My First Volunteer Travel

 义工旅游

Four years has past, this post maybe a little late for the sharing, despite of the time that has gone, when i watched the videos again this morning, the undescribable and warm memories still remained. Eventhough it was delayed for four years, i decided to share this out - my first volunteer travel experience, an experience that open my eyes and led me to follow a different travel style. 四年过去了，这分享也许有点晚，尽管已经过了好几年，当我今早再次观看当时拍下的视频，仍然有种说不出的温暖记忆，即使推迟了四年，我还是决定与大家分享我的第一份义工旅游的体验，一个让我得到与一般旅行不同的感受和它引导了我追随着不一样的旅游概念与文化。

I worked in an international company those day, the company is actively involving in the corporate sustainable responsible activities. During my tenure, there was a  programme related to climate change issue . It was a programme that partnership with four NGOs (Earthwartch, WWF, The Climate Group and STRI) for the research of climate change. The company donated fund to establish climate centre in various locations for research and education purposes, beside of the research work, the company also identified individual worker from worldwide office who are nature lover or has passion to do something for the community / environment to attend a climate champion programme in one of the climate centre.  我曾在一家国际企业上班，公司很积极参社区与环保活动。我任职期间，公司极力的推廣当时很热门的 气候变化活动，与四个非政府组织(Earthwartch，世界自然基金会-WWF，气候集团和STRI)合作推动气候变化的研究与提高社会对这的认知。企业把基金投资在不同的项目，建立了几个气候研究和教育中心，其中的一个项目是从世界各地的分行选出热爱大自然的员工参于研究工作。

When i got to know about this programme, i was attracted by the free holiday at some outskirts site deep in the forest as that could be a good escape from work plus no leave deduction if i sign up for this programme, however i did not get through from the first round of application. In the later stage, the first batch of participants who came back from the climate champion programme started to run some talks to convey the objective of the programme, from there i learned that there was a mission behind it. I felt ashamed on my initial motive for the previous application and started to study the whole programme packs. I submitted my application for the 2nd round of recruitment with a proper write up on the proposal section, and finally i went through the application process and successfully secured a slot to attend the 12 days climate change programme in China Climate Centre - Gutianshan. 当我知道有这个活动时，我冲着能免费到森林旅行而不用扣假的心态提交了申请表格，但是我没能通过第一轮的招募。不久后，第一轮的参与者回来后开始招开座谈会，传达了该计划的宗旨，从那我了解到参于这活动背后的真正意义与使命。我对自己最初的私心觉得愧纠，从来都没为大自然做过什么，我认真的阅读整个活动的企划书，好好的重新填写了一份建议书与申请表格，终于第二轮招聘通过了，成功争取到出席中国古田山气候中心的气候研究活动。

It was during November 2009, i departed from Malaysia to HuangZhou, China. Due to the delayed of my flight the rest of the group has departed early to the climate centre. Upon arrival, i met the Programme Manager and the photographer aka trainer who waited me at the airport, it took us about 6 hours drive to reach the research centre that located at a reserve forest in ZheJiang Province - the place known as Gutianshan. 那是在2009年11月，我从马来西亚出发到中国杭州。由于我的航班延误，队员们已经出发到研究中心了，抵达机场后，我与留下的项目经理和摄影师兼教练会合后坐了6个小时的车来到了位于浙江省的古田山气候研究中心，离城镇很远，是个较偏远的乡区森林保护区。

