The Crocodile Farm in Puerto Princessa

If you’re ever visiting Palawan, Philippines, most likely your tiny airplane will touch down in Puerto Princessa upon arrival from Manila.  Never having been on a motorized tricycle before, my first few moments in Puerto Princessa were exciting and a little crazy. The tricycle driver took off  from the airport parking lot like a madman on the shaky vehicle, weaving around and dodging random obstructions (chickens, roosters) in his path. Luckily I’d spent enough time in Asia that I’d grown accustomed to road rules that would seem insane to those back home.   Make sure you’re not too jet-lagged upon arrival or you may feel like you’ve stepped into an alternate universe.

I loved the time I spent in Puerto Princessa.  One of the more interesting tourist spots in the city is The Crocodile Farm—otherwise known as The Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center.  Climbing onto a tricycle and taking in the sights and sounds of Puerto Princessa during the 40 minute jarring and wild drive to the farm was one of the highlights of the trip.

During my visit  I participated in a guided tour. In the museum at the beginning of the tour,  the group learned about the largest man-eating crocodile caught in the Philippines.  A glass box displayed the 5 meter skeleton and the massive hide of the creature hung above the box on a wall.  Our group listened as the guide told us the tale of the half-eaten unlucky soul found hidden in the crocodile’s stomach.  Not exactly the kind of news you want to hear before walking above a pit of huge hungry crocodiles. Which we did moments later.  As we stood on a rickety wooden bridge mounted precariously over the crocodile holes, I gazed down at the ancient-looking monstrous beasts and shuddered at the thought of what would happen if someone accidentally fell over the thin railing.

After a Q& A  session on the crocodiles, our guide led us to the stinky crocodile hatchery. Hundreds of baby crocodiles small, medium, and large huddled together in giant holding containers.  I will admit I felt a little sorry for the small beasts but apparently Palawan’s swamps and rivers are overflowing with crocs.

Another highlight of my visit—holding a  squirmy young crocodile.   I almost dropped it a few times but I enjoyed the experience.

If you’re ever in Puerto Princessa, it’s worth making the bumpy journey to The Crocodile Farm to learn more about the creatures that thrive in the rivers and swamps of beautiful Palawan.

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I do not want to deter anyone from visiting Taiwan.  I love the country and encourage people to discover for themselves how beautiful Taiwan really is.  However, I feel it’s time to reveal one of the darker aspects of Taiwan.  The truth is, even in the larger cities like Hsinchu it’s not criminals, street dogs, or even wild, hazardous motorists you should fear.  There’s a creepy monster hiding around apartment buildings, poking around windows, and even popping up in bathrooms at unsuspecting moments.

Are you ready to find out what beast is lurking out there, waiting for its chance to hear you scream and/or give you a heart attack?

Introducing: The “Laya” or Huntsman Spider

The photo above was taken after I used the squat toilet, reached up to flush, and discovered the creature next to my hand.  My fingers almost brushed up against its legs.  I ran out of the squat toilet, screamed, and ran back to capture the evidence on camera.

This had not been my first encounter with the spiders though. My very first experience had been several months earlier when I moved to the bustling city of Hsinchu on the west coast of Taiwan.  Though large bugs exist throughout the country, I didn’t think they’d prefer the crowded, sweaty streets of Hsinchu to the nice mountainous forested areas on the outskirts of the city.  My third night in my apartment (4th floor) I was sitting in my bed and saw something like a rat scamper across the kitchen floor.  Then it dawned on me.  The thing before my eyes did not resemble a rodent at all but instead an arachnid of  freakishly mutant size.  In complete shock, I stared at the intruder as its gleaming eye looked directly into mine.

It then flattened its body and ran under my refrigerator as if sensing my disdain.  I bolted out of bed, sprayed half a can of raid under the fridge, ran back into my room, slammed the door, and stuffed towels under the crack the entire night.  The next morning as I peered into the kitchen, I noticed the fiend lurking on a wall—still alive.  I used the remainder of the raid, trying to keep my distance.  The spider fell off the wall and hopped towards me with spunk.  Looking around wildly, I spotted a racket and gathering up my courage, I attempted to end the creature’s life.  I had to hit the giant spider multiple times before it gave up the ghost.

From that point on, I became known as a “spider magnet.”  While most locals in Taiwan have only seen a few of these things in their lifetimes, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing about 7 not counting the other large spiders that invaded my personal space at horrible moments. Like when I was in the middle of an acupuncture session.

In Taiwan, some locals keep the spiders as welcome guests.  The spiders are like cats in a sense because they control cockroach populations.  They also eat small birds, are non-venomous, and will “cling” and bite if provoked.

The odds are, you most likely will not see one of these spiders if you visit Taiwan.  But ye be warned…

Here is a funny video of a guy in Australia trying to capture a Huntsman spider.

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My Taiwanese-American friend and I had a joke that I was becoming more Asian than him due to my living in Taiwan. While I battled language barriers, played teacher to adorable but possibly terrified students, maneuvered my way through crowded night markets, and indulged in a hundred types of tofu, dumplings, and dried noodles—he tried to convince his brother to give his nieces Chinese lessons, battled corporate propaganda in the U.S., drank beer, watched MTV, and ate cheeseburgers and fries.  Ok, so maybe a few stereotypes there but I’m sure you get it.

The truth is, I was and will always be, an outsider in Taiwan.  I have a deep love for the country but it’s one of those places where even if you, as a foreigner, live for twenty years—you will always be a foreigner. No matter how perfect your Mandarin is, or if you’ve married a local and have a cabbage patch of lovely children. You are always going to be white.  However, that doesn’t mean you can’t try to fit in.

Here are some tips for blending in:

1. Whenever you see a white person walking down the street, pretend you aren’t white and stare at him/her as if seeing an alien species.  Note: this might come naturally as sometimes it’s easy to forget you’re white so you may catch yourself staring at white, black, or Indian people in utter fascination.

2. Learn how to drive a scooter as soon as possible and pile as many things as you can on said scooter (including livestock and babies) while weaving in and out of traffic and/or ignoring red lights.

3. Refuse to get “Western” medicine and instead visit a TCM doctor.  Choke down the packets of bitter herbs with a glass of warm water and smile because you’re being authentic. Note: Many locals prefer Western medicine, I really do prefer the herbs.

4. If you’re a  foreign woman in Taiwan and you start dating a Taiwanese lad, be sure to have him carry your handbag everywhere and hold an umbrella over your head on sunny days. Preferably wear high heels and something cute.  If you don’t have a boyfriend, just grab an umbrella and try to look cute anyway.

5. If you’re a foreign woman in Taiwan and you go out dancing, do not try to create an episode of “Girls Gone Wild, Taiwanese Style.”  Unfortunately in Taiwan, as is the case in many countries around the world, American women are often viewed as ‘loud’ and ‘easy’. Note: Everyone thought I was from Russia or France so yay for me.

6. Get a haircut that resembles a mushroom.

7.  Speak  Mandarin with the highest, most  flirtatious squeaky voice possible. I failed miserably at this.

8.  Brush up on your KTV skills.  I failed miserably at this.

9.  Drink gallons of green tea, bubble tea, tea in general—often.

10. Attend a traditional mud-oven Taiwanese BBQ/Cookout? and help the locals bury potatoes in the ground before stomping the mud into place.  Again, preferably wearing something cute.

Disclaimer:

*This list is not exhaustive NOR is it meant to offend.

In all seriousness, Taiwan is a wonderful place and despite the fact you may always be white (or black, Indian, purple), you’ll also feel very welcome in Taiwan!

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