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Meeting the Orangutans
On the first day we are taken around the entire wildlife centre and introduced to the native environment and the animals. The most logical way is to go through the different animals currently being looked after or rehabilitated here at Matang Wildlife Centre. The orangutans remain the main focus of rehab activity here, (although the sunbears are a very close second) so I will start by introducing them, each of them having individual characters, personalities, backgrounds and futures.
Aman is the dominant male, he is huge, its difficult to get a sense of scale without seeing him for real. I had read quite abit about him so was quiet excited about seeing him. Aman made the headlines last year due to the operation he had, when he had the worlds first operation of its kind on an orangutan, to give him is eyesight back after getting cataracts. The operation was a success with 90% visibility returning. You quickly warm to the big fella, he is alittle moody, likes the ladies but you are extra careful to keep a safe distance and remain on your guard, he’s a big strong fella who could cause serious harm. He has the most gentle look in his eyes though, the way he moves around is fascinating to watch, I could watch him for hours. The flanges (large cheeks) are the visible sign that he is a dominant male, if another male came into his area and fought for that position and won, aman flanges would go down! They look quite hard in photos but they are actually soft.
Aman
Chiam and her baby boy
When I arrived at Matang Gante and Chiam had both given birth to baby boys, two days earlier on the same day. I felt extremely lucky to meet them, although Ganti didn’t come out of the hessian sack that she took comfort in hiding in for the first weeks, below in one of the first pictures taken of her out of the sack. Chiam was alot more confident in the early weeks and was making her way around the outdoor enclosures, and showing off her new baby boy. We witnessed a moment when Chiam and Ganti, showed each other their new boys to each other, very cute. Orangutans only have off springs once every 8 years, so based on that you can see why its so important that orangutans are protected, as increasing their numbers is no quick turnaround, the mothers teach there new borns all the skills for the wild, and are the best teachers they can have.
Seeing them both with the their babies and how tentative they are is a beautiful sight, the best way to share this is by watching this video that Hilary took for me
Ganti and her baby boy
Doris is an older female who has alot of character and due to her background will be harder to rehabilitate for the wild but there has been alot of progress made and she does have trips out into the jungle were thanks to Leo Biddle has come on leaps and bounds. During my time there she wasn’t going out into the wild as much she has been but I believe this was set to change. She is very active, bright and cheeky, the challenge will always be around making her more wild and to lose the habits she picked up in her early years, posing for the camera etc..
doris
Ting San is beautiful, and have to say if pushed to choose, my favourite. You can read more about her history here . She is coming on really well, enjoying going out to the jungle and is less willing to come back which is a good sign, they feel she is definatly on the road to being released back into the wild.
Ting San
Mamu has developed a great relationship with Ting san, they share an enclosure together alot of the time and also during my time at Matang they often went out into the jungle together for rehab were they have helped each other in developing their skills for the wild. They have a caring and very playful relationship with each other and I really enjoyed watching them together.
here you can read more facts and information about this magnificent great apes.
Thailand Pictures
I have arrived in borneo after an amazing time in Thailand, I have had much time to get online, so for the time being here is a link to some pictures taken on the 9 day scuba dive trip.
http://images.burnsy.info/v/Thailand/2009/
enjoy xx
Journey to Kuching
My journey into borneo was eventful, as when ambled up to the singapore airlines check in desk at 5am, I was greated by confussed smiles. My flight number was written on the screen above their heads but they seem completely baffled as to why I was suggesting I wanted to check onto the flight…they kind of giggled to each other and went on to inform me that the flight was cancelled months ago. why they were sat there looking like they were waiting to do some work I have idea. I hadn’t been informed of this, but this was the first of 5 flights I had amended a few month earlier over the phone!
I had to get this one to make a connecting flight, i chatted this through with them, and they were really helpful, got be transfered onto another airline. The whole thing didn’t bother me in the slightest, I really don’t mind this side of travelling, I just see it all as an experience..and roll with it. nothing so far has seemed to stress me, I have just been enjoying it all. That might sound abit rosey but hey, I have nothing to complain about this trip is fab, I aint going to let anything minor things change my mind set.
