGa6FGXqKbOtAnTA_VO4M6xU00mcPSRt0K6LPJdijLMq4asmH_/s1600/Crystal_termite_mound.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DDLp70DIIBxRE_YYGzC4e1aipG17Ov3CcDxaR8Da-XNiMJcLdkz9-neHrnTV_8siAtnrH25iMeMYMAqOXU9_OkEUA2zGa6FGXqKbOtAnTA_VO4M6xU00mcPSRt0K6LPJdijLMq4asmH_/s400/Crystal_termite_mound.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hangin' out at the termites' house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Toward the end of the trail was an open area, up out of the rocky area with all the art. There were great views up there, and the rocks surrounding us were bright orange in the fading daylight.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdL1UJHgheKzqti0yRJSnF_mmJdLNhdbRR7lrvCXRZkdJ0jqkBWlofHrMfevJlxRIUabX3Z88x2ewlwEoz1MBTwI-6_GIq_tsjAz7IoltAVdqQRNNwlCubM_WtxhEa5q4uOW2rxfnlhCf/s1600/Nourlangie_trail_view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdL1UJHgheKzqti0yRJSnF_mmJdLNhdbRR7lrvCXRZkdJ0jqkBWlofHrMfevJlxRIUabX3Z88x2ewlwEoz1MBTwI-6_GIq_tsjAz7IoltAVdqQRNNwlCubM_WtxhEa5q4uOW2rxfnlhCf/s640/Nourlangie_trail_view.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rewarding view toward the end of the hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWyQ4V3qbSjc7Iwbrai_5tDr38lFvnTahF2WrkOw4kiZ4s_s3j5A3Z2sxsMWcxbqFR1VjuSa61P1F1dWStT8DJzOsjdd4WBOV9cEVJgUxbhAobBcdWtV_irOBHsXvuMm3qlU1vYGFXxzn/s1600/Bryan_Nourlangie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWyQ4V3qbSjc7Iwbrai_5tDr38lFvnTahF2WrkOw4kiZ4s_s3j5A3Z2sxsMWcxbqFR1VjuSa61P1F1dWStT8DJzOsjdd4WBOV9cEVJgUxbhAobBcdWtV_irOBHsXvuMm3qlU1vYGFXxzn/s400/Bryan_Nourlangie.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryan on the rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We left the scenic overlook behind and quickly encountered a friendly bird along the path. It was a sulphur-crested cockatoo, and he was very busily dismantling a tree branch. Watching him effortlessly snapping twigs with his beak made me realize that you <i>really </i>wouldn't want to be bitten by one of those guys!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_bT2tcdIp6E98IGxAY5QxQoXDnm1a4qwCrRGc79FX9hh0XbyBfNOeQ61jnyHb1We9p94XBCp2sq-NFPk-XY13u18a824pDc4RwM6519MtY0mzsSpzj3spsCxB4OHohtfYWB-j_x3xqBf/s1600/sulphur_crested_cockatoo_eating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_bT2tcdIp6E98IGxAY5QxQoXDnm1a4qwCrRGc79FX9hh0XbyBfNOeQ61jnyHb1We9p94XBCp2sq-NFPk-XY13u18a824pDc4RwM6519MtY0mzsSpzj3spsCxB4OHohtfYWB-j_x3xqBf/s640/sulphur_crested_cockatoo_eating.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch your fingers or you might lose them!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The sun was setting by the time we got back to the car, and we'd only eaten oranges and granola bars for lunch, so we decided to head to Jabiru to see if there was anywhere there that we could eat dinner - we'd heard there was a small mall there. When we got to Jabiru, we realized that it was a really small place. We easily navigated to the mall, but it looked like it had been abandoned for about 5 years. It may have still been open, but we were kind of sketched out, so we just left and headed back to our place. The ride went quickly because we saw some neat stuff along the way!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbg8QQ5NLSOKAJcFe1BtxOchKXvI2zKGRVcB2rzO7Oz6bM097qIBVJrUXexVfxqm8YvR7Hn6-l2MlsHl1gCMCOpayJnJSgNtqRAosloF87_sQwUU4ItAEIqXK3HagwoGrW79_LbZw6voD/s1600/dingo_Northern_Territory.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbg8QQ5NLSOKAJcFe1BtxOchKXvI2zKGRVcB2rzO7Oz6bM097qIBVJrUXexVfxqm8YvR7Hn6-l2MlsHl1gCMCOpayJnJSgNtqRAosloF87_sQwUU4ItAEIqXK3HagwoGrW79_LbZw6voD/s400/dingo_Northern_Territory.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A much healthier dingo than the one we saw the day before!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Bryan ate some dinner at the restaurant back at the Aurora Kakadu. When he was done we went back to our room and I ate my leftovers from my American-sized meal the night before. Then we got all ready to go out and look for some more wildlife in the darkness!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmAPVETTy74beovLbWn2hV-f3ZeIv2aGXs0vk-tFYCH2Qvps6Gqz1_6loKtbHxAGM92cjkgP__s-4jH_FrcoTGDW6wJEjLjy-r4spCixkjJQ_FLa6kILfRsRDem27pTP9kw03i5vfzjan/s1600/Crystal_Bryan_spotlighters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmAPVETTy74beovLbWn2hV-f3ZeIv2aGXs0vk-tFYCH2Qvps6Gqz1_6loKtbHxAGM92cjkgP__s-4jH_FrcoTGDW6wJEjLjy-r4spCixkjJQ_FLa6kILfRsRDem27pTP9kw03i5vfzjan/s400/Crystal_Bryan_spotlighters.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stylin' night-time wildlife explorers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The night before we'd been hearing this strange, repetitive <i>woof-woof</i> that we assumed was dingoes. But it wasn't! It was OWLS! The so-called barking owls, to be specific. Pretty weird, huh? On our night-time expedition, we saw three or four of them flying around, making their strange barking noises. They were very hard to photograph, but Bryan got one grainy photo.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RzHPkHAOA5HrpG2ro8ZyChGdo5Yc0Hdf0BK8FJXXTUINGGLl7tZTAxIBKp8oHa9nSfVYX1XHiL5PqoEXHvb86K0mm5_l6dJ8BpdSnetL23kgbh-JDAxHBhFv2RaCdOhQHOssgfaRpiEl/s1600/barking_owl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RzHPkHAOA5HrpG2ro8ZyChGdo5Yc0Hdf0BK8FJXXTUINGGLl7tZTAxIBKp8oHa9nSfVYX1XHiL5PqoEXHvb86K0mm5_l6dJ8BpdSnetL23kgbh-JDAxHBhFv2RaCdOhQHOssgfaRpiEl/s320/barking_owl.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barking owl looking at us!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We went back to a field where we'd been looking for wildlife the night before. We watched huge black flying foxes swooping silently out of the trees. Flying foxes are massive bats - the biggest bats in the world - and it was stunning to see them hunting in the wild. They were <i>so quiet</i>!! I can't imagine being a little mouse, scampering along, and looking up and HOLY MOLY how did THAT THING get right in front of me without me hearing it?!?! The flying foxes were awesome to watch, but photographing black, flying bats in the dead of night was pretty much impossible.<br />
<br />
The next thing we saw was easier to snap a photo of: a tree frog!! SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!! And then we ended up on a frog streak.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBLPfZ4o2i9KxrMnLzLp10OY0R-cDdqHN6gouPm9Xpp2Pybd4qDgUlb7pg_53vyAGc6ytRU-IEFfbSfP7BHX_n71tM_ikT3XZ9QQKwznMy7cJw1ZWT3UCep1zO2NoovfYreelg5ZuiaT0/s1600/dainty_green_tree_frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBLPfZ4o2i9KxrMnLzLp10OY0R-cDdqHN6gouPm9Xpp2Pybd4qDgUlb7pg_53vyAGc6ytRU-IEFfbSfP7BHX_n71tM_ikT3XZ9QQKwznMy7cJw1ZWT3UCep1zO2NoovfYreelg5ZuiaT0/s640/dainty_green_tree_frog.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a dainty green tree frog. Don't you just LOVE him?!?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1xxQn4NyEUfNldokcdfPU3fT9Tdp7W8OHnF_lOJNNiIAG_zaVkh6DKPql-6nlJE0rVWfA6CjgnOD2cyR6HoZYjDfVONMSUhgJ2-rs_Bs_xsHaTQNULg3uFtMFZXSd9dgKgh_tsFRqAeN/s1600/Australia_frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1xxQn4NyEUfNldokcdfPU3fT9Tdp7W8OHnF_lOJNNiIAG_zaVkh6DKPql-6nlJE0rVWfA6CjgnOD2cyR6HoZYjDfVONMSUhgJ2-rs_Bs_xsHaTQNULg3uFtMFZXSd9dgKgh_tsFRqAeN/s400/Australia_frog.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure what this one is...maybe a Copland's rock frog?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChSADMpM46u5VCBVeWv89z2U_cKalqARFob4RPDAAaeMyUUFsAXZoa88sofmCV48tqzIECoZsHI2ZPJZsqCPIg0eRkGp3fOahz8k0noHgXUGFt-QtVAZsdjEmhuNptjY1Xu7n9sVUvs0J/s1600/cane_toad_Kakadu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChSADMpM46u5VCBVeWv89z2U_cKalqARFob4RPDAAaeMyUUFsAXZoa88sofmCV48tqzIECoZsHI2ZPJZsqCPIg0eRkGp3fOahz8k0noHgXUGFt-QtVAZsdjEmhuNptjY1Xu7n9sVUvs0J/s400/cane_toad_Kakadu.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cane toads are taking over the world!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPoVDYIV_NwULGc7lI2IoqNphP4KzrWSlFooD0m2srli8n_0TRg9_D8LyGw8WEToWzZ_zrJizKGZTLM8nZoHPD5kzBsw5jCAqW6K7mdoSE_jXkmET4ByuZs-ZQ74vlix2LjwYgPVvk6mH/s1600/Aussie_frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPoVDYIV_NwULGc7lI2IoqNphP4KzrWSlFooD0m2srli8n_0TRg9_D8LyGw8WEToWzZ_zrJizKGZTLM8nZoHPD5kzBsw5jCAqW6K7mdoSE_jXkmET4ByuZs-ZQ74vlix2LjwYgPVvk6mH/s400/Aussie_frog.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure who he is either! But isn't he sweet?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were on the lookout for more frogs and we were walking through the grass when Bryan said, "SNAKE!" I whirled around and saw it, right there about 2 feet in front of us. AH! Normally I'm pumped to see snakes in the wild, but this was too close for comfort. I also suddenly felt very insecure - I wanted to keep my flashlight on THIS snake, so we could watch where it was going, but at the same time, I wanted to shine it all over the place and make sure the snakes weren't closing in on us from all sides! I admit it, I freaked out a little. And Bryan made fun of me a little...but I had it coming!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AEkVNoL7i9lReYNV5zzeV5q_LsIAdzwc_VRDz2du4x-1l4V5nb47POp5pIdyddtO53450nAjxZr8KuuHvvMVX5uRy7lPTnR81Ys3SupnHae-Qo16GhSckzA_fF8w94txHvpBzyoz_RUf/s1600/brown_tree_snake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AEkVNoL7i9lReYNV5zzeV5q_LsIAdzwc_VRDz2du4x-1l4V5nb47POp5pIdyddtO53450nAjxZr8KuuHvvMVX5uRy7lPTnR81Ys3SupnHae-Qo16GhSckzA_fF8w94txHvpBzyoz_RUf/s400/brown_tree_snake.JPG" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown tree snake, the source of my mini freakout</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In my mind, the snake was deathly venomous and bent on killing us. But of course, a little research showed that, although it can be very aggressive when confronted, it's not considered dangerous to adult humans. But I didn't know all that at he time, so we headed back to our room as I looked every which way with my flashlight, expecting snakes at every turn.<br />
<br />
On the way back, we stopped to watch a praying mantis stalking a frog on a wall. It was really weird to see an insect scaring the daylights out of an amphibian instead of the other way around. The praying mantis would move closer by inching slowly forward while rocking slowly back and forth. It looked like he was mimicking a leaf in the wind.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHXJiRZoy-JWika_QXbKtvJxayEMMLfeInNMrTrt_c1x02ZnuQTZfO1CWl9MURvvtQBQm5RZAGhIEcOmsZNvXTTZt9zH1AUy10FP-pkXxLdX_uMqJI58pBnkqmuQ5VzJXmw5qgDX-xkJJ/s1600/praying_mantis_with_frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHXJiRZoy-JWika_QXbKtvJxayEMMLfeInNMrTrt_c1x02ZnuQTZfO1CWl9MURvvtQBQm5RZAGhIEcOmsZNvXTTZt9zH1AUy10FP-pkXxLdX_uMqJI58pBnkqmuQ5VzJXmw5qgDX-xkJJ/s400/praying_mantis_with_frog.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run, froggy, run!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PiPm2YOCBsxq-aWPrlnfVtR3AiY0PGYLD9ouccuB9st6bgfZjrWwcYa3a0VkOgF2JzVmztlNK2H9r1Xp172qZ27pTO3EYuO3iHdEEe6H581H8nIW8HIbKuKX7v_qV4EhQ1HoYy7M3FXV/s1600/praying_mantis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PiPm2YOCBsxq-aWPrlnfVtR3AiY0PGYLD9ouccuB9st6bgfZjrWwcYa3a0VkOgF2JzVmztlNK2H9r1Xp172qZ27pTO3EYuO3iHdEEe6H581H8nIW8HIbKuKX7v_qV4EhQ1HoYy7M3FXV/s400/praying_mantis.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can see why the frog was scared! He's intimidating!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Back at our room, we thought we'd sit on our back porch for a while and listen to the barking owls and other night sounds. When we got to our porch, there was a little guy waiting for us, in between our back door and the screen.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfCcTv2vOOD7pY6uVGhFtHOcGS7ARi-Uw8BomePnymGvWc6skRQaJs3g_WxcV96-wF62plP6R3dZ74lsbizQV5hlDQItlF1ZKY25O8R4j1LX8q4JkGaV1hvtLlSlHLcu6IRu7HynwTA3j/s1600/dainty_green_tree_frog_screen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfCcTv2vOOD7pY6uVGhFtHOcGS7ARi-Uw8BomePnymGvWc6skRQaJs3g_WxcV96-wF62plP6R3dZ74lsbizQV5hlDQItlF1ZKY25O8R4j1LX8q4JkGaV1hvtLlSlHLcu6IRu7HynwTA3j/s400/dainty_green_tree_frog_screen.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey pal! Wanna hang out?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The frog seemed pretty scared with us lounging around in his territory, so we went inside pretty quickly. We drank a couple of yummy ciders (Strongbow - I really liked the pear one, but Bryan wasn't too keen!) and went to sleep to wild sounds outside our cozy little room.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><i><b>Our blog is a finalist in the Singapore Blog Awards! We'd love it if you'd <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2012/category/?cat=lifestyle">click this link</a> and vote for us, like us on facebook, or tweet about us! Thanks!!</b></i></span></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com2Kakadu National Park, Australia-13.0923589 132.3938375-14.082161900000001 131.13040999999998 -12.1025559 133.657265tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-3417601716699705272012-05-21T20:02:00.002+08:002012-05-21T20:02:58.480+08:00We Interrupt This Programming......for some good news! Crystal and Bryan in Singapore has been selected, for the second year in a row, as a finalist in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/">Singapore Blog Awards</a>!!! We're competing in the Panasonic Eco Lifestyle category. You can help us by <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2012/category/?cat=lifestyle">following this link</a>. Under our description, click the links to vote for us, like us on Facebook, or tweet about us - anything you do helps us out!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadN0jbBRlCNVxAhupoy4v8Op2G5wD5UbQhfGs6As_DLsZXE1O0Hw1arXx3SlPVK_2EOJ5DLAX9_45wOVCoILnyp7bpPFDY46GW5Ne6n0AH04RISHaMADFamAnjSLbpBvuMtiKfk6u9m4I/s1600/Crystal_Bryan_blog_awards_2012.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadN0jbBRlCNVxAhupoy4v8Op2G5wD5UbQhfGs6As_DLsZXE1O0Hw1arXx3SlPVK_2EOJ5DLAX9_45wOVCoILnyp7bpPFDY46GW5Ne6n0AH04RISHaMADFamAnjSLbpBvuMtiKfk6u9m4I/s640/Crystal_Bryan_blog_awards_2012.bmp" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We stand to win some <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2012/about/prizes.html">pretty sweet prizes</a>, and anyone who registers to vote can win prizes as well. So lend us a hand! You can vote every day from now until June 30. Winners will be announced in July.<br />
<br />
My nature pal and fellow blogger Ivan Kwan is ALSO a finalist for his <a href="http://mondaymorgue.posterous.com/">Monday Morgue</a> blog. He's competing in the <a href="http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2012/category/?cat=wth">Sold.SG What-the-hell category</a>. Vote for him too! And while you're at it, check out his other blog, <a href="http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.com/">The Lazy Lizard's Tales</a>. Both blogs have interesting nature content, but you may not want to visit Monday Morgue while you're eating your breakfast...<br />
<br />
As a finalist in the Blog Awards, I was asked to complete this little e-interview:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #e69138;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span>1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How
do you feel about being one of finalists in Singapore Blog Awards 2012?</span></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Honored! Of course! I think it's super. Last year I had lots of fun attending events for finalists, and met interesting new people (like <a href="http://www.jeffreyandflora.com/">Flora</a>!). I look forward to doing that again.</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="color: #e69138;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span>2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
did you start blogging and what drew you to it? Where do you get inspiration
for your blog content?</span></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started blogging in July of 2009, just after Bryan and I moved to Singapore. I mostly did it to keep in touch with friends and family back in the US, who suddenly felt very far away. I was pleasantly surprised when other people began to express an interest in our content. Our inspiration comes from our travels, especially the wildlife and nature we see in Singapore and in the other countries we visit.</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="color: #e69138;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span>3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How
do you feel about the other Finalists in your category this year? How do you
think you will fare compared to them?</span></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ugh, they're awful. Who would vote for them?! Haha, no seriously, the finalists aren't chosen for having crappy blogs! They're all great, and I feel privileged to be included among them. We didn't win last year, and we may not win this year, but it's terrific to be included (and of course, I hope we <i>do</i> win!).</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="color: #e69138;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span>4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Give
a reason why readers should visit your blog and vote for you?</span></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think our blog offers a unique perspective, because it features a lot of Singapore's wildlife and nature, which I think is often underappreciated. Also, I think it's cool to look at our <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2009/08/little-india.html">earlier posts</a>, back when we were taking pictures with a crappy camera phone. We've come a long way since then - Bryan's photography skills have improved by leaps and bounds, and I like to think I've gotten a little better at writing. And I <i>know</i> I've gotten better at identifying local wildlife! I hope that the people who visit our blog occasionally learn something new, and that we make them smile or laugh - if we do any of those things for you, I hope you'll vote for us!</span></span></blockquote>
OK, now back to your regularly scheduled programming: more posts about <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2012/05/australia-day-one-happy-bird-day.html">our sweet trip to Australia</a>!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-16109906934538149552012-05-21T00:04:00.000+08:002012-05-21T00:04:48.769+08:00Australia Day Two: To Kakadu!On our second day in Australia, we slept in to make up for our sleepless night the day before. We finally dragged ourselves out of bed, checked out of our hotel, and meandered over to the Esplanade to check out the view. It was a lovely one.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyst4bxjgIAWcx-fFTPMZZ8wB7XEoyVLgs0VjuaiSN3v3J4KeLMxX08NLcD6Pl5pR_jnMKrlDmP-YD2YP4-dRE98YRYiVURmz2m4SQghHEB-2t0hCrS9Qe45oZqPuqEKN7lezlO1zd-c75/s1600/Esplanade_Darwin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyst4bxjgIAWcx-fFTPMZZ8wB7XEoyVLgs0VjuaiSN3v3J4KeLMxX08NLcD6Pl5pR_jnMKrlDmP-YD2YP4-dRE98YRYiVURmz2m4SQghHEB-2t0hCrS9Qe45oZqPuqEKN7lezlO1zd-c75/s400/Esplanade_Darwin.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View along the Esplanade at Darwin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was a beautiful day - a little hot, but we're used to that! The birds were out in full force, making the most of all the sunshine. As we walked along the park near the water, we spotted a bright blue bird in a tree. It was the pretty forest kingfisher, which looks really similar to the collared kingfisher we have in Singapore.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52wzfq0qIYbwbn5BRVFcpfAxk41Iuf2BlGwy1jFLvC0C3iqOU72M5y7prN0UXfYUteu_bob5xSFyT1OGP7vH86GDAkWWvIuhP_GI468QMy9LN9jaz3HdU8Aqkda-L0VgSzGX0qLkQ6Sy6/s1600/forest_kingfisher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52wzfq0qIYbwbn5BRVFcpfAxk41Iuf2BlGwy1jFLvC0C3iqOU72M5y7prN0UXfYUteu_bob5xSFyT1OGP7vH86GDAkWWvIuhP_GI468QMy9LN9jaz3HdU8Aqkda-L0VgSzGX0qLkQ6Sy6/s400/forest_kingfisher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest kingfisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After our walk through the park, we stopped by the <a href="http://www.coles.com.au/">Coles Supermarket</a> to stock up a few supplies - after lunch we planned to leave Darwin for the more remote <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/">Kakadu National Park</a> (one of Patricia Schultz's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761104844/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crystalandbey-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0761104844">1000 Places to See Before You Die.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=crystalandbey-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0761104844" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />) We ended up roaming the grocery aisles a long time, pointing out Australian brands we recognized (Vegemite, Milo, Bundaberg ginger beer) and exclaiming over American items that we usually don't see in Singapore. Eventually we moved on to find a place for lunch.<br />
