EXPLORING NATURE & WILDLIFE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

The Spiny orb-weavers are one of the most unique spiders where they can show off a variety of colours, shapes and patterns. They also come in different sizes especially in their adult form. Their webs can go as big stretching tree to tree, spanning a distance of one to two metres.  1. Gasteracantha doriae (Doria's Spiny Spider) - My first encounter of this spider was at Mandai Track 7 high up above my head, and the second encounter was at Old Upper Thomson Road PCN.   2.    Gasteracantha kuhli (Black-and-white Spiny Spider) - This spider was seen many times at a neighbourhood park in Yishun and also along Yishun Ave 1. I believed it can be seen in parks with dense vegetation. It is a small spider with a big web. 3. Gasteracantha mengei (Spiny Orbweaver) - Both encounters were seen along Mandai Track 7. They are huge and their webs are high up in the tree. 4. Macracantha arcuata (Curved Spiny Spider or Longhorn Orbweaver) - This species was previously in the genus Gasteracantha. It

North Sulawesi, Indonesia - Known for its rich marine life, great for adventurous diving travellers, but we were there for their endemic birds/wildlife. We arrived Manado one day before our trip started and left two days after due to the limited flights there. Our Guide, Mr Noldi, rendered us his best service by offering to pick us upon arrival despite the tour starts the next day.  It was Day 1 of our tour and we were picked up at around 8am. After a one night stay at a nearby airport hotel, we were off for our adventure to Tangkoko Nature Reserve. We arrived at our homestay in Tangkoko 2 hours later. It was too early for lunch and Guide said we unpacked and get ready to move out. The weather was a little cloudy, not sunny though. The nature reserve was only 5 minutes away from the homestay, and we were like almost practically staying next to it. We began our walk into the reserve, led by our Guide and his partner. They tried to hunt for the Blue-faced rail but in vain. As we walked i

We had finally arrived at our final birding location - Di Linh, after 4hrs plus of travelling. It's nearing the end of our trip, and we were feeling both happy (very rewarding) and sad (time to go home). Our birding experience in Vietnam so far was a fantastic and memorable adventure!! Food and service were the best!! We reached Di Linh around dinner time, and of course, eat first. No food, no need to talk about the rest! We were thinking that after makan, go back hotel and rest, shooting will start the next day, however it started right after dinner! Guide said "We will go for the Mountain Scops Owl later." After about 40mins of travelling through small roads on the highlands, we arrived and alighted along the road at an unfinished construction site. It was drizzling and pitched dark. The best thing was that, only the ladies had their torch lights ready, the guys kept their torch in the luggages. We had to hike through a dense vegetation of leeches and up the muddy hill