KALAWEIT , Indonesia, 29th December 2009

There's a new couple arriving today, so I have moved into Adam's room, into the bed where the snake was found!!!!

The couple will complete the camp as there are three rooms, each with two beds for the maximum of 6 volunteers.

This is a great balance because we get to work closely with the members of staff and get a much more hands on experience.

Adam has volunteered at 2 other gibbon places in Thailand, where there are as many as 30 volunteers at one time. It was much harder to get more directly involved.

In Thailand and Vietnam, there is a big market for gibbons as pets. Atrocious.

I had thought that, like the orangutan, that gibbons were limited to the Indonesian islands, but this is not true at all.

The pets are kept in cages outside houses in Thailand and Vietnam so that when visitors arrive to the house, the poor gibbon makes noises, most probably feeling threatened by the new visitor. Such cruelty.

I felt super tired today, but dragged my lazy body out of bed knowing that I could see Tongki. He was, as always, so cute, holding my hand, like he does all the time now.

Then, a spot of laundry. I rather enjoyed doing the towels, it's very therapeutic, especially to the sound of the gibbon song and in the heat of the sunshine.

So now, we await breakfast followed by the arrival of the newbies...busy, busy!!

Still very knackered, I am now sprawled on the veranda half dozing. I was about to pass out when, at 11am, we decided to go and check on the gibbons and collect the garbage from their cages. The garbage is mostly strong, or empty cartons from their strawberry milk treats, but we managed to load up an wicker basket.

Then, the banana delivery came...! By boat! So, we loaded them into the hut. Hopefully, there will be some lengpek for tongki too! Ayung and I ate some fresher than fresh rambutan..YUM!

It is bliss out here. Right now, midday, some of the gibbons are calling to one another, the birds are singing and the frogs are ribbiting. Simply wonderful; a great time to let you mind wander.....

When I woke up, it was so hot I could barely move. but, I could hear that Rio was leavng to go back to Sumatra. He would often help at Hampapak when Nanto, the local vet wasn't on the island. Some other staff leave too, and camp feels very empty.

The stillness and the peace are quickly shattered by young Ayung shouting BERNANG!!! to me at the top of his voice. He wants to go swimming. Everyday, he wants to go swimming!

Boiled bananas!!

Now there is a treat! Plus a few regular ones for desert. The taste is amazing, so sweet, so fresh.

There is a gentle storm brewing, imagine this - sheet lightning across the forests of Borneo. For once, it is not a scary storm, more one that you can marvel at and enjoy for the distance adds to the safety. It's not even raining here yet, but I am sure it will by bedtime...

KALAWEIT, Indonesia, Monday 28th December 2009

What a life!!

I woke up a little before the gibbons started their song, so I went out to take a video and record the sound!

But, the video is barely a glimpse of the magic, you should really come here to see for yourself!! Kalaweit is always welcoming volunteers, so do check in!

In the bathroom, the spider has moved across the wall somewhat and has a couple of friends with him, one installed behind some bottles, but remains undisturbed, even by me.

6am - The love affair of the century! Tongki and myself!

He hardly wanted to eat, more be sleepy, cute and hold my hand. When he looks you in the eyes, his stare is intense, with such trust, but such hidden sadness too.

The tears well up as I write this two hours later, so you can imagine the wreck I am at feeding time.

It is a wonder he trusts humans at all. I cannot imagine the things he has seem and the family he has lost. The reality is, poachers probably shot his mother and father dead before his young eyes. But the poaching (for pet purposes mainly) isn't always so straight forward. Sometimes the whole family might be killed, so the poachers go find another family.

Up to 10 gibbons can die, just so one person can have a gibbon as a pet.

Of course they are adorable, but we have to let them live their natural lives. However, it is hard to let go when Tongki pulls back on my hand, clearly feeling relaxed and content in my presence.

Then it was time to feed the rest of the gibbons. They are all so different! Thankfully, I was a little more prepared and remembered the aggressive ones!

Chanee came by and talked with us just before lunch. What we were talking about made me realise how me feeding a small cute gibbon was such a tiny deed in the the big picture. There is so much going on in Indonesia. There is a lot of corruption too. It made me realise that I wanted to share my knowledge and support Kalaweit forever. And no, we have Kalaweit in Japan, as well as Australia, Belgium, Germany and of course, France.

We spent the afternoon playing with the Maribu. He is a funny bird, he stares at you with his glassy blue eyes, but he does like to step a little too close for comfort!!

He even cornered me down by the boats before...scary. You don't want him pecking you with that beak!

