A species on a route towards ecological disaster and the fireflies
Welcome from The Aryani Hotel, Terengganu. And yes it was raining when we arrived. And it rained for the next 24 hrs. But the end is in sight we have had 2 days of glorious sunshine. The hotel is fantastic, built in the late 90’s to represent a Malay Palace. It’s mostly wood and the rooms – only 20 – are all Malay type chalets. Ours faces the sea and we only need to walk 15 yards through coconut palms to get to the beach loungers. Its a pity that we move on again tomorrow further down the east coast.
The species in question are giant flying beetles. They are about 3 cm long and 2 cm wide. They have this habit of landing on shiny surfaces upside down. This then involves them in making waggly movements with their legs in the air and rather useless attempts to fly upside down to try to turn themselves over. Inevitably they get exhausted and just lie there with their legs in the air. We have taken to rescuing as many as possible by turning them over … something that they can do easily themselves on rough surfaces. As the amount of shiny surfaces in this fabulous country increases I suspect they are a doomed species.
Another species I cannot understand is the firefly. We saw our first last night and so did the ten strong family of ghekoes that inhabit the wall of our veranda. I suppose its something to do with sex but with these minature dragons around I think I would try it in the daytime when they were asleep. Saw a three foot lizard today making its way into a mango swamp …do they have crocodiles here?
To Tanjung Jara tomorrow.
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Sounds like you’re having an amazing time – well done on the beetle saving, but don’t save them all!! – bring a few back for me
(even squished ones will do) Tessa xxx
You haven’t mentioned alchol once….I hope there is plenty of it in this little hotel. Was there a chair to jump on when you saw the 3 foot lizard? Fantastic! Love Jude xxx
Want more video!!!
Sorry, missed an o out of alcohol.
I agree with James, more video please. Stop diving and get the camera out! x
Hi Mike – you seem to have a knack of getting fantastic holidays! And err…your last paragraph has now told us all that your sex life is to become a daytime affair as that’s when the miniature dragons are asleep???!!! Or have I missed the point?
Mike – we’re having a housewarming party on Saturday 1st September – let me know if you and Gina can come and give me an email address so I can send you our contact details/party venue. Cheers Bren
Tessa
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Picked up a well dried specimen which I have kept.
Jude
How did you guess about the wine?
Bren
Love to many thanks.
James
Why did you change it. Couldn’t find my log in page
Because it looked embarassing
Your sign in thing is now on the sidebar too.