Azmi & Juri keeping dry in the downpour!

Labels: General, Kayaking

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We didn't get to see that many dolphins (about 2 or 3 actually!) but we manage to see this spectacular sunset before we adjourn to Buntal Fishing Village for some seafood dinner.Here's wishing you all a spectacular and productive week ahead.

Labels: Kayaking, Kuching Skies, Photography

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I had cunningly cleverly arranged to have all my meetings and site visit done in one day so that I can have a free day in Bintulu on the next day – to do some kayaking at the Similajau National Park which was about 45 minutes drive from the town center.

I had earlier contemplated kayaking the coastline from town but it somehow does not look interesting or inspiring; and the Kemena River which flows beside Bintulu was worst as it was heavily silted from the logging upstream with the distressing sights of polluting (both air and water) sawmills along the riverbanks. A few people make their fortunes while the rest of us bear and pay for the environmental costs. That's just the way it is or are things going to get better? I wonder as I 'paddled' this and other such issues since a long while back and still none the wiser for it ...

Luckily Similajau National Park was still relatively unspoilt(?) where the sandflies, mosquitos and the crocodiles still have free rein and I was lucky that Kevin Choo was kind enough to drop me off there early in the morning as he beat a quick retreat back to town from the sandflies and mosquitos. He would return later in the afternoon to pick me up and send me to the airport. I am so grateful to have met Kevin who together with the park workers were fascinated to watch me set up my folding kayak by the sandy banks of Sungai Likau.

The park workers must be thinking that the skin of the kayak must be crocs resistant or that I can’t read as they watched incredulously from the suspension bridge as paddled upstream Sungai Likau! Sg Likau was not particularly interesting (nor were the water clean or clear) and after more than half an hour of paddling (with not a single crocodile in sight) and with the river narrowing and passage partially blocked by rocky outcrop I decided to turn around and head for the sea.

When I reached the mouth of river I could see big swells and small white caps along the coastline but there was a clear passage where the river meets the South China Sea. As I paddled out to sea the swells gets bigger and shorter in frequency. I had originally intended to head out to Turtle Beach I but when I paddled past Batu Mandi after about half and hour or so; all I could see was the sky and the swells! Fat chance of the possibility of sighting of turtles or dolphins as the park warden at the information center had told me. So I decided to turn back but had to time my turn around carefully in between the swells in order not to get ‘side-swiped’ by the now increasing swells. Good thing I did not had a heavy breakfast that morning!

It was a easy paddle back as the folding kayak rides the swells well floating right on top giving me a thrilling roller-coaster ride back to the beach. As I still had time before Kevin returns to pick me up, I decided to enjoy this roller-coaster ride and paddled out to sea and let the swells take me back again! See, the sea can also be swelling good fun. Needless to say I slept well when I was back in Kuching later that evening with the rolling sensations of the swells lulling me to a deep relaxing sleep.

Labels: Explorations, Kayaking

Stumble It!

If they can do so much with only a paltry 32 numbers of rivers – imagine what we can do with the literally hundreds if not thousands of river we have in Sarawak alone! But sadly the authorities who are supposed to manage our rivers and water bodies are only paying lip-service in carrying out their duties much less having any big dreams or the visions to create such a wonderful environment for living, recreation and sports. As a Malaysian I feel anger, shame, sadness and frustrations with our ‘elegant silence’ in not getting anything done and I sense most of us are losing heart about really moving ahead towards Vision 2020. I supposed we would move ahead faster and definitely in great comforts cosseted in private yacht and jet plane. *sigh* Do you know that you cannot even get hold of a river map of Kuching and surrounding environs from our river board? Pathetic in the most positive light, but in the light of truth; truly sad and depressing and I feel a sense of dread for the younger generation who has to inherit such malaise and incompetence from this generation.

And at the speed that the Singapore government can usually get things done unlike tak-boleh-land (where despite claims to the contrary - corruption still rules); it wouldn’t be too long before they’ll realized the vision of Singapore being a land of gardens and water. Then I might emigrate to live and retire in kiasu-land. I can’t believe that I’m actually saying this! But the vision is really so enticing. I’ll envy Huey then as he is envying me now living in the “land of rivers”- where the rivers are under appreciated as well as under taken care of. Meanwhile I'll just drool me a river ...

