Three types of pitpit grow in Papua New Guinea: Coastal pitpit The pitpit plant looks like sugarcane to which it is related. Normally the stalk is thinner than sugarcane. It can grow up to 3 metres high and produces suckers…

The Pandanaceae botanical family comprises following six species in Papua New Guinea: ‘Karuka’ and ‘Marita’ were already discussed at this website in two former articles. ‘Karuka’, see here, and ‘Marita’ see there. In the following, ‘Wild Karuka’ and Pandanus antaresensis…

Tok Pisin: Karuka Scientific name: Pandanus jiulianettii Two species of pandanus are commonly used for the nuts that are eaten. They are Karuka (Pandanus jiulianettii Martelli) and wild Karuka (Pandanus brosimos Merr & Perry). At least 3 other species of…

Ghost crabs (genus Ocypode) comprise 22 different species and they are commonly also called `Sand crabs`. The scientific name Ocypode has got Greek origin and means swift -footed. Generally, Ghost crabs are semi-terrestrial crabs and dig deep burrows in intertidal…

English: Giant taro Scientific name: Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott Synonyms: Alocasia indica (Lour.) Spach Plant family: Araceae Description of Giant Taro plants A very large herb of the taro family. It has a stout erect trunk up to 4 m…

During the Neolithic Age (8000 BCE – 1400 BCE), people across various regions began to adapt to the evolving natural environment following the Ice Age. This era is characterized by the emergence of earthenware artifacts and ground stone tools, as…

English names: Marita or ‘Red Fruit’ Tok pisin name: Marita Bahasa Indonesia name: Buah Merah Scientific name: Pandanus conoideus Lamarck The marita pandanus plant A short much branched screw pine with many prop roots. The prop roots have prickles. Trees…

Four species of yam are commonly grown and used for food in Papua New Guinea – but often naming in villages and naming by scientists does not agree. Many village people regard potato yam and 5-leaflet yam as varieties of…

How is this sago different? The Solomon’s sago palm that occurs in the North Solomon province and in the Solomon Islands is quite different from the sago that grows in other areas of Papua New Guinea. It has a different…

Sago palms Tok Pisin language: Saksak; Scientific name: Metroxylon sagu Rottb. There are 2 species in Papua New Guinea. The other one occurs in North Solomons Province and in the Solomon Islands. Its scientific name is Metroxylon salomonense. The sago…

Foreword Horseshoe crabs are a not protected species in Thailand and are experiencing a significant decline. Their primary habitats, particularly the mudflats around mangrove forests, where they live and reproduce, are diminishing, and there is a growing demand for edible…

Fishing with a stomping basket is a traditional craft that has been practiced in Vietnam for centuries. Postcards from the French colonial era depict this unique fishing method as a typical way for locals to catch fish. While similar techniques…

The Giant Snakehead fish (Channa micropeltes) is a highly aggressive and predatory freshwater fish. Its diet mainly consists of smaller fish, frogs, crustaceans, and other aquatic prey. In Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, this fish is known as the ‘Toman’ and,…

Bronze Whaler Sharks (Carcharhinus brachyurus), also known as Copper Sharks, are a sought-after game fish for recreational anglers in many parts of the world. They are known for their impressive strength and fighting abilities, which pose a challenge for anglers….

Synonyms White Berry bush, Snowball bush (Eng.); Witbessiesbos (Afrikaans); Chinese waterberry (China), Goowal (Yawuru Australia); Flueggea virosa (Lat.) – Flügge was a German botanist, and virosa means poisonous or having a bad odor. Distribution Figure on the right: © National…

The National Elephant Institute of the Forest Industry Organization of Thailand conducted mahout training for amateurs near Lampang. This institute was originally established as a training center for elephants working in the timber industry, where they learned how to lift,…

Eating insects and centipedes is a longstanding tradition in Lijiang City, located in Yunnan Province, P.R. China. In addition to centipedes, other insects such as bamboo worms, silkworm pupae, and locusts are also consumed. While they are high in protein…

