My Perhentian Trip 17 July - 21 July 2006
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Shameful
Writing this at the comfort of my room, air-con and cushioned chair, this feels wrong. What, am i doing, writing about a trip that happened more than a week ago? In not my handwritten journal, BUT in an online blog? Sometimes i wonder about myself. So am i a backpacker or not? Yes, shameful i know, but at least, if it makes me and you feel any better, it's now or never. But, rest assured my dear friend who's reading this, I WILL BRING A JOURNAL ALONG WITH ME FOR MY NEXT TRIP.
So what planned to be a big diving trip for the BC divers turned out to be a small affair for me, Kah Yan, NimandSuraj. Yes, they are actually one person. Haha. And while NimandSuraj were frolicking under the Perhentian sun, me and Kah Yan made full use of our trip. We had a mission!
Travelling (and some guilty conscience)
We left Singapore by train, evening of the 17th. An overnight ride to Tanah Merah (no, not the MRT stop after Bedok), but Malaysia. Me and Kah Yan got economic seats while NimandSuraj got the first class beds. I thought our seats were pretty okay, but apparently Kah Yan didn't think so! She, was extremely disturbed by the kid sitting in front of her.
First, he was looking at her eat her murukuk. Okay la Kah Yan, you can't deny that yes while that was irritating, another part of you couldn't stand it because he was like saying, "what are you doing, eating murukuk in the middle of the night? do you know how fattening it is? don't lie, you know!"
But of course, i didn't point that out. We had, afterall another 3-4 days ahead of us and i didn't want her strangling me before we even reached the ferry terminal.
So after one frustrating hour with the kid in front of her, not only looking at her eat but also playing with the window shutter, Kah Yan left for greener pastures namely FIRST CLASS section of the train to look for NimandSuraj. She had a bed there, so i'm guessing she settled well enough. Me? I had two seats to myself, couldn't complain really. Sleep came and went, i had time for snacking, reading, thinking, and stoning. It felt really good.
Hello Perhentian
A cab ride to the terminal, we got lucky. Instead of waiting another hour or 2 for the next boat, they managed to squeeze us into the one about to leave. And boy was it a ride! It was 2 fast, 2 furious! I had bruises on places that i can't see. And according to NimandSuraj, ""if you seat on the motor, a girl can get multiple orgasms". A woman asked me if i've been to the place written across my singlet, and i said no. She said oh, and i asked her where she was from. Apparently, she lives in Paris, and uberville is somewhere near. I said oh, i didn't know that and went on to tell her that we're from Singapore. Moral of the story according to Kah Yan, never anyhow buy clothes. Okay Kah Yan.
We were the last to get down the boat, at Long Beach. had some trouble finding lodging, got a bit worried. But what the heck! We are backpackers aren't we? And in true backpackers fashion, we trudged on! Finally we decided on Matahari. But not before Kah Yan set her eyes on this guy from Sweden (a dive instructor), who became known throughout the trip as "my pros an" in Kah Yan's words. Yes, okay Kah Yan.
First Day (first day, first day, first day)
After settling down, we grabbed lunch and NimandSuraj discovered one of the best thing ever - the chicken mayo sandwiches! i love them! I, unfortunately, had cheeseburger and the beef patty nearly cracked my 2 front teeth. Urgh. After lunch me and Kah Yan scouted for a good dive shops. No prize for guessing which one she was rooting for.
We met up with NimandSuraj after we decided on which one we wanted, and if those of you slow enough not to guess which one we chose, it's the one her 'pros an' was working for. A snorkelling trip exposed us to 2 rather huge black-tipped sharks, a turtle and fish of different speices. Felt good to be back in the sea.
We also docked for a while at a very small beach, and were free to snorkel around for a bit. It's actually a turtle conservation place where cute little turtles were kept till they were older then released, or they would be eaten by bracudas.
Don't see Kah Yan with such a heck care attitude. She's actually darn paranoid! Haha. She got cut while trying to get up the speedboat while out snorkelling and she got really.. scared. She even didn't want to go into the water again because, in her own words, "later shark sniff the blood and come and bite me how?" I didn't know i wanted to cry or laugh.
