On July 11th, at a very early hour of the morning, sixteen students and two staff members gathered at Terminal 1, Manchester Airport, ready to embark on a two-week adventure in Malaysia. Despite a delayed departure, we narrowly caught our connecting flight in Dubai and arrived in Malaysia with just minutes to spare. Awaiting us were Andy, our coach, a driver, and a climate that felt like a sauna on overdrive. An hour later, we reached central Kuala Lumpur and settled into the YMCA.

Resisting the urge to crack jokes about hot meals and showers,  Andy guided us on a brief tour of the local area. We then enjoyed lunch at a street-side café, despite our bodies protesting the time difference. After a restful sleep, the following day was dedicated to preparing for our jungle trek—picking up essentials like food, stove gas, and sorting out phone coverage concerns.

Our next adventure took us across the Malay Peninsula to Taman Negara Rompin, where we encountered a dramatic thunderstorm just before arrival. We set up camp, with some students embracing the challenge like seasoned adventurers while others tackled their first camping experience. Our jungle activities began with an evening walk led by our guides, showcasing the area’s diverse, multi-legged wildlife. The next day involved two treks through the heat and humidity, with the infamous leeches adding to the challenge. On our final full day, we navigated a river crossing and relished a refreshing dip in a calm river section.

Moving to Cherating on the east coast, we participated in mangrove restoration and turtle protection projects. Our first evening featured a firefly cruise, guided by an expert who used his torch to communicate with the insects. The following day included a visit to the turtle centre, where some students contributed artistic designs to the building’s walls. Although our beach patrol didn’t reveal any nesting turtles, we were fortunate to witness the release of a hatchling into the sea. Our last full day in Cherating involved a beach clean-up and planting mangrove seedlings to combat erosion.

We then traveled to Malacca on the west coast, where our modern hotel contrasted with the colonial architecture of the old town. We enjoyed the weekend street market on two consecutive nights before heading back to Kuala Lumpur. There, we visited the iconic Petronas Towers, catching the sunset and light show. The next day, we took a train to Batu Caves, a Hindu shrine nestled in natural caves atop 272 steep steps. Our final full day was spent exploring one of Kuala Lumpur’s many malls before packing up for the flight home the next day.

Taking the train to the airport offered a final glimpse of the city before boarding our overnight flight back to Manchester. A big thank you to everyone who made this unforgettable trip possible.

Dr Durell

Teacher of Physics