The camel edged nearer and nearer until it was peering over my shoulder, a little too close for comfort. It smiled at me, bearing its perfect yellow teeth before leaning in and clamping down on my arm. It chewed thoughtfully as we plodded along until I managed to wrestle my arm away. I had thought […]
Nature
Racing the Leviathan: Whale Shark Snorkelling In The Maldives
We leapt into the water, dragging our fins on as we went, each following the person in front like lemmings plummeting off a cliff. A cursory look below the surface and already we could see that nonchalant smile approaching. The rest of the paddle shaped head came into view so peppered with white polka dots […]
Komodo National Park: Walking with Dragons
We spotted the dragon stomping towards us with a confident reptilian swagger. Its broad shoulders flexed and its heavy tail swung back and forth with every step. The snake-like face was complete with a long forked tongue that flicked in and out as it tasted the air. Komodo dragons are unique to a handful of […]
Mount Batur: Bali’s Best Sunrise?
We heard the squeals of excitement moments before a furry blur darted across the summit of Mount Batur in front of us. Seconds later the rest of the troupe appeared, a mixed group of gnarly, wizened elders, mohawk sporting babies and everything in between. The macaques scurried around, inspecting discarded banana skins and hoovering up […]
Death And Monkeys: Highlights of Ubud Monkey Forest
The eager tourist patiently held the banana above his head. He didn’t have to wait long before one of the hungry monkeys started to climb up his legs and body. It finally adopted the quintessential photogenic pose on top of his head. As his friend darted around snapping pictures, the monkey suffered a moment of […]
Vietnam’s Halong Bay: Squid, Pearls And A Cave Full Of Surprises
Crowded on the back deck, we all peered keenly into the turbid water. As one of the lures came up, we finally saw the pearly white tentacles we had been waiting for. A tiny squid was wriggling around next to the hooks, not quite caught but tantalisingly close. The back deck erupted with shouts and […]
Romance In Bali: An Evening With Mandarinfish
Hovering silently in the dusky gloom we watched for signs of movement. We finally spotted our target as she prowled in and around the coral reef searching for an unsuspecting victim. Dressed to impress in electric blue and orange, this mandarinfish was sure to capture the attention of any virile young bachelor. We could see […]