By now, the only noises to be heard belong to the flies, the geckos and Ayung, the cook's son, who is throwing bits of coconut around!

It is simply amazing to be amongst this and it's Borneo! How lucky am I to be here!!

the peacefulness is suddenly shattered by Ayung jumping on my back, but it's such fun!

After a rather yummy lunch, with crispy fried salmon, I realised I had to cave in and pass out. I woke up (feeling sticky hot!) at 3.30pm! What a great nap, and just in time for Tongki's feeding time.

4pm - I'm totally going to sponsor him when I get back. It will be amazing to follow his development and growth until his release into the wild, with a partner, where he belongs.It is great that you can adopt gibbons, I totally recommend it!

http://www.kalaweit.org/kiap1-a.php#comm

As we sat around waiting for dinner, it rained a heavy rain. Very quickly, puddles were formed ...again. I tried to imagine the flooding from earlier on in the month and how it would affect everything. At least for the gibbons, as I have said before, they would just go to the top of their cages.

The gibbons that would stay nearer the ground at feeding time, Chanee explained to us, are the ones who would attack if they were released. If they hang from the cages more freely, they will be the ones more likely to adapt to their new surroundings when released.

We also talked about the rainforests here in central Kalimantan. It is here where most of the trees have gone, so there is nothing for animals like the gibbon and the orangutan.

The whole situation is corrupt. Even for the move, Chanee needs to pay extra costs to transport the wooden cages to prove he is not logging, which is silly, as he is running an organisation against all that. It is just a way for people to get extra money.

And then, there is the issue of palm oil and, I am just skirting over the simple points. It goes much deeper than this, with people on the same sides fighting and disagreeing too.

All we can do is help; there is no one simple answer.

KALAWEIT, Indonesia, 27th December 2009

I woke up at 5am on the dot...That's a perfect 8 hours sleep...again. Lovely.

The gibbon shrill was barely getting started, so I hopped out of bed to go outside and listen.

It really is the most amazing, relaxing and magical sound. The time doesn't matter; waking up with nature does. Listening to the sounds around me, feeling unbelievably relaxed; it's the ultimate, and more, much more than I could have ever imagined.

6am - I fed Tongki again today. He totally adores the lempek (lychee-like fruit); he ate 3 or 4 today. He is just adorable, even if he is hitting his plate for more!

I witnessed the washing of the towels for the first time. This needs to be done everyday. The water is pumped from the ground. It's a rather laborious process, but worth it for the gibbons. Adam suggested getting a basic spin machine to do the washing, but with the move up north, it may not be possible now.

To note - I am possible the last volunteer here at Hampapak. This plot will become an eco-tourist village and the new land up north will become a sanctuary.

Anyway, the hand washing adds to the beautiful simplicity of life out here, so why change it?!

I then went off with the staff to help wit the feeding of the gibbons in Camp 1. I was going to meet Rahud too!!

I got a basket (just to point out, I LOVE these basket/bags. They are a woven product of the region, and very colourful and stylish!)

The bag was filled full of papaya and green leaves. My fellow feeder had the bananas, and we were set!

The gibbons have feeding trays outside their cages and all we needed to do was simply place the food on them. However, some of the gibbons are nakal (aggressive). This means that they could snatch anything from you or grab anything from you as you walk past. They might also just run to the front of the cage, just to scare you and get a reaction (works with me!).

I had a few bums shown to me as well!!! It's a sign that the boys don't like you, or that the girls want sex!!!!

In total, there are 183 gibbons in quarantine, plus 3 in the clinic.

We are at Camp 1 now and there are 78 there, so we split up the feeding groups. Me and my partner one way, another dude in the opposite direction; it was a carefully planned routine.

Each gibbon is completely different. Their characteristics are unique, just like humans. a lot of the gibbons near the front are alone in smaller cages, but as we ventured further into the island and its jungle, the enclosures got bigger and some of the gibbons were lucky enough to be paired with a partner. A couple of cages even had babies as well!!!

The jungle of the island (it is a controlled territory, remember, not the hardcore mass of rainforest across the water) was wet. There were many big puddles everywhere. I could imagine, only slightly, the deluge just the week before.

Some cages were surrounded by water that was knee-deep for me. It must have been a nightmare for everyone to go through with feeding time.

With water in their cages, the gibbons are forced to stay at the top, which encourages them that higher places are better for them.

