Today's the day!

Today is the day that I start my journey to Napanto (the name of the place I'm going - I think...) As usual things have seemed to creep up on me and there are always things that I haven't got round to doing. But the most important things are ready. I'm hoping that my luggage isn't over weight - I have so many books to take!
As I've said before please keep in touch. I have no idea what the internet situation is like but when and if I get to my e-mail it'd be lovely to see all the news from the UK.
So for now it's so long and I'll see you soon(ish)!
Abi
xxx

Three Days

This is (most of) the stuff I'm planning on taking. I think I must be mad!

 

So my departure date is getting closer and closer. I can’t believe I only have three days left! I now have all of my kit and just have the rather daunting task of packing it all and then probably leaving half of it at home. Apart from a few little bits and bobs to sort out and some frantic learning of fish species I’m all ready.

I thought I’d better let everyone know a bit more about why I’m actually going to some exotic location and how exactly I’ve got someone to pay for (some) of it. As you know I’m going to work/volunteer for an organisation called Coral Cay Conservation who are based in London. They’re working in a range of different places to help conserve coral reefs. In order to effectively implement conservation efforts you need scientific data to find out, for example, how healthy a reef is, if this is changing and what specific threats the reef is facing. You also need to find out if the things you are doing are actually working! Obviously, it would cost lots of money to employ professional scientists to do all of this work and this is where volunteers come in. Coral Cay volunteers pay to come out to the research site and are trained in SCUBA diving and coral reef surveying techniques. As Science Officer I will be helping out with this training and the management of the data we collect. Volunteers are really good for doing this type of work because the survey techniques are pretty straight forward and they are really enthusiastic.

Coral Cay is also highly involved with the local communities. They train local people to survey too so they can help look after their reefs. Volunteers are also involved in education initiatives and visit local schools. Coral Cay have set up several ‘no fishing’ zones in the area too and are working to provide alternative employment for fishermen.

But don’t just take my work for it. Checkout the Coral Cay website for loads more (and possibly more accurate) information.

CORAL CAY CONSERVATION

Abi

xxx 

Making a Splash

 

The week before last I went over to Newcastle to have a go with all of my new SCUBA diving kit in a swimming pool. It was fun to get back into the water and I had a go some of the tricky skill syou have to do when you are learning to dive. Here are couple of pictures and there are more on my Flickr stream (click the link at the top.)

Abi

xxx

THREE WEEKS

http://www.cebu-philippines.net/south-east-asia-map.html 

In three weeks from now I will be sitting on an airplane with no idea what time zone I really am in. I’m off on my travels again.

This time it’s not to get data for me but to work with an organisation to get data for them. Indonesia didn’t put me off and so in my post graduation gap year I wanted to get more experience in tropical coral reef conservation, SCUBA diving and travel – just like I said I would.

I have a job for 20 weeks with Coral Cay Conservation working as a science officer on their site in Southern Leyte, Philippines. I’ll be working with volunteers and other members of staff to survey the reefs in the area as well as working with the local community on various conservation projects. I’m really excited by the prospect of learning new things and being able to pass on my knowledge. Also I am going to get so much better at SCUBA diving as we’ll be diving nearly every day!

After my contract finishes I fly home out of Singapore so I have given myself three weeks to travel there from the Philippines. At the moment I plan to spend some time in the Philippines and then move on to Thailand but this is all subject to change.

I have known that I am going out to the Philippines since January 2009 so it’s amazing to think that it’s now so near. I’ve been doing loads to get ready which has mostly involved buying lots and lots of kit. This includes a full set of SCUBA gear which I will be testing out in a pool in Newcastle on Wednesday. I’ve also had to have yet more immunisation which is less fun. I finish work at the end of this week and that’s when things will get really hectic!

I’m going to try and keep this blog up to date with all that’s happening with me while I’m away. Hopefully the communications will be better this time and I’ll be able to get on the internet more often. If you want to get in touch with me just leave a comment on a post or send me an e-mail.

Abi

xxx

Home & Dry(ish)

I’ve been home in England for just over 2 weeks now and I’m getting used to being back and the horrible weather!
I managed to pack up all my stuff on the last Wednesday and even got to go on one last dive. We went to the outer pinnacle on a pleasure dive. There must have been about 16 of us in total and it was a really good way to end my time on Hoga. After lunch and some last minute shopping we all piled onto the Bintang and made our way toward Wanci. It was really sad leaving Hoga but it wasn’t so bad because everyone was leaving with us. The boat was really packed but we sat on the front deck and chilled out with a packed tea. At Wanci it was time to get back onto the overnight ‘slave ship’. Those that had been on the Bintang that week really had our sea legs by then and so I slept soundly. We arrived in Bau Bau very early on Thursday morning and waited on the slave ship for a few hours until it was time to get the next ferry. We had breakfast which consisted of some sort of savoury pasty, sponge cakes and doughnuts. (I felt a bit ill after that lot.) The next boat that took us back to Kendari was a far better experience than the one on the way out. The boat was much better and there was even room to go out on deck. It was really cool to see more of the Indonesian islands go by.
In Kendari we got to our hotel and preceded to get very excited about all the creature comforts that we had been missing on Hoga. After room service and a real shower we ventured to the bar to get a drink. It was then time for more ‘westernism’ in the form of dinner at Papa Johns pizza place. It was a bit weird because it was so western. After this we went for a wander round town and did some supermarket shopping.
Early the next morning lots of us went to get the first of many planes. It was also the first time we had to say goodbye to people which was sad. We flew from Kendari to Jakarta via a quick (and slightly disorganised) stop in Makassar. We arrived at our hotel mid afternoon and had a picnic in the room while watching Notting Hill! Tea in the hotel restaurant was followed by an early night in preparation for our last day in Indonesia.
The next day we left our bags in the airport and went to one of the huge shopping malls in Jakarta town centre. It was absolutely huge. We spent the day wandering around and eating until it was time to catch our flights.
After some moving around of stuff between my bags and the addition of another piece of hand luggage I managed to get the right weights and check in. After more eating in the airport it was time to leave.
At Dubai airport we had something we had been looking forward to all trip; a Coldstone’s ice-cream. Yummy! It was then time for me to say goodbye to the other Oxford people and get my last flight home. I arrived in Newcastle with no idea of the time or day but happy to have finished travelling.
I had an amazing time on Hoga and I am really glad to have had the experience. I have defiantly caught the SCUBA bug and hope to continue with this as well as conservation work on a gap year after I graduate and beyond. But first is that task of writing up all my data into a brilliant dissertation.
Once again thanks to everyone who has helped me to be able to have a brilliant summer!
Abi
Xxx
P.S. You can see some of my photos by clicking on these links:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2238369&l=9f9d2&id=36818168
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2238387&l=adeeb&id=36818168
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2238403&l=2ec00&id=36818168