I made it on time to the dinner and met the others members who were from various locations within the company, there were colleagues from Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and myself from Malaysia.During the 12 days, we learned fact on environmnet, human behavior and climate change in the classroom and also attended practical field worked with the scientist went deep inside the forest for some data collection activities and also the lab work. Apart from a learning trip, it was also a life exploration and discovery session. It was a precious lesson in my life where i started to appreciate volunteer travel and eco tourism, a way where we travel to explore new places and also at the same time contribute back to the community and the environment. 在那我与其他来自亚州的同事会面，我们的队员有人来自新加坡，台湾，香港，澳大利亚，新西兰，越南和马来西亚。在那12天中，我们在课堂上了解到许多关于环境，人类行为和气候变化的相关知识，跟随环境科学家到森林深处实地学习与帮忙采集数据，也到实验室做一些简单的工作。那个行程除了是一个学习的旅程，也是一个人生的探索与发现，它让我上了一堂宝贵的课程，我开始体会到义工旅游和生态旅游的意义，在旅行探索的同时也对当地的社区和环境做出贡献。


Through that programme i met a group of friends who share the same interest. The whole trip was an undescribable experience, here, i share two videos - the first one is a summary of our trip by the photographer, and the second is a short documentary film that DIY by our team to deliver the information that we learned during the trip, it was also an appreciation token to our Earthwatch coordinator. 通过那一次的活动，我认识了了一班志趣相投的朋友，整个行程，有着种种的欢乐，与难于形容的经验，在这我与大家份享两个视频，第一个是由摄影师总结了我们的行程的点点滴滴，第二个是我们整组人DIY的气候学识短片，把我们所学的信息传达出去，也是我们给Earthwatch的协调员一份感恩的礼物。

Some scientist disagreed that human are the main factor causes the global warming or climate change. My personal view is -I doesn't know which theory is true, but there is one thing that i am sure, human created a lot of rubbish and most of it was discharge irresponsibly, human are the one that logging the forest, some animals' extinction were due to human action. It is not important to fight on which theory is true, the most important thing is - we are damaging and hurting the mother nature. Please take a step back, review our daily living behavior and start to make changes to reduce the damage, take action now and ensure the "green peace" is not just only a slogan.   一些科学家不同意人类是导致全球变暖或气候变化的主要因素。我个人的看法是我不知道谁的道理是对的，但有一件事，我可以肯定，人类创造了大量的垃圾，人类是坎伐森林的原凶，人类的某些活动造成一些动物的灭亡。不管气候变化是不是人为因素已经不重要，重要的是我们正在破坏环境，请停下脚步， 检讨我们的生活习惯，改变不良的习惯，尽量减少对大自然的伤害，从现在开始身体力行的爱护我们的地球吧！别把环保当口号！

Next post i will share some other volunteer experiences that i had participated / partially organise with my friend within Malaysia.We all are the children of the mother nature, let together love it and care for it! 下一篇文章将分享一些我曾参于的本土短程的义工旅游经验。我们都是大自然的孩子，大家一起来爱护它和照顾它吧！

Some others volunteer activities in Malaysia if you interested to join any
http://www.sosmalaysia.org/home.html - seahorse and seagrass research and conservative program
https://www.facebook.com/KelabAlamiMukimTgKupang - Seahorse and Seagrass survey
http://www.epichome.org/ - building house for Aborigines
http://marecet.org/ - research and conservative for marine mammal (dolphin, whales, dugong)
http://www.gec.org.my/index.cfm?&menuid=239&parentid=92 - Peatland research and conservative program
http://www.mns.my/ - Malaysia Nature Society
and many more.... forest, coral, turtle, orang utan, etc

Candle Stone at Yehliu Geopark - Rock could shaped into Unique form, so do we!

野柳地质公园的烛台 - 磨练的见证

Yehliu Geopark, a nature tourist spot in Taiwan, it is famous for its sea-erosion landscape,the most well known is the Queen's Head. 台湾野柳地质公园， 一个特别的海侵蚀大自然景观，最著名的是英女皇头像。

One of my Taiwanese friend brought me there, it was the 5th day of our trip, an hour plus journey from Taipei to the park, it was a cloudy and windy day, seem like going to rain any time, my initial excitment has slowly turn to a low energy level due to the weather and the exhausted trip from previous days, wonder what will i see there. After getting off from the bus, there was still a 1.5km walking distance to the geopark. Right after a few minutes walked, a sudden rain fall (Heavy), i started  to curse "it better had something nice there!". We were lucky, a taxi stopped and let us get in, it was still raining when we arrive at the entrance, the ticket counter full of people, since we were already here, we continue the visit after equiped ourself with a basic raincoat.