A disadvantage of this, would be a gibbon who was reared in captivity but now, in the wild, would not fully comprehend the parental duty they have. As a young gibbon, they would have seen their own parents killed and as a result, would not have learnt about the maternal or paternal love that they would later have to share. As a result, such a gibbon may escape to the heights of the trees where he/she belongs, but they may also let their baby drop to the ground simply unaware.

It's constantly a tough situation, but overall, this land is good for them and their rehabilitation process. They can be monitored carefully by all members of staff.

We met Rahud.He seemd docile and not nakal at all. Yay! It was quite the trek to get to him,

very tiring, but unbelievable and awe-inspiring fun. I'm learning more and more, slowly but surely, that there is so much more than meets the eye. Feeding the little cuties in the clinic is a small sideline to the whole story.

Back at camp - breakfast time. Deep fried aubergine-like veggie, which had the texture of chicken, a courgette-like veggie...fried and omlette and rice. I was ravenous!!! I could not get enough!!!

We all hung out for a bit, but before long, it was treat time at camps 1 & 2! Today, the protein treat was boiled egg, so, once again, we all set off to give each gibbon an egg.

The aggressive ones had to be handled carefully, perhaps by pretending to place the egg in one place with an empty hand, and actually having it in the other hand and sneakily placing on another tray.

One gibbon took his egg from my hand gently and Rahud looked like he would too, but I didn't want to anger him, so I just left it on his plate. He is docile and cute. We love him.

We headed over to camp 2, followed by the bears too. They were to get their rewards afterwards. First, the gibbons...and the crocodile!

There is one rescue croc, quite the size.

Adam threw in some headless chicken, raw..yum! One made it straight to his mouth, the other hit the tree, but I am sure he will get it later, we weren't going in to help him!

It was less flooded at camp 2, until the hut that was. We found Adam's plastic bag that had had the snake from my first night. This was were he had been released. Apparently, he was venomous!

En route back to base, I did manage to sink my leg inthe mud and lose my show like a veritable Cinderella...all part of the wilderness fun.

All that, and it was only 11am!! I feel like I have had my day already! (and UK are still sleeping, Japan are just waking up with Xmas hangovers...such different worlds!!)

I need a pre-lunch nap, but I just checked the time...1150! no rest for the wicked!!! Feeding time soon!

12pm - It's Manisa's turn.

He is just a baby, so, you have to put him in your lap. He likes to be mischievous, but with his little pink tongue hanging out, who can resist this little gibbon? We have to feed him with a syringe and break off the banana that he wants. Simple. He got up and into his cage when he chose, although he still wanted banana. If I held out my hand, he would simply pop his head out and reach for the fruit. Then he would go back to his swinging. He wasn't so agile yet, givenhis young age, but he still liked to show off, like Tongki.

Then, it was our feeding time - Rice, veggies (green leaf, pumpkin, and corn), that deep fried veggie from earlier, tuna? fried and crispy, but yum, as always.

And, that's it till 4pm!

Everybody suddenly disappears to their rooms for a nap. It's just Ayung and myself playing snap, with a few members of staff hanging out, chatting.

The rain has stopped; it was on and off all day long, but the rain here is so glorious. It enhances the already beautiful colours of nature. This place is truly gorgeous.

4pm- Once again it was me and Tongki. I am becoming, if not already, very attached to this little boy. The way he has apparently calmed down since I came makes me feel good and the way he looks into my eyes.....and holds my hands......

He was extra adorable today, really gentle and calm and lovable.

He really loved his bananas and even his milk, holding my hand each time and gesturing towards the milk when he was thirsty or grabbing the banana if he was hungry.

When he had eaten the two that I had taken from the counter, he looked lost, pointing at my hand, wanting more.

As he tried to swing to show off his agility, his eyes were shutting fast and heavy. He was so tired and his body would begin to flop. Then, suddenly, he would reach for more banana.

He reached toward me when I closed the door - four bananas weren't enough?

He just wanted to hold my hand. Too cute.

Even when I shut the door, his fingers came through the mesh to touch mine. We sat like that for a while but tears welled up in my eyes when I thought about where he had come from and what all of his gibbon friends experience before they come to Kalaweit. It's too sad, and I can predict that, I will be a nightmare when I leave here, but thankfully, that it still far away!

8pm. I am totally in love with Tongki! He seemed sleepy tonight, and I felt bad to disturb him, but he took two pisang (small banana) from my hand. I didn't push him to eat any more. I think he was as tired as me!

I wrote this diary entry from my bed, 8.30!!! A couple of treks through the Borneo bush will do that to you! Although, other than that, I have pretty much been sitting, reading and playing games!

