the gecko tale

Here in Cambodia we have geckos everywhere. You see them running in the office, at home or while walking in the street. Especially by night where there is a light, a night bulb or a lamp. They eat mosquitos and insects and so it's a quite good natural method to fight against bites. :) They can climb the walls and even walk upside down thanks to their glued feet that adhere to any surface.
They are special. The cool thing is that it is in fact the only animal i can think of, that we humans name by the sound they make. In english they are called geckos, and in khmer, tokkai. The amazing thing is when you listen to a gecko singing they are in fact saying: tokkai, tokkai, tokkai!
Same as if we called a cow, mooooo; the cok, kikirikikiii; or pigs, oink oink. I love this thought of onomatopoeic naming. Imagine talking that way!

"the tolon tolon woke me up today"
"going out for glup glup with some friends. Chin chin!!"
"mmm! ñam ñam ñam was mmm!!"
!!

Here is a photo of my new flatmate (click to see bigger size)...he loves to watch tv. well, at least the back of it.
Normally we don´t see these huge size geckos around, but I found this little buddy the other day in my bathroom...and i was a little scared, have to admit, but he was definitely more than I was...
Reality is they are very very cute animals.

Can you think of any other animal that is named after the sound they make? tic tac tic tac...

lots of love for you all!