We went canoeing after. The trip was funny while it lasted, but it wouldn't do it justice if i wrote about it, not even half as amusing. But i'll bet me and Kah Yan wouldn't be forgetting it in a hurry!
What Became Known as the "Bloody Fan"
As the moon surfaced, out came the bottles of Choya (compliments from Kah Yan) and Vodka (NimandSuraj). And soon, people started getting high and tipsy = noise, nonsense talk, card games, noise, nonsense talk, throwing your body onto the floor, noise, nonsense talk). So it all came down to me walking and Kah Yan trudging back to our hut. After a chat we flopped on the bed. Okay Kah Yan flopped, i layed down. And as she was charging her camera battery, thus no fan.
Half an hour later, i remember the time really well, it was 1.30. I asked out of courtesy if she minded if i took off my tee. And she, being high and tipsy, mumbled something VERY uncomprehensible and pointed at the fan. I thought, what the heck! You're so drunk you probably wouldn't know if i switched off your charging battery half an hour earlier! And i changed the plug to on the fan, at the same time tipping it down so we could feel it. And you wouldn't freaking believe what happened next. The bloody fan's cover dropped off! And if there wasn't the mosquito net there, it would have fallen right flat, smack into her face. Haha! You wouldn't believe how loud i cursed and she didn't even know it happen.
but after that it was a peaceful night and we didn't get waken up till my alarm rang for our first dive at Perhentian!
Diving & Lepaking in General
We went for a total of 3 dives, including a night one. The dives were a totally different experience from the ones at Ko Tao. While Ko Tao had much better coral life, the marine life at Perhentian was way better, so much more to see! Our first dive site is called Sugar Wreck. It's actually a sunken ship, about 6 years old. Very 'young', as the instructors called it.
"And, of course, “Sugar Wreck” – a 90m ship carrying sugar cargo
that sank in December 2000. Dive this wreck and you might start
to believe its water actually tastes sweet!" -absolute-scuba.com
On average, the water visibility at Perhentian was good, about 18-20m. We didn't actually swim into the wreck, just around it. the most memorable part for me was this bizzare stop in the dive, and we actually breathed without our oxygen tanks underwater! There's this space in the wreck that actually had air trapped in it, about 5-7 meters underwater. So our instructor Malcom took us one by one into that space and we actually 'surfaced' and breathed air. It was really weird. The photo of the wreck's taken from http://www.nextop.de
And here are some of the marine life we saw on our dives:
And here's pictures of our last dive site called Tokong Laut, as known as the Temple of the Sea:
Who Says being Kiasu is always a bad thing?
On the second night we were armed for battle. Yup, it was a showdown that me and Kah Yan emerged victorious. Our enemy? None other than the small but extremely irritating and pesky mosquitoes! In true Singaporean style, we bought a pack of mosquito coil and burned 5 in one night! Extremely kiasu, but extremely effective. By the next morning, dead mosquitoes were found lying dead in our bathroom. Ahh, the sweetness of victory.
Goodbye Perhentian
And on thursday, it was goodbye Perhentian at abou 4pm. But not before we ate the chicken sandwich for the last time and said our sorrowful goodbyes to the beloved island which became our home for the past 3 days. Last minutes photos were snapped and so did Kah Yan. She was in a VERY whiny mood that day because we decided not to stay a day longer, and Kah Yan being Kah Yan, couldn't stand the thought of coming back to Singapore so fast. So we pretty much left her alone and soon the whiny mist lifted and things went back to normal.
And that pretty much sums up our whole trip! While i'd really like to tell you, dear reader more about the return trip and everything, i think keeping it this way would be better. Travelling really does help a person grow, in ways that you can't just being in Singapore. Some how it makes you more confident as a person, because of the people you meet and start conversations with. And it's a far cry from the luxury we enjoy in Singapore, like the electricity there comes on only at 6pm and cuts off at 10 in the morning.
I'm really bad at endings, and this will probably sound as abrupt as any other thing i wrote. But thing is, a trip no matter how short or long will always leave you with something that you'll always remember. Hope you had fun reading as much as i did writing.
