Day 8 - Almost Perfect (10/7/06)
Jul. 25th, 2006 09:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gemfyreFirst things first. Everyone raved about Bako, go to Bako if you want to see birds. VERY disappointing. Only two certain newies today and only one of them was seen inside the park. I could hear them all calling, but could not see them.
However, the rest of the day made up for the dearth of new birds.
On the way to the national park I spotted 13 Collared Kingfishers sitting along the telephone wires.
Toilet at docks was on an angle, had to be careful with aiming. No toilet paper – not worth 20sen to get in.
Took a small fishing boat to Bako. Saw a few UnIDed Terns. Shores and mangroves are sandy, not muddy.
Did the shortest walk in the park. First animal was the waggling pit viper (or at least that's what it sounded like the guide called it, I now know it's Wagler's Pit Viper.) – very small and bright green. Then walking/clambering through rainforest and spotting quite a few proboscis monkeys. Wandered back through mangroves and saw collared kingfisher and good looks at Common Iora.
After lunch we were offered the chance to take a boat to an island off the mainland for the afternoon. 40RM each. Promises of birds and pitcher plants and little walking had us sold. On the way to the boat spotted a squirrel and wild Malay pig. The ride over was lovely, beautiful formations on the coast and a few raptors, one a sea-eagle.
Landed on the island (only us and two other Aussies touring over here and the boatman and guide). Little bay and secluded beach. Took a walk over the island to the other side and saw large pitcher plants. Only bird was an unidentified swift. I am not liking the “sound of the rainforest”. There are cicadas squealing like the hot pipes when you turn them on. Heard various calls but could I spot them? Hell no.
Seeing as it was stinking hot and high humidity we all got in the water, despite the fact that we had no cossies (no-one told us to bring them). Was absolutely lovely in the water with fish and crabs and a garfish which cruised up into the bay and onto the beach briefly before probably thinking, “Ah crap, I didn’t mean to hit the sand.” And squirming it’s way back into the water.
Eventually we had to head back to civilisation. Dad gave his Aussie flag to the boatman who flew it proudly from the back of his boat.
It rained when we got back and were booking our tours. Lucky we didn’t have to walk.
Refreshed and scrubbed up for dinner at the hotel and wandered to the Top Spot seafood hall just down the road. Got HUGE prawns, a lobster, a manna crab and veggies. Was delish, pity the fiddleheads we ordered never arrived, I wanted to try them.
Now back at the hotel and about to go to bed. Slow day tomorrow.
A bunch more photos from day 8 can be found here - http://pics.livejournal.com/gemfyre/gallery/0001359h
However, the rest of the day made up for the dearth of new birds.
On the way to the national park I spotted 13 Collared Kingfishers sitting along the telephone wires.
Toilet at docks was on an angle, had to be careful with aiming. No toilet paper – not worth 20sen to get in.
Took a small fishing boat to Bako. Saw a few UnIDed Terns. Shores and mangroves are sandy, not muddy.
Did the shortest walk in the park. First animal was the waggling pit viper (or at least that's what it sounded like the guide called it, I now know it's Wagler's Pit Viper.) – very small and bright green. Then walking/clambering through rainforest and spotting quite a few proboscis monkeys. Wandered back through mangroves and saw collared kingfisher and good looks at Common Iora.
| Proboscis Monkey I think this one may be the male. We saw about 6 monkeys in all, including one very large male. |
 |
After lunch we were offered the chance to take a boat to an island off the mainland for the afternoon. 40RM each. Promises of birds and pitcher plants and little walking had us sold. On the way to the boat spotted a squirrel and wild Malay pig. The ride over was lovely, beautiful formations on the coast and a few raptors, one a sea-eagle.
Landed on the island (only us and two other Aussies touring over here and the boatman and guide). Little bay and secluded beach. Took a walk over the island to the other side and saw large pitcher plants. Only bird was an unidentified swift. I am not liking the “sound of the rainforest”. There are cicadas squealing like the hot pipes when you turn them on. Heard various calls but could I spot them? Hell no.
 |
Pulau Lakei beach Our private beach for the afternoon. This place had me humming "Bali Hai". |
Seeing as it was stinking hot and high humidity we all got in the water, despite the fact that we had no cossies (no-one told us to bring them). Was absolutely lovely in the water with fish and crabs and a garfish which cruised up into the bay and onto the beach briefly before probably thinking, “Ah crap, I didn’t mean to hit the sand.” And squirming it’s way back into the water.
Eventually we had to head back to civilisation. Dad gave his Aussie flag to the boatman who flew it proudly from the back of his boat.
It rained when we got back and were booking our tours. Lucky we didn’t have to walk.
Refreshed and scrubbed up for dinner at the hotel and wandered to the Top Spot seafood hall just down the road. Got HUGE prawns, a lobster, a manna crab and veggies. Was delish, pity the fiddleheads we ordered never arrived, I wanted to try them.
Now back at the hotel and about to go to bed. Slow day tomorrow.
A bunch more photos from day 8 can be found here - http://pics.livejournal.com/gemfyre/gallery/0001359h