<br />
As we walked down Mitchell Street, we made touristy fools of ourselves when we stopped on the sidewalk in front of an apartment building to admire a bird up in a tree. We even photographed it while people looked at us oddly. I was glad we stopped though, because it turned out that we were looking up at a very colorful parrot! It was a male eclectus parrot, preening away up there.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQqgBzVs2C5MdDxZdldjah1TTGOlKF8vdCgyhDqzuMxiD1mUIPWKshOim8TmUcZNYWcl8-3o3dZLUk9ZY8F9Dnhrr3Uhbc4TCEglqVeYmmTF_ibT03MUUgIwBgnJqRjYPi_R8QmI4hyza/s1600/male_eclectus_parrot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQqgBzVs2C5MdDxZdldjah1TTGOlKF8vdCgyhDqzuMxiD1mUIPWKshOim8TmUcZNYWcl8-3o3dZLUk9ZY8F9Dnhrr3Uhbc4TCEglqVeYmmTF_ibT03MUUgIwBgnJqRjYPi_R8QmI4hyza/s400/male_eclectus_parrot.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Pretty bird!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So far, we'd been surprised at how <i>expensive</i> everything in Australia was. Coming from two people who are used to Singapore's high cost-of-living, that's saying a lot! But prices in Australia were certainly high - hotel rooms were outrageously priced. Going out to eat was a big expense, even at a little sidewalk cafe. So when we found a lunch place that was advertising $10 lunch specials, we stopped there. The restaurant was Cafe Uno, and I had a good pizza there. Bryan had a burger and fries, but agreed that my vegetarian pizza tasted better. When will he ever learn?!<br />
<br />
After lunch, we hopped in the rental car and made our way toward Kakadu. We didn't really have a schedule, so we took our time, and stopped at the first nature-y place we saw, a place called Window on the Wetlands. We stretched our legs and walked a nearby trail.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLMw-agi5lbYIht167ihfm7fAjRR6xtf7oXLPQua2UxXueglpHE4-NPoHPc8n71jFSl8KRnuPDO5Ul0jspKpUZf2af-GAqXECQ6rUkXcEEWnDvAs0PgfZJ_vhgM6mp5jv0EK21n9o6lb-/s1600/Crystal_Australia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLMw-agi5lbYIht167ihfm7fAjRR6xtf7oXLPQua2UxXueglpHE4-NPoHPc8n71jFSl8KRnuPDO5Ul0jspKpUZf2af-GAqXECQ6rUkXcEEWnDvAs0PgfZJ_vhgM6mp5jv0EK21n9o6lb-/s400/Crystal_Australia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my "YAY WE'RE IN AUSTRALIA!" face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The trail was nice. There were a lot of butterflies around, and a lot of the small skinks we'd seen before. Every few steps, we'd see one skitter off into the leaves. At the end of the trail was an old well and we could hear something big rummaging around in the brush. We stood there for a while, hearts pumping as we waited to see if a wild boar or a water buffalo (both introduced to the area) was going to burst out into our path. But nothing happened.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurIEtQQxg4LSrAMj-kKIgnNVQ2dKhf92tGfIhpHHDAg5h6Pp_5ejLvaPoIa9vKV7I0vlY4W7INGYvdvcPLqNPfbWBfCukB8knNMlcSJxIf8Tr0BNgR-usalvrM7nfSUnlPuJpd0rqap5v/s1600/Kakadu_butterfly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurIEtQQxg4LSrAMj-kKIgnNVQ2dKhf92tGfIhpHHDAg5h6Pp_5ejLvaPoIa9vKV7I0vlY4W7INGYvdvcPLqNPfbWBfCukB8knNMlcSJxIf8Tr0BNgR-usalvrM7nfSUnlPuJpd0rqap5v/s400/Kakadu_butterfly.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing more dangerous than a butterfly around here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We went up to the Visitor Center and enjoyed their scenic lookout point. Bryan and I got very excited when we spotted some water buffalo nearby. We thought they were the wild ones that had been introduced and become invasive, but we drove out toward them later and realized they were on a farm and bound in by fences, which made it all less exciting.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58Q9KMQWSRseG1hQSPfvHKT9zO0cQd-PIeGz1S7WeaSMU3Qzm7K12NFLB-B_UMHCLmm9hxBz0u9yW7lgUbn_vCE_b2jvvt1lw93MXwwpXz5quatjlcOiKoXgv0Gae9lVYHXNki8ffHo-4/s1600/water_buffalo_Australia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58Q9KMQWSRseG1hQSPfvHKT9zO0cQd-PIeGz1S7WeaSMU3Qzm7K12NFLB-B_UMHCLmm9hxBz0u9yW7lgUbn_vCE_b2jvvt1lw93MXwwpXz5quatjlcOiKoXgv0Gae9lVYHXNki8ffHo-4/s400/water_buffalo_Australia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anti-climactic water buffalo, with his egret friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As we left the Visitor Center, I went into my apoplectic I JUST SAW A SNAKE mode, but I turned out to be wrong this time. It was a skink that looked remarkably like a snake! I wasn't able to identify it, though - apparently there are hundreds of species of skink in Australia! I did notice that it didn't appear to be making much use of its back legs. A lot of the skinks in Australia have evolved to not use their legs much any more, and in some species all that's left are little leg nubs!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvwxhwaKPTI9h7CCAGdh46pXpDV439E3ZBIXwW3GUSxDF182QYgADmGUHp0MGYySN1vkNd2N_kbMqYbC09KhZUtQ51xanPNYw_1PGtKwyxQJxRrLVWIudShHliWMVsTDMOjoqMKJqL4pH/s1600/Australian_skink_long_skinny.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvwxhwaKPTI9h7CCAGdh46pXpDV439E3ZBIXwW3GUSxDF182QYgADmGUHp0MGYySN1vkNd2N_kbMqYbC09KhZUtQ51xanPNYw_1PGtKwyxQJxRrLVWIudShHliWMVsTDMOjoqMKJqL4pH/s400/Australian_skink_long_skinny.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snake-y lizard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After our snake-skink encounter, we hopped back in the car and moved along. It wasn't long before we were driving into Kakadu National Park!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigf1qp-HzrZbu0UXTKqgyKrConm4eKKbxZ1msj2ObIJHpDX2ZnhZKsxa1NXEytnOkkgzVDiRBsa1r5mKznuwwVVTFkGldRJwRPxbETN9zp4Hd327uqQc1iAeD1SZ-CRv0xX2dTHxFZ5Gvb/s1600/Kakadu_National_Park_sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigf1qp-HzrZbu0UXTKqgyKrConm4eKKbxZ1msj2ObIJHpDX2ZnhZKsxa1NXEytnOkkgzVDiRBsa1r5mKznuwwVVTFkGldRJwRPxbETN9zp4Hd327uqQc1iAeD1SZ-CRv0xX2dTHxFZ5Gvb/s640/Kakadu_National_Park_sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kakadu-dle Doo!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As we drove along the highway, we were alarmed when we saw a small fire burning in the brush along the road. You can imagine our surprise when, a few minutes later, we passed a guy in a forestry services truck intentionally starting another such fire! But we were visiting the area at the end of the wet season, just before the dry season really began. I'm guessing that they burn some of the brush while it's still relatively wet to keep it from burning out of control in the very dry season.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaY-Cu3syhYDi9BAYOxYP0MD7z3qQpAsOBR3D75wjML_LymC7w0U2IeFkkIxByhZrFJa_nB3Q9tZE3SsOcLFCAxX2C7gMDX74_OvTQOJH_Kbjnzyq8VFzXBYOZ1YeWwZ5v6KMKfURSbYr/s1600/Kakadu_fire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaY-Cu3syhYDi9BAYOxYP0MD7z3qQpAsOBR3D75wjML_LymC7w0U2IeFkkIxByhZrFJa_nB3Q9tZE3SsOcLFCAxX2C7gMDX74_OvTQOJH_Kbjnzyq8VFzXBYOZ1YeWwZ5v6KMKfURSbYr/s400/Kakadu_fire.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ummm...is that normal?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It quickly became obvious that at some point in the past, a fire really had burnt out of control.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdwYP9RcOncKLCUdjXJRKY6Kheld9Uc11xo6JAeIhIjq0eVT2jrmPV-j9q3vk-mAk5wCm7NX2enY9eWLeOTVE2VJxa_0R-UnZGDQw8t9vlnDR6oRi0XgimnOUAzyc0un9EDlobC2kIEOA/s1600/burned_out_car.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdwYP9RcOncKLCUdjXJRKY6Kheld9Uc11xo6JAeIhIjq0eVT2jrmPV-j9q3vk-mAk5wCm7NX2enY9eWLeOTVE2VJxa_0R-UnZGDQw8t9vlnDR6oRi0XgimnOUAzyc0un9EDlobC2kIEOA/s400/burned_out_car.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yikes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We'd gone quite a way into Kakadu when we spotted our first really exciting wildlife.<b> A WALLABY!!</b> It was right along the roadside, head down, eating. After our first one, we started seeing them every few kilometers. They were pretty skittish - if we slowed down, they bounded off into the brush. At one point, we stopped to top up our gas tank. When we pulled away from the gas pump and back on to the main road, we saw five or six wallabies gathered in a small open area. We stopped on the side of the road for pictures. They're just so cute!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnw1dWPdntzPewM77rQLYul251AF9EJCCVZ_fTBbwA-ePuulYWgl-wFeNdMU8h4WahvlpJc8jbz2NWNdxOZ7dVcdMmGNIbt0g2lq9wP_NK6V8CxU8Dfinjop-Fem4TCOi8uHhHMSJcd7g/s1600/agile_wallaby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnw1dWPdntzPewM77rQLYul251AF9EJCCVZ_fTBbwA-ePuulYWgl-wFeNdMU8h4WahvlpJc8jbz2NWNdxOZ7dVcdMmGNIbt0g2lq9wP_NK6V8CxU8Dfinjop-Fem4TCOi8uHhHMSJcd7g/s640/agile_wallaby.JPG" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's one of the species known as the "agile wallaby." I think they should be called the <br />
"CUTIE PATOOTIE wallaby."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We hung around for a while, watching the wallabies eating the grass. They were positively adorable, but they didn't seem particularly intelligent. If we made any noise, they would look up in a panic, but if we sat quietly for a few seconds they would go back to eating, only to panic again if we made another noise, as though they'd totally forgotten we were there. Silly wallabies.<br />
<br />
When we saw a car coming up behind us, we pulled back on to the road and continued on our way to the Aurora Kakadu. We'd been traveling and wildlife-watching all day, so we were getting eager to stop and check in to our hotel. But we made another stop when we saw a sign for a lookout point at the Mamukala Wetlands area. We stopped again, and took in the lovely scenery in the late afternoon sunlight.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r60K4PRlK0em4zrLMrB3tyFbONOZxmRUZxtzDs6G6OxrI4IcQPNv6wSMLAfm3vRHcIID_VsLGhdFWq4H47r-vlCL8bTETIVpL3cU1g2kyPIqBScimdogkrKargF29uAbHwh0WGfVB27Y/s1600/Mamukala.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r60K4PRlK0em4zrLMrB3tyFbONOZxmRUZxtzDs6G6OxrI4IcQPNv6wSMLAfm3vRHcIID_VsLGhdFWq4H47r-vlCL8bTETIVpL3cU1g2kyPIqBScimdogkrKargF29uAbHwh0WGfVB27Y/s640/Mamukala.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the hide at Mamukala</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHwYdDheqBKn3jwuf9ZOzb7DfbvAEDY-UKElT1ZADu5b6PD9HoD1fW106GaLBvMu4-3_reLHPt10qWw9JqLyxmIV606l9IB1B9YpHIDX9zrlBrnuhBGG9OyJW6wteXDlvsWXEEXy0fqcC/s1600/water_lily_dragonfly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHwYdDheqBKn3jwuf9ZOzb7DfbvAEDY-UKElT1ZADu5b6PD9HoD1fW106GaLBvMu4-3_reLHPt10qWw9JqLyxmIV606l9IB1B9YpHIDX9zrlBrnuhBGG9OyJW6wteXDlvsWXEEXy0fqcC/s400/water_lily_dragonfly.JPG" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is perfect! I love water lilies AND dragonflies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQDYFvok91oBSvUtk0Pkwl2vOSQcJRBHcwHDQ-e0NiekScSwkc19ucZtYQsg2PUkADnPEZpLXDHy_fIgckg6Mp5Jr_wkY5UTq9PV5salLwSqPG4EpcoJe5FrTu5o0yJG6DeOMsqRY-Muh/s1600/water_lily.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQDYFvok91oBSvUtk0Pkwl2vOSQcJRBHcwHDQ-e0NiekScSwkc19ucZtYQsg2PUkADnPEZpLXDHy_fIgckg6Mp5Jr_wkY5UTq9PV5salLwSqPG4EpcoJe5FrTu5o0yJG6DeOMsqRY-Muh/s400/water_lily.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dainty water lily</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After Mamukala, we pushed ahead, planning on not stopping until we reached the Aurora Kakadu. Unfortunately, what we reached instead was a sign informing us that we'd almost reached Jabiru, which is about 40 km beyond where we needed to be. Somehow we'd driven right past our hotel! AGH!<br />
<br />
We turned around and drove back. A somewhat frustrated half hour later, we pulled up at the <a href="http://www.auroraresorts.com.au/en-us/accommodation/aurorakakadusouthalligator.aspx">Aurora Kakadu</a>, which happened to be...EXACTLY WHERE WE'D STOPPED FOR GAS EARLIER! We'd even been in the area with the reception desk and bought our Kakadu park passes there, and never realized that we were standing about 20 yards from where we'd be sleeping that night. Duh. I guess we were just too distracted by wallabies and brush fires!<br />
<br />
Anyway, we were grateful to finally be checked in at our destination, and we were happy to be staying so close to a place where we'd earlier seen a lot of wallabies hanging around. After we checked in, we hopped back in our car to drive it to the parking spot in front of our room. On our way, we saw...(ready?)...A DINGO!!!!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb7BECfkS3-kJKz3pkRfHvKo7R0yUvU9i6goHSygEQ2_V2cTdkA6z55ntBBQyRyEarCJzLmtZpkLrhRZbyjQBipljZYi3dn2PDIGmkomMEiKuuWVpl_oLO4ZWskq7hoQD5Mf8OH9KFPEh/s1600/sick_dingo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb7BECfkS3-kJKz3pkRfHvKo7R0yUvU9i6goHSygEQ2_V2cTdkA6z55ntBBQyRyEarCJzLmtZpkLrhRZbyjQBipljZYi3dn2PDIGmkomMEiKuuWVpl_oLO4ZWskq7hoQD5Mf8OH9KFPEh/s400/sick_dingo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor baby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This dingo certainly looked like he'd seen better days. He was hobbling pathetically along with his ribs sticking out, and I really just wanted to put pick him up, take him home, and feed him some Bil-Jac.<br />
<br />
As soon as we parked our car and dumped our bags in our room, we went for a walk around the grounds. We quickly spotted some new birdlife - a large, very impressive sulphur-crested cockatoo!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUp_IqD8_F3HdhY1cAOZ33tt4n2ZQlXLXyPhnPxT9BchimXvESrmZQGbf-JInMJs_YrXzqzkb7Lk31f6kK46bvlAgWMh-WVjKaht9B2TwrOX9RADrOltkaAWIgThiV7PT4yXjyCnuTfmfs/s1600/sulphur_crested_cockatoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUp_IqD8_F3HdhY1cAOZ33tt4n2ZQlXLXyPhnPxT9BchimXvESrmZQGbf-JInMJs_YrXzqzkb7Lk31f6kK46bvlAgWMh-WVjKaht9B2TwrOX9RADrOltkaAWIgThiV7PT4yXjyCnuTfmfs/s400/sulphur_crested_cockatoo.JPG" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was keenly interested in us, and looked more intelligent <br />
than the wallabies we'd seen!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We also spotted a bar-shouldered dove and (of course) some more orange-footed scrubfowl. Those guys are everywhere!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRez6sKI902wlg9UJHb_okAA8YBpqqqCJrlhgtodIMZ5IRfjUoTJt3XaB2zoMKtN9Epd-BlKioLMwulnEsUVdpczf_B9kwhckJ5RGDQux7jUjCgg80Vkc3I6FJTsHihDhRroc3L0ybN50N/s1600/bar_shouldered_dove2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRez6sKI902wlg9UJHb_okAA8YBpqqqCJrlhgtodIMZ5IRfjUoTJt3XaB2zoMKtN9Epd-BlKioLMwulnEsUVdpczf_B9kwhckJ5RGDQux7jUjCgg80Vkc3I6FJTsHihDhRroc3L0ybN50N/s400/bar_shouldered_dove2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KOOKAWOOK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In our explorations, we even ran across a frog! That almost never happens! Unfortunately, I'm not sure what species it was. Any suggestions?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6buLJkti93fVJqshA_BZm8hMczX1NsC1BKZPPgNPKdOvyDp-FlIWuma7m6aXX54T-0MSKgsDJByUvvMhIJjC6trkEGr1jtNJm7dAWm14yBwlrXNoOq2l9WCCb7WXoXR1NTzG_TpqNlBY/s1600/Northern_Territory_frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6buLJkti93fVJqshA_BZm8hMczX1NsC1BKZPPgNPKdOvyDp-FlIWuma7m6aXX54T-0MSKgsDJByUvvMhIJjC6trkEGr1jtNJm7dAWm14yBwlrXNoOq2l9WCCb7WXoXR1NTzG_TpqNlBY/s400/Northern_Territory_frog.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a cute little guy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As we walked, it began to get dark, so we headed over to the on-site restaurant for some dinner. It was pretty good - I had roasted vegetable pasta and Bryan had beef pie, but it was very expensive for such simple food. But at least the Bulmer's cider was reasonably priced! And we couldn't help but laugh at the portion sizes of the food - they were what we call "American-sized," that is, more food than a person should reasonably eat in one sitting. No wonder the Australians are up there with the U.S. on the obesity rankings!<br />
<br />
We asked the waitress if it would be possible to order a couple of ciders to go. She said yes, but mentioned that she had to scan our IDs. When we curiously asked why, she explained that Australia has a database of "banned drinkers" - people who have gotten busted for alcohol-related offenses and are placed on a drinking ban for a number of years or for life. While banned, they can't purchase alcohol anywhere. I thought that was a pretty cool system! <br />
<br />
After dinner, Bryan and I headed back to our room to get some flashlights. We were going to try our hand at spotlighting some wildlife in the area around our room. We hadn't done much night-time wildlife watching, so we weren't too sure what kind of luck we'd have.<br />
<br />
At first, all we saw were what seemed like millions of spider eyes glinting in the beam of our flashlights. The spiders were all over the grass, and I felt like I was stomping on five of them with every step I took. Eventually we spotted much bigger spiders up in the trees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZvUj1nLdjenH1R94KRMLxnDDMgDLE_kKNRpmTO6PA8Hk_D_BZ8c_X3vWk227C4I94fQ7BDFpAJRIl6SuFc6vZ6CYkWfMm2t6e8le6TjI4xA4XphD9JKRxzaG_48kRap3R6y_ad_a7NJp/s1600/Northern_Territory_spider.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZvUj1nLdjenH1R94KRMLxnDDMgDLE_kKNRpmTO6PA8Hk_D_BZ8c_X3vWk227C4I94fQ7BDFpAJRIl6SuFc6vZ6CYkWfMm2t6e8le6TjI4xA4XphD9JKRxzaG_48kRap3R6y_ad_a7NJp/s400/Northern_Territory_spider.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This big, fuzzy one looks like a bumble bee!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLElQXP_Mc3s6W5v8uVSPwdzLiMINzQBEDBzGL1YbUOaDT1zdMW5W0eZfOnD1DvoCVZLBOMt6OW19mXMq9GjWNzpMq4I4zj8P9XSLGjEWIr0abu1UREkXKgyVcl1gI1vuaBMrUtRHBBAW/s1600/huge_spider_Australia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLElQXP_Mc3s6W5v8uVSPwdzLiMINzQBEDBzGL1YbUOaDT1zdMW5W0eZfOnD1DvoCVZLBOMt6OW19mXMq9GjWNzpMq4I4zj8P9XSLGjEWIr0abu1UREkXKgyVcl1gI1vuaBMrUtRHBBAW/s400/huge_spider_Australia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this one was about the size of my hand! Just what you want to see before <br />
bedtime. Sweet dreams!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We had one more interesting find that night - the big, fat cane toad. It was kind of neat for us to see the cane toad in the wild, since we don't see many frogs and toads in Singapore. But for Australians, the cane toads are <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/ferals/cane-toads/index.html">nothing but a headache</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzl3DHOkUL15asCRroCh5pj3k6jgMFej7qHFjzGxKSxYMO13pYMG-_Qq0G_dxZWJsmUDtrAazsf3reRsnPEtOxAd77gYmV6TTFsp9wTJURcHXIpxrlBZzsJB-NLaZOiFjyv2MfrgG7CDt/s1600/cane_toad_Australia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzl3DHOkUL15asCRroCh5pj3k6jgMFej7qHFjzGxKSxYMO13pYMG-_Qq0G_dxZWJsmUDtrAazsf3reRsnPEtOxAd77gYmV6TTFsp9wTJURcHXIpxrlBZzsJB-NLaZOiFjyv2MfrgG7CDt/s400/cane_toad_Australia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like an obnoxious relative that just won't stop crashing on your couch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The toads were introduced in the 1930's in a misguided attempt to control the population of cane beetles. But the toads quickly proliferated and became an invasive species that threaten the livelihood of native frogs. Because the toads are poisonous and dangerous to many animals, they aren't commonly preyed upon. Australian wildlife agencies encourage people to catch and kill them - we saw a sign instructing people to put them in a plastic bag and stick them in the freezer overnight. It seems ruthless, but Australia has major invasive species problems, not just with the toads, but also with rabbits, foxes, feral pigs, and many more. They must take drastic measures to protect the local biodiversity from being overrun by these introduced species.<br />
<br />
Eventually we made our way back to our room. It had been a long day, but a good one, what with all the awesome birds, frogs, and wallabies. We couldn't wait to explore Kakadu some more the next day!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com2Kakadu National Park, Australia-13.0923589 132.3938375-14.082161900000001 131.13040999999998 -12.1025559 133.657265tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-30966710607753210262012-05-19T17:38:00.000+08:002012-05-19T17:38:34.045+08:00Australia Day One: Happy Bird DayVisiting Australia has been a life-long dream for Bryan and me. With our time remaining on this part of the planet limited (more about that later), we decided to make it a reality. We only had time for a short trip, so we decided to head to Darwin, which is relatively near Singapore.<br />
