Cryptotourism

Retiring “Johor Hominid”

Sometimes people back themselves into corners. I think this happened with Vincent Chow, who became, it seems at this stage of the game, a victim of his own desires and hopes for the reality of the Johor Hominid pictures. As I said often, if we had the photographs, this matter could be resolved, perhaps, quickly. A sliver of an image appeared, not another drawing, and poof, it was. The era of an active cyberspace cryptocommunity is upon us. There are thousands of eyes out there, thanks to the internet, various sites, and, modestly I must note, Cryptomundo, looking for the [...]

Orang Dalam

Harold Stephens has just returned from the rainforests of Malaysia where he tells me he was filmed for an upcoming documentary on the Johor Bigfoot situation. Writing in transit from Johor to Bangkok on August 3, Stephens sends along, among other things, this: Spent three days in Malaysia with Rick Noll and his team. He interviewed me on camera. Met Vincent Chow, and he had met me before. Hardly much of a trek anyone can do in three days. And Vincent, I don’t think he ever got his shoes muddy. The others remain in Malaysia longer. I stayed only three [...]

Siren Sighted In Hudson

Our friends over at The Anomalist have pointed out a cool out-of-place animal story, about a member of the Sirenia, that you will want to read. On a day like this, I feel good just looking at this photograph. TA points out that the Poughkeepsie Journal of August 2, 2006, is reporting a ten-foot long, 1000-pound manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) has been sighted in the Hudson River near Manhattan, New York City. The Journal notes: Watchers tracked this one last month as it swam north — first near Delaware, then Maryland, then New Jersey. Saturday, it was seen at 23rd [...]

Johor Bigfoot Photos: Still Nothing

Why is the Malaysian situation at such a stalemate? What the February Johor footprint (above) tells us grows more confusing, but, at least, it is in hand. As of the last day of July 2006, still no photographs of the unknown hairy hominoids reportedly taken in Johor, Malaysia, have been shown publicly, shared with the scientific community, or published. Drawings, yes, exist, but you will be spared seeing those again here. (You can find them by clicking “Malaysian Bigfoot” in the column to the right.) Vincent Chow and Sean Ang are using their site, once again, to leak more details [...]

Johor Hominid Hair?

In terms of keeping you informed, this is shared. In terms of levels of frustration, you looked, correct? We report. You decide. A short description of a specimen labelled as "JHFW 19/2/2006: Hair Sample 1" Click image for full-size version The above sample was one of three collected by Vincent Chow (on 19th Feb. 2006 at 10.30 am) during one of his trips to the haunts of the hominid at Kota Tinggi. Together with Vincent for the outing were a BBC journalist Jonathan Kent, accompanied by Justin (cameraman from BBC UK), the local NST press and cameraman and some members [...]

Cryptid: The Ultimate Cryptozoology Experience

I’ve written, in depth, about the definition of cryptid, a word that was coined in 1983, by John E. Wall of Manitoba. Now, a mere 23 years later, it has become such an important part of our popular culture that one of the most incredibly well-designed graphic novels to capture the topic of this blog is set to appear! Are you prepared for Cryptid? Secret Lab Studios, in association with Thrill House Comics, and the world renowned award winning Weta Workshop Design Team of New Zealand have announced that they are currently collaborating on designs for Cryptid, a new and [...]

New Jersey Bigfoot

How do local Bigfoot groups begin? How do they establish themselves? How do they “get out there” to have the public know they are local investigators? Craig’s group in Texas is a high-evolved and well-oiled machine. But they all start the same way. Most begin as a grassroots effort, and today, since I recently spotlighted the New Jersey Bigfoot on The X-Files, here’s a follow-up on the continuing but new local group in that state: Upcoming Bigfoot Lecture by Drew Vics Thursday, July 20, 2006, at 7:00 PM: “Exploring the Possibility of Bigfoot in New Jersey.” The New Jersey Bigfoot [...]