At Singapore there are a few more issues with my flights, as something hasn’t been processed by someone, so my details aren’t coming through. after an hour or so they sort it and I just make the flight. I am really excited about arriving in kuching, eager to get stuck in and meet all the animals.
As I arrive through the arrival gate, a malay guy walks straight up to me ‘hey dawn, i am richard’…maybe my monkey t-shirt with I fling poo, exposed me as a volunteer or that I was the only westerner coming off the plane. I meet one of the other volunteers.
I am not sure what I was expecting, but Kuching, Malaysian Borneo was alot more developed that I had imagined…a seven eleven, a hilton hotel, designer brands…but this didn’t hamper the place as the character was not lost. There are lots of little side streets to explore, markets, stalls, temples and musuems. We spent our first night meetinng each other at the Singgahsana Lodge, which I highly recommend…it has loads of character with a great bar on the top floor and the rooms are comfortable with good air conditioning, warm showers, keep laundry service £1 per kg.
We all met in the top bar, its 8 girls and one guy, they all seem okay with one exception! We had a great evening chatting with Leo Biddle joining us around 7pm to welcome us, tell us more about the project and answer our questions. I am all ears, as I am fascinated by what he has to say, keen to learn as much as possiable about the project, the animals, the conservation issues etc…well it quickly become apparent that leo likes to talk, so gaining information will clearly not be an issue. 🙂
Baby orangutans arrive at Matang
The volunteer program that I join in the next few days have just informed me that two of the females, Chiam and Ghanti have both given birth on the same day to two boys…see pictures and more details in this link.
Arrival in Thailand
After traveling through the usa, new zealand and east coast Australia I knew that the next leg of my trip was about to begin and I would be saying farewell for a few months to the western comforts I had become accustomed too. Pattaya, Thailand was to be the start of the next leg of my trip.
I flew to Singapore were I had a 3 hour wait before my connecting flight. How do you while away a few hours here…i found the perfect way…massage…to ease a few knots and aches..i was easily persuaded into an hour work of treatments. My massage was by a deaf Singapore lady, who gave a painful foot massage which felt good once it was over and a firm but relaxing neck and shoulder massage which defiantly did the job.
Nicely relaxed I board the flight to Bangkok were I am met at the gate by my uncles, Jason and Ging. We head straight onto the road towards Pattaya, its night time so its difficult to get a feel for the place. We stop at a service station to pick up a drink, It feels more like a small village, busy with stalls and shops. I grab water and a couple of beer, as recommended by Ging. We chatter, catch up and when we arrive in Pattaya Jason drives through some of the main areas, there are hundreds of mopeds, weaving in and out…a lively place, full of hussle & bustle.
At the condo, they guys had picked out a room for me but when we get there its not available, so reception provide us one on the top floor. I check in and head for bed, as I am drifting off, I hear a noise at the door, then keys in the door! Eekkk! The door opens and a guy walks in. I sit up and tell him I have checked into the room for 2 nights…hes confused and apologises…then leaves! Great…there is no lock on the inside of the door, so I make a half arsed attempt by putting a small chair in front of it! No ones comes back. The so next morning I speak to Jason and Ging and we speak to reception who say it was the guys friend who owns the condo, they don’t know why he was there but he wouldn’t hand in the key. We are unsure if the room was supposed to have been rented out. In any case we ask that I move rooms…I move across the hall from Jason and Ging, this one has an internal lock.. 🙂
With that over, I begin to experience Pattaya, seeing temples, the 1000’s of street dogs (that capture my heart and the lens of my camera), walks along the beach, beautiful floating markets were we sample local food, shopping with Ging introducing me to the many obscure fruits, then into the evenings were I am shown the sights and sounds of the Pattaya gay scene, from Cabaret shows, go go shows, discos and many other colourful corners.
One night after a disco Ging and I got home on a motorbike taxi, three on us on one bike. At 2am in the morning..tipsy, warm breeze as we nip around the streets…giggling, carefree.
