MyJourney

They are Dragons, They Fly Around

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:52:00 +0000

Butterflies would not fly without the presence of dragonflies. Whenever I see butterflies, dragonflies are there. They are either hiding in the bushes, or flying around like helicopters.

But the more I know, the less I understand. Thus I can only talk about what I have seen recently and during my childhood. These dragonflies have somehow disappeared since I have grown older and older, and now they return, after I have started to see things through my viewfinder. This is my macro piece of eye. It should be good enough, but not good enough if compared to the twenty thousands pieces of eyes of the dragonfly.

Dragonflies are not easy to be caught by hand, as suggested by the name. They are dragons, they are quite alert to any movement in the surrounding, and fly away swiftly, but they will come back to the same spot immediately. Though they will come back, it is still not easy to capture them in pictures.

"The eyes on a damselfly are apart; in most dragonflies the eyes touch." Thus, the next two stars are surely damselflies that had challenged my capability to handle them.

They can also be differentiated from the dragonflies by the way they hold their wings vertically and together when at rest.

This dragonfly has landed in front of me, and blocked my way. If I was in a miniature world, I should take a ride to visit Alice in the Wonderland.

And if you miss your autumn, come here often. By the way, Alice has always appeared during autumn time.

The Wonder of The Little Lives

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:08:00 +0000

My instinct guided the camera, and butterflies showed me the way. Pictures of butterflies were the extra joy I have harvested from the paddy field.

My zoom lens helped to take these pictures in a distance, which in turn did not require my eye-to-eye or face-to-face interaction with the butterflies.

I love the first one, and you must say it is your fave too. The background was actually a small river that turned out to be the mysterious dark grey setting under glaring sunlight. The painted sunshine on the wings was a surprise wonder. Morning is always beautiful, and I am gifted.

But I am wrong to have said there was no eye-to-eye interaction. How could I avoid them from staring at me?

The eyes looked at me even from underneath the wings, or to be more accurate at this moment, they took a side look. My eyes, though with sunglasses, had to shy away from the hot sun, but not these few.

They are actually small butterflies in comparison to those I have hunted in Penang Butterfly Farm. They may look less charming at a glimpse, but their pictures certainly tell a different story.

The stripes and the extra little bit of colours, either on the wings or the antennae, hinted me on the wonder of these little lives.

I had not seen golden rice stalks, but I found this paddy field entertained me in the other way.

Sunday Morning at A Paddy Field

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:28:00 +0000

This is the place I pass by everyday on my way to work, but it manages only to catch my fleeting glimpse at the speed of 90km/hr. I have seen many pond herons wandering around over last few weeks, and am sure a glimpse must not be enough.

It is half past eight in the morning. I am feeling the burning heat, in such a way very different from Cerok Tokun, at which I am fully sheltered by the dense forest.

And I am seeing a farmer at work.

This very crude scarecrow seems to be not frightening the white-throated kingfisher away. You may want to know where is the bird, the answer is right in the next picture.

But there must be more birds hiding themselves in the paddy field.

Yes, here come the lonely pond heron looking for its early meal, but flocks of herons have gone missing. I am too late for the gorgeous season.

Anyhow, one or two are still entertaining. Catching them flying is just like catching the seconds, they are simply too fast for a amateur like me. A pretty good excuse, isn't it?

I am coming for the flock of herons, but receive many others in return. Some are dynamic to attract my attention, the others just stay besides the pathway quietly. I am so lucky to have spotted them.

But the morning moon is certainly not one of those, because though it is a single moon, everyone is always able to see at everywhere and in everyday.

Story started from 7am

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:28:00 +0000

It was exactly 7am when I reached Cerok Tokun this morning. It was a quiet moment before hikers started to pour in, and this was the silent corner where I started my hiking.

To start hiking at 7am is nothing early, some hikers come with torch lights at 6am. This is the moment nobody can recognise each other, and the moment we keep walking without knowing where we are, until the first sunlight appears.

My camera tells the story today which happened under an umbrella, and which happened after 7am. This heavy tropical rain lasted for a short moment, but not its traces.

It never bothered to hide what it had done to the jungle, after all, only time could help. And before the time came, this was the moment I enjoyed the most, the tranquil hiking trail, the wet morning, the cool feeling and the lovely experience.

Even the water would like to record a part of the story, started from tiny dots, spread into circles and ended into invisible infinity.

These trees tried to trap this part of the trace, which was the weakest but yet the prettiest, before being removed by the sun.

The story continues to repeat, as tropical rain will always come, suddenly and heavily in some of the days, and its trace can be found everywhere you can see on our body.

