Today we awoke in our fourth country of the expedition. Thailand greeted us with beautiful islands and islets poking out in every direction. The morning was our first chance to properly get in the water and explore by snorkelling. Fish life was in abundance, but the reef certainly seemed stressed from the extremely warm water temperatures. It was a lovely first snorkel outing and a learning experience for all as we discussed the significance of worldwide bleaching.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 18 Aug 2024
Ko Tarutao, Thailand, 8/18/2024, National Geographic Orion
- Aboard the National Geographic Orion
- Indonesia & Papua New Guinea
Mike Desiderio, Naturalist/Expedition Diver
Born and raised outside Philadelphia; Mike spent his childhood playing around at his family's gymnastics facility. From camping with his family throughout the US to annual ski trips to Park City Utah, he has always had an affinity for the outdoors. H...
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Journey through Southeast Asia: Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia
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8/26/2024
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National Geographic Orion
Gunung Leuser National Park, Bukit Lawang, Sumatra
Today we awoke in the forest of Gunung Leuser National Park, in the northern hills of Sumatra. After a hearty and spicy Indonesian breakfast, we began our walk into the forest. We started early to avoid the bite of the midday sun. Guests also had the option to visit the nearby town for cultural insight of the local community. For those who opted for the forest walk, our efforts were instantly rewarded with a rare sighting of an elusive pit viper. As we ascended the hill, we also came across an impressive lizard our guides identified as the giant forest lizard. Before long we had stumbled across another group of orangutans and leafy langurs. These encounters were incredibly close and offered some fantastic opportunities for photography. The keen-eyed birders of the group were treated to a broadbill sighting, although most heard its distinctive call. On our walk home, some guests caught a glimpse of white-faced gibbons across the valley. All in all, it was another great day exploring Indonesia and the restful bus trip home was well received.
8/25/2024
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National Geographic Orion
Gunung Leuser National Park, Bukit Lawang, Sumatra
This morning, we began our expeditions to the remote community of Bukit Lawang to visit the Gunung Leuser National Park. We docked at Belawan port where we were greeted with an energetic dance performance. We took a bus to the northern hills, and once we arrived, we enjoyed a traditional Indonesian lunch before making our way into the forest. The walk was challenging at times but well worth it when we saw our first great apes. These orangutans were large and relatively close. In total we saw six individuals including males, females, and youngsters. The rain during our return didn’t dampen any spirits and once back, we enjoyed a swim in the river and another fantastic dinner before retiring in preparation for tomorrow’s adventure.