The news coverage here is CRAZY…both the local newspaper and TV. They show everything…for example some guy had been stabbed by his girlfriend, they have it all on camera, just after it happened, in there with the police, filming the scene as she is arrested and the ambulance arrived etc. If there has been a car accident, they are filming the people injured and if someone has died, they show you them laid there dead!, with relatives at the scene crying.
There was one were a girl who was filmed at a police drop in centre, whilst reporting she had been raped by 5 guys with the news reporter saying ‘there was evidence of forced sexual intercourse when examined but the police are unsure if there is a case, they are not sure if they believe her’ the girl is shown, no blurring or identity protection, CRAZY no sensitivity at all!
Byron Bay
Byron Bay at Sunset
Arriving in Byron Bay I immediatly get a good feel for the place, there is a life and energy about it that I like. After calling about 7 places we had managed to get a camp spot for 2 nights but ideally want to stay for 4, so will have to hope we can get in somewhere as it would be nice to relax here for a while. The main reason we didn’t stop here on the way down and have come back up is Kirsty & Phil are here with the family, so a great time to be able to spend some time with them.
Byron is full of chilled out hippys, cools little shops, great surf and a healthy night scene with always somewhere to go. The best thing is the place isn’t over developed, it has managed to retain a small intimate feel.
First thing to purchase here, is a bodyboard to get out into the ocean waves. The waves are strong, with a lot of rips so its best to try and find somewhere were there is a life guard. The campsite is right of the beach with a small protrolled area, so headout there. I would call my first attempts of bodyboarding as semi-drowning, as I was thrown about like a doll in the waves but i did managed to catch a few of them and when you do the speed at which they bring you in is exhilirating. Just felt alittle battered after an hour or so.
That afternoon, we decided to take a surfboarding lessons, just to get abit of a taster. Now i realised why the surfer types look buff…it’s physically hard work. There is a group of 10 that get taken out to the beach, shown the techniques and then taken out to put them into practice. The hardest part is getting the board out into the sea through the crashing waves, to get to the point were you can catch one…I managed to stand up once. We both got wiped out, by someone elses board wacking us on the head. Not quite sure I will ever take this up on a regular basis but i do now have a greater appriciation for what it takes.
surfer byron bay
pineapple dreadlocks
Sydney – New Years Eve
I didn’t pre-plan or know were we would spend new years eve, I was just going to wing it and go with the flow. So when we bumped into Jim and Netty and they kindly offered us the sofa in their apartment over New Years Eve, we thought great, as we were too late to book anywere, so took this a a sign that Sydney was where we should go.
The apartment was near to Darling Harbour, so we went for a walk around there, had some food, then walked down to the the opera house and people watched for a while. The guys texted to say they had checked in, so we headed back to meet them. We are both shattered, so have a chilled evening going for a walk and then to the cinema. Taking it easy the night before the NYE celebrations.
We get up reasonably early on NYE, so we can pick up some food for a picnic as we were going to head to one of the free sites to watch the fireworks. Kirsty had recommend that the Boltantical Gardens, Mrs Macquirie Point as a good spot with a side view of the bridge and opera house. We arrive at the art gallery entrance at 10.30am and the queue is huge, its tempting to queue hop but we head to the back and queue for 4 hours! But its a beautiful day, and we end up meeting people in the queue and have a good laugh & chat. Met a couple called Brett and Gail, who we hang out with for the rest of the day. They really looked after us too…with cheese on crackers, homemade pasta and a cool box to keep the wine chilled…much appriciated guys…if your ever in the UK we will return the favour but can’t guarantee the fireworks will be as impressive! The atmosphere is fantastic, I love just wondering off through the crowds, taking photos and people watching. We get a good spot on the grass bank and the fireworks are amazing, $5million worth in 12 minutes.
Sunshine queue for Botanical Gardens, NYE, Sydney
day time NYE boltantical gardens
Fireworks Sydney NYE
fireworks sydney nye 2008
fireworks sydney nyeearly evening nye
We managed to get through 3.5 bottles of wine! So by the time midnight struck i was alittle tipsy, that I decided on the walk home it would be a good idea to ‘high five’ everyone and anyone I came across. I hazily recall my high fives getting a good response.