Shameful
Writing this at the comfort of my room, air-con and cushioned chair, this feels wrong. What, am i doing, writing about a trip that happened more than a week ago? In not my handwritten journal, BUT in an online blog? Sometimes i wonder about myself. So am i a backpacker or not? Yes, shameful i know, but at least, if it makes me and you feel any better, it's now or never. But, rest assured my dear friend who's reading this, I WILL BRING A JOURNAL ALONG WITH ME FOR MY NEXT TRIP.
So what planned to be a big diving trip for the BC divers turned out to be a small affair for me, Kah Yan, NimandSuraj. Yes, they are actually one person. Haha. And while NimandSuraj were frolicking under the Perhentian sun, me and Kah Yan made full use of our trip. We had a mission!
Travelling (and some guilty conscience)
We left Singapore by train, evening of the 17th. An overnight ride to Tanah Merah (no, not the MRT stop after Bedok), but Malaysia. Me and Kah Yan got economic seats while NimandSuraj got the first class beds. I thought our seats were pretty okay, but apparently Kah Yan didn't think so! She, was extremely disturbed by the kid sitting in front of her.
First, he was looking at her eat her murukuk. Okay la Kah Yan, you can't deny that yes while that was irritating, another part of you couldn't stand it because he was like saying, "what are you doing, eating murukuk in the middle of the night? do you know how fattening it is? don't lie, you know!"
But of course, i didn't point that out. We had, afterall another 3-4 days ahead of us and i didn't want her strangling me before we even reached the ferry terminal.
So after one frustrating hour with the kid in front of her, not only looking at her eat but also playing with the window shutter, Kah Yan left for greener pastures namely FIRST CLASS section of the train to look for NimandSuraj. She had a bed there, so i'm guessing she settled well enough. Me? I had two seats to myself, couldn't complain really. Sleep came and went, i had time for snacking, reading, thinking, and stoning. It felt really good.
Hello Perhentian
A cab ride to the terminal, we got lucky. Instead of waiting another hour or 2 for the next boat, they managed to squeeze us into the one about to leave. And boy was it a ride! It was 2 fast, 2 furious! I had bruises on places that i can't see. And according to NimandSuraj, ""if you seat on the motor, a girl can get multiple orgasms". A woman asked me if i've been to the place written across my singlet, and i said no. She said oh, and i asked her where she was from. Apparently, she lives in Paris, and uberville is somewhere near. I said oh, i didn't know that and went on to tell her that we're from Singapore. Moral of the story according to Kah Yan, never anyhow buy clothes. Okay Kah Yan.
We were the last to get down the boat, at Long Beach. had some trouble finding lodging, got a bit worried. But what the heck! We are backpackers aren't we? And in true backpackers fashion, we trudged on! Finally we decided on Matahari. But not before Kah Yan set her eyes on this guy from Sweden (a dive instructor), who became known throughout the trip as "my pros an" in Kah Yan's words. Yes, okay Kah Yan.
First Day (first day, first day, first day)
After settling down, we grabbed lunch and NimandSuraj discovered one of the best thing ever - the chicken mayo sandwiches! i love them! I, unfortunately, had cheeseburger and the beef patty nearly cracked my 2 front teeth. Urgh. After lunch me and Kah Yan scouted for a good dive shops. No prize for guessing which one she was rooting for.
We met up with NimandSuraj after we decided on which one we wanted, and if those of you slow enough not to guess which one we chose, it's the one her 'pros an' was working for. A snorkelling trip exposed us to 2 rather huge black-tipped sharks, a turtle and fish of different speices. Felt good to be back in the sea.
We also docked for a while at a very small beach, and were free to snorkel around for a bit. It's actually a turtle conservation place where cute little turtles were kept till they were older then released, or they would be eaten by bracudas.
Don't see Kah Yan with such a heck care attitude. She's actually darn paranoid! Haha. She got cut while trying to get up the speedboat while out snorkelling and she got really.. scared. She even didn't want to go into the water again because, in her own words, "later shark sniff the blood and come and bite me how?" I didn't know i wanted to cry or laugh.
