hi Peter, good to see you got to Sulawesi. Its a fantastic place, and your photos as always are awesome! (Much better than any of the bird ones I got!)
sympathy You have my sympathy! I have read a number of your postings and pasted some on to others. I am sure many have benefited of your travel stories. When you have a chance have a look at www.pbase.com/peterericsson/sulawesi
By the way, before you get back you should be made aware of a tragedy. Shanti on Shortland Street died. I know. I'm sorry to be the one to break that sad news to you.
Pukekos in a basket. Who would have thought?! I don't think there are any pukekos in Blenheim. There's a lot of things that aren't in Blenheim, including shops that open in the weekend.
Sulawesi You seem to know a lot about macaques. Are you a primatologist? There are wonderful opportunities to observe and do field research in Sulawesi. I went there first in 1985 and had about 20 trips to Sulawesi from that time on. I was interested to see your mention of the Faruhumpenai. Most people don't know about it or that booted macaques range into the Faruhumpenai. At the east end, I have seen tonkeana and ochreata within 7 km of each other.
similar experience Your experience at that site sounds very familiar. I saw more birds than you did but not as many as I had hoped for (and no pittas either). Like Peter, though, I would love to go back and spend a week hanging out in the forest. Thats really the way to see all those shy birds and animals in rain forest.
bus Miri to Niah caves September 2009
There is now a new mini bus which you can take from the Miri Bus Station, it leaves at 8.30 and is a day trip coming back at 15.45. Enough time to do the walk to the caves, well we did it in the time and we are older people. The trip costs 60 ringets and was well worth it. This bus has only just got started, we were lucky to be one of the first people on it, so please spread the word around otherwise they may stop it!
craig.smith@mcri.edu.au Hi Mr Isreal. I live in Australia and I am also wildlife mad. I was in Malaysian Borneo last August (2008) and ,yes, loved Bako NP. I saw a colugo at night right outside the bungalows. Also saw the other critters that you mention, proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs, Waglers Pit vipers, etc. You sated that otters had not been seen in three years... Well, we saw a pair of them slast year; it was the late arvo right where the boats come in (the jetty at Telok Assam I think it was called) and they were swimming along happily. So they are indeed there.
Craig from Melbourne.
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
Nic
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I've been there! But there wasn't a stormtrooper then!