Koh Samui bird life: getting to know Thailand’s birds

Feb 232012
 

Over Christmas & New Years we spent some time in the company of our battered Birds of Thailand book – noticing just how much local bird life lives near the house. We’re getting better at recognising the regulars and we’ll update as we spot any new arrivals!

For now, here are 5 Koh Samui birds we’ve spotted recently from the house –

Asian fairy bluebird – he looks a little mean in this photo (not our own), but they’re gorgeous from afar. There seems to be a resident pair in a nearby coconut tree – so cool!

Uniformed Inspector

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Growing our own dragon fruit… 5-year status report

Jan 292012
 

Dragon fruit is the most evocative Thai fruit. It’s sort of like a Dalmation in a bright pink raincoat – utterly ridiculous but you can’t stop staring. Certainly there are tastier fruits, but none more gorgeous.

Growing Dragonfruit

Growing Dragon Fruit

In December 2007, we had the bright idea to grow our own. Some preliminary research told us they grow on cacti and the plants don’t bear fruit for 7 years. “It’s ok, we have time,” we told Mother Nature. So we planted some about a million seeds and waited….

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