Alright, I was reading STAR on Travel - boating along the Yorkshire canal! and I thought, "hey, I should really try this," then went "waitttttaminute.. I already did!" In fact, I went on two different type of sailing experience, I must say! When I was approached with the idea of sailing or just going anywhere that requires me to travel through water, I just nodded and gave a faint smile and repeatedly told myself (yes, I do talk to myself quite a lot) "Norrie, you'd puke. So don't even think it!!" And the idea of sailing, (or going somewhere via water transportation) was well buried in my head. Well until last month, a rabies infected monkey went insane..I decided that I need to try new things. New environment. New men. More friends. So i took up the challenge, and went for the River Cruise. For the first time!
RIVER SAFARI CRUISE
The Operator of this river cruise is PD Travel & Tours and it starts at Tanjung Agas about half an hour's drive from Port Dickson. We were advised to leave PD early so that we could start moving at 5.00pm as scheduled. Oh well, the famous "ikut jam melayu" is the way of life..so instead of arriving at 4-30, or 4.45, we arrived at well after 5.00pm. Give and take. Just thought that you should know why we're late.. because we had to make two stops untuk alas perut to go.. pisang goreng oooh la la (that's banana fritters, or rather fried banana, uh huh), apam balik, and more food stuff (...... rrrrrrrr I know there are more food waiting at Tanjung Agas.. haha Norrie, Norrie tsk, tsk, tsk) Oh well..so as soon as we reached Tanjung Agas jetty, PDTTs Reps were already waiting for us and taking us straight to our table. And more food..
So as I looked around, I saw a guy and a lady, too well dressed I was beginning to think either I was underdressed or they were lost to a very formal function. Somewhere..! They stayed away from everyone. Table on their own. The guy, wearing a gray colored suit..closed his eyes, trying to get a few minutes of a shut-eye. Then the pretty young lady, was wearing Baju Kurung with a 3 inch-high heels. I thought I should take a walk around, grabbed my life jacket and headed to the public restroom. Horrible, horrible sight! I decided to just hold it in. So I walked towards the jetty. There's a man fishing with 4 rods. I asked what kind of fish can you get here, he replied, short and firm, "Many kind." As if to hurry me off. So i walked on and to my surprise, good God almighty..the stairs (if I could call it one..) was a mere rusty metal thing, hung on to the rest of the jetty. Oh Fish! I thought how is that lady going to go down this thing? As I was trying to figure out the best way to go down the stairs, more and more people have started queuing. Letting the person right behind me to go first, I watched and learned. I thought before I lost my courage to be adventurous, I should really put my foot down onto the first step of the stairs. And I did. Courageously! I thought, "Hey that's not so bad at all! I did it!" And locked myself at the front of the boat. When we started our journey, the skipper instructed one of my friends to balance up the boat. So he did. And we sailed on.
There were trees on both side of the banks. It felt like a really long journey. They say you'd feel that way when you're going somewhere for the first time. You don't know where your journey will finally end. Anyway, slowly I was picking up the vibes. Exciting. I saw a few boats passing by. I saw Talapia cages. We were promised that we'd stop by on the way back. So I waited patiently. Not that I like Talapia. One of the MAIN attractions of the river safari, is Crocodile-watching! Unfortunately for us all, we didn't get to see any. I was enjoying the scenery of trees. Boats. Cages. Ohh, and the feel of water splashing on my face. After an hour or may be less, the boat slowed down to a river bank, where two boats were already docking and people were climbing up another scary looking pieces of wood, as the stairs. I pretended that I was watching the others going around carrying Lokan (something that look like Mussels to me) and Udang Galah. No, that's not enough encouragement for me to climb up the stairs. But I did anyway. I really did give my all!
So, there I was at Taman Lokan Pak Zainal.. Uncle Zainal Lokan Garden.. It really is. It was nicely paved and there's a sort of a BBQ pit. We're encouraged to look for Lokan. In the mud!!! It was serious fun. And the prawns! It was a little scary, apparently where there are prawns, there are crocodiles! Yikesss! I didnt really like the Lokan. It tastes muddy, haha, go figure. But the prawns - marvelous! Sweet and smells delicious. There - for the first time I tasted the Attap fruit. I love Attap fruit.. but not the ones I tried. It tasted kind of sourish or even tasteless. I like the ones in Lai Chee Kang or some special ABC drinks. Sweet and jello-like. So after an hour there, we boarded our boats.
