3 Days Satang Field Trip (16th-18th September)
I'm sorry for disappearing for too long and I'm guessing you are probably thinking I'm dead, but let me assure you, I'm alive and well and had pimple problems. LOL. Life is as I have expected, very busy. I had a straight up and ongoing assignments and report papers to do. But here's a great news though, there's my so-called fantastic tale I should share for all to read.
And I made a new header board above! But I can't re-size it to fit exactly but I guess this will do.
Exactly 3 days after my last entry, our course mate were assigned to head to Pulau Satang. It was situated at The South China Sea and this island is one of the islands that does turtle conservation projects. The surrounding islands are Satang Kechil, Talang-talang Besar and Talang-talang Kecil. Pulau Satang is the largest among the other surrounding islands and it was used to be an island where leprosy patients were housed. But it was no longer operated and now it was privately owned.
We boarded the UNIMAS bus to Telaga Air at 10-something am reached the island for 30 minutes boat ride. The view was awesome and we get to witness the shape of Gunung Santubong. Locals said that it looked like a replica of a woman laying down. I turned my head to different angles and yes it does look like a woman laying down.
Finally when we reached the island, everyone helped with the unloading of things to the lodge. This island was not open to tourists but only for students and researchers. They prioritize conservation over tourism. There was few lodges available and most of my course mates set up tents. Food supplies weren't available either so you'll have to bring your own food supplies to eat there. You'll need to have a verified permission or permit to stay in the island. The beach is amazing and the scenery is just glorious.
There weren't villagers living there but only the staffs of Turtle Board and Sarawak Forestry. So they'll have to do night rounds for any sight of turtles laying eggs.
We stayed there for 3 days and 2 nights and we were scheduled to do field work in our tentative, but we had our fun times too. Every group needs to help with the cooking, be it breakfast, lunch and dinner.
On the first day we took a hike in the jungle and did recordings for water parameters. Our first stop was the water pump where the staffs collect rain water for water supply. Next stop is the abandoned dam where leprosy patients used to bath there. So imagine how many times we had our thoughts playing in our mind about getting or affected by the remaining things that they left behind. But our lecturers assured that it's nothing to be feared of. Furthermore, leprosy can be treated - and I just knew that LMAO. Screw my lack of general infos.
Later in that evening, we wrapped everything up and prepared dinner. The meal was appetizing, or maybe that we were just plain hungry. Then after dinner, we were hearing talks by the staffs of Turtle Board regarding on turtles that landed on the island for breeding. Most turtle species landed are Green Turtle. But compared to this island, most turtles landed in Talang-talang islands consists of almost tens a night compared to Satang. They informed us that there was 2 turtles sighted and advised us not to disturb their laying procession as they might turn back to lay eggs in another island. Therefore, we were only told to see them once they finished laying eggs. After the briefing, everyone dozed for a while and at 12.02am were awaken to see them. So we grabbed our torches and I was bracing for the cold night so I had my thick jacket on. Then we went to the beach and saw the turtles. I was like org sakai because I've only seen them on the TV screen and not in 3D or 4D for that matter! I took pictures at the last minute and before that I was trying to get that picture of these creatures in my mind. Then as the turtle reached the shore to get into the open waters, we bid them goodbye and wished them for a safe journey and probably wished them to come back again. That same night, we went to see turtle hatch-lings to the sea. The staffs released them at night because there will be less predation. So we were all so smitten by the baby turtles. They are so fragile but really active. So they were released and we helped them. I helped to release 5 of them and bid them goodbye, hoping for a safe journey and adulthood. It was so sentimental because they were so young, small and has little chance of survival if they were to face any obstacle. It ended at 2am and we continued to sleep only to find that we had to wake up early to prepare lunch.
