CoocooCaChooo, Grab Shell Dude

Heh do you remember Crush the Turtle from the movie Finding Nemo???

Well I had a the most wonderful thing happen to me, I got to release a baby turtle into the wild.

The staff at the Sheraton Hotel in Lombok have a Turtle Hatchery where they breed turtles. In order to preserve these beautiful creatures they go out to the markets and buy turtle eggs from the fisherman and bring them back to the hatchery where after about two months they are about ready to be set free.

Luckily they involve their hotel guests in this exciting event so I got to hold and set free my very own Crush. Its amazing how they know what to do when the wave takes them into the sea. A few of them were a little nervous and after numerous attempts they had to be put back in the hatchery as they were still just to small. Prehaps they will be ready in a week or two.

It was really tough to keep the tears back as they head out into the big ocean. I really hope they live to be 100 years old. Good luck dudes!!!