C.affinis and C.cordata collection trip - Part 2.

B and J finally arrived on Day 2 early morning. And we were sharing our experience about the C.affinis scene we saw on the Day 1 at our breakfast. They seem like regret that they can't join us on the Day 1. But keep begging us to bring them back to the hidden paradise for the C.affinis. Hahaha...Too bad. Day 2 is fully reserved for C.cordata var cordata. Since it is almost 2 hours drive from Kuala Krai. And we were spent nearly half a day to drive around. We were trying to ignore B and J's request and told them that I will bring them back to that place on the Day 3 while going back to Kuala Lumpur.

JS. One of the primary school teacher aka our member who crazy about aquatic fauna and flora came and joined us for the breakfast. And he told us that he went to that place before. But didn't take any flora from the stream. As he wasn't really a fan of aquatic flora last time. So, he is decided to join for fun this time.

I was almost fall as sleep after the breakfast and cooling air coming in from the car windows. When i woke up by T and he said that we are almost there. This is a typical Malay village. Most of the people in the village are very friendly. But met few of the young guys riding on a motorcycle and asking for money. T is good in the Kelantan slang Bahasa Malay and he is told him off.

This is the first stream we stopped. It is just next to a resident area.


And you can see there are pails here. Believe some local people bathing at here.


Beside bathing..they thrown the rubbish in here too!!! If compare to the stream which full with C.affinis. This stream is totally horrible. As the local people just never care and littering everywhere.


But we were lucky to see the C.cordata var cordata are doing quite well in here. The whole stream filled with fine sand. It is not easy to unroot this crypt also. Because of their root are growing deep inside the sand bed.



This is the bushy growing at the riverbank. From the root to the leaf, it is around 3-4 feet long. Amazing right? J and myself couldn't help and jump into this area and trying to take a few. But before we are manage unroot anyone of it. B and Littar were shouting at us, said... Leeches!!! J and myself stop the action immediately and quicky swimming to opposite and trying hard to climb up. As we were panic and failed to climb up after several tries. I think we were looked like quite funny. The rest of them was laughing non stop...

I was kind of panic due to what i was told by T a day before. Said that there is a local guy bathing in that stream and the leech went inside his backside and leech laid eggs inside his colon. After that the eggs hatched and there are hundred or thousand of small leeches sucking his blood. Ended up he has gone through several surgeries to remove the baby leeches and eggs.


I was laughing at J and there is a 4inches long leech stayed on his leg and sucking his blood. J stay cool and watching on how this ugly blood sucker sucking his blood. After minutes, this 4 inches blood sucker turning into 6 inches long and 2 inches thick. Look like a sausage filled in with fresh.

After that scene, none of us dare to go down again and prefer to stay at the dry area. Here are some drying up C.cordata var cordata.


One of them just about to bloom...


Manage to collect some of them which i can share with the rest of the hobbyists in Kuala Lumpur. Tired but excited. Worth to drive 5 hours to here.


After we were back to hotel to wash up, found out there is a 5 inches leech stayed at my waist. Littar joking with me that quicky check on my private part. At night, we were joyed and had a wonderful dinner with T and his family by local dishes. (Malay mixed Thai food)