TIGER TRAIL CONSERVATION TREKKING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH KNOW BEFORE YOU GO GUIDE

Transcription

1 TIGER TRAIL CONSERVATION TREKKING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH KNOW BEFORE YOU GO GUIDE

2 Contact Information: In Malaysia Sri Rao, Project Leader Daniel Quilter, Ecoteer Founder Charmaine Ho, Operations Manager Inquires: Website: ecoteerresponsibletravel.com

3 We would like to thank you for your interest in joining this tiger conservation project located at the Sungi Yu Wildlife Corridor on the border of Taman Negara, in the State of Pahang, Malaysia. With the collaboration with our partner organization MyCat, you will be amongst the few that have helped to collect camera trap data and deactivate snares from these forests, thus reducing the number of wild animals and tigers from being poached by poachers in the Tropical Malaysian rainforest. The rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia are known to be the oldest in the world and harbour species such as Panthers, Malayan Tigers, Asian Elephants, Gibbons, Gaur and Tapir. You will be taken off the beaten track into these forests and explore beautiful rivers, jungle and caves in Southeast Asia. Play your part in helping these species survive another century whilst going on an ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME. CONTENTS 1 Before you go 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Travel arrangements 1.3 Visas 1.4 Insurance 1.5 Healthcare 1.6 What to pack 2 Whilst you are here 2.1 Arrivals 2.2 Your accommodation 2.3 Your placement 2.4 Health & Safety 2.5 The weather 2.6 Currency 2.7 Food 2.8 Local customs 2.9 Language 3 After your placement 3.1 Departure 4 Contact details 4.1 Contact details Appendix A Basic Malay terms & phrases

4 1 Before you go 1.1 Introduction If you are reading this guide, it means that you have already confirmed your reservation and that you will be joining us on the Tiger Trail! With that, kindly send us a copy of your passport as soon as your reservation is placed in the programme to allow permit application and approval. Failure to do so will result in denial of access into the National Park and alternative trekking routes outside the park border will have to be arranged. If you want to pre order an airport pick up please send us your arrival flight details and to us at explore@ecoteer.com 1.2 Travel arrangements Project location: Merapoh, Pahang Merapoh is an alternative entry point to Taman Negara which is not commonly known to the public compared to the main entrance located at Kuala Tahan, Jerantut. On your arrival Monday: Included in the package is a bus ticket from KL to Merapoh which will be ed to volunteers prior to arrival. Please arrive at Hentian Putra Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur latest by 9AM to locate your bus which will depart by 9:30AM from Hentian Putra. If you need help locating your bus, kindly ask for the bus station staff assistance using your bus ticket as reference. The journey takes around 4-5 hours from Kuala Lumpur and so you will arrive at Merapoh by 1-1:30PM to be met by our volunteer manager. Please note that the bus will be heading to Kota Bharu as its final destination, while Merapoh is located at where the bus stops for their lunch break (1 1:30PM) which you will need to depart from the bus by then. 1.3 Visa To volunteer in Malaysia, volunteers will need to have a tourist visa. Tourist from the following countries will receive a 90 day free tourist visa upon arrival: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kirgystan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Lienchestien, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherland, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Romania, St Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Yemen 1.4 Insurance All volunteers are required to have their own travel insurance. Ecoteer does not provide insurance cover for its volunteers and accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injuries a volunteer may sustain during your stay with us.

