Turtle Time

I must admit I was very scared about getting to Nusa Penida based on the horrible TikToks I saw, especially this one.  Luckily, I survived! It wasn’t the most pleasant experience of my life but I didn’t vomit and the boat didn’t capsize, so I will take that win. There was a man standing with puke bags ready to pass out, so puking must be a common occurrence. From the boat we went right to our accommodations. There are approximately 45-60 volunteers with Green Lion each week and we had this really cute area where we stayed, eat and relaxed, which is only an eight-minute walk to the turtles. They even have their own dog, Oreo, who is so sweet. In the lead up to this trip they really undersold the accommodations and prepared us for the worst, but I loved my little hut room, which I was shocked to learn they even cleaned every day! I did have a few creature friends living in my room with me but they were harmless and I liked to think of the geckos as little pets.

For two weeks Monday through Friday, we rotated through cleaning the turtle tanks, feeding the turtles, cleaning the beach and crab catching  from 9-11 AM and 2-4 PM. At first only 4 hours a day seemed like it wasn’t very much, but it was extremely hot and doing hard work in the heat really takes all of the energy out of you. It wasn't just hot but very humid, where you are covered in sweat after just 30 seconds outside. They were over 600 turtles at Green Lion Turtle Rescue and each day they get fed twice, washed twice and their tanks cleaned. Cleaning the tanks required getting on my hands and knees and scrubbing my absolute hardest, something my hardwood floors have never experienced! The tanks are filled with water directly from the ocean and there are no filters to make it as authentic for the turtles as possible, thus all the cleaning required.

The fun facts I’ve learned about turtles:

1. There are 7 species of sea turtles
2. Sea turtles return to the same beach they were born at to lay their eggs which starts over 20 years after they were born - can you imagine remembering where to go in the ocean 20 years later? 
3. The temperature determines the sex of the sea turtle – This fact fascinated me.
4. Turtles are solo creatures and don’t travel in groups aka Finding Nemo was a lie!  

​Sleeping in past 4:30 AM proved to be very difficult as it was a competition each day starting between 2:30 -4:30 AM who will wake me up – the roosters, the family who lives behind my room, the Allah (happens 5 times a day starting at 4:30 AM), the dogs fighting or other animal sounds. Usually, the roosters won if I am going to be honest. 

The two big highlights of turtle time were turtles hatching and releasing turtles back into the ocean. Green Lion takes eggs which are laid on the beach and bring them to the center to avoid the eggs being eaten by animals. Witnessing the turtles come into this world and go into water was truly magical. 

Each Friday we released turtles. The first Friday was at Gamat Bay and the second right outside of our rescue center. Getting to Gamat Bay was a less than an enjoyable experience with a 25 minute TukTuk ride, which I can only describe as bad chiropractic care. The rusty metal bars drill into your back as you go along the narrow, steep bumpy roads. It was ~15 minute hike to the beach which on the way back reminded me what poor physical fitness I am in. Each release we sent off about ~35 turtles. Prior to the releases we gave the turtles a beautiful blessing. Then sent them off into the ocean. I really do hope they survive, but the rate of survival for turtles is very low.

​To close out my two weeks we had a bonfire of singing led by our coordinators and farewells by the people leaving that week. I am so grateful for the people especially the coordinators who went above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience. I also feel very grateful for the timing because I got to be a part of two turtle releases and see turtles hatching.