Going back, I went on a different boat. We were the first to leave. My bag and camera and other stuff were with my other friends. Zam was with me. Sailing back, I felt a little sad leaving Taman Lokan Pak Zainal behind. Especially the prawns. Trying to entertain myself, I started talking to the others. Asking where they're from. What they do for a living. Where they're from. Small talk. One of them was my neighbour, Herlee Yusoff from Legend International Water Homes. He was snapping away. I was feeling down that my camera was with my friends on the other boat. My phone was in my bag. My phone was in my bag. Hmmmph! Herlee who was busy snapping pictures of trees and more trees, and probably the water around us.. suddenly made a rather exciting noise that broke the monotony in me. "Whoa..." almost inaudible, as if worried that he might disturb the others. I turned to look at where he's looking with his camera. I thought, "what IS that?" I saw something touching the water, then as if it's a sign to disperse, I knew what I was looking at. A flock of Bangau!!!! or Stork! Or...Crane? They are all the same. Right? I think! When they flew off, I thought that was one of the exciting things I have ever experience in my entire 42 years of living! Yeah well..ONE of the..! It was awesome. Who would've thought that that excites me terribly? And then they did this one more beautiful thing. They soared and circled ( that's a bit of johnny's lyric BIGGER THAN MY BODY) the trees on my right. There were hundreds of them! When they finally landed on the trees, Subhanallah! The best view I have ever seen! Beauuuuutifulll! The tree tops looked like they were covered in snow, just that you sort of see something "flickering" because their heads kept bobbing up and down, turning left and right!
I felt the boat slowing down, then the engine went completely quiet. Everyone was 'Ooooh-ing' away. Spectacular! (Been wanting to use that word, ON SOMETHING, for quite sometime now..) We stayed and watched more and more of them coming home for the night and covering the trees until they were all white with Bangau! I was beyond smitten.. It's 7.10pm The skipper's ready to sail on. We didn't get to see any crocodiles. No Talapia cages. It's getting dark and everyone's gone quiet. Probably tired. Or worried. Then the boat slowed down again. I admit, I was starting to panic! In the middle of nowhere. Tide was rising. And it was really dark.
Then, about a hundred meters ahead of us, there were two boats across each other almost in the middle of the river. Skipper Hussin, must have read our minds. He explained the two boats had a net - across the river, they're fishing! That's why Skipper Hussin had to slow down. Then I worried about if our engine might get caught in the net (norrie you obviously worry too much! About everything..! Thats why la cepat tuaaaa!) Our boat moved really slow until after we have passed the net about less than 2 meters ahead. What a relief! So along the way, we saw Talapia and other fish cages, lighted up. Some even has ASTRO hooked up to kill time in the still and quiet night.
Then I saw the jetty I was so afraid going down to a few hours ago. Suddenly I felt like a hero. I've conquered my fear (yeee haaa)! And then, ( I swear I won't say "and then.." again!) I thought "Hey..where is Skipper Hussin heading to..?" As I looked ahead, I saw a drop-off area ( can I even call "it" a drop-off area? ) I thought, "Yay! I don't have to climb the stairs!" but as we approached the "drop-off area" I thought I heard Norrie saying something in a mumble "Ohh..I so want the other 'drop-off area'.." I just realized at the time that the boat is so high and that there's no way my (short) legs could reach the cemented floor where the boat is supposed to be parked. Docked.
So as I was adjusting my position, to get off the boat, when I looked up, there stood two gentlemen reaching out their hands to help me down. Suddenly I jadi extra berani worrrrr! "Gatai niii", bak kata Afezul..hikhikhik! Selamatttt, Alhamdulillah! But as I was walking away, I heard voices screamed. As I turned to look, our guide Pn Ida fell into the water. Soaking wet. And bruised her foot. Being the tough cookie that she is, she got up on her feet in an instant! Bravo Ida :-)
Walking to Zam's car, I was already thinking about the cranes. And the Talapia cages that we didn't get to see. The fireflies. The crocodiles. God! I'm thinking of coming back! Already!
