Sumatra
“I have not been the same since.”
After spending six weeks in Vietnam, not having been there for 37 years and emotions running wild, I knew I would need a place to decompress before returning to the United States. Sumatra was a childhood dream, not due the country but for what was there — Orangutans. I was not disappointed with my decision.
The first morning of exploration included a trip in a dugout canoe across a swift moving crystal-clear rain forest stream. Once to the other side my guide educated me about Orangutans and what foods are eatable as we forged through the forest. Sumatran Orangutans have predators so they are arboreal and rarely travel on the rain forest floor.
As the saying goes — save the best for last. I had a life changing experience. As we approached the canoe, right before me was a mom and her months old baby on the ground. Without hesitation I laid on the rain forest floor, everything is alive, and began photographing them. Mom was curious about who and what I was about. She gathered her baby and rolled down to me placing her child a foot from me. Mom gazed at me reaching out with her hand silently inviting me to do the same. As I move my hand forward, she cradled it, running her fingers the length of mine. Then turning my hand over to examine the back all while smiling at me.
This went on for what seemed an eternity. To be honest, I have not been the same since.
