Swimming with Squids!

Last May I had the opportunity to snorkel near Semak Daun Island. Why the boatmen suggested us to dip 100 m off the island was a question left unasked. No problem. The minute I saw orange color in the water, I knew I had to jump.

The Nature Detectives (high school students with an environmental mission) had populated the water. So I chose to swim away. Christmas tree worms, grapelike seaweed, usual fishes, and dense coral formations amazed me. But in like 20 minutes, I grew tired. The fins, I guessed, caused the exhaustion. So I drifted.

Then this sight amused me: a family of squid was swimming 5 meter off me. They swam in school, forming a long dartlike school. The biggest of size at front and the smallest ones at back. “Cumi!” I said to Cuplizz, pointing my hand below.

As they swam, they changed colors. Silvery, black, silvery, to black. Lovely. I ducked and approached them. They moved away slowly, as if enticing me to go deeper. We watched each other for minutes until the Nature Detectives called me to go back to the boat.

It was a nice encounter. I had tears in my eyes. The seawater had leaked into my mask and then into my eyes.

What a Big Cock!

This cock stands about meter tall. He flaps his wings and his voice is very loud, showing off power and feathers. at the foothill of the megalith site in Cianjur, he is the master of the (domesticated) animals even this dog won't mess with the cock. what kind of cock is it? i asked the owner. "Ayam kampung," he replied. 

Lovely Mammals

"Menthok!"

 

 

Pak (?)'s, the capenter, mallards (?), Nabire

Puppy Love!

Oom Edo's puppy, Nabire

In-flo-ros-cence

I am all astonishment! thought knew it all until i read this
seems that me being a biologist is years away :)
nature is indeed a mystery

In the garden, not alone

Pi is the only one in the world I know to have green thumbs. Everything he touches turns green. Here in Pontianak he works the garden at his best: mung beans, cucumbers, string beans, ulam raja (english name of kenikir aka Cosmos caudatus), and so on. He even tends more kinds of hibiscus: roselle grows at their best, producing crimson fruit pods and striking red stalks contrasting to the green background. Pi grows cotton too! Love the yellow flowers.

Pi introduces taro to me. He dug some tubers, peeled and fried some. Tasty it might be yet it burnt my throat! Should’ve marinated them in the brine! Lol

Mi tends her small garden too! She has cincau plant, liang teh plants, some sour leaves with tiny blooms, and some strange plants whose leaves she uses to flavor fish cookings.

I guess they have patience of a farmer :)