Well, on the journey back, I evaluated the whole experience from the time I entered Zam's car who was the designated driver for the day, the people I talked to and to the time I got off the boat - now this may sound trivial, but the whole day..the whole trip is a treasured experience. I realized that friendship can get really weird. I'll never ever believe a person has never lied! And more. I'll share, one day.. :-)
For once, well if you're up to it, that is..try something new in life. Put shopping aside for your next trip. Gather your very best of friends, and go for it!
- I made a promise to myself to try really hard to not hurt another human being's feelings but in the course of trying.. if my mission to be a better person somewhat fail..miserably, help me get back on track -
For more information, please contact PDTT:
PD TRAVEL & TOURS SDN BHD
No 42-B, Tingkat 1,
Wisma YBH,Jalan Mahajaya,
PD Centre Point,Peti Surat 51,
71007 Port Dickson,
Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus.
Reservations : 606-6471965/966 Fax : 606-6471963
Website : http://www.kumpulanybh.com/
Videos of Safari 1& 2 is courtesy of Herlee Yusoff :-) Thanks Herleeeeeee
There were trees on both side of the banks. It felt like a really long journey. They say you'd feel that way when you're going somewhere for the first time. You don't know where your journey will finally end. Anyway, slowly I was picking up the vibes. Exciting. I saw a few boats passing by. I saw Talapia cages. We were promised that we'd stop by on the way back. So I waited patiently. Not that I like Talapia. One of the MAIN attractions of the river safari, is Crocodile-watching! Unfortunately for us all, we didn't get to see any. I was enjoying the scenery of trees. Boats. Cages. Ohh, and the feel of water splashing on my face. After an hour or may be less, the boat slowed down to a river bank, where two boats were already docking and people were climbing up another scary looking pieces of wood, as the stairs. I pretended that I was watching the others going around carrying Lokan (something that look like Mussels to me) and Udang Galah. No, that's not enough encouragement for me to climb up the stairs. But I did anyway. I really did give my all!
So, there I was at Taman Lokan Pak Zainal.. Uncle Zainal Lokan Garden.. It really is. It was nicely paved and there's a sort of a BBQ pit. We're encouraged to look for Lokan. In the mud!!! It was serious fun. And the prawns! It was a little scary, apparently where there are prawns, there are crocodiles! Yikesss! I didnt really like the Lokan. It tastes muddy, haha, go figure. But the prawns - marvelous! Sweet and smells delicious. There - for the first time I tasted the Attap fruit. I love Attap fruit.. but not the ones I tried. It tasted kind of sourish or even tasteless. I like the ones in Lai Chee Kang or some special ABC drinks. Sweet and jello-like. So after an hour there, we boarded our boats.
Going back, I went on a different boat. We were the first to leave. My bag and camera and other stuff were with my other friends. Zam was with me. Sailing back, I felt a little sad leaving Taman Lokan Pak Zainal behind. Especially the prawns. Trying to entertain myself, I started talking to the others. Asking where they're from. What they do for a living. Where they're from. Small talk. One of them was my neighbour, Herlee Yusoff from Legend International Water Homes. He was snapping away. I was feeling down that my camera was with my friends on the other boat. My phone was in my bag. My phone was in my bag. Hmmmph! Herlee who was busy snapping pictures of trees and more trees, and probably the water around us.. suddenly made a rather exciting noise that broke the monotony in me. "Whoa..." almost inaudible, as if worried that he might disturb the others. I turned to look at where he's looking with his camera. I thought, "what IS that?" I saw something touching the water, then as if it's a sign to disperse, I knew what I was looking at. A flock of Bangau!!!! or Stork! Or...Crane? They are all the same. Right? I think! When they flew off, I thought that was one of the exciting things I have ever experience in my entire 42 years of living! Yeah well..ONE of the..! It was awesome. Who would've thought that that excites me terribly? And then they did this one more beautiful thing. They soared and circled ( that's a bit of johnny's lyric BIGGER THAN MY BODY) the trees on my right. There were hundreds of them! When they finally landed on the trees, Subhanallah! The best view I have ever seen! Beauuuuutifulll! The tree tops looked like they were covered in snow, just that you sort of see something "flickering" because their heads kept bobbing up and down, turning left and right!
