Angle Head Lizard

Coated with patchy shades of forest green skin, a bizarre turquoise stomach colour with striking yellow spots, a high handsome sail on its head and back, Angle Head Lizard (Gonocephalus grandis), also called Giant Forest Dragon or Giant Angle Head Lizard is an exotic and extremely beautiful reptile found in tropical rain forest of Southeast Asia.

A male angle head lizard


The female angle head lizard


They are however not commonly seen. In fact it is quite rare to encounter them in most of the tropical rain forest. This is partly due to its superb camouflage capability and largely, of their stringent demand for specific environmental conditions. They only found in pockets of areas in a large rain-forested land. Each pocket could be of high population density and you may even find couple of them in one tree. This is also their fatal weak point in surviving. Diseases, prey, illegal collecting, forest clearing, changes of habitat's nature micro-conditions, etc. could wipe out the whole population.

An angle head lizard came out in the morning for first ray of morning sunlight penetrate through the canopy.


Angle head lizard is a perfect potential choice for hobbyist, particularly exotic reptile hobbyist. But, have you ever wonder why such an outstanding candidate almost totally failed so far to gain popularity in pets market? Well, i am glad and relieve that it failed in this aspect. This will make its chances of survivor in its natural habitat brighter.

Basking in a partially shaded branch.


Dear hobbyist, forget about this species in your garden. They won't do well in captivity. They are easily stressed in captive, make your life miserable in trying to keep them, and at the end they will still die and cause heart pain to you due to a burned pocket in acquiring them.

This lizard required extremely high humidity. They only found on the first layer of trees along running stream in thick rain forest. They often sit quietly on branches extended over running stream in the morning, basking in thin rays of sunlight that penetrate through gaps of leaves in higher canopy. They will not bask themselves on top of canopy for full sunlight, it is too hot and dry for them, and very expose to preying animals like birds and monkey. They also demanding for trees infected by parasitic plants on its branches, or branches that overgrown by creepers. These are the sites that collect forest debris, an active bio-activity site. A warm and ideal sites for angle head lizard to deposit their eggs.

A male angle head lizard warming up its body and will soon look for his breakfast (insects).


A male angle head lizard in a mating mode. The colour turned reddish at certain parts of the body. Also note the broken sail on its back, the result from fighting with other males. The dominant one wins the mate.


A female angle head lizard that will cause a big fights amongst males during mating seasons.


A video showing the wild angle head lizards, both male and female in their natural habitat.


All the above angle head lizard pictures and video were taken in a rain forest at their natural habitat in Kedah, a northern state of Malaysia.
Hey guys, forget about the idea of keeping them as pet. I know this species sometime is on sale on inter net. They are mostly wild caught from Southeast Asia. Believe me, they won't survive well in your cage no matter what. They will stressed to death once you take them away from their natural habitat. If you insist, you need to "de-stress" them. They need to see the forest and the stream, to hear the running water below them, to feel the humidity, ...... Meaning to say, you need to have the whole tropical rain forest with running streams and all other required natural conditions at home. Can you afford it?

Selfish Ants

Ants, generally thought to be a communal creature, supposedly operate in an unified entity within a colony. Cooperate amongst themselves on daily chores such as nest building, cleaning and repairing, food searching, feeding of queens and babies, ward off intruders, fight ants from other colonies, etc.


Well, ever wonder how disciplined ants as an individual? Is there naughty ant that violate house rules? Is there any bad guys amongst them in a colony?

Human are supposedly a communal creature too, and the most intelligent one. But we all know there are bad guys amongst us. Greedy, selfish, cruel, dishonest, violence, uncooperative, jealousy, ...and many more ugly persanalities are just some examples of "normal" characters found amongst human.

The following video captured the selfish part of the ants. Several ants are pulling an earthworm found on a tropical rain forest floor in Malaysia. They are not pulling it in one direction towards the nest for sharing, but trying to get their own share. Ants that successfully get a chunk of the worm will run to a hidden place to enjoy it himself. Perhaps this is just a "human" part of the ants.

Luffa Sponge

Sponge gourd, rag gourd or the luffa gourd is a type of gourd my farmer friend Leong Kah Ho plants beside the paddy that he works. "It is an easy part time task with fruitful result." He said with a cherish smile.
He harvests the fibrous matured gourd, skin, wash and dry them. This is one of the many other activities he carries out part time after returns from the paddy. He sometime sells the dried sponges at local market, or gives them to charity body for charity sales.



The Luffa (Loofah or Loofa) sponge is commonly used in Southeast Asia countries as a general scrub in kitchen. Ideal for dish washing or anything that needs scrubbing without scratching the surface. Non-stick cookware is one of the example.

The Luffa sponge is also used for bathing, and it is called bathing sponge or shower sponge. Many commercial bath houses do provide it as a natural scrub for clients. It is very good and effective for gentle removal of surface dead skin.

