CJ with Prof Dan...Dr. Dan!
Today, we visited CJ with Prof Dan Ritschoff of Duke University, Michigan.
http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/people/faculty/rittschof/
Most of us showed up not knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be such a wonderful session of sharing! Prof Dan has great experience in seashore ecology, and has been visiting Singapore’s nature spots regularly since 1986. He hence knows a lot more than me about our shores! Plus, it’s such a pleasure talking to him! Of cuz, at the end of the trip, we got a mini interview...
We learnt a great many things… a lot about the hermit crabs. In each shell, there not only lives hermit crabs and slipper snails, there are burrowing sponges and burrowing barnacles and a worm that eats the eggs of the crab too! And when a snail dies, the hermit crabs ‘smell’ that death and come in throngs (well, I exaggerate) and a trading sort of takes place. He mentioned something about how they are all size 10 fitting in size 5 shells… and that they would come back and trade shells again! For better fit! Got that all on footage, we can look that up... (yup, he’s done extensive research on these crustaceans).
And... like most biologists, he has a bit of naughty humour too… When Ria picked up a smooth sea cucumber (which was a little shriveled) and decided to give it a wash and soak... he remarked, “oh, you’re gonna fluff it up eh?” *LOL* (not for underaged audience!)
His post grad students were great fun to have too, extremely chatty and friendly, though they could do with a few hunks amongst them (there were none!) C’mon. at least ONE for me to ogle at??? Now, don’t give me that look.
Like almost everyday on CJ, it was a beautiful one… and it was the first time on the Northern arm of the sand bar since the button shells came back! There were gazillions of them! More button shells than sand!
Sidetracking a little.. It has been a long while since I visited CJ.. and a long while since I caught up with Ria and Tom.. It is always a laugh talking to Ria... On the rides she so kindly gives me (good thing I live near her!). And her car aircon was working, except it was freezing at 6am in the morning! Hence, Murphy’s Law:
Addendum #1: If you don’t need something, it will work.
Addendum #2: Even then, it will fail in the end.
Heh heh!! Ok, back to CJ, I love the place.. I missed it! Everytime I return, it has new surprises in store for me, and rejuvenates me. It brings back special memories, which I accumulate with each of these visits. And It has somewhat become a part of me... Time has passed, I’ve been guiding for more than a year!
It’s also the people too, it’s wonderful being able to share the love for CJ with the other guides. It’s the identity of being a CJ guide, a ‘wildthing’!
Since this is my first post, I hope the best for Wildfilms, and cannot wait till the next season of super lows!
Heh heh, I end by saying… now every guide is wondering what AFDs are! Heh heh heh!
Love,
Pris
http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/people/faculty/rittschof/
Most of us showed up not knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be such a wonderful session of sharing! Prof Dan has great experience in seashore ecology, and has been visiting Singapore’s nature spots regularly since 1986. He hence knows a lot more than me about our shores! Plus, it’s such a pleasure talking to him! Of cuz, at the end of the trip, we got a mini interview...
We learnt a great many things… a lot about the hermit crabs. In each shell, there not only lives hermit crabs and slipper snails, there are burrowing sponges and burrowing barnacles and a worm that eats the eggs of the crab too! And when a snail dies, the hermit crabs ‘smell’ that death and come in throngs (well, I exaggerate) and a trading sort of takes place. He mentioned something about how they are all size 10 fitting in size 5 shells… and that they would come back and trade shells again! For better fit! Got that all on footage, we can look that up... (yup, he’s done extensive research on these crustaceans).
And... like most biologists, he has a bit of naughty humour too… When Ria picked up a smooth sea cucumber (which was a little shriveled) and decided to give it a wash and soak... he remarked, “oh, you’re gonna fluff it up eh?” *LOL* (not for underaged audience!)
His post grad students were great fun to have too, extremely chatty and friendly, though they could do with a few hunks amongst them (there were none!) C’mon. at least ONE for me to ogle at??? Now, don’t give me that look.
Like almost everyday on CJ, it was a beautiful one… and it was the first time on the Northern arm of the sand bar since the button shells came back! There were gazillions of them! More button shells than sand!
Sidetracking a little.. It has been a long while since I visited CJ.. and a long while since I caught up with Ria and Tom.. It is always a laugh talking to Ria... On the rides she so kindly gives me (good thing I live near her!). And her car aircon was working, except it was freezing at 6am in the morning! Hence, Murphy’s Law:
Addendum #1: If you don’t need something, it will work.
Addendum #2: Even then, it will fail in the end.
Heh heh!! Ok, back to CJ, I love the place.. I missed it! Everytime I return, it has new surprises in store for me, and rejuvenates me. It brings back special memories, which I accumulate with each of these visits. And It has somewhat become a part of me... Time has passed, I’ve been guiding for more than a year!
It’s also the people too, it’s wonderful being able to share the love for CJ with the other guides. It’s the identity of being a CJ guide, a ‘wildthing’!
Since this is my first post, I hope the best for Wildfilms, and cannot wait till the next season of super lows!
Heh heh, I end by saying… now every guide is wondering what AFDs are! Heh heh heh!
Love,
Pris
3 Comments:
Nice long post.
Now to test commment engine.
I'll post up the stoneded fish incident later.
About the AFDs...
...
...
...
Although I know what it is...
Only one person can think up such a thing...
And only a certain kind of person will keep mentioning it!
:Þ
=b but that's what they look like right??? well I assume AFDs look like those we get on the shore!! =bbbbb
Post a Comment
<< Home