I SAW A TURTLE!!! Not just one, a whole load of babies and a mum! You are not going to believe these photos! When we started this trip I wanted to attempt to see a wild turtle, I've seen a few in aquariums but never a wild one. I love them, I think they are such majestic stunning creatures!
We were up at 4am and by 10.30 we had taken two taxis, a plane, a mini bus and a speed boat. After all this we were dropped off at turtle island.
It's a tiny island an hour (by speed boat) away from sandakan in Borneo. Think of a stunning deserted island and that's what you have, with a turtle conservation centre on it.
We were dropped off and left to our own devices for the whole day, which meant that Edd and I had a nap! The turtle stuff happens at night.
After lunch we did go for a walk on the beach, it was incredibly hot but so worth it. Edd had a dip in the sea and I sat in the shade. The heat is a lot drier than Vietnam so it's easier to manage, especially when you can find a shady patch. It's dangerous though because you don't notice how strong the sun is with a breeze.
Then the fun began, a lady mentioned something to her friend about turtles and I followed them along the beach. I was stood trying to work out if anything was going on when two security men said we had just missed a load of wild baby turtles hatching. I was gutted, turned round and there was a little baby stuck behind a big log!!
The security men moved the log for us and this little creature waddled it way towards the sea. They said I could touch him so I let him wander over my hand!! We walked him all the way to the sea and watched as he swam away. It's sooooo exciting to see but unnerving because only 1% survive so you know that most won't make it.
I was absolutely buzzing! I didn't want to leave the beach just in case a few more hatched. As we walked back up I told the life guard that we had seen a baby and he joked that he had seen two! I laughed and was ready to move on when I realised they really did have two more babies next to them!! He helped one down to the sea and I helped the other!! They need shade ideally because it's so hot they get scorched so you end up escorting them down the beach in your shadow. They are so incredible! Edd took hundreds of snaps! So in today in total we have helped 3 babies. Highlight of the trip so far by a million miles!
Totally worth it, even with the worry of being eaten alive by ants and mozzi's and Edd had to brave it and get in the water with a giant lizard!!I wrote all of the above during our rest before dinner, I didn't think it could get any better but it did! SO MUCH BETTER...
We met our guide early, it's just the two of us with him even though there's lots of other tourists sharing our huts and eating dinner with us, they just have different guides. Anyway our guide wanted to show us something and walked us to a quiet part of the beach. He then took my hand and produced two baby turtles!!! He gave them to me, told me to be quiet as the rangers were watching but we could take lots of photos and release them!! Edd and I stood on an empty beach with two baby turtles and then watched as they swam off into the sunset!!!
Edd and I are both burnt! I'm annoyed as I purposely stayed in the shade but with the excitement of baby turtles I must have been exposed for just too long! Now that I have bites, ezcema and sunburn there's not much of me that's not a shade of red and blotchy!!
We had dinner with the group and watched a video about turtles, their conservation and the laying and hatching process. Did you know that the female has to carry the male around with her whilst they mate. Other male turtles often grab on to try and get the mating male off and sometimes they evening drown the female in the process!! It amazes me these stunning creatures are not extinct!
Then we waited... The group of about 40 tourists all sit waiting and the ranger calls when a mother has found a nesting spot and laid her first egg. It's then a race to get to her and see her before she finishes or gets disturbed. They only allow you to watch one mother even though they normally have up to 20 laying their eggs in one night. That way the others don't get disturbed. It is a great system, the tourist help pay for the conservation costs and are happy they get to see a turtle but they are very respectful of the creatures and most are left to their own devices.
We then went and saw them bury her eggs in the hatchery and the release of lots of babies into the sea but the rain was ridiculous and it was amazing but quick, there were concerns about us being exposed in the thunder and lightening. We cheered as the last turtle got swept away by the sea and we then all ran off to our huts.
Edd and I have finally finished washing out our wet, sandy clothes and covering ourselves in aftersun, everything is hung around the room in attempt to dry it for tomorrow. Up at 5.30am tomorrow, we have bets on when we will finally get a lie in, maybe Sydney!