Let It Bee

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:28:00 +0000

I was disturbed by the humming sounds while searching for birds at my favourite spot at Cerok Tokun. Those birds chirped behind the leaves. I had to pay attention, and stay focus, any movement at the corners of my eyes simply excited, at the same time, disappointed me, but the humming sound was loud and irritated. I needed to find out what was actually taking place.

To my surprise, I have a big and colourful bee accompanying me. It might be signalling me to have its pictures to be shown in the Internet. "If Kingfishers can have it, why not mine?"

It never went away once I started to click at him. Nowadays, not only human who think they are clever through the process of evolution.

The bee continued to pose in many styles that I could not resist to show to you.

"If you need some award-winning pictures, just keep on clicking at me. You are sure to get what you want."

"Don't believe? See it yourself in your PC!"

In order to gain more exposure in the virtual world, the bee was so talkative to me, trying to be persuasive.

Let it bee.

Kingfisher Finally

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:08:00 +0000

After numerous failures on hunting for the kingfisher, I made it today!!

I have spotted various species of kingfishers at many places. They fly here and there at Cerok Tokun, "now you see it now you don't" at Perai River bank, and test my patience at the paddy fields near to where I stay.

So how could I let go the rare chance when it was so near to me this time. I discovered this White-throated Kingfisher while I was driving in the village. I pulled over immediately, rolled down the windows and it was virtually mine now.

After some successful shots, I tried to get down from my car, walked nearer, and the trick worked this time. So all those pictures taken earlier inside my car were then kept silently in my hard disk.

My luck was with me this time. This was another one that I had seen later of the day.

The story can never end yet. This one was found waiting for its chance on its prey beside the Perai River bank. This might imply the same to me as well. Anyway, both were happy finally.

By the way, this one belongs to a different species from White-throated Kingfisher.

At the time I made my move, atop of a tree, this kingfisher was telling me good-bye.

"When you come again, I shall fly away. You will get tired and disappoited, I shall have a lot of fun."

Flying Mudskipper

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:08:00 +0000

I have shown you mudskippers some time ago, and I would like to show you something which is very interesting yet new to me right now.

As their name implies, other than walking on mudflats, mudskippers are able to skip by using their strong pair of pectoral fins. I heard of this a long long time ago, this was the first time I witnessed this exciting stunt today.

I was actually hunting for birds along Perai River this afternoon, but then this mudskipper simply diverted my attention.

It continued to skip one after another, either aiming to entertain me or to have a good exercise.

Let see together.

It applied force on the pectoral fins, and got set to catapult it self,

and,

up, upppppppp, and it flew like a bird.

Isn't it funny and interesting? I bet you have never seen this before. What do you say?

Peeping at a Monkey

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:18:00 +0000

If you ever think of monkey is dangerous, it is then very far away from me this time. Anyhow, Dusky Langur is found less aggressive in comparison to a long tailed Macaque. I have never seen them mixing in a group, they must have marked their own territories.

I spotted this Dusky Leaf Monkey in between some dense leaves during my way back. I usually pace myself during the uphill journey, and slow down in order not to hurt the ankles when going down hill.

It should be as light as a bird, sitting on the tip of a tree branch, and picking leaves for its breakfast.

But looking at its size, I could not help myself to believe it was not heavy.

And certainly it was not looking or honking at me, and those actions had never caused the thin branches to vibrate.

Everything was in a peaceful equilibrium, when I kept my distance during peeping, observing, and photo hunting.

I watched this monkey for some time, until it went down slowly and disappeared in the forest. Yes, it went down "slowly", very much different from those long-tailed Macaques that used to swing from one tree to another.

I was not alone. I had pulled the attention of a group of people. They too took out their hand phone cameras and started taking photos.

The Turn

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:40:00 +0000

If you do ever think of a successful hide behind a twist or a turn , you maybe wrong. A pair of eyes is looking at you from a distance, you may not know, but he is always out there.

And you may not know what is happening behind the turn, not before you have struggled through the uphill turn, but the pair of eyes knows that.

He knows that, not because he is gifted with super powers, but is just standing outside the mysterious turn.

Anyhow, the sleeping turtle is there waiting for you immediately after this uphill turn. You have then spent more than one hour on the hiking, you are panting, you are tired. It may awake at anytime.

The trail is getting steeper, the peak is not far away anymore, but you have to pass by the sleeping turtle first.

Reflection

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:08:00 +0000

Very few people would have come to this place. Cerok Tokun, to many people, is a place for hiking, and this dam has then laid silently at an isolated corner. Silence does not mean alone, it is in company with many trees, be it big, small, tall or short.