<br />
We went to the airport late one Friday night, and confidently queued up to check in for our <a href="http://www.jetstar.com/sg/en/home">Jetstar </a>flight. We got to the counter and handed over our passports. The ticketing agent asked distractedly, "Do you have visas?" Bryan and I exchanged a look. "We don't need them," I said, more confidently than I felt. She looked up. "Yes you do," she said, "Every country except New Zealand needs a visa." Bryan and I were dumbfounded. How could we have missed this major detail?! Our flight was leaving in 90 minutes, and here we stood like a couple of idiots. We then had this frustrating exchange:<br />
<br />
<b style="color: #38761d;">Me:</b> Well, is there any way we can GET a visa?<br />
<b style="color: #e69138;">Agent:</b><span style="color: #e69138;"> </span>(<i>stare</i>)<br />
<b style="color: #38761d;">Me: </b>Can we get one online?<br />
<b style="color: #e69138;">Agent: </b>Yes.<br />
<b style="color: #38761d;">Me: </b>Well, is there a way we can access the Internet? Can we go in there? (<i>pointing to the free Internet, in sight but beyond security</i>).<br />
<b style="color: #e69138;">Agent:</b> (<i>annoyed, not looking at us</i>) No, you can't go in there. You'll have to figure out how to get Internet access on your own.<br />
(<i>Bryan and I stand there for a second, feeling stupid as our dream vacation slips slowly away from us</i>).<br />
<b style="color: #3d85c6;">Bryan:</b> (<i>very politely</i>) Well, do you have any suggestions?<br />
<b style="color: #e69138;">Agent: </b>(<i>finally looks up at us</i>) Oh. Yeah. You can go down to the <a href="http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/home/au/en">Qantas</a> counter. They issue Australian visas. (<i>scribbles on a sheet of paper</i>) Just go down there and ask for this. But you have to be back before we close the ticketing counter.<br />
<br />
Bryan and I looked at the clock. We had 25 minutes. We ran over to the Qantas counter and joined an annoyingly long queue. We were both flabbergasted that this option was available and the ticketing agent had failed to mention it until asked. But we had bigger fish to fry now. We stood in that line, fidgeting and stressing, for the next 20 minutes. Then we got to the counter and told the agent the situation. She rushed through the process and we ran back to the Jetstar counter with about 3 minutes to spare.<br />
<br />
It was definitely the rockiest beginning to any of our vacations. I guess we've traveled so much over the past few years that we've gotten kind of careless about the little details. And we're spoiled as Americans: we often get visas on arrival. Of all places, we didn't think Australia would require us to have them beforehand. Oh well. We were just SO grateful that we were still going to make it! A public service announcement for our fellow Americans:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">AMERICANS: YOU NEED A VISA TO TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA! FOR REAL! YOU CAN GET ONE HERE: <a href="http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/">http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/</a></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So our trip certainly began with a bit of a headache, but it got better after that. We made our flight and even had an empty seat next to us. We read and dozed all the way, and landed safely in Darwin at around 4 in the morning. By 5 AM we'd picked up our rental car from <a href="http://www.hertz.com.sg/rentacar/reservation/gaq/index.jsp?targetPage=reservationOnHomepage.jsp&refererUrl=&searchString=&id=15655&LinkType=HZLK">Hertz</a> and we were on our way!</span></span></span><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </b><br />
<br />
It was still pitch black outside and there wasn't much traffic on the roads. We took the opportunity to drive around and get acquainted with Darwin, while Bryan got reacquainted with driving on the left side of the road. We were hungry, so we were hoping to find a breakfast place open early. The only place we found serving breakfast so early was the <a href="http://www.skycitydarwin.com.au/">SkyCity Casino</a>. Well, why not? We went in and had a buffet breakfast. I was super excited by two things (don't laugh): <b>1) </b>tater tots!!! Not a common staple in Singapore and <b>2)</b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegemite">VEGEMITE!</a> I love it.<br />
<br />
We ate and drank coffee and lounged around until the sky gradually began to lighten. There was a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows next to our table, and as the sun began to rise we realized that we were looking out over the ocean! Seabirds began flying around, squawking loudly.<br />
<br />
We'd been up all night, but we were still eager to explore. Now that it was daylight and our stomachs were full, we decided to head for the nearby Darwin Botanical Gardens. As soon as we pulled into the carpark, we were greeted by two funny-looking birds. Our handy guidebook <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1864500328/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crystalandbey-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1864500328">(Watching Wildlife: Australia)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=crystalandbey-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1864500328" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />easily identified them as orange-footed scrubfowl.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOveezjb1MBky1qsxUAzL_jFrCF2r9H8qN_sxNut1Sb4361vz9mxw10JXX13h2oJ1Mwy3Pk50MMAOWxDplFRW3vuRgX692hD9rd4XCairnS3IiDNOBlf7mGWj8zV4jt34oFTdUL5UxK1h/s1600/orange_footed_scrubfowl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOveezjb1MBky1qsxUAzL_jFrCF2r9H8qN_sxNut1Sb4361vz9mxw10JXX13h2oJ1Mwy3Pk50MMAOWxDplFRW3vuRgX692hD9rd4XCairnS3IiDNOBlf7mGWj8zV4jt34oFTdUL5UxK1h/s400/orange_footed_scrubfowl.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They remind me of smaller, less pretty peacocks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj621iemE1poU-BE-lFTEdCpt72tV_vEsbsDm8zl7Et1SmGmHv2Fks3ieOlDK_-mMbjQ0TPMU3Z0ge5KDMQ5jv_4MHLOS67qwrYAOOinjnwi2XT5w_ZDHL0yfIhItMKayOwJmbvxfFatcSX/s1600/Crystal_Bryan_sleepy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj621iemE1poU-BE-lFTEdCpt72tV_vEsbsDm8zl7Et1SmGmHv2Fks3ieOlDK_-mMbjQ0TPMU3Z0ge5KDMQ5jv_4MHLOS67qwrYAOOinjnwi2XT5w_ZDHL0yfIhItMKayOwJmbvxfFatcSX/s400/Crystal_Bryan_sleepy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy birdwatchers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The gardens were peaceful early in the morning. There weren't many people around, but there was a staggering quantity of birds. Everywhere we looked we saw a type of bird we'd never seen before!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD-ME5B3JWOhK_dcMg5m0USZ70DRUlT2Y4yYdGOFoNWI7yTrDhtkk3EagYtwFMqQZAlOAnfM_LXhKgceu2cL_PD2iynHRRN5SKgA-LNhgQfoNUHGVuvKyjfNGuwREwJETcM3fbc6Hkxon/s1600/magpie_lark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD-ME5B3JWOhK_dcMg5m0USZ70DRUlT2Y4yYdGOFoNWI7yTrDhtkk3EagYtwFMqQZAlOAnfM_LXhKgceu2cL_PD2iynHRRN5SKgA-LNhgQfoNUHGVuvKyjfNGuwREwJETcM3fbc6Hkxon/s400/magpie_lark.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magpie-larks were all over the place! They're like magpie wannabes; <br />
they spend a lot of their time hanging around the real magpies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp2vnl9fVzTd8TWW4fjmlGfFLXAJsepDbTBPaymPOD7rOAPrke5dA0_LjvEV0CcmkMlb5NsueqkuEDmbfsy0Gj9c28oeArquXjiHrw_jCfW2xT2Wg6F54VRstY_cbek5LJJbtghyunB4v/s1600/ibishas_Australia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp2vnl9fVzTd8TWW4fjmlGfFLXAJsepDbTBPaymPOD7rOAPrke5dA0_LjvEV0CcmkMlb5NsueqkuEDmbfsy0Gj9c28oeArquXjiHrw_jCfW2xT2Wg6F54VRstY_cbek5LJJbtghyunB4v/s400/ibishas_Australia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L: Australian white ibis; R: straw-necked ibis.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTKV1kKIv24y2ai2o4IZhRsZDi64wimxGKMyCLqZLwBo42-78tO3NuzEXjEfv_KCZOqkOtHu7hhA4FEbXwmx-gpjx-JzXRHJ_tpu6GFALrUTuehAQimoPOskYxiyGZchTvzfV3j1zo-Xs/s1600/bar_shouldered_dove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTKV1kKIv24y2ai2o4IZhRsZDi64wimxGKMyCLqZLwBo42-78tO3NuzEXjEfv_KCZOqkOtHu7hhA4FEbXwmx-gpjx-JzXRHJ_tpu6GFALrUTuehAQimoPOskYxiyGZchTvzfV3j1zo-Xs/s400/bar_shouldered_dove.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bar-shouldered dove is also known as...are you ready for this?...<br />
the <i>kookawook</i>! Best alias ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1WQmyZd49TnYTmfcG5Y61hwFRFUXYUHwmg6MrJlm0NobfoChLW39h4pRdZhhx684cIkN_f91qM9XamcvLc-9vEbPRdM0NjG4stfcrjrjHEJiEQDS54PXgQcsgnoDArSn2LbuezHonIxE/s1600/little_friarbird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1WQmyZd49TnYTmfcG5Y61hwFRFUXYUHwmg6MrJlm0NobfoChLW39h4pRdZhhx684cIkN_f91qM9XamcvLc-9vEbPRdM0NjG4stfcrjrjHEJiEQDS54PXgQcsgnoDArSn2LbuezHonIxE/s400/little_friarbird.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little friarbird, also known as a leatherhead, which seems apt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We pretty quickly realized that the orange-footed scrubfowl really wasn't too special. They were <i>everywhere</i>. Every time we heard a rustling in the leaves, we turned around to discover a pair of orange legs!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqpAC9EKzS0fAo1GwJuD1vSx79zhUuOT_aGjQzC6cKMiJbMCoDdYVz-jEhsEmIOcDGhD0k-hTZQmhRVwyaHHh8wBaFwtatJqKWUfQPTfvuW035FHm3F9D5jfB0WyyHs5OLbd3jAISEukv/s1600/scrubfowl_foraging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqpAC9EKzS0fAo1GwJuD1vSx79zhUuOT_aGjQzC6cKMiJbMCoDdYVz-jEhsEmIOcDGhD0k-hTZQmhRVwyaHHh8wBaFwtatJqKWUfQPTfvuW035FHm3F9D5jfB0WyyHs5OLbd3jAISEukv/s400/scrubfowl_foraging.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They spend a lot of time foraging in the leaf litter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We spent a long time in the gardens. We were pretty worn out from having been up all night, and aimlessly wandering the gardens suited our mental state pretty well. I even had time for tree-climbing!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLmkwOtZX9okbzz8DUnleRJ333YMuvDpAIrKWY2LywVygYYSgDQnxgQxS9VR-JBlx2MCLMTFGJ97NBI8B_Xkc4EWQTVyQnCmKuV47Xfe0qkB1Cg7G0Y3isQE6Ik8SdCBj3LWkLVGb553L/s1600/Crystal_in_tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLmkwOtZX9okbzz8DUnleRJ333YMuvDpAIrKWY2LywVygYYSgDQnxgQxS9VR-JBlx2MCLMTFGJ97NBI8B_Xkc4EWQTVyQnCmKuV47Xfe0qkB1Cg7G0Y3isQE6Ik8SdCBj3LWkLVGb553L/s400/Crystal_in_tree.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up a tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As we meandered along a boardwalk on the edge of the park, Bryan put his hand on my arm to stop me. "<i>Look</i>," he whispered intensely. I looked up ahead, and to my complete surprise I saw that there were about 10 huge birds in the brush! They were only about 10 yards away, and each one was almost 2 feet tall, but they were so supremely camouflaged that neither Bryan or I had noticed them until we were almost on top of them!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxL72HaHz9wwHHgtXKy6cgfm6v3voXupBZ32CtUeV3MuziowzTdLeLYsc7vQHciAJAsnFlfwh86sVe7ISMvI8CdIyuyzxZC0XvHZCq17IsNIC7PCdR2R50r5e4UcHGBFqDdXuInMz1hJ8/s1600/bush_stone_curlew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxL72HaHz9wwHHgtXKy6cgfm6v3voXupBZ32CtUeV3MuziowzTdLeLYsc7vQHciAJAsnFlfwh86sVe7ISMvI8CdIyuyzxZC0XvHZCq17IsNIC7PCdR2R50r5e4UcHGBFqDdXuInMz1hJ8/s640/bush_stone_curlew.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bush stone-curlews are mostly nocturnal and are excellent at fading into the background!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Birds definitely dominated the wildlife scene in the gardens, but we did see a few other things, including a lot of spiders.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG8-JZzC4CuUJjBRuHO3KijF8lq0En1-JKuaDbia5Wqq5VOy3VRlZg7h1gmRzL6aPrUq3LtKy60JWrJJQItu3mLDqjxUWLJOGgJFrCcDrXKdh34znymmgrFPWmXLDsUO2CZKNSTgRL-hD/s1600/tent_web_spider.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG8-JZzC4CuUJjBRuHO3KijF8lq0En1-JKuaDbia5Wqq5VOy3VRlZg7h1gmRzL6aPrUq3LtKy60JWrJJQItu3mLDqjxUWLJOGgJFrCcDrXKdh34znymmgrFPWmXLDsUO2CZKNSTgRL-hD/s400/tent_web_spider.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tent-web spider</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYX0e2l4zPPn-I0NW4o_oVYW58iLAWTYEnkJxu9hrPSNx3FDxpwo9riSh3AUWVb7DTdlNjh2Y7dmf68SbAOTAVPAFd2q5BQIdXUDtGYjxGYHiKJwW2tuRrXUBWXG5nrrlYSaoDqqOt-xq/s1600/spider_wrapping_food.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYX0e2l4zPPn-I0NW4o_oVYW58iLAWTYEnkJxu9hrPSNx3FDxpwo9riSh3AUWVb7DTdlNjh2Y7dmf68SbAOTAVPAFd2q5BQIdXUDtGYjxGYHiKJwW2tuRrXUBWXG5nrrlYSaoDqqOt-xq/s400/spider_wrapping_food.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrapping up a delicious snack for later</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm-U8NHyxI-OLh1QyZDELIzyOUllYc-GyzBxxuJcn9FsHMsYOgBbz1C18EdlJLsBud2szYiJZ0KxKBJ72T43fKgVFT6H2tGz-bC8NZ6aDUx1ZjCqe83-QEsIC-gj7fjqZLY9gXUaCVJVK/s1600/orb_weaver_spider.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm-U8NHyxI-OLh1QyZDELIzyOUllYc-GyzBxxuJcn9FsHMsYOgBbz1C18EdlJLsBud2szYiJZ0KxKBJ72T43fKgVFT6H2tGz-bC8NZ6aDUx1ZjCqe83-QEsIC-gj7fjqZLY9gXUaCVJVK/s400/orb_weaver_spider.JPG" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orb-weaver spider</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We even saw this cute little lizard, who was very preoccupied with trying to disappear under some leaves where he'd be safe from the big scary people.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Dgb7ZHj2A5KaJcWfEea8oGUeIf2x8GmA_sH2ynmIFIVtkL2PWhDCQULAiC-TlQtQ6YdR77K6xZYJdtTzbqWaURNvok3L4TuP-00PatjXCQYwuh7xRbKiTC7_7HrkCUiMfXvUV68gAxNx/s1600/Australian_skink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Dgb7ZHj2A5KaJcWfEea8oGUeIf2x8GmA_sH2ynmIFIVtkL2PWhDCQULAiC-TlQtQ6YdR77K6xZYJdtTzbqWaURNvok3L4TuP-00PatjXCQYwuh7xRbKiTC7_7HrkCUiMfXvUV68gAxNx/s400/Australian_skink.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute little Aussie skink.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My favorite thing that we saw all morning was a set of very colorful, elegant birds. They're rainbow bee-eaters, and they're lovely!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CnnlpVVi05bKTiy2fDfJMtx-GoRUwoc5uKioSoolsJ9JXwZ1JpLkm3YyOqOkfVImgW0yIo3whcNLnvjLFsGsY6qLNU5XR2qO2PbI-m_qKCTu7vuIC0whDEuCk60lCgR3ZLLHGRaD5244/s1600/rainbow_bee_eaters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CnnlpVVi05bKTiy2fDfJMtx-GoRUwoc5uKioSoolsJ9JXwZ1JpLkm3YyOqOkfVImgW0yIo3whcNLnvjLFsGsY6qLNU5XR2qO2PbI-m_qKCTu7vuIC0whDEuCk60lCgR3ZLLHGRaD5244/s640/rainbow_bee_eaters.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful rainbow bee-eaters are a relative of the kingfishers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Another favorite was this seed pod. At first glance, it looked like a tiny rowboat on the water, haha.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLCUp1Bj619Jl5vTr6czu7f2-cnUuV4JMcVhv8Jc1J_2xFuuNMFcW9ia5h4XEcB2h5AukhHntnCgfmg6zRyB4IBrdCAz4V4VU2j-ecHv43h54DzSQfsCLcpAHKULhUsNb69Z6sndlHqlQ/s1600/tiny_rowboat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLCUp1Bj619Jl5vTr6czu7f2-cnUuV4JMcVhv8Jc1J_2xFuuNMFcW9ia5h4XEcB2h5AukhHntnCgfmg6zRyB4IBrdCAz4V4VU2j-ecHv43h54DzSQfsCLcpAHKULhUsNb69Z6sndlHqlQ/s320/tiny_rowboat.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny rowboat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After we'd covered the entire garden, we went back to the carpark. On the way, I swung by the restroom. When I shut the stall door, I almost peed my pants. There was a HUGE grasshopper on top of the door, and a spider in the corner! AH!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhaNU-FFcgV6V08K7T9VImqULnzcJ0YLjkfPKn27kYkeUrXKZu_MG25ja7KMGJgh0yM-t1h9L7EODZxEgc8hp34_oK__godffDwxOwOFpx5I2JjtOx6yZ1w68hfblzsaee4gv5K9SgpIH/s1600/grasshopper_Australia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhaNU-FFcgV6V08K7T9VImqULnzcJ0YLjkfPKn27kYkeUrXKZu_MG25ja7KMGJgh0yM-t1h9L7EODZxEgc8hp34_oK__godffDwxOwOFpx5I2JjtOx6yZ1w68hfblzsaee4gv5K9SgpIH/s400/grasshopper_Australia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom Grasshopper is watching you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After my big scare, we headed back to the car and took a nap in the carpark! We were so beat from our all-nighter that we didn't want to start another adventure without a little catnap. It was peaceful there, lying in the warm car and listening to the birds all around us.<br />
<br />
After a couple of hours, we got up, drove back into town, and checked into the <a href="http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/gb/en/darwin/drwte/hoteldetail">Holiday Inn</a> near the ocean, mostly because it was one of the first hotels we came across. It had already been a long day at that point, so we lounged around in our room until around dinner-time, when we walked and explored the town a bit, mostly along Mitchell Street. We got some dinner at a tiny place called the Souvlaki Bar. I had good falafel, and as usual Bryan liked my vegetarian dish better than his meaty gyro!!<br />
<br />
Walking around Darwin at night was interesting. Unlike in Singapore, there were a few homeless people hanging out on the streets. We had a tense moment when a particularly disheveled guy got up off the sidewalk and started following closely behind us, repeatedly mumbling, "You gotta do what you gotta do," but we hurried along and eventually lost him. We stopped for a few ciders on the patio at a bar called <a href="http://www.monsoons.net.au/">Monsoons</a>. Drinking relatively inexpensive booze in a bar full of young white people sure made us feel right at home!!<br />
<br />
We went back to our hotel pretty early that night, still sleep-deprived, and eager to rest up for what we hoped would be an exciting next day!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com0Darwin, Australia-12.4628198 130.8417694-12.4938288 130.8022874 -12.431810800000001 130.8812514tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-2786372724287992802012-05-08T20:14:00.001+08:002012-05-08T20:14:16.096+08:00A Sad Day for the MonkeysA little over a week ago, I got a really sad email. It said that there had been a roadkill along Hindhede Drive, and that one of the monkeys I study was killed. There were pictures of the roadkill, and I was very sad to see that it was Nad, the alpha female of the group.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiAM9FKLkz7eMLosxsKdzKyoLa6-ZT1KFlDMFMTGMfanKDtBmscn6DsnW3emQ6tLg01hIWdhilixiVNpmg10SVQQ0GVY_QXiEES-U27mhs_V1DjFJnN1ZVxOhARc55J_CLTF7B3vpSifV/s1600/Nad_queen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiAM9FKLkz7eMLosxsKdzKyoLa6-ZT1KFlDMFMTGMfanKDtBmscn6DsnW3emQ6tLg01hIWdhilixiVNpmg10SVQQ0GVY_QXiEES-U27mhs_V1DjFJnN1ZVxOhARc55J_CLTF7B3vpSifV/s640/Nad_queen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The queenly Nad, with her infant and others from the Hindhede group</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Nad was a cool monkey. She was somewhat hilariously overweight, and kind of lumbered around slowly. She was mellow. She was a good mom (although she sometimes got distracted), and I'd seen her raise three healthy infants since I started watching the monkeys in 2009. She had personality. I always enjoyed pointing her out to people on the Monkey Walks. I'll really miss having her around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3NmSQRn3veb6wRDHY4o1AZHDTQoHCMN-BGVd9ZlUP4bFWOt_r5t4xy0hiTo58JoTAPPUfnE2x7KbTSiH1iXtcBwqDYMBE7SQbVww8dkrVMHz_kQ6ejgP82yu8dlv2nvVA2M4vH24PBsW/s1600/Nad_+mom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3NmSQRn3veb6wRDHY4o1AZHDTQoHCMN-BGVd9ZlUP4bFWOt_r5t4xy0hiTo58JoTAPPUfnE2x7KbTSiH1iXtcBwqDYMBE7SQbVww8dkrVMHz_kQ6ejgP82yu8dlv2nvVA2M4vH24PBsW/s400/Nad_+mom.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nad and Sunny. Obviously Nad could sometimes be a distracted mom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Nad was a favorite of the researchers that have studied her, and we were all really saddened by the news of her death. But something kind of good came out of her death - <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_795898.html">The Straits Times did a story on it</a> (check out the photo credit!). The story was even picked up by the <a href="http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/nvironment/bidding-farewell-to-nad-singapores-monkey-queen/516305">Jakarta Globe</a> and the <a href="http://1click.indiatimes.com/article/0fbe4y79XkbR0?q=Singapore">India Times</a>. I hope that the story will help people to realize that the monkeys are each unique, and the death of one can affect the group overall. And maybe it will remind people to DRIVE CAREFULLY around nature reserves.<br />
