The Dutch Monkey

The Hunt Begins

Rhinocerous Hornbill in Flight

Hornbill at Sunset

Don't Touch

Whispers of Beauty

The oceans surrounding the islands of Indonesian is something out of a dream world. The clear waters fade into the immaculate sunsets that cannot be described in words. Everybody seems to be happy, relaxed, and content with the laid back attitude of life. It is an effortless task to become lost in time, to not know what time, day, or even the date as you roll from day to day. And to know what will happen tomorrow is almost impossible. It is a place where you truly surrender yourself to the environment, and accept whatever it gives you; and whatever it gives you is always an amazing gift. Whether it is the breeze tickling your cheeks as you ride through the battered roads, or eating suckling pig in a musty dirty Warung, every Indonesian moment you experience gets burned in to your memories, your feelings, even your soul... This is Indonesia.

Kanawa

Kelimutu Craters

Pure

The mist hangs low as the morning creeps upon the forest. Sounds slowly start to emerge as birds and insects wake from the night. Dampness has found everything and water drips from the trees above. I see the dogs huddling around the fire, hoping to find warmth; so close that I fear for their fur to suddenly combust. But it does not, and they rest with the warmth, if just for a second to escape the crisp air. There is a calm that has fallen upon Batu Laiyut today. No machines grinding away the peace, no car horns, no people shouting into cell phones; just the forest whispers. A soothing bubbling rises out of the stream near by. The stream that has water that looks like peppermint tea, waiting to be served. Everything is perfect in this moment. No hard emotions fill my head as I sit quietly, patiently watching Perry carve a spoon. Each stroke of the blade cuts through the wood with precision. The forest has the ability to enhance every little thing. The coffee mix taste like you are sitting on a street corner in Italy, the air is clean and pure, the rice and MSG soup tastes so good, that you momentarily forget that it is the 50th plate of plain rice you have eaten in a row. This is why I live....

This describes the mornings of the last 5 weeks very well. Spending time in the forest surround Long Kerong and Long Sait was one of the best experiences of my life. It is such a scary thought that these beautiful villages and forests, are in immediate danger of disappearing from what we know. The possibility of the area being logged is something that is such an unbelievable thought to me. The area is so special, filled with peace and serenity. I hope that the fight continues and that the people of Sarawak win. I encourage everyone to take an interest in learning about the humanitarian struggles in Sarawak and to show compassion.

Crown Headed Agomate