KAYAKING ACTIVITY

Date of Experience	16th November 2010
Venue Experience	Serasa Beach
Purpose of Experience	To experience kayaking.
What was the highlight of the experience? The highlight was to experience teamwork in the kayaking with our partner and meet other member of BEACA from different group such as Sandpipers, Egrets, Plovers and Curlews. Before we start kayaking, we were given information on how to do kayaking including on how to position our hand on the paddle.
What aspect of the experience caused you the most anxiety? I only worry that if the boat flips over in the middle of kayaking. This is because my friend and I can’t swim. Even we wearing the life jacket but we still don’t know what to do if it is happen. But luckily before doing the kayaking, we were given demonstration on how to handle that kind of situation. This makes us to be confident and didn’t feel panic if it is really happen.
Was there any aspect of the experience that surprised you? Firstly, I was surprised about the distance for kayaking. It is my first time to experience this kayaking with longest distance of km with only two check point of rest and I could not believe that I can manage to do this kayaking until finished. Secondly about the trash or rubbish that found at the island. We found many different types of rubbish that washed by the wave and stuck at the island. The rubbish is such as bottle, toys, packaging, soft drinks, containers and many more, but the most one is the plastic bag. We found the plastic bag everywhere at the island and some of it was buried by sand. Thirdly is about the fish that found at the island. We’re surprised that there were many fish found at the shore. But it is difficult to catch as it can hide in the sand. None of us can catch the fish even we all try together to catch it with many techniques such as using bucket, surround it and slow walking towards it, but the result is disappointed.     After finished the kayaking activity, I saw my legs became red and feel like burn. I thought that it just normal and just ignore it. But at the next day, I cannot standing straight even walking as it feel pain to move. I went to doctor and he said that it was sunburn. Then I remember that I wear short pants in the kayaking activity and only used the sun block on my hands, face and neck. But I forget to give it on my legs.
What were the three most important things you learnt from the experience? Use sun block to prevent sun burn. Remember to give sun block to all part of your body before doing the kayaking activity especially to the expose part such as hands, face, neck and legs. If not you will feel suffer as I did already experience it. It will make you difficult to concentrate on your reading for the exam as it feel itchy and hot like hot water touch to your skin. Never panic if the boat flip over or something happen in the middle of kayaking. Try to calm down and try to solve it by yourself as you already learn it from the demonstration before the kayaking was started.   Try not to pollute the environment with rubbish. This is because rubbish can affect the beautiful landscape of the surrounding to become worse. Also some of the rubbish is not good for the environment such as plastic bag.
Which aspects would you include in your future behaviour based on your learning from this experience? I think this is the best water sports for people to experience it. Because it’s not only for fun but also helps to exercise our hands and shoulders. Moreover, you may see the surrounding of the river or sea with beautiful green colour of trees and also birds flying from the island. Even it is tiring activity and made my legs burn but it didn’t let me down to do it again for another kayaking activity.