I cannot WAIT for 5am and the sound of the gibbon song to wake me up!! It is great hanging with the gibbons!!

KALAWEIT, Indonesia - Boxing day!!! (Back at Hampapak)

Dinner was good. More chicken. Clearly the sights of the day (upside down chickens at the markets and various body parts on display) had not put me off my food.

There was rice and something tasty with tofu and bamboo shoots. Adam was saying that

everything (ev.er.y.thing.) she cooks, she cooks with oil. So, as healthy as this all sounds, it isn't! But, my goodness, it is all delicious.

I also stocked up on 'provisions', so at camp, we have oreo cookies and crisps and such treats to get us through the week, or more realistically, 2 days.

4pm. Feeding the gibbons was another treat!

We made it back just in time to feed Smikey. We had to get him from the big cage where he is being kept at say time to train him to be a bit more independant. But tonight, we brought him in for feeding . I had a job giving him the milk. I kept pushing the syringe too hard and squirting the milk in his face! Luckily, he didn't seem to mind so much and licked his face and fur. He had 6 syringes of milk. Bless him.

(We always noted how much they drank and ate while they were under observation.)

8pm. I fed Tongki again. He was being rather timid and wanted to hang in the branches as he ate. At one point, his hands, one with a banana in it, were attached to the branch and he was determined not to let go. Stretching his body and head up, he eventually reached out and ate his reward. For the most part, he would take the fruit from my hands, preferring the lengpak and edging his head out of the cage to how me.

A-mazing!

We just hung out after that at camp. Me writing, the others reading, the staff watching television. It was Saturday and there there was an Islamic programme on but we couldn't even try and follow it. I did see a cockroach, big and fat, and in my bedroom!!!! but he escaped. Gaaaarr.

I taught Ayung (the cook's son) how to play snap.

He was a genki little boy. We played at high 5-ing too, heaps of lovely fun. What a wonderful experience to be spending time with the locals and enjoying the very simple life.

As I went to bed, I saw that the cockroach had returned with a friend! I let out a sudden and loud shriek and one of the staff was there straight away with a broom. I think they are getting used to me and my squeamishness already. They seem to come to my rescue very quickly!!

KALAWEIT, Indonesia - Boxing day!!! (Palangkaraya)

What a fantastic day!! So glad I went out.

We hit 'town' at about 9am...too early for the shopping centre, but in time for the street markets. And, wow, this what it was all about - The raw, gritty, at times stinky streets of Palangkaraya. Sophie & Jean-Paul went and did their thing, so Adam and I hung out. I would have found a shopping trip, even for an hour, a bit lonely and strange in this little town, so it was good to have someone to wander the unpaved streets with.

Fruits were in abundance, clothes were everywhere, but what did we do? We bought ice cream! It's the little things, even after one day in the jungle!

We walked around and found a fish market too, another world from Tsukiji.

The place did not smell too good and the floor was just mud with a few pieces of wood attempting to facilitate the walk.

I managed to pick up a few goodies, enjoying the exchange rate and the general value of the rupiah.

We were picked up and whisked off to a shopping centre where, it was not even 11am and we were trying to get KFC!!! It was the iced pepsi that did it for me! It is unbelievably hot here and hit 30 degrees by 10am if that gives you any idea.

The shopping centre was dead quiet, but it was early.

Lunch time, well, officially anyway, lunch, round two. On the menu spicy chicken, rice and FRESH AVOCADO juice!!! Yummy! oh, and fresh melon juice too. Well, I simply had to.

I was apparently very hungry. Perhaps my spicy noodles and and boiled egg for breakfast wasn't enough, although, it must be said that they were delicious and became my favourite treat at camp (and even now I squeal with excitement when I see a packet of mi goreng!)

After that great food, we went to the Kalaweit office. We met the staff there and also saw some of the monkeys and gibbons that were in the space outside.

We loaded the boat up to the max on our return, four volunteers, Emil, the cook and her son and another worker at the camp. The staff at camp rotated regularly so they would live at camp for a week or so and then return home.

We made a stop at the 'riverside shop'.

It was very well presented and very quaint indeed. At the house behind, there were 4 very cute girls mesmerised by the fact that there were foreigners in their midst.

They happily posed for pictures as did we when they took out their parent's phones. Such a lovely moment.

The rest of the journey back was a little disconcerting. The boat chugged a couple of times, and then actually stopped, twice! My heart stopped each time, imagining the worst. we would be floating through the dark night in crocodile infested waters and shore was miles away.