I felt the boat slowing down, then the engine went completely quiet. Everyone was 'Ooooh-ing' away. Spectacular! (Been wanting to use that word, ON SOMETHING, for quite sometime now..) We stayed and watched more and more of them coming home for the night and covering the trees until they were all white with Bangau! I was beyond smitten.. It's 7.10pm The skipper's ready to sail on. We didn't get to see any crocodiles. No Talapia cages. It's getting dark and everyone's gone quiet. Probably tired. Or worried. Then the boat slowed down again. I admit, I was starting to panic! In the middle of nowhere. Tide was rising. And it was really dark.
Then, about a hundred meters ahead of us, there were two boats across each other almost in the middle of the river. Skipper Hussin, must have read our minds. He explained the two boats had a net - across the river, they're fishing! That's why Skipper Hussin had to slow down. Then I worried about if our engine might get caught in the net (norrie you obviously worry too much! About everything..! Thats why la cepat tuaaaa!) Our boat moved really slow until after we have passed the net about less than 2 meters ahead. What a relief! So along the way, we saw Talapia and other fish cages, lighted up. Some even has ASTRO hooked up to kill time in the still and quiet night.
Then I saw the jetty I was so afraid going down to a few hours ago. Suddenly I felt like a hero. I've conquered my fear (yeee haaa)! And then, ( I swear I won't say "and then.." again!) I thought "Hey..where is Skipper Hussin heading to..?" As I looked ahead, I saw a drop-off area ( can I even call "it" a drop-off area? ) I thought, "Yay! I don't have to climb the stairs!" but as we approached the "drop-off area" I thought I heard Norrie saying something in a mumble "Ohh..I so want the other 'drop-off area'.." I just realized at the time that the boat is so high and that there's no way my (short) legs could reach the cemented floor where the boat is supposed to be parked. Docked.
So as I was adjusting my position, to get off the boat, when I looked up, there stood two gentlemen reaching out their hands to help me down. Suddenly I jadi extra berani worrrrr! "Gatai niii", bak kata Afezul..hikhikhik! Selamatttt, Alhamdulillah! But as I was walking away, I heard voices screamed. As I turned to look, our guide Pn Ida fell into the water. Soaking wet. And bruised her foot. Being the tough cookie that she is, she got up on her feet in an instant! Bravo Ida :-)
Walking to Zam's car, I was already thinking about the cranes. And the Talapia cages that we didn't get to see. The fireflies. The crocodiles. God! I'm thinking of coming back! Already!
Well, on the journey back, I evaluated the whole experience from the time I entered Zam's car who was the designated driver for the day, the people I talked to and to the time I got off the boat - now this may sound trivial, but the whole day..the whole trip is a treasured experience. I realized that friendship can get really weird. I'll never ever believe a person has never lied! And more. I'll share, one day.. :-)
For once, well if you're up to it, that is..try something new in life. Put shopping aside for your next trip. Gather your very best of friends, and go for it!
- I made a promise to myself to try really hard to not hurt another human being's feelings but in the course of trying.. if my mission to be a better person somewhat fail..miserably, help me get back on track -
For more information, please contact PDTT:
PD TRAVEL & TOURS SDN BHD
No 42-B, Tingkat 1,
Wisma YBH,Jalan Mahajaya,
PD Centre Point,Peti Surat 51,
71007 Port Dickson,
Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus.
Reservations : 606-6471965/966 Fax : 606-6471963
Website : http://www.kumpulanybh.com/
Videos of Safari 1& 2 is courtesy of Herlee Yusoff :-) Thanks Herleeeeeee
