Back to Bali Big Blue

Merely after  month coming back from Bali after my last dive, I am at Bali again joining my friends for another dive trip. However, the visibility is much worse than my last trip here.

It happens to be on a full moon and we see the highest wave on the shore and that make our entry to the water even more challenging. Is the worst visibility that I ever had for Bali. The visibility is only about 3m at max. This was due to the strong current that brought up the silts from the bottom.

As usual, Liberty wreck is one site we will go whenever we dive here.

The Liberty wreck become even more mysterious under the low visibility.

Is always exciting to see sea turtle  up-close.

Liberty wreck became our playground for a day.

Strong current also means that is easier to see garden eel up-close too without worry that they will burrow in as they are feeding most actively during strong current.

This is how bad the visibility today, anything after the fish about 3m away is almost disappear.

One last look at the nemo (clown fish) before we surface.

Back To Bali Within A Month

Merely after a month return from my last dive in Bali, I am back again! 

The route to our dive resort still fresh in my mind. Especially this view of the valley.

So as the majestic Mt Agong.

I stay in the different resort for this trip. Is exactly opposite to the famous Liberty wreck dive site.

After checking in, we get our dive gears ready for diving the next day.

I was here last month! The famous Liberty wreck entry point.

I did a quick intro to my friends who are having their fist dive in Bali.

Diving in this part of Bali, the wave at the shore made entry more chllenging.

After the shore, we take a stroll of this small dive village under the glorious evening sun.

Our room come with private balcony perfect for chit-chat and do star watching!

I even have this milky way taken right from the balcony.

Green Gems of North Thailand

With the accurate info from my friend, I arrive at the birding site at the right timing to see the green gems of North Thailand - Green Cochoa.

I was so happy to see this bird in full view! They are very timid and illusive. I have been to North Thailand several time trying to see this bird without success. They are not rare as you can hear their call but never had a chance to take its photo.

Is the raining season now in Thailand and this make photograph this bird even more challenging. Good that they are preparing to nest.

Only during their nesting season that they will stay still and this allowed us to take their photo in full.

Not just one but two. Both male & female will take turn to appear as they take turn to incubate their eggs.

So, can you tell which is male and which is female?

The eggs just hatched and the chick is too small to be visible from below.

This is the male bird without the gold patch on the wing and is ready with food in mouth to feed the chicks.

Not just Green Cochoa, I get to see other birds too.

Such as this Grey Cheeked Fulvetta busy manipulating this big worm.

Japanese White Eye

Yellow cheeked Tit

and Mrs Gould Sunbird.

Heading To North Thailand for Green Gems

It was a rather "busy" month for me with trips back to back. Merely a week after return from my Bali diving trip, I am on the move again and this time round flying north to Thailand. This was a last minute decision after received a call from my friend that I must go as this may be the best chance to see the green gems of North Thailand. They are very timid & illusive and I so far have not been able to have a glimpse of it.

I took the early morning flight so that I can go straight to the birding sight once I arrive at Chiangmai.

Can't remember how many trip have I been to Chiangmai, each time I will bring back different images of bird species.

The journey to the birding site is about 4 hours away, as usual we stop by for lunch before continue our journey to Doi Ankang.

Ice blended mango juice as dessert.

A new Japan garden (didn't see it the last time I was here), is time for a toilet break in this new park.

Cute toilet sign.

Another view of the garden.

Is time to set up my camera after 10 hours since I left my house this morning. I didn't take long for my target bird to appear right in front of me.

Just after a few photos, it started to rain. So we cut short the trip and proceed to check-in to the hotel at Fang.

Time to go for my favorite Thai cuisine after check-in.

Day Trip to Nusa Peninda 2

I didn't expect the number of tourist increased by so many fold in just few years time. Traffic on the whole island is bumper to bumper. As such, we can't spend too much time at each location else we will miss our ferry back to Bali in the afternoon. We will just visit 3 locations on this island. The first one is furthest from the pier - Kelingking Beach around the South West of Nusa Peninda.

This bare tree is one of the hot spot for IG photo.

The main spot for Kelingking Beach is this tiny cliff. Due to time constraint, we didn't walk down to the beach or the cliff.

The water was crystal clear and looks so beautiful. The strong wave & current make swimming in this area during this time too dangerous.

After the Kelingking Beach, we move backwards to Angel's Billabong on the Western part of the island. This is one of the Sacred area on top of this rock formation.

This perhaps is the most IG spot of the island.

Like the Kelingking Beach, the current and wave here is very strong.

The people around the cliff get splash all over when the wave hit the cliff even though they are so may meters above the sea.

Another spectacular view of the island.

Those who want a perfect IG photo may pay the local some tokens to have a nice photo taken with this nice background.

The last location that I visit is Crystal Bay. I have scuba dive around this area several time but is my first time step onto the island. This dive spot is famous for diving with Mola-mola or Ocean Sunfish. There was a report  of a sighting of Great White for the very first time last month! Wow...