<br />
(The Straits Times link is a snippet of the article. Read it in full on <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2012/05/farewell-nad-monkey-queen.html">Wild Singapore</a>).Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-79670747935638012482012-05-06T18:32:00.001+08:002012-05-06T18:33:59.554+08:00Forest AdventureI recently received an email from the <a href="http://blog.omy.sg/blogclub/">blog club</a> that I'm part of, and the subject line said "Forest Adventure." My first thought was something like, "I like forests! I like adventure! Count me in!" It turned out that the email was offering complimentary tickets to bloggers to a place called Forest Adventure, in return for the bloggers writing a post about their experience. I was totally keen to check it out, so took them up on the offer.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forestadventure.com.sg/">Forest Adventure</a> is a sort of aerial obstacle course up in the trees, with ladders, tightropes, zip-lines, and other fun stuff. I was super excited to try it. Bryan isn't a big fan of heights, so I thought he might not enjoy passing an afternoon swinging through the trees. I invited my friend Andrea to accompany me, and she agreed, although she may have had very little clue what she was getting herself into!<br />
<br />
We were early for our appointment, which was cool because it gave us a chance to check out Bedok Reservoir, where the place is located. It's a pretty setting! And before long, we were being suited up in harnesses and oh-so-fashionable helmets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzH707T1uT4JFGqO4L7384yNzhr9kgegs5OuHFnMFGylY9lDueLRgmRhjjl_uhdFut_wrA3vVBbwkwhm7ON0bj9TXoIAzUYu0Wh3yOio6ivJ193kXIuSR_PewdkpPsTOS1HRrJgdN3woZ/s1600/Crystal_Andrea_helmets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzH707T1uT4JFGqO4L7384yNzhr9kgegs5OuHFnMFGylY9lDueLRgmRhjjl_uhdFut_wrA3vVBbwkwhm7ON0bj9TXoIAzUYu0Wh3yOio6ivJ193kXIuSR_PewdkpPsTOS1HRrJgdN3woZ/s400/Crystal_Andrea_helmets.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some tool belts really would have completed the ensemble</td></tr>
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<br />
We were doing the <a href="http://www.forestadventure.com.sg/?page_id=288">Grand Course</a>, which is over two hours of obstacles and fun stuff. But first we went through about 20 minutes of training to show us how to navigate the course and to ensure we didn't do anything stupid. Training included a cute little mini zip-line that made me excited for the real thing!<br />
<br />
Before long we were on our way. It was SUPER FUN. There were all kinds of obstacles: ladders, swinging logs to step on, balance beam-type things, tight ropes, and more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKyzOVPzsAVW3-yEGlmjGQGl6dyp_rZgq0lZs1be8XfxjABDuMwoI6Pva6dJsccnXV0_5M37lU7xUpe9zBVITXOCw4ctaQqyhz3M1rB2KftyFf-ixnA2JLcgTfVXp6EwNIy4pW7J6_1Ii/s1600/Andrea_ladder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKyzOVPzsAVW3-yEGlmjGQGl6dyp_rZgq0lZs1be8XfxjABDuMwoI6Pva6dJsccnXV0_5M37lU7xUpe9zBVITXOCw4ctaQqyhz3M1rB2KftyFf-ixnA2JLcgTfVXp6EwNIy4pW7J6_1Ii/s400/Andrea_ladder.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ascending into the trees!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs6TxMjdIh58Ckaq0YGH_5Il4R8uyDpjEpLbLPtD_Hui_jrxjLGZZ-RECeBsd4pu1flexmgd6mXad2xHI5w5g1vMJC817d0MXYxWERxQGWkrFMJiXc-h-uLiAv2Ire66cN72IEEs53-e4/s1600/Andrea_obstacle_course.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs6TxMjdIh58Ckaq0YGH_5Il4R8uyDpjEpLbLPtD_Hui_jrxjLGZZ-RECeBsd4pu1flexmgd6mXad2xHI5w5g1vMJC817d0MXYxWERxQGWkrFMJiXc-h-uLiAv2Ire66cN72IEEs53-e4/s400/Andrea_obstacle_course.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea navigating one of the obstacles.<br />
It's harder than it looks!</td></tr>
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<br />
Each obstacle had a difficulty rating. Some, like the ladders, were pretty easy. Others were a lot more challenging! I was especially bad at navigating one of the tight ropes that had a loose top rope you could hold on to. I more or less crab-walked the whole way across and succeeded in looking hilariously awkward. Another difficult one was made up of long skinny logs set at angles to each other. Andrea somehow crossed it upright while appearing composed and even graceful. I, on the other hand, looked like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLk7IIsDWqVrwSywMhNd88orvjepzX3R82TaKyVoXdMJ_DeVELqgaa6AUuESbgEJIcqtSxFdlUXAvzx1Cjk07CP_e7uH1d7EONDH18cpoq1Kd_pKaxvaTog2s_F7SN0J5wTV_bjn-NGFm/s1600/Crystal_swinging_logs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLk7IIsDWqVrwSywMhNd88orvjepzX3R82TaKyVoXdMJ_DeVELqgaa6AUuESbgEJIcqtSxFdlUXAvzx1Cjk07CP_e7uH1d7EONDH18cpoq1Kd_pKaxvaTog2s_F7SN0J5wTV_bjn-NGFm/s400/Crystal_swinging_logs.JPG" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WOAH! Swinging logs are not my specialty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1meqAktw8J_yrT4sY5ryIImz1QIexbljsogUd4dKtM9nMIFBQnaNkMBkAldSL627eZ5rOEnQrq12ZP4nLOuXV3CtUi-xhpKOdM8dPI4JQJWagVT696jd_2mk77jb_hm2HySEv7IKb5so/s1600/Crystal_balance_beam.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1meqAktw8J_yrT4sY5ryIImz1QIexbljsogUd4dKtM9nMIFBQnaNkMBkAldSL627eZ5rOEnQrq12ZP4nLOuXV3CtUi-xhpKOdM8dPI4JQJWagVT696jd_2mk77jb_hm2HySEv7IKb5so/s400/Crystal_balance_beam.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhhh, this is much easier</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnabWW-1-fINebMLv3pgSZ7pjjIRgwhsQXZ2bGAXrjXJ70ln350c97_TnGqvB9UoGbEoa3iwWYGg4M26rULgInPFPJsrrfLV-FbqiLr3G6_XfQf94p-hifGhMHdZ_kIcPJDsdZsYdCtetO/s1600/Crystal_swinging_rings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnabWW-1-fINebMLv3pgSZ7pjjIRgwhsQXZ2bGAXrjXJ70ln350c97_TnGqvB9UoGbEoa3iwWYGg4M26rULgInPFPJsrrfLV-FbqiLr3G6_XfQf94p-hifGhMHdZ_kIcPJDsdZsYdCtetO/s640/Crystal_swinging_rings.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaaaand now it's hard again!</td></tr>
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<br />
One of the more memorable obstacles was something called a Tarzan swing, which is pretty much how it sounds. You clip into a carabiner on a rope and then hop off the platform. The rope swings you (FAST) into a cargo net. You grab onto the net and climb up it onto a platform. It all sounds pretty straightforward, but it was more exciting than it seemed. The rope was kind of long, so when you first jump off the platform, it feels like you're free-falling for a second! And hauling yourself up the cargo net takes some upper body strength! It all really feels like something from an episode of <a href="http://www.nbc.com/American_Gladiators/">American Gladiators</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGh_uEZLZmtFw7ICn2R1aZ467vmzxVRUlXRMh3cH0FWhflw6IWM9nnuOoOS6ncu87fbW0WcPiOTf0c245ENAqXX5GsYJClLhJgBtrV4fRcgldjS0bziuIB9kKrgxNkNoJGL4utGstmTy3C/s1600/Forest_Adventure_Tarzan_swing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGh_uEZLZmtFw7ICn2R1aZ467vmzxVRUlXRMh3cH0FWhflw6IWM9nnuOoOS6ncu87fbW0WcPiOTf0c245ENAqXX5GsYJClLhJgBtrV4fRcgldjS0bziuIB9kKrgxNkNoJGL4utGstmTy3C/s400/Forest_Adventure_Tarzan_swing.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Psyching myself up to leap off the platform</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The zip-lines were definitely my favorite - some were really long and took us right out over the water. And when you're on those things, you really get going <i>fast!</i> We had been taught how to land in the sand pits at the end of the zip-lines, but Andrea and I both proved to be fantastically bad at it. Our landings were typically accompanied by a crash and a big puff of sand. By the end of the day we could literally pour sand out of our shoes! But even though we sucked at landing it was fine - the sand pits were pretty soft. I think they may have been designed with clumsy girls in mind!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-weTpYT_KIX20dxgL4MwD_sqjJmQN-uxXnzVcrCDvyVoMoPp9rqVFMvhbMHvGVSw3kh0p4pWPOjU9XhtJ21ozbWCOIWKUvVn7D1tNMcqip8WH9U5B8tgnsE2R9G3kSPTglIYjlGA1o1w/s1600/Andrea_zipline2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-weTpYT_KIX20dxgL4MwD_sqjJmQN-uxXnzVcrCDvyVoMoPp9rqVFMvhbMHvGVSw3kh0p4pWPOjU9XhtJ21ozbWCOIWKUvVn7D1tNMcqip8WH9U5B8tgnsE2R9G3kSPTglIYjlGA1o1w/s400/Andrea_zipline2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing to take the plunge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKMUjAqYWXaxoFzx2iFA0RsMBkcDdiLxP2ml-yUt0uk0Pyi3D_jgmZjsET9LlS8juKgMSNozAPeMhxHDkQXVFvf9ZZ54HGb8xNF-nM9_Ms5ohy6mzlty7NNdFUQNba1Ty_6EO5iUh9EDN/s1600/Andrea_zipline.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKMUjAqYWXaxoFzx2iFA0RsMBkcDdiLxP2ml-yUt0uk0Pyi3D_jgmZjsET9LlS8juKgMSNozAPeMhxHDkQXVFvf9ZZ54HGb8xNF-nM9_Ms5ohy6mzlty7NNdFUQNba1Ty_6EO5iUh9EDN/s400/Andrea_zipline.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeehaw!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTWMpmzchDj0Sim0ieT5GMBVC-6QhHaX9Rd1b7UUfx1hqbOZqHJWIQLpovoCHguhdCxTT-h2xBiUzEUYsgdrHouorqVx98CLh1HBYETunwuRI6m3rjxP45AQm0Zk-1pz3uW61NhSxxD2Y/s1600/Crystal_zipline.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTWMpmzchDj0Sim0ieT5GMBVC-6QhHaX9Rd1b7UUfx1hqbOZqHJWIQLpovoCHguhdCxTT-h2xBiUzEUYsgdrHouorqVx98CLh1HBYETunwuRI6m3rjxP45AQm0Zk-1pz3uW61NhSxxD2Y/s640/Crystal_zipline.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks scary but it was REALLY fun!!! That's me way out there!</td></tr>
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There were four ziplines total. On the last one, which is also the end of the course, Andrea executed a perfect landing. I was behind her and I thought, "OK, I'm going to have a good landing too. It'll be a good way to end the day." A minute later I was careening into the sandpit backwards. Oh well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8Cm7PhJVrozzvKnK-gYUJqDcdTt6GD-y4IFYaufwbPI7MY4n3TIFqmV52wVFfAe8UWlJQUgilQXdY_W-um3g9q3uF_wUoKOPUswYuuxQpSS5H7lN9B581M0EC8I6QJpUxWXgD8-rcFZX/s1600/Andrea_perfect_landing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8Cm7PhJVrozzvKnK-gYUJqDcdTt6GD-y4IFYaufwbPI7MY4n3TIFqmV52wVFfAe8UWlJQUgilQXdY_W-um3g9q3uF_wUoKOPUswYuuxQpSS5H7lN9B581M0EC8I6QJpUxWXgD8-rcFZX/s400/Andrea_perfect_landing.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I felt like there should have been a crowd there cheering <br />
when she pulled off this landing!</td></tr>
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<br />
When we finally got done with the course, we were more than ready to kick back with some ice cold water. But not before a final photo shoot to document how awesome we looked in our adventuring gear! Not everyone can pull off climbing harnesses and yellow safety helmets, but I think we did pretty well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wziArSMAZ8C2Oy6hjphKxjykeSibIQ0Xb3yjKb7bQDx02FLxZ6LZq7gMB3LqwCXrPp_yzqjNGo7cBH_J1BFdV1v-XpYoAfzcqf0DMUxVx0TkaaJ5cCuWHH4vWJrefj1_6Gbabttnz1UD/s1600/Crystal_Andrea_Forest_Adventure.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wziArSMAZ8C2Oy6hjphKxjykeSibIQ0Xb3yjKb7bQDx02FLxZ6LZq7gMB3LqwCXrPp_yzqjNGo7cBH_J1BFdV1v-XpYoAfzcqf0DMUxVx0TkaaJ5cCuWHH4vWJrefj1_6Gbabttnz1UD/s400/Crystal_Andrea_Forest_Adventure.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't we just look so smart?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSCHYSouIIO2Cf9knm9kJ4n-D4XdzQuHKJlitGpLUh4hkwZsm3KqU5PTrz92tpfToi2L3OhFrEO9o1mJa3KegGuaBxd6szOqWFyjqzFO0hy-L8SyNcOnO4PLGXthJOjt5-bDpfUoERTS4/s1600/Crystal_Andrea_Forest_Adventure2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSCHYSouIIO2Cf9knm9kJ4n-D4XdzQuHKJlitGpLUh4hkwZsm3KqU5PTrz92tpfToi2L3OhFrEO9o1mJa3KegGuaBxd6szOqWFyjqzFO0hy-L8SyNcOnO4PLGXthJOjt5-bDpfUoERTS4/s400/Crystal_Andrea_Forest_Adventure2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They really should make us their spokesmodels!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Andrea and I had a great time at Forest Adventure, and it was good exercise too. I definitely woke up the next morning with soreness in muscles I didn't know I had (my <i>armpit</i> muscles hurt. What is that?!) Anyway, I recommend it for a fun afternoon with friends or family. We saw lots of kids on the kids course, and they looked like they were having a ball. I do think tickets are a little expensive - our tickets were complimentary, and I think I might have balked at the SG$42 per adult for the grand course. But keep your eye out for deals - there is <a href="http://www.forestadventure.com.sg/?page_id=135">special pricing for kids, students, families, and groups</a>, and a special promotion coming up on Mother's Day - moms go free on the Grand Course if they accompany a kid aged 11 or older. Also, there's an costume contest on May 26 & 27 (dress like Jane & Tarzan) and the best costumes win a pair of free tickets. So if you want to check out Forest Adventure, keep your eyes peeled for deals and check out their <a href="http://www.forestadventure.com.sg/index.php?cat=1">promotions page</a>!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-87556706755548971392012-04-26T22:18:00.000+08:002012-04-26T22:18:30.979+08:00Things We Find in the Woods Part ElevenBryan and I have lived in Singapore for 2 years and 9 months now. All this time, I've been hoping to see the banded leaf monkey. It's one of only two types of monkey in Singapore (the other being the long-tailed macaque), and it's very rare. My friend Andie Ang <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_news&task=view&id=189&Itemid=50">did a census of them</a> and found that there are only about 40 left in the wild in Singapore, meaning that the banded leaf monkey is locally critically endangered. They're confined to the Central Nature Reserves, and they're very wary of people, usually taking off through the trees as soon as you spot them. All of these things mean that it's very difficult to see these monkeys in the wild.<br />
<br />
But last week we hit the jackpot. My colleague and I were doing our macaque census at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park. We were watching a group of macaques on the edge of the forest. Jayasri was looking through the binoculars. She lowered the binoculars, squinted at the trees, lifted the binoculars, and lowered them again. "CRYSTAL. BANDED LEAF," she hissed in an urgent whisper. I got all wide-eyed and crazy and stood up, slowly making my way toward the trees, hoping to get a photo. The monkeys are notoriously hard to photograph, as they're often high up in the trees, and quick to flee. But I got lucky again. It's not a great photo, but it's proof that it really happened!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhva1rGfCjCXSCgP9crQoyhCuGXyDfv_-v_4YQqTw05tORYaWJVVA1VMHe0Kwf-Pd8LqJLtOmBELwRUTNBmSK4T2LsSX8fpXYO_dcIm1piU0T0BBBDHGpkj0EAig63RtiUzfLBWE1c0nOCa/s1600/banded_leaf_monkey_Singapore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhva1rGfCjCXSCgP9crQoyhCuGXyDfv_-v_4YQqTw05tORYaWJVVA1VMHe0Kwf-Pd8LqJLtOmBELwRUTNBmSK4T2LsSX8fpXYO_dcIm1piU0T0BBBDHGpkj0EAig63RtiUzfLBWE1c0nOCa/s640/banded_leaf_monkey_Singapore.jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YAAAAY! IT FINALLY HAPPENED!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF-qj0AhrYrpUQbiWqKZOJPu_-KK31KZlQeMYInCxCKbVZyTW2GezNl9AnyXOphseO48oW2pwHlsRrM9um86sj80xkNtiScdvH1yfWfJtz4h00Jde_eZtr56FKCF9fDXqjQew92JvMyMd/s1600/banded_leaf_monkey_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF-qj0AhrYrpUQbiWqKZOJPu_-KK31KZlQeMYInCxCKbVZyTW2GezNl9AnyXOphseO48oW2pwHlsRrM9um86sj80xkNtiScdvH1yfWfJtz4h00Jde_eZtr56FKCF9fDXqjQew92JvMyMd/s640/banded_leaf_monkey_2.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the white stripe along the front of the body</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They're really just beautiful animals. I admit that we got super distracted from our research on the long-tailed macaques, and spent about an hour just admiring these monkeys through the binoculars. We were very quiet and got lucky that they stuck around for so long before moving off.<br />
<br />
It's hard to follow that. What's exciting after seeing a banded leaf monkey in the wild in a place where they're critically endangered?? Well, we had another experience that was exciting in a different way.<br />
<br />
One day at Bukit Batok Nature Park, Jayasri and I were in the carpark where we've frequently seen the long-tailed macaques. As we sat there, we heard a loud banging sound on the other side of the empty carpark. As we looked in the direction of the sound, we saw a snake thrashing around atop a trashcan. Eager to see what type of snake it was, I got up and hurried over.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsEN7XcUQDrwWgL3NQY3ucCoqUNpdkO-Ihe1wcbjKbVOX4poL64Wao0o-2HBFB5KUimQdl0mdxxA4CbJE9qRLnDdxLLNySM87eVPbsvIM7reWl5DWY99UZke182HzSjFuy2iwY8p-hCyD/s1600/paradise_tree_snake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsEN7XcUQDrwWgL3NQY3ucCoqUNpdkO-Ihe1wcbjKbVOX4poL64Wao0o-2HBFB5KUimQdl0mdxxA4CbJE9qRLnDdxLLNySM87eVPbsvIM7reWl5DWY99UZke182HzSjFuy2iwY8p-hCyD/s640/paradise_tree_snake.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a paradise tree snake!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We watched the snake for a while, and I was surprised to see how active it was! Most snakes I've seen in the wild are super lethargic, and just sit there without moving.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YMsx_P3bGgBT43emgzRLkALDQmaLCYj_v7tryOKY5uynp7WJlV3VnD4rBCuCFnvsEGypaGuuksrV_sse9Ai4-D2LXaTrCjq3ldkHYd77G5qsV3BORRzmsFrdHx4XHNJHtI6EHkKxig3T/s1600/paradise_gliding_snake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YMsx_P3bGgBT43emgzRLkALDQmaLCYj_v7tryOKY5uynp7WJlV3VnD4rBCuCFnvsEGypaGuuksrV_sse9Ai4-D2LXaTrCjq3ldkHYd77G5qsV3BORRzmsFrdHx4XHNJHtI6EHkKxig3T/s400/paradise_gliding_snake.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slithering all over the place</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Pretty soon we figured out why the snake was so active. His tail was caught in the trashcan lid! We discovered this when the snake flung himself over the side of the trashcan and starting banging himself against it in a vain attempt to free himself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Az0W871iEqi8euBiXdHwtSjVzbI1_qnAw8rwoGIyvlDe5O2_42gvtRLqf5LN7ArxI8QiHy9nj6aiQ49lldVMJ8okhKq2jjeG6l6PcCSCrAry0ixXyiplQw356KSW1qM-TeFw78gP6qnE/s1600/paradise_tree_snake_caught.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Az0W871iEqi8euBiXdHwtSjVzbI1_qnAw8rwoGIyvlDe5O2_42gvtRLqf5LN7ArxI8QiHy9nj6aiQ49lldVMJ8okhKq2jjeG6l6PcCSCrAry0ixXyiplQw356KSW1qM-TeFw78gP6qnE/s400/paradise_tree_snake_caught.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor little guy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you know me, you know that I can't handle to see animals in pain or distress (see <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/04/bukit-timah-dog-attacks_24.html">the time I almost cried in front of two well-respected primatologists because a monkey got attacked by a dog</a>). So of course, my first thought was "WE HAVE TO HELP THE SNAKE!" I set off on a search for a stick longer than the snake. All I could find was a very short rake, and my friend was NOT approving of my idea to free an angry snake with a short rake.<br />
<br />
We stood there a few minutes trying to figure out what to do. We called everyone we knew from NParks, but nobody picked up (it was after office hours). So then we called <a href="http://www.acres.org.sg/">ACRES</a>, the local wildlife rescue organization. After some difficulty in explaining that a snake was stuck in a trashcan, they dispatched someone to help us.<br />
<br />
But before they got there, a few workers showed up in a lorry. One of them saw the snake and started throwing rocks at it, earning himself a loud, "WHAT THE <i>HELL</i> ARE YOU DOING?!?!" from me. They walked away, and a few minutes later one of the other guys returned with a very long stick. He looked at us and asked, "Free it or kill it?" "FREE IT!!! DON'T HURT IT!" we both yelled at him. And so he did. As soon as he lifted the lid, the poor snake fell out and slithered away faster than I have ever seen a snake move. Phew. To think that I used to get stressed out at work over printer jams.<br />
<br />
