TRAVEL

It has been remarked in the preceding story that to join a turtle group you need to be emotionally stable (means, do not keep asking after mum ... not get upset easily & not give up after a couple of hours, because you thought it was going to be different)

Be with initiative (do things for yourself and with a team feeling) ... be inquisitive (ask questions and seek answers ... equally go look for yourself ... also, volunteers, volunteer)

Be prepared to rough-it (whilst the early days of the encampment were “rough” the facilities have been improved to at least “4-star rough” ... but it is still very much a la nature.

Enjoy paradises (this is what so many swoon about doing but do not realize that some paradises are “quite arid” and need a little adjustment too). Want to do it ... for them ... the turtles too.

Well the programme is not that of the original volunteers but one where you can have a choice of doing something similar or doing the “visitors” plan. Thus the programme ahead is designed for you to choose as a visitor/observer ... which means you will be able to enjoy 2 nights observing/participating on the scientific beaches with the option of a further night observation on a nearby beach not in scientific control.

You need first to decide how long you want to be in “paradise”, like 1/2/3 weeks ... if you come this far for only a few days you are better off with the “visitors programme” as there will be little benefit in the education time to be a useful member of the volunteers (for this 2-3 weeks is the norm). Equally you may suffer from stifling boredom detached from the umbilical of fast life, fast food and soaps in the hedonistic remoteness of our corner of the world.

We offer wild landscape and coastal beauty, personal freedom, good local food (but somewhat limited) ... interesting safaris and of course, turtle contact. Learning everyday something new about our eco-vironment and yourself ... it is an adventure and hands-on and nightclubs are the sound of wood on drum.

We have music & bar-b-ques ... snorkelling, cane fishing, bird watching, a visit to the main town and more often to the local village ... there is time to laze, take pictures, read a book, write a book and have an email contact if need be. There is more...

But mostly there is this atmosphere ... this warm evening wind that wraps around you ... or the early morning sun rise and stillness, save the gentle thud of waves on beach. Think about it and decide. You are welcome, but if you are someone carrying an excess of emotional baggage, it will not find a locker here ... you need to be resilient and 18-60 plus.

Things to bring - getting prepared

Now on to the first fun part of your journey to paradise ... what to pack and equally important what to leave behind ... everything!

Firstly your clothes need only be minimal but sometimes the evenings are cool so a fleece & sweatshirt are useful amongst essentially cotton “lite” safari stuff and a good sun hat. You may also find a foldaway windstopper useful ... it has also been known to rain in mid summer.

Sun protection and after sun with an additional body cream are very important as well as a gel soap that is un-perfumed, as opposed to smelling pleasant ... lots of shampoo and hair conditioner is not so recommended as sweet smells attract mossies (not that there is always excess of the creatures, but) and your gel and perhaps a shorter hair style will be both more than adequate and comfortable. This applies men/women.

It is a very good idea to bring tissues and a roll of your favourite loopaper and such sanitary items as you may require ... do not forget your pill, there is no instant pharmacy here. A small personal first-aid kit of plasters, creams for scratches/bites and some paracetamol ... and such items as a spare toothbrush with adequate paste. Along with which a small handtowel and two large towels for beach and showers ... there are no chests of drawers and wardrobes ... evening dress is non-existent ... put it all into a decent rucksack or kit bag. Practical and comfort.

Thus shoes should be a beach slip-on, a normal pair of travel shoes and a pair of hike boots essential with a thick sole (no high heel sneakers) ... socks are appropriate only for the hikes..at night it is mostly beach slip-ons or bare feet in the luxurious sand.

Your leg wear ought to be shorts but also a pair of longs like army fatigue or the modern multi-pocket equivalents essentially for the cooler night work ... for tops, at night the traditional cotton short sleeve shirt is the most comfortable..your t-shirt choice or beach wear is always a matter of preference or fashion ... but daytime it is mostly bathing costumes/bikinis/topless or naked to choice ... these are non-tourist beaches.

A small rucksack with your personal drink bottle (750ml) like a bike bottle ... a small pen torch size AAA battery ... and a larger AA size torch with replacement batteries. Likewise for personal CD player ... Your camera should also have a spare battery and bring adequate film with you as well as for your digital make sure you have enough space on your chip ... the little head-band lamps are quite useful and many people prefer them to the hand held type ... to choice.

Extra packets of dried fruits ... nuts ... gum ... multivit tabs ... small tube of sun screen for the rucksack on the hikes ... a lightweight sleeping bag or cotton inner and pillow case ... maybe a light cotton or towelling dressing gown for apres shower etc. On arrival, a pillow, blanket and camp bed is provided under mosquito net ... dormitory is communal except for “visitors' programme” which is essentially in guest-house ... however vistors' prog guests can still utilise the same list as above.