heteropteryx dilatata.

Kg. Ulu Geroh. (Pt.2)

This perfect specimen is a subadult female. The females grow a lot bigger than this and are much bigger than the males. When threatened, the females will make a loud hissing sound with her small wings, curl her abdomen up over her back (like a scorpion would with it's tail in a striking pose) and move her two rear legs in a scissor like motion to scratch her attacker.

(The reason i handle some of these insects is for size comparison. Please do not pick up or handle any wildlife unless you have a thorough understanding of it or are under the supervision of a professional.)

...a closer look at this amazing phasmid.

a juvenile female.

(id?).

hopper.

(id?).

face bug.

As Ladyhawk would say...Do You See What I See? .......

titan stick insect. (acrophylla titan)

Just look at the size of it....and it can grow bigger! What a find.

a smaller variety.

cicada. (id?).

I have never seen this variety before. Big one too. Shot with a telephoto lens.

broadwinged katydid.

A huge specimen!

close up of rain droplets off it's back.

luminescent mushrooms.

Kg. Ulu Geroh. (Pt.1)

Spent a night and two days in a peaceful orang asli village here, 12 kms away from the nearest town; at the border of the Kinta forest reserve. Took one look at the natural green surroundings...the jungle, the river, and immediately fell in love with this gorgeous place....and the beautiful Semai people.

Our accomodation, a brick and bamboo building. Our beds, sleeping bags on the floor upstairs. Our meals, scrumptious food prepared by Long Baru and Wah Selpit. It was then i realised the importance of leaving everything behind every once in a while, go back to basics, breathe with mother nature and be among people who dont really care what it is you do or who you are out there in the city. Here, it seems you are just another human being.

The biodiversity is amazing. I experienced some wildlife and vegetation here that i have only read and heard of before. Thanks to Ngah Teroq (our guide who i swear has bionic night vision eyes), definitely one of the best guides i have had the pleasure of knowing. Our night and day jungle trekking with him, Sanjit, Sonny, Rajesh, Neal and Ahha made it an experience i will never forget. What these guys do out here is often never seen or heard about, but future generations will have a lot to thank them for, in many ways, for all the sacrifices and effort they have put into places like these to keep it the way it is.

To get there, just get in touch with the Malaysian Nature Society at www.mns.org.my.%3

top view of a moth. (id?)

view of the underside of moth.

rajah brooke birdwing. (troides brookiana)

...a closer look.

flying gecko.... our room mate.

a typical orang asli home....beautiful.

(id?).

katydid.

(id?).

toad. (id?)

tree frog. (shot with a telephoto lens).

Gua Tempurung.

Massive stalagmites, stalactites and awesome rock formations in this enormous majestic cave makes a walk through almost a mystical experience.

Gua Tempurung is believed to have existed since 8000 B.C. Used by the communists as a hideout in the 1950 - 60, it was finally opened to the public in 1998.

Special thanks to Sanjit, Sonny Wong and Rajesh for making this trip a fun, memorable and educational experience. You guys rock!

"Face on a frond? I still don't see what the fuss is all about."

(see http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/12/nation/15401284 ).

bulbophyllum annandalei.

Orchids - Queen of the Realm of Plants.

Due to great weather and some 'special moggie cocktail fertilizer', more of the species orchids from my personal collection bloomed in the past few days.

I'd like to give a special shout out to Dr.L, Mr.Lee Nam Fook , Ms.Tai, the Lee bros. and all those who have so generously and patiently shared with me their knowledge and experience in caring, understanding, respecting and appreciating the Queen of the Realm of Plants.

(A plea from moggie and friends, appreciate the beauty of these amazing plants where they are. Do not remove them from the wild and please do not support those who harvest them illegally....they were put where you found them for a reason).

bulbophyllum amesianum.

doritis pulcherrima sp.

bulbophyllum purpurascens.

spiny flower mantis.

(thanks to master google-er, ladyhawk for identifying it!)

Cameron Highlands (Pt.1)

Went up to the highlands again. This time with Divemuster and Ladyhawk who are now the latest R.E.A.C.H members! Before assisting Dr. L with Clean Up The World Weekend (see www.reach.org.my), we managed to shoot some rather interesting flora and fauna, like this beautiful mantis which i have never seen before. First there was one...

...then two!

(For better shots of the mantis, you gotta wait for Divemuster and Ladyhawk to post theirs!)

Dr.L's Tabi, having fun in the sun.

The markings on this spider is simply amazing. Towards the end of it's abdomen, you can see it's spinnerets, where it spins it's silk web.

sundew.

Poor dude landed on the wrong plant.

ello, milo!

Since i still can't afford a new tripod, i have to depend on nature....

....to capture.

lampropelma violaceopes.

Since i didn't manage to shoot a live one, i'll post this photo i took of a perfect moult left behind by this huge tarantula...all 20cm of it!

...even it's fangs are intact...all 1.4cm of it!

day is done...

To Kelven...

There's roast chicken, fried chicken, steamed chicken, chicken satay, kentucky fried chicken, chicken soup, grilled chicken, chicken tikka, chicken oregano, chicken salad, chicken casserole, chicken pie, chicken floss.....but you had to go and get Chicken Pox?!

Hope you get well real soon, buddy...need you to spot me at gym.