Well, I really can't top endangered monkeys and daring snake rescues, so I'm not even going to try. Here's a picture of a pigeon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlkaTLU3PLp3oCdNyOHwuJBRL3QRJLA5pG_HB9Iru8HNX_420zJqEkpdP5nQxWftFUdTcdDWE-pKx2PWlbdJVZn4VJmkCXNiifSCY0vPANEUXLW2cymUUTHXNQcVXhgU5lLNRz16bv1Rt/s1600/pink_necked_green_pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlkaTLU3PLp3oCdNyOHwuJBRL3QRJLA5pG_HB9Iru8HNX_420zJqEkpdP5nQxWftFUdTcdDWE-pKx2PWlbdJVZn4VJmkCXNiifSCY0vPANEUXLW2cymUUTHXNQcVXhgU5lLNRz16bv1Rt/s400/pink_necked_green_pigeon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pigeon</td></tr>
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<br />
I mean, this isn't just <i>any</i> bird. It's the prettiest pigeon around! It's a male pink-necked green pigeon. I think they're really beautiful! <br />
<br />
You know who else would probably appreciate the pink-necked green pigeon? The mangrove snake. Although, while I appreciate the bird as a lovely birdwatching find, the mangrove snake would appreciate it as a delicious snack!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe3-mU2lItY0-e4Uc_uua-Jp_7zrgF-81wRC6A7r7GhR4q8tndaTyMABsokPFFr2btH-nHPOxlVggS1KVOai4OEVQy3c6opIng7FhVBnky8_GxOt9xhG3fBUSlOVWfeda9oYpX4yTFPm9/s1600/mangrove_cat_snake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe3-mU2lItY0-e4Uc_uua-Jp_7zrgF-81wRC6A7r7GhR4q8tndaTyMABsokPFFr2btH-nHPOxlVggS1KVOai4OEVQy3c6opIng7FhVBnky8_GxOt9xhG3fBUSlOVWfeda9oYpX4yTFPm9/s640/mangrove_cat_snake.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oooooooh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We actually saw not one, but TWO of these snakes one day in a tree at Lower Peirce Reservoir Park. It was SO cool. They were even mating up there in the tree! I don't know if you've ever witnessed two snakes getting it on, but I assure you that it's <i>weird.</i> They looked like they were trying to turn themselves inside out!<br />
<br />
Unlike most of the snakes I've seen in Singapore, these are BIG - they grow to be 6 to 8 feet long and are about as big around as a man's wrist. It was pretty amazing to see two big snakes up the same tree. We did give them a wide berth while we observed them, however - mangrove snakes (a.k.a. gold-ringed cat snakes) are mildly venomous and are known to be <i>very, very</i> aggressive.<br />
<br />
We've seen lots more neat wildlife and nature lately, so look for more Things We Find in the Woods posts soon! <br />
<br />
A Sidenote: Although we ultimately didn't need them to free the snake caught in the trashcan, ACRES was
very prompt in answering our call and dispatching someone to assist us.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you ever find an animal in distress and don't know how to help, I highly recommend calling ACRES Wildlife Rescue Hotline at +65 9783 7782!</span></span></b></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-15048868679294596282012-04-22T10:20:00.000+08:002012-04-22T10:20:12.222+08:00Borneo Day Three: Bako to KuchingOur last day in Borneo started out early. We had an appointment to meet Mohammed, our boatman, on the beach at 8 AM. We got up bright and early and were greeted by long-tailed macaques on our porch. One sat in a tree and placidly watched me through a window as I brushed my teeth.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qoqi78B7XdQdFjlTBFx3vPTI7HYhHYPY3o17RgEIniU-I6VPvax3KV0cA-hoAv6V8rwi5ApwEVwcEvjfJ-C9y_3bX0a4oRYHTBwfJqMJroLynhtJ_jvodYcvh6_1BAfjN3rDGSk2yJIb/s1600/monkeys_on_roof.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qoqi78B7XdQdFjlTBFx3vPTI7HYhHYPY3o17RgEIniU-I6VPvax3KV0cA-hoAv6V8rwi5ApwEVwcEvjfJ-C9y_3bX0a4oRYHTBwfJqMJroLynhtJ_jvodYcvh6_1BAfjN3rDGSk2yJIb/s400/monkeys_on_roof.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely - there are 3 monkeys on the roof <br />
and one climbing the porch railings!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We didn't linger long to watch the monkey antics, knowing that Mohammed would be expecting us. He met us on the beach, looking awfully chipper for 8 AM!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2CurF6sOFOzE3oF7oj2cbTYhLzdXbl7SKc-mHLmDAirsz3ySLH6U_FKWJu44vr06V9-Q_Bre2yp4yTMcTHov8ucMTTr6aqzSbrv5YM80QAk-CTjS_RyXcaiLnsYA-U14dZKFAFLHm8oU/s1600/Bako_boatman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2CurF6sOFOzE3oF7oj2cbTYhLzdXbl7SKc-mHLmDAirsz3ySLH6U_FKWJu44vr06V9-Q_Bre2yp4yTMcTHov8ucMTTr6aqzSbrv5YM80QAk-CTjS_RyXcaiLnsYA-U14dZKFAFLHm8oU/s400/Bako_boatman.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good morning, Mohammed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We tugged our boots off, waded out to meet him and clambered into the boat. It was a beautiful, sunny morning, and it was a great chance to admire the scenery on our way out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K93AewN3drOqu-4cQ7r17iUkgkXzhH_7ybjwVgNrvhsK195gfAkp4RIyo40022LUVTm0JWHUhIRVoU3s9NG39wr9xWErEQxzY5WQBwGIQglVKJ5YdUr3PvBCc3SFzTZ92EyG27ssRn_Z/s1600/sandstone_cliffs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K93AewN3drOqu-4cQ7r17iUkgkXzhH_7ybjwVgNrvhsK195gfAkp4RIyo40022LUVTm0JWHUhIRVoU3s9NG39wr9xWErEQxzY5WQBwGIQglVKJ5YdUr3PvBCc3SFzTZ92EyG27ssRn_Z/s640/sandstone_cliffs.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't get enough of those stunning sandstone formations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were lots of fishermen out in the morning. I imagine it's a lot more pleasant to fish before the scorching sun starts beating full-force! The jellyfish guys were there again, still hard at work!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FC7ZX2AiZAAwKa28BJDvcP1Z3Fb-xnpg2wS7pSkMrY83cJHIXpgZ1Jpge4o8lJzmtA0bF4TvrnEVhyphenhyphen2ZFApGx97a8UiNooGRNDIH3xaR2DmAN7qLq5mcCMfZ3jBXYwfVdjnimcgTG6Ys/s1600/jellyfish_fishing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FC7ZX2AiZAAwKa28BJDvcP1Z3Fb-xnpg2wS7pSkMrY83cJHIXpgZ1Jpge4o8lJzmtA0bF4TvrnEVhyphenhyphen2ZFApGx97a8UiNooGRNDIH3xaR2DmAN7qLq5mcCMfZ3jBXYwfVdjnimcgTG6Ys/s640/jellyfish_fishing.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jellyfish bigger than their heads!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIJ_katQDH4MePpFhmCXvYTaFXV25HWK6PI6G3RjmC3DcmSClQ_GjdCMlUBBeLJF_3YkyNqfBWhvryWqW8JvGr7hA_f9dE8WOS0cpXbAE8Z6PRQzS1bhMeztK4CXnsLoWQM7iYeZcjZl_/s1600/Borneo_fishermen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIJ_katQDH4MePpFhmCXvYTaFXV25HWK6PI6G3RjmC3DcmSClQ_GjdCMlUBBeLJF_3YkyNqfBWhvryWqW8JvGr7hA_f9dE8WOS0cpXbAE8Z6PRQzS1bhMeztK4CXnsLoWQM7iYeZcjZl_/s400/Borneo_fishermen.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catchin' some fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The ride back was over before we knew it, and we told Mohammed goodbye. At the boat place, we asked if we could hire a car to drive us back into Kuching. We were told there was a bus, but Bryan and I hadn't had breakfast and were willing to pay a few extra dollars to expedite the process. But for your reference, if you ever end up in the same place - we later found out that the bus is super cheap, clean, fast, and comes frequently. Anyway, we ended up getting a ride from a talkative local. He really seemed to think we were silly to pay for a ride, and he offered to drop us off in his part of town for no charge at all. From there, we could take a water taxi across the river for about 50 sen each (about 15 cents USD). It seemed kind of weird that he would take us for free, and Bryan and I initially declined, but the driver was super persistent so eventually we relented.<br />
<br />
The driver took us right to the water taxi, which ferried us across the river for 1 RM total, in a matter of about 30 seconds. Somehow we'd ended up exactly where we wanted to be quickly and almost for free. It was all a little strange.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCIn8P7aiLn5ha6bp47hU79zIlq1oxVPVNWzOeOVdvqRoSQv2qGp_AhInqLHtYzl1JlT5wDGSkf8UC_1MDMHFYkQj_Q_z86tgaMgmZT9uCXZI4I3CUpzFl8lJjxQsl3UugvJobSPvWwvw/s1600/Kuching_water_taxi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCIn8P7aiLn5ha6bp47hU79zIlq1oxVPVNWzOeOVdvqRoSQv2qGp_AhInqLHtYzl1JlT5wDGSkf8UC_1MDMHFYkQj_Q_z86tgaMgmZT9uCXZI4I3CUpzFl8lJjxQsl3UugvJobSPvWwvw/s400/Kuching_water_taxi.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water taxi or <i>bot tambang</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After two solid days of Bako cafeteria food and a morning with no breakfast OR coffee, Bryan and I were really hungry and caffeine-deprived. We wandered around a bit, looking for a place with food and coffee, but didn't find much. I was getting irritable (Riley's don't handle hunger gracefully) and we decided just to bite the bullet and eat at the one place we'd seen where we <i>knew</i> we could get both food and coffee...McDonald's. Oh, I'm so ashamed that we would eat at Mickey D's while in a country where people are food-crazy. But I'll admit it - that was one good egg McMuffin. (Interesting sidenote: <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com.my/">McDonald's in Malaysia</a> doesn't have milk for your coffee!)<br />
<br />
After breakfast, we roamed around town a bit more, just checking out the sites. We noted a bizarre devotion to cats in the city - the shops were full of cat knick-knacks, and there were huge cat statues in a couple of the roundabouts. But why?!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh6U6kUlNmQg2tlsn9Dikoua4rdATl7lgVD0qmdtmu6htwzMqVokcL1RQvuleJwwH2TB31QptCZW7ceffAVKtZSctLlLk6QRlB3WSSuRTQMDnyCbAH315mFA7AM84zXybx8hhlPO04Gek/s1600/Kuching_cat_statue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh6U6kUlNmQg2tlsn9Dikoua4rdATl7lgVD0qmdtmu6htwzMqVokcL1RQvuleJwwH2TB31QptCZW7ceffAVKtZSctLlLk6QRlB3WSSuRTQMDnyCbAH315mFA7AM84zXybx8hhlPO04Gek/s400/Kuching_cat_statue.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The city had a strange affinity for felines<br />
(See our embarassing breakfast destination in the background) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Because we had our bags with us and a lot of time to kill before our flight, we kind of wanted to hang out somewhere for a while. It was oppressively hot outside, so we opted for air-conditioned <a href="http://www.oldtown.com.my/">Old Town Coffee</a>, where we hung out and read for a few hours (Bryan and I were both deep into the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345529057/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crystalandbey-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345529057">Song of Ice and Fire</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=crystalandbey-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0345529057" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />
series, and didn't mind the opportunity to dig into our books!) <br />
<br />
After a while, we decided to walk around a bit more. We walked through Chinatown, puzzled over the presence of more cat art, and made our way to the river. We strolled along the river, admiring some of the city's unique architecture. The golden Parliament building is an especially notable presence.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhEMjegqntcwYRdKlySEPJWTOHjyl8mkjWBZwGBKxjnwba859Wnk39REmlsbiskavF88fd_FpdQOuAJc_3okcaIbsPZqIf9VqKi31iubpQH8IBa7P0oalp23nNv1rDCXJj6ed5ExjBiWa/s1600/Kuching_Parliament_building.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhEMjegqntcwYRdKlySEPJWTOHjyl8mkjWBZwGBKxjnwba859Wnk39REmlsbiskavF88fd_FpdQOuAJc_3okcaIbsPZqIf9VqKi31iubpQH8IBa7P0oalp23nNv1rDCXJj6ed5ExjBiWa/s400/Kuching_Parliament_building.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuching Parliament Building</td></tr>
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<br />
In the photo above, the small white fort to the left of the Parliament Building is Fort Margherita. The fort was used in the 1800's to protect Kuching from pirates. Yes, pirates. Awesome. The fort is now abandoned and inaccessible to the public, so we settled for admiring it from afar.<br />
<br />
The hot Borneo sun and our heavy backpacks made exploring sweaty work. Before long, we retreated to the <a href="http://www.grandmargherita.com/gmh/">Grand Margherita Hotel</a>'s cafe, the Orchid Garden Coffee House. From there, we could sit in the air-conditioning, sip cool drinks, and enjoy the view over the Sarawak River. It was so pleasant there that we ended up relaxing until lunctime, when we decided just to eat there. Bryan had some Sarawak laksa, and I had a vegetable patty.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HAfp4pe41zx2FYjr7Sm-K4RtQxcyUOOUAQpGpRDuTid8VkJPvw9sGfXcW5VDU4m25RB8zracM8jZvxmLhODSBXTHk44Xe6BJ13vDa3PJ7fdYOv3NlVvH-ZsybrsTqr-Wn_Kl9UsEAgg6/s1600/Grand_Margherita_food.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HAfp4pe41zx2FYjr7Sm-K4RtQxcyUOOUAQpGpRDuTid8VkJPvw9sGfXcW5VDU4m25RB8zracM8jZvxmLhODSBXTHk44Xe6BJ13vDa3PJ7fdYOv3NlVvH-ZsybrsTqr-Wn_Kl9UsEAgg6/s400/Grand_Margherita_food.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our yummy lunch!</td></tr>
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<br />
After lunch, it was time to head to the airport to catch our <a href="http://www.airasia.com/sg/en/home.page">Air Asia</a> flight back to Singapore. At the airport, we browsed a gift shop where we solved the mystery of Kuching's cat obsession - apparently <i>kuching</i> means CAT in Bahasa! Now we could head home assured that Kuching wasn't governed by a crazy cat lady or something.<br />
<br />
Kuching was a great short trip from Singapore. It was a short flight to Kuching, and only a little further to get to the wilderness at Bako National Park. If you're looking for something to do over a holiday weekend sometime, I recommend hanging out with all the wildlife at Bako for a couple of days! We loved it!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-78199205780216244722012-04-18T16:37:00.000+08:002012-04-18T16:42:42.301+08:00Borneo Day Two: More Bako Fun!We woke in the morning to the sound of <i>ping, ping, ping</i> on the tin roof above us - monkeys were eating in the trees, and dropping their leftovers on our roof! The wildlife greeted us literally as soon as we opened our door - the proboscis monkeys that had slept in the nearby trees the night before were up and about, moving through the branches. Macaques were running around, looking for easy food opportunities. There were even bearded pigs foraging in the yard! It was quite a morning wake-up call!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyZrYhTN_7pU2Y8RrMETRuOVxaO1VvCMkrtMcHwBG3fyZbnZGR7vu72FfqySuuGPR4RBKjHOKY1-ICGwMheMAH1Qq2dZnj1Jdf6B9gMReFnX2s_JNTeXu4C9sR7jPwIeqVcQ2g8yCthSS/s1600/proboscis_monkey_tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyZrYhTN_7pU2Y8RrMETRuOVxaO1VvCMkrtMcHwBG3fyZbnZGR7vu72FfqySuuGPR4RBKjHOKY1-ICGwMheMAH1Qq2dZnj1Jdf6B9gMReFnX2s_JNTeXu4C9sR7jPwIeqVcQ2g8yCthSS/s640/proboscis_monkey_tree.JPG" width="592" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Oh, good morning, friends!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3-VTthPuiuHqgHM6O_bgeB6EXqB0OT05CQrR97SPtN3BFoMtjEs3LOROVlyjltL4UyPsmvp7noDWd59Dk8yF8ArKUSIeGd6l31MZ7X_3JLr_fCAnsYixKreNjT-q4dAPSw1SOULwbhfv/s1600/macaque_female.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3-VTthPuiuHqgHM6O_bgeB6EXqB0OT05CQrR97SPtN3BFoMtjEs3LOROVlyjltL4UyPsmvp7noDWd59Dk8yF8ArKUSIeGd6l31MZ7X_3JLr_fCAnsYixKreNjT-q4dAPSw1SOULwbhfv/s640/macaque_female.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy-Eye came to see if we had any breakfast to share</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x-KeIiioZWVBCZWlrp2SByTSpDTnxw8IxVOk5AHebiENHIMKktKGfBFSwvXAYFY6EfrMgdLzpQ1kPuGmTSVPjp1c9gqgY_9N46yMYtQme8BoEAmZyh6Kvw-sjen1866SQZg539rcKuZB/s1600/bearded_pig_foraging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x-KeIiioZWVBCZWlrp2SByTSpDTnxw8IxVOk5AHebiENHIMKktKGfBFSwvXAYFY6EfrMgdLzpQ1kPuGmTSVPjp1c9gqgY_9N46yMYtQme8BoEAmZyh6Kvw-sjen1866SQZg539rcKuZB/s640/bearded_pig_foraging.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Don't mind me, just lookin' for some grub!"</td></tr>
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<br />
After we'd woken up a bit, we decided to go back to the places we'd seen the snakes the night before, to see if they were still there. To our surprise, both snakes were still in their places!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMZX04EFuyBL9xbo_AJ2NylBHa_6Pr64u-XLyjYWx2HgCorIEuCnlSsjhZjn3BDIHOvpbr0Wr6cP2cnpFI1T5jJXBYLLcf1odF74827IUYebeHHAJgSud-2HPwWvm2HFqr8pfBJbWIClW/s1600/male_pit_viper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMZX04EFuyBL9xbo_AJ2NylBHa_6Pr64u-XLyjYWx2HgCorIEuCnlSsjhZjn3BDIHOvpbr0Wr6cP2cnpFI1T5jJXBYLLcf1odF74827IUYebeHHAJgSud-2HPwWvm2HFqr8pfBJbWIClW/s400/male_pit_viper.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The male pit viper got a little more comfortable...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5eR5i6fnjEFkUdSfmm85a8wMTgWasy4k11mkTr6jLkKxWivq8LYam_ViCCTc0jUCjUb3vsC9uzXfIjNGn5t1gYOYubGGlrznf-TUPv6jThAjem9xyWEPsmI9eOsnHdiHbgadifHhm6ok/s1600/female_pit_viper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5eR5i6fnjEFkUdSfmm85a8wMTgWasy4k11mkTr6jLkKxWivq8LYam_ViCCTc0jUCjUb3vsC9uzXfIjNGn5t1gYOYubGGlrznf-TUPv6jThAjem9xyWEPsmI9eOsnHdiHbgadifHhm6ok/s400/female_pit_viper.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...but it seemed that the female hadn't moved at all!</td></tr>
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<br />
We headed to the cafeteria for some coffee, then got all ready to head out on another hike. We had a 7 km hike planned along the Tajor Trail. It started out from the same trailhead as our hike the day before, so we walked along the rickety boardwalk again. The tide was lower this time, so we saw some different things, including legions of fiddler crabs!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaoKW1iyBYwL4yBK1JNropnNdVSsSIa_q2EhlMGmvSL2ZT74zc2-aLUD-sprivQx-IY6pW5kl_Bnib4sROC8ggk9JKIOz2ynVj8XloBkbYRWjT5_QGczu1XorK212yh4rFevgqQRRL6Yz/s1600/fiddler_crabs_Borneo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaoKW1iyBYwL4yBK1JNropnNdVSsSIa_q2EhlMGmvSL2ZT74zc2-aLUD-sprivQx-IY6pW5kl_Bnib4sROC8ggk9JKIOz2ynVj8XloBkbYRWjT5_QGczu1XorK212yh4rFevgqQRRL6Yz/s400/fiddler_crabs_Borneo.JPG" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiddler crab showdown</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5-BvPm0RGEyDQ5T2gBD16u7tPUNP26KSW3eWkJEXqKGnl8wTbKoshI-7iH5mm_P6r7lM_WbaJwjSxKXduwwTVXfAg_YoyZ8Ven4i52A4oaUeH6EVweXCR_0nj2rp_L-_EXcbBC4KFw1m/s1600/crabs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5-BvPm0RGEyDQ5T2gBD16u7tPUNP26KSW3eWkJEXqKGnl8wTbKoshI-7iH5mm_P6r7lM_WbaJwjSxKXduwwTVXfAg_YoyZ8Ven4i52A4oaUeH6EVweXCR_0nj2rp_L-_EXcbBC4KFw1m/s400/crabs.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ummm...this doesn't look like a fair fight!</td></tr>
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<br />
A water monitor was wallowing around in the shallow water, looking pleased as punch!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdb7KhbvYTK-wUetAoRVrbH4BgUJWw_fQc-5ev4PoNCPE6tYdLGzdmy_nR_Mj82JT6SpkCQO2HPTz-WkVfIljXQyi30o1-jRNE4pFCMnijWjM7f3q5hf5IldJ9QjzP6HzXQnd2UkEQqoI/s1600/water_monitor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdb7KhbvYTK-wUetAoRVrbH4BgUJWw_fQc-5ev4PoNCPE6tYdLGzdmy_nR_Mj82JT6SpkCQO2HPTz-WkVfIljXQyi30o1-jRNE4pFCMnijWjM7f3q5hf5IldJ9QjzP6HzXQnd2UkEQqoI/s400/water_monitor.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy lizard</td></tr>
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<br />
Right at the head of the trail, we spotted the silvered leaf monkeys again. This time it was a whole group of about 14, napping, grooming, and foraging in the trees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3G1JZgNv2ceLsGpjKteLSQIUNCngGM2fIvWNCAnwLq1NrJn_XklfbllsR1zCk3Lwa1xVRq1LVBJyMBMO5Vil3Kq6HD9Mb2jlZO3yEDy9wvam1Q2KsOxSCukW6D1aOZRfEPcorRoXfNCh/s1600/silvered_leaf_monkey_sleepy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3G1JZgNv2ceLsGpjKteLSQIUNCngGM2fIvWNCAnwLq1NrJn_XklfbllsR1zCk3Lwa1xVRq1LVBJyMBMO5Vil3Kq6HD9Mb2jlZO3yEDy9wvam1Q2KsOxSCukW6D1aOZRfEPcorRoXfNCh/s400/silvered_leaf_monkey_sleepy.JPG" width="365" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy leaf monkey</td></tr>
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<br />
There were also birds around - lots of the sandpipers, plus this cute little bird that seemed to be gathering material to build a nest!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sfp6SDz4a3KrAg087C-UbE5R_C6dn5OT-KGDAyTInwPd0Ti53hTWFXByz82sLoFX1vKyhNe7tKL6pAZw1zJd_3P7f8xhhA0TO3z-GgW57kWkM9XOip2hT5y13nsdyYLVHcWsMf6HbiwO/s1600/Borneo_bird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sfp6SDz4a3KrAg087C-UbE5R_C6dn5OT-KGDAyTInwPd0Ti53hTWFXByz82sLoFX1vKyhNe7tKL6pAZw1zJd_3P7f8xhhA0TO3z-GgW57kWkM9XOip2hT5y13nsdyYLVHcWsMf6HbiwO/s400/Borneo_bird.JPG" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All birds I can't ID are referred to as "Cute little bird"</td></tr>
