Day 2 of Naked Hermit Crabs @ Sentosa

Everyday I find it almost impossible to believe that this magnificent piece of coast line and intertidal haven is on Sentosa, the island known more for its fake beaches, bikini-clad babes and volleyball hunks.

Second day into our Nature's IR series on Sentosa, and second day of monkeying around with families. I've decided that much of our children's education through the television helps to relate them to animals of our shores - spongebob squarepants and of course finding nemo are references that keep the spirits high.



It really heartens the spirit to see so many inquisitive and interested young'uns who would be, cliche as this sounds, the hope of our future. Maybe it's because we have very enlightened parents who would take the initiative to bring them out in the first place so perhaps we are converting the converted. But having the children with us would ensure that they start young and hopefully we are producing a new generation of aware adults in the future. While some of the parents may just be as much a novice as their children, having been urbanites and not experienced the shore in the "flesh", i feel heartened that they are just as eager as their children to learn and improve.



My favourite quote of the day would be from the daddy in green. When his daughter called out in excitement for her daddy to hurry over and see the latest find, he replied,

"wait! daddy is [walking slowly and] trying not to kill anything!"

That really made my day. Thank you Team Egg crab! Yesterday we were hairy crabs and saw many of the crabs we were named after and today, being team egg crab, we met many egg crabs instead! Of course Duck, my co-guide of the day just informed me that he mistakenly identified this mosaic crab on the right as the red egg crab. Ah well, it's ok duck, you are most forgiven. I think often I learn more in a day of guiding than at any other times. It really forces one to learn on the spot and be on our toes. But I am always grateful that the participants are very forgiving creatures as if aware of the fact that we are there just as much to learn as they are. It's a sharing after all. I don't think I was ashamed to say no when one of the teenagers asked if we could cite the genera and species of corals we spotted.



Still, nothing beats touching and feeling the plants and animals for the first time. The excitement in their eyes when they held a sea cucumber for the first time. Watching it try to scare us off by peeing right in front of us for the first time. Whether young or old, it's such a wonderous experience, right under that wide expanse of sand sea and the broad blue sky.

For more photos, see my flickr set.
For photos of the adventure trail, friend and participant, evie, has uploaded her photos here.