Green and Red No Justice

I recently came across a similar picture as the above one, of these two giant reptiles locked in an embrace. I found it pretty funny and adorable so I went on Google Images and looked up 'monitor lizards hugging'. Somehow, I don't think this gesture is much of a display of affection as it is a battle stance between two alpha males. But still, it's cute as hell.

Living in the city, I don't get many chances to catch sight of these beasts. I've heard from my mum and a few neighbours that there are some living in the park behind my house but I have yet to see any of them there myself. I remember one time this huge guy ran through the kitchen of my school canteen, causing a commotion and another time I caught sight of one slinking away into the shrubs near a relative's house. Both times, I only managed to watch from a distance but never actually got close enough to marvel at them.

Until last week, during my Penang trip. The road leading up to the island was practically empty except for my big brother's car up ahead (he was guiding us), the car I was in with my cousins and a student driver on the road with her instructor. Just then, we noticed this huge lizard, easily 2-3 meters long and of amazing girth who probably thought this was as good a time as any to cross the road. It stopped right in the middle with one of its front claw propped up in the air, looking all confused. My brother swerved around it while the student driver panicked and hit the brakes right in front of the creature, probably too stunned to move. By the time our car caught up, the poor lizard decided it was best to turn back around and go back the way it came from, into the sanctuary of the roadside bushes. We, of course, all rolled down our windows, leaned out and yelled after it, startling the animal even more. We fell back into our seats in a fit of laughter while out eldest cousin who was driving shook her head and muttered "jakun bandars!" under her breath.

Well, what do you expect? A bunch of single girls on a getaway vacation. How can you not expect us to let loose and go wild?