BIRD WATCHING

Date of Experience	14th November 2010
Venue Experience	Wasan Paddy field
Purpose of Experience	To know types of bird that found in Brunei.
What was the highlight of the experience? The highlight was to see different types of bird that found in Wasan paddy field.
What aspect of the experience caused you the most anxiety? Some of people didn’t like to experience themself in bird watching. This is because of difficult to find the bird and its need time to see it appear/ emerge. Nowadays, people just can see it easily at Tamu Kianggeh (selling birds) or in TV. But when you experience it by yourself, you will feel it different. You will try to closer the bird and curious to know the name. With the help of some expert people from Brunei Museum, there were no problems for us to recognize the bird.
Was there any aspect of the experience that surprised you? There were many different types of bird found at Wasan paddy field such as pacific swallow, little egret, common sandpiper, pipit Labuan, plumed egret, cattle egret, wood sandpiper and wondering whistling duck. I thought that egret had one type of species only but surprisingly there were many species of it found with different characteristic and name. For example like great egret, little egret and plumed egret. These birds were different in colour of beak and leg. Also different in height. With these different appearances, it helps us to recognize easily the types of bird. Before we went home, I saw many birds were in the mud of paddy field. Surprisingly, even the farmer doing his work with his noisy machine, the birds were still at their place and didn’t fly away.
What were the three most important things you learnt from the experience? To identify the bird, we have to see the colour and the height of the bird. If you want to see the bird, try not to use bright colour clothes. This is because bird will feel themself in danger and could make them fly away. The better clothe is by wearing less bright colour clothes or like farmer clothe, so that you can have a chance to see the bird closely as they didn’t realise you.   The best way to see the bird is by using DSLR camera. This is because camera can capture a picture of bird rather than using binocular. Also if you are using camera, you can play it back and zoom in to the part you want. Moreover, you wouldn’t miss the bird even if it is flying faster on the sky. This also depends on the zoom in and the quality of the camera. If you have high megapixel and zoom in, then you will have a good picture of bird.
Which aspects would you include in your future behaviour based on your learning from this experience? I will try to encourage other people to experience in bird watching and make them love animal that lives in this world especially birds. As we know that in this few years, many birds were suffered died because of viruses. I think we have to save and protect birds before it become extinct.

JUNGLE TREKKING (DIPLOMATIC & MENTIRI SITE)

Types of plant that found from both site;

                                                    (Simpur plant)

                                                   (Resam plant)

                                                   (Sumboi-sumboi)

                                                     (Ixora plant)

                                                    (Putat laut)



Animals/ insects that found from both site;

                                                          (Ant)

                                  (A kind of lizard climb up to the tree)

Date of Experience	22nd October 2010 (Diplomatic site) & 5th November 2010 (Mentiri site).
Venue Experience	Diplomatic site & Mentiri site.
Purpose of Experience	To experience jungle trekking and learn about the habitat that lives in the jungle.
What was the highlight of the experience? The highlight was to teach us on how we can organize our group members and take responsibility on our role. Also to familiar us with different types of plant and try not to pollute the nature with rubbish or other thing.
What aspect of the experience caused you the most anxiety? In Diplomatic site, before we enter the jungle, I was thinking that we will get lost in the jungle. Because as mention there were 2 people had been lost in the jungle and found after few hours later. In the jungle we only depend on marker that used by our leader and sweeper. But unfortunately the markers were too small and can’t see it clearly as the colour was almost the same like nature colour. This made us hard to find and takes time to search for the markers. Our activity was started at the afternoon and finish before the sun fall. As our group didn’t bring touch light, we had made decision that to speed up our walk and just take few stop to rest for energize with drinks. In the journey, only one of use had face a problem of muscle cramp. But in few minutes later she feels fine and still can walk by itself. Then we came out from the jungle and another of her leg cramp again. Luckily we already came out before the sun fall. We didn’t worry anymore as we already outside of the jungle. I was proud that she still managed to walk even it felt hurt by the cramp. May be this is because she didn’t want to disappoint us and burden to her teammates. In Mentiri site, as the jungle trekking was postponed to the next week, I was worried that our marker will fall/gone. But luckily the marker were still stick around the tree. Also I was worried that the tree from above us will fall and hit our group. So I told my group not to touch any trees and try to avoid from bad incident happen. Another thing was about a pig. In recce day, we found a spot of it eating place. I was worried that if the pig came out and attack us. As we (Islam people) cannot touch it and cannot harm animal. I think it is good ideas for us to climb nearest tree as possible and try not to separate from each other. Luckily we didn’t see a pig in our trekking but only see other animal.
Was there any aspect of the experience that surprised you? In Diplomatic site, I’m enjoyed seeing different types of tree that all around and some of the tree had big leaves. I’m surprised that there was rubbish left by last semester of beaca student. This not only makes the landscape worse but also can affect the environment. I found animal like kind of lizard climb to the tree (picture above). After taking the picture, the animal then gone quickly. I hope that I can see it again because at that time I only can see black like a shadow. Also I cannot identify it because the picture was not clear enough. In Mentiri site, firstly I was surprised about the place. There has a beautiful view of landscape from the car park. Secondly I was surprised about the trek. Even we had already clear the dead tree from the trek before. But then another dead tree was blocking our way. This made us to find another way to continue our trekking. Thirdly I was surprised to see big tree. Just before, I’m only saw it in TV but this time I’m experience it by myself and see it closely. Lastly, I heard a sound that come from bushes and I ask my group to stop moving. I’m remembered about the pig and try to aware it. But then we saw some kind of lizard move faster in front of me and hide to other bushes.
What were the three most important things you learnt from the experience? Team work. Never leave our teammates and do your responsibility that had been given. Also try our best not to burden our own teammate There were many different types of plant that found in the jungle such as “Tongkat ali”, “Halia”, “Resam”, “Putat laut”, "Simpur", "Ixora" and many more. Also there were many different types of insect that found in the jungle such as Ant, dragon fly, mosquito and many more. Must have leader /instructor to guide us. This is because we are not familiar at that place and may be we will get lost in the jungle. Also try not to wear short shirt and trouser because you will get scratches after came out from the jungle trekking.
Which aspects would you include in your future behaviour based on your learning from this experience? Even it was tiring activity but I feel happy that we came out from the jungle safely. There were many different types of nature that found in the jungle that can show to other people. From this experience you will never feel afraid to go into the jungle because you know already what to do like marking onto the tree. Which this will help led you to your way and back to where you start. And also remember to appreciate the nature and not to pollute it. If people want to see big tree why not we just show them at Mentiri site and they don’t have to waste money to go overseas to see big tree.

