Monday, June 9, 2025

4144. TRAVEL STORIES. Jinqu River (Nine-bend River).

https://chopsticksontheloose.com/wuyishan-bamboo-rafting/

Wuyishan: Bamboo Rafting Down Jiuqu River

Jul 8, 2016

Rising out of the northern border of Fujian, Wuyishan (武夷山) maps some of the most impressive mountain landscapes in South-East China. The National Nature Reserve is home to an abundance of lush vegetation and towering red sandstones, giving it its recognition as a UNESCO site in 1999 as part of the world’s natural and cultural heritage.

Flowing amongst the vast greenery and deep canyons is Jiuqu River (九曲溪), the heart and soul of Wuyi. The river covers a distance of 9.5km and runs its ‘nine-bend’ course from the base of the highest Huang Guang Peak towards the main village of Xingcun.

 There are many ways to explore this beautiful mountain range. With an average height of over 1,000 metres above sea level, many favour hiking up the many peaks for a panoramic view of the hilly terrains below. But a more intimate way to soak in the picturesque landscape is to drift down the river on an authentic bamboo raft.

 

 

These rafts are made from natural bamboo canes bounded tightly together, large enough to hold 6 seats and two raftsmen on each end. Life jackets are provided although rest assured the ride is very gentle and mostly shallow. In fact, through the clear water we could see the stones at the bottom and beautiful shoals of fishes swimming directly beneath us.

Reclining back in our seats, we watched the serene beauty unfold before our eyes. Magnificent cliffs banked on both sides as we glided swiftly downstream with the 

guidance of the raftsmen. Along with the gentle lapping of water around us, it welcomed a classic scene closely resembling a Chinese mountain and river scroll painting.

Each distinctive bend is marked by red calligraphy engraved on the rocks, on a countdown from the ninth to the first. Throughout the 2-hour journey, the raftsmen would provide entertaining commentaries and interesting legends about the unique formations of the rocks.

 

The most notable being the love story between Jade Maiden Peak (Yu Nu Feng) and the Great King Peak (Da Wang Feng). Since the narration was offered entirely in Mandarin, below is a brief summary from what I recall:

Once there lived a hard-working man named Da Wang who lived in Wuyishan. At the time, due to frequent floods the harvests were meager which left many farmers hungry and sick. Da Wang was aware of the dire situation and dug a river to discharge the flood water. With this, the Jiuqu River was formed and the village was saved.

One clear day, Yu Nu, the God-daughter from Heaven spotted this beautiful stretch of green fields below. Descending from the sky, she met Da Wang whom she soon fell in love with, married, and settled down together in this scenic wonderland.

 

 

Upon hearing this news, Yu Nu’s father up in heaven sent a messenger down to earth in hopes to convince his daughter to return. Without success, God became angry and ordered them to be transformed into a mountain. Still not satisfied that they were still “essentially” together, God sent a sinned man down as an iron plate (Tie Pan) which smashed the mountain into two peaks before turning into a peak himself.

And that’s how Yu Nu Peak and Da Wang Peak were separated. Today, you will see one on each side of the Jiuqu stream with the awkward third wheel Tie Pan (iron plate) Peak between the two.

 

 Even though they could not see each other directly, they can still do so from the reflections of the river!

 

 

We listened to many more tales as each bend welcomed a new landscape. The raftsmen also pointed out a lot of ancient relics such as the mysterious boat-coffins wedged on the cliff amidst the fourth bend. With every-changing cloud reflections in the water, the stories added a magical spark which made it a light-hearted and relaxing way to de-stress whilst enjoying nature at its best.

As the ride drew to an end, the raftsmen guided our raft back to land. Here we soaked in the last few minutes of the journey before setting off on our next search; to explore the very place where the well-known Da Hong Pao (大红袍) tea originated from.

 

 

------------------

27 May 2025: Jinqi Creek Raft
8-seater. 2 raftsmen. Life jackets. 90-minute ride.
Tips to raftsmen to narrate stories. No tips, no talk.

