The 2015 volunteer trip to Con Dao National Park of Vung Tau province was the best experience I have had. Despite having worked for an academic science institute for years, I had never seen a sea turtle in its natural habitat before; not to mention that it was such a rare chance to witness some very special moments like mother sea turtles laying eggs, and baby turtles hatching and crawling towards the sea. That was epic.

I will never forget how it felt touching the rear leg of a mother sea turtle covering her newborn eggs with sand. I was expecting it to be rough to the touch, but it actually felt quite soft and warm, and the turtle’s legs were so strong and skillful when it came time to digging out their nests. I felt like I was touching the hand of a dedicated mother who sacrificed everything for her offspring. When it came time for the young turtles to hatch out from their eggs, they vigorously kicked the eggshells and in no time hundreds of them were in a fascinating race towards the ocean. I saw some baby turtles with inborn defects such as crooked shells, unbalanced legs, and some were simply too weak to swim as far and as fast as their siblings.

It was hard to explain my mixed feelings at that scene. On one hand I hoped that they would all survive and grow to full-sized turtles, but deep down I knew that as soon as they reached the water surface only a few would make it, or even none.

I sometimes still yearn for the scent of the fresh sea breeze, sunlight and the little cozy kitchen in Bay Canh Island. The landscape was simply stunning, and I always wonder how much longer it will remain like that. The time I spent there was like living another life, far away from the bustling city, with chaotic traffic and a busy job.

In this remote paradise there was only beautiful nature with turquoise water, gleaming white sand, mild sunlight and colorful coral reef that could be seen with the naked eye through the clear water. There were nights when our team sat together, looking at the sky full of twinkling stars and trying to spot shooting stars that appeared from time to time. There were rocks, sandy beaches and a long coast with bleached coral all lying under the intense beams of the sun and mangrove forests which all appeared as natural and mesmerizing as I had imagined them to be.

During this trip I made new friends with other volunteers and forest rangers from different provinces. We built up great friendships in just over a week of working with each other. I met some of the most unique and loveable people on Earth with strong personalities. Everyone had their own stories and backgrounds but we all shared a great love for nature. We met in a place of open wilderness where there were no barriers, both literally and figuratively. I believe anyone who joins a sea turtle volunteer trip will make great friends like we did. Even after we’ve come back to the city to continue our jobs and move forward with our own lives, we will still be like a happy volunteer family if we have the chance to meet again.

In the summer of 2015 I joined the volunteer program with an unsettled mind full of many questions about what the nest steps in my life would be. The trip and the chance to meet new people who were genuine and open, have helped me answer some of these questions. My life has really changed after being a sea turtle volunteer at Con Dao National Park. I realized I had lived a life without being myself. The trip reminded me about a previous time when I wanted to travel around, to simply enjoy nature, to reach mountains and seas, to see genuine smiles, to meet working folks with their rough feet and hand covered in dirt, to cherish the little things or to listen to stories from other people. With all my previous jobs and experiences, I have gradually come to realize that I should start to live life the way I have always wanted to.

Since my return to the city I have made plans for my “self- liberation”. I have become both more realistic and romantic, with a stronger desire for adventure. I want to live my dream. I decided to turn down a big opportunity to become a research student at Oxford University so that I could take up a more challenging job: to find peace and happiness in enjoying a beautiful and quiet place. I have been taking steps towards achieving that goal. Now I am working overseas so I can’t do as much on my post- communication activities as the other team members but I have become a person who truly cherishes nature and life. What I can do to protect turtles is to share my experience with my friends and family and to protect the environment in every way I can. The trip to Bay Canh – Con Dao was definitely a life-changing experience that has given me great motivation on my way to becoming myself.

Story from Nguyen Duc Long – an IUCN volunteer in Con Dao in 2015