Sourplums, which belong to the Olacacea family, comprise two species: the Blue Sourplum (Ximenia americana) and the Great Sourplum (Ximenia caffra). Blue Sourplum The Blue Sourplum is naturally distributed in semi-tropical and tropical countries around the world, as shown on…

Freshwater seepages occur along drainage lines on beaches, where the water table meets the sea. These seepages are fed by freshwater supplies from inland, and the land beyond the sea is naturally higher than sea level, causing freshwater to flow…

In Thailand, both sea and freshwater fish are dried to increase their shelf life for later consumption by humans. Before the advent of refrigeration, the primary method for preventing spoilage was to salt the fish and then leave it in…

Limpets (Scutellastra sp. and others) have conical, oval-shaped shells that range from 1-10cm in diameter depending on the type of limpet. Their shell is ribbed or smooth depending on the limpet species. The shells are normally brown, grey, or black…

Bamboo is a popular ingredient in traditional Vietnamese cuisine, especially during the year-end meal on the 30th day of the last lunar month of the year. One of the most famous and delicious bamboo soups is the squid bamboo soup…

In the following we will briefly describe a specific speargun for freshwater fishing, which I bought from a fisherman in the northern suburbs of Bangkok, Thailand. It is neither as primitive as many of these guns are, nor is it…

Mechanically propelled spears for freshwater fishing are common in Central- and Northern parts of Thailand. Due to the fact that many people are crafting these devices themselves, there is a wide variety of principles, styles, and designs. Besides of homemade…

Weaver ants of the genus Oecophylla consist of two different species. One species is Oecophylla longinoda, which occurs in equatorial, tropical African regions. The other species is Oecophylla smaragdina, which is distributed in tropical Asia and Australia. Both of them…

Sansevieria and its leaves used to be a genus of flowering plants that originated in Africa and southern Asia. This former genus has about 70 species with common English names such as mother-in-law’s tongue, bow string hemp, snake plant, and…

Firesaws are nowadays only known as a traditional fire making method at Pacific Islands. In Australia these methods were replaced by friction fire hand drills and later – under Western influences – by bow drills. Nevertheless, fire sawing is an…

Termite mounds are primarily made of soil, which is excavated below the mound and carried to the surface by these insects. They use the soil to construct the mound, forming it into a variety of shapes depending on the termite…

The salt intake of a human in case of either a real survival situation or when living from the provisions of a shoreline by purpose, is of outmost importance to its health. In case too much salt is consumed, there…

Traditional fishing at Inle lake is endemic and very specific for this local environment. Inle lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar with a size of approximately 50 square miles (abt. 116 km2). During the dry season, the average…

Mankind’s use of fire goes back an extraordinary length of time. From humble collecting and guarding natural fires to producing fire by sparks or friction took about 1,5 mio years. Since more than 500,000 years, mankind is producing fires themselves…

Purple Laver (Porphyra capensis) belongs to a genus of cold-water seaweeds that grow in cold, shallow seawater. More specifically, it belongs to red algae phylum of laver species (from which comes laverbread), comprising approximately 70 species. It grows in the…

The bluebottle jellyfish, also known as Physalia utriculus, is commonly found along the coasts of non-tropical regions bordering the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. These creatures are not actually jellyfish but rather siphonophores, which are composed of multiple organisms known…

For wax extraction, the empty combs are first put in water which is heated until the wax melts. The liquid is then poured through a piece of coarse cloth and while still hot this is twisted or squeezed until as…

Locally made-up smokers and overalls are used for inspection or harvesting the hives as an improvised equipment. These have also become expensive and are often shared by a group of beekeepers. Improvised protective overalls The coveralls are made from old…

With more than 70 species of bamboo over the country, we can easily find bamboo thickets anywhere in Vietnam. Many of them could nurture one of the most popular and favored vegetarian foods for Vietnamese people, which like bamboo shoot…

