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Going Tribal
With our first of two weeks of volunteering now complete, we have earned a weekend of R&R. We work Monday-Friday at the Matang Wildlife Centre, and then the volunteers all make plans together for the weekend in Kuching. Haley & I have joined with 7 others for our own itinerary consisting of a night at Monkee Bar & Havana Club on Friday night, River Kayaking excursion Saturday, Karaoke Saturday night, and hiking in Bako National Park on Sunday.
The entire group of volunteers are all getting along with each other very well. We're more and more comfortable with each other, funny inside jokes carrying on from one conversation to another, and friendships getting tighter. I've had the same work schedule for all 4 days as Ruairi, a 20 yr old from UK. Cool guy, we connect well, and some great conversations covering quite a range. Haley's connected well with Jenna, an 18 yr old from South Africa. Jenna's travelling with her boyfriend, Dillon, and they are all part of our weekend group.
Lots of fun ahead of us the next 2 days, before we return to Matang on Sunday night, for 5 days of work & 1 day at Semonggoh Orangutan Center. At night, after preparing our own dinners, we've been hanging out together with one of the few volunteers that live together with us in the 2 homes next to each other -- chatting, playing Uno and cards, etc.
Going back to Tuesday, on the first day of work at the Orangutan center, I worked with my group on an orangutan enrichment project -- building a "jungle gym" on the platform for the orangutans, consisting of ropes, tires, & clamps. The next morning, we went over to see how the orangs were reacting to the new equipment. It was really cool what we found on the viewing platform -- about 6 orangutans all playing on the new equipment, and all the attention focused on this. They were swinging, playing, & jumping around, truly getting their use of the newly developed activity. Couldn't have asked for more. Sounds deep, I know, but I have to say I was smiling ear to ear -- it was a pretty cool sight to see, realizing the immediate return on the work we had performed as a team. Favorite moment of the week for me.
Well, unfortunately, it was only about 1 hour before the orangs managed to break the swing in the middle. We cranked every single bolt as tight as humanly possible, damaged threads to avoid them from unscrewing nuts, and thought of every way they might try to damage the setup. But they still managed to do it, in only an hour of time !
Leo explained that despite them managing to break what you build, these challenges placed on them are what keeps them stimulated, so it's all a good thing for them. They are so incredibly strong - Leo shared that he would use a pipe on a wrench just to crank the bolt down beyond limitations. And the orangs can use their back teeth to still loosen that bolt up, and dismantle what ever it was holding.
Then there's the crazy ass Gibbons ! Gibbons are also apes, but are quite different from Orangutans. Very nimble, fast, and ohhhh boy oh boy do they make noise. They start each other up, and each give their own ritual call of some sort. The newest gibbon to the group has a new ritual call that is heard all over the facility (including at our home). I can't describe it in words, and I intend on getting the entire sequence of calls onto video -- it's just hilarious -- with them making different ranges of tones, to a full on screaming to finish up the whole routine (as if they rehearsed).
And on Friday morning, I was placed on duty to clean the Gibbons cages. These gibbons had me cracking up and talking to them. They are super "grabby", and reach their arms through the cage steel to grab either a piece of your clothing or one of your tools. Super quick and super grabby -- at one point, as I was scrubbing the cage enclosures, I had 2 arms coming (from under the steel gate) in my cage to grab me, a centipede squirming toward me, and a large bumble bee that just flew into the cage I was working in. A little too much going on at once -- get me out of here !
Haley also had quite a fun time, and for her it was the baby long-tailed macaques (monkey). She was going around to the different animals and providing water, and had this one set of babies, who were being ultra cute for her -- opening their mouths to take the water in, splashing with their hands, and then one of them jumped into the big bucket of water,
completely submerging itself and swimming in circles. Had her quite entertained with the monkeying around !
The staff at Matang do a great job of mixing up the different workloads, so we don't get overworked and it doesn't become monotonous. Some of it is creative work, some very tedious, some fun and entertaining, and some is plain old grueling work. That was the case as we did some clearing of tree limbs and tree trunks in one area, preparing it for a new
construction site. Cutting large tree trunks and limbs, using hand saws of course, and then lugging them up the hill. Many things that we'd take for granted at home (such as
just go down the street and rent a power tool or a chain saw) just don't exist as an option here.
So, we work as servants for the cause, and give our best effort in these conditions.
It was an afternoon of pushing myself to my limits, and it truly felt good. Hardest work I've done in many years ! Absolutely drenched in sweat and dirt -- and threw one 10" diameter 7' long log over my shoulder and started to climb the stairs -- lost my balance, started to fall which could have gotten ugly, but pulled it together and made the manly victory up the hill -- and gave a big ARRRGGHHH to show my ape-like male dominance !
