Treasure Hunt at Bali

Being the largest tourist destination in Indonesia - Bali is no stranger to those who seek spectacular mountain scenery, beautiful beaches, friendly people, scuba diving, etc.

Since Bali is part of the coral triangle, there is no surprise Bali being one of the favorite diving destination due to its rich marine biodiversity. Well, one may enjoy the rich marine biodiversity by scuba diving or alternatively, visit Bali when the tide is at the lowest. Refer to the tide table & pick a date that Bali is experiencing spring low tide. During spring low tide, the inter-tidal area that usually cover with sea water of up to few meters deep will be exposed and remain accessible up to 3 hours before the tide return.

I did another inter-tidal walk at Bali last November and I choose Sanur an area that with lots of hotel/resort to choose from. Based on the tide table, the tide will be lowest at 7.30am. We plan to go to the inter-tidal area around 6.30am but was delayed till 7.00am due to light rain.

The tide is already quite low when we reach the Sanur beach.

The colourful traditional fishing boat known as 'jukung' line up at the shore, a great subject for photograph.

 The tide is still going down as I head to the inter-tidal area.

I'm now in the middle of the ocean! I'm walking instead of swimming in the seagrass meadows! Is time to pay attention to slight movement as most animals here camouflage very well.

 This school of baby razor fish looks really like part of the sea grass until they start to move.

Saw this very beautiful hermit crab slowly moving from one place to another looking for food I presume.

A naticidae or commonly called Moon snails was seen ploughing at the sandy area. Moon snails may looks very pretty with the very shinning shell, they are fierce predator! They will drill a hole on mostly bivalves and use its proboscis to consume the flesh of their prey.

Another very pretty yet deadly  predators of the inter-tidal area - Helmut debelius (Cymbiola vespertilio)

Merely more than 2 cm wide, isn't this small crab cute?

First Echinoderms that I saw... half buried in the sand - a bristle star.

More bristle star of different colour.

Another sea star that camouflage very well with the substrate.

Nature never fail to amaze... talk about design principle such as unity/harmony, balance, hierarchy, similarity and contrast, etc. You name it, this star have it.

Pencil sea urchin hiding in the crevice in the day & will come out at night.

Another sea urchin in one of the tidal pool.

Sea cucumber, another member of the echinoderm.

Not forgetting this huge sea star - Knobbly sea star aka Chocolate chips sea star.

This may look like a flatworm at one glance but is not. This is a carpet sole fish! Can you spot the two eyes that is staring at you?

Also flat in shape is this nudibranch.

Fisherman also taking advantage of the low tide and fish at the inter-tidal area.

One of the many sea weed that can be found in the inter-tidal area. All these are indeed treasure to be discovered once every fortnight when the tide are low.  :)

New Year, New Calendar & New Book

I received a very special package late in the afternoon on the vary last day of 2014. Just in time to celebrate the new year!

Instead of plain colour envelope, this package come with a drawing of a bird. To be exact, is a drawing of a pigeon - “幸福之鴿”

 Such an unique packaging, no doubt that this package has to be sent from Taiwan!

I was speechless when I unpack the package! OMG...  there are a total of 3 items and none of them can be bought here over in Singapore. One customised post card, one customised calendar and one very special bird guide/book - "Field Guide of Wild Bird in Taiwan" that was launched just a month ago. I was trying to get a copy when I was on holiday with my family at Taiwan just 2 weeks ago and I couldn't find it! This must be one of the best gift that I received of the year!

Both the post card and the calendar are some of the many great photos that taken by the sender. You really need to visit her blog to find out yourself. Do drop by 蔚藍手札 to be amazed by many of her great photos, travel experiences, nature, etc.

This is Taiwan very first hand drawn bird guide published late last year. Thank you very very much Euphtw! It is now easier for me to id new birds that I saw in Taiwan!

 This book was published in October 2014.

Being able to id the bird is one thing, being able to pronounce their local name and communicate, talk or discuss it with the local is a totally different story. There are birds that having the same common name but are referring to two different species at different area or country. With this book, I am able to compare their scientific name and know how they are called or named in Taiwan. No doubt this is the best gift of the year.

On the side note.... more excuses to visit Taiwan again!  Haha...

Kokokan - Gifts of the God

Is been a great 2014. I have been travel back to back in the last 2 months and finally find some time to pen down some of my trips.

This post was about my trip to a village in Bali in late November 2014.  There are thousands of birds that have integrated to the day to day life of a small village that I'm visiting. The villagers believed that these birds are the gifts from the God and hence give them the freedom to build their nest within their village and protect them.

The village is situated at Petulu Mountain in Bali, Indonesia. The village still maintain their traditional lifestyle have not change much except that they now have electricity supply.

Petulu is a very small village with population about 300. Agriculture is the main activity in the village.

 Probably another month or so and is time to harvest for rice.

Different from other area, the rice here are planted/harvest only once a year. I was told that the rice that are planted here today was the very same rice that was planted here long time ago and pass down from generation to generation. That explain why they only harvest once a year.  

There are about 10 thousands birds in this village and the population here is just about 300. That adds up to be 300 birds to one resident! What a big ratio! There are 3 different birds - Little egret, Javan pond heron and cattle egret with the most in numbers and are know as Kokokan.

The birds are free to perch at any where in the village. From the tree branches, roof, lamp post and some just outside the window.

The first group of birds arrive at the village back in 7th November 1965 after a great ceremony in the village. That makes the villagers believe that these birds was the gifts from their God and vow to protect them.

What a magnificent sight to watch the birds fly in and out of the village freely and in a very very close distance.

If you are looking at practicing your photography skill of taking bird's flight shot. This is a perfect place. There are always some birds that will fly pass you every one or two seconds.

 This Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) was just about 2 meters away!

Another Cattle egret that is just meters away, I didn't change the background or do anything on this photo. The bird is that close and is comfortable with my presence, so I have this macro shot effect. Haha...

Every family have their own temple in their house and this is the main temple for the village.

Just before I leave... selfie time with the Chief village. Thank you for his time and guide.