5 1.5 Healthcare Must have injections/ inoculations: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Tetanus-diphtheria Malaria: Malaria has been known to occur in nearby Taman Negara. At Merapoh this is a small hospital that can treat most injuries, if you need more specialist medical care we would take you to Gua Musang which is a 30minute drive away. 1.6 What to bring Money We recommend you min budget RM200 for your time spent in Merapoh, for things such as souvenirs, snacks etc. What to bring Sleepingbag (optional and can be rented) Torchlight / Head lamp plus spare batteries Penknife (optional) Day back pack (ca. 35 litres) with rain cover Travel or thin towels that dry quickly Zip lock bags and tupperware to keep things dry Minimum 1.5 litres water bottle (best to carry 2 litres bottle) Hiking shoes Leech socks Camping mat Toiletries Toothbrush / Toothpaste Showergel / Shampoo Deodorant Repellants with DEET Sun block / after sun creme Tissues / face wipe Attire Long pants (warm), thin trousers (convertible are the best) Shorts Socks Travelling shoes Slippers / Sandals

6 T-shirts(thin ones are the best) Wooly Hat and gloves (for warmth at night) Sweater / fleece Rain jacket (optional) Swim wear Cap / hat with/without netting (for hiking) Optional Camera Hammock including mosquito net First Aid kit Anti-histamines, sunscreen, after sun, Diarrhoea medication and antibiotics and antiinflammatory for ear, nose and throat problems. Peroxide and anti-bacterial Dettol can both be useful for cleaning out cuts as wounds quickly become infected CELCOM Malaysian Sim card this network has the best coverage at the project site; we suggest you get RM30 of credit for 4 weeks. Books and mp3 players - to keep you occupied during time off If you are unable to bring any of the recommended items, you will be able to rent / buy them in Merapoh from SGI Outdoor who sells all sorts of camping gears (located within 5 minutes walking distance from accommodation): Items Rental (in RM) To buy (brand new, in RM) Sleeping bag RM5.00/sleeping bag/day RM RM Camping tent RM10.00/tent/day RM280.00(4 men s tent) Hammock - RM48.00-RM80.00 Leech socks - RM38.00-RM45.00 Back pack (ca litres) - RM RM Camping mat RM5.00/carrymat/day RM38.00-RM88.00 Mosquito netting - - Headlight - RM30.00-RM Flashlight - RM30.00-RM Dry bag - RM60.00-RM Dry Tank - RM RM Dry Pouch/Sling - RM30.00-RM60.00 Buff - RM12.00-RM Poncho - RM9.90 Plaster - RM10.00-RM15.00 Hand Glove - RM10.90 Cooking set RM10.00/set/day RM70.00-RM Mistine 1set RM5.00/set/day RM48.00

7 Stove RM10.00/ 1pcs/day RM70.00-RM Fly-Sheet - RM98.00-RM Ground-Sheet - RM98.00-RM Camping gas - RM6.90-RM80.00 Baterries 1packet - RM4.00-RM15.00 Plastic bag seal - RM2.00-RM5.00 Eggs canister - RM15.90-RM25.00 Multi-tool - RM48.00-RM Fork n Spoon - RM18.00-RM38.00 National Park Sticker - RM10.00/pcs National Park Batch - RM10.00/pcs Key-chain - RM8.00-RM10.00/pcs Face Towel - RM35.00 Cap - RM68.00-RM80.00 Drinking water small - RM2.00 Drinking water big - RM3.00 Soft Drink - RM2.00/can Barbican - RM5.00/bottle Note: 1. All equipment rented must be cleaned and returned in good condition prior to departure from project site. Damaged item(s) will incur additional charges. SGI Outdoor also offer laundry services for RM10/person per wash depending on weight.