I see myself in the mirror whereas these trees find themselves inside the water. I am definitely not the same person at this time back in 2008. I am loaded with many pots of gold, at least, in the eve of my first blogoversary. Cerok Tokun is my gold mine.

These trees see their reflections every time the sun rises. I look at the mirror everyday before leaving home in the morning. I have yet to find Tiger Woods in my mirror so far, otherwise, what shall I do?

I do not believe these trees do think so much nonsense as me,

though they may spend time to reflect on what has happened and what has been done.

Cerok Tokun Web

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000

I was delighted to have spotted this web site. This is one of the beautiful and interesting orb webs I have ever seen so far, and thank to the trapped debris that was big enough to provide me with a useful focus point.

Looking for spider webs along my hiking trail has added more fun to my exploration. But it much depends on luck on how the sun shines, where the cobwebs locate, etc. in order to get a decent picture.

And it is even more interesting when I am able to find them again in a complete shape on my next trip. The size never grows for most of the time, but certainly not the story behind the web which has happened over the past few days, in the day and night, in the rain and wind.

Although this three-dimensional tent web looks messy, but its waterproof nature has kept the water droplets as lines of jewels and make it as attractive as my earlier discovery.

Following the Bees

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:28:00 +0000

Following the bees was not an easy task since they made me too busy as well and having the need to fly around, but they did lead me to some wonderful places and show me some fantastic poses.

Sometimes, it showed the funniest posture that can never explain its name quite precisely. We met face-to-face, it looked strange to me, and how am I to him?

I had another question still unanswered. They flew from one flower to another, and back to former again, left, and came back, and was continued. Why can't they stay for the same flower until the job was done?

I met a brown caterpillar over here. This was visible, many were not, and I do not mean only caterpillars.

Many others were still hiding in the bushes, or in the forest.

Kek Look Cave, Episode two

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:38:00 +0000

Mother nature has built her library in the same way we build ours. We can read and enjoy the shared experience and knowledge. We can spend our time as long as we wish, only if we want to. When we are willing to let go our imagination, there is no harm to have different understanding or interpretation on what we have seen.

When I walked through, I got to know the collections of the library were written through thousands of years of Nature’s evolution. Ours are traced back only to a few thousand years.

They are written partially by dripping water, some by the atmospheric influences, or tectonic forces. These are all great writers whose efforts do continue day in, day out without showing any sign of tiredness.

And of course, another great writer who I must not miss out is the moments of time. We can only see him through those speleothems or cave formations.

The library is not big in size, yet the collections of literature are many. It is up to our wisdom as how much invaluable knowledge we can learn.

Kek Look Cave, Episode one

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:38:00 +0000

I visited Perak, the Silver State of Malaysia with two places in my mind yesterday. The journey that covered a distance of 518km started at six in the morning, ended at home at half past four in the evening. The first place turned out to be a disappointment, but Kek Look Cave, one of the cave temples in Ipoh, capital of Perak, has offered me a great trip.

Kek Look Cave is a place where worshippers of Taoism and followers of Buddhism come seeking wisdom for their next journey and answer to their unsolved questions.

Right above the entrance to this limestone cave, there is a small opening on the top of the hill. Is this where all messages are sent to the sky? Will all the answers and wisdom that are eagerly sought be then sent back through the same channel?

When I move around, there are more to be explored on the other side of the cave.

Following the traces of time, reading from one line to another, are we going to understand something that help to clear the doubts in our simple mind?

This tree must have witnessed the cycles of glory and agony over centuries. It must be wise enough to point out the Dos and Don'ts in our daily practices, but are we open-minded enough to be hinted?

A group of singles transform into a community, and there lies the power of love, the passage to dissolve most of our unsettled disagreements, but shall we not to be blind to know that?

No matter how tough our life is, we still survive through if we would like to. Somehow, there is no favouritism given by the Mother Nature to us.

At the end of the trip, I am still an ordinary me as before. But, ordinary is sometimes good enough. Just seize the day, live while I can.

Oops Hops

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:08:00 +0000

I have found this tiny grasshopper perching between the greens and yellows this morning. To have spotted this critter in a small corner of this vast forest, and without much effort and time, was simply unexplainable.

There was then no hesitation for my next action since we were fated to meet each other, at this moment. This moment would be erased within seconds, and left behind no traces.

I lifted a piece of leaf and moved my camera through gently and carefully for a closer encounter.

"Hello! Hello! Can you please adjust your pose a little bit?" I had to move myself then since it seemed to be a one-way communication.

I squeezed myself further into the bushes. It could smell a man better by now, but hopefully it would never confuse the smell of a man with that of sweat.

