Leaving KL
I was very excited and sad to be leaving KL. The driver I met a few days earlier arrived to pick me up. I left in a horrible thunder storm. A little scary on the highway. When I arrived at the airport I was very dismayed to find out I had to pay a $100 surcharge because my luggage was too heavy. It originally was going to be around $200 but I gave the man my sad face and he reduced it in half!!!!
Stopover in Jakarta
I had a 2 1/2 hour layover in Jakarta. I stopped off in a cafe and there was only one chair left. The man I shared the table with was super cool. Originally from the Czech Republic, he now lives in Finland. He works for some oil company. Funny thing is I was on my way to save the forests from destruction and he was on his way to destroy them!!!
Finally in Borneo!!!!
I landed in Borneo with a total pit in my stomach. The words 'what did I do?' kept floating in my head. I got off the plane to walk towards the baggage area thinking this is my home for the next 6 weeks.
I came out with my luggage and was immediately harassed by taxi drivers. Yet another man came up to me and I tried to brush him off. But he said are you Julia Schmidt? It was the driver from Samboja. He brought me over to a young girl whose name is Hesty. She is the volunteer coordinator and from Borneo. We had two hours to kill while we waited for the 4 other volunteers to arrive.
We all sat down at a cafe and Hesty started filling me in on the program and how everything is going to work. I became more and more excited as she talked. I couldn't believe I was actually going to do this.
The four other girls arrived and it was time for the party to begin. I immediately felt comfortable with the girls. There is a pretty amazing group here.
We finally got to our lodge at nightfall. Words cannot describe how beautiful it is here. I still have to take pictures of the lodge. When you see them you will understand.
The very first night and immediately there is a bright orange spider is my room. Did I mention that it is HUGE. Oh dear.
I couldn't wait to wake up in the morning and see the place in the sunlight.