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<br />
Shortly after the boardwalk, our trail split off in the opposite direction of the trail we'd taken the day before. It was pretty rugged for the first 500 meters or so, but it got much easier after that. And soon we started spotting LOADS of PITCHER PLANTS!!! My <i>favorite</i>!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC4KwH_mpwjSTL0-FvFVI8YbbuWwrjEFVZCninAOwMlUKApVBBB8Nw8Qac-muPe1d5uEu_zhecevi0HdRo5V3WaENDCMSds-ikZ-qa1c1RzWGrWOnz4rJ84FSrdjjqMojPemMrTXz3d6k/s1600/Crystal_pitcher_plant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC4KwH_mpwjSTL0-FvFVI8YbbuWwrjEFVZCninAOwMlUKApVBBB8Nw8Qac-muPe1d5uEu_zhecevi0HdRo5V3WaENDCMSds-ikZ-qa1c1RzWGrWOnz4rJ84FSrdjjqMojPemMrTXz3d6k/s400/Crystal_pitcher_plant.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how big they are!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASXGTmyGNP9liz__K-dn5AtJrWw0DTs_ohNGzwmqBAjSP8_yw0M6Qf_nZFiWLA5T6YMi4dmfxtzECUgqBrL-zqzlH4_9Eg1eckRQiR-XLGpNg-2G98lpu7pZXvETTfcI6Y7uSxbxTwQq_/s1600/Borneo_pitcher_plant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASXGTmyGNP9liz__K-dn5AtJrWw0DTs_ohNGzwmqBAjSP8_yw0M6Qf_nZFiWLA5T6YMi4dmfxtzECUgqBrL-zqzlH4_9Eg1eckRQiR-XLGpNg-2G98lpu7pZXvETTfcI6Y7uSxbxTwQq_/s400/Borneo_pitcher_plant.JPG" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch out, bugs. This plant's hungry!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdRxWhviP9jky6e8Kk1Y7DO8dk9uLq8wnDP_g4EvJLIUPt_2SE-hBG8_EqKJCtgBqVjyJ_3R7hrQrnS495La0nsZUiXbvAS_Z6haHHstd5oKeETEnC_DvEtFIcOHumcZNCQrtPAC5kOHP/s1600/skinny_pitcher_plants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdRxWhviP9jky6e8Kk1Y7DO8dk9uLq8wnDP_g4EvJLIUPt_2SE-hBG8_EqKJCtgBqVjyJ_3R7hrQrnS495La0nsZUiXbvAS_Z6haHHstd5oKeETEnC_DvEtFIcOHumcZNCQrtPAC5kOHP/s400/skinny_pitcher_plants.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These skinny ones grew in a big clump</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO73eETKZ3oYeuuFhEzZ0VB-cE40PFh5iJmWZyqf3vE83wDRP3bSH8qb4XxeGKmofUgAp7vXuNAcvdEkF4XqHaauXdkQtDy7TSQZeo5YnjR8aZgXyxDPu3LGViD_weQbOkkA27ItPnbrN7/s1600/fat_pitcher_plants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO73eETKZ3oYeuuFhEzZ0VB-cE40PFh5iJmWZyqf3vE83wDRP3bSH8qb4XxeGKmofUgAp7vXuNAcvdEkF4XqHaauXdkQtDy7TSQZeo5YnjR8aZgXyxDPu3LGViD_weQbOkkA27ItPnbrN7/s400/fat_pitcher_plants.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were so many varieties! It was like a pitcher plant sanctuary!</td></tr>
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While admiring the pitcher plants, I saw a little lizard scurry across the trail. It looked a lot like the green crested lizard, but it lacks the blue ear spots, so I'm not sure what it is! Perhaps a juvenile green crested lizard?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiE81uX5EEqCDvcEh_HP1qdVjxW94QQLf8_zpIduAIpzfpvCcS3M8DHTTA4Y5z4eJYiA0TZzdCvbSbCdhAH1lOOM3FRujupnEibSAiFY8oOx-LPxajzsk-T94XlO6FEnCGMsWEtDSqKsKJ/s1600/green_lizard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiE81uX5EEqCDvcEh_HP1qdVjxW94QQLf8_zpIduAIpzfpvCcS3M8DHTTA4Y5z4eJYiA0TZzdCvbSbCdhAH1lOOM3FRujupnEibSAiFY8oOx-LPxajzsk-T94XlO6FEnCGMsWEtDSqKsKJ/s400/green_lizard.JPG" width="371" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was very shy!</td></tr>
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After an hour or so, we came to a shelter where we stopped to rest and appreciate the ocean off in the distance!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe35-J1hbcMEgFxxoqUJQUGTEngmSTxeJ0b8x95lx58ExDHZEGGTLOWZeIgP0Pp7oqjwXkOa2N9QzHNeeboV11TN7v1loiYBMYis1edXEnimCfXEyyQTGagnrDOEvOMeZuqhd4lAl6H_U/s1600/South_China_Sea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe35-J1hbcMEgFxxoqUJQUGTEngmSTxeJ0b8x95lx58ExDHZEGGTLOWZeIgP0Pp7oqjwXkOa2N9QzHNeeboV11TN7v1loiYBMYis1edXEnimCfXEyyQTGagnrDOEvOMeZuqhd4lAl6H_U/s400/South_China_Sea.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the South China Sea</td></tr>
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A few hours into our hike, we reached Tajor Waterfall. It wasn't the biggest or most impressive waterfall we've ever seen, but it was clean and cool. It was also far back in the forest, so it felt like a little woodland oasis. After our hot hike, I was happy to tug off my boots and go wading!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaQDVygH8uq2sIDOHhyYT6hZJtswMdx_lzs5na_lCev8FNPZj_VmJtaNppnvZPdFi_ki8LKreUCukd3OuV1BojiyZTGOwQUXbZov52-mpEHvjDrROEIjjNPvHSIzTPcppbwjtts6Xm-Y7/s1600/Tajor_Waterfall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaQDVygH8uq2sIDOHhyYT6hZJtswMdx_lzs5na_lCev8FNPZj_VmJtaNppnvZPdFi_ki8LKreUCukd3OuV1BojiyZTGOwQUXbZov52-mpEHvjDrROEIjjNPvHSIzTPcppbwjtts6Xm-Y7/s400/Tajor_Waterfall.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tajor Waterfall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwW4AVEfqm88Odqf9FCb6pclEwfNyDC7fktUmTcgs_D_mT2bJln2r_pE0X6iaotLNvmuhE2nIDlguwah0Pm1vXF8AI7M-_iBnONEBLznAt2L9tbRLhnvnhAdgziQdXU9fZEmHsXMI1Mta/s1600/waterfall_hairwash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwW4AVEfqm88Odqf9FCb6pclEwfNyDC7fktUmTcgs_D_mT2bJln2r_pE0X6iaotLNvmuhE2nIDlguwah0Pm1vXF8AI7M-_iBnONEBLznAt2L9tbRLhnvnhAdgziQdXU9fZEmHsXMI1Mta/s400/waterfall_hairwash.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water felt so good I decided to dunk my head in!</td></tr>
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We lounged around by the waterfall for a long time, cooling off and having snacks (including homemade banana bread I brought along!). Eventually it started getting late and we still had a couple hours of hiking ahead of us, so we headed out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAKTx9xyGn_7Yl2Icn7ktJGOcO62k-rEDdFc0P5QX4a2hIQA0pjtvuovft18Z725yUaagNq2MUdPwrL3xQrZdV6rl_MOGWIDMiNrkKa8MOawmyelaWp01NnzzQdGKpbmuOdcH-kzKMYWU/s1600/Bryan_hiking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAKTx9xyGn_7Yl2Icn7ktJGOcO62k-rEDdFc0P5QX4a2hIQA0pjtvuovft18Z725yUaagNq2MUdPwrL3xQrZdV6rl_MOGWIDMiNrkKa8MOawmyelaWp01NnzzQdGKpbmuOdcH-kzKMYWU/s400/Bryan_hiking.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryan on our hike back</td></tr>
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The trip back went much more quickly than our trip out, especially because the return hike was mostly downhill! When we were almost back to the trailhead, we ran into the silvered leaf monkeys again! In fact, we got to them just in time to watch them cross over the trail one by one. It was like a monkey parade!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBWGSP-s16KITffLSxkzS8Rmht_u6JeXZO00b5D3LEU3Kha6lK7dfaJ-M55zjEf8Td_dilVPdsOGJLJHLxkHqexxrtGZZQEAyJA9ZSsP-TZRgzooDVdpqErNurXBKebYHNZloBpDQmWEo/s1600/leaf_monkey_juvenile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBWGSP-s16KITffLSxkzS8Rmht_u6JeXZO00b5D3LEU3Kha6lK7dfaJ-M55zjEf8Td_dilVPdsOGJLJHLxkHqexxrtGZZQEAyJA9ZSsP-TZRgzooDVdpqErNurXBKebYHNZloBpDQmWEo/s400/leaf_monkey_juvenile.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaf monkey juvenile. So comfortable in the trees!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQjV_RdS7xS__ufZbL8VL3IheQ8UZH1rrPn_AAXBQ17aTGOKn-b6AA1gyyf4Z8z8gBoBNGoFsnwnRPPtUk3c3TjPMfab6pmPeoGbFuf8bW_P631vxgsxdtcd_EnKkXHDlfod_UOAJRw-I/s1600/leaf_monkey_mom_baby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQjV_RdS7xS__ufZbL8VL3IheQ8UZH1rrPn_AAXBQ17aTGOKn-b6AA1gyyf4Z8z8gBoBNGoFsnwnRPPtUk3c3TjPMfab6pmPeoGbFuf8bW_P631vxgsxdtcd_EnKkXHDlfod_UOAJRw-I/s400/leaf_monkey_mom_baby.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Baby were there too. Baby needs to learn to hang on!!</td></tr>
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When we got back from our long hike, I braved the creepy, mosquito-filled showers. It was kinda gross, but I definitely felt much better afterward! We relaxed for a while, reading on the porch, listening to the monkeys and birds all around us, and waiting for the cafeteria to start serving dinner!<br />
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A little before dinner, we walked down to the beach to explore the rocks a bit. The whole beach was covered with sand bubbler crabs that skittered into their holes as soon as we got close.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1WfaavaAHVH-onDEUIr5nX-lq7Hth9gnJlelCyOHIpRFlyQX8X4gvv6RxUm0JZSJbDr_xwduX8xw3JTPsgEhBVlaTblKiKG2shQbJjJ3BY6viJcnHahtHCGGtBsZ26OS17PWsBV5L2er/s1600/sand_bubbler_crab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1WfaavaAHVH-onDEUIr5nX-lq7Hth9gnJlelCyOHIpRFlyQX8X4gvv6RxUm0JZSJbDr_xwduX8xw3JTPsgEhBVlaTblKiKG2shQbJjJ3BY6viJcnHahtHCGGtBsZ26OS17PWsBV5L2er/s400/sand_bubbler_crab.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubblin' away!</td></tr>
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We walked over to the sandstone rock formations we'd seen on the way in. They were even more impressive up close!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUagqHTYtOLEUrgXc8NfVQLcMNb7R8-NxSwFQ3Qxa4OnxS2q-EmXiocLFra30JrtcNpQfF5Ttukp8Y3ynXRUdr6EboWJ5HwqBriQ6SZ9R-Jf3OtQS_tDm0LMrtKrACnqmTVF3cMlFtXQHQ/s1600/Bako_sandstone_patterns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUagqHTYtOLEUrgXc8NfVQLcMNb7R8-NxSwFQ3Qxa4OnxS2q-EmXiocLFra30JrtcNpQfF5Ttukp8Y3ynXRUdr6EboWJ5HwqBriQ6SZ9R-Jf3OtQS_tDm0LMrtKrACnqmTVF3cMlFtXQHQ/s640/Bako_sandstone_patterns.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reminds me of the Painted Desert in Arizona</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7K_BKnHtEg4_eN7eUYAmpxs0I7IrPjkI_ba3HqFoXOmSmw8RCMDoyW6tBNulBitu7ewoIO-Z5M4IoEUeQEGamkzWmMH990nBEx5hRPDob58YQO6txHkdl-yQ4OVXVW9RxYVkcuedwPS9/s1600/Bryan_Bako.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7K_BKnHtEg4_eN7eUYAmpxs0I7IrPjkI_ba3HqFoXOmSmw8RCMDoyW6tBNulBitu7ewoIO-Z5M4IoEUeQEGamkzWmMH990nBEx5hRPDob58YQO6txHkdl-yQ4OVXVW9RxYVkcuedwPS9/s400/Bryan_Bako.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryan and some big rocks!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrqwbF713h2AelW7q7-iQGETQgfnnXVUVPmUSCf_ZVUZAyvpOeZVFH2bYhAiAG57naew72pkJVHr-TwBDUW5vnwm26kGgiLYO65i6CTpqWn1zwODmR4zhr5Z4Lbyc8aWZ-ZBuo8v4Eptx/s1600/Crystal_Bryan_Bako.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrqwbF713h2AelW7q7-iQGETQgfnnXVUVPmUSCf_ZVUZAyvpOeZVFH2bYhAiAG57naew72pkJVHr-TwBDUW5vnwm26kGgiLYO65i6CTpqWn1zwODmR4zhr5Z4Lbyc8aWZ-ZBuo8v4Eptx/s400/Crystal_Bryan_Bako.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">♥ Together on the beach ♥</td></tr>
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After exploring the beach, we went to the cafeteria for dinner (more rice, french fries, and pineapple) and a couple of Tsingtao. While we were eating, the macaques came to the cafeteria in the hope of getting food, but the employees have an interesting strategy for chasing them off - they have slingshots! They said they only shoot small stones at them, nothing big enough to hurt them. But the strategy appears highly effective - the whole time we were there, the workers never shot anything at the monkeys. All the workers had to do was <i>show</i> the monkeys the slingshots, and they would run away! Pretty effective, and better than the alternative (dangerous human-macaque encounters). <br />
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Also while we were eating, there were wild pigs tromping around next to the cafeteria, including a HUGE, beefy (or should I say "porky"?) male. He left and two piglets wandered over and curled up with each other and went to sleep! It was so cute! I couldn't believe that they were so comfortable so close to people! There were also bats swooping onto the patio to eat the insects congregating around the lights. I've never seen so much wildlife while eating dinner!<br />
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Once we were done with dinner, we headed to our little hostel room to go to sleep early - we had a boat to catch first thing in the morning!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-16832906984253879872012-04-15T16:37:00.000+08:002012-04-15T16:37:04.347+08:00Borneo Day One: Kuching to BakoBryan and I took a trip to Borneo a while back that I never got a chance to blog about. If you follow the blog closely (Hi Moms!), then you might have realized that we've <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/01/borneo-day-three-kinabalu-park.html">been to Borneo before</a>. That first trip was to Kota Kinabalu, in Sabah. This time we headed for Kuching, in Sarawak. Both are in the Malaysian part of Borneo (the island is actually split between three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei).<br />
<br />
We left Singapore on Thursday afternoon and arrived in Kuching less than 2 hours later (hooray for <a href="http://www.airasia.com/sg/en/home.page">Air Asia</a>!). We made our way to the <a href="http://www.pullmanhotels.com/gb/hotel-6332-pullman-kuching/index.shtml">Pullman Hotel</a>. On our way, our taxi driver gave us a little crash course in Bahasa (I always forget how to say "vegetarian food, please!").<br />
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Our hotel room was really nice, but we were ready for some dinner, so we just dropped our stuff and headed back out. We roamed around for a while, just checking out town and looking for a place to eat. OK...I have a confession to make. I don't really like Malay food. I like most Southeast Asian food - Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc. But Malay food just doesn't do it for me. I know that's kind of sacrilegious to say in Singapore, but I can't help it. I think my <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/search/label/Malaysia?updated-max=2009-12-03T15:15:00%2B08:00&max-results=20&start=11&by-date=false">unfortunate food experience in KL</a> is partly to blame. Anyway, we ended up eating at a place with a mix of Malay and Western food. It was pretty good. After dinner, we headed back to our room so Bryan could enjoy the luxury of taking a bath!<br />
<br />
When we awoke the next morning, we really got a chance to admire the city from our room. It had looked nice the night before, all lit up, but in the daylight we could get our bearings and identify different landmarks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSDQLvAy1TdVTxtX88rBkqs8U7c_4ufeezGlLYKUYPPBCI1u6Pe8R7EEoqZKW7pQXwmDKYeHr0kl643T4OO-r-2YvZ2r4PnJMHjImSRzj5IYXb1QF6oWff3T7zcYWWJU9xOY-BBVjAeym/s1600/Kuching_view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSDQLvAy1TdVTxtX88rBkqs8U7c_4ufeezGlLYKUYPPBCI1u6Pe8R7EEoqZKW7pQXwmDKYeHr0kl643T4OO-r-2YvZ2r4PnJMHjImSRzj5IYXb1QF6oWff3T7zcYWWJU9xOY-BBVjAeym/s640/Kuching_view.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow! A pretty great view from the Pullman Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oUOCCQ6KRR5M29k7EMUysY0A63oJK5tLOSDVPUQLUa6jQeeyZOVw7b28SY2D_d8-GKT1f3YvrgAG7EYCArKFisi0F9m1TrMn30qOBCEVArZzASGMZLVdqZW7LjAdaEP9f89I5f7UWi1N/s1600/DBKS_Building.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oUOCCQ6KRR5M29k7EMUysY0A63oJK5tLOSDVPUQLUa6jQeeyZOVw7b28SY2D_d8-GKT1f3YvrgAG7EYCArKFisi0F9m1TrMn30qOBCEVArZzASGMZLVdqZW7LjAdaEP9f89I5f7UWi1N/s400/DBKS_Building.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The striking blue building on the right is the South Kuching City Council Building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The day ahead of us was full of big plans, so we checked out of our room and set off to get some lunch. We went to one of the first places we found, a funky little cafe called Fullhouse. It was a stylish place, with original artwork on the walls, and furniture and clothes for sale in the back. The menu was full of comic book art too, which was pretty fun. The food was less impressive than the atmosphere, but it was fine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnkUmePjAH_CH8TduAGARuQRLsEbpxKWByUjkjRiKWdQNKwFNt3AMkCvQO_DnO1vQc5bXB6BAex2BJH55oTqlgo6O3pP4i6IURJeAuFRez7uDYZ1JefPw4EprDHjMIvT0xeI-BWO1Nwk_/s1600/Fullhouse_Kuching.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnkUmePjAH_CH8TduAGARuQRLsEbpxKWByUjkjRiKWdQNKwFNt3AMkCvQO_DnO1vQc5bXB6BAex2BJH55oTqlgo6O3pP4i6IURJeAuFRez7uDYZ1JefPw4EprDHjMIvT0xeI-BWO1Nwk_/s400/Fullhouse_Kuching.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funky Fullhouse (<a href="http://joannwithadash.blogspot.com/2011/12/fullhouse-kuching.html">Here's</a> a more detailed blog post about Fullhouse). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After lunch, we got a taxi to the boat dock, where we planned to get a boat to <a href="http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-bako.html">Bako National Park</a>. We bought tickets for the boat and then went into a waiting area, where a colorful (and possibly mentally disturbed) local woman proceeded to talk incessantly at us, despite the fact that we obviously didn't understand Bahasa. After about a half an hour, we went to ask someone how much longer it would be, and realized that we could have gotten on a boat at any time - we'd been waiting for nothing! Oh well.<br />
<br />
We hopped on a little motorboat with a friendly "boatman" named Mohammed, and sped off down the river. It was a perfect day for a boat ride: the sun was shining off the water and there was a cool breeze.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfMOMrpAVb42s9jOLPjdvV8LdjZO7n1g1Bs5pKBZS62Tyu1r-WaRNUEAtids3s_oMwN8zIIgQgRBMACcN5hg9HdLhnSzNUrWgx1uXtHbC92RdZQHXJba-EVM87zWnC9fEQjWEAAEqfz49/s1600/Crystal_Bryan_boat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfMOMrpAVb42s9jOLPjdvV8LdjZO7n1g1Bs5pKBZS62Tyu1r-WaRNUEAtids3s_oMwN8zIIgQgRBMACcN5hg9HdLhnSzNUrWgx1uXtHbC92RdZQHXJba-EVM87zWnC9fEQjWEAAEqfz49/s400/Crystal_Bryan_boat.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smile big if you're happy to be out of the city for a few days!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pQZJuA9wthveH7-oxJbAYDNwseSNbemURfruMCVmkTWwGWgQRS1r37Mslwx1G841gqE_fNVHpwrdcxIYfhXaPTugJZd8A3XR1VFO7Cmq7MXC5PsCXGJRHbJSWhAeCXpnHawRE_WbJWfP/s1600/Kuching_boat_ride.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pQZJuA9wthveH7-oxJbAYDNwseSNbemURfruMCVmkTWwGWgQRS1r37Mslwx1G841gqE_fNVHpwrdcxIYfhXaPTugJZd8A3XR1VFO7Cmq7MXC5PsCXGJRHbJSWhAeCXpnHawRE_WbJWfP/s400/Kuching_boat_ride.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a BOAT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Every once in a while Mohammed slowed down to point out an interesting sight: cool fishing contraptions set up on the river, a group of men fishing for massive jellyfish, fat mudskippers swimming along the shore.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFISgFjPwhwgFcWS-4QANqJ3vgqXAfwgxRzgHIOziBdDfbBoRwU2FQH55auplYQX6J4EovaBxKSPINeAYm8Ch3qbQRdQ0TvaMFxakNqry-afSEkNNaetdw-D_PCy_o4EnQDproTnX3X4t/s1600/jellyfish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFISgFjPwhwgFcWS-4QANqJ3vgqXAfwgxRzgHIOziBdDfbBoRwU2FQH55auplYQX6J4EovaBxKSPINeAYm8Ch3qbQRdQ0TvaMFxakNqry-afSEkNNaetdw-D_PCy_o4EnQDproTnX3X4t/s640/jellyfish.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men were tossing jellyfish off the boat ans into a box on shore. I put a red circle around a jellyfish in mid-air. HUGE!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Mohammed also took us on a brief tour back into a mangrove area, where we saw fat mudskippers flopping around and unfamiliar birds flying overhead.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YTKQKZnBx6fbCHCuYTHrEKCECZDPlwxkXoJLWxw3AHT3fof5U1jG9nqXYJrw4RQZ-0k0Lq2K0VYexp4ekk8JhJI3BuKQ9e1Z67vbQ_J1GC4jwB97kQzfMPNhDfoBpDclUYpq7T5J4K8Q/s1600/Kuching_mangroves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YTKQKZnBx6fbCHCuYTHrEKCECZDPlwxkXoJLWxw3AHT3fof5U1jG9nqXYJrw4RQZ-0k0Lq2K0VYexp4ekk8JhJI3BuKQ9e1Z67vbQ_J1GC4jwB97kQzfMPNhDfoBpDclUYpq7T5J4K8Q/s400/Kuching_mangroves.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puttering around the mangroves</td></tr>
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<br />
The river eventually widened and joined up with the South China Sea. When we were almost to our destination, we slowed down again so Mohammed could point out some unusual rock formations. The sandstone formations had eroded over time, and the patterns left behind were beautiful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRzLqj8XVCXqLFB6VN-IjH-nkWFtHbanuxJ1Q__LpM98Iz0QgXLttC4Bqt-ADGoxHUE2oU-SFS8nTZMP9benbHmVijLbQkpadCCRpucD66Sn7Uoc5rYIn5SgXVAyyr3SZT669-sIVz6D_/s1600/Bako_sandstone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRzLqj8XVCXqLFB6VN-IjH-nkWFtHbanuxJ1Q__LpM98Iz0QgXLttC4Bqt-ADGoxHUE2oU-SFS8nTZMP9benbHmVijLbQkpadCCRpucD66Sn7Uoc5rYIn5SgXVAyyr3SZT669-sIVz6D_/s640/Bako_sandstone.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandstone rock patterns remind me of those bottles of colored sand we used to make when we were kids!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Mohammed dropped us off, and we set up a time for him to pick us up in a couple of days. We headed in to the Visitor Center area to check into the room that we'd reserved. Before we came, we'd checked the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Hotel_Review-g298309-d1784450-Reviews-Bako_National_Park_Hostel-Kuching_Sarawak.html">Bako National Park accommodation on TripAdvisor</a>, and the consensus had been pretty much unanimous: the rooms were rough, old, and all around bad...but it was worth it, because the area around the accommodations is teeming with wildlife, nature, and beautiful views. Unfortunately, we'd also made our reservations late, so we ended up with a room in the hostel instead of one of the nicer bungalows.<br />