 
 

 



 Canon R5

101mm

1 over 2000 sec

f over 4.5

iso 800

27 May 2025, 9.24am, from high up the hill 

Friday, June 6, 2025

4143. VET CASE STUDY: A slider shuts his eyes when he is inside the tank water.

 VET CASE STUDY:

This is a Be Kind To Pets Veterinary Educational Video -
Vet Case Study. 

 Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow)
13 Jun 2025


THE RED-EARED SLIDER SHUTS HIS EYES WHEN HE
IS IN THE WATER. WHAT CAUSES THIS ABNORMAL
BEHAVIOUR?

 

TELE-CONSULTATION VIA WHATSAPP 

On 3 Jun 2025, I got a WhatsApp text from an owner
of two 1-year-old male red-eared sliders.  One slider
shuts his eyes when he is in the tank water and
stops eating the pellets. Normally sliders' eyes
are open when they are in the water.

What is the cause of this abnormal behaviour?

The owner texted that this slider opens his eyes when he is taken out of the water. Why?

I asked the owner to send phone videos of the sliders in the
water, taking close-up of the eye area and the whole tank views. 

TWO adult male red-eared sliders are housed in a water tank with
a large orange floating platform, water filtration system
and water temperature set at 29 deg C during night-time. 

The videos show one slider is aggressive towards the sibling. He swims towards
his sibling, extends his long sharp claws to pat the eyes of the other.
All adult male sliders have much longer claws than the females.

His claws must have had injured the eyelids of the victim. Hence the victim's
eyelids shut when he is in the water facing clawing from his sibling.

The following video shows two well equipped tanks of
four healthy one-year-old sliders.
The tank with the orange floating platform houses the two male sliders
while the white tank houses two female sliders.

The problem is with the male sliders. What lead to this eye problem?

 In this video, you can see that the orange floating
platform is too long and wide while the tank
too small to accomodate two adult red-eared sliders.
Both spend more time below the platform.

"They do climb up to the platform to bask", the owner said.
Certainly, the two sliders look fit and healthy as they have
excellent lighting and feeding.

My veterinary advice is to get a bigger water tank so that
the victim can swim further away from the aggressor slider.
 

 Other than getting a bigger tank, what are
other solutions?

Bullying behaviour is present in sliders as in children
in the school. Housing the male sliders separately will
resolve this problem of eye injuries.

 

The claws must have had injured the eyelids of the victim. The pain results in the eyelids closed to prevent eye trauma. When the sliders are out of the water, the victim is able to open his eyes normally, as the other slider is separated further away from him.

CONCLUSION
The likely cause of the eyes shutting is the eyelid traumatic injuries due to the other male slider’s long claws poking into the victim’s eyelids.After separation for 3 days, the victim opens his eyes when he is in the water and has recovered his appetite.The owner is advised to get a larger tank.

 After separation for 3 days, the victim opens
his eyes when he is in the water and has a
good appetite. I advise the owner to get a larger tank.

To view other educational videos:
www.youtube.com/c/99pups



To buy photos of red-eared sliders:
www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets


 UPDATES:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/06/vet-case-study-slider-shuts-his-eyes.html

 

 
















 

Sunday, May 25, 2025

VET CASE STUDY: An old dwarf hamster keeps scratching its large, red and...

 

 

 VET CASE STUDY: An old dwarf hamster keeps scratching its large, red and itchy neck lump. Why? The owner consulted Toa Payoh Vets as the hamster could not stop scratching its large red neck lump day and night. The children were concerned. Family members could hear the loud scratching sounds at night and decided to go to the veterinarian for a check up. 

 

The diagnosis was either a neck tumour or lump. Under anaesthesia, the vet uses a scalpel to lance the lump. Large amounts of pus oozed out. The abscess was drained. 7 days later, the hamster no longer had a neck lump but folds of excessive skin. It was happily eating and exercising on its wheel without having to rub and scratch its neck lump

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

VET CASE STUDY: Urine scalding in a dwarf hamster

 Urine scald in hamsters occurs when urine irritates and inflames the skin, often in the perineal area. It can be caused by various factors, including obesity, malformation of the urethra, and inability to groom. Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause and providing supportive care like cleaning the affected area and potentially medication. 

