Volunteering with Go East: Part 2

By my second week on the island I was fully getting into the swing of things, I had learned about the four types of primates that the project was aiming to protect on the island. The Pygmy Loris, the Golden Cheeked Gibbon, the Silver Langer and the Black Shanked Duc. All beautiful creatures and all at risk of extinction due to deforestation, hunting, the illegal pet trade and the use of traditional Chinese medicines.

It was sad to learn the stories behind some of these animals, how two gibbons had been rescued from a tiny cage in a Vietnamise school where they had been continually stressed out and harassed by school children. Or the Pygmy Loris who had been taken from the wild and had his teeth pulled out because there was a chance he might bite his owners. Whatever the story the message was clear these animals don't make make good pets and shouldn't be taken as them.

But at Dao Tien there was hope for them. I watched them play and frolic to their heart's content, safe in the knowledge that one day there was a hope that these animals could be released back into the wild.

I was giving tours by the second week and it was great to know that I was helping to raise awareness about the plight of these animals. I also got to help clean the cages of the gibbons, a fun endevour made even more challenging by the fact that the animals would often try and grab you or your broom while you were cleaning one part of the enclosure.

What really impressed me about the project was that both the Vietnamise and British staff were so hard working, it was very humbling to see how much effort everyone put into the centre and its work.

I also got to see and photograph a bit more of the island itself including the dried out river bed behind our main office. This all had to be done carefully though as the island itself could potentially provide some unforseen hazards. Still by the end of my second week I was very much looking forward to my third week there, when I would finally get to see the gibbons feed in a semi wild environment.

Vietnam: Volunteering with Go East

While travelling in Vietnam I had come across the beautiful Cat Tiien national park and was particularly impressed with the work that the organisation Go East were doing there. The project was one of a kind in Vietnam, one whose aim is both to act as a rescue centre for four types of endangered primates but also to work to rehabilitate them as well. As such I decided that it was well worth returning to in order to volunteer there.

The island itself was exceptionally green and lush and was surrounded on all sides by a river that splits to form on one side calmly flowing water and on the other rocks and rapids. I spent the afternoon getting to know the island team, seeing the gibbons in their enclosures and familiarising myself with material on the nature of the project.

I woke to the lovely but very loud song of the gibbons, which is used primarily as a means of declaring that this is in fact their territory and that any other gibbons in the area should immediately clear off. My first week was mainly spent following staff members around on tour (with the eventual aim of giving them myself), learning how to make enrichment packages with the aim of keeping the gibbons busy while staff cleaned their cages and working on photographing the island. Oh and since it was right after tet occasionally drinking copious amounts of rice wine and beer (boy the Vietnamese know how to party).

Unfortunately due to the sensitive nature of rehabilitating the gibbons (and the fact I didn't have the right photographic equipment) I wasn't able to take a great many pictures of them, but the island proved to be a stunning enough subject in its own right.

Overall my first week of volunteering proved to be interesting, informative and hugely enjoyable.

Cambodia: Koh Rong island

After arriving in Cambodia I decided I desperately needed the beach and so after spending one night in Phnom Penh I jumped on the nearest bus and boat heading to Koh Rong Island. I arrived and was immediately greeted with white sand beaches and crystal clear blue waters.

Life on the island was attractively laid back and I spent most days trekking to and then lazing on some of the best beaches I have had the pleasure of experiencing while traveling. At night I would explore the island's many restaurants and clubs.

The Island was also home to some amazing wildlife including monkeys, many kind of fish as well as some snakes. The best though was saved for when I took a late night snorkel tour of the island's luminous plankton. With each wave of my arms it was like swimming through an ocean of glittering stars.

About four nights in I managed to contract a stomach bug that had been going around the island and was pretty much confined to my dorms for the next three days. After I had recovered though I decided it was time to head out to pastures new.

Sadly though this beautiful island is under the threat of serious development, many parts of the island have been brought up by Chinese developers who are planning to extensively develop the island (including building an airport). These types of developments rarely end well for the ecosystems of islands like this and it would be sad to see this island go the same way.

Koh Phangan

I arrived in Koh Phangan after a boat ride from hell, where the first boat we took to Koh Tao had be large, fast and spacious this one was small, cramped and slow. The weather had turned by this point and so the ship was lined with backpackers all throwing up over the side of the boat. We arrived safety though and that day i spent relaxing and preparing myself for Koh Phangan's biggest event, the full moon party.

After coating myself in copious amounts of UV paint and downing a bucket of rum and coke I set off to the party. The beach was full of revelers all dancing, swaying and partying and as I walked down the beach I passed wave after wave of reggie, techno and trace. Eventually I decided to head up to the appropriately named mushroom mountain, where I enjoyed one of their finest milkshakes and a dance at the night club overlooking the sea. After this I spent the next few hours shooting the breeze with random people, being bemused by people having rather public sex in the sea (with multiple people taking pictures to put on facebook), having my hat stolen, debating the nature of God with a random party-goer while staring at the waves and dancing like a loon to random trace music. After all this activity I fell asleep on a bench and woke just as the sun broke over the island.

The next day was one for a serious chill out and I spent it relaxing by the sea, swimming or snoozing in a random hammock surrounded by friends.

I also took the opportunity to explore the island on foot and after following signs for a Buddhist temple was rewarded by the sounds of bells, chanting and a beautiful collection of Buddhist statues and art.

After all this partying and relaxing I decided it was time to head on to pastures new. So I decided upon the jungle.