🐢 Day 2 – Guardians of the Island: A Day with Turtles, Tidepools & Tenacity
The second day on Satang Besar began long before sunrise.
At 5:30 a.m., while the island was still cloaked in silence, I was gently woken by the ranger’s voice. Two turtles had come ashore during the night. Still groggy, I grabbed my flashlight—and my two curious kids—and made our way to the beach.
There they were.
Two majestic sea turtles, illuminated by the soft beam of torchlight, performing one of nature’s oldest rituals—laying their eggs. My wife, daughter, and son watched in silent reverence, witnessing a moment that no documentary could ever replicate. As the sun began to rise, we saw the turtles slowly crawl back to the sea, their paths marked by deep tracks in the sand.
And just like that, they were gone. But the morning wonder wasn’t over yet.
Around 7:30 a.m., the ranger returned to collect the eggs. He gently uncovered the nest and began counting—over 50 little turtle eggs! That’s when I nudged my kids and said, “Come on, time to help.” One by one, my son and daughter carefully lifted the eggs and placed them into a bucket. They were so focused, you’d think they were handling dragon eggs from a fantasy movie!
It was a proud parent moment. Watching them assist in real conservation work, right there with sandy fingers and serious expressions—it was more than just a holiday activity. It was a hands-on biology lesson, a lesson in empathy, and a memory they’ll carry for life.
🏝️ Tidepool Explorers and Saltwater Splashes
After a quick breakfast, we headed out for a morning of discovery. The tide was low, revealing a hidden world of rocky outcrops, tidepools, and little crabs scuttling between coral chunks. The kids transformed into island explorers—climbing, splashing, and pointing at every sea creature they could spot.
Later, we returned to our favourite pastime: swimming in crystal-clear water. The beach belonged to us alone. It was peaceful, calm... until the sandflies returned for Round Two—this time targeting my back like heat-seeking missiles. I’ll admit, I lost that battle.
But even the bites couldn’t dampen the joy of watching my children laugh in the waves, or the way the afternoon sun turned the ocean into shimmering glass.
♻️ Little Hands, Big Impact: Beach Cleanup Mission
After lunch, while walking along the shoreline, we noticed bits of plastic tangled in the driftwood and buried in the sand. Without hesitation, my two kids sprang into action.
We began a spontaneous beach cleanup, picking up every plastic wrapper, bottle cap, and piece of litter we could find. It wasn’t part of any organised activity—it was just a shared moment of purpose. Small hands reaching for big change.
My daughter collected bottle caps like treasures; my son proudly held up each new item like a victory. It was heartwarming to see them care, to see that even at their young age, they understood the importance of keeping the island clean—not just for us, but for the turtles too.
We left that beach with lighter hearts and a heavier bag of trash.
🦎 Afternoon Calm, Island Quiet
As the heat of midday set in, we retreated to our simple wooden hut—a modest shelter with just beds and a ceiling fan. Caretaker Letty, ever so kind, offered us chilled drinks and stories about her decades on the island.
The kids took a short nap while my wife and I watched the breeze dance through the coconut trees. There was no Wi-Fi, no distractions—just time. And that, I realised, was the real luxury of this island.
🌙 Nightfall with Heroes in Headlamps
That night, I had the privilege of joining two park rangers as they carried out conservation work under a blanket of stars. It wasn’t glamorous—it was sweaty, sandy, and swarming with sandflies—but it was inspiring beyond words.
We followed the tracks of another nesting turtle. Once she laid her eggs and began to cover the nest, the rangers sprang into action with practiced precision:
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They cleared barnacles from her shell.
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Measured her length and width.
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Attached metal tags to both flippers—each with a serial number for tracking.
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Dug up and carefully relocated the eggs to a protected hatchery site.
They moved quickly and methodically—despite the relentless sandfly bites. Not once did they flinch or complain. Their focus was absolute. Their mission, clear.
I was in awe.
It wasn’t just data collection. It was legacy work. They were giving the next generation of sea turtles a better chance at survival. And I got to be a small part of that story.
📝 Reflection
As I rinsed off the sand and salt under a bucket of collected rainwater, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. Day 2 wasn’t just another day on a beach. It was a lesson in dedication, in wonder, and in responsibility—from the rangers, and from my own children.
They came here for fun and sun—but left with something far more lasting: a connection to the Earth.
And that night, as the waves hummed their lullaby and the stars blinked above, we slept with hearts full of memories and mosquito bites.
🔖Read the Full Stoy here 🌐
2.Protecting Paradise: Our Family’s Turtle-Friendly Trip to Satang Besar Island Day 2 - Post 2 of 4
3.Protecting Paradise: Our Family’s Turtle-Friendly Trip to Satang Besar Island Day 3 - Post 3 of 4
4.Protecting Paradise: Our Family’s Turtle-Friendly Trip to Satang Besar Island - Accomodation - Sandflies - Post 4 of 4
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