Skip navigation.

Chthonic Wildlife Ramblings

Reflections of a heterodox conservationist

See which countries I've visited so far

Sunday, 10. June 2007, 04:44:35

map below



create your own visited countries map

Larva CloseupMore Dissonance

Comments

Chthoniid 13. June 2007, 04:46

Hmm, very hard to spot Fiji and Hawaii.

Anthony 3. August 2007, 04:12


If you ever get a chance to visit Africa don't let it pass you by because it will be an unforgettable experience. I am about to upload my photos from Kenya (my home country) and will share them once complete.

Chthoniid 3. August 2007, 07:30

I'm hoping for chances to get to South America and Africa sometime... :smile: East and Southern Africa has always been pretty high on my list of 'desired locations'. I run into a lot of Africans in the areas I work in, funnily enough :wink: I like areas of the planet where wildlife is still plentiful.

Roksana 14. August 2007, 07:19

you newer been in Ukraine and Russia..

it is Misunderstanding :D

Chthoniid 14. August 2007, 07:31

Alas I have not been to the Ukraine and Russia.

There are many countries I want to visit. Countries with crocodiles are easier for me. Eastern Europe doesn't have many crocodiles :smile:. I only got to France because it has a crocodile farm in Montelimar!

Usually I travel to the tropics :D

Roksana 14. August 2007, 07:38

I see.

but really here are very interesting rare specimen human-crocodile.
very ekzotick :lol:

Chthoniid 14. August 2007, 07:49

She sounds very very exotic :lol:

Roksana 14. August 2007, 08:32

:yes:

but it is only my exotic English

Brian 17. August 2007, 00:20

Wow, I was in Canada when younger, but rest of my travel has been in the US, but I do love a road trip.

Chthoniid 17. August 2007, 01:30

:smile: My passport gets a lot of use.

There are some great spots in the US, albeit I'm more likely to be found in the middle of a swamp or forest somewhere, than Disney-land :smile:

US is a bit easier to travel around by road- I rented a Ford T-bird on one of my visits and had a driving experience that was so good it was practically sinful... :wink:





Moontan the True 17. August 2007, 03:39

Do not expect entry into Heaven if you never visit the American Southland first. No real benefit in visiting Yanks (the Northern states above the Mason-Dixon line.) Abominable people, really, with the occasional exception.

My apologies to any Yank reading this. :smile:

Chthoniid 17. August 2007, 03:59

:lol: I've already made it to Virginia, Texas, Georgia and Florida. I hope this is enough.

I should point it that I'm even more southern than most people inhabiting the American South :wink:

Moontan the True 17. August 2007, 04:02

Virginia?! Do you realize you are one of God's chosen? Congrats! You've covered a multitude of sins, my friend. :smile:

Chthoniid 17. August 2007, 04:20

:smile: I had more fun in Florida. Being in the middle of 40,000ha of swamp, alligators around, and a giant bilious full moon lighting up the river channels. Drinking wine at night with no light pollution, and just a few hundred watching reptilian eyes.

Aah, good times. Spotted a Florida panther also.

Moontan the True 17. August 2007, 04:30

Still, you've been granted special consideration.

Brian 17. August 2007, 08:48

I have to agree the South is my favorite place, nothing like the hospitality and the food doesn't get any better. I have been to all the major cities in Florida, a few in Georgia and Myrtle Beach South Carolina. My favorite place to vacation is Destin Florida which i about 40 miles from Panama City and not so crowded.

Chthoniid 17. August 2007, 09:26

Hmm, I think I've had good food and met hospitable people in every state I've been to in the US (that's both north and south). Not sure it would be politic of me to mention favourites :wink:

Hilo (Big Island) Hawaii, though is probably in the top 3. I like islands. And Hilo exudes sex appeal...something about the sea, air and smell of tropical flowers. And laid back people.

Mona 21. August 2007, 23:41

Well, if you'd like to visit Poland (which is really close to Ukraine recommended by shi-wolf^^), you may be my guest :smile: Not many crocodiles but still many beautiful places and animals.

A good blog you have. And spiders - I've been afraid of them since I was 5 and my nanny told me that if a spider bites me, I die. Not pedagogical, I'm afraid;p
Now I'm quite ok with spiders - at my place I've got a nice clan of spiders... and we're non-aggresive towards each other, like I don't terminate them, they don't hurry towards me :smile:
I don't like spiders moving quickly, it still makes me creepy.

