Wetland Sanctuary

I decided to pay the wetland sanctuary a visit one afternoon.  It is about 5-10 minutes' drive from the heart of the city (Kota Kinabalu) and this is what it looks like inside.  For a fee of RM5 you get to walk along a wooden bridge like this in the middle of a mangrove jungle.  A slow walk with lots of photo-shooting will take you about an hour or so.  I was hoping to see some birds but there were only a few shy egrets.  This one looks like a butler welcoming me into the sanctuary, don't you think?

This is what the aerial roots of the mangrove look like.  It thrives on muddy waters and in the past we use mangrove wood for cooking.  It is called "kayu bakau" in our language.

I risked my life climbing climbed a rickety tower to take this photo, just to show you how dense the growth is.  I was completely alone in this swamp so I could have been boinked on the head and robbed without anybody knowing.  Not to worry, not to worry, I have never heard any such thing happening in this wetland sanctuary.  Perhaps in the swamps next door but never here.

Well, too bad, no pretty birds for me to shoot but there were probably hundreds of these sleek, slimy lizards on the bridge.  They were always weaving in and out several feet ahead of me.  Don't come any nearer!  I will jump!!

This little friend is very, very tiny.  I think about the size of my finger nail.

This one is a little bit bigger and I really like his coat of many colors!

I was delighted when a blue dragonfly landed near me.  I have never seen one this color before.  My favorite shade of blue too...:)

Another creature of the mud.  I don't know what it is, perhaps a half-baked prince who's waiting to be kissed.

Well, let's turn our attention onto something more pleasant.  This is called "misai kucing" or cat's whiskers, a plant with medicinal properties.

Pretty flowers I saw on my way out.

Last but not least, the caretaker's cat.  That's all for today, hope you all enjoyed visiting the wetlands with Aunty Tooki today...^_^

Last Christmas....

Last Christmas Mommi invited some family over for a sinfully, unhealthy lunch.  Just look at all that grease.  It was so salty she refused to let us doggies eat any of it.  She swore she will never buy food from that particular aunty again and will try her best to do the cooking herself.

Wimpy Wawa finally settled down under the table after spraying piss all over the house in fright at the sight of these strangers.  Everyone is a stranger to him even though he may have met them 10 times.

Everybody brought along one gift.  Excuse me, Uncle, is that gift you're opening for me?

Excuse me....(perhaps he will notice me if I go over to the other side)....any presents for me, Uncle?  Aunty?

Yoohoo!  I am over here....anything for doggies?

Oh...so disappointed.  All the presents are opened, nothing for me...everyone so happy, laughing except me and Wawa...:((

I'll go lie in a corner.....(sigh).

Don't cry, Mommi, it's ok!  Not everyone feels for doggies like you do...sob.

(Coco, Wawa, Mommi will buy you a nice present after this little party is over....)

To add insult to injury, to pour salt over grievous wound, to stab the knife and twist it......they went for a walk WITHOUT us!!  Mommi, that looks suspiciously like you in the photo!!??!

Don't get me wrong, Coco.  We were not really going for a walk.  Mommi was just trying to get them to invest in property here so that we will have good company in future.  That Uncle in the shorts (Mommi's nephew) has a doggie too called Bruce.  Who knows, you and Bruce can be friends one day?

(Photos courtesy of my other nephew - the one whom the dogs love -- and his Samsung handphone.  Um...which explains the blur, overexposure, underexposure, bad composition, wrong pov etc etc....thanks anyway because Aunty Tooki was too busy to take photos!)