Volunteer Experiences
Author: Daniel Quilter
Placement: 6 months at placement 001
Period: January 2005 - June
2005
TO VIEW THE PLACEMENTS PAGE CLICK HERE
My Experiences of a Borneo Eco Tour
Saying Goodbye
Well, I started off on my adventure by flying from Heathrow on January 15th 2005 with really bad butterflies and a distraught Mum! However, these feelings were balanced by great excitement and proudness from my Dad. After a long and arduous wait, I finally went through the gates and waved goodbye, saying to myself "Come on this is it, sink or swim. It's time to fly the nest!"
And fly I did, literally, for 36 hours, including 4 separate flights to get to my destination.
Travelling
The flight was fine and I started as I meant to go on - meeting people. I sat next to Nikki, an English girl going to Langkawi, and this helped overcome my nerves. Since then I haven't looked backed. Everyone should experience travelling on their own - it's definetly changed me into a better person.
How It All Started...
My ecotourism work experience trip started back in July 2004 when I decided I would take a year out to travel the world after I finished my degree in Environmental Science at the University of Plymouth.
Through the course, my enthusiasm for ecotourism had flourished. I thought about going on conservation projects but had student loans and debts. So I decided I would try to work while I was travelling and for a bonus get the valuable work experience all graduates need. I joined a volunteer agency who helped me find work experience placements at eco-lodges in Asia.
Arriving At The Eco-Lodge
I arrived in Kota Kinabalu (known as KK), my home for my first 3 months in Sabah, on January 16th 2005. I was totally shattered and I didn't care where I was as long as I could sleep! The next morning I had the feeling of "God what the hell am I doing , I am in Borneo on my own, how the hell am I going to survive and make it home?" That morning I was picked up and started work straight away. The first day was a bit weird and I had never sweated as much as I did then. I didn't know whether it was nerves or just the heat.
I was introduced to the office and my new friends. I was overwhelmed with so many new names. I either forgot them totally or mixed them up! It was a great day and ended with a perfect sunset overlooking the nearby islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. This was where I had dinner, with Sven, a German lad who was sharing my dorm. We sat in the local Filipino market eating a huge plate of noodles - better than any English Chinese Chow Mein - and for only 30p.
It was the perfect start to my adventure.
Getting Stuck In
As the week went on I soon realised I was being thrown into the deep-end regarding work. The founder of the eco-tour, Mr. Teo, showed great trust in me. I was offered the position of secretary on the committee for an international conference. After he told me I started to get that feeling I had at the airport - a mix of butterflies and excitement! And then it hit me for a second time - the feeling all travellers get of disbelief and shock when they realise where they are! That week I was just finding my feet but it was helped by all the young staff in the office who taught me all the useful rude words...
The projects I was involved in while at the office in KK were:
- Secretary for Borneo Ecotourism Conference 2005
- Producing a guide for the city of Kota Kinabalu
- Helping to improve Borneo Backpackers
- Shadowing tours to help give advice on improvements and highlight good points
Free time
Another bonus about going to Malaysia was all the national holidays. I had 5 days off in 1 month, not bad at all. Although I worked mainly in an office, the days off when I helped with guiding tours more than made up for it. My days off were the best.
I had been worried about being on my own but soon realised I didn't need to be. On one day, when I went to catch a boat to the islands I met a group of English gap year students all about my age. The island we went to was amazing - golden sand, deep blue seas and monkeys who stole my suntan lotion...
While on the beach, my friend Rosario was putting lotion on my shoulders and as soon as she put the bottle down a monkey ran up and stole it. He had watched her carefully, seen his opportunity, snatched the bottle and ran up the nearby tree to celebrate his treasure with the rest of his buddies! I then spent most of the day snorkelling and my back slowly burning without me even noticing. I was left looking like Neapolitan ice cream with my dark hair being the chocolate flavour; my white shoulders the vanilla and my lobster lower back the strawberry!
Making Friends
I was also able to visit many of my local friend's homes, which you would not have chance to do if travelling as a tourist. The surroundings of KK are fantastic. I have been to many different types of house, ranging from the rich family town houses to the poorer rural houses out in the jungle. But the people are always very welcoming and proud to have you visit their house - nothing is too much effort for them. I spent many evenings drinking the local rice wine and various local spirits with my friends' relatives. Language is not a barrier when drink is involved. If you say "aramai tie", you will soon make friends. When translated literally into English it means "have fun" but is the equilivent of "bottoms up"!
The days at these places are even better. I was woken up one day by a herd of buffalo, which cured my hang-over straight away! I planned to stay over night to gaze at the stars and let all my worries disappear. My biggest worry was what type of food I should have that evening, but that's how it is in Sabah - chilled out with the peoples' friends and family being the most important things in their lives. Perhaps we could all learn a lesson from them.
Whilst I was volunteering, I was also invited to two traditional Malay weddings. One was in a village home and the other in a large hall. At both weddings I was invited to dance to a traditional Malay wedding dance called the "sumazau". The Malays have such good rhythm but I'm a typically unrhythmic Englishman. Everyone enjoyed it so much. I was treated like a celebrity despite my dancing. It was a surreal experience.
Along with all of these benefits of staying in a foreign country, working for an eco-tour company had other advantages that a backpacker or tourist would not receive. I would sometimes get mate's rates for trips and activities outside of work like half priced rafting.
Follow Me!
Although all this seems fantastic, the most memorable things are the people you meet, from the party animals in the backpackers hostels and the local characters in the bars to your work mates and all their friends and families.
The thing all these people have in common is that they can never do too much for you and you are always guaranteed a smile or two along the way!
I think you are missing out if you don't do something similar, no matter what type of work you do. I hope my story has helped to inspire some of you into taking the first step towards the unknown. If I can do it, why can't you?
Selamat Jalan dan jumpa lagi - Good bye and see you again (in Malay)!