"Snakes! Snakes!"

"Snakes! Snakes!"

As I turned to look everyone began running toward the yelling. Toward!

My first thought, and it was one of pure terror, was to sprint quickly in the other direction.

Let me back up a bit. We found ourselves on an ecological tour to Borneo, my husband and I. Our little lodge was built up from the ground about four feet. Clever, I thought. What a good way to capture what little breeze there might be in this steamy sauna climate and have it circulate around the rooms. Elevated walkways ran from room to room to dining area. Nestled at the bottom of thick jungle walls, the staff fought a relentless battle to keep the jungle from encroaching upon this little piece of civilization.

At the first sound of "Snake! Snake!" Jim pivoted, heading toward the sound. Not wanting to be left behind I quickly followed.

Guests were lined up against the railing of the walkway pointing out into the grassy area over which the lodge had been constructed.

And what to my wondering eyes should appear?

Cobras!

Slithering back up into the jungle for the night. The lodge had been build over a daily migration path used by cobras! Twice daily cobras appeared out of the jungle and then in the evening disappeared back into the jungle.

I slept with my boots on from that night forward.

And that's what I'm thinking about.