Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey takes me from Sandakan to one of the famed Turtle Islands where we go snorkling in the coral reef before relaxing on the beach for the afternoon. We head to the western beach to watch the sunset over stormy skies before heading to the eastern beach to watch a turtle lay eggs and for a batch of hatched turtles be released into the ocean.
Today's Journey
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Leaving the centre of Sandakan in the morning, we catch a small boat from the port heading out into the calm waters of the Sulu Sea. |
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We reach one of the tiny Turtle Islands, where the boat beaches and we head off onto the sand to the small resort occupying much of the island. |
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Exploring the beach after snorkling in the reef. The tide is going out making the water too shallow. |
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Coconut palms frame the beach over the coral reef. Just two kilometres offshore are some of the outer islands of the Phillipines. It is hard to believe these pristine waters are some of the most notorious for piracy anywhere in the world. |
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The islands are named after the turtles which lay eggs on the beach every night. These eggs are collected and put into little enclosures to protect them. One nest has hatched today so these baby turtles can be released into the ocean tonight. |
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Watching the sunset from the beach whilst thunderstorms occur on the mainland. |
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The sunset has spectacular colours, but the clouds conceal the mountain. |
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After dinner, we head back out on the beach as the distant thunderstorms light up the clouds. |
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We discover a turtle laying eggs, as they do every night here. A ranger collects the eggs as they are laid. Later he will bury the eggs in a protected enclosure to hatch when they are ready. |
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The turtles that hatched today are released and they scurry down the beach to the inky black water. Those that survive will return to this same beach several years later to lay their eggs. |
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