Recently, I went on an expedition to Borneo with some other ninth graders. Borneo is the third largest island in the World and the largest island in Asia; it is located in Malaysia. The island boasts a unique ecosystem with many animals endemic to the region such as the Borneo Bay Cat or the Proboscis Monkey. I stayed at the DGFC Wildlife Centre near Sabah; the centre was by the river and had many trails leading into the forest. We were housed in a hostel with clean, comfortable beds and warm showers. Electricity ran from six A.M. to eleven P.M. which led to uncomfortable nights in the relentless heat, however the experience made up for any shortcomings experienced.

It was magical. The looming trees, thick foliage obscuring the endless sky. The soft chatter of cicadas in the trees as exotic insects scuttled past. The sensation of sitting on a motorboat as it glides down the river, watching the leaves tremble and branches sway as a silver-haired lemur settles down, gaze curious. Clans of long tailed macaques by the riverside, conversing in the treetops and relaxing in the sunlight. The leering grin of a crocodile; the elusive grace of a civet.

The most unreal experience were the nightwalks in the rainforest. It was an alien world to everything I was familiar with, a world where wildlife ruled and darkness pervaded. A place of miracles and great beauty. The thousands of spiders' eyes shone like diamonds as they twinkled from the ground, the civet's silent movements as its eyes glowed golden. Breathtaking birds with vivid feathers huddled on branches, heads buried in their wings. I had never experienced greater serenity or awe when we turned off our head-torches and embraced the pitch blackness of the forest, marveled at its structure and its inhabitants.

However, the other experiences were equally interesting and meaningful. Cleaning up garbage from the river in the sweltering heat; canopy climbing; identifying microscopic spider webs with talcum powder; tree planting and river surveys. I enjoyed river survey and tree planting the most as the former allowed me to look at some of the animals up front and bond with the staff more while the latter was a very relaxing, methodical experience.

Overall, I learned a lot on this spectacular trip. I discovered how to appreciate nature, the power of it and how encompassing it is. I realized the coexistence of this world and the fragile balance that holds us all together. Most importantly, I got over my fear of spiders and am semi tolerant to bugs now (with the exception of cockroaches, of course).