We went canoeing after. The trip was funny while it lasted, but it wouldn't do it justice if i wrote about it, not even half as amusing. But i'll bet me and Kah Yan wouldn't be forgetting it in a hurry!
What Became Known as the "Bloody Fan"
As the moon surfaced, out came the bottles of Choya (compliments from Kah Yan) and Vodka (NimandSuraj). And soon, people started getting high and tipsy = noise, nonsense talk, card games, noise, nonsense talk, throwing your body onto the floor, noise, nonsense talk). So it all came down to me walking and Kah Yan trudging back to our hut. After a chat we flopped on the bed. Okay Kah Yan flopped, i layed down. And as she was charging her camera battery, thus no fan.
Half an hour later, i remember the time really well, it was 1.30. I asked out of courtesy if she minded if i took off my tee. And she, being high and tipsy, mumbled something VERY uncomprehensible and pointed at the fan. I thought, what the heck! You're so drunk you probably wouldn't know if i switched off your charging battery half an hour earlier! And i changed the plug to on the fan, at the same time tipping it down so we could feel it. And you wouldn't freaking believe what happened next. The bloody fan's cover dropped off! And if there wasn't the mosquito net there, it would have fallen right flat, smack into her face. Haha! You wouldn't believe how loud i cursed and she didn't even know it happen.
but after that it was a peaceful night and we didn't get waken up till my alarm rang for our first dive at Perhentian!
Diving & Lepaking in General
We went for a total of 3 dives, including a night one. The dives were a totally different experience from the ones at Ko Tao. While Ko Tao had much better coral life, the marine life at Perhentian was way better, so much more to see! Our first dive site is called Sugar Wreck. It's actually a sunken ship, about 6 years old. Very 'young', as the instructors called it.
"And, of course, “Sugar Wreck” – a 90m ship carrying sugar cargo
that sank in December 2000. Dive this wreck and you might start
to believe its water actually tastes sweet!" -absolute-scuba.com
On average, the water visibility at Perhentian was good, about 18-20m. We didn't actually swim into the wreck, just around it. the most memorable part for me was this bizzare stop in the dive, and we actually breathed without our oxygen tanks underwater! There's this space in the wreck that actually had air trapped in it, about 5-7 meters underwater. So our instructor Malcom took us one by one into that space and we actually 'surfaced' and breathed air. It was really weird. The photo of the wreck's taken from http://www.nextop.de
And here are some of the marine life we saw on our dives:
And here's pictures of our last dive site called Tokong Laut, as known as the Temple of the Sea:
Who Says being Kiasu is always a bad thing?
On the second night we were armed for battle. Yup, it was a showdown that me and Kah Yan emerged victorious. Our enemy? None other than the small but extremely irritating and pesky mosquitoes! In true Singaporean style, we bought a pack of mosquito coil and burned 5 in one night! Extremely kiasu, but extremely effective. By the next morning, dead mosquitoes were found lying dead in our bathroom. Ahh, the sweetness of victory.
Goodbye Perhentian
And on thursday, it was goodbye Perhentian at abou 4pm. But not before we ate the chicken sandwich for the last time and said our sorrowful goodbyes to the beloved island which became our home for the past 3 days. Last minutes photos were snapped and so did Kah Yan. She was in a VERY whiny mood that day because we decided not to stay a day longer, and Kah Yan being Kah Yan, couldn't stand the thought of coming back to Singapore so fast. So we pretty much left her alone and soon the whiny mist lifted and things went back to normal.
And that pretty much sums up our whole trip! While i'd really like to tell you, dear reader more about the return trip and everything, i think keeping it this way would be better. Travelling really does help a person grow, in ways that you can't just being in Singapore. Some how it makes you more confident as a person, because of the people you meet and start conversations with. And it's a far cry from the luxury we enjoy in Singapore, like the electricity there comes on only at 6pm and cuts off at 10 in the morning.
I'm really bad at endings, and this will probably sound as abrupt as any other thing i wrote. But thing is, a trip no matter how short or long will always leave you with something that you'll always remember. Hope you had fun reading as much as i did writing.
posted by Glenn @ 12:17 AM
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