Doing the necessary...

Captured on a recent camping trip to Pulau Perhentian Besar. Soothes the soul to see the young abide to the needs of their soul. Am proud to claim them as my kids...

Terengganu Candat Sotong

On Sunday, 21st of March 2010, the state tourism sponsored by TM launched the "Bulan Candat Sotong". The highlight was a squid catching competition. 21 teams were there. 10 person to a boat.
Off they go in the overcast and slightly gloomy day - some say the squid will be thriving if it rains...

The happy faces of the competitors full of spirit and predilection of winning. There's the volume, weight, length and various other categories.

Preparing the gear that will surely bring us victory.

As night falls, the swell came higher and longer...


And victory remains but a distant dream. The eight of us from the "maritime" fraternity caught a total of 3 measly squid. The longest of which is 16.2 cm - the judges measured it just to appease the team I presume. We had a good laugh about it...

The teeth gnasher...

Its been a long day, I only get to leave after Maghrib prayers. Am looking forward to the drive home. The solitude and tranquillity as the car glides past the empty country roads lined with palm oil and forested land. Definitely personal quality time used for contemplation and entertaining fantasies. Bliss accosted in the Volvo engulfed in great music and the lonely open road. Except for the few lorries there were not much traffic. The sky was clear, lit with glittering stars and a wedge of moon.

Two hours into the journey, lit a cigarette, roll down the window slightly to let the pungent smoke out of the car and slowed down a bit. The lilting tune of Kenny G setting the mood for a slow drive. It was then that i saw the shapeless thing flying past the car. It was as long and broad as the car itself. Perhaps it was just a shadow but the goose bumps on the back of my neck say otherwise. Dump the cigarette, rolled up the window and start moving faster. Perhaps I could catch up with some other vehicle up front.

It came again, like an aircraft performing flyby in air shows. The faster I drove, the closer it gets as it flies by. A shapeless, black blob playing catch with my car. As the speedo reaches 180, the thing is no more. A relief I thought would come was replaced by dread as I sense there is something on the back seat. The rear view mirror was dark but it was the sound that really gets to me. The sounds of gnashing teeth drowned the tunes of Kenny G. The sound was so close as if it was just inches from my ear. I drove faster while reciting all the holy prayers that I could think of. I did not dare to mute the music for fear that the sound its making will become more audible.

That’s all it does, making that sound. As the car proceeded along the winding bits, I remembered that perhaps all it wants is to make me go faster till I crashed. I slowed down to a more sensible speed and forced myself to ignore it. Finally, lights, Plaza Toll Jabor. Drove through the Smart Tag lane and stopped in the layby. Of course the thing was not there but I was soaked in sweat and shaking....


Based on a recent experience of a friend - not my personal experience, though I do drive on the same route - in a topless car !!!

Sunset at Pulau Kapas

Golden sunsets at Pulau Kapas. My favourite time of day, beautiful light with cool breeze bringing on a sense of peace and calm with a tinge of sadness as the day comes to a close.

Seasick !

I am not one to easily succumb to motion sickness, be it on land, air or sea. However, a recent "mencandat sotong" or squid fishing trip proves my gullibility to this problem. It started out well enough. I was excited as this is a first for me. We left the serene waters of Pulau Kapas under a beautiful sky. Gliding on the moonlit shimmering seas. Smells and sounds of the seas is really soothing and therapeutic. As the occasional spray of salty drops hits our skin we feel refreshed. Until we hit open waters and the boats starts to move in rhythm with the swells. It starts to roll and pitch. A small boat trying to keep up with the long slow swell. It was just swells. It wasn't even breaking. Yet the motion of the boat, which I am told later is common because of its stiff characteristic. It rolls one way and before you could sway with it, jerks the opposite way. Salty sprays turns to salty showers as the bow ploughs into the sea.

It was fun. Reminded me of those times on real ships going through Bay of Biscay. Even then I rarely if ever got seasick.

My seasickness starts when nature calls. Once in the bathroom, the putrid smell in an enclosed space just drove my senses over the edge. It forced me to remember what seasick felt like. It was horrible. I ended up lying on a bench, holding onto the railings and just let the boat rock me however it wanted to. The boys had fun squid fishing while I was silently praying for them to have had enough and head back back to the steady shores. So, now I can really appreciate what Jag felt like when we were in Tioman. Lets do it again Jag.

Viet Nam War Museum

A place worth visiting if only to see the atrocities of war. Next to a quote "every humans right to freedom bla bla bla" hangs a picture of two boys by a padi field, the elder protecting the younger. Both shot to death. A group of women and children with horrified looks on their faces just before being killed en-masse. Naked men bound by their feet and dragged to death by the war machines. I supposed when they say "human" it means human like them not human like us - if that term could be used to describe "us".

I shudder to think that this may be happening again today...




A picture is really worth more than a thousand words.

Gunung Nuang

Some friendlies from Gunung Nuang. A place to go for a peaceful trek, sweat and switch off. Swarms of insects, butterflies, moths, bees and many more. Just wear comfy shoes and bring enough water unless you are game for the cool waters of the mountain stream.

From the car park, where you are required to register and pay a RM1 fee to the first waterfall area would be about 2 hours [my pace - you might be faster], from there the trail turns to single track water ruts made up of rocky and knobbly roots. It'll be another 4 hours perhaps to reach the peak. For those going for the first time it is advisable to go with someone who is familiar with the place.

What's in a name ?

Mangkuk Dara - Virgin Bowl, what do you make of that ? Food is not bad but a tad pricey for the place.

Cherating

I was here decades ago with a close buddy of mine. A stopover after a gruelling tour of Phuket and Haadyai. Those were the times. Recently, an opportunity presented itself which brought me back. I thought a chalet will cost about RM30/40 but one with air conditioning now cost RM80. Basic and was not very well maintained.

The beach is still the same though not as pristine as I remembered it. A bit more debris strewn about. Though the most disturbing is the presence of dogs. I have nothing against dogs or any other animals for that matter, but when they roam around everywhere its a bit disconcerting. Especially those moving in packs.


Quaint scene in the morning of local fisherman tending to their nets.

Amazingly, the place seems to have an active surfer community. All in all it was a pleasant stay but unlike decades ago, I don't think I would rush there again anytime soon.

Back to basics

Back to the things I know a bit of, ships and the sea. Photos taken on a rather hazy, moody afternoon which gave the rather cold bluish cast.

Penang Feri

NT

MyStream 2008

The clan had a great time at Legend Water Chalet, Port Dickson. About two dozen families and their cars were involved. The organisers did a great service. From the hotel arrangement to the barbeque and best of all the entertainment. No need to spend on guest artist, resident entertainers were equally great if not better.

We had singers with golden voices and natural born comedians. Mix that with camaraderie and unpretentious kinship, it made for a blast of a time for everyone.

Thank you guys.

Solitude

Solitude and tranquility....