It's a tiny island an hour (by speed boat) away from sandakan in Borneo. Think of a stunning deserted island and that's what you have, with a turtle conservation centre on it.We were dropped off and left to our own devices for the whole day, which meant that Edd and I had a nap! The turtle stuff happens at night.
After lunch we did go for a walk on the beach, it was incredibly hot but so worth it. Edd had a dip in the sea and I sat in the shade. The heat is a lot drier than Vietnam so it's easier to manage, especially when you can find a shady patch. It's dangerous though because you don't notice how strong the sun is with a breeze.
Then the fun began, a lady mentioned something to her friend about turtles and I followed them along the beach. I was stood trying to work out if anything was going on when two security men said we had just missed a load of wild baby turtles hatching. I was gutted, turned round and there was a little baby stuck behind a big log!!
The security men moved the log for us and this little creature waddled it way towards the sea. They said I could touch him so I let him wander over my hand!! We walked him all the way to the sea and watched as he swam away. It's sooooo exciting to see but unnerving because only 1% survive so you know that most won't make it.
I was absolutely buzzing! I didn't want to leave the beach just in case a few more hatched. As we walked back up I told the life guard that we had seen a baby and he joked that he had seen two! I laughed and was ready to move on when I realised they really did have two more babies next to them!! He helped one down to the sea and I helped the other!! They need shade ideally because it's so hot they get scorched so you end up escorting them down the beach in your shadow. They are so incredible! Edd took hundreds of snaps! So in today in total we have helped 3 babies. Highlight of the trip so far by a million miles!
Totally worth it, even with the worry of being eaten alive by ants and mozzi's and Edd had to brave it and get in the water with a giant lizard!!I wrote all of the above during our rest before dinner, I didn't think it could get any better but it did! SO MUCH BETTER...
We met our guide early, it's just the two of us with him even though there's lots of other tourists sharing our huts and eating dinner with us, they just have different guides. Anyway our guide wanted to show us something and walked us to a quiet part of the beach. He then took my hand and produced two baby turtles!!! He gave them to me, told me to be quiet as the rangers were watching but we could take lots of photos and release them!! Edd and I stood on an empty beach with two baby turtles and then watched as they swam off into the sunset!!!
If that isn't a top 3 moment then I don't know what is!!!
Edd and I are both burnt! I'm annoyed as I purposely stayed in the shade but with the excitement of baby turtles I must have been exposed for just too long! Now that I have bites, ezcema and sunburn there's not much of me that's not a shade of red and blotchy!!
We had dinner with the group and watched a video about turtles, their conservation and the laying and hatching process. Did you know that the female has to carry the male around with her whilst they mate. Other male turtles often grab on to try and get the mating male off and sometimes they evening drown the female in the process!! It amazes me these stunning creatures are not extinct!
Then we waited... The group of about 40 tourists all sit waiting and the ranger calls when a mother has found a nesting spot and laid her first egg. It's then a race to get to her and see her before she finishes or gets disturbed. They only allow you to watch one mother even though they normally have up to 20 laying their eggs in one night. That way the others don't get disturbed. It is a great system, the tourist help pay for the conservation costs and are happy they get to see a turtle but they are very respectful of the creatures and most are left to their own devices.
We sat and waited and suddenly the heavens opened and it rained like I've never seen rain, typically that's when the mum was spotted and we got the call. So we raced through the pitch dark, torrential rain and wet sand to find a gorgeous, 1.15 meter long mother laying her eggs. It was a rush of emotions, it's chaos with everyone wanting to see her, we were thrilled and soaked and trying to get photos without disturbing her.
We then went and saw them bury her eggs in the hatchery and the release of lots of babies into the sea but the rain was ridiculous and it was amazing but quick, there were concerns about us being exposed in the thunder and lightening. We cheered as the last turtle got swept away by the sea and we then all ran off to our huts.
Edd and I have finally finished washing out our wet, sandy clothes and covering ourselves in aftersun, everything is hung around the room in attempt to dry it for tomorrow. Up at 5.30am tomorrow, we have bets on when we will finally get a lie in, maybe Sydney!
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