我的一个台湾朋友带我到那一日游，那天是我们行程的第5天，从台北到地质公园需一个多小时的车程，天很阴，风很大，乌云满天，不乐观的天气加上前几天的疲惫，我起初的兴奋心情逐渐淡化。从巴士下车后，仍然有一条约1.5公里长的步行距离，才走了几分钟，突然下起倾盆大雨，我开始诅咒：“那里最好有值得一去的理由！”。还好有一辆出租车停了下来，让我们上车，当我们到达入口处，天还在下雨，售票柜台挤满了人。即然来了，无论如何都得进出一探它的真面目，套上雨衣，往入口处前进。

The initial park is a long walkway with some trees at the side, i still have no idea on what awaiting us inside. About 10 minutes walked later, we finally spotted the first unique stone, a camel stone. "Hmm, something interesting". We continue moving forward, still nothing so special, we walked about 1.7km and finally reached the Cape where the main highlight! "Wow, this is really something that beyond my expectation, the best keep for the last!"

又是一段漫长的走道，还不知道到底这公园有什么好参观的。走了约10分钟，我们终于发现了第一个独特的石头 - 骆驼石 (有趣), 我们继续向前走，仍然没有什么特殊，我们走了约1.7km，终于到达了地质公园的主要亮点！ “哇，很特别的海角，有很多奇形怪石，都是天然的。真是最好的保留在最后！”

Various sign of natural erosion found here, some of the rocks were given an interesting name -weathering ring, honeycomb rock / weathering, mushroom rock, ginger rock, wave cut platform, ocean erosion pothole, melting erosion panel, joints, bean curd rock, Queen's head, fairy's shoe, marine bird, ice cream rock, elephant rock, peanut rock, pearl rock, camel rock, Japanese Geisha, drumstick, carp rock, parrot rock, dragon head, grolilla, pineapple bun and many more. Among all of the rocks, i personally like the Candle rock.  

在这里找到各种自然侵蚀的迹象，一些岩石还被起了个有趣的名字 - 风化纹，蕈状岩，蜂窝岩风化环，风化窗， 姜石，海蚀崖，海蚀壶穴，溶蚀盘，节理，豆腐岩，女王头，仙女鞋，海鸟，冰淇淋岩，大象岩，花生石，珍珠石，骆驼岩，日本艺妓，炸鸡腿，鲤鱼石，鹦鹉石，龙头，金刚石，菠萝面包，还有更多。在所有这些类型的岩石，我个人特别喜欢烛台。

The candle sharped rock is a cornical rock standing erectly on the ground. It is 0.5 ~ 1 cm in diameter with the topeThe candle shaped rock is a conical rock standing erectly on the ground. It is 0.5~1 cm in diameter with the top being narrower than the bottom. A round shape concretion containing lime is formed on the central top of the rock and being surrounding by circular grooves, just like a candle tray.

The formation process of candle shaped rock can be divided into three phases:

1. The formation of candle light: The candle light refers to the ball-shape concretion contained within the rock layer; it is small in size. As the said concretion is harder than its adjacent sandstone and is more durable for sea erosion, it eventually raises above the ground when its surrounding sandstone being worn away by seawater.
2. The formation of groove: As the seawater flows around the concretions, a circle of groove is formed since the sandstone that surrounds the concretion is being worn away by seawater.
3. The formation of candle tray: The seawater flows along the circle of rock that surrounds outside the concretions, a rock formed in a shape of candle tray is developed as a result of sea erosion occurred chronically.

