Other Waiwo Visitors

I've been staying at Waiwo, the CI Field Station in Dampier Strait, Raja Ampat, for the last ten days. I can work from here, and have email access, and it is a much more tranquil and agreeable setting than SoooWrong. I have also been helping facilitate one of CI's guests (doing research on fish biomass in the area)... and it's a good thing I've been here, because operations here are less than optimum (but THAT's another story).

Something interesting (and completely annoying) that happened last week were repeated visits from a Belgian guy (Danny) and his Indonesian wife/girlfriend/friend (depending on who you talk to). This character was so completely rude, and conducted himself with such blatant disregard for everyone else around him... I could hardly believe it!!! He showed up one morning and took two dive tanks (which we had already prepared for our guest's research trip that day) and a CI staff's dive computer, and took off diving. When he got back, he was acting as if he was the boss of the place, and talking about how our field station is a resort and he is going to become the manager!? (um... talk about mis-informed!) I quickly set him straight, but he was still under this notion that I was the one in looney-land!? I think it was a misunderstanding on his behalf from someone he had been speaking to earlier who told him to go ahead and feel free to use what he needed at Waiwo (this MUST have been in reference to one of the other organizations that has an office on-site), but even when I tried to explain that there were several organizations working here, and CI knew nothing about him, and couldn't support his diving (for many reasons, not the least of which being the fact that we already have a research expedition in progress... not to mention liability!), he continued to pester US daily, instead of coordinating his visit with the organization that was hosting him... IF anyone was hosting him!? This is another interesting possibility... maybe he's one of these holiday scammers... basically, just trying to get as much as he can for free by acting as if he's studying/helping another organization!? Supposedly his wife is doing a masters in Eco-tourism in Raja Ampat... but why has no one coordinated their visit!?!? I've heard that this is something that happens for Travel Guide Books... people travel around and pass themselves off as writers, demanding free accommodations, etc, in exchance for a good review!?

Anyway, we have had some less obnoxious visitors over the last week as well... Several nights, we've been visited by an electric green tree frog, who seems quite at home! He's really quite massive, and I can see how people might think these guys have personalities... just look at the look on his face!?!



... and check out those deditos!