After each day of hard work & hot/humid conditions, dripping wet in sweat & dirt, we then go to either the cold shower or a hike over to the river. This ended up being a nice little refresher. Very scenic, completely serene, and cool enough water to be a nice change -- first time just jumped in with all the clothes on, given how dirty & sweaty we were. As a conservative warning, we were all cautioned to check the waters before going in, as while it is not common, there have been 3 sightings of crocodiles in this river over a several year period, which can always ruin a nice afternoon swim. So far, so good -- no crocs ! And besides, really only need to be the 2nd-fastest swimmer of the group. ;-)
Had a nice day of kayaking on the Semedang River today -- nice, clear and hot weather, and the water temperature was beautiful. Went with our group of friends, paddling a slow and leisurely paced river. Tonight, we'll all go to dinner at a new restaurant and then hit the Monkee Bar and Karaoke Club ! Woo hoo, SE Asian karaoke time for Karaoke Boy!!
- comments
Rosanna Your blog and the photos, especially the ones if the animals, are awesome. Its nice to see that you are both having a great time. I'm especially glad to know that you are having a weekend of R&R as you both deserve some downtime after putting in all that hard work at the center. Take care. Love and miss you both very much!
Deena Knudsen What a priceless experience to serve a great cause on the other side of the world, to make new friends, and to strengthen the father-daughter bond. This is so fun to read! I hope someone recorded you singing karaoke...?
judy Enjoyed reading your blog, as usual . Hard work,but seems you are enjoying the adventure.Your next video will be quite different and amusing with those gibbons! An orphaned baby black bear was rescued last yr. in Humboldt Co. & is now in the OC Zoo in Irvine Park.Possibly hit by a car. Let's visit her on your return.We love and miss you both.Please, no injuries! Write as soon as possible. Love,mom
Brian Pics are great but the ape sleeping scared me have a great time
Donald Trump The monkey: A guy walks into a bar with his pet monkey. He orders a drink and while he's drinking the monkey jumps all around the place. The monkey grabs some olives off the bar and eats them, then grabs some sliced limes and eats them, then jumps onto the pool table, grabs one of the billiard balls, sticks it in his mouth, and to everyone's amazement, somehow swallows it whole. The bartender screams at the guy "Did you see what your monkey just did?" The guy says "No, what?" He just ate the cue ball off my pool table--whole!" "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," replied the guy, "he eats everything in sight, the little b******. Sorry. I'll pay for the cue ball and stuff." He finishes his drink, pays his bill, pays for the stuff the monkey ate, then leaves. Two weeks later he's in the bar again, and has his monkey with him. He orders a drink and the monkey starts running around the bar again. While the man is finishing his drink, the monkey finds a maraschino cherry on the bar. He grabs it, sticks it up his butt, pulls it out, and eats it. The bartender is disgusted. "Did you see what your monkey did now?" he asks. "No, what?" replies the guy. "Well, he stuck a maraschino cherry up his butt, pulled it out, and ate it!" said the bartender. "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," replied the guy. "He still eats everything in sight, but ever since he swallowed that cue ball, he measures everything first.
50 cent Man you white people need to get some sun, you are shinning white like a diamond...was that Prince hiding under the bridge?
Richard Hatch I like your style...keep up the good work with the logs.
Snoop Dogg Bear from Humbolt looking for the green honey
Ching Tao Blue elephant keep flies away from open mouth
Miley Sleeping monkey...scary?
BSA Your approved!!
Gloria Allred 50 cent, you should know better than to talk like that...America no longer recognizes sex, religion, gender, or anything else silly...these beings are simply devoid of pigmentation and therefore universally homogenous with nature...wait, can't say homo either...dang it. Ok, these beings require radiation. Get with the program.
Mike Tyson I have never seen a monkey with only one leg before...do they have pigeons there?
Bruce Lee Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.
Bob Marley Ah the fun times during the harvest season...party in my teepee tonight!
Kim Jong Um Great, looks like I will be playing with myself again tonight. Hey, juju bee, get me some defectors stat.
Annonomous And to think, I could have been Peter North and I would up here in this frigging cage...
Madonna Nice vogue pose
Jane Goodall Monkey see, monkey do...
Anonymous Iggy
US.Gov You're legalized!
Ichiro Suzuki His bridge is filled with many fruit.
Imelda Marcos This reminds me of when I got my first 15 pairs of Kuching shoes when I was your age...ah, the memories.
Ron Jeremy I swear I have seen this on the internet...
Tarzan Is that an albino monkey behind you?
Disneyland Management We respectfully ask our patrons to no longer bring their selfie sticks to the park...
Jonathan Goldsmith I don't always have a goofy look on my face, but when I do, I drink Tiger beer
Chevy Chase I knew I should have stayed home that night...what the hell was I thinking?
Marc Lynas Notice the albino marmoset scavenging the forest floor in search of the elusive dung beetle...a delicacy in Kuching.
FBI Is that El Chapo hiding under there??
Mr. T Help a brother out and shoot him some Old Spice man...peace to the people...
Queen Latifa CHODA
Kevin and Marisa We enjoy reading your blog and seeing all the amazing pictures. What a wonderful experience for both of you!!
Sue In awe as usual!