<br />
The room was about what we expected. It was plain (the only furniture was 4 beds and 2 fans) and mostly clean, but kind of moldy around the edges. There was a shared bathroom/shower that reminded me of something from one of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002R3G912/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crystalandbey-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002R3G912">Saw movies.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=crystalandbey-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002R3G912" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />
But the room was in the middle of the forest, and we would soon discover that the claims of abundant wildlife were 100% accurate.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllgfpIwdvJdkWXPtKT-siiM-zCccdl9Zd745FcX1xF1Hsap23Omo8KVx7J-ns3Yl31u3H9kDvOn0t0LGs2mprcaxw3PTbWSHdJgrzbQYNirHeYZbEnBnNP7dOaJ_sz9k9yCIuJKzfTX9h/s1600/Bako_hostel_room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllgfpIwdvJdkWXPtKT-siiM-zCccdl9Zd745FcX1xF1Hsap23Omo8KVx7J-ns3Yl31u3H9kDvOn0t0LGs2mprcaxw3PTbWSHdJgrzbQYNirHeYZbEnBnNP7dOaJ_sz9k9yCIuJKzfTX9h/s400/Bako_hostel_room.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oh-so-luxurious hostel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7KsgSuKBmm29tZSEHdSFn4GmIJCjRSq4OW75jIq_3j3SGgFFnWkEcijtQBNsR3ZNjkz7dDTzp_jsrmX6dQiGrZ-Sn5HXdf3Y4399UPCmATRVqunD2E519Ey3S1qwe_QHVM9Zm-yAbCPO/s1600/Bako_hostel_shared_bathroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7KsgSuKBmm29tZSEHdSFn4GmIJCjRSq4OW75jIq_3j3SGgFFnWkEcijtQBNsR3ZNjkz7dDTzp_jsrmX6dQiGrZ-Sn5HXdf3Y4399UPCmATRVqunD2E519Ey3S1qwe_QHVM9Zm-yAbCPO/s400/Bako_hostel_shared_bathroom.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shared hostel bathroom. <br />
Warning: Jigsaw may be lurking behind the door.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once checked into our meager accommodations, we were eager to explore. We got our hiking gear together and set off on Paku Trail, which had been recommended both by our boatman and by the people at the front desk. To get to the trails, you first walk along a rickety old boardwalk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UuodyxyLXkW52WVt75nQ6fLPEKBruGV-dnkIaoXXZj-cEhwn7-a44QZALECCwL17UfpzcF6IRDz6WjwPkInHnBk0sTZe5BvMuqgKMafINtT0UMtmcgd97UzT-IA2dOqbDLEUpwuV6Z0f/s1600/Crystal_Bako.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UuodyxyLXkW52WVt75nQ6fLPEKBruGV-dnkIaoXXZj-cEhwn7-a44QZALECCwL17UfpzcF6IRDz6WjwPkInHnBk0sTZe5BvMuqgKMafINtT0UMtmcgd97UzT-IA2dOqbDLEUpwuV6Z0f/s400/Crystal_Bako.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my "Hooray! I didn't get murdered in the bathroom!" face</td></tr>
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<br />
The mangroves by the boardwalk had some familiar wildlife, including the mudskippers that we find so lovable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAPkmrhCaDeto8kDPzDMovt21G6J2bif2bar6CW8fkP1TyLsQE90DpCf2_Elb6rMzBxmhzYf1Nik2iRj6lPuSVMeE830zdFB-139RgYgxzs0cBiEbteVS3BQd_L4qgqRCEFpR8aLSVM0n/s1600/mudskipper_Bako.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAPkmrhCaDeto8kDPzDMovt21G6J2bif2bar6CW8fkP1TyLsQE90DpCf2_Elb6rMzBxmhzYf1Nik2iRj6lPuSVMeE830zdFB-139RgYgxzs0cBiEbteVS3BQd_L4qgqRCEFpR8aLSVM0n/s400/mudskipper_Bako.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's like running into an old friend while on vacation!</td></tr>
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<br />
Paku Trail was kind of hard work at first, as we were going up a lot, but it leveled off pretty quickly. After only 15 minutes of walking, we heard crashing branches above us. Some squinting into the trees revealed that we'd gotten lucky fast. There were proboscis monkeys all around us!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNPzSUdNhoPDjCd9CCOCNfHJ0RNFS0Q70gsrtvFlu59us8hFlHdH4xMk8ObhmGG-OlUbSNk_EPbr6wZMeqp6w1Q_FVZXFf8FNk7rhDCd7FXmUchPPbqfIFDh1cGwNShmVLS1TJY_5iC1L/s1600/male_proboscis_monkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNPzSUdNhoPDjCd9CCOCNfHJ0RNFS0Q70gsrtvFlu59us8hFlHdH4xMk8ObhmGG-OlUbSNk_EPbr6wZMeqp6w1Q_FVZXFf8FNk7rhDCd7FXmUchPPbqfIFDh1cGwNShmVLS1TJY_5iC1L/s640/male_proboscis_monkey.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big-bellied male proboscis monkey with a mouthful of yummy leaves, his favorite food!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm going to take a minute to give you some fast facts about the proboscis monkey, because they are <i>awesome.</i><br />
<br />
<div style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<u><b>Proboscis Monkey Facts</b></u></div>
<div style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b>1) These big-bellied primates live ONLY in Borneo!</b></div>
<div style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b>2) They are endangered due to habitat loss.</b></div>
<div style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b>3) They make loud, honking alarm calls (see a video <a href="http://www.arkive.org/proboscis-monkey/nasalis-larvatus/video-11.html">here</a>). </b></div>
<div style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b>4) The Malay name means "Dutch monkey" because the locals thought the big-bellied, big-nosed monkeys resembled Dutchmen!!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">5) Infants are born with <span style="color: black;">BLACK</span> fur and a <span style="color: #0b5394;">BLUE</span> face!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeNGmkv-XNw74WEEWWQbv5Q7ELJ4LJfTXGzWol6Bol0xz_Ax2B8rGUzrXTlHI8T85agVut5MBqi203816kX5jJ5M_bShsFb4O0zUZ_PvMCFixXd5nMsk5H1dXhnXOcF6hTMG8t9X9ktYt/s1600/young_male_proboscis_monkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeNGmkv-XNw74WEEWWQbv5Q7ELJ4LJfTXGzWol6Bol0xz_Ax2B8rGUzrXTlHI8T85agVut5MBqi203816kX5jJ5M_bShsFb4O0zUZ_PvMCFixXd5nMsk5H1dXhnXOcF6hTMG8t9X9ktYt/s400/young_male_proboscis_monkey.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The young males have little noses!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I adore these monkeys. I love that they're so big, yet still manage to move so effortlessly through the trees. I love that they all look like they're pregnant. I love that they're orange. I love that they maintain a healthy wariness toward people. I love that their alarm calls sound like someone blowing their nose. I just think they're super. We hung around and watched them for quite a while before we finally managed to tear ourselves away.<br />
<br />
Along the trail, we heard lots of pretty birdsong but didn't manage to spot many of the birds that we heard. We did see this olive-vented bulbul though!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIAIfe40phiFH3CTxYoha0KdT46hhEYx4OPnSmgpySYsDxPwZiRlBr8a5Enggj-N1DT70ld5NPQjL00bmoq8zxzF5hj0A-jYQjE6SYJY7bDuCDNqxXHHFr3Q3Kpdg8LWjyYOdCM011PVV/s1600/olive_vented_bulbul.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIAIfe40phiFH3CTxYoha0KdT46hhEYx4OPnSmgpySYsDxPwZiRlBr8a5Enggj-N1DT70ld5NPQjL00bmoq8zxzF5hj0A-jYQjE6SYJY7bDuCDNqxXHHFr3Q3Kpdg8LWjyYOdCM011PVV/s400/olive_vented_bulbul.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the most beautiful bird in the woods, but the plain ones need love too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Paku Trail ends on the beach. It was nice to cool down by wading in the water. There were hermit crabs scuttling all over the beach too, which was great. My favorite one had a bright green shell.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiXUi_XdMlqyJNF7mHzUBur8r-d4X4eDpTSmXgXTU2evZAHROGWNoeKkO0FFzzPKXwPi6_gbuaCSrmIEzm8s7hdruVxNj36h2OT3-Dbe4494LCzefUwW2iL5qnhquN3jnyRYgCIiKgHwx/s1600/green_hermit_crab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiXUi_XdMlqyJNF7mHzUBur8r-d4X4eDpTSmXgXTU2evZAHROGWNoeKkO0FFzzPKXwPi6_gbuaCSrmIEzm8s7hdruVxNj36h2OT3-Dbe4494LCzefUwW2iL5qnhquN3jnyRYgCIiKgHwx/s400/green_hermit_crab.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YESSS HERMIT CRABS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincE_ceWF0W6VfAi6cOizDlMKx1HABEqH6_A86ey5ww-0s0pFqmK4SGoTheEUcf-NJ3DF-QsRTosYb3eoceQipHcOEnBSVIbiURX9waiDcu8iCoVnq16S64lo0O23WxUa7iQohULEoJFAA/s1600/Bako_hermit_crab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincE_ceWF0W6VfAi6cOizDlMKx1HABEqH6_A86ey5ww-0s0pFqmK4SGoTheEUcf-NJ3DF-QsRTosYb3eoceQipHcOEnBSVIbiURX9waiDcu8iCoVnq16S64lo0O23WxUa7iQohULEoJFAA/s400/Bako_hermit_crab.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one had the prettiest outfit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We hung out on the beach for a while before starting the hike back. I hung out on a rock like Ariel from the Little Mermaid.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h_Q4K30-GU7aW02aNGRl3Sq1jp0mBJhQzGumvacwYgKiwIayrOP-EvBg8Gz7fUaTpsSZEpdOmlzDKP-_Lsb_aBrUTXjB4BcIY55jtv3s9eZVTvQY9NYQOINDOV7gf3azUsHiRS1LR-cl/s1600/Crystal_beach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h_Q4K30-GU7aW02aNGRl3Sq1jp0mBJhQzGumvacwYgKiwIayrOP-EvBg8Gz7fUaTpsSZEpdOmlzDKP-_Lsb_aBrUTXjB4BcIY55jtv3s9eZVTvQY9NYQOINDOV7gf3azUsHiRS1LR-cl/s400/Crystal_beach.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got no troubles; Life is the bubbles; Under the sea!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we left the beach, we heard some commotion in the trees. It was more proboscis monkeys! We couldn't see them as well as we saw the ones before though, so we moved on. The hike back was much quicker than the hike out has been, probably because Bryan and I were getting hungry for dinner!<br />
<br />
The last part of the walk to the hostel goes along the boardwalk. When we got there, we saw some long-tailed macaques foraging on the beach. Yay! It's always fun to see macaques in other countries, because they often look a little different from the ones in Singapore, or live in habitats that are a little different from the ones they occupy in Singapore. I don't see macaques on the beach very often, so it was fun to watch them playing in the sand.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg4H5EPMov8wrmXDVid8BJMUfYpMpxXgjeaaBIpT2Zkph8Dtcp4JYLrLXZdiet8TzJhAXQAAJonIovtW3H5APlrvJHZxdPdKsM2ij-CHsDUv_mAWaWxx9FACwZArtEU539W2XTZXDVL-Q/s1600/beach_monkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg4H5EPMov8wrmXDVid8BJMUfYpMpxXgjeaaBIpT2Zkph8Dtcp4JYLrLXZdiet8TzJhAXQAAJonIovtW3H5APlrvJHZxdPdKsM2ij-CHsDUv_mAWaWxx9FACwZArtEU539W2XTZXDVL-Q/s400/beach_monkey.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach Monkey!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There was other wildlife on the beach too - more hermit crabs, birds, and a lizard perched on a tree out in the water. It seemed like a weird place for a lizard!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9DbgGgTr3hX2dRM8SGnUHmw4ZjYuQ_zjRG9g8Lqt51kS51Hv04eSaGvkDmV5Yod1ZxMIqqkcZ1GGJ-ZceXPh_NzzLIS3DeriRHeTN0tHE0EmbKG6GM-BZlXfGMDjBZNRiz5oldDm97re/s1600/Lizard_on_tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9DbgGgTr3hX2dRM8SGnUHmw4ZjYuQ_zjRG9g8Lqt51kS51Hv04eSaGvkDmV5Yod1ZxMIqqkcZ1GGJ-ZceXPh_NzzLIS3DeriRHeTN0tHE0EmbKG6GM-BZlXfGMDjBZNRiz5oldDm97re/s400/Lizard_on_tree.JPG" width="353" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skink up a tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tZwyKdin0mSnJUU_asCDSjd_9-ztwLVUk8Mjjn6tKO43XU2i3cVoam3yFawlLACMSx193EOlkkL8mrQNfIR03cbO32tKP3lIcXI9ifwVrWK6EskQEcAggw0eYVrKeztY74fKE-sJo55G/s1600/common_sandpiper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tZwyKdin0mSnJUU_asCDSjd_9-ztwLVUk8Mjjn6tKO43XU2i3cVoam3yFawlLACMSx193EOlkkL8mrQNfIR03cbO32tKP3lIcXI9ifwVrWK6EskQEcAggw0eYVrKeztY74fKE-sJo55G/s400/common_sandpiper.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common sandpiper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc4FifbIABYl2v_NBEiWPs9jNgdguIgyvbfTMDYy54vrQI1gay5T8uSHFvFgOiSshP8TqB5Nt39tCPG98z70JDlsJAkdb6dRuYCKxFBuNgEoy6bsypdvsEp6dhEp7Bx1MZPdImuNnScPf/s1600/common_sandpiper_bath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc4FifbIABYl2v_NBEiWPs9jNgdguIgyvbfTMDYy54vrQI1gay5T8uSHFvFgOiSshP8TqB5Nt39tCPG98z70JDlsJAkdb6dRuYCKxFBuNgEoy6bsypdvsEp6dhEp7Bx1MZPdImuNnScPf/s400/common_sandpiper_bath.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandpiper bath time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were almost to the cafeteria when I heard more rustling in the trees. I watched for a while and then saw...a silvered leaf monkey!!!!!! AND...A BABY!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgXiEuJBSgeGpwCH9R53XGu4XC1YJlCYVv_W9rZX5jJGn-T0xkuLecyNPYanRFL2fG2tgQkFCdv4GKcRtfJ7yb7rLi2nPYkjPAAVMmCL3sh9qcbiIrGLh8WY-dWTL5CNN0ITllKtz6Wiu/s1600/silvered_leaf_monkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgXiEuJBSgeGpwCH9R53XGu4XC1YJlCYVv_W9rZX5jJGn-T0xkuLecyNPYanRFL2fG2tgQkFCdv4GKcRtfJ7yb7rLi2nPYkjPAAVMmCL3sh9qcbiIrGLh8WY-dWTL5CNN0ITllKtz6Wiu/s640/silvered_leaf_monkey.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were really fortunate to spot an infant!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
These monkeys are so pretty - they have this great mohawk, and a such a sweet, innocent face. The adults are a beautiful silvery grey color, but their babies are ORANGE!!! BRIGHT ORANGE!!! It's so awesome! The monkeys usually range in groups, but we just saw these two. They must have wandered off for a while.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2nntMznIAeXnKq-HwWgd35sn_uHW4fhWbKWgOS5zCg3SXFVl3VVCND661aicbFwVHMV9_F7m-T8bI55-i6gFPQrcF2h6nxF_x1eL6T2aidXZmM6nr2ughTOjfe7hZuZfY6FITlWxJsbJ/s1600/silvered_leaf_monkey_infant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2nntMznIAeXnKq-HwWgd35sn_uHW4fhWbKWgOS5zCg3SXFVl3VVCND661aicbFwVHMV9_F7m-T8bI55-i6gFPQrcF2h6nxF_x1eL6T2aidXZmM6nr2ughTOjfe7hZuZfY6FITlWxJsbJ/s640/silvered_leaf_monkey_infant.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The proboscis monkeys are cool, but the leaf monkeys would whomp them in a beauty contest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG__v_1iv6-WOBSQb4SSdzarNp14kFJWOH1JOUEIZojpmJGxaDfe-_KWO946nUbLdz_dHMEpZ8q7FMMBJuP2BdETgfjTcyFFDVUlEmoFo315jkejSlysVYu0hMUmVpjo5KMLNRvQ661fr/s1600/leaf_monkey_jump.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG__v_1iv6-WOBSQb4SSdzarNp14kFJWOH1JOUEIZojpmJGxaDfe-_KWO946nUbLdz_dHMEpZ8q7FMMBJuP2BdETgfjTcyFFDVUlEmoFo315jkejSlysVYu0hMUmVpjo5KMLNRvQ661fr/s400/leaf_monkey_jump.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BIG jump!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Eventually the leaf monkey and her baby moved away from us, so we walked on. About 10 steps later, we encountered a group of long-tailed macaques. Bako is just Monkey Central!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimyl5D7U37cjzGI_xvh5ChDWvwHbAPD_XNZnTBcTpQl2pdpeuhf6KU4TfJl_5R3pdtmBj6JSZnGM3I-ihQIsKjnNF9qT_Qc2SBJ6kO_WfsFZ8OcC4kFRmYQVC22eVjH2-c_VbHGmsd_cz/s1600/Bako_macaque.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimyl5D7U37cjzGI_xvh5ChDWvwHbAPD_XNZnTBcTpQl2pdpeuhf6KU4TfJl_5R3pdtmBj6JSZnGM3I-ihQIsKjnNF9qT_Qc2SBJ6kO_WfsFZ8OcC4kFRmYQVC22eVjH2-c_VbHGmsd_cz/s400/Bako_macaque.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Try not to trip over the monkeys. They're everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were almost back to our room when we got a big surprise: a bearded pig walked right across our path!!! It acted like we weren't even there! We followed it around the back of a building, and found MORE monkeys back there!! Remember how I said that the TripAdvisor reviews promised that the area was teeming with wildlife? Well, it looks like they were being honest!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6XKacXqSSfMsU2sq3DCWWFz1XPU5tYBK3Ef6nwKn-Yc2AdejG86vfY045H6jJXez4r31LENlI-QFpdXxOo-jznDDafzviFz1L2l7FNxesudtrA5CqO0c7-1zeSmcbZ9qvDKjt3V4CAwZ/s1600/bearded_pig.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6XKacXqSSfMsU2sq3DCWWFz1XPU5tYBK3Ef6nwKn-Yc2AdejG86vfY045H6jJXez4r31LENlI-QFpdXxOo-jznDDafzviFz1L2l7FNxesudtrA5CqO0c7-1zeSmcbZ9qvDKjt3V4CAwZ/s640/bearded_pig.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bearded pig, pretending we don't exist.These pigs sometimes follow macaques and eat the fruit that they drop!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The macaques we saw behind the building had been raiding a trash bin. One got lucky and found some bread. She was running and clutching her bread, trying to get away so she could enjoy her prize in peace.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpd-VJPpzfTYXyhrTktglqrkZ_fyAyION3xr6NSoD64mmsPxxYdM9Tt1scrSk0_AwJvCOaCeGYK8hsqrQXTaQab1PzEpp_AXmY3MgsRuBbaiuAn_EwNXfEgIU1p_AFnqSANp9FpB-9ST1/s1600/macaque_bread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpd-VJPpzfTYXyhrTktglqrkZ_fyAyION3xr6NSoD64mmsPxxYdM9Tt1scrSk0_AwJvCOaCeGYK8hsqrQXTaQab1PzEpp_AXmY3MgsRuBbaiuAn_EwNXfEgIU1p_AFnqSANp9FpB-9ST1/s400/macaque_bread.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG I LOVE SANDWICHES!! OMNOMNOM!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After watching the monkeys and pig for a bit, we dropped our stuff in our room and walked the short distance to the beach to enjoy a picturesque sunset.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOkA_7EGxUhQ9jHEozV3rC9BriNukzXX3wShmwVOzXNxj_97Sjz1t0wD9Uzp8qDF4i7uIX9lYld49q14iczaA_38Rtsc1rsjUGm1qpnY1nxPMmXrewg5IRGR912uUR_Jiw9r3pJFGVoUT/s1600/beach_sunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOkA_7EGxUhQ9jHEozV3rC9BriNukzXX3wShmwVOzXNxj_97Sjz1t0wD9Uzp8qDF4i7uIX9lYld49q14iczaA_38Rtsc1rsjUGm1qpnY1nxPMmXrewg5IRGR912uUR_Jiw9r3pJFGVoUT/s640/beach_sunset.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a bad way to wrap up an already amazing day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After the sun went down, we went to the cafeteria and got some food. The cafeteria is the only option for food at Bako National Park. It's buffet style, and it's pretty basic, especially in terms of vegetarian options. For dinner, I had rice, french fries, and pineapple slices. Bryan had slightly better luck with some chicken curry.<br />
<br />
A lot of the time, when we're on vacation, our day kind of ends when the sun goes down and we've eaten dinner. Bryan and I aren't big "nightlife" people, so we often end up playing games or watching movies in the evening, and looking forward to more outdoor adventures the next day. But we had plans for that night - Bako does guided night hikes for the great value of $3 USD per person. So we grabbed our flashlights and met up with some local guides!<br />
<br />
We had just stepped out the back door of the Visitor Center when our guides stopped. They had already spotted a snake! It was a male Wagler's pit viper, just like we've seen in Singapore.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEiJnkcA8jvw2zeklHDkUXYhz6uGoOx_yBHWrZcBIrAfzmz0AkxHnUS_CmNe_l1SWuilMl707J-kCWfgNuBfdj-I8Zl9EJ8cllMnSGr9aZOJbcpkCOAoZ_Y4ZINiSNYpzdjaUJB3HuDkS/s1600/waglers_pit_viper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEiJnkcA8jvw2zeklHDkUXYhz6uGoOx_yBHWrZcBIrAfzmz0AkxHnUS_CmNe_l1SWuilMl707J-kCWfgNuBfdj-I8Zl9EJ8cllMnSGr9aZOJbcpkCOAoZ_Y4ZINiSNYpzdjaUJB3HuDkS/s400/waglers_pit_viper.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photography in the dark is kind of tricky!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
About 2 minutes later, our guides stopped again. They'd already spotted <i>another</i> pit viper! It was the female Wagler's pit viper, which is substantially larger and more intimidating than the little male! But don't let their looks fool you - the skinny male is venomous just like his beefy female counterpart!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lXTaPZzQ03TJlnqYsxdiBqEJMAa4IKdjdmlDfX5QFXjsBnNAgGJHTG-uCtTd7dWRJNuLSVt-F5lLMO6k8raSgeb8K2o6Cv5nLe7ixwgzbubkKkY5mjHYd6O1qqU993zqfqCoD-tQ5PJ_/s1600/Waglers_pit_viper_female.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lXTaPZzQ03TJlnqYsxdiBqEJMAa4IKdjdmlDfX5QFXjsBnNAgGJHTG-uCtTd7dWRJNuLSVt-F5lLMO6k8raSgeb8K2o6Cv5nLe7ixwgzbubkKkY5mjHYd6O1qqU993zqfqCoD-tQ5PJ_/s640/Waglers_pit_viper_female.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was in the middle of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553801473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crystalandbey-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0553801473">A Dance with Dragons</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=crystalandbey-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0553801473" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />
