Firefly watching at Cherating

Just finished breakfast at a self service restaurant packed out with Malay families. Last night we went on the local tour up the river to watch the fireflies. I would love to say we got some amazing pictures but it was simply impossible. Essentially we jump on a boat and potter up the river until the tell tale blinking on a specific species of tree. The tree type is someing to do with the enzymes that they ingest when they eat the sap. It is this enzyme that turns into a chemical that produces the blinking light. They actually have a very short lifespan and the light is used to attract a mate. I order to make the experience more personal they shine a red light around the boat and this is something that the fireflies are drawn out of the tree for. They alll make their way over to the boat and land on your face, hair, clothes etc. so we all looked like Christmas trees. It was enchanting though that they just pop over and float onto you. No bites thankfully but we seem to be in the insect capital and we are drowning in inspect repellent.

We are about to go to visit the turtle sanctuary now and later this afternon we are hoping to take another boat trip to find some monkeys and snakes. Not too sure about the snakes as I know this is a pit viper area.

Next on the list is heading up to the off-point for the Perhentian islands. Need to make some plans on how to get there as it is 6 hours away by bus.