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> sally howse malaysia review
Sally Howse, 444 weeks Orangutan Experience, MalaysiaJanuary 2008, first stop: MalaysiaHow did you feel upon arriving into Malaysia? On the way to the accommodation I thought great! Back into a new country, just what I'd wanted to do ever since I got back - drinking in all the sights and smells (not all good, but all interesting)! How have you settled into life as a volunteer on your programme? Fine I think, the 1st day at the zoo was a bit challenging, but it's been great since. I absolutely adore Wasabi (one of the orang-utangs) and shall find it hard to leave her. The work is fine, hard insofar as it's so hot. I can't remember the last time sweat dripped off my nose and into my eyes but I can tell you if you need any raking doing I'm your woman! What is the accommodation and food like? Accommodation is fine - a few teething problems with plumbing and elect but resolved. The beds are comfy and the fans are working overtime - it's a 20 min walk to the zoo and about 35-40 to town from the house which makes getting a taxi back from town a good idea! The food I really like, getting used to the chilli-ness of everything and enjoying trying new things even if I don't know what they are!
How are you getting along with your fellow volunteers, project staff and the locals? I'm one of 2 older volunteers within our group so we've palled up - Barbara. There are 5 youngsters and 3 of those are zoo assistants, the other 2 being orang-utang project peeps. It's interesting that the youngsters seem to be waning in their enthusiasm as the project develops and are getting up later and later and seem tired quite a bit of the time. It was great in Kuala Lumpur to find that Emma (I'd been on the safety course in London with her) was on the project and also Pam who had been in South Africa. Mary (project coordinator) is great and Aida at the zoo is lovely, great fun and very helpful. The locals are really friendly and it's like being a minor celebrity and getting used to being honked and stared at and enjoying waving and smiling at all and sundry. What has been the highlight of your experience so far? Spending time with Wasabi. I spent about an hour with her this lunchtime much of it on my own- she went through my pockets, undid my laces and licked the lens cover of my camera. We sat snuggled up together and I stroked her back and when I stopped she put my hand back on her back. She has the most adorable face and the softest top lip that she lets me stroke - aaaahhhhh. Have you felt home sick or experienced culture shock and if so how did you deal with these feelings? I haven't felt homesick; I have spoken to my mum once and I blog as you know. I've not really felt culture shock either - I feel quite well adjusted (my friends may disagree!) How would you sum up your experience so far? Great - loving it - next! February 2008: Sally's experience in the Borneo jungle...
Read about how Sally got on during the second part of her Malaysia programme when she headed off to the Borneo jungle to see wild orang-utans and live alongside the Iban tribe. From Kuala Lumpur to Sarawak… I'm pleased to say that my geography is improving hand over fist during this trip I might even choose geography questions in Trivial Pursuit in future! You may or may not know that Borneo is the 3rd largest island in the world and comprises the states of 3 countries Sarawak (Malaysia), Sabah (Indonesia) and Brunei. Anyway, we flew from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Kuching the capital of Sarawak and stayed in a fabulous lodge for two nights before our foray into the jungle began. We didn't have too much detailed info about our accommodation and thought there might be some serious lack of washing available hence the purchase of dettol wipes and yes, really, cotton disposable knickers - don't wince these are the realities of travelling! Getting to the jungle... Our transport was open canoe style boats with outboard motors being driven by what appeared to by 12-year-old (or thereabouts) Iban lads (Iban are the tribe with whom we would be sharing our jungle experience). We'd taken what we thought we needed of our overall kit leaving a good amount in Kuching, and that was wrapped in bin liners in the boats; we were all wearing life jackets and not a little uncertain about the degree of rocking that had been experienced as we clambered somewhat shambolically into the boats. The journey was to take about 1and a half hours and we were perched on little wooden seats at the bottom of the boat - numb bum or what by the time we got there! Francis, our guide who had accompanied us from Kuching had been making us believe we'd be weeing down at the river and washing in a bucket and sleeping on a wooden surface with only a thin mat to cushion the old bones. When we finally arrived that little tinker Francis had been fibbing, a trait of his we would come to love...We had sturdy and roomy bunk beds and showers (mostly cold but warmer in the afternoon) and joy of joys - proper Western loos!
Jungle trekking… We undertook our first trek into the jungle the following day - I should really say up into the jungle as the longhouse we were staying in was by the river and the jungle rose precipitously behind us. Now I've always for whatever reason been pretty rubbish at going uphill and this was to prove no different; and if you consider the heat and the humidity and the sometimes wet leaf litter underfoot I found it pretty tough going. In the photo you will see my face is puce and my clothes are wet through with sweat (as were everyone's). We saw a couple of old Orang nests but none of the occupants. Wild orangutans… Whilst on this topic I'll quickly backtrack... Our 2 days in Kuching involved a visit to Semengoggh - an area where orangutan that have been rehabilitated now roam freely, the only concession to "captivity" if you can call it that is that food is put out for them twice a day which they can come and get or not as the mood or need arises but they are essentially wild as evidenced by one of the females chasing and taking a large bite out of one of the rangers' legs the other week! We were so lucky as we went early morning and it was an occasion when a number of orangutans came to feed including a huge male called Ritchie who had bitten the finger off one of the other males in the recent past. He came right down onto the ground -he was huge and hellishly impressive looking - quite scary actually when you consider they are 6 x stronger than humans! What was amazing was seeing them swing through the trees as God intended and I have to say it did make me a little wistful and wish that Wasabi could experience this freedom. They are the most amazing creatures to witness in their natural habitat and their high wire antics and their agility on the lianas is breathtaking. On our second day we went to the Matang Rehabilitation centre where work is done with orangutans and other animals that have either been seized from private owners or rescued from unsuitable places or have been orphaned. In addition to orangutans there were sun bears, which are native to Malaysia. There is a tremendous amount of education needed and much work is being undertaken with tribes people and children to develop a greater understanding for the need to value wildlife and to conserve endangered species and look for ways of finding common interests and making compromises on all sides. Whilst at Matang we were offered the opportunity to try an orangutan favourite - the durian - it's a fruit which it's said by some to "taste like heaven but smell like hell", well the ones we were offered, what can I say... the smell made me heave at about 10 paces - it's so hard to describe - but once you've smelled it you'll know it again. Needless to say I opted not to try it (Emma) and those that did really wished they hadn't - hats off to them and all that but I'm really glad I didn't. Meeting the Iban Tribe… In addition to the trekking the other key part of the experience was interacting with the Iban who lived in a longhouse a couple of 100 yards along the rivers. We met up with them twice to do some weaving - a mat first and then a basket - I really enjoyed it and found it relaxingly therapeutic although you did have to concentrate and count - no wonder I was never any good at knitting mum - unlike you superstar knitter! In addition to our weaving classes we had a party with the Iban on our last night, ate, played some games, and danced - it was a great time. The locally brewed rice wine was flowing liberally and a few peeps got a little merry with one of our number needing to be carried to and from the boat...The following day we packed and flew back to Kuching - I put my clothes through the express laundry service at the hostel! More wildlife volunteer trips below:12 trips have been found based on your filter/sort
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