Things I Like - Sciences

I’m not a fan of caves – something about being underground in a dark, enclosed space. Gives me the creeps. But then, I have a slight tendency towards claustrophobia.

Reading this article on the Gomantong Caves in Borneo almost made me hyperventilate.

I don’t think James Brickell (a producer at the BBC’s Natural History Unit) enjoyed it much either. Some of the highlights from his experience:

• Abseiling from the cave roof to the floor of the cave – apparently a several hour effort
• Temperatures of 104 degrees (F) along with 100% humidity
• Cave walls covered with writhing bats
• The stench of ammonia from the mountains of bat dung
• Armies of cockroaches feeding on that bat dung

Not to mention this little bonus:

The king of this living hell is a charming creature called a giant Scutigera centipede. The size of a puppy it scuttles around caves, carried along by many pairs of long skeletal legs. They are highly venomous, one bite and it's off to hospital or worse.
~ James Brickell

I have crossed Borneo off my list of places to go.