10 April 2005

It all started when I stumble across the SEATRU website at http://www.kustem.edu.my/seatru/ . SEATRU is short for Sea Turtle Research Unit and it’s a conservation project conducted by Kolej universiti Sains & Teknologi Malaysia (KUSTEM). SEATRU has this volunteer project call Green Turtle Tagging and Nesting Research Program every year starting from May till October. This is the egg laying season for the turtles and by August the eggs will hatch and the baby turtles will return to the sea. The programs costs RM450 and you volunteer yourself to work with SEATRU staff on Chagar Hutang Beach, Redang Island, Terengganu. Chagar Hutang Beach is the place the sea turtles come up to lay their eggs. Nobody is allows on this beach except for SEATRU staff and the volunteers. Each week, six volunteers will be accompanied by one research assistant and 2 SEATRU staffs to the island. I sign up in slot E (30/5/2004-6/6/2004). This is a great opportunity to learn about the giant sea turtles. For me it’s the greatest holiday ever! I will always remember this trip.

The research center consists of 2 huts, one for the girls and one for the boys. No electricity. The water supply comes from the river. No toilet paper allow in the toilet bowl. Two open air shower rooms. Everything is so basic here. All non degradable garbage has to bring back to the main land to dispose properly while others like left over food will be taken care naturally by the hermit crab and the monitor lizard. The place is so serene and peaceful. Wild life is abundant here and they are roaming freely. The water is crystal clear with beautiful coral reef and colorful fishes.

Click on the below to read about my travel journal.

Picture top left: SEATRU's sign board at Chagar Hutang Beach.

More Photo Gallery