8 2 Whilst you are here 2.1 Arrivals Arrivals are on Mondays. Please arrive at Hentian Putra Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur latest by 9AM to locate your bus which will depart by 9:30AM from Hentian Putra. If you need help locating your bus, kindly ask for the bus station staff assistance using your bus ticket as reference. The journey takes around 4-5 hours from Kuala Lumpur and so you will arrive at Merapoh by 1-1:30PM to be met by our volunteer manager. Please note that the bus will be heading to Kota Bharu as its final destination, while Merapoh is located at where the bus stops for their lunch break (1 1:30PM) which you will need to depart from the bus by then. At the lunch stop, please take all your bags off the bus as you will be meeting our Tiger trail Team at the restaurant and will not be getting back on the bus again. The Tiger Trail Team will take yo u for lunch before giving you a thorough briefing on what will be happening during your programme. 2.2 Accommodation Volunteers will stay at the Spelio Inn at Merapoh. -Large single sex dormitory rooms with shared bathroom- -Shops are available in the village to purchase toiletries, snacks and drinks - Laundry: L aundry service is available for MYR10 depending on load. Note: We do not have a safe box in Merapoh Your Placement The programme follows a set itinerary. Monday Tuesday & Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday & Sunday Monday Repeat Arrival Day Conservation patrols (jungle trekking) Caving and preparing lesson plans Teaching the Batek and foraging with the Batek ladies. Conservation patrols and camping overnight. Departure day or rest day. Conservation Patrols - Jungle trekking A medium level of fitness is required for the Jungle walks. The walks are supposed to be slow to enable the guides to search for tracks and animal signs HOWEVER this is a tropical rainforest where humidity can reach %. It may not be hot but between the humidity and the inevitable

9 encounters with leeches, this is not a trip for the faint-hearted! Walks are generally 5-7 hours long depending on the group and the route chosen. MyCat will designate the area of forest to survey and the experienced Ecoteer leader and local guide will then decide on a suitable route to take. These jungle walks are fascinating and will really allow you to feel like one of the animals in the forest whilst looking out for signs of humans and poachers. If any snares are found, the GPS locations will be recorded and then they will be destroyed. Even old discarded snares continue to catch animals so it is vital that they are removed to prevent any further harm. PLEASE BE AWARE Large animals live in these forests, but it is very rare to actually see any because they are mostly nocturnal. Your role is to look for signs of their whereabouts and locate snares whilst acting as a deterrent to poachers. Caving There are over 60 limestone caves in the Merapoh region. The actual caves that you visit will depend on weather, group size and group ability. The caves are fantastic some even have rivers and waterfalls inside. The presence of limestone formations creates the most fantastic scenery. These caves are home to various animals including thousands of swiflets that group together at sunset and can be seen flying around a nearby town called Gua Musang. The Batek people have used these caves for centuries, as can be seen by the many cave drawings that can be found inside. The Batek Tribal Village You will visit the local Batek tribal village and learn about their culture and how they live in the jungle. They will take you to their plantations, regularly harvested by the tribeswomen who sell the excess fruit. You will also conduct a 2 hour Conservation English session for the young adults and supported by the Ecoteer leader you will help to improve their English and teach them about the environment. These sessions are great fun but serve an important function, as the area has been earmarked for an increase in tourism and without being able to speak English, these tribal people will not be able to benefit from the new industry. 2.4 Health & Safety Malaysia is a safe and a peaceful place to visit. However volunteers should be aware that misfortune events do happen when opportunity arises. Common sense knowledge on safety is essential such as locking your rooms when you leave, not wearing expensive looking jewelleries which could draw the wrong attention, keep your important belongings in a safe box, be cautious while travelling alone at night or when talking to strangers, etc. More travelling safety tips available here

10 In any event that you hurt yourself or are feeling unwell, please inform any Ecoteer staff immediately. 2.5 The weather Malaysia is a hot and humid country all year around. The hot season starts from March September with occasional heavy rain in the evening or night. The rainy season or monsoon season will be from late October early February with daily rain. During the peak of the monsoon season, this project will be closed (December February). Temperature in the day will be around 30 C or more and about 25 C at night. 2.6 Currency Currency in Malaysia is Ringgit Malaysia (MYR or RM which is used locally). No ATM is available on the island, so volunteers will need to bring enough cash to the island. We recommend RM100 of spending money per week and RM 100 per leisure dive for divers. Most local shops only accept cash. 2.7 Food Your programme package includes all 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from start till end of programme. Breakfast Local breakfast at the nearby food stalls. Food available are rice with dishes (Nasi Lemak) or Roti Canai which are also known as pratha. Lunch During the programme packed lunches will be provided on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The packed lunches are normally rice, with fish or chicken and some veggies. If you have any diet restrictions please inform us. Dinner There are a few local restaurants open in the evenings within 5 minutes walking distance from the hostel. You can order nice noodles or rice dishes or perhaps a spicy tom yam soup. Meals cost between RM10-13 each including a drink. On Saturday night you will be camping overnight and you will go with the project leader to buy food to cook the traditional Batek way using Bamboo. The cost of the camping is covered by your programme fee. On Sunday night you will have a BBQ, the cost is included in the programme fee. Snacks and drinks are available at the shops in the village.