Save the hitches, it was a lovely ride home.

Actually, this river didn't have crocs, so I later learnt...

After a while, with more petrol in the tank, and there was no more chugging, Adam shouted out and pointed up to the trees. I eventually saw what he was pointing to and saw something orange at the top of a tree! Wow! An orang-utan! No, it was a probiscus monkey, you know the one with the funny nose!

Nature in action, lovely!

KALAWEIT, Indonesia - Boxing day!!! (Hampapak)

I woke up at 5am today to the fantastic sound of the gibbon, just as I had been promised! Their shrill started off quietly with high pitched modulation. It did eventually get quite loud, at which point, it was time to get up, but it was amazing to just simply lie there and listen. adding to the soundtrack of the forest were crickets, birds and, apparently, a gecko. I did spot a small lizard like creature on the wall, but I had no idea they made such a noise, ''Ge-cko, Ge-cko'' as Adam told me.

There was also the clambering on the roof form the horn bill, rather amusing to say the least, although at first, I was a bit startled, not realisin

g what it was!

I write this from the speedboat again. I decided to go on the weekly trip ''to town''. Even though, I only go there yesterday, it's a good chance to see Palangka Raya. The gibbons will have me the rest of the time.

(6am) Morning feeding is at 6am every day. I fed TONGKIKI (Tongki)again♥♥♥. He

was just as adorable today, although, he did try to bite me as I got his poo!!! He also played with my hair and tried to eat the toilet roll...! (thankfully pre-poo...!) But, what a cutie!

He was eating from my hand or picking the food with his own hand from mine. And, he knows what he likes; he will turn his head away when he has had too much banana and he can totally hint at when he wants more lempak (lychee-like fruit).

Here is a glimpse inside the clinic - Meet Tongki & Manisa!

At 7am, the staff went to feed the other gibbons at camp, but that is when I decided to jump aboard the speed boat!

I am certainly enjoying the journey so much more than yesterday; there is no uncertainty of wondering where I am and I am therefore much more appreciative of the endless beauty around me.

.........................................................

KALAWEIT, Indonesia - Christmas Day 2009!!! (Hampapak)

OK, I have been on the boat for what feels like a very long time, in reality, it's probably only around 20 minutes, but we are venturing into the unknown. All I see are trees and water and trees and water. Camp must be near...

Arriving at Palangka Raya airport was interesting. The airport (hut) had just a few passengers, and as you can imagine, I stuck out immensely, a sweating ball of curiosity and fascination. Emil & Eko, my drivers, took me along the Palangka Raya plains to the Kalaweit office and now to the boat where it does feel like an age, but it has started to

become more enclosed now....We must be near!!

Arriving at camp was a bit emotional. What an amazing feeling to finally be able to lay my bags down at the end destination.

Clambering out of the speed boat was fun, not elegant, but not too traumatic! Waiting at camp were Jean Paul, and his girlfriend Sophie and Adam. It looked very chilled indeed and it looks like this will be a very relaxed and lovely time.

I arrived bang on the gibbon's (in the clinic) feeding time - YAY!

Welcome to Hampapak!!! -

In the clinic, there are 3 gibbons. These guys are newly rescued and ADORABLE. Adam showed me how to feed Tongky,a cheeky boy gibbon, who liked to play around a bit before actually drinking his milk and eating his fruit.

It was all pretty magical and I really could have cried my eyes out, such was the emotion running through me. Tongky was awesome!! He came for his syringe of milk.....eventually anyway. So cute. Then I held a baby banana for him to bite from. Watching him eat right there in front of me was amazing. I couldn't get the smile off my face. Pure magic.

He took his time eating but it was great to simply stare and take it all in. This is what it was all about.

I was shown ''my room'' - 2 beds per room, with mosquito nets and some cupboards. Of course I have chosen the bed with the cartoon characters on the sheets!

But, it was already time for lunch - Steamed rice, cucumbers or courgettes in some salty, but really yummy sauce and some fried eggs. I was so hungry that I wolfed it down, so happy to be on the island of Hampapak, grounded. Dessert was the finest banana I have ever eaten, it was the size of my index finger, but as fresh as could be!! Yummo!

Then the guys (Adam and the Kalaweit staff) wanted to go off fishing...I went along for the 5 minute speed boat journey up the water to one of the dudes' houses. It was, quite simply, a hut on water.

A very small hut, at that. I could see a thin futon style mattress hanging on a rafter and, it seemed, that was all there was space for.