Causes of Urine Scald in Hamsters:
 
 
 
Obesity:
Excess fat in the perineal area can come into contact with urine, causing irritation and inflammation, Small Pet Select U.S. says. 

Symptoms of Urine Scald:
  • Redness, irritation, and inflammation of the skin, Kitten Lady says.
  • Hair loss in the affected area.
  • Dry, flaking, or even breaking skin.
  • Pain and discomfort.
  • Possible sores on the feet or abdomen. 

Treatment and Management:
  • Addressing the Underlying Cause:
    This may involve diet changes, weight management, correcting husbandry practices, or treating any underlying medical conditions, Small Pet Select U.S. says. 

Important Considerations:
  • Urethral Issues:
    Malformations or positioning problems can cause the urine stream to hit the skin instead of the litter box, Small Pet Select U.S. says. 
  • Grooming Difficulties:
    Long or malformed incisors can prevent hamsters from properly grooming and removing urine from their fur. 
  • Incontinence:
    Urinary incontinence, often due to spinal issues or paralysis, can lead to urine soaking the fur and causing scald, Nature says. 
  • Poor Husbandry:
    Inadequate bedding or soiled cage environments can contribute to the problem, Nature says. 
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI):
    Infections can irritate the urinary tract and potentially cause urine scald. 
  • Underlying Health Issues:
    In some cases, urine scald may be a symptom of an underlying health issue, such as arthritis or mobility problems, The Unusual Pet Vets says. 
  • Cleaning and Clipping:
    A vet may need to clip the affected fur to allow for easier cleaning and treatment, Small Pet Select U.S. says. 
  • Topical Treatment:
    Topical medications or creams may be used to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation, Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips for Dogs says. 
  • Systemic Medications:
    In some cases, oral medications may be prescribed to reduce pain or treat secondary bacterial infections. 
  • Monitoring:
    Regular monitoring and early intervention are important to prevent the problem from worsening. 
  • Proper Cleaning:
    Gentle cleaning of the affected area with a damp cloth is essential, but avoid harsh soaps or chemicals, PDSA says. 
  • Preventing Recurrence:
    Addressing the underlying cause and maintaining good hygiene practices are key to preventing future episodes
     
     
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
     
     
     

    The urinary tract includes the kidneys, the ureters (the tubes that go from the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder, and the urethra (the tube from the bladder that urine comes out of). Small mammals can have issues with all parts, but here I’m going to talk about the most common urinary system problems, what to watch for, and how some can be treated.


    Signs Of Urinary System Problems

    There are a lot of possible signs of urinary system problems in critters. They include: 


    • weight loss
    • urine in the fur of the butt, the abdomen, or the back legs 
    • loss of fur in the butt, the abdomen, or the back legs 
    • Incontinence
    • straining to urinate and/or urinating more often
    • consistently thick (not watery) urine
    • blood in the urine
    • abdominal pain


    Sometimes a non-urinary tract issue can show up as a urinary one. For example, if there has been some sort of trauma such as a broken back or a broken leg, if there is an abdominal tumor, or if your pet has a neurological issue that involves loss of balance, your pet may have problems getting in the litter box or positioning to urinate. 

    If you notice a urinary issue, it’s important to get your pet checked out by a veterinarian knowledgeable about your type of pet.

     
  • Monday, May 19, 2025

    4740. TRAVELS JAPAN. Mount Fuji video

     Mt Fuji
    Japan's tallest mountain 3,776m
    To get shot of a lifetime

    Mount Fuji photo spots


    1. Mt Fuji dream bridge" - Shizuoka prefecture. A nightmare for residents - illegal parking, excessive noises. Local govt envisioned it as a tourist draw that would be a boon to the area.

    2. Yamanashi prefecture - fences erected in front of a convenience store to prevent jaywalking by tourists trying to capture Mt Fuji towering above it. 

    3. Hotel La Vista, Kawaguchiko. Balcony view of Mt Fuji
    3 Feb 2025.

    VIDEO 1 from hotel room.

    Mt Fuji
    36 seconds of video sunrise
    Should have left phone recording in the room


    VIDEO 2.

    Beeps on road as traction control sets in when road is slippery.