Then in the second day, we went for our first snorkeling. We were given small brief on the safety measures when snorkeling. Our group went in the afternoon and we didn't expected it to be our turn so we had tea breaks before that. Then when we got called, we immediately put down our tea cups and went to the boat. The snorkeling session was located in the middle of the island. We put on our snorkeling gears and was anticipated for it, but I was dead nervous, because 1, I don't how to swim and I can have panic attacks easily when I can't touch my feet on the bottom of the sea. But of course, you can't expect everything to be so shallow. So I was the last to dive in because I raised my hand confidently that I can't swim. My lecturer, Dr Lee assured me that everything is okay and he'll be right where I'll be. He's like our second dad. In the end I buffed up my guts and jumped in. Of course, I had the panic attack. I was struggling on my life jacket and it keeps making me stay afloat on my back. All I could think was "I wanna go back to the boat! I can't handle it!". But sometimes you have to face the fear and mount up all your courage to face it. And so I keep calm and tried to paddle my legs back and so I stayed afloat facing down. That calmed me down. And thanks to Farisha, she pulled my leg back when my legs moved forward again. In between I stayed calm and followed the instructions and lectures from Dr Lee. At one point I got nervous because I couldn't feel the bottom, he had to grab on my hand. We were supported by a polystyrene float but that didn't helped either and our life-jacket keep pressing on our necks so it was difficult. Our group consists of 9 people and we keep colliding among each other. One of my friend got dizzy and had to go back to the boat. Then the life-jacket that I was wearing had a buckle in between your thighs so that the life-jacket don't float above you head and it keeps the jacket stays in place. So imagine that I had 2 cups of warm tea before the snorkeling and I can't stand the pressure to pee. LMAO. I had to stay calm but it gets so difficult to hold back that the pressure of the water and your bladder pressure is sooo exhilarating! So I have not choice but to pee - in the OCEAN, AMONG THE CORALS and DURING THE LECTURE. Omaigoooosshh. I confessed to a few of my friends and one of my friend joked that she felt the water tasted saltier. Some of my friends asked when did I happened to pee and they made sure that I didn't mention anyone to have snorkeled behind me. I assured them NO! I made sure that I was the only one there! LOLL
It was fun and it crafted that experience in our memories. I felt like its so new to me and that I am embracing each one of them. So the next day we had group photos while waiting for the boat. It was a strong current at the shore so we waited too long.
And I made a new header board above! But I can't re-size it to fit exactly but I guess this will do.
Exactly 3 days after my last entry, our course mate were assigned to head to Pulau Satang. It was situated at The South China Sea and this island is one of the islands that does turtle conservation projects. The surrounding islands are Satang Kechil, Talang-talang Besar and Talang-talang Kecil. Pulau Satang is the largest among the other surrounding islands and it was used to be an island where leprosy patients were housed. But it was no longer operated and now it was privately owned.
We boarded the UNIMAS bus to Telaga Air at 10-something am reached the island for 30 minutes boat ride. The view was awesome and we get to witness the shape of Gunung Santubong. Locals said that it looked like a replica of a woman laying down. I turned my head to different angles and yes it does look like a woman laying down.
Finally when we reached the island, everyone helped with the unloading of things to the lodge. This island was not open to tourists but only for students and researchers. They prioritize conservation over tourism. There was few lodges available and most of my course mates set up tents. Food supplies weren't available either so you'll have to bring your own food supplies to eat there. You'll need to have a verified permission or permit to stay in the island. The beach is amazing and the scenery is just glorious.
There weren't villagers living there but only the staffs of Turtle Board and Sarawak Forestry. So they'll have to do night rounds for any sight of turtles laying eggs.
We stayed there for 3 days and 2 nights and we were scheduled to do field work in our tentative, but we had our fun times too. Every group needs to help with the cooking, be it breakfast, lunch and dinner.
On the first day we took a hike in the jungle and did recordings for water parameters. Our first stop was the water pump where the staffs collect rain water for water supply. Next stop is the abandoned dam where leprosy patients used to bath there. So imagine how many times we had our thoughts playing in our mind about getting or affected by the remaining things that they left behind. But our lecturers assured that it's nothing to be feared of. Furthermore, leprosy can be treated - and I just knew that LMAO. Screw my lack of general infos.