Oops!! It hopped, and was forever gone.

It appeared from nowhere, and had to return there finally.

Birder

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:08:00 +0000

I mixed up Asian Glossy Starlings that feasted on my papaya with Mynahs five months back. Anyhow, these close relative of Mynahs are no less noisy, the decibel level is sometimes intolerable high to an uneasy heart.

I live nearby a village, a oil palm plantation and paddy fields. This certainly hints that I have been offered opportunities to watch many birds, included these "Perling Mata Merah", or Startling in Malay. In fact, I have seen many but rare to picture some decent one, and the temptation keeps running wild as long as the failure continues further, until this evening.

I pretended as a birder.

This couple was spotted having their quiet moment in such a way trying to mislead me, but my experience helped to deny this, or they had the belief that romantic starts from Wordless Wednesday.

This immature Starling was found staying atop of this tree at a distance from the couple.

I pretend as a birder. I cannot identify most the birds included the next one, but this would not deny it to be my favourite.

But this could not help to keep her for much longer. My favourite had flown away.

My Family Time

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:20:00 +0000

A short break from my Cerok Tokun....

I repaired my bicycle and then went for a ride with my family in the evening at my neighbourhood. These mynahs never felt alone as a couple, just like us. They took their time strolling around. An evening walk as well?

Parked our bicycles in front of sunset. It was a good time we had enjoyed.

And this still go back to the joy of a simple life. We spend nothing for this family time, yet able to enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of our neighbourhood.

Coincidence

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:08:00 +0000

"We were doing the same thing lately!" But I would like to tell Tes it is more than that. I have pictured a black wasp at Cerok Tokun this morning. Thinking of Googling for some information before it can be a "virtual star", I found it in Ratty's place today. I know I need some pain killers when I read the comment by Icy BC, "I think I took pictures of the same critter like you".

There are so many coincidences lately.

This black wasp flied to my favourite fern leaf when I was doing my searching. If not because of the white tips on the pair of antennae, and the black and yellow stripes on its legs, I should convince myself about the existence of the forth dimension, and this black wasp might have made it first, instead of us.

This wasp kept waving its antennae in such a way trying to communicate with me. This is what I always presume out in the forest when I come face-to-face with any critters.

Only when the antennae are still strong, it can hear without ears; it can smell without nose, it can converse without tongue, otherwise, it would soon perish.

That's why, it was so "talkative", and I replied in my camera way.

It might be nobody was listening. Both were too busy.

PS: I have to make a correction base on the input of Amila Salgado. This insect is not actually a wasp, but a Stilt-Legged Fly. The antennae that I have mentioned is its front legs which it constantly waves around as if signaling someone or something.

Thanks to Amila Salgado.

They bloomed from a different angle

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:11:00 +0000

I do not have enough of my little flower plants yet. They were many over here, and looked differently after I have adjusted my position.

They even bloomed from a different angle.

Lush green was now the setting, instead of earlier gloomy waterscape. It was more appropriate to go along with the lively activity that took place on the tiny stems, in the early morning.

If you are bored, but I do not think you are, I am bringing you a butterfly which maybe the owner of those lines of eggs.

It was not a charming one, but if I managed to follow her, I should have another wonderful story to tell you, only if I have a pair of wings.

But I have another reason to feel great. Tomorrow is my Happy Weekend again!! And I have a date with Cerok Tokun.

For Your Naked Eyes

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:46:00 +0000

I have neglected far too many things. My eyes have never told me the full story occasionally, yet I assume they have at the first place. With the help of my camera, I have a stronger pair of eyes today.

I first followed a few bees, they took me to this flower tree this morning. They never stayed, but I did after I was amazed by what I had seen through my viewfinder.

I was on the top of the dam that looked like an ancient kingdom fortress again.

The secret of these ants is no more a secret. They were caught red-handed on the missing eggs of butterflies.

Before they could remove all the eggs, this caterpillar managed to escape and survive through the metamorphosis.

It first started from a few flying bees, then to a flower plant, red ants, eggs, and finally came the existence of this caterpillar. They appeared in stages, like in a movie. Nature is the film maker, waterscape is the setting. The rest were the actors of the day.

I was just a photographer who magnified the moment, just for you naked eyes.

Treehopper

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:38:00 +0000

When I was having my fun time taking pictures of flowers, I discovered that there was a tiny critter having a rest at the other side. You may think I had found a colourful butterfly, in fact it was not. Its body length is approximately the size of a grain of rice.

The title of this post should have told you it is a treehopper (I am quite sure it is although I cannot find an exact match), which I did not know earlier, otherwise I would like to know how a treehopper hops at that day.