11 Cost: 1.5L mineral water RM2.5 1 can of soda drink RM2 1 regular packet of crisps RM4 2.8 Local customs The village of Merapoh is a Muslim village and volunteers will have to dress appropriately whilst at the hostel in Merapoh. Shoulders and cleavage should be covered and shorts/skirts have to cover the knees. While swimming at any river, please put on dark coloured attire as light coloured clothing will often be see-through when they get wet. Volunteers can dress freely when they are not in the village area. Alcoholic drinks and pork are not allowed at the hostel. Misuse of drugs is illegal. 2.9 Language Malay is the main language spoken in Merapoh. Some villagers are able to speak basic English but Syukri and Adik the owners of the hostel speak very good English. The Batek villagers speak their own language as well as a little bit of Malay, they speak very basic English. Our team leader will teach you a bit of Batek during the programme as learning the Batek s own tribal language is very much appreciated by them.

12 3 After your placement 3.1 Departure If you need assistance to plan your onward travels after the program ends, kindly inform our project leader on the first day of briefing. Our project leader will assist if it is possible. However it would be best if you already have a confirmed plan for your onward travels (Eg: the project leader will be able to book tickets (bus/train) if you know where you want to head to after the program ends). Train The train leaves early morning and goes from Merapoh to Kota Bharu which is near to the Perhentian Islands or you can take the train south back down to KL. The trains in Malaysia are very SLOW and take much longer than the bus. However if you are going to the Perhentian or Redang Islands we recommend you take the train from Merapoh to Tanah Merah. From Tanah Merah you will need to take a 40 minute taxi to Kuala Besut, which costs about RM50 per car. At Kuala Besut you take the boat to the Perhentian Islands. The train journey takes about 5 hours but it is very scenic and beautiful. Bus Volunteers will need to get to Merapoh R&R and get on the bus (coming from Kota Bharu) at 12.30pm to Kuala Lumpur.

13 Appendix A Basic Malay terms & phrases English Malay Pronunciation me you him/her eat food rice drink drinks (plural) quiet this that where food waste (organic waste) good morning good night thank you how are you? my name is Cod Fish saya mu dia makan makanan nasi minum minuman senyap ini itu di mana sisa makanan selamat pagi selamat malam terima kasih apa khabar Nama saya Cod Fish sa-ya moo dee-yea ma-can t ma-can t-nun nah-see me noom me-noom-mun sir-nyup ee-nie ee-too dee ma-nah see-sir ma-can t-nun sir-la-mutt pah-ghee sir-la-mutt ma-lump te-ree-ma car-say ah-pah car-bar nah-ma sa-ya Cod Fish I m 100 years old Umur saya 100 tahun ooo-more sa-ya 100 tar-hoon

14 Appendix B Basic Batek terms & phrases My Name is. Omoi yek.. tahon Eeyek Che Hiyam Eeyek am tom Eeyek tik Eeyek wok Eeyek chip Eeyek how Pan Negare eeyek Eeyek sokak. Tik Chetoh Pe-a-chin Chee Unlai Bot Cepchan Ates Ngox Week Tem Kee giu Be(g) Gagok Kawau Asok Bai(t) Telabus Herp Jekob Namak eeyek I am years old I eat chicken (che = eat, hiyam = chicken) I drink water (am = drink, tom =water) I sleep I wake up I go I arrive You My country I like.. sleep cook cook eat bathe take walk around up down left right stand-up tiger Elephant bird Dog Tapir Bear jungle snake