Mentebung, Badas Islands

Mentebung, Badas Islands

Gotta watch autocorrect on the name of these beautiful islands!

This small island village is only about 60 people was my favorite.

The landscape was postcard perfect, as long as you ignored the presence of plastics waste, which is an unfortunate reality in Indonesia.

Mrs. Fisher 

Belitung and Sea Turtle Release

We were behind schedule due to rough seas the night before, yet were still welcomed grandly by the people of Belitung.

We then snorkeled at a nearby island, seeing various types of fish I need to research to identify.

We met these cuties.

Oh my goodness!

Green and hawkbill sea turtle release.

I added verbal encouragement to make sure they made it.

There were two gentlemen present who volunteer in Belitung to guard the beach at night in order to collect the sea turtle eggs to protect them from animal and human predators.  They incubate these eggs to hatch, then raise them until they can be released.

Sunset over another amazing day.

Mrs. Fisher

GTF on the Java Sea - Episode Five - Equator

Did you know there is a bump when you cross the Equator?

Now you do.  Gotta be careful on the high seas folks.

Mrs. Fisher

What an explosive place! Krakatoa and Anuk Krakatau

 I am still running high on adrenaline after yesterday!  I'll let the photos speak for themselves because words are not enough!

From the bridge

Everyone on deck to see the action

Fast shower before selfie time with Anuk Krakatau, son of Krakatoa

Travel buddy Lainey

Stateside expedition team on site

Grosvenor Teacher Fellows (Mr. Buford and Mrs. Wilson) just as excited as me

We also got to explore a nearby black sand beach.  Some sights were beautiful, but like many areas in Indonesia, plastic waste is a HUGE problem.

Hawkbill Sea Turtle evidence

Cuddlefish evidence

Practicing dynamic photography shots with my phone

Expedition team representing!

My travel buddy, niece Lainey, pops up often

Garbage debris

Trekking through undergrowth

Mrs. Fisher

The Journey to Krakatoa

Visit to Cirebon in Search of Birds

As has been tradition on this expedition, the Cirebon people greeted us at the wharf with a welcome ceremony. Heavily influenced by the Chinese culture, a dragon dance was up first.

I was most intrigued by the inclusivity of the performance with the head of one dragon being in a wheelchair.

A group of us then drove to explore some jungle while birding. We saw a red-billed malkoha, Indonesian doves, and a changeable hawk eagle.

This jungle was amazing! Started with rice patties then went up.

Later in the afternoon, we heard an amazing talk about supertramps, not the song but referring to birds that colonize far apart islands.

I also got to tour the galley which was very cool and wild to think about how many people work in this tiny space to feed on over 150.

Mrs Fisher