My high hopes for trapping in March did not materialize. We caught two large monitor lizards and saw very little dhole sign. We ended up with only 4 trap nights because my schedule did not overlap with my vet’s schedule. However, he did get a week of wildlife handling training at Khao Khieo Open Zoo.
During the middle of March, I attended the Fulbright Regional Enrichment Conference for American Fulbright Scholars in Southeast Asia, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The conference was truly the best conference I have attended by students, professors, and experts in various fields. It was helpful to hear about other grantees experiences/frustrations in setting up projects in Asia. I was excited to learn about interesting and worthwhile projects in everything from issues in public health and economics to the role of arts in modern Southeast Asia. My presentation on dholes was the “highlight” of the conference because it was the only wildlife presentation and everyone was intrigued with the unknown species.
After a couple days break exploring Kuala Lumpur, I headed back to Bangkok to deal with a second break-in at my apartment and being locked out of my computer. When I got back into the field, my vet was not available. We finally coordinated our schedules, and I just set the 5 traps this morning (March 31st) in the same study area we have been focusing on last year. I hope to keep them set for two weeks before the Thai New Year’s holiday, Songkran, around April 13th. After Songkran, the focus of the month will be on trapping. We will also coordinate student volunteers to interview villagers and draw blood samples from domestic dogs for disease testing. I have a professor from a local university coming out to help me introduce the project idea to the village chiefs.
Fish Spa
Want to go for a pedicure? What about a fish pedicure? I spotted a poster in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia, and for less than $10 per 30 minutes you can stick your feet in a tub of minnows to let them exfoliate your skin by feeding off of dead skin and bacteria. I couldn’t resist (being a biologist and all).
I’m in KL for the ASEAN mid-year Fulbright Enrichment Conference. To explore the offerings of this clean, modern, Asian city – and despite the late hour— my new friends and I headed for the Spa. We were herded up a narrow staircase where we carefully removed shoes prior to entering the “spa”—a converted living room (whose owner was busy watching TV). A woman employee led us to floor level sinks to wash our feet and then over to the tank…
It was a 2 meter x 1 meter FISH TANK with benches on either side. Slide your butt to the middle of the bench, swing your legs over, and dip---slowly. The first 10 minutes we laughed uncontrollably. Completely shocked at the new tickling sensation. I can best describe it as a light scraping against your feet (really they are sucking). I was thrilled, but shocked that some of the fish were only slightly smaller than a computer mouse! The fish are called Garra Rufa or Dr. Fish.
Kinda yucky in a bizarre sort of frightening way? Yes. Kinda touristy? Definitely. But the sensation of those first few seconds as you immerse your foot for that very first bite? Absolutely priceless.
I’m in KL for the ASEAN mid-year Fulbright Enrichment Conference. To explore the offerings of this clean, modern, Asian city – and despite the late hour— my new friends and I headed for the Spa. We were herded up a narrow staircase where we carefully removed shoes prior to entering the “spa”—a converted living room (whose owner was busy watching TV). A woman employee led us to floor level sinks to wash our feet and then over to the tank…
It was a 2 meter x 1 meter FISH TANK with benches on either side. Slide your butt to the middle of the bench, swing your legs over, and dip---slowly. The first 10 minutes we laughed uncontrollably. Completely shocked at the new tickling sensation. I can best describe it as a light scraping against your feet (really they are sucking). I was thrilled, but shocked that some of the fish were only slightly smaller than a computer mouse! The fish are called Garra Rufa or Dr. Fish.
Kinda yucky in a bizarre sort of frightening way? Yes. Kinda touristy? Definitely. But the sensation of those first few seconds as you immerse your foot for that very first bite? Absolutely priceless.