Not sure exactly what time we make it back to the apartment, maybe around 2.30am. Jim, Netty, Ginge and Matt arrive back soon after and Jim and Netty are absoltuly sloshed…I begin to feel sober in comparison, Jim can hardly speak and Netty is falling over, laughing alot and talking about being an angel!. Eventually the lads carry Netty and put her into bed and we all crash for the night. At 7am in the morning, there is a knock at the door! we mummer “come back later”, thinking its room service/cleaning but I say that it wont be…so stumbles up to answer it. On the other side we find a very confussed Netty!!
In her dress, that 4 hours ago we had put her to bed in…shes completely confused, doesn’t know were she is but had woken up on the 9th floor!. We are on the 15th…she thinks she has lost her shoes and bag, so has no recollection that she was in the apartment earlier and they were safe and sound. We can only conclude that she sleep walked down to the 9th, but how she managed to work the lift, when you need a swipe card we have no idea. The next morning, Jims grateful we were there as he probably wouldn’t have heard the door knock. It was really amusing, as she got back okay but scary as well! Now thats one way to see in the new year. I do have some video footage but I have promised not to release it to you tube.
Meeting Liam Pass
After driving down to Newcastle to Kirsty and Phil’s house, I call to get directions to their house, only to discover it’s another 1.5 hours away…I forget that in Oz, if you say you are ‘near’ a city it can mean a few hours drive ‘near’. As we made an early start on the road we make it there before mid-day. Their house is in Bateau Bay and it’s really lovely, loads of space and on split levels inside. It isn’t long before Phil has a beer in our hands ready for the roadtrip into sydney. I get to sit in the back right next to Liam so enjoy a 1.5 hour trip cooing over him, he is of course super cute and think he’s going to be tall with those long legs. It’s great catching up with Kirsty and Phil, feels like it was yesterday since I last saw them…they kindly drop us off outside Jim and Netty’s apartment. Already looking forward to seeing them again and catching up some more in Byron Bay.
Liam Pass
Coffs Harbour and the tourist possem!
After a full day on the road driving, we evetually arrived in Coffs Harbour. We managed to get a couple of nights at one of the campsite, also JIm and Netty contacted us to see were we where, as they were also heading in the same direction. They managed to check into the same site, so we met up for drinks and some food. They had been there most of the day and scoped the area, What we came to realise was there is only a limited amount of pubs in coffs and that there are two halves, one by the high way and the other by the beach front. So we went for a couple of drinks near the highway first, then headed down to the beach end for food at around 9pm but all the restaurants were closing! 9pm on a Saturday night, the lonely planet guide does mention this, but we manage to find a Thai restuarant that was still serving and enjoyed catching up over a few bottles of BYO wine.
netty and jim with monkey in Coffs Harbour
Following by a few beers back at the campsite, on the way to a toliet visit, I noticed something at the bottom of a tree…first of all thinking it was a koala but then realising it was a possem. i approached for a closed look and after saying hello, he crawled towards me to say hi, letting me stroke his nose! I hand him up a cracker and he takes it off me gently and eats it, not bothered as all as I take a few pics of him.
friendly possemPossem
I heard they can be agressive, so the guys thought maybe this one was a friendly tourist possem!
Steve Irwin – Australian Zoo
I have always been against zoo’s, animals in captivity is something I do not support. There is nothing more depressing than for the animal and the visitor to see creatures that are utterly miserable pacing in small enclosures. It’s Like going to a prison.
BUT I had heard good things about the Australian zoo due to the way in which it had started in the 1970’s as a reptile rescue and rehabilitation centre ran by Steve Irwin’s parents, then he took it over and evolved it. Of course Steve Irwin’s infectious passion for animals and enthusiasm turned this place around, now his family are continuing, keeping his spirit alive. The animals are kept in large enclosures and provided with alot of regular stimulation, although I did feel sorry for the koala bear who you were able to stroked on the back, when your trying to have a snooze that mustbe pretty annoying. The shows they put on the the Crososeum were educational and can see that they must do some good teaching people to respect animals in the wild through understanding.
I recommend it as a place to visit.
Swimming Tiger
Sleeping Wombat High Five
Crocasuem
tribute to steve irwin
World Foote Steps 