Gecko.

Interesting creature in the same family of the lizards. Much smaller than monitor lizards but bigger than common house lizards. These are abundant in my cycling area. They normally come out at about 1000 hrs. Just when the sun begins to warm the earth. Also about the time I come to a stop for a breather. When these babies arrives on the scene you can be assured that the snakes won't be there. The snakes will come out for their bit of warmth slightly later.

So, if you happen to be in a rubber estate or palm oil plantation between the hours of 0930 and 1130 be aware of your surrounding. If the geckos are there, then the snakes won't be. If you can't see any, most likely some species of snakes (most likely cobra's) will be in the vicinity. Err, don't take this as hard and fast rule though, just something I observe after all these years of cycling in estates and palm oil plantations. In most cases, the snakes will be as terrified of you as you are of them. If you see them, just stop and let them get on their way.

For a bit of fun with a cobra, get a long stick (at least 2m long), preferably wet, as the cobra rises to assess you just threat it with the stick. They will hiss and spit. This venom is visible as it travels along the wet stick. However, if it rises to a height that is approximately the same as you, stay very still and back away slowly. Do not provoke it, at your height, it can strike far and accurate....