on this trip, so when I saw this snake, my first thought was "The night is dark and full of terrors."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The night hike wasn't all scary creepy crawlies. We moved on to the Lintang Trail, where most of the hike took place. There we saw this sweet little Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, fast asleep on a branch, with his head all tucked in.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KKkFJJL6OI4tUseAB3NDJd3wQUK4wlbPB8vCGBZOWNGs0x-B2XW_rc5YwxiebqK-muSybDmCEwIF-5QMSQagt42ngJ08JO7C-FkUzMAo9vB5WTQE6fXxTm9QJodMwpPtm_yTkFrwQRwt/s1600/Oriental_dwarf_kingfisher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KKkFJJL6OI4tUseAB3NDJd3wQUK4wlbPB8vCGBZOWNGs0x-B2XW_rc5YwxiebqK-muSybDmCEwIF-5QMSQagt42ngJ08JO7C-FkUzMAo9vB5WTQE6fXxTm9QJodMwpPtm_yTkFrwQRwt/s400/Oriental_dwarf_kingfisher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope she keeps a safe distance from those scary snakes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We also saw not one but <i>two </i>little frogs! I don't know how our guides managed to see these things. The first one was so small he could have perched on my pinky finger! I need a frog book, because I can't ID either of these.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xGwVuyX6bes5P4TVIiPNwIuDiMWYlyzLfY8DChXhTyptk6he77PoJDPGb_7CrMLSI6OpHrjYQ1TxbiZJWEZobBTiqnviVzNw-MKWOe_IjLuLXtKlga0FJGYvAUOeY3A7AS_VDcUc9PCZ/s1600/tiny_frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xGwVuyX6bes5P4TVIiPNwIuDiMWYlyzLfY8DChXhTyptk6he77PoJDPGb_7CrMLSI6OpHrjYQ1TxbiZJWEZobBTiqnviVzNw-MKWOe_IjLuLXtKlga0FJGYvAUOeY3A7AS_VDcUc9PCZ/s320/tiny_frog.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SO LITTLE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2hKmaeKznih4XDWialvoA4M2W2xgG9v9kH6O6GO0cwTD6h4Jg823fZ5q7mb4IDYpLlYtLztNJCJiSbfhfdt15oh_z0_27L-NdVda2tqyP_O4-j8HkT0RgoDqQbvbcgl3b84svaXhi_WG/s1600/green_frog_Borneo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2hKmaeKznih4XDWialvoA4M2W2xgG9v9kH6O6GO0cwTD6h4Jg823fZ5q7mb4IDYpLlYtLztNJCJiSbfhfdt15oh_z0_27L-NdVda2tqyP_O4-j8HkT0RgoDqQbvbcgl3b84svaXhi_WG/s400/green_frog_Borneo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think the scientific name for this one is "Cute Little Kermit"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In addition to superhuman frog-spotting skills, our guides also had an insane ability to pick out superbly camouflaged stick insects.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOP7ZEwklO4ZTkaS61R1rkPVNmYNeaLgYNoVOCskSuQIE_Hw4Fh4W638tmwt7Zp_JxFhElzoAVIgdARyg2cXvisJln8cgSLBnfN5ZzeOBneq6WQWgUfCZJu7EK-021-WWP9GVL-XtXd25/s1600/green_stick_insect.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOP7ZEwklO4ZTkaS61R1rkPVNmYNeaLgYNoVOCskSuQIE_Hw4Fh4W638tmwt7Zp_JxFhElzoAVIgdARyg2cXvisJln8cgSLBnfN5ZzeOBneq6WQWgUfCZJu7EK-021-WWP9GVL-XtXd25/s400/green_stick_insect.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How did they see this?! I can barely even find it in the photo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGtjxBrXtFkjWW_vDdi3FaSohQOvIsek7YAAopTl-d_1IecWLvLN337GCVu0tkwHvALy2jNm924gzezPhcJpsuHV2Hb-1wTR7qqXSGyY5f4wgiKLWjA-Rrl2gstPhU6uh1LXC0sosadcF/s1600/brown_stick_insect.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGtjxBrXtFkjWW_vDdi3FaSohQOvIsek7YAAopTl-d_1IecWLvLN337GCVu0tkwHvALy2jNm924gzezPhcJpsuHV2Hb-1wTR7qqXSGyY5f4wgiKLWjA-Rrl2gstPhU6uh1LXC0sosadcF/s400/brown_stick_insect.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look closely, you can see that this one is covered in tiny spikes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To round out the creepy crawlies category, we also spotted a tarantula in a tree trunk (it hid before Bryan could snap a photo) and this crazy huge spider that was about the size of my entire hand.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssV4K285RJSXUZNMfvyPOeBw795KTVqBJP-GO-Y4eDIDjb6zgDOK7mAENZtJStv_3D7h6fUgUq517CwQOO799IOL3L018GiBwms7V60ZHSwUQYYtoVBG-i81cvMykzNA1JgW9QPUMoRBr/s1600/huge_spider_Borneo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssV4K285RJSXUZNMfvyPOeBw795KTVqBJP-GO-Y4eDIDjb6zgDOK7mAENZtJStv_3D7h6fUgUq517CwQOO799IOL3L018GiBwms7V60ZHSwUQYYtoVBG-i81cvMykzNA1JgW9QPUMoRBr/s400/huge_spider_Borneo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the last things we saw before bed. Sweet dreams!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After the night hike, we headed back to our room. The proboscis monkeys were sleeping nearby, and from our front porch we could hear them calling. It was pretty exciting to be sleeping in a place so immersed in nature. We read a while, then slept in our strange little hostel room - I admit that I woke up a few times from dreams of snakes and spiders!!</div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-12723113796818783052012-03-04T11:52:00.000+08:002012-03-04T11:52:51.381+08:00Lower Peirce Reservoir ParkBryan and I have been to Lower Peirce <a href="http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/05/upper-and-lower-peirce.html">before</a>, but it's been a long time since we've been back. The past week, I was doing some field work at <a href="http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=naturereserves&id=50&Itemid=75">Lower Peirce</a>, and I saw some pretty cool stuff there, including a wild boar mama with her piglets! So Bryan and I decided to go over the weekend.<br />
<br />
When I was doing field work at Lower Peirce, I got really lucky and spotted two owls high in a tree. I was stoked because I think owls are some of the most fascinating creatures out there, and I haven't had many opportunities to see them in the wild. And I've never seen one in Singapore. The owls make me happy because they remind me of an owl that used to hoot outside my window at night when I was a little girl.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw4mLFuqfet2YUTGEZWdfeVnf06HeVZpwqo18TpNzyAQzAS1sInAVQXkJQYnWRGgzmIk9a4cl4Wi6xvh3pcEpqemtBXXgGoXps-9o0t1gr8cVCAdV3s7mCgANe-souRjo-ieH3jxNvjsX/s1600/spotted_wood_owl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw4mLFuqfet2YUTGEZWdfeVnf06HeVZpwqo18TpNzyAQzAS1sInAVQXkJQYnWRGgzmIk9a4cl4Wi6xvh3pcEpqemtBXXgGoXps-9o0t1gr8cVCAdV3s7mCgANe-souRjo-ieH3jxNvjsX/s640/spotted_wood_owl.JPG" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GIANT EYES!!!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
These guys are spotted wood owls. Spotted wood owls are apparently quite common in Southeast Asia. They eat small mammals and other birds, and apparently they're usually on their own or in pairs. The first time I saw them I saw two together, but when Bryan and I saw them, there were three perched in the same tree!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDvbeqbzKTQVV_yLXG4rmQr_oK9k_mMQPfKUtgYDRbFBivzdw_dC4wwhWHn7MosfX0Tjy00yesemN7bix9XFjhej6uftuG8PXLnyXLyU1dZ_TGmM0U7LappQUNIwXxE7nhQcxAj_RXHhe/s1600/spotted_wood_owl_female.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDvbeqbzKTQVV_yLXG4rmQr_oK9k_mMQPfKUtgYDRbFBivzdw_dC4wwhWHn7MosfX0Tjy00yesemN7bix9XFjhej6uftuG8PXLnyXLyU1dZ_TGmM0U7LappQUNIwXxE7nhQcxAj_RXHhe/s400/spotted_wood_owl_female.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can see how they came to be associated <br />
with intelligence! They look so smart!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So with a sighting of three spotted wood owls, Bryan and I were off to a good start. We walked along a while and caught up with some monkeys. Of course. It's not hard to miss the monkeys around here!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMI3GneKt0RyIk3WkApWQt0-pJfF80r1sD3e_6f_SRi5lbMBtAB6t1p7ByyfAhfxYNKGnwftB1_IdQ7HKboJT2yh2oMEBm9UPIEMuklMaQAN9TQpweOuB_80XNHMyW9dAct5maGn54Z3D/s1600/female_macaque.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMI3GneKt0RyIk3WkApWQt0-pJfF80r1sD3e_6f_SRi5lbMBtAB6t1p7ByyfAhfxYNKGnwftB1_IdQ7HKboJT2yh2oMEBm9UPIEMuklMaQAN9TQpweOuB_80XNHMyW9dAct5maGn54Z3D/s640/female_macaque.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, hello there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you read the blog often, you probably know that Bryan and I play a lizard-spotting game (one point for each lizard spotted, whoever has the most points by the time we get home wins). Well, the game recently got more sophisticated. Now there's a point system:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #38761d;">
<b><u style="color: magenta;">New Wildlife Spotting Game </u></b><br />
<b>1 point for a lizard<br />2 points for a colugo<br />3 points for a snake<br />1 bonus point for a species we've never seen<br />1 bonus point for a baby animal</b></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So I was pretty pumped when I spotted a snake while we were watching the monkeys. THREE POINTS!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN81qV9o28NF-Wy3Cf88WfigMcjN2zWDWq1Kw__Rm0M1GDZ_kjHNlw678BuANa-H7SNE79468FX6qDzBwq7_Z7KJlDARr7HSXkb7MIoIulnNfYpO3NhDEV-nJ194A_e1nGa-VaksE1yKF/s1600/elegant_bronzeback.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN81qV9o28NF-Wy3Cf88WfigMcjN2zWDWq1Kw__Rm0M1GDZ_kjHNlw678BuANa-H7SNE79468FX6qDzBwq7_Z7KJlDARr7HSXkb7MIoIulnNfYpO3NhDEV-nJ194A_e1nGa-VaksE1yKF/s640/elegant_bronzeback.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An elegant bronzeback. They have super skinny bodies that remind me of shoelaces!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
This snake is pretty common in Singapore. In fact, I'd spotted the exact same type of snake earlier in the day at Bukit Timah. But seeing a snake is always exciting, and I really like the elegant bronzebacks. They're non-venomous for one thing. And I think their big eyes make them look like they're always babies. And who doesn't love a baby snake?! Well, lots of people, I guess. But I think they're cute.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHZzxSGJ55aVPcN2NyfLgCuR6cqE8Sq32ZBxr_STp_f7hgK20VphoRFeYOZTNIXJPm8fmwqxPZ9arJeBgiQnQb-1iCH64OVxjEYMGiTYHdCTjhsAcMFQ8QxtCC1R73REfKpGeMBhjbzSK/s1600/elegant_bronzeback_head.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHZzxSGJ55aVPcN2NyfLgCuR6cqE8Sq32ZBxr_STp_f7hgK20VphoRFeYOZTNIXJPm8fmwqxPZ9arJeBgiQnQb-1iCH64OVxjEYMGiTYHdCTjhsAcMFQ8QxtCC1R73REfKpGeMBhjbzSK/s400/elegant_bronzeback_head.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come on, you know he's cute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I figured we were having a pretty good wildlife day - three owls, a snake, lots of monkeys. But it was about to get a lot cooler. I was following the monkeys along a quiet path, and up ahead I saw some skinny little toothpick legs. Oh my gosh. I nearly squeezed Bryan's arm off as I whispered, "Is that a mouse-deer?! IT'S A MOUSE-DEER! LOOK AT IT!"<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrSfXau6P37ya4lOoXotxj_KwpyZDA5eOBA8i1QymMlCaKW3rvO7NBvNv7RUnQiY7H_Sw85l6qyzetyLOWiwSN6SYnPupk-E3-6mu5mlv2xlYrberJY-T6K9YmS5X1h9QT2RCVrz_PeC-/s1600/mouse_deer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrSfXau6P37ya4lOoXotxj_KwpyZDA5eOBA8i1QymMlCaKW3rvO7NBvNv7RUnQiY7H_Sw85l6qyzetyLOWiwSN6SYnPupk-E3-6mu5mlv2xlYrberJY-T6K9YmS5X1h9QT2RCVrz_PeC-/s400/mouse_deer.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouse-deer, the most adorable of all the deer <br />
and one of the smallest hoofed mammals in the world</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was indeed a mouse-deer, but those little guys frighten very easily, and it bounded off into the woods before Bryan could get a very good picture. But it was really exciting for us. We've never seen a mouse-deer in the wild (bonus point for me for spotting a new species!) and they are really cool. They look so strange with their rotund bodies supported by such spindly little legs. Bryan and I grew up seeing lots of big, hearty <a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/white-tailed-deer/">white-tailed deer</a>. A deer the size of my parents' Shih Tzu jsut seemed silly!<br />
<br />
We saw a bit more wildlife on our way out of Lower Peirce. But after a
mouse-deer, it's hard to get worked up about forest snails and grasshoppers, even strangely patterned black and yellow ones!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLsg92Jz4THvURML7wGQOUc-SjhZKBCc44IbEakX8mp36d5Zsfs1IbTrJfNXIEwpr0Wy_kP6dlb1h_-za1MDbyI3KE7c0iOPU6jErtFT1WLWI-lCzHH7WXXQAt6XE0CyefDROPneH_1Dj/s1600/snail_grasshopper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLsg92Jz4THvURML7wGQOUc-SjhZKBCc44IbEakX8mp36d5Zsfs1IbTrJfNXIEwpr0Wy_kP6dlb1h_-za1MDbyI3KE7c0iOPU6jErtFT1WLWI-lCzHH7WXXQAt6XE0CyefDROPneH_1Dj/s400/snail_grasshopper.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty neat! But a little anti-climactic after our mouse-deer...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So we had a pretty fun day at Lower Peirce! And I reigned supreme at our new version of the wildlife-spotting game. I crushed him 14 points to 7. Maybe he'll have better luck next time :-)Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146185361215579158.post-11294695609017426002012-02-24T20:31:00.000+08:002012-02-25T15:56:04.375+08:00Chingay @ HeartlandsBryan and I were enjoying a quiet Sunday at home when we heard quite a commotion outside. This isn't entirely unusual considering that we live opposite a sometimes raucous Hindu temple, but this was louder than average. When we went to the window to check it out, there was a whole line of floats queuing up on the street!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADffoSXltnOtjmMLWPfw4NJlcg8svqbgFiKi4q5ru8YwX1XS40CmcwF6Eh3JpI2dAU-0Va39PJOhM85koa2kqQSYeJxrWwHlS_822t47kSwcaCstmLhh15gaFKabfIoiMNsLG91gSad1k/s1600/Chingay_Heartlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADffoSXltnOtjmMLWPfw4NJlcg8svqbgFiKi4q5ru8YwX1XS40CmcwF6Eh3JpI2dAU-0Va39PJOhM85koa2kqQSYeJxrWwHlS_822t47kSwcaCstmLhh15gaFKabfIoiMNsLG91gSad1k/s640/Chingay_Heartlands.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A colorful view</td></tr>
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On the green down the street, loud music was playing and dragon dancers were performing. Lots of people were milling about waiting for the parade to get going, and the traffic was backing up around the block. The floats got moving and they came right past our flat. We had a great view from our twentieth story window!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQhG8Ue9E0bZEvqY0DY2Z9DUPzeXZel0Zws1S2EKM6-feQuhHC29OJi_Eskn-bHiELb4OkFg_SGRqTaDfh5zFlq_mzSl4L6zQCxOwRU_7KjcqrEthEWqbC3R8blhmJqAjzSKJpuueYHHx/s1600/Chingay_float.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQhG8Ue9E0bZEvqY0DY2Z9DUPzeXZel0Zws1S2EKM6-feQuhHC29OJi_Eskn-bHiELb4OkFg_SGRqTaDfh5zFlq_mzSl4L6zQCxOwRU_7KjcqrEthEWqbC3R8blhmJqAjzSKJpuueYHHx/s640/Chingay_float.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check it out! Dragons AND the Singapore Flyer!</td></tr>
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From the side of one of the floats, we learned that the parade was for <a href="http://www.chingay.org.sg/">Chingay</a>. I don't know how I've managed to live in Singapore for two and a half years without ever hearing of Chingay, but apparently it's a parade held every year as part of the Chinese New Year's festivities. It originated in Malaysia as a celebration of Chinese deities' birthdays, and eventually made its way to Singapore, where it became a multicultural celebration and was incorporated into Chinese New Year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxDo2YT1Ieoi5i29bjqMU_8H-lDDQul8p5-D6WuoV7OUxmlWgq5Q4T0hGuViHC-5wx7gCw76suQAJ2aCL8UPuioau1bIi4HgZVh-Q_fWHKVRuSLkA18K_JWFWj5NGUdnYlr0W86la6BTs/s1600/Chingay_dancers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxDo2YT1Ieoi5i29bjqMU_8H-lDDQul8p5-D6WuoV7OUxmlWgq5Q4T0hGuViHC-5wx7gCw76suQAJ2aCL8UPuioau1bIi4HgZVh-Q_fWHKVRuSLkA18K_JWFWj5NGUdnYlr0W86la6BTs/s400/Chingay_dancers.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of the floats had elaborately costumed dancers</td></tr>
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The main Chingay parade is a big affair held downtown, but the smaller parade we saw was part of an effort to bring Chingay to the heartlands. Similar parades were also held in Ang Mo Kio, Chinatown, Bukit Panjang, and <a href="http://www.chingay.org.sg/2012/chingay-heartlands.asp">elsewhere</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMKG5oIWS9n0jzwigjpoV2m-9WRE8a5z-qDwQyPFQl0p-7po3baBAU4vnNpDQtwPjhN_hhPzzmLnNGM7yOSn6BIHodlSBSLwZTh-axJM13N7B0qBpXRp4b4ovr_r847eKosYjh6-kZtha/s1600/swan_float_Chingay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMKG5oIWS9n0jzwigjpoV2m-9WRE8a5z-qDwQyPFQl0p-7po3baBAU4vnNpDQtwPjhN_hhPzzmLnNGM7yOSn6BIHodlSBSLwZTh-axJM13N7B0qBpXRp4b4ovr_r847eKosYjh6-kZtha/s640/swan_float_Chingay.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite float!</td></tr>
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NUS's float had a fantastic butterfly! It looked like it came right out of a coloring book!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLW8ZkAE4NYkEdSvlLbmfb90ljX0VIcIoiHTXEWyuhxQFbjnCdjZdqOOqKk09qzgnm3Vhb3agGa8ObLCcblwGTRBSF3_972VNfnBdDXcaLZERNGnHg_8t8PNg49USxA5HlrQj4W66eHsWQ/s1600/butterfly_float.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLW8ZkAE4NYkEdSvlLbmfb90ljX0VIcIoiHTXEWyuhxQFbjnCdjZdqOOqKk09qzgnm3Vhb3agGa8ObLCcblwGTRBSF3_972VNfnBdDXcaLZERNGnHg_8t8PNg49USxA5HlrQj4W66eHsWQ/s400/butterfly_float.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So pretty! Way to go, NUS!</td></tr>
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There were eleven floats in all, each more colorful than the last.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBroAHv0v_jHBVCfApEjUNliMYaGV89nvBFn4nzfUIrmP9dOXl1j5ZyPf4kIbLfs8v837XF1AJWul9-M38cTi0K1moPQzem5smKIyfIUCwQbQdeaaOC9MTVDZIK2Or5jiN-GBmwNmk2HwK/s1600/balloon_float.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBroAHv0v_jHBVCfApEjUNliMYaGV89nvBFn4nzfUIrmP9dOXl1j5ZyPf4kIbLfs8v837XF1AJWul9-M38cTi0K1moPQzem5smKIyfIUCwQbQdeaaOC9MTVDZIK2Or5jiN-GBmwNmk2HwK/s640/balloon_float.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Creation Church's float was covered in BALLOONS!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTft9WNqe5vmIFkM2Ybc8ZsorTMpi87ZcLVC6Fp7k6J0bjHijoQP1ucCQK-j8mYQzjXHMbDf7q_j9ob6X05Rn3teP4tH6DDSDntJZ_tK4-wzGpgfja2rEyB58QoY7VSuXAP_aY_4lkbIWx/s1600/sea_creatures_float.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTft9WNqe5vmIFkM2Ybc8ZsorTMpi87ZcLVC6Fp7k6J0bjHijoQP1ucCQK-j8mYQzjXHMbDf7q_j9ob6X05Rn3teP4tH6DDSDntJZ_tK4-wzGpgfja2rEyB58QoY7VSuXAP_aY_4lkbIWx/s640/sea_creatures_float.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another float was sea creature-themed!</td></tr>
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Bryan and I really enjoyed the last couple of floats, which looked like old-fashioned ships!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAI7z1Zxgz2b_exoDpzdIW80v_GLgZHw3G-ddH3Tb1KwKfsjK0ilBbwpidqgeP-wq_b25aFhH2ty70yKd4HhbRgGmkcxgqd092IjNzW5gU2Y-sLqSmhyNELhUhlWIA0PNl5OFQ94c0-lZ/s1600/Viking_ship_float.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAI7z1Zxgz2b_exoDpzdIW80v_GLgZHw3G-ddH3Tb1KwKfsjK0ilBbwpidqgeP-wq_b25aFhH2ty70yKd4HhbRgGmkcxgqd092IjNzW5gU2Y-sLqSmhyNELhUhlWIA0PNl5OFQ94c0-lZ/s640/Viking_ship_float.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The waves looked really pretty</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGvpQt0mnejgO-9i_xLWnrjArlM5rRF95viG283wCZPhruMxcjjc9fk_RXBXJiMyWtEEKLkq0T3dYJkJECzBfVSAkvxR0K13Hx_Yv5ISDqXTM_jJcJgscLjgzDW5HTNeugpMJ02rFjN41/s1600/Viking_ship_float_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGvpQt0mnejgO-9i_xLWnrjArlM5rRF95viG283wCZPhruMxcjjc9fk_RXBXJiMyWtEEKLkq0T3dYJkJECzBfVSAkvxR0K13Hx_Yv5ISDqXTM_jJcJgscLjgzDW5HTNeugpMJ02rFjN41/s640/Viking_ship_float_2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hearts on the sail are a nice touch!</td></tr>
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The parade definitely brightened up our Sunday. It was nice to have entertainment just outside our window!<br />
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P.S. Matt, a fellow blogger also did a post about the Chingay parade he saw in Bukit Panjang. Check it out <a href="http://the-bamboo-grove.blogspot.com/2012/02/chingay-bukit-panjang.html">here</a>.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054463493636813905noreply@blogger.com5Jurong East, Singapore1.3294889 103.73825931.2977399 103.69877729999999 1.3612379000000001 103.7777413