Later in that evening, we wrapped everything up and prepared dinner. The meal was appetizing, or maybe that we were just plain hungry. Then after dinner, we were hearing talks by the staffs of Turtle Board regarding on turtles that landed on the island for breeding. Most turtle species landed are Green Turtle. But compared to this island, most turtles landed in Talang-talang islands consists of almost tens a night compared to Satang. They informed us that there was 2 turtles sighted and advised us not to disturb their laying procession as they might turn back to lay eggs in another island. Therefore, we were only told to see them once they finished laying eggs. After the briefing, everyone dozed for a while and at 12.02am were awaken to see them. So we grabbed our torches and I was bracing for the cold night so I had my thick jacket on. Then we went to the beach and saw the turtles. I was like org sakai because I've only seen them on the TV screen and not in 3D or 4D for that matter! I took pictures at the last minute and before that I was trying to get that picture of these creatures in my mind. Then as the turtle reached the shore to get into the open waters, we bid them goodbye and wished them for a safe journey and probably wished them to come back again. That same night, we went to see turtle hatch-lings to the sea. The staffs released them at night because there will be less predation. So we were all so smitten by the baby turtles. They are so fragile but really active. So they were released and we helped them. I helped to release 5 of them and bid them goodbye, hoping for a safe journey and adulthood. It was so sentimental because they were so young, small and has little chance of survival if they were to face any obstacle. It ended at 2am and we continued to sleep only to find that we had to wake up early to prepare lunch.
Then in the second day, we went for our first snorkeling. We were given small brief on the safety measures when snorkeling. Our group went in the afternoon and we didn't expected it to be our turn so we had tea breaks before that. Then when we got called, we immediately put down our tea cups and went to the boat. The snorkeling session was located in the middle of the island. We put on our snorkeling gears and was anticipated for it, but I was dead nervous, because 1, I don't how to swim and I can have panic attacks easily when I can't touch my feet on the bottom of the sea. But of course, you can't expect everything to be so shallow. So I was the last to dive in because I raised my hand confidently that I can't swim. My lecturer, Dr Lee assured me that everything is okay and he'll be right where I'll be. He's like our second dad. In the end I buffed up my guts and jumped in. Of course, I had the panic attack. I was struggling on my life jacket and it keeps making me stay afloat on my back. All I could think was "I wanna go back to the boat! I can't handle it!". But sometimes you have to face the fear and mount up all your courage to face it. And so I keep calm and tried to paddle my legs back and so I stayed afloat facing down. That calmed me down. And thanks to Farisha, she pulled my leg back when my legs moved forward again. In between I stayed calm and followed the instructions and lectures from Dr Lee. At one point I got nervous because I couldn't feel the bottom, he had to grab on my hand. We were supported by a polystyrene float but that didn't helped either and our life-jacket keep pressing on our necks so it was difficult. Our group consists of 9 people and we keep colliding among each other. One of my friend got dizzy and had to go back to the boat. Then the life-jacket that I was wearing had a buckle in between your thighs so that the life-jacket don't float above you head and it keeps the jacket stays in place. So imagine that I had 2 cups of warm tea before the snorkeling and I can't stand the pressure to pee. LMAO. I had to stay calm but it gets so difficult to hold back that the pressure of the water and your bladder pressure is sooo exhilarating! So I have not choice but to pee - in the OCEAN, AMONG THE CORALS and DURING THE LECTURE. Omaigoooosshh. I confessed to a few of my friends and one of my friend joked that she felt the water tasted saltier. Some of my friends asked when did I happened to pee and they made sure that I didn't mention anyone to have snorkeled behind me. I assured them NO! I made sure that I was the only one there! LOLL
It was fun and it crafted that experience in our memories. I felt like its so new to me and that I am embracing each one of them. So the next day we had group photos while waiting for the boat. It was a strong current at the shore so we waited too long.