Archive for August, 2009

 

Insect stings – 21. August, 2009

A Ubin villager disturbed a hornet nest and got his hand stung. The folk cure is to apply a mixture of vinegar and brown sugar.

Hornet stung hand covered with black vinegar

Although such incidence are rare (Nparks destroys them when they are found), a kit for insect stings would be useful. One villager recommended “Po Sum On” medicated oil. She was bitten by a centipede and the oil helped.

Update: 22 Jun 2010. I find medicated oil like Tiger balm of little help in relieving itchy bites. But this oil seems to be most effective for me.

Po Sum On Medicated Oil

The small bottle of oil is protected by a metal container, preventing accidental uncapping and spills. They are available at Mustafa shopping centre.

You can try natural remedies like Aloe Vera. Nparks grow them at the Secret Garden located behind Ubin Police Post. Just cut a small slice from the fleshy leaf and rub on the skin.

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Night walking – 14. August, 2009

Other than at the jetty and Npark toilets, there are no street lighting in Ubin. A good thing which encourages shy animals and birds to come out at night. Also, nightscapes looks just as bright even under moonlight as your eyesight is tuned to the darkness.

We also brought an arsenal of flashlights. They are needed to perform several functions, such as lights dimmed for camp lighting, flood lights for walking, long distance throw lights for animal spotting and light painting for night photography.

It was a rewarding night when we went over to Ubin on National day.

Picture below (Photograph taken by my buddy Alan Tay). Elusive civet cat. We heard its mewling and spotted in the trees with our flashlights. Accordingly to Mr. Lim who lives nearby, its probably a young civet cat calling for its mother.

Civet cat

Scorpion about 4cm in size under UV flashlight (taken by Andy Ho).

Scorpion under UV light

Light painting of coconut tree luxuriantly covered with Dragon Tail Vine (picture by Andy Ho).

Dragon Tail Vine (Epipremnum pinnatum)

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