But they're beautiful. I like watching them, photos of exotic spiders.

Besides, I had a rat. It's like, umm... it's hard for me to believe someone perceives rats as ugly or scary.
My rat died 01.07.07 and when I'm back from Dublin (I'm planning to go there for a year) I'll probably take care of more rats, like two sisters... can't wait to have them around:)

Chthoniid 22. August 2007, 03:49

Well, if you'd like to visit Poland (which is really close to Ukraine recommended by shi-wolf^^), you may be my guest Not many crocodiles but still many beautiful places and animals.

Aah, so what are the best places for seeing wildlife in Poland :smile:

Thanks for the comments on my spider photos. They're a lot less scary than most people think.



Chthoniid 22. August 2007, 06:30

Besides, I had a rat. It's like, umm... it's hard for me to believe someone perceives rats as ugly or scary.

Nature is a lot more fun, when you can always find something to admire or like. Being afraid means you lose chances to really enjoy what is around us.

Of course, don't take too many risks. There is still some animals that will treat you like snack-food awww Like crocodiles... :wink:

Chthoniid 22. August 2007, 08:51

:lol: you have read my blog :smile:

Hmm, Roztocze looks very nice- 190 bird species, lots of trees and over 2000 arthropods. It might take a few days to get pictures of them all :D

Mona 22. August 2007, 16:12

:smile:

José Torres 23. August 2007, 12:45

You forgot TO visit Portugal :smile:

You don't know what you lost:(

José Torres 23. August 2007, 12:47

And you already know all 50 staes of USA???

Chthoniid 23. August 2007, 21:56

Hi Zetorres- alas my passion for wildlife has not made me wealthy. I need to find people to fund my trips.

That means a trip has to be about research. Usually that means a country has to have crocodiles (or more recently, tigers).

I suspect I cannot pretend to be an expert in Portugese wildlife :frown:

So, what places in Portugal do you recommend :smile:



José Torres 23. August 2007, 22:12

Do you knoe Lince da Malcata? Only in Portugal you can see this beautiful animal:)

http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynx/lyxpt01e.htm enjoy:up:

Here we have a lot of animal reserve:)

Chthoniid 23. August 2007, 23:50

I like animal reserves :smile:

It's a pity you don't have any crocodiles.

Have you ever travelled to NZ?

José Torres 24. August 2007, 09:39

No never.

But I hope some day:)

Chthoniid 25. August 2007, 00:11

It is a very different part of the world :smile: It would be well worth a good explore.

The scientist/popular writer Jared Diamond once said that "New Zealand is as close as we will get to the opportunity to study life on another planet"

José Torres 25. August 2007, 23:06

Nice:up:

Allangie 8. September 2007, 16:02

Hey! I hardly can call myself geographically and wildlife- literate person :smile: but Russian northern part is a home for all kinds of interesting animals, bears for example. We also have tigers I guess :smile: No crocodiles though...

Chthoniid 8. September 2007, 20:36

:happy: yes, Russia has many excellent reserves. Albeit, no crocodiles :frown:

Perhaps I will get the chance to see the Russian 'Siberian' tigers...(I hope so!).


Allangie 9. September 2007, 08:55

Who knows maybe by that time crocodiles would appear :smile:

Chthoniid 9. September 2007, 19:07

I'm sure there's enough other wildlife to justify a visit. :happy:

The difficult part is raising the funds...sigh.

Allangie 9. September 2007, 20:00

Tell me about! :smile: I have a long list of places I'm dying to visit...but since I'm currently unemployed it has to wait till the better days come :smile: Have you had a chance to try new lens yet?

Chthoniid 10. September 2007, 09:22

Ah, unemployment is not fun. I hope you get a good job soon. What are you trained to do?

The weather hasn't been good enough to use the new lens. I want a very sunny day. That way the Hauraki Gulf will look very 'blue'.

Allangie 10. September 2007, 09:55

I hope I'll find at least something...it's not easy here.
I envy you and your camera, I'm useing my crappy phone to take pics. Result is pretty sad :smile:

Chthoniid 11. September 2007, 22:40

Finding a good job is never easy...it can be hard to stay motivated.

