A different perspective

(Way up in the tree is an Orangutan having breakfast!)

So I started this blog last week and have been struggling with how to put some things into words. This is still pretty rough but so much has been happening and I'm not sure if anything will fully come out right. I will try and put other experiences I have recently had in posts throughout the week. Here is what I have thus far:

Ellen and I recently took a little time to travel over to the other-side of East Malaysia. Our first stop was in Sandakan where we were graciously hosted for a night by the Sandakan Cheshire Home. This Cheshire Home is very different from the one I currently volunteer at. It was a wonderful opportunity to see Cheshire Home in a different light. The Sandakan Home residents are very self-mobile and most of the cases are downs syndrome or mentally handicapped. I spent most of the time sitting with one of the residents holding his hand and watching tv. It was a different vibe than the KK branch and it felt like I entered into a family. It was a short stay and I wish we could have been there longer than a short evening and one night. Maybe someday I will have to opportunity to go again and get to know the residents and staff better.

Our next stop was Uncle Tan's Wildlife Adventures in Sepilok!!! We had a wonderful time heading up the Kinabatangan River to spend three days and two nights in the jungle. For this journey we actually looked like tourists. It was a refreshing change of pace, to an extent, and also an odd one. We traveled up the river with fellow travelers from Australia and England. This is one vacation that I loved. We were sleeping in a simple hut on a thin mattress under a mosquito net. Every evening and morning the sounds of the jungle were all that could be heard. This is a side of Malaysia I had not had the opportunity to really experience and appreciate since I have been here. It was simple and sweet: it was perfect!

At Uncle Tan's we went on morning/night boat safaris and a jungle trek. All the the safaris and trek were well worth it and we were able to see crocodiles, Orangutans, many different birds, and other animals. My highlight on the safaris was being out on the boat at night. For this trip we thought we might get rained out because a storm started brewing just as we were getting ready but the guides said if we were willing to get wet we can go! So we went out and found some amazing sights along the peaceful river with a glorious night sky above us. Seeing the wildlife was only half the fun of this trip. The other half were the guides or guys that worked at Uncle Tan's. It is hard to describe then and there personalities. I guess the best way to put it is imagine a group of young men living by themselves in the jungle hosting random people each week. Ok, that is more of a job description but these guys were great at it. They were very hospitable and open about anything you wanted to ask them. It was funny to see them interact with one another and with the other guests.

This trip was a great break in my current routine but it was also hard being with actual tourists and hearing about their travels. It made me more aware as to the cultural differences there are. Some things I have grown accustomed to as just being a part as my everyday life in Malaysia and it was interesting that these things (using a bucket to flush the toilet, eating fried noodles/rice for every meal, putting chili on everything are a few examples) would be odd to others. I guess talking to these travelers really opened my eyes to how Malaysia can be seen if you only spend a short time here.