Kah Ho proudly showing how he harvests the Luffa gourd directly from the plant, skin it in a few seconds, shake off the seeds and wash it. The sponge will be ready for use after drying.



The harvested gourds ready to be skinned.

The sponges are dry under hot sun.


Kah Ho collects the seeds for next sowing season. The seeds can also be grind into powder and used as a traditional remedy for high blood pressure.


Bathing in the last beam of setting sun, Kah Ho gathering the dried sponges ready for sales in night market.

Asian Tsunami

3 years ago. 26th December 2004. Have you forgotten this date?


On this day, at the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, Local time 07:58:53, a magnitude 9.1 to 9.3 earthquake has shaken the entire planet.

A series of devastating tsunamis with waves up to 30m high were triggered, it hit along the coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean. At least 230 000 people were killed. This is the 9th deadliest natural disaster in modern history.




The quake was the 2nd largest ever recorded on a seismograph. It also had the longest duration of faulting ever recorded, between 8.3 to 10 minutes. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Myanmar were badly hit.



Vegetation stripped by the tsunami near Lhoknga, Indonesia.


Tsunami hitting holiday beaches in Thailand.




Tsunami swept away everything on its way. (Khao Lak, Thailand).




Bodies washed up on the beach, Khao Lak, Thailand.


With tears in the eyes, people searching for their love ones.






Karl Nilson, a Swedish boy, asking for help to find his missing parents and brothers.


The injured.


Let us not forgetting this day.....



Let our thought be with the victims.....

Traditional Chinese Music Instrument

Yehu - Bowed String Family

The history of Chinese traditional music can be dated back to as early as 7000 years ago based on the discovery of a flute made of bone in the Neolithic Age. The Chinese music is said to have been influenced by the teachings of Confucius, who thought of music as a means of soothing one's passions. And it is an instrument of purifying a person's thoughts.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), the art of traditional opera developed rapidly and diversely in different regions of China. Various types of traditional music instruments have been used for opera performance. The tradition of opera has followed where the Chinese migrate to all over the world particularly South East Asia in the 1920s to 1940s.

Amongst others, the bowed string family of music instruments often play an important roles as opera background music. Here in Malaysia, particularly the Penang state, the traditional opera still being performed during some religion events (Taoism). The used of the traditional bowed string family of music instruments remain unchanged over the years despite of availabilities of modern instruments. The traditional instruments are played mainly by older generation.

Ah Chek is a man who loves traditional Chinese music since his childhood. His passion has made him a musician in a local traditional opera team. He plays various type of instruments, but he has a special passion for Yehu. Ye means coconut and the instrument sound box is made of a coconut shell. He hand made the Yehu himself, and has also made many for friends all over the country.


The footage below recorded Ah Chek doing some practises with his Yehu in a warm morning behind his house by a seaside. A short interview with Ah Chek also recorded at the end of the footage in Hokkien, a Penang local Chinese dialect.

Dragon Dance

Dragon Dance, a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture. It is usually perform during festive celebrations such as Chinese New Year. It symbolises good luck and prosperity in the coming year for all people.

The Dragon Dance originated from China during Han Dynasty. Dragon is a mythical creature revered in Chinese culture. The emperors of ancient China considered themselves as the dragon. It is also the emblem of Imperial Authority. It symbolises supernatural power, goodness, fertility, vigilance and dignity.

The Dragon Dance has become an important part of Chinese traditional culture all over the world. It is also a form of performance art which catches interest of even many non-Chinese.

Dragon Dance footage taken by a friend, Ah Huat, during a cultural show in Penang Island, Malaysia, October 2007:

Mountain Biking

Fun and Excitement

Mountain biking is about getting into the forest, where the trail is rough, rocky or rooty; Making rapid down hill descents over boulders and ledges; and leaping table-top; It is about man, machine and nature; It is about adrenalin, ...........


Amazing isn't it? But you don't have to perform the acts as above footage in mountain biking. There are always choices on how you want to do it. Whichever your choice is, as long as you play it safe, cycling is definitely beneficial to your health.

Easy ride at farmland.

Get to the hill for fresh air

Cycling is a low impact activity and therefore a safer exercise without risk of over-exertion or strain to muscles and joints. It is an aerobic activity (except when going up hill) which exercise and strengthen our lung and heart muscle. It activates blood circulation and improve overall fitness.

It is also claimed that cycling raises the metabolism rate for hours even afterwards where our body continue to burn calories. This is especially true when you cover a mix terrain where there are uphill (anaerobic respiration) and rather flat and easy trail (aerobic respiration). The bonus good news is, this type of alternating exercise is very effective in weight control!