I have to say that while I enjoy my photography, it's not a cheap hobby...
Although wanting a camera better than your phone is completely understandable!


Leif Rømcke 22. October 2007, 10:44

You have visited the Philippines, but you forgot to visit me in Cebu Island! :D

Chthoniid 22. October 2007, 20:26

:smile:

I'd rather like to spend more time exploring the Philippines. The opportunity really hasn't come up I'm afraid.

masterofopera 20. April 2008, 19:06

chthoniid,
you were in Germany.

Wich regions of germany do you visited?

http://www.gentechnikfreie-regionen.de/fileadmin/content/naturschutz/karte_bfn_sept05.jpg

The striped, green, red and brown areas show zones, where the
nature is offically protected. (the green dots show
Gen-tec-FREE zones)

Chthoniid 21. April 2008, 00:37

I've only managed a short visit to Hesse.

I'm always keen to do more :smile: I'm thinking that an expedition from west-to-east (in Europe) through various forests and biomes would be fascinating. Just a minor problem of organising funding...sigh.

Hellas 21. April 2008, 14:50

feel free to drop in bosnia :D

Dennis 23. April 2008, 01:48

Oo, I see you haven't went to Indonesia... Oh Well, Greetings then... :D

Andre 23. April 2008, 06:15

hey, you have to visit Brazil. You have many things to see here. :wink:

t1me0n 23. April 2008, 10:43

So now you must visit Poland, it's beautiful :D

liverdean 23. April 2008, 13:38

ahh..you have been to sabah! am i true?

Chthoniid 24. April 2008, 03:19

Originally posted by Hellas:

feel free to drop in bosnia :D



Spectacular landscapes- what's not to like :smile:

Originally posted by densscessario:

Oo, I see you haven't went to Indonesia... Oh Well, Greetings then...



I've been trying to- it has crocodiles, tigers, parrots and butterflies. That's practically all the species I've been working with of late :smile:

Originally posted by decaspecht:

hey, you have to visit Brazil. You have many things to see here. :wink:



Of yes, the fact that the entire Latin American continent has eluded me to date is something I'd like to rectify :smile: I think I could happily disappear into the Amazon for a few months...

masterofopera 24. April 2008, 06:47

@ chthoniid

"I've only managed a short visit to Hesse. "

Nice, that is rearly close to my current living
place 50 km to Hesse [original german: Hessen])

For nature-friends, I can recomment "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" ,
it is a federal state (where I lived my first 20 jears) in the upper-right corner of germany. Map of germany (political -> GER + EN)
http://www.toandfromtheairport.com/germany.gif
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Deutschland_politisch_bunt.png
I especially recomend the "Mecklenburgische Seenplatte" that is an area with many smaller lakes and the largest (untiled) lake of
germany and much nature

Nationalparks (sorry, link to english version missing)
http://www.mecklenburg-vorpommern.eu/cms2/Landesportal_prod/Landesportal/content/de/Urlaub_und_Freizeit/Natur_erleben/Grossschutzgebiete/Nationalparke/index.jsp

Nature protection areas (ger + EN)
http://www.mecklenburg-vorpommern.eu/cms2/Landesportal_prod/Landesportal/content/de/Urlaub_und_Freizeit/Natur_erleben/Naturschutzgebiete/Mecklenburgische_Seenplatte/index.jsp
http://www.mecklenburg-vorpommern.eu/cms2/Landesportal_prod/Landesportal/content/en/Holidays_and_Recreation/Experience_Nature/Nature_reserves/Mecklenburg_Lake_District/index.jsp

Important Bird Areas -> yellow areas Info: (cities are red)
http://bergenhusen.nabu.de/karten/IBA_Germany.jpg

1 2 Next »

Showing comments 1 - 50 of 59.

Write a comment

You must be logged in to write a comment. If you're not a registered member, please sign up.

Photos

p445498873-5.jpgp876547582-5.jpgp54491651-4.jpgp185009569-4.jpgp380938249-5.jpgp270840924-4.jpgp965861366-5.jpgp53245499-4.jpg

Sustainable Use

Conservation News

Other Recommended Blogs

Natural Resources

Photography