Outside the hut, he had wooden boxes, sitting under the water level, and apparently, storing fish, but we had no joy fishing with the rods, so we got the net and captured and load of snake fish, AKA dinner (!)

One of the guys grabbed a fish and showed me its teeth...You would not want to get bitten by them! So, you can imagine how I freaked when a few of them jumped out of the bag!! But we, rather they (!) rescued them, no worries!

Back at the ranch, the little beauties were washed and we just had to relax. Adam threw in some bamboo sticks to the sunbears. There are two in an enclosure next to the main hut. They are just adorable, I have never seen anything like them, especially not so close. Two small sunbears, separated from their families too early. One, the little one, just whimpered and ate his hand nervously. The other one, slightly bigger and stronger went straight for the bamboo and ripped it open to get at the banana.

All this as the rain started to fall. Right now, the storm is over us. It's just a little rain and thunder, sounds great on the corrugated iron roof. The thunder is spreading over Kalimantan and isn't too strong. Apparently, the rain was really bad before (remember , I had been told about the floods) and Chanee was actually contemplating stopping the volunteers from coming!!! Thank goodness that was not the case.

It's wonderful right now - It's 3.15pm and I am just sitting in a hut under the rain amongst the Borneo rain forest. Simply an amazing Christmas day.♥♥

All the animals have gone quiet in the rain, save a cricket or two, whistling away.

There's a baby macaque to the left of me in a cage (in quarantine). I can see him pottering about a bit, but the gibbon cage in view opposite, shows no signs of movement. I guess he is is hiding from the drizzle, just like the rest of them.

In quarantine, there are up to 80 gibbons being looked after. We walked through earlier and I have to say that, not all of them looked cute or friendly, like little Tongky in the clinic. Fair enough, mind, these are the ones who have been brought up in the wrong environment and then rescued after their owners had chained them up. One of the cheeky blighters stuck his hand out at me to swipe at me...scared me, but mostly reminded me that they are not called te-naga-zaru (テナガザル) for nothing (long armed monkey, in Japanese, although, please note, that they are lesser apes and not monkeys).

There were a couple of oldies, baldies, and fanged up ones too...made me think of my friend, Donna's fear!! But I am still reminded that these are special creature and I aim to do my little bit to help to save them.

Also on camp, there is a mad horn bill, a big black bird with a fantastic yellow beak (bigger than a toucan) and a white furry bottom! He has been pounding on the roof, back and forth, although, now, in the rain, he is happily hovering over the toilet area under some shelter.

There is also a marabou who, at this present moment, is just sat near me, collecting water around his feet and letting the rest run down his back.

He looks rather sad and bald. I don't know his story, but I know he bites. His beak is rather long!

The python killed off 2 of the gibbons, but has been found. My only fear now, is that the big buzzing thing that was in my room earlier will have made an exit by the time I go to sleep.

Tomorrow, I will meet Rahud, my sponsor gibbon. I can't wait! I hope he likes me!

(4pm) Feeding time soon, for the gibbons, not for me, although, I am already hungry! lol

This time, I looked after Manisa (all the gibbons inside the clinic are boys). We took him out and wrapped him in a towel. He was only 4 months old. I suddenly felt rather warm with this furry creature on my lap, but bless the poor blighter, he had peed with nerves on me! Great introduction! Nevertheless, he drank and ate and drank and drank.

What an appetite and soooo cute! But, we have to resist the urge to stroke them or cuddle them. It isn't good for them to get too used to human contact and attention as this will make it harder for them to be released into the wild, or to be paired up with their partner.

Snake fish for dinner - !!!!!

And so to bed...but not so easily!!

Bugs galore to freak me out -

First up, a big spider in the bed next to me!!! By big, I wouldn't say it was the size of my hand, but, then I shone the torch at it, its eyes stared right back at me.....

And then, a toilet trip, with a scary twist; similar glaring eyes watching you as you do what you have to do from a corner in the ceiling. But, apparently he has remains in the same spot for a short while, so I am told he is ok!!!

Finally, Adam (pictured above with Manisa) was hollering ''Snake! Snake!''. I simply had to go and watch and stare. He found it under the mattress in the bed next to his (soon to become my bed...!) I was fascinated as the Kalaweit staff and Adam too caught it.

I have no idea, nor want to know if he was dangerous or not, he was just bagged up and left, to be released far far away from here tomorrow.

For now, slumber sets in early. It's only around 9pm on Christmas day, but, a healthy fatigue begins to weigh on us all and we all say Goodnight & sweet dreams.