2025 – Year of the Snake bite

Happy Chinese New Year!

If you are unaware, we are presently in the middle of the annual traditional Chinese holiday period (this year January 29 to February 12).

Here in Malaysia – where we Earth Vagabonds are currently staying – it’s our first in-person experience with Chinese New Year. We saw our first ‘real’ dragon dance the other day.

Malaysia has a huge ethnic Chinese population, so celebrations, decorations, fireworks, religious and family rituals related to the lunar new year are common and ongoing.

2025 is the Year of the Snake.

In a bizarre irony, my wife Ellen was actually bitten by a snake!

Yup. I can hardly believe I’m writing this. But it did happen. The photos here document the incident (daytime photos are the morning after). 

It happened 48 hours ago at our Airbnb rental condo complex in Port Dickson, Malaysia. We had just arrived two hours earlier – after a full day of bus transit from Penang, Malaysia, about 300 miles to the north.

After settling in and freshening up at our new accommodation, we decided to walk to a nearby intersection where a number of restaurants are located. On the way out of our gated grounds we strolled past the swimming pool area.

It was about 8:20 p.m., just after dark, along a grassy stone path when Ellen shrieked “Aaahhhh… A SNAKE BIT ME”!!!

Sure enough, I glanced down to see a serpent about a meter long and as thick as a garden hose slithering quickly away. As I fumbled with the flash on my cell phone – hoping to get a picture of it – the creature squiggled off into a drainage ditch. Gone. No photo. 

Ellen wailed in pain, I cursed aloud, my mom – who is currently traveling with us – was stunned silent. Of course, we needed medical attention immediately! We summoned a Grab car (Uber) and simultaneously I ran to the front security gate of our complex hoping to get help and more info about the type of snake it might be.

Despite very limited English, I communicated to the guards what had happened. At the same time, a car leaving our complex stopped and became involved. I asked the driver to please take us to the hospital emergency room — he graciously did so as I canceled the still distant Grab car.

Thankfully, Hospital Port Dixon was almost right across the street from our rental property. We were inside the ER and getting treatment in just a few minutes. Ellen’s chief complaint: burning in her left heel – the location of the bite – and some general numbness and tingling in her left foot.

Without identifying the exact species of snake, it was impossible for medical personnel to know precisely what to do. I did describe the dark colored snake (with lighter colored belly) as best I could. We were told the most common local snake is known as the ‘mangrove snake’; an animal that CAN be poisonous — or not. Bite victims react differently.

Ellen’s vital signs were continuously monitored, blood drawn and tested, an x-ray taken (to be sure the fangs weren’t lodged in her heel), a tetanus shot administered, the tiny puncture marks wound cleaned. (Total ER charges: $74.)

Beyond that, all we could do was wait. Hospital staff said Ellen would remain in the ER for monitoring over the next 4 to 6 hours. She might even be admitted overnight.

Blessedly, after 90 minutes her symptoms had not worsened. She suffered no serious pain, swelling, headache, or vomiting. In fact, she seemed to be her usual self — and hungry.

Myself and mom went to the corner to get some food, then back to our rental unit to get Ellen’s cell phone charger. We again walked through the pool area – right past the bite scene. No more snakes.

I returned to the hospital with a snack for Ellen. By now it was 11:30 p.m. Her condition was the same. But we were warned that some snakebite venom can have ‘delayed effect’. Still, Ellen felt mostly normal, except for some localized discomfort around the bite.

A little after 1 a.m., Ellen said she wanted to go home. The ER doctor cautioned that staying overnight for observation was advised. But El said no and signed herself out with instructions to return immediately if fever, headache, or vomiting developed overnight. At about 2:30 a.m. we arrived home. Ellen even declined a taxi and we walked the 10 minutes — and again past the bite scene.

Now two days after the incident, Ellen is back to normal. No further issues. The heel area is slightly sore – but she can walk, no problem. After resting for the first day we’ve been out exploring the Port Dixon area. I’m writing this from a coffee shop near our condo. As you’d guess from the city name, we are on the seashore, the western coast of mainland Malaysia – about an hours drive south from inland Kuala Lumpur.

We’ve stayed in Malaysia three other times, but never Port Dixon. We came here this time because the ferry to Sumatra, Indonesia departs from here. We’ll be on that boat in a few weeks. 

Meanwhile, despite the snakes, PD seems a nice enough beach town that swells with Kuala Lumpur city dwellers every weekend. Today is Wednesday, so we’ll see what happens this weekend.

While not as flamboyant as in Penang, Malaysia, there are also lots of Chinese New Year decorations here in Port Dixon. Undoubtedly, the dragon dances and firecrackers and public and private events will continue to usher in the year of the snake.

Here’s what Google says about 2025:

“Chinese Lunar New Year marks the start of the Year of the Snake, a time of transformation, wisdom, and personal growth. According to Chinese astrology, the Snake symbolizes intelligence, mystery, and renewal.”

We’re good with any and all of that. Just as long as the snake isn’t physically biting any of us. Happy New Year!

As always, be thankful and generous, happy trails & more beer.

Life is NOW!

Thanks for reading, “2025 – Year of the Snake bite.”

---

---