So, as those folk following along know, I’ve been trying to get back into fitness in the heat of sunny Hua Hin and most of the interesting encounters have happened as I am out and about running the roads and dirt paths around here.
The other day’s run was mostly uneventful though, possibly like most runners without music, my mind drifts as I am running. Don’t get me wrong there’s plenty to keep my mind occupied – from the various common birds to the pretty bee-eaters and the downright gorgeous kingfishers. Oh.. also not getting run over or attacked by dogs.
Back to the point, the only thing of note on this run was whilst I was slightly distracted by my thoughts, a dog had started following me and was within a few metres when I heard a shout from a local lady – turning, I noticed the dog and shouted out ‘No!’. I believe the lady was the owner and the combination of both our calls made the dog retreat.
Note to self: Pay more attention to surroundings when running
On returning home, I cursed myself when I realised I hadn’t shut the front mosquito nets properly and had left them about a centimetre apart. Bugger, I thought, but to be honest trying not to die after running in the heat was more my priority than fortifying the home from mosquitoes.
My partner is still away with family – that’s fine – I still have some clean clothes left but as I was on the phone to her I noticed some movement out of the corner of my eye near the front door. Initially I thought it was some padding from the door that came loose and was blowing in the breeze but on closer inspection it wasn’t. It was moving like it had a mind of its own.
Which it did.
What was initially thought to be padding turned out to be a very chilled golden tree snake. We named her Cecilia. No, I didn’t get close enough to check.
Whilst on the phone my partner Googled what the snake was and what threat level it posed to my wellbeing – apparently they are mildly venomous and mostly eat geckos and small insects… but the non-child part of my brain (the minority) realised it was probably best not tempt fate and play with her. As readers are aware, our ‘live and let live policy’ (mosquitoes are one of the few exceptions) is always in force so the question was, how do I remove Cecilia so I don’t accidentally step on her and get bitten whilst randomly wandering the house? To be honest, whilst it was probably in the back of my mind, having a wild snake in the house and not knowing exactly where it is, is probably a little disconcerting.
Cecilia was very slimline, around 60cm in length and seemed quite content to be sitting in her corner so, having watched countless wildlife documentaries – many involving people moving snakes I decided I would take on the challenge – but what to use? I must’ve left my snake handling kit in my other trousers.
Whatever I used had to be long and not too wide. All I could see was an empty water bottle which just wouldn’t work – though to my embarrassment I did try. A broom handle would have been ideal but it was in the outhouse and I didn’t want to lose line of sight on Cecilia just in case she decided to scarper when I wasn’t looking – there are just too many places for a small snake to hide around here.
Not sure why it took so long but eventually I remembered our bamboo sticks. Perfect. Quickly running outside I grabbed one and returned. Cecilia hadn’t moved.
Now snakes get a bad rep. I get that – mythology, religion, you name it – snakes aren’t universally liked and with some species capable of ending your life in minutes, I do understand, but I defy anyone to look at her and not think she’s a cutie pie
So bamboo stick in hand, I very gently teased her onto it (for some strange reason instead of trying to tease the stick under Cecilia, I tried to encourage her to climb on the stick by trying to tease it under her head – which eventually worked. She seemed a little irritated for a bit but wouldn’t you, if someone was poking a long stick in your face?) and took her out of the house.
The only problem was Cecilia obviously didn’t think our budding friendship was over and started making a beeline up the bamboo stick towards me. Now, mildly venomous or not, misidentification of snake or not, I am not letting a wild snake come that close to me so I put the stick down hoping she would wander off somewhere back into the garden.
Nope. I ran indoors and she came back up to the door and decided to settle in one of the door grooves and disappeared. Right. Never using that door again.
A little later when I was recalling the story to my partner I went to the door and saw Cecilia leaving and only then realised how long she was (from the safety of behind the glass door). She had obviously decided enough was enough and disappeared around the corner of the house. Never to be seen again.
Well, that was until I decided to take the rubbish out the back door (there isn’t home rubbish collection in my area of Hua Hin – not sure how this works in other areas – so we just take it to the roadside bins which are only a few minutes walk away) and guess who was outside, right next to the back door?
Correct.
I mean our time together, stick face-poking aside, was mostly pleasant on my side but I had been happy to call an end to our relationship. I suspect Cecilia was not in the same place.
I decided to keep an eye on her for a bit until she eventually disappeared off into the garden.
I haven’t seen her since but every time I step out into the garden, I do feel like someone is watching me…