Synonyms A. communis, A. incises; Common names Kikwa ki santu Petelo (Kongo), arbre à pain (Fr.), breadfruit Description A tree up to 35m tall producing a wide crown. All parts of the tree produce a white, bitter latex. Fruits are…

Hoi An is located about 35 km south of Da Nang, which is roughly in the middle of mainland Vietnam. It is one of the most picturesque towns in Vietnam and attracts lots of tourists. Which in turn requires lots…

Common names Nkansu ngo (= claw of the leopard), Leopard claw grass, nzefo za ngo, kansingo (Kongo) Description A perennial grass with culms 30 – 150 cm high, growing from scaly rhizomes. Leaf blades are spear shaped, 10 – 40…

The Indochina Dragon Plum (Dracontomelon duperreanum) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae. In Vietnamese it is called: chi sấu). Dragon Plums are one of the most popular kind of trees on the side of Hanoi streets….

Okra plants (Abelmoschus esculentus): Synonym: Hibiscus esculentus Common names Dongo, lonto (Kongo), dongo dongo, molenda (Lingala), gombo (Fr.) Description An erect annual herb usually 1 – 2 m. high. Leaves are 3 to 5 lobed, spirally arranged and may be…

Pla Ra (Thai: ปลาร้า, pronounced [plāː ráː]), is fermented fish. It is the traditional way, Thais in central provinces and in the North-East (Isan province) are eating fish and rice. In these rather poor provinces, there is only one rice…

There is a number of local names for the tree and fruits of Artocarpus odoratissimus. In English it is simply called ‘Marang’, which is based on the Philippines’ common name for the fruit. Originally endemic to the region around Mindanao,…

It is an at least 2000-year-old tradition in many provinces in China to cure and preserve meat in wintertime. Pigs were slaughtered after the ‘Light Snowfall’-date (around Nov 22nd/23rd), when the temperatures were plummeting, and this meat had to be…

A very common fishing technique in whole Vietnam is ripping a weighted hook with multiple side arms through still water and hope to hook unsuspecting fish somewhere on their body. Hooking a fish at the lips with the correct size…

Trapping fish in bamboo traps in Southeast Asia is normally a static affair. These fishing traps will be used in still waters with or without bait inside and checked at least once daily. It was a new experience, to see…

Cashew trees (Anacardium occidentale) are native to areas around Northeastern Brazil. Portuguese colonists brought them around 1560 to Goa, India, from where they spread to Southeast-Asia and finally Africa. Therefore, cashew products got already a long history in Goa and…

The Ayutthaya Historical Park covers the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, which was founded already in 850 AD by the Khmer and named after the Hindu holy city of Ajodhya. It was destroyed by  Burmese in 1767 and…

Cormorant fishing is an ancient fishing art that dates back at least 1300 years. Today, it is only practiced in the southwestern provinces of China. However, some fishermen are attempting to revive this fishing technique for tourists in water villages…

Thai chanterelles, or more specific Cantharellus minor live in symbiosis with Gurjun trees (Dipterocarpus tuberculatus) in semi-deciduous Southeast-Asian forests. These trees are easy to identify due to their double-winged (di-ptero) fruits with big seeds. Besides of Cantharellus minor, also other…

We were on a weeklong trail through the Kaeng Krachan rainforest, near Hua Hin in Thailand, when we tasted Gaur meat. Together with two National Park (NP) rangers, we came across a freshly died Gaur heifer. This Gaur (Bos gaurus)…

Originally, stone age- and bronze age man in Europe created fire by striking flintstone on marcasite and caught resulting sparks on tinder made from horseshoe fungi. Marcasite is crystallized pyrite (iron sulfate mineral) and is not readily available but had…

At the Global Bushcraft Symposium 2022 in the UK, Gordon Dedman presented the bow drilling technique he is teaching in Australia. It is assumed that readers know the basics of bow drill friction fire lighting and I therefore will only…