"Treehopper is a group of insects related to the cicadas which can be found on all continents except Antarctica, although there are only three species in Europe".

The name treehopper may have suggested that it is an active insect, however it stayed still the whole session I was with him. That was why I only managed to get the picture in a fixed angle. Then you may ask again, ha ha!! I could not move for another angle as well. I was standing beside a slope.

"Male and female treehoppers signal to one another as part of the mating process. Some aggressive males use signals to "jam" the communication of another male with a female".

Looking at the black dot on top of its body, is this its eye? Then, it should be watching at me for all the time.

But I did not aware at all. Similarly, I must have neglected many other things as well, which I do not know until now.

Malayan Water Monitor Lizard

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:32:00 +0000

While I was enjoying my experimentation on the Water Dam that looked like an ancient kingdom fortress, there was a water monitor quietly spending its time near the dam. It might be there for a long time which I did not know, but once my experiment was extended to closer to the dam, this five feet long lizard started to move away. It moved its clumsy body steadily away from the glassland and heading towards the other side of the wetland.

Actually, Water Monitor Lizards are no strangers to me. I used to see them along my jogging trail besides the bank of Prai River, in mangroves or swamps. They can remain underwater for up to half an hour. Malayan Water Monitors can survive in habitats that would not be able to support other large carnivores. Unlike most of us, they are not choosy on their foods. They eat anything that they can swallow, from tiny insects, to crabs, snakes, fish, even other monitor lizards, rubbish, human faeces, and dead bodies.

They look big, they look scary, but they are more afraid of me than I am of them. They usually move very fast to the bushes or into the water once I jog towards them. It is so funny to see them getting into such a fluster, although I may not see them for some time, but the sound of splashing water or rubbing sound against the bushes tell me the story.

This Monitor Lizard at Cerok Tokun climbed very well on the cement wall using its strong curved claws. Steadily it moved, and finally disappeared in the wetland.

The chasing after this giant lizard had distracted me from my experiment, but landed me onto another giant critter, a millipede.

This millipede seemed to have a relaxing bath in the down flow of water from the top of the dam. I do not know how it managed to stay still without being carried away by the water on the wet wall.

What a different discovery to show to you from MyJourney today.

Which Way?

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:45:00 +0000

I have come across the intense blue of the Greek sky from my many readings. When I discovered my very blue sky at Cerok Tokun, I could not stop from asking: is mine as blue as that Greek sky?

In fact, I was experimenting again. Trial and error is my other teacher, besides learning in the blogosphere.

I got the next one just because I have forgotten to change the setting of my camera. Since inventions usually happen unintentionally, this unplanned shot turned out to be my favourite.

It had a different look after I decided to turn on the flash. It is sometimes better to have a dim view, the mysterious feeling will at least keep my imagination glowing.

Going through adventures like Indiana Jones's needed him to keep exploring new places, otherwise Indiana Jones is no more Indiana Jones. Indiana Jones did not go back to the same place, because this was at the discretion of the director. I am myself the director.

I went back to the same place again to experiment my new experience. I have lost the intense blue sky, but met my new friend enjoying the winding game.

Yes, every creature enjoys in each different way, my way, his way or her way, but certainly not a no- way.

Greeting the Morning

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:22:00 +0000

I have gone hiking after raining days for some time. It is very much warmer this morning with brighter sunlight shadowing the trees along the path. I do not need to climb as my younger days, and I can reach the top without scraping my knees.

I am not that tall, as tall as a tree, but I look as tall as a tree.

I still keep the same pose after coming out from the jungle, because I see myself more often now. I change from tall to short, go from front to the back. This, at the end, will not change the fact that I am skinny and short.

Shifting from left to right, I am inspired by myself and start to sit by the moss at the side of the pathway. You are not going to see me now since I do not like to be disturbed. I need some room to relax myself.

This is another morning that I have a different touch and feel.

The Joy of a Simple Life

rainfield61@gmail.com (RainField61) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Wherever our eyes can see, there are photographs waiting for us to capture. And I do hope my experiment can help to freeze some of the beautiful moments. Anyhow, it is just the joy of a simple life.

If you have ever hiked at Cerok Tokun, you can see these finger-nail-sized little wild flowers are now blooming everywhere. But somehow you may not see them, not because they are so tiny to be attractive, it is only you have been moving too fast.

If this is the reason, let me show you now and you'll go back later to find them.

No adjective is required.

Not only the fashion model who walks on catwalk, this flower is also posing a side view.

And what a crazy world, it is not easy to let go a beauty.