Last week, our team gathered together for the very first time. The atmosphere felt exactly like Tết (our biggest holiday of the year, FYI) in the middle of August!

It was a mix of fun and hard work, where “gathering” meant hardcore day-and-night training, endless fieldwork, filming projects, and administrative tasks. Everyone’s schedule was packed from early morning until late at night, and it went on like that for over a week. Yet no one showed a hint of tiredness! I mean, how could they, when their best buddies had flown across the country to join them in birding, spotlighting, herping, you name it.

Of course, no hard work is complete without some fun: parties! For the first time, we came closer in person, not just as guides or colleagues, but as friends, willing to show our goofiest, silliest sides when together. Countless stories unfolded, emotions bonded us, and a sense of home lingered in the air. No one said it, but we all knew: we had come to the right place and found the right people.

Here are some of our favourite moments!

You can also watch the recap video here!