Monday, November 3, 2008

God's little creatures

Found this weird looking creature lurking in our garden one day... looks almost something straight out of Pan's Labyrinth or a Jim Henson production. It's actually almost like a cross between a blade of grass and a praying mantis - only that it stands in four legs.



Sometimes it just makes you think how God randomly creates things and gives it beauty in a strange yet wonderful way. Cambodia is such a treasure trove for such... and my yard is a zoo on its own. My home garden is so impressive in its biodiversity that in a span of a year, we have had found a couple of anaconda-esque snakes, a full grown beehive (both were eaten by my staff!), a colony of wasps and creatures you can find only in Animal Planet.



Just last week, I got bitten by an unknown insect which went inside my shoe while I was outside the yard. When I came home after shooting an event, my left foot was already swollen and I had difficulty walking. When I woke up in the morning, it was really bad that I could even hardly pull myself out of bed. My foot was so swollen it looked like a marshmallow (think Michelin man!). To make matters worse, it itched like the fourth of July!

A hospital visit and five days worth of medicine after, I am back to the gym, able to drive and am doing better. But it just beats the hell out of me what I will discover next lurking in our yard...

The yeti perhaps?

Or maybe I should lobby for my house to be a full nature reserve. That way, I can charge entrance tickets to guests!

30 comments:

Luis Batchoy said...

your hand is so...
Handy
Ehehehehe

the spool artist said...

that's not my hand... that's my staff Malis' farm-bred fingers, palm, metacarpals and all! hahaha... i cant hold my camera with just one hand kasi... its too freaking heavy!

Luis Batchoy said...

I like his hand then. I presume it is a he. Well, girls are bug-icky... Very nice hands... It tells wonderful stories... or is it just the writer working overtime?

Megan said...

I think that bug could be what is known as a "walking stick". Totally awesome! So sorry to hear that your foot ended up giving you so much trouble, I feel badly! Your yard sounds fabulous though, and your staff? They sound intrepid, to say the least! What exotic food tastes, eating bee-hives and anacondas. When I get to visiting Cambodia, your yard will definitely be on my list of stops! (after you make it to Baja w/me, maybe this coming summer?)

the spool artist said...

@luis batchoy: yup, working overtime indeed... dont worry, i'll introduce you to him as if ever you grace us with your presence here! lol.

@megan: I googled it and it really is a walking stick... although the ones there are six legged... hhmmm... hahaha, my staff can absolutely eat anything! Tarantulas here are a popular delicacy too! Thanks... will definitely love to do that summer trip to Baja!

Anonymous said...

sorry ha, pero yung napansin ko yung isang mahabang kuko! lol!

chezza said...

I'm seeing "Cambodia's Next top Model Walking Stick". I think that this beauty has just evolved into a size zero! :)

RedLan said...

Marami ka palang alaga dyan sa backyard mo. some are really unique in size and color pero some nakakatakot. tulad na lang ng nagyari sau na nakagat ka. ingat!

Sreisaat said...

The nail is such a giveaway -- lalaki ang may-ari ng kamay na ito! Very useful ang kukong ito - lalo sa pagkakamot ng mga hard to reach parts hakhakhak. Juk lang.
When I was still in Kep, andami ko ring neighbors na ganyan.

Anonymous said...

Yup, definitely that is a walking stick. Mahilig kse ako manuod ng Animal Planet at Discovery Channel. Do you know na that insect can turn itself to color green and brown depending on its surroundings? Hahaha, parang si Ernie Baron ;)

lucas said...

i remember those insects. learned them from my biology class. i can't remember the name but there's a 'stick' in it. hehehe! try placing them in water. there are so light their weight couldn't break water's surface tension...hence, they could walk on water. the shape and color are perfect for dissimilation or camouflage.

hmmm...next time check your shoes first. dangerous insects usually hide in the dark places, like spiders...

it's cool your fine na...

peace out! did you use macro lens in than shot ??? :)

the spool artist said...

@coldman: hahaha, uso dito yan ang ganyang klaseng kuko! mabuti nga lang kamo at di nya nilagyan ng french tips! lol.

