Is it really 8 years?! Hi Israel have been avidly following your amazing blogs from the latest Asia trip and feeling incredibly jealous. Can't believe you are back at Chiang Dao - look forward to hearing about it and the wildlife you see this time around. When are you coming to the UK to do some birding?! - it's about time we paid back your amazing hospitality.
Jenny, Gareth and baby Josh (arrived 4 weeks ago!!!)
Tigers and Kiwis I'm glad you're not dead. When you didn't post for ages I did wonder. And I had to check the passenger list for MH370 for clients so I checked you weren't on their either (just in case you decided to go back to China). LOL
It's sad that you're going to have to come home :( Money sucks.
Funny about the people with the hog dear/ tiger, it reminded me of all the kiwi/weka/hedgehog sightings people at SEA so proudly told us about.
Have a most joyus time in Thailand - when you're ready to fly back email me what they're quoting over there and I'll see if I can get it cheaper at work.
yes, it has been a year and a half and the pelicans are still in New Zealand! I have heard that possibly a couple have been shot, but also there seems likely to have been more than the fourteen-odd originally thought. They may even attempt to breed at some point.
Khao Yai - still the same Israel,
Hello from Craig Smith in Melbourne. I am a fellow wildlife fanatic who, like you ,travels the globe to see critters. I occasionally read your blogs when I have time. I have just read your blog on Khao Yai NP in Thailand and it exactly replicates our experience there in 2009. We too were exasperated by the indifference of the staff. I had booked a house there for two nights, and despite it being booked by me well in advance, they kicked us out on the second night to some lesser place. We we told the Thai princess was visiting, but saw no evidence of that. And ,yes, the night safari was very frustrating. They illuminated a herd of elephants for two nanoseconds then kept driving, despite my protests. On a lighter note, I too was critter spotting thru the jungle by myself, and heard elephants very close by, and shaking trees violently, then realised I was almost encircles by them (but never saw them). I nervously beat a quick retreat on that morning.
Craig
thanks Craig,
it is interesting about my Khai Yai blog that I was a bit worried about writing it because I thought it sounded too complaining, but I have since had several comments in various places that others have had just the same experiences at the park. It is a shame because it is a really nice place, but I won't bother going back because of the attitude of the management.
Great post.. I am also planning my second trip to Khao Yai too, recognizing some issues you've mentioned. I can confirm the ignorant personnel who wouldn't look at you and reply to a question after minutes.
I personally don't recommend night safaris, as good chance one won't see anything of value. Better to have a torch in hand and go out few hundred meters in any direction self.
Elephants are really dangerous, as I read in this following website an American tourist has been killed by elephants just few weeks ago in another national park;
http://www.thainationalparks.com/khao-yai-national-park/
I have observed a single bull elephant from some 30m, and it was ignoring me completely, but I wouldn't dare getting close to a group of elephants.
I think Khao Yai is still a great place if one get there independently and ignore "confronting" personnel as much as possible..
Cheers,
KY Yeah, KY has changed a lot. It is the National flag ship and a commercial one. Run with a very strict hand by the new chief.
Did you know that a very accustomed to animals 24 year old american girl was killed by elephants at Kaengkrachan only a week ago? She was out there alone getting too close. An image in her camera revealed an elephant charging at her. Beware when out alone.
Peter
yes I heard about the woman killed in Kaeng Krachan after I was back from Khao Yai. Made me glad I hadn't tried to sneak up on the elephants I must say! It's always going to be a risk when out in the wilds.
oh cool. I think they have orange-fronted kakariki on Maud Island now. But they won't let you take your chickens with you, on account of the chicken pox.
Difficulty to differentiate the waders. I am a amatuare birder from India. I came across your blog.I am now going to read all of them !I like your apt description re the practical difficulty to identify the wader.
Try accessing your travel blog and mammal watching through a proxy, china blogs all outgoing IP addresses (security issues).
hope ya having fun over there have been reading your blogs most weekends at work!
Louise
buildings I am not interested in buildings very much. But my visit to the Chinese Wall ranks right up there. It was simply overwhelming to imagine how this enormous structure had come about for such a long time ago. Once you know the history and let your mind imagine things it brings about awesomeness!
C
well I'm a pretty gracious guy. There wasn't much point in getting angry. It wasn't the fault of the people at the headquarters -- they would have let me in straight away if it had been up to them. I was pretty gutted, but I still have a chance for golden monkeys in Sichuan next month. It was annoying having wasted two days on it, but them's the breaks.
Hello Hi Israel,
Just wanted you to know that a friend put me on to your blog recently and I really enjoy reading it. I can relate to a lot of the things you talk about being pretty much an independent traveller myself and being keen on birds and nature.
Keep up your adventures and I look forward to more of your writing.
thanks Rick,
I'm always surprised anyone other than friends and relatives read what I write, but so long as everybody enjoys it (or even if they get useful information out of it!) then it is good.
I live in New Zealand. I started this blog when going on a 2006 trip through southeast Asia for three months to see the wildlife. Since then I've been on more trips through NZ, Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia and back to Asia a few times looking for animals. Anyone who is not interested in animals and who thinks nature is a waste of space shouldn't be reading this blog. Go back to your bars and your temples and your massage parlours; the kind of birds I'm contemplating would not excite you. ... full info
Jenny Bennett
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Is it really 8 years?!
Hi Israel have been avidly following your amazing blogs from the latest Asia trip and feeling incredibly jealous. Can't believe you are back at Chiang Dao - look forward to hearing about it and the wildlife you see this time around. When are you coming to the UK to do some birding?! - it's about time we paid back your amazing hospitality. Jenny, Gareth and baby Josh (arrived 4 weeks ago!!!)