Hissssssssssssss........

So, I went out exploring earlier today for my 52 weeks project...which I'll blog about that later.  While I was out exploring and enjoying a beautiful day here in Singers, I ran across a little bit of nature. 

Now, you all know that I am a cat lover and you are probably hoping for a cute cuddly picture of a stray kitty that I bumped into...um...not really...I ran across a snake! And he hisssssssssssed at me!  It actually scared the @$#+ out me to be completely honest.  (If there were any candid cameras capturing it I'm sure I would get a good laugh about it.)  Anyway, I was walking through a grassy area (this will make much more sense when I post my 52 weeks blog) and heard a little rustling in the grass.  I assumed it was a gecko or mouse or something similar so didn't immediately think much of it.  Then...I caught something black out of the corner of my eye and in the time it took my brain to register it was a snake it was sitting upright and hissing at me and it even made a little jump at me and popped a little.  I stopped dead in my tracks and started moving backwards (am 99% sure it wasn't as graceful as I am making it sound) and got myself back on the pavement.

Before getting myself back on the pavement I saw enough of the snake to realize it was very black, probably about 2 feet long, and had a winged area around the head...sort of like a cobra.  

Snakes in Singapore?  Especially ones that look like a cobra?  Well, come to find out there are Black Spitting Cobras here in Singapore.  Want to know what they look like?  Here's a link to a picture of what my little hissing friend looked like...open the link at your own risk (and no, I did not stick around long enough to take that picture) http://www.flickr.com/photos/francisg/2458463564/

The black spitting cobra is poisonous.  They, as their name indicates, will spit venom at their predators.  The venom won't hurt you if it hits intact skin but if it gets in your eyes it can blind you and apparently their bites can be lethal.  Holy cow!!!  I was literally within about 2 feet of one of these things???  The popping sound I heard may have been it spitting at me.  I was wearing long pants and didn't notice anything get on them so maybe his venom supply was running a little low...or I just imagined the popping noise.

I had no idea there were snakes in Singapore and clearly had no idea that there were cobras.  I will now be a bit more careful when walking through grassy areas!