Swallowed

Once upon a time Ben said to his Dad, 'Gee, I hope Grandpa goes back to Ayer Keroh he might get some more cool photos of really strange creatures.'

'I don't think he can,' said David. 'He's leaving Melaka soon. He probably won't have time.'

'Oh please Dad, ask him if he will.'

'I'll ask him but I don't think you realize how dangerous it is for Grandpa, going to places like that. He only does it so you can get some stories. I hope he doesn't get eaten. There'll be no more stories for you then.'

So Grandpa did go back even though he was busy. He didn't want to disappoint Ben. And guess what he saw:



'Fantastic,' thought Grandpa. 'Ben will love this one.' He got two good photos before the creature charged making a terrible roar and with saliva dripping from its open mouth.

At first Grandpa wanted to get a photo of the charging creature but he realized it could be his last photo ever. He dropped the camera and ran.

Grandpa ran through the forest as fast as he could. But Grandpa is not as young as he used to be and the creature was gaining on him. Then he saw a cave and decided to hide in it.

It was very dark inside the cave and Grandpa sat down on the soft ground to get his breath back. And then it got darker as the cave door closed. Cave door? Caves don't have doors. But the light had gone out completely.

'Where am I?' thought Grandpa. Fortunately Grandpa had his mobile phone with him. No, he wasn't going to call anyone but his phone has a little torch in it. He shone the light on the soft ground and it looked like...well it didn't look like ground, it looked fleshy, like a huge tongue.

'A tongue!!! Oh no. Where am I?' thought Grandpa.

There was a passage leading back and Grandpa started to walk along it. 'I'll probably never get out of here,' thought Grandpa. 'But if I do, I think the kids will like this story.'

And then the cave started to move. It was moving upwards.

Whatever it was that Grandpa was inside, was going up and Grandpa found himself going down. Yes, he started to slide further down the passage. In fact it became so steep that sometimes Grandpa would roll down the passage. And it was really bumpy, like bony ribs on the walls of the passage.

This was a very long journey but eventually Grandpa reached the end of the passage. Ahead he could see a narrow opening and light. He squeezed through the opening and out into the daylight. He and the creature that he had thought was a cave were now high up a huge tree. And the creature was the biggest... 'No it couldn't be,' thought Grandpa. 'They just don't come this big. It can't be real. I must be dreaming. But in case I'm not, I think I'd better get a photo of this creature otherwise the kids will never swallow this story.'

Grandpa looked around to see if the other creature had gone. There was no sign of it. Cautiously, Grandpa climbed down the tree. The great creature he'd just come out of didn't seem to be aware of him.

On the ground, Grandpa crept back to where he'd dropped the camera and then went back to the tree. He decided against climbing the same tree again. The creature might notice him this time, so Grandpa climbed another tree and he took this photo.


Yes, it's true. Your Grandfather had been swallowed by a huge snake, maybe the biggest in the world, came out the other end and lived to tell the tale.

But Grandpa is not going back to Ayer Keroh Forest again. Never, ever, ever. Well, not unless all the grandchildren come with him too.

The End

Oh no, three horns!!!

Once upon a time, Grandpa went back. Yes, he went back to the Ayer Keroh Forest. But he didn't stay long.

Grandpa was walking through the forest when he heard a horrible scary noise. He hid behind a tree and looked. There was this creature bellowing. Grandpa wanted to run but just for you he got out his camera and took this picture. Then he ran.



This creature has three horns on its head. Do you know what it is? Do you think it's safe for Grandpa to go back again?

The end

Strange creatures

Once upon a time when your Grandpa John was wandering in the Ayer Keroh Forest near Melaka he thought he saw something a little strange. Actually, it was a lot strange. I mean, there aren't any dinosaurs around now, are there?

Ben, Izmaillah, you know about these things. Take a look at this picture. Doesn't that look like a dinosaur to you? Grandpa didn't want to get too close because he didn't know if the creature might be carnivorous. You know what that means, don't you? Yeah, they might eat your Grandad.



But as you know your Grandpa is very brave and even though they were hissing at him he got out his camera and took some photos. He wanted to run but he knew you guys would be pretty disappointed if he told you he'd seen dinosaurs and not taken any photos. You might not have even believed him.

Then he realised that they were trying to protect their eggs. They thought Grandpa was going to turn their babies into a giant omelette. Hey, Grandpa knows a guy in Melaka who has a really big wok. Maybe...



They started to hiss really loudly. 'OK guys, sorry, just kidding. Promise I don't want your babies.' They seemed to calm down after Grandpa said that. Maybe they can understand him. So Grandpa asked, 'What's your name.'

One of them hissed back, 'Saltoposuchus'. Well, that's what it sounded like. Grandpa wasn't going to get any closer, just in case. But because he knew you guys would want him to he got out his note book and wrote it down.

'Now that's S-A-L-T-O. Uh, what did you say again?' They were hissing really loudly again and Grandpa is not sure if he got that name right. He decided it was time to get out of there. But you guys know about dinosaurs maybe you can tell Grandpa what it is. Send him an email. And maybe there are other kinds of creatures in the Ayer Keroh Forest. Do you think Grandpa should go back again for another look? Check out this blog again soon in case he does.

The End (for now)

The dragon and the princess

Once upon a time there was a brave but not so handsome knight known as Grandpa John. One day when Grandpa was walking past a back lane in Melaka he heard a creature calling for help. Grandpa rushed down the lane without worrying about his own safety. There he saw a poor little dragon being attacked by a beautiful princess.

'Help! Help!' cried the dragon.

'Leave that dragon alone!' said Grandpa John.

'Make me,' said the beautiful princess.

'What's that up there?' said Grandpa John, pointing to a nearby roof.

'Where?' said the princess as she looked up.

'You may be beautiful but you're stupid,' thought Grandpa John as he swooped in and kissed her on the cheek.

'Oh yuck!' screamed the princess as she dropped the dragon and ran off down the laneway.

'Thank you! Thank you!' said the dragon. 'You've saved my life. What can I do for you?'

'Oh shucks,' said Grandpa John. 'It was nothing. Besides I even liked kissing her.'

'I'll always be grateful to you and because I'm a magic dragon, I'll grant you three wishes.'

'Three wishes! Well, in that case, I'll have a smaller nose, a bigger chin and supersonic hearing.'

No sooner did Grandpa say these words then the dragon zapped him with his magic fiery breath. 'And,' said the dragon. 'I'll give you a bonus. I'll make you handsome as well.'

Here's a picture of the way your Grandpa looks now.

Do you think the magic worked?

The End