At the Global Bushcraft Symposium 2022 in the UK, Gordon Dedman presented the hand drill friction fire lighting method he is teaching in Australia. As most readers of this topic will know the basic techniques of hand drill friction fire…

At the Global Bushcraft Symposium 2022 in the UK, Gordon Dedman presented a variety of types of Australian friction-fire wood, which are well suited for friction-fire lighting methods and for tinder. The signature friction-fire method, which was exclusively used for…

The Southern Cross, or the Constellation of Crux, – as the name implies – is just visible in the Southern Hemisphere. It consists of the Cross itself and the two pointers, which are Alpha-(Rigil Kent) and Beta-Centauri (Hadar) . Finding…

Finding the Pole Star with the Constellation of Ursa Major Only in the Northern Hemisphere the Pole Star is visible, and its location is mainly indicated by the position of the two pointers of the Great Bear (also called Big…

The Constellation of Scorpius (‘Scorpio’) is a very large constellation, which is visible from May to November in the evening sky of the Southern Hemisphere. It is located directly opposite the Constellation of Orion – and therefore being visible when…

The Constellation of Orion, or ‘The Hunter’ can be best viewed in the evening skies from November to February. And during that time, it holds true for both the Northern- and Southern hemisphere. Although Orion is still visible in the…

Fish longer than about 20 cm and not having a snake-like shape, are typically spit roasted in Thailand. As seen in the photos below, these are mainly Pla Dabian (Barbonymus gonionotus), Pla Chon (Channa striata) and Pla Sawai (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)…

Grill spit for small fish outdoor cooking on a spit Smaller fish of up to about 20 cm length are typically put on to a grill spit, which is just a split stick. Often in Thailand this will be Pla…

In Thailand, there are two types of freshwater snails that are commonly consumed. The first group is comprised of the larger Apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata), while the other group is simply referred to as Freshwater snails (Sinotaia sp. & Filopaludina…

Edible jellyfish (Aurelia sp.) is called ‘Maeng krapun jarn’ (Gulf of Siam) or ‘Lodchong’ (Andaman sea) in Thailand. Normally there is a period of about three months a year, were these jellyfish for food preferable appear. During this Jellyfish-run, sea…

Squid traps seem to be at first sight a quite natural way of catching these cephalopods throughout South-East Asia in shallow sea waters. Such traps are used in waters about 6 – 15 meters deep and held in between a…

The Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus), called Pla Lai in Thailand, is both used as a food source but also for offerings to the spirits. When still slim and young, eels are sold to the Buddhist local population for doing…

Simple crab snare for use on a tropical beach A crab snare comes normally in the shape of a bait cage with about six snares around. This set-up is used in combination with either a fishing line and rod or…

Freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium lanchesteri), also called ‘Ricefield shrimps’ or ‘Goong foi’ in Thai language, are living in every permanent water body in Thailand in big numbers. They are the main food source for a variety of fish and other predators,…

Small lift net for catching daily meals of freshwater prawns and fish ‘Yor lek’ is a hand lifting net, and means in Thai language something like ‘small lift net’. ‘Yor’ means ‘lift net’ and ‘lek’ means ‘small’. Its big brothers…

Description of cast nets used in Thailand Cast nets in Thailand are available in different radii models – I prefer such with a radius of 3,5 meters. 3,5 meters from the center of the net to the outer axial rim…

There is a variety of small catfish species with dangerous spines living in Thai waters. One, very abundant one, is locally called Pla Kod (Hemibagrus wyckioides); English common name: Asian Redtail Catfish; Thai name: ปลากด. Typical length for catching in…

Most of Thai water channel, khlongs and streams are clogged with a variety of water plants, predominantly Common Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). This invasive species was introduced 1901 by Thai Royalty from Indonesia and was supposed to be eradicated by…

Hand nets, equipment and technique For hand net fishing, mosquito netting is used to sieve water bodies for rice fields shrimps and fish fry in Thailand. In order not to lose caught animals, the netting was brought into a deep,…

