OB Spirit II

Once we reached the campsite, we quickly unloaded all our stuff from the whaler, and set up our tents. 

Well, as you all can imagine, we were't provided with the comfort of normal tents with zip up door and 360 degree cover. Ours were really simple. step one, tie a rope between two trees. step two, hang several tentsheets next to each other. step 3, peg the sheets. and four, done!! as long as we had something to cover our head from rain and animal, that'd do for the night.

*I'm still waiting for pictures from Faizal who was the only one thoughtful enough to bring camera for camping. Will put some up once I get them :)

We went back to Lumut the next day on the same whaler.

Tired. Exhausted.

That afternoon, we were given some time to try the kayak. We were showed how to rescue friends on capsized kayak and also how to turn it over so that the friends can continue their journey. It was really fun. Rafting up a few kayaks together, removing the water and helping your friends back onto the boat. But it wasn't an easy job, I tell you. Then we were all forced to 'purposely' capsize our kayaks, to give a little taste of the seawater. Haha. Also, not to let us panic on the real day itself.

Day five, it was kayak day!! 

We were all excited that we got ready quite early and left at quarter to nine. I thought we'd have a great time kayaking from Lumut to Pangkor Island (we went around the Island before settling on a beach), until after an hour or so when it just lost its jenesaisquoi, I changed my mind. And, knowing that we'd need to row for the next nine hours, it was disturbing and mind-challenging.

What's worse, we were going against the current!! and it was sunny that morning. The rest of the day was just rowing, rowing, rest, rowing, rest, rowing, rest, rest, rest, felt like dying. But in outbound dictionary, there is no such word as give up. Unless you finish what you started, you're going to be left in the middle of the sea alone. No matter how slow you go, you just have to finish it. They told us, one group arrived at the beach at ten at night a couple of years ago and they had to use torch light. I can't imagine that! With the rough sea condition, and high waves, the last thing you'd want to do is to kayak in the dark.

Fake smile.

Pics credit to En. Syafri

My kayak partner and I were really slow at first, we were even behind the sweepers. For six hours, we were swearing and cursing the kayak. I think it's the kayak why we're going so slow. It's so heavy we have to row so hard to move a little. Look at everyone, they're so fast and they don't seem to be rowing with much effort. We should've taken another kayak laaaa.. But somehow, after lunch, we just got the rhythm correct and managed to go quite fast. At times, we were even ahead of the navigator (the foremost position in the formation). Ha Ha.

We reached the beach at seven, and started delegating tasks as soon as possible. The night was the same as the previous one, except for the two-hour nag about the food. And my group sat by the bonfire that night, and had some bonding session. hehe.

The next morning, we kayaked back to Lumut. And that was the end of our expeditions :)

pic credit to Fida