Tucked Away Amidst Nature

This was our abode for a quick getaway. A bamboo & attap hut that was built by the Orang Asli (Indigenous People). A stream runs under the hut.



A balcony to chill out.


The stream as seen from the back window.


The interior is bare basics i.e. just mattresses but this was more than enough. It gets cold here during the night. I measured it at 23 deg Celsius ard 4.00am.


Don't make so much noise and nature will reveal itself near you... like this little birdie calling out to its mate.

Coastal Activities

Family collecting clams.




Nazca lines?
Nay, just a small boat going round while scooping up the mud for kerang (blood-clams).



These boats are like the long-tails in Thailand, able to skim over very shallow waters but these look like they are just over mud! The props seems to be in the mud and still pushing the craft forward.




Long and lonely path home.




The tide has gone out and they have to stay on a designated waterpath least they get stranded on the shallows/mud.




Fishing trawler with the net deployed.




Small fishing boat on the way back to shore.




Looks like this boat had a little too much yum-seng .. not sure going or coming back.. ;-)

Hagen's Pit Viper

Ironic that a subject that I don't like became the 1st subject captured by 'Matilda' (my EF 100-400IS L lens). These images were recorded in Ulu Geroh when Ngah, our Orang Asli guide & friend spotted the slithery visitor trying to get into LH's Suzuki Vitara's engine for some warmth.

Introducing "Matilda"

Taken on a Canon EOS-50D.
Sensor 1.6x crop factor.












Here she is, Canon EF 100-400L IS ... "Matilda".

Sibu, Sarawak (N2 17.475' E111 49.484')

The town of Sibu from Bukit Aup.



Sibu town centre from my room at Tanamas Hotel.



Inter-town River transport.


Floating grocery stores. They load up to sell their wares at the interior settlements.

Pasar Malam (Night market) scene




Central Market. This is a HUGE complex!!


Nice design too.


Cannot see end-to-end from the inside.


This is how chickens are sold over in Sabah/Sarawak. Live and bundled... cash & carry.

Herons

Herons at Pucung Lake/Island.
For more on the Heronry -> http://mnsperak.wordpress.com/category/conservation-site/

SYT to a Princess

With the right amount of makeup one is transformed from a sweet girl to a princess waiting to be whisked off her feet by her prince charming.

At the bridal trying out the evening gowns...



Same person but looking elegantly gorgeous.

Glow-in-the-dark (Bio-luminescence)

Luminescence from organic life-form.
The orang asli (aborigines) calls it cendawan bulan, literally meaning Moon Mushrooms. Deeper in the jungle, large clusters of these in bamboo groves are a pretty sight to behold in the darkness of the night.

Ladyhawk's current fave...

Mimicry

To me it looks like a face, perhaps a guy with a thick mustache with sunglasses on. The forehead resembles those "Predator" aliens and wearing a thick fur coat... just imagination unleashed but to the others in the animal kingdom this may be just the thing to dissuade them from making a meal out of........




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.... a Hawk-moth!!

Heavens Above

A sight I have not seen with my own eyes and doubted that it could be seen around this region until recently when I visited the highlands of Bario in Sarawak.

Star filled sky with the Milky Way cloud visible.

Colourful Birds from Borneo

Taken during a night-walk in a swampy area near the Kinabatangan River. These represent the best bird pictures shot todate.

Lunar 1st Quarter

Special thanks to Milo for the loaner of his Sigma 150-500mm that enabled this shot.

Hold You but not Holding On

Raqs Sharqi / Raqs Baladi

Better known to the uninitiated as Belly Dancing, raqs sharqi (oriental dance) and raqs baladi (dance of the country) is also called Middle Eastern Dance or the Arabic Dance.

The following dances were performed at the Kaleidoscope Charity Dance in University Malaya.




"Wings of Isis"



The twirls of the "wings" were mesmerizing.