No Excuse

There really can't be any excuse for this and my apologies for the graphic image but unfortunately this is not so uncommon in the poorer parts of the Philippines.  People may be very, very poor financially but surely there's no need for these kind of medieval latrine practices.  Not in the 21st century.

Having a poo in the street gutter whilst your brother points out the
the interesting contents of what may have passed through your bowel
whilst your parents sit and drink coffee in the street.

Is it any wonder disease is rife?

Woody Woodpecker

This chap (or chapess) was nesting in the tree in the neighbour's garden.  That was until high winds bought the branch down that they'd been pecking out for so long to make a home.

Pecking out a new home

At home 

Snake in the Grass

I haven't seen any live snakes here but dead snakes on the road are common enough.

Cheeky Monkey

As I've mentioned before, we frequently get monkeys visiting the gardens. Usually to raid the dustbins for the leftover McDonald's but at this time of year the mango trees are starting to bear fruit so that's an added attraction and makes appearances more frequent.

Relaxing on the lawn

Throne of Stone

I see too many with missing limbs, which I think is caused by snares or traps. Whilst the monkeys are protected within the Subic Bay Freeport zone, it would seem that it doesn't stop people from trying to trap them either for selling as pets, food or just as a vendetta because they raid the dustbins.  

This sorry looking chap has a missing foot

Bat Out of Hell

Within the Subic Bay Free Port area there is a colony of fruit bats that roost in the trees near to the (now defunct) airport.  They're probably there because within the Free Port they are protected.  Outside of it I would imagine they would be hunted to near extinction.

Here's a few photos of evening time when they are getting ready for the night's excursion.

Size Is No Measure of Potency #2

Whilst I was away recently, I came back to the house and an infestation of bees.  They had decided to take up residence in the wall cavity, gaining access through the void around the aircon drain pipe.

If they had decided to remain in the wall cavity then not so much of a problem but they decided to also take up residence in my office/study where the drain pipe passed though the wall.  Unfortunately this meant a chemical attack as I didn't fancy sitting and sharing with a load of stinging critters at my computer.

When I first encountered the bees I went outside to take a look at where they were gaining access.  I was only stood there watching them swarm around the pipe high above my head when one of the buggers flew inside my shirt and stung me on the right side of my chest.   Now, I've been stung by bees several times in the UK and whilst they hurt, this was in a different league altogether.  Despite them only being small, it hurt like hell.  Not only that but the pain lasted several days instead of just fading away in a few hours.

I called for the pest squad, the one that usually deals with my termite problems, but the day before they arrived there was a huge swarm of bees outside the house, thousands of them flying around angrily (they looked angry to me but I wasn't going to go outside to find out for myself) and then a few hours later they were all gone.  Even from the house they were gone and had decamped and gone to set up home elsewhere. Thankfully.

Keep It Regimental

This caught my eye - a house in Kaohsiung has had the front of it demolished (for whatever reason) but despite the wreckage there's still clothes hanging in the wardrobe in the upstairs room.

Or maybe it's just too dangerous to go and retrieve them?