All images are taken from PUB-ABC Water Bodies Plan:
www.pub-abc.com.sg

Labels: General, Kayaking

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While there are some people who take our trips totally unprepared, there are others who come fully geared up and equipped as if we are embarking on a multi-days expedition instead of a 3 hours trip! And they are prepared for any Class of rapids we may encounter along the way as can be seen from the dry case(s) they bring along to keep their 'personal effects' dry. *sigh*

Labels: Kayaking

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On Friday night, my wife ‘dragged’ me to attend this ‘sharing presentation’ from her friends in Singapore together with their ‘upline’ from Perth at De Summit on this wonderful health supplements from the US. Though not exactly new to ‘Multilevel Network Marketing’ having joined a couple over the years (who hasn’t in Malaysia, the world’s MLM ‘dumping grounds’, must be living in a hole): I was nonetheless pleasantly surprised to learn that USANA supplements had been independently tested to be the ‘best’ in the world. If that’s true, then it’s a no-brainer as I currently take supplements (Vitamin C, B Complex, Vitamin E, Cal-Mag0 and I would only want to take the best. So if I do sign up; then those of you who may want to take supplements can then contact me and be my ‘down-lines’ thereby making me a ‘diamond’ in a couple of years with 5-figure passive income … and so the ‘story’ goes.

On Saturday, Azmi had to take emergency leave to help his dad sort out some land matters problems in Sibu leaving me to take the Jones’s from the UK for some rainforest kayaking in Borneo Highland. Fortunately Lars, a Norwegian, whom I had recently met with his local wife who hails from Kg Semadang was able to help out to be my ‘shuttle’ driver. But unfortunately my car battery died on me in the morning (I also had battery problems with my camera. Coincidence?) I had to ‘jumper lead’ start my car to get a new battery delaying the trip by over an hour. Fortunately the Jones were understanding and didn’t mind the delay. (Actually one of them had a bit too much to drink the night before and was glad for the extra rest!) I had bad luck with the car battery but wonderful luck with the weather with clear blue skies after a rainy week. The Jones siblings absolutely love the kayaking trip and would be telling the whole wide world (or rather the Lonely Planet) about their ‘fantastic’ experience and what a wonderful guide I am … blah blah blah! They labeled themselves as ‘our most satisfied customer’ and wanted to sign our Guest Book, which unfortunately we do not have and which I will now get! They were particularly impressed that this country boy can speak the engrish as well as them! Wait till they read my blog! Ho ho ho!

I was organizing a re-union dinner on Saturday night for one of our schoolmate whom we had not met in over 30 years! There were no phone signals in the Borneo Highlands and when we reached the 13^th mile, a flood of sms came in! The original restaurant that I booked screwed up - they have no table for us as they are overbooked and want to tuck us in one corner with a big birthday celebration; so I had to hurriedly find another place for us to meet and to inform everyone else accordingly. *sigh* We ended up in Jambu Restaurant which everyone later agreed was a good choice for the ambience and food.

I do not know why I’m always the de-facto organizer for these dinners but I’ve made an interesting observation when I send out invites first by email, then sms and when I still do not get the courtesy of a reply, I would then call the person up personally. More often than not I would get the following disheartening replies:-

• Too tired or ‘sian’ to go out lah! TV or vegetating at home is preferable to re-acquainting old friendship.
• Too short notice. I wonder how much notice I should give. Surely we are not so super busy high flying executives that one or two weeks notice are required?
• Too busy and from the tone of their voice - don’t bother to ask me what I’m busy with …
• Sorry but the weekends and evenings are ‘family time’. Hello? You mean I do NOT spend time with my family? (Actually my wife and kids are sometimes glad that I'm out of the house!)
  

Unfortunately most people are too caught up in their own self-importance and this ‘me-first’ mentality rules their life. But generally I just politely ignore them - to me these people are just being old. But never mind.

I got home from dinner and my wife wanted to know if I’m able to take the Australian couple from perth’s three young children kayaking. So I called Bev late and mercifully she was able to help as Azmi (who was supposed to be back on Saturday evening) who I learned later had car problems and was stuck in Sibu.

So on Sunday morning I went to pick up Stephanie 5, Sarah 12 and Keith 14 with Stephanie talking non-stop from then till we (gratefully) returned them to their parents! We decided to throw in a surprise for them at the end of the trip – where we would take-out. The trip is actually a reccee as we have a big group booking on Monday (more on this when I find the time). We put-in at Krokong with Bev taking the 2 girls and Keith with me. Stephanie, though noisy, asked the most penetrating questions and we delight in her company. We finally reached the take-out after collecting some unique looking pebbles along the way. The take-out was at the “Mini Wild Animal Farm” where we were met by an ostrich which had somehow escaped from the enclosure. I had to use my paddle to shoo it away! The kids and Bev had a wonderful time looking at the animals which included goats, wild pigs, deers, camels, eagles, horses, etc while I sorted out the kayaking gears. After a nice lunch we drove back to Kuching to drop off the children with Stephanie keeping us amused with her incessant questioning!

