OR ANIMALS ALL OVER THE PLACE. FOR ANIMAL LOVERS ALL OVER.
Looking through my huge archive of photos today in the reference library, I saw that I had neglected connecting all the animals I had rubbed shoulders with on my travels around the world. I feel I need to correct this seeing as animals are my favourite things.
ELEPHANT SANCTUARY THAILAND, CHIANG MAI.
Let’s face it animals are part of every aspect of our lives The good, bad and ugly. They feature in religions past and present, they live with us, they entertain and fascinate us, and we eat them. I don’t want to get embroiled here on how much modern humans abuse them rather than revere them, that’s for another time. I just want to casually look over some of my encounters to remind us why we yearn to be on the move and experience the mundane and exotic.
Life is wonderful. I’m a bit guilty of spending more time studying ancient monuments and art and unless specifically visiting a creature don’t end up taking lots of cutesy photos of them. An elephant literally has to put its trunk round my neck to remind me that I’m on animal duty (encouraged by its keeper I must say). I had been made a photo opportunity by the naughty baby! The rest of the group at this elephant sanctuary laughed uproariously as they snapped my predicament. I did note however they were envious, they wanted to be teased in this way, an anecdote to treasure for years to come.
At this reserve in Thailand you get to feed them and wash them, then they bugger off to the forest where they live! After years of abuse they finally get things their way and jolly fine it is too.
I admit to being a little alarmed initially but only because we were warned that they could accidently step on your feet if you got too cosy with them rather than being concerned about their big tusks, or indeed the sheer size of them. Their eyes are so wise with very long sweeping eyelashes that you really start to feel a form of communication with those ancient looking beasts.
Top Tip: In Chiang Mai there were many of these places but I carefully chose one without rides and with the creatures as close to living naturally as much as is possible. Choose wisely as they are not all equal.
ORANGUTAN REHABILITATION CENTRE SEPILOK BORNEO.
I had found this remote place while researching in London. It’s another place that rescues both adults and orphaned babies from the horrible plight they have gone through, some for many years in captivity and the majority from the cruel hands of poachers. They have a nursery there with as little human contact as possible where they are taught the skills to be rehabilitated to the jungle by both humans and other youngsters in the nursery area.
The two feeding times are to supplement their diet should they need it and for visitors to view them at a safe respectful distance. Sometimes apparently none turn up so it’s a hit and miss thing as to whether you get a chance to see them. I was very lucky. In the morning only the one I called ‘greedy girl’ showed up. However in the afternoon a big gang came in and showed the poor bloke feeding them who was really boss. The calm family that had showed up promptly were just like you’d imagine primitive man and group feasting quietly, then the hooligans showed up and were very provocative and starting a bit of bovver that made even the guy feeding them get up and stand back alarmed and frankly looking like he was ready to flee.
This area is full of wildlife and even has an area completely dedicated to the endangered sun bear.
bear with his big digging claws
I was invited to a night-time outing but frankly was too tired and I’m very scared of the huge insects that come out at night there just for the small chance of seeing a lemur….
BIG BIRDS IN KUALA LUMPURS BIRD PARK.
This was something that I had never considered as I don’t like any caging but they promised that it was massive but enclosed for birds to be free. Sadly as I found after the initial entrance, all birds are not equal. Away from the main strip is a bunch of caged sad specimens. I made a complaint and I’m sure by now they’ve sorted it. As it’s one of the largest in the world they need to forget some species if they can’t give them their own covered section. I can appreciate that no all birds can fly freely with the public around but they shouldn’t be kept if it’s finally closer to being a cage.
The toucans looked very depressed and I started to feel uneasy. After the initial feeding of the ‘free’ birds you actually walk past some cages before getting to the waterfall and pond section. It all started to feel very unfair.
Emus, ostriches etc had a way of giving you an experimental peck. One admonished me for invading its personal space while I rudely tried to get a pic of its eyeball. Suitably chastised I ambled along to the big pond,
I would prefer my birdies au natural though. Like the wild turkeys that practically own Tikal pyramid site in Guatemala.
Seems when you have a croc that you nearly step on in Guatemala, there are no foolish birdies around, only this foolish old bird who nearly ended up as a tasty croc breakfast.
WHALE SHARKS AND OTHER FISHY TALES.
Clearly the biggest ‘fish’ I’ve ever swum with at a remote place in the Philippines. Probably frowned upon now but much better to have this, as a tourist industry for the incredibly poor people from Cebu. Previously these amazing beasts were being killed and the skin sold to make into handbags and their carcasses left rotting on the beach.
In Belize we had a quick sight of a mermaid as well as a variety of turtles and a swim along ‘shark corridor’. The nurse sharks aren’t of any danger and they rather hyped up the whole episode. That’s why in Bunaken Indonesia I got private small boats out alone to to get a proper look at the wild fish.
All the above photos are a mixture from all over the world including Vietnams Nha Trang. Where there is water I will snorkel!
Those turtles send out telepathic communication too
FRESH WATER FISH IN CENOTES IN MEXICO
And don’t forget the very pretty fish in the beautiful cenotes all over Mexico!
Onwards and upwards. I was going to add many more but I am running out of time. I want this out today!
DOGS
To understand the dog developments see ‘Raging Storms’
Clearly dogs play a major part of the travel experience especially if you’re going solo. In Punta Allen Mexico they were my companions for the month I went off grid. Leaving them was harder than leaving behind humans! That unconditional love man!
Got to mention mans best friend?
Been a really rough ride for the last six months so today I’m raising my energy and dispelling that cloud of gloom to try to extricate myself from London and all cities, to try to wander the green earth again and be in tune with nature. It will be hard money wise but I need to get back to my former grittier self.
Good luck everyone. Let’s see what we can do to be out in the wild again, and with those lovely creatures to heal our souls.
Old Bird Travels Solo! 