Mountain biking offers opportunities to discover and explore new places, enjoying fresh air and awesome scenery. No traffic, no danger, no pollution. It is about forestry tracks, reservoir trails, orchard or estate tracks. It is a superb way to reduce stress.

Exploring new places

Deep into the nature

Discoveries

Take the challenges

Obstacles? ..... it is fun!

Freedom, contentment, fun, happiness, enjoyment and adrenalin. It is hard to beat the sheer feelings that riders experience when mountain biking. Besides, you can meet new people and get fit all at the same time.

Simple machine unlimited capabilities

What else a bicycle can do? apart from mountain bike that climbs hills, water crossing, down hilling at high speed and perhaps, take off into the air by the momentum,...?

Well, it is unbelievable what this simple two wheeler is capable of. Watch the below video:

So....? What is your choice? Make up your mind and ......

Have fun!

Point and Shoot Digital Camera

Make the impossible possible

With the advancement of today's digital photography technology, even a small point-and-shoot digicam is able to do what was not possible in the past. However, with a little thought and common sense, it may even bring you results that you may think only possible with the professional camera range and expensive gadgets.

Forget about technical terms that i myself don't understand, here are some of the tips that i have learned with my point-and-shoot digicam.

Right timing of your trip
Timing is important in capturing your subject with interesting shade of light. This is especially true in outdoor photography. Without the use of flash light, sunlight (either direct or under shade) will give a more natural look of an image.

At 9:30am in Georgetown, the morning sunlight cast shadows on old buildings and highlighted the Komtar at a distant. This enhanced the depth of the image.


Without a long lenses as those for SLR digicam. It is near impossible to do bird photography with a point-and-shoot. However, with some knowledge of the subject behaviour, and a proper planning, there is a good chance of getting a decent result. This Kingfisher image was captured at 9:00am in the morning, the basking hours. At this time, they will focus on hunting as well as heating up their body after a cold night. They allow intruder like myself to come closer to point and shoot. (More story: http://cmc-cmc.blogspot.com/search/label/Nature%20-%20Kingfisher July Post: The White Throated Kingfisher).


Or at the late afternoon of a very hot day, water spray from a garden hose will lure overheated birds to the orchid plants. You can get close to them when they are desperate enough to quickly cool down their body temperature. And they will come again the next day at the same time if you are consistent with your watering time. Image taken at 6:00pm.


Choice of subjects
When doing wildlife photography with a laugh-able mini point-and-shoot digicam, don't be too ambitious. It is not possible to capture a cheetah chasing its prey at 100 Kph somewhere a kilometer away on the Safari. Look for subjects that are less mobile.

This bug will not move an inch even you take 100 shots of her.


Not very difficult even at close distance, if you are smart enough to remain pointing at the same twig after this dragonfly has flown away, it will return to the exact spot very shortly if you remain static.


It is also easy to get near to subjects that trust their camouflage capability. But best if you can approach them from behind (90 deg from their back) rather than from the side. When you come from behind, they think that you did not see them as they already camouflaged themselves with the surrounding. They are more alert if you come from the side as that is not the best angle to put their camouflage into function. This female Angle-head lizard image was captured after i first approached her from behind, then slowly shifted my position to the side, just 6 ft away.


The brightness (exposure)
The proper exposure will bring about an interesting image even the subject is a very simple one. A sheet of "bird-nest" leave, against a relatively dark background, deliberately under-exposed to only getting the right brightness for the leave, the background has darkened to near black. (Almost all today's point-and-shoot digicam has the under/over exposure control. Usually was given as +ve for overexpose; -ve for underexpose).


A simple toy duck, under an underexpose mode, brought out a different feeling.


Daring
If you have a rare opportunity with an interesting subject, such as those rely on camouflage as their defence, not always you will go near them to capture their image. Sometime you need the courage to take some risk. This venomous viper was crossing the jeep track on Penang hill. It won't run fast as it belongs to the camouflage type of creature as i mentioned above. But do you dare to go close?

Let me get a little closer for more detail image.

And a little more closer..... That's it, that's close enough, i don't think he will remain patient if i press my camera on his nose.


Luck
Definitely luck sometime play an important role especially when shooting moving subjects such as birds. This chick was learning how to fly, on my balcony (Nested in my balcony as well).


And the fly is a very sensitive insect. They fly fast and definitely not allowing you to come close to them for a macro-shot. But i managed to take this picture at just 2cm away.


And even at 2mm away !!! How??? you may ask... That is why i said LUCK is important!!! Yes, this fly allowed me to use super-macro setting on him for about 10 shots before zoom away.... This is merely luck.



Point-and-shoot digital camera really can take good pictures by just point and shoot. And if you give it some thought, it can deliver even greater surprises. So, don't laugh at me next time if you see me with a mini point-and-shoot on the safari trying to shoot a dashing cheetah 1Km away.