Each of us will have one thing that we are most fearful of… whether its snakes, insects – cockroaches, dogs or just anything that is furry.. It may seems harmless to one but dreadful to other people even though logically thinking they are actually harmless but they just find them yucky, creepy, slimmy or whatever the animal is. Of coz in Maldives, when you ask any locals here, they will tell you that they do not have any animal or insects that are harmful… Well, first thing you would think of is are there any sharks here.. the answer is yes.. they have reef sharks and apparently quite harmless.. (so far no incidents yet)
Well.. when I came over to this new island, the same thought of no harmful animals around, so did not really care less.. Don’t need to beware of where to step or whatever.. However, a week later, one of my staffs got bitten by a snake.. So happen I have an evening dinner to go to.. have to entertain some China travel journalist. I did not give much thought on it and the Operational manager keep insisting that there is no snake in the island and if there are, then its not poisonous. .. but hei.. snake is a snake.. no matter if they are poisonous or not, you still have 2 puncture holes when they bit you!. After the dinner, the thought start to comes in, oh so there are snakes around and some of my staff- team members (got to call staff as team member – hilton std) told me thay had caught a few already for the last 8 months that they were here! Oh boy.. that it.. I started be careful where my feet going to land on next.
After 3 weeks, we started to place a team member at the entrance of the spa where we have a kind of a booth where we display the spa products initially and we had now place 2 sofas, a coffee table, working table and a chair with some pots with flowers so that it will look welcoming for the guests when they come to spa. So there was one night one of my team member kept calling me to go over.. As from the welcoming booth to go to the reception, there is a path with pebbles and with water and fishes at each side, so while I was half way then only she say there is a snake in the welcoming booth.. At that moment, I just felt the excitement and not the fear of encountering to a snake. But just felt the curiousity to find out if its a small or big snake. Our Spa Ayurveda doctor and one of the spa attendent bravely went into the booth with 2 sticks. When they found the snake, its a small thin snake. They hit the snake but luckily they did not kill it and we put the snake in the bottle (pics below). One of team member was so scared that she even scream when the snake is safely in the bottle. Lucky at that point of commotions, there were no guest in the spa, if not, the guest will be thinking that the spa is not safe and having all these creatures sliding around. We, finally manage to pass the evidence to the security – to show them that there are indeed snakes in the island and they are not able to deny the fact anymore!
Yesterday we have our weekly island cleaning day – gotong royong (in malay) and they decided to clean up the carpentry area. So all the department heads to show the team spirit, were there to give a hand in the clean up. Unfortunately, I happen to be the only female around, so as usual, I get bullied.. they start startling me by throwing a string of carpet and just yell.. Kelly snake… a normal reaction, I “siam” – hokkien for avoid. and they did that a couple of times.. and then they just throw me a block of white stuff and yell at me rat.. again I jumped. Then he – Operational Director told me that didn’t he tell me that there is no rat in the island and only “rabbit” .. yeah right man.. geez.. like hell I will believe that.. hmm..But I know they are just trying to tease me, that’s all.. sigh.. but these activities are quite fun actually and able to get to know them better. Sure hope I will be able to stay with Hilton for the next 2 years! Wish me luck yar!
