Let's Just Call It A "Reptiles Day"

3:00 am nuisances.

For some reason, I always tend to wake up a 3:00am. I used to think something's playing a joke on me during this "ghost hour" now it's just become a part of my circadian rhythm to be awake at this time.

Then the other morning, I noticed that the dogs were unusually noisy. 3:00 am used to be very quiet, but not that time. I even had to cut a work-related phone call short because the outside noise was too much. It was when the daylight broke when Little Man came to my mom and told her something about what my uncle got in a plastic bottle.

It's a phyton, and it's alive!

Apparently, it was my other aunt's dog that was making so much noise. There's nobody in her house these days because she is currently based abroad. My uncle, who reckons the dog's barks sound odd decided to check.

He found this baby phyton coiled near the dog.

It's definitely still a baby, but it's perhaps over a meter long when stretched out. My uncle put him in this plastic bottle to ensure it does not get out.

It was both creepy and amazing at the same time, observing this phyton, and how it stuck its tongue out every now and then.

My cousin's 3 year old son is amusingly not scared of it. My uncle transferred it to a transparent container and it was easier to observe. At times, the phyton would lift itself up or peck its plastic "wall" and we'd all jump at the same time. LOL.

Here he is holding the container so you can have an idea of its size.

My uncle contemplated on what to do with it -- we suggested calling the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, perhaps they could collect the animal. But then someone came and saw it, then asked if he could have it. My uncle gave it to him.

Off to a lazy afternoon...

Then that same day in the afternoon, I was sitting at our terrace working on my blog post about the Taal Basilica when I saw this...

My immediately called my kids to show it to them. It's my first time to see this kind of lizard and I want to share with them how awesome it looked. The colors blended perfectly with the tree trunk.

Checking the web, I saw that this lizard is called an Emerald Tree Skink.

It immediately scurried away after I took this shot.

My mom commented how quick my eyes were to be able to spot the lizard. I said, when there's nothing to do, we tend to see a lot of things. We just have to stop and look, and nature's surprises and wonders shall unfold before us. It's a reminder to always keep our eyes open to the enchantment that surrounds us.