Learning the craft of bamboo fish trap weaving Correct English wording for a ‘Lop’ in Thai language would be ‘Horizontal cylinder trap with entry cone’. It is used for catching a variety of freshwater fish and crustaceans. This includes small…

Most simple ‘spear guns’ are a piece of straight steel, acting as an arrow, catapulted by an elastic rubber band. Holding-, aiming- and releasing device is the bearer’s body. If utilized within water, it is a very cheap and effective…

The term ‘Bank line’ used in English to refer to a string of poles along a water bank is virtually unknown in Southeast Asia. Instead, this fishing method and its equipment are referred to by different names in the region….

A new home for over 100 different fishing traps and implements After leaving Thailand for an assignment in China it was difficult to find the right place for my fish trap collection. Originally, I wanted to open up some kind…

Don Hoi Lot, Thailand A mudflat full of razor clams ‘Don Hoi Lot’ is a mudflat in the Thai Province of Samut Songkhram with a size of about 15 km2 (abt 9 square miles). ‘Don’ means ‘mudflat’ in English. ‘Hoi’…

Nipa palms (Nypa fruticans) are a species of palms especially adapted to muddy environments of slow-moving tidal waters and mangrove forests and occur in Asia-Pacific tropical climates. And Nipa palm fruits are delicious to eat. Both, fruits, and wooden parts…

In Thailand live a variety of mudskipper species, notably Giant mudskippers (Periophthalmodon schlosseri), Blue-spotted mudskippers (Boleophthalmus boddarti), and others. All of them are amphibious fish, which live on muddy estuary- and tidal brackish river zones all around Asia-Pacific. They live…

Swamp morning glory or Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) has got a variety of common names, like ‘Kangkong’ in South-East Asia or ‘Kung Shin Tsai’ in China. It is staple vegetable food throughout Asia-Pacific. And it is very low in calories…

The fruit Durian (Durio zibethinus) is named after the Malay word ‘Duri’ for ‘Thorn’, referring to the thorny skin and ‘zibethinus’ obviously refers to its smell. And the most sought-after variety in Malaysia is ‘Musang King’, where ‘Musang’ means ‘Palm…

In many areas on the biggest Cambodian lake, its tributary river and Mekong flood plains, permanent fish traps, or more appropriately named: catching structures, are erected and operated. The leader fence, guiding fish into the inner compartments of the trap,…

Grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) and grass tree stalks are endemic to Australia and are locally called ‘Black Boys’ due to their appearance after bush fires. They need a certain number of regular fires for their survival and are well protected against…

The common name ‘Spinifex grass’ is not fully correct as a botanical term for discussed grasses, as commonly named ‘Spinifex’ grasses belong to the genus ‘Triodia’, whereas the genus ‘Spinifex’ itself contains mainly coastal grasses. Whatever it is, the common…

Description of Goannas The Australian sand monitor (Varanus gouldii) is also called Gould’s monitor or colloquially ‘Goanna’. There are two different subspecies: Varanus gouldii gouldii and Varanus gouldii flavirufus (which is a smaller sized subspecies). V. gouldii gouldii is distributed…

In the former blog I described seeing a majestic sand monitor lizard very close by on my drive from Menzies to Sandstone on a side road. Driving further on I was surprised to see many more Goannas left and right…

Although they are commonly referred to as “Ant hills,” particularly in Australia, the structures in question are actually “Termite hills.” Despite their physical similarities to ants, termites are actually related to cockroaches rather than ants. However, like ants, they are…

Musth is a condition of elevated testosterone levels in the blood of elephants (whether African- or Asian elephants). African elephant bulls are coming into their first musth when they are between 15 – 17 years old. The length of musth…

The energy received by the earth from the sun is called the Solar Constant, which describes the effect that every 1 m2 of planet earth, facing the sun rays in a 90-degree angle (directly overhead) will receive 1375 Watts (Joules/sec)….