My Malaysia Forest Expedition
Added to website: 31 March 2005
Stepping off the plane at Kuala Terengganu, it finally hit me as to where I was and the huge adventure I was about to embark on. I was to spend 10 weeks living and working to help save some of the most diverse and threatened ecosystems on the planet. After being here for merely three weeks, I feel as though we are actually going to make a difference. As I sit here at the edge of a tropical forest, which is threatened by loggers and tobacco plantations, I realize how much this difference is needed. Our work has generally included catching different animals to prove how diverse and rich in wildlife these places are.
All the people on this project, staff and volunteer alike, are all on the same wavelength and have the same ideals for this beautiful place. We all get excited when we catch a bird or when we spot a Dusky Langur monkey peeking through the trees. It’s this kind of place that makes you realize what needs to be done. And it appears the work done so far has not been in vain, just last week we spotted a green turtle in a lagoon, and even our Malaysian guide was surprised.
Even though it may sound like all we do is survey, we don’t. Every other week we visit our local school to educate the children on the animals they have close to them and what they can do to help. We also get a chance to explore this amazing country through regular recreational treks and also through our long weekend break. I, myself, arrived a few days early to explore KL and plan to stay a week or two after to explore other parts of Malaysia such as the Perhentian Islands and Taman Negara. It is through the opportunity that Coral Cay have provided for so many people that I am able to help try and conserve such a beautiful place and also explore it at the same time. This is truly a fulfilling experience that I won’t forget for as long as I live and probably after.
This country itself is unforgettable. Finding out how the Malay people live and their attitudes is the best part. Only last night, three members of our team attended an engagement ceremony and, after looking at the pictures, I wish I could have been there. I invite everyone who has the desire to make a difference in this world and/or wish to experience this beautiful land and culture to take the step and fill out that application form. This has been the highlight of my gap year that has provided me with a great experience and enlightened me and I’m sure it will continue to do so.
THOM PRICE