I had ordered a few more kayaks but they had not arrived in time; so I had to borrow/rent kayaks from my fellow kayakers. So after a quick dinner I had to go and pick up the kayaks for the big trip on Monday all the time wondering if Azmi would be back in time to help me to handle this group. As a contingency I called up my old kayaker friend Ivy to see if she would be able to help – and she could! Yipee. And more of this story on my next post. Now I’ll see if I can sort out the photos to go with this post … failing which this shall be one of my rare ‘no-photo’ posts. Hmmm

Labels: General, Kayaking, Life, Rantings

Stumble It!

I choose to kayak alone at the beginning of each year to self-examine, reflect on and to remind myself to always seek the things that makes life alive, meaningful and significant. How else is it to live but this; or perhaps someone can be kind enough to share with me their wisdom and insight(s) on this our journey through this life.This means exposing myself to things or situations that are or maybe risky and painful but I believe that the only way to extend one's limits is to exceed them. Otherwise we would have a limiting life with limited understanding and experiences. That would be a waste.

And there is beauty in the most mundane and dire; if only we open our eyes and hearts to them. I take decent enough pretty pictures not because I have the best camera nor am I a better photographer but rather I think, because I'm a better and more alert observer than most; and I 'see' with my heart. In otherwords I 'feel' as well as see. I know that to the uninitiated, I really sound corny but how do you explain the difference in the aesthetics of the same 'mundane' subjects of water, trees and skies? Perhaps certain things can only be understood not explained.

I think it is however a greater risk to give up - and grow old. I know as a lot of much 'younger' people or people my age, are much 'older' than me are and that; frankly, frightens me! Old in thoughts, enthusiasm, fun, joy, learning and acceptance of new ideas and concepts; shunning rather than embracing differences, life and humanity. To 'die' before one even begin to 'live'; that I frequently wonder who really is the 'uncle'. *sigh*

Labels: Kayaking, Life, Rantings

Stumble It!

So on Monday morning the three of us excitedly headed to Kuala Salak; in anticipation of both.

The weather was fine but the tide time was not exactly ideal for dolphins spotting but I was just happy to be out on the waters in a double kayak. They are leaving back for Brunei tomorrow, so its today or until their next visit to Kuching. CJ sat in the middle of the 'Perception Synchro' kayak in between me and his dad.

The sea was calm and the weather was perfect and pretty soon CJ was enjoying the water and being out in the quiet bay with only the fishermen and us about. We didn't spot any dolphins and after a while we decided to check out the fishermen's catch for the day.

And the friendly fishermen were more than happy to show us their catch so far. We had brought along a cooler box on the chance that we could buy some fresh prawns back but it was still early in the day for much of a catch. CJ was fascinated with but at the same time frightened by the strange looking but delicious tasting 'udang lipan'. The taste is closer to lobster than the name 'udang' (prawn in malay) would suggest. It's a type of crayfish I think.

After about an hour and still not sighting any dolphins , my brother-in-law complained that it was too hot (for me it was just nice and warm, not to mention peaceful) and so we decided to head back.

Although CJ didn’t get to see the dolphins he was quite happy that he got to see strange sea creatures and to go kayaking with unker as he rocked the kayak from side to side and dragging his feet in the waters as we paddled back to shore!

Since he was so happy already I didn't have the heart to tell him that the dolphins were probably frightened away (temporarily only I hoped) by the activities of the sand dredgers and barges out at the mouth of the river. When would we humans ever learn to respect and care for the natural environment and the inhabitants in them? Sadly it could be never; with our greed and when we define our existence with ego, material possessions and too little of anything that is of true value and meaning. I pray that CJ's generation would be a better one than ours now is, in this regards.

Labels: Kayaking, Kuching Kayaking, Kuching Skies, Life, Rantings

Stumble It!

I was supposed to have joined Huey and JB on an overseas kayaking expedition trip in October but unfortunately I couldn't make it. And now of course I really wished I could have been with them ... *sigh*

Anyway, this is Huey's lively account of their epic 3-day 170km paddle down the River Kwai Noi, and ending at the historic death railway bridge. It's a wonderful read with lots of absolutely stunning photographs; some of which I'd taken the liberty to post here. You would enjoy reading it this weekend and wishing that your life could also have been just as adventurous - but actually of course, you could! Wishing you a wonderful and adventurous weekend!

Labels: Kayaking

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