After two action packed days exploring the jungles surrounding the Kumai River, we all enjoyed a well-deserved sleep in this morning as National Geographic Orion slowly navigated the Karimata Strait. After a hearty breakfast we joined one of our naturalists, Cristiana Damiano, in the lounge to learn about the upcoming snorkel and scuba diving operations tomorrow. We listened closely to the tips she gave us on proper snorkeling techniques and what to do in an emergency. After the briefing we headed up to deck six and received our snorkeling equipment from our friendly expedition team. We adjusted our new masks, made sure our fins fit comfortably, and even tried on our sexy lycra ‘stinger’ suits.
After a few good laughs at our new swimming attire we joined National Geographic photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins in the lounge for his interesting photography presentation entitled: “Photography: Buttons and Dials.” Over the next half hour we learned all about what all those buttons did on our fancy new cameras and which settings we should use to make sure we were able to ‘capture the moment’ when we were out exploring the wild frontiers of Borneo.
After the presentation we sat down in small groups and had a hands on workshop where we had a chance to ask our photography team questions about our cameras and how best to utilize them on our expedition.
Chef Lothar and his galley team once again created an outstanding buffet lunch for us, so we sat outside at the outdoor café in the cool breeze and enjoyed the delicious meal while getting to know our fellow shipmates a little better.
As part of our expedition the ship had made a generous donation for each of us to the Orangutan Foundation International and in doing so we had each officially adopted a young orangutan to be cared for by the organization. After lunch Dr Galdikas was available to personally sign our adoption certificates and told us fascinating stories about how each of these young orangutans were saved and how each one had their own cheeky personality.
Afterwards Brent Stephenson, one of our naturalists and our resident bird expert, gave an intriguing presentation entitled: “Birds of Borneo.” We were awestruck by the sheer diversity of birds found in the region and also amazed by their beautiful colors and odd behaviors.
After a much needed relaxing day we found ourselves very refreshed and ready for a busy day tomorrow exploring the beautiful coral reefs of Borneo.
