So Amazing!! Loved the rural focus

This program was so fantastic!! It’s hard to summarize and pick my favorite moments. I absolutely loved the jungle trek in Sumatra. The terrain was rugged but Jay and Eric and Febroni (our local guides) seemed to magically appear whenever we needed a hand. I felt like I lost a few pounds through sweat so I was thankful for the afternoon swim in the river next to camp after the trek. We saw SO MANY orangutans (more than our guides had ever seen before), and it was so incredible to see them in real life. I was using the squat toilet one time at camp and look up to see a mama and baby orangutan watching me. Also I got pooped on by one…

Our home stays were so nice, and I gained a lot of knowledge about communicating with people who don’t speak English. It was difficult at some points, like when we were served two full cups of coffee after dinner and didn’t know how to refuse (delicious but the caffeine was a lot for post-dinner), but the generosity of the locals came through in everything they did.

I’d never swam in the ocean before this trip and wouldn’t consider myself a strong swimmer, but all the water-based activities were super great and within my skill level. I saw an octopus snorkeling and the scuba diving was INCREDIBLE. I even caught a few waves surfing!

One of my favorite moments was our first night on one of the treks we did. The whole group was staying in one big tent and it was storming so hard. There was no electricity so the only thing lighting the room was the frequent cracks of lightning. It was pouring rain and so windy and the floor flooded. It was such a bonding moment and when we finally got to sleep anytime I’d roll over I’d be face to face with my travel mates.

My glasses were stolen off my face and broken by a monkey so if you can’t see without your glasses bring an extra pair. Please, please wear sunscreen - the UV actually broke the scale on the weather app once and I got burned bad a couple times even from just 20 minutes or so. Pack light - you’ll be moving every couple days.

From drinking kava in Fiji (slightly better than mud water haha) to helping clean white tigers’ cages, to crying in an ice bath, this trip opened my eyes to so many new things. I would highly recommend this trip, thought it’s not for those who aren’t very outdoorsy. The hiking can be hard and everything you bring will get wet at some point, and can stay damp for a long time. The people you’ll meet and the sights and animals you’ll get to see so outweigh any negatives for those considering this program. My program instructors were so amazing and struck the perfect match between friend and mentor - I couldn’t have asked for better leaders.