@chezza: oo nga! when i googled it, sobrang ang lalaki at tataba nila... very typical nga yan dito na everything and everyone is actually size zero... mga staff ko parang construction worker kung lumamon pero ang papayat! pati mga baka at baboy dito, mukhang may anorexia! lol.

@redlan: oo nga, kaya i have to be extra careful din sometimes. feeling ko minsan si jeff corwin ako dito! lol.

the spool artist said...

@ZJ: hahaha, love reading your adventures in kep! yup, dito din most males have nails like that... ako naman i grow long my nails sa thumbs for the reason that i love opening and ripping things with them!

@ar-wee-der-yet: wow, ernie baron nga! hahaha... thanks for the info... i love watching animal planet din but somehow, i always end up watching those shows which feature the african savannah or animal hospitals!

@roneiluke: yup, i used a macro lens po... mabuti ka pa they taught you this sa biology class... all i remember from that class is our teacher trying to sell us everything... from snacks to sara lee and avon! hahaha

Sharon said...

ohh, creepy how this insect can blend into a grassy environment-nature's many wonders!
uh huh, I do not fancy the likes of this unknown insect who got you haha. at aaaalll. It's fantastic though that you have such a rich ecosystem where you live, it really sounds like National Geographic TV:)

rainboy said...

anaconda...
you live in zoo man...

i would be scared to have snaked around.

Luis Batchoy said...

just the hand loven... but introducing me to that staff is unavoidable nga naman if I wanna see the hand up close. Hehehehe... Oh and I keep my thumb and pinky nails long too. Very very useful I say!

the spool artist said...

@sharon: you are sure right, i live on national geographic tv! i'm thankful though that i haven't seen sharks on my tub just yet! lol

@rainville: the good thing is it keeps the people around me happy! maybe i should try eating snakes too! :-)

@luis batchoy: don't worry, i'll make sure you'll only get introduced to the hand and no other part else! lol

GingGoy said...

been a long time since i saw a creature like that. i miss the mountains :(

i see you linked me up...will reciprocate it :P

eDreGiN said...

-little creatures indeed! buti nalang walang ganyan dito :=) Alam mo dyan ang dami talagang kinakain ng mga tao na diko maisip na pwedeng kainin...haaay! :=)

the spool artist said...

@tutubi: thanks tutubi!

@edregin: oo nga eh, wala ka talagang problema sa kanila dahil lahat na lang pwedeng ihain! liban na lang kung pati alaga mong aso o kuting eh i-barbecue nila! lol

pusangkalye said...

Nice idea kuya Loven...since there are many animals around, why not take advantage of them rather than the other way around.haha

the spool artist said...

oo nga anton, pwede din akong magtayo ng wildlife park dito and hold biology classes din! lol

The Dork One said...

i've seen that one na here sa pinas...

i wonder what it's called ma research nga

Borneo Falcon said...

This is the first time I saw such creature. Hope it don't bite or sting people

escape said...

it's good to know that you're feeling better. i know a lot of people feeling very sick right now. maybe because of the changing climate.

im also amazed at creatures like that. very weird features yet beautiful because it's rare.

Anonymous said...

Amongst the rare and exotic creatures, my most favorite is the Fendi Fish. =)

Looking For The Source said...

alam mo nung kumakain ako ng crab kanina, pumasok din yan sa isip ko... how God wonderfully created animals like this. ang galing ng imagination nya...

the spool artist said...

@alex: some are saying na walking stick daw! been trying to research further on it as well!

@borneo falcon: so far it didn't bite or sting us while we were playing around with it, so i guess it's alright!

@the dong: you're right, the erratic weather nowadays is taking a toll on our health... í think i'm catching a flu myself! it's been raining constantly here but the sun has been scorchingly hot too!

@palangga: hahaha, of course you wish that it will turn itself into a bag!

@looking for the source: yup, you're right... God is very creative in showing us the power of his imagination!

KRIS JASPER said...

halong... basi may tayho man da sa garden mo? or sirena... or flying elephant...

budlay na.

the spool artist said...

wala pa man ah... pero nahadlok ko basi si Zuma dugay dugay matuhaw dire! lol