TREE PLANTING PART 2 (Report on Maintenance)

Date of Experience	10th October 2010 – 7th November 2010
Venue Experience	Around the water tank, at back of UBD campus along road from UBD library to back access to UBD.
Purpose of Experience	A report about tree planting and how to keep the tree grow well.
What was the highlight of the experience? The highlight was to see the condition of my own trees (at hilly) and steps taken to make my trees grow well.
What aspect of the experience caused you the most anxiety? Three times a week I always came to see my trees and watering it except if it is raining. After few days of planting trees, I found all my trees in a good condition except only one tree. Which the bottom leaves of my tree was started to become brownish. I didn’t know why it happened and turns like this. So I asked my friend about this problem. My friend told me that may be the tree is not enough water. So I just give more water to my tree. Luckily after few days later, I found that my tree back to normal. From this experience I found that even the place is raining but we still have to watering it because the water will flow to downstairs and dry faster as it at hilly land.
Was there any aspect of the experience that surprised you? I saw some of my friends give fertilizer on top of their tree soil. They said that this fertilizer will help their own trees to grow well and fertile the soil. So I follow the same way like them by giving fertilizer on top of my tree soil. The Lecturer told us that we have to put coconut leaves around the plant because to protect the tree from harsh weather and avoid the land from dry. As I give the coconut leaves around the tree, I’m surprised that I don’t have to give more water because the land was already damp. As the lecturer said that we have to protect our own tree from direct sunlight. I just use the bushes to protect my plant because the bushes were long enough to cover my trees.
What were the three most important things you learnt from the experience? Always give more water to the tree that planted at the hilly place. Because the place was easily dry than other land. Even the place was always raining; the water will not stay on top but will flow to downstairs. The best way to plant tree is at a level surface. Give more fertilizer on top of the tree because it will help the plant to grow well and the soil will fertile. Use coconut leaves as to avoid the land/soil from dry.
Which aspects would you include in your future behaviour based on your learning from this experience? Even this is my first time planting trees but I was so excited that my tree in a good condition. I have learned many things which are not only from my lecturer but also from my friends. From my experience of caring this plant, I think I can share it to my family and other friends.