Ric and I are huge animal lovers. In fact, Ric has been called a dog whisperer on more than one occasion by people all over the world. We never miss an opportunity to pet an animal in SE Asia and there were plenty of them
We made so many friends in Asia, most of which were animals. Here are a few of our furry and some not so furry friends.
Dogs
- This crazy fella came charging at me on the beach in Malapascua. He then proceeded to roll in the sand and run circles around me as I walked the beach. Eventually he ran out of energy and let me pet him. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
- A batch of puppies were born just before we arrived at the house in Pattaya. They were quite timid, but would play with Ric’s mom. She named one “Tiny Turner” pronounced “teeny”.
- The biggest golden retriever I’ve ever met, we played with him for hours during a pub quiz in Pattaya. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
- Look at the hair. Obviously we named this lady Farrah Fawcett. She helped Ric through a banking crisis on the phone at Chaweng Beach. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
- Doppler! Our very first pup. We visited him every day while in Malapascua. He lived at a barbecue hut behind Exotic Resort. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
- Gobblin Dog. He wouldn’t let Ric leave Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok. Good thing he was cute. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
- I named this guy Chewy, well, cause he chewed EVERYTHING. He was only just a pup and so sweet. Only wish he would have stayed out the trash. Photo by Richard Hackey
- Look at the face on him! Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
- It’s not always pretty running into street dogs. Some of them are looked after, but most are not and need serious attention. I felt so bad for this guy, he was shaking on Koh Phangan during the Full Moon Party. Someone even painted him. Poor guy. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
- This pair was having a ball at Angkor Wat. Just running around playing through the monument. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
- We fed this guy at a restaurant in Malapascua and he was our best friend for the rest of the night. I think he’s apart of the Ristorante Angelina crew, a dozens dogs that hangout around the restaurant and howl at the moon. Photo by Richard Hackey.
Monkeys
- Now this relationship is true love. The little monkey was tied up to someone’s bike at Lonely Beach on Koh Chang. It was night and everyone was drunk and probably scaring him. He jumped onto Ric and wouldn’t let go. Ric loved him to pieces. It was so sad when we had to leave, the little guy wouldn’t let go. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
- “Monkey,” I screamed from our motorbike in Malapascua, Philippines. There are no monkeys in Malapscua, so he must have been someone’s pet. But he was having a blast, running around a house by the beach. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
Pigs
- I hate to pick favorites, but this pig was definitely mine. We ran into him while in 4,000 Islands in Laos. Usually pigs don’t like to be touched, but he was pulling as far as his rope could go to get to me. I scratched behind his right ear and he just collapsed. I did it a few times while we stayed there. He had spots on him, so I called him Leopard Pig. Photo by Richard Hackey
This guy was massive by the time we left. Probably being raised for food, but I don't like to think of it. Anyway, he lived just outside the resort I lived on in Malapascua. We all knew him and probably also heard him oinking in the wee-hours of the morning. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
Other
This flying fish flew onto my dive boat off Donsol in the Philippines. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
Everyone seems to own a rooster in the Philippines. They either use them for food or fighting. This one was about to fight near Donsol. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
Basically thrown at us on Walking Street in Pattaya, I'm still not sure what this animal is. He looks like a sloth of sorts. UPDATE: This animal is a slow loris. Many thanks to Waegook Tom for clearing that up.
This tiny caged squirrel was someone's pet in Bangkok, Thailand. I don't think he liked being in there. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
It's hard not to run into elephants while touring Thailand. If you want to ride them, make sure you go through a good place, because some of them treat the elephants terribly. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
Last but certainly not least is our bulldog Ruddiger. Flown in all the way from England to travel with us, the little guy has braved shaky bus rides, rough seas and drunken backpackers. Good dog. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon
