Seri Buat Expedition (South)

DAY 1

preparing to push off from Tanjong Leman, 25.10.08

The mini 3-day expedition started only at 6pm. It was to be a 12km paddle, and we should reach there around 8pm. Well this time round, Eric proclaimed himself the curse of the pre-expedition (CPE), as he had to pull out an hour before departure because of vertigo. Get well Eric!

I was certainly pushing for an early start, running around like a mother hen getting gears and kayaks ready. To add to my anxiety, David and Soo were on their first overseas paddle and are

 just 'paddle converts' this year. 

But David and Soo were relaxed about it. They were even excited about paddling at night.

Before we set off, David press a button on something hanging from his neck. Then, music blared. We pushed off.

At 10pm, we stepped onshore Sibu Tengah, after receiving directions from some fishing folks the location of our resort. 

"You can't stay here!", the security replied to our request to camp on the beach. It was the wrong resort, and we were all tired and hungry.

At 10.30pm, we paddled into the darkness once more, now aided by howling winds and surging waves. 

Midnight. Finally found our resort! 

DAY 2

Snorkeling among the beautiful waters of Pulau Tinggi, southeastern shores. 26.10.08

I guessed we were awed by last night's paddle, for today we started only at 11am for a 30km paddle around Pulau Tinggi. For sure night paddling needed. There were some very nice corals at the southeastern side of the island. We were supposed to have lunch at a resort but found out later that we had passed it on our way to snorkel. 

An extinct volcano sits on Pulau Tinggi, and it was beautiful paddling around it. It was rocky on the western shores, but there were numerous hidden beaches among the splitting rocks for a private camping site. 

We did not eat anything until 7pm, when we stepped onshore at the small Tinggel fishing place. The host was very hospitable and gave us a big meal, all for RM35, set on a table with unobstructed view of the jetty and a breathtaking sunset.

David and Soo getting onto the water, after a hearty meal at Pulau Tinggi, 26.10.08

Closed to 8pm, we switched on our lights and headed back to P. Sibu. This time I had the exact GPS location, and the paddle was leisurely and relaxing. I was leading while David and Soo were sharing time together with his loud music playing (this time beatles' songs and not elevator music!!). 

The clouds parted briefly sometimes for glimpses of the bright stars, while the kayak cruised in a luminescent stream. There are guiding lights if you know where to look. I started singing and wished.

DAY 3

Our cheap no-service A-frame backpackers' huts @ Sea Gypsy Resort, Pulau Sibu.

More bad service at the Sea Gypsy Resort, when they chased us out of the restaurant to the bar (we were staying at the backpackers' huts, restaurant tables only for deluxe bungalows). Again, no rice as 'they did not cooked it last night'. And no afternoon ferry to mainland, as all were fully booked. Please paddle back, they told us!

What if we don't have kayaks? Swim?

So we did a leisurely paddle back to Tanjong Leman, booked a chalet, cleaned up the kayaks, and washed ourselves. Again we had lunch at 6pm, I am getting used to this one meal a day thing.