Kuala Lumpur

Introducing a few of my Korean students...

How it all started...my morning class, once a day every day of the week

Weekend trip to see fireflies in Kuala Selangor

My boss with a monkey on her shoulder

Weekend trip to Genting Highlands

Teaching English in Korea is a very viable option for the future. In a few years I will definitely consider doing it for at least a year. It would also put me closer to China and Japan, which are places I've always wanted to go back to!

Kuala Lumpur, but soon in...

BORNEO

So by now everyone should know that Borneo is my dream trip down here in SE Asia. Just last week it still seemed farrr away. Then one of my fellow teachers happens to be sick all week and i get to take over all of his classes. Boom...first experience as a full time teacher, teaching Koreans for a whole week 9-7...let's start planning Borneo!! Time to figure out where to go...Borneo is HUGE! As I start to research, my focus is obviously on where I have the best chance to spot Orang-Utans. Two choices arise...Rehabilitation Center or wild ones in a remote Nature Reserve. If any one is particularly interested in exquisite reviews on both...http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=307278 . I was always a bit unsure of how useful these Rehabilitation Centers for Orang-Utans really are. It seems my skepticism was justified...when they release the monkeys they either come back frequently for meals or they outsmart their wild counterparts and leave them in a dire situation. Most importantly though, these centers have become tourist hot-spots. It goes without saying that 100 screaming people snapping flash photos all day is not going to be particularly beneficial for these animals. So my choice is clear...take a minimum of two 3 hour bus rides and an additional boat ride to get to one of the many remote, secluded nature reserves. It will be harder to spot them, but a hell of a lot more gratifying. Also, I will get the chance to see a whole bunch of other wildlife and experience very remote Malaysian living. The Mulu Caves are also waiting for me, so I'm thinking I need to take at least 5-6 days for this whole trip.
Reading the reviews also quite clearly brought something to my attention. Some travelers spend months and months traveling around a place like Borneo. Hopping from remote location to remote location. No fixed accomodation, no organized transportation, no constant supply of clean water or food. Amazing. It got me all excited. Don't get me wrong at the moment I prefer spending more time in the cities, working and trying to establish there...but it got me really really anxious to go spend at least a few days living like that.
These reviews also made something else uncomfortably clear. Deforestation is a huge issue. It wasn't unusual to read something like "the reason you may see so many Orang-Utans in this region, is because there is only a small area of rainforest left surrounded by the palm tree plantations." Damn sad. I hope I get a chance to see it with my own eyes. I will also be spending some time in regions not really hit yet by deforestation, so the contrast will be interesting.
If all works out...should be aiming for mid/end of September.
It will be an important experience, also, because I just recently met some Americans who are teaching English in a rural part of Indonesia (Java) for the American Peace Corps. They said it wouldn't be a problem to hook me up with a teaching gig out there...so I am seriously considering that...

If anyone is still worried whether or not I'm doing alright out here...

I'm fine...