Local people usually depict the landscape around the candle shaped rock in this way: “Stone clock, stone breast, the jump of carp, the mouse is sucking the cat’s breast (Taiwanese)”. Whereas, the stone clock refers to the candle shaped rock on the left, the shape of which is like a large clock hanging upside down. The stone breasts refer to the two rocks, excluding the one on the right hand side, that are formed in a shape similar to women’s breasts. The jump of carp refers to the scene when the wave is splashing against the carp rock, it is just like a carp jumps out of water. The mouse is sucking the cat’s breast is a phrase used to describe local people used to go the sea to collect sea weeds to make their living, while risking their lives as the surroundings there were quite dangerous.
(This paragraph taken from http://www.ylgeopark.org.tw/ENG/info/YlIntroduction_en.aspx)

公园内最奇特的小地景，烛台石略呈圆锥状直立于地面，直径约在0.5~1公尺之间，上细下粗，顶部中央有含石灰质的圆形结核，周围有环状沟槽，如同烛台一般。

烛台石的形成分为三阶段：
露出烛火：烛火其实就是岩层中的一颗球形结核，颗粒并不大。由于结核比周围的砂岩坚硬，较能抵抗海水的侵蚀，因此当海水侵蚀掉砂岩时，球形结核便微微突出于地面。
挖出沟槽：海浪打在结核上，很自然的会围绕着结核四周流动，于是便逐渐侵蚀掉结核周围的砂岩，向下挖出一圈沟槽，圆球状的结核便渐趋成型。
切割出烛台：由于结核外围有一带环圈，十分坚硬，因此海水便依着这个环圈的形状向下切割、侵蚀，渐渐雕出圆锥状的外形，「烛台」便巧妙而生。时间一久，烛台被海水越雕越修长，完成了一座唯妙唯肖的烛台石。

野柳当地有一俚语描述烛台石附近的景观：「石钟、石乳、鲤鱼逆水、老鼠吃猫乳(台语)」，石钟是指最左边的烛台石，状似一口大钟倒置于此；石乳是指若不看最右边的烛台石，另外两颗的形状，如同女性乳房一般；鲤鱼逆水是指当海岸边风浪大时，浪花自鲤鱼石背后溅起，犹如鲤鱼自大海中逆流跃出一般；老鼠吃猫乳则是形容当地多暗礁、海浪强大，每当东北季风来临时，此处紫菜及发菜生长特别旺盛，但岩石相对也特别湿滑，相当危险。早期当地居民因生活困苦，常需冒险到此处采紫菜及发菜以补贴家用，就像老鼠偷吸猫奶充饥一般，换取生命的延续。(这段文摘之 http://www.ylgeopark.org.tw/CN/info/YlIntroduction_cs.aspx)

All these rocks are the proof of honing, they had gone through a long process with lot of strong wind and strong wave to shape into these unique and wonderful look. Same goes to us, from the momement we borned, we had to go through all sort of stages and experiencing different moment (learning, practicing, falling, standed back up, moving forward, success, fail, depress, frustration, set our mind, move again, on and on ... ) and here we go, the current us. Never afraid of problem or issue, it is a challege in our live, face it, go through it, and one day we will become a better person by all these tempering. 

这些天然形成的怪岩石见证了岁月，进过了漫长的磨练被大量强风与海浪塑造成独特而美妙的外型。我们也一样，从我们出生那天，我们得通过各种成长阶段，经历不同的时刻（学习，练习，跌倒，爬起来，向前走，成功，失败，压抑，挫折，重新定位，再次行东不断的 继续着...）成为现在的我们。不畏困难与麻烦，把它当成是一个在我们的生活中的挑战，面对它跨过它，总有一天我们会被磨练成一个比现在更好的人。

Yehliu Geopark, a place that worth to visit in Taiwan, no matter how short your trip, remember to leave a slot of your itinerary for it. 野柳地质公园，一个值得大家去参观的景点，不管您的行程多极密，记得留些时间把它列入您的行程中。

Every stone are the result of years of pummeling, buffeting and tumbling by the tides,waves, storms or wind. Hold it gently. It’s been through a lot.