I am in love. And no, not just any kind of love. The kind that radiates. The kind that takes the words right out of your mouth, puts a skip in your step, and butterflies in your stomach — yes, that kind. The happy kind. The nervous kind. The I don’t want to be away from you kind. Yes, I am head-over-heels, wholly, ardently, and unabashedly in love… with a Tariser.
It’s a little complicated — but then again, love always is. We have a few obstacles to over come, but that’s true of every relationship, be it family, friend, significant other… or pet. There is an age difference: he’s one… and I’m thirty. But age is just a number, right? That’s what I’ve always been told, anyway. We don’t really have anything in common and we can’t actually speak to each other, but I’m comfortable with the sound of my own voice and having one-sided conversations. Plus, John Lennon always said that love is all you need, so I’m just going to take him at his word and run with it. Run like the wind.
So, by now you’re probably wondering how we met. It’s a cute story actually, and like so many other love stories, it almost never was. I’d like to think that fate stepped in and altered my course. Had things gone as planned, I would have been sitting on a sandy beach instead of trudging through the jungle.
I paid a visit to a Tariser “sanctuary” on my second day in Bohol’s countryside, but it left a lot to be desired. The sanctuary felt more like a side show (I later learned that I went to the wrong establishment — go figure), and while I was happy to see one with my own two eyes, something just didn’t sit well with me and I walked out feeling slightly dejected.
With my Palawan dreams crumbling due to lack of flights and poor planning, I opted to extend my stay. While doing a little research, I came across an NGO that’s dedicated to educating and protecting the species, which is endangered. With time now on my side, I hopped on my bike and set out in search with hopes of securing a guide.
It didn’t take long to locate the office and negotiate a price. I was told that sightings do happen, but they are few and far between. I knew that long before walking in the door, but experience has taught me to always give it a go, even if the odds are stacked against you; it never hurts to try. The same had been said to me about much of the wildlife while traveling in Botswana, through the Okavango Delta. Had I let those doubts deter me, I would have easily missed one of my most treasured experiences: spending a night with a pride of nine lions.
So, off we went! I followed him to the edge of Loboc, where we ditched our bikes and set out on foot. To me, it seemed like we were just wandering around aimlessly with muddy feet, dripping in sweat — 85% humidity will do that to you — and a myriad of insects along for the ride. Bite, bite, bite. Chomp, chomp, chomp.
I have to hand it to whoever oversees the marketing for the brand, OFF. They do a fantastic job with their bright packaging and pictures of well appointed middle-class families, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, picnicking in the park, warding off misquotes while making s’mores around the fire. Well, that’s all fine and dandy, but what about those of us who have left the confines of a state park and are dealing with insects of all shapes and sizes, while in a constant state of sticky? Yeah, exactly — what about us!? I bought the best that money can buy in these parts, but it still wasn’t enough. Not even close. I’d like a refund. Aaaaand some calamine lotion, please.
With thoughts of calling it quits an hour and a half in, my guide (who’s name I still can’t pronounce… or spell) motioned for me to come over. At first I saw nothing. I blinked. I stared. I blinked again. Still nothing. And then, suddenly, there he was, perched on a branch, clasping tight with his delicate fingers, sleeping.
Tarsiers are amazing little primates with a very long history; they’ve been around for about 45 million years, and are only found on specific islands throughout SE Asia, primarily in the Philippines. They’re incredibly shy and live a nocturnal lifestyle. Sadly, when put into a stressful state, they have a tendency to commit suicide. They also have the largest eye-to-body size ratio of all mammals. Basically, what I’m trying to say in a very roundabout way is that they’re special. Very special.
In that moment, everything and everyone, just faded into the background. For 45 minutes, nothing else mattered, except for this fascinating living, breathing, beating, life form in front of me, no larger than the palm of my hand. There was me, there was him, and that was it. That was it.
Sometimes it’s the simplest of pleasures that makes you feel as though you’ve just been handed the moon.
