Tioman has always been an enigma to me. I've been there around 5 times and it still gives me warped/bizarre adventure. This time round, it's no different.
Day 1 (08-08-2009 @ 0300hrs)
A-Go-Go, JLo, the sister and I gathered at a bus stop near Kranji MRT and waited for the coach. We were surrounded by Malay old folks and their families. It felt like the Haj season was here. It was funny to see them striking a conversation with A-Go-Go and JLo. Just because they both looked like a Malay, all the pakciks and makciks assumed they were one. Hah.
We cleared the customs with no glitch and we finally reached Tanjong Gemok ferry terminal at about 0700hrs. The ferry came about 30 minutes later and we were all whisked across the South China Sea to Tioman. Our resort was the Idaman Beach Resort and it was located at Kampong Genting, a village which I had come to be familiar with. However, this resort was at the far end of the village and so, we had quite a walk.
We settled down and fell asleep. At 1500hrs, we woke up and headed to the main "town" area and ate kampong food. Brought the rest to the other end of the coast so that they could 'take snap'. For I was a jaded cow, I let them do their camwhoring while I just ... spaced out.
We headed back home, changed to our wet attire and dove into the sea which was just in front of our room (which looked just like a container by the way). When evening loomed near, we went to the other side to catch a better view of the sunset. We stumbled back quickly after that in order to catch our dinner back at the resort at 2000hrs.
Dinner was all right. The Malay folks made everything so boisterous and festive-like. Haha, typical Malay get-together feeling I suppose. Very holistic and original village vibe. We walked to the town area again where the rest had food (dinner was too spicy for the Filipinas). After that, hahahaha, I took them to see Coco at his bar and we got shisha and Coco Special among others.
At midnight, we were the last ones to leave. Coco, who had since became a friend, decided to dance for us (to 'Livin La Vida Loca') and I was seriously traumatised.
By the way, CY2, Des and Esther, you guys remember Coco right? He has now become more "womanly"! I didnt get to get a picture but man...he's more effeminate now.
Oh well... it was then time to stumble our way in the dark and walked a long distance by the coast to our hut.
Day 2 (09-08-2009)
Happy National Day, ya'll.
I got the timing mixed up and got everyone up for breakfast an hour early at 0700hrs. Amazing. So were the first to be there for breakfast. Heck, breakfast wasnt even fully ready yet. Anyway, it was Nasi Lemak and sliced bread with a variety of spread. I managed to smuggle a hardboiled egg out of the eating area...to be eaten later.
At 0900hts, we set out for our snorkeling trip with an obscene amount of sunblock all over our bodies. First stop was the main village "city" area - Kampong Tekek. I think the boatman wanted to avoid the hundreds of Singaporean crowd and so he brought us to this non-snorkel area first. He showed us the yachts and the duty-free shop..etc...things which, frankly, I did not give a damn about. We finally left that place around 1030hrs and headed to the Marine Park where we got off the boat, onto the jetty and down into the sea. I've been here so many times I didnt even bother looking at the fishes... :(
Lunch was a packed affair on-shore. Food was all right and at 1300hrs, we left Marine Park and headed to Renggis Island to check out the corals and more fish. Again, I've been here many a time but as this place has many beautiful live corals, I put in more effort to enjoy haha.
We stayed for only about an hour or so and were then whisked up into our speedboats. The boatman got possesed and he sped all the way back. Maybe he needed to shit badly. The boat went so fast that the thought of being left in the sea in the middle of nowhere sounded much safer. Anyway, as expected, we reached home safely.
We got back and realised hey...it's not even 1430hrs yet. So, the sister, A-Go-Go and I jumped back into the sea infront of our crib. JLo went to bed cause she had a headache from the sun. A-Go-Go didnt last long also and she retreated 30 mins later. The sister and I swam far enough to discover more corals and fish in the deeper area. We eventually got our terribly wrinkly bodies at about 1700hrs.
All of us headed back to the town area soon after for food. We hung out there for a while...ate ice cream...before making our way back and ..haha..had the bbq-ed dinner get-together with the aunties and uncles. We managed to have a birthday celebration for those who were born in the month of August...complete with a thanksgiving prayer administered by one of the uncles. At 2022hrs, thr tour leader got everyone to sing birthday song, the national anthem and then, the pledge. It couldnt get any more bizarre!!
We took a walk to the town area again (!!) after dinner cause the rest wanted to have coffee. I was ready to sleep but realised it was still too early. I joined them and we then ended up at the jetty, spacing out. We didnt go to Coco's cause A-Go-Go lost her money somewhere and had no money on her. Me...I was too tired to listen to loud music and all.
We had an early night...at midnight. I was beginning to itch like crazy.
Happy National Day, ya'll.
I got the timing mixed up and got everyone up for breakfast an hour early at 0700hrs. Amazing. So were the first to be there for breakfast. Heck, breakfast wasnt even fully ready yet. Anyway, it was Nasi Lemak and sliced bread with a variety of spread. I managed to smuggle a hardboiled egg out of the eating area...to be eaten later.
At 0900hts, we set out for our snorkeling trip with an obscene amount of sunblock all over our bodies. First stop was the main village "city" area - Kampong Tekek. I think the boatman wanted to avoid the hundreds of Singaporean crowd and so he brought us to this non-snorkel area first. He showed us the yachts and the duty-free shop..etc...things which, frankly, I did not give a damn about. We finally left that place around 1030hrs and headed to the Marine Park where we got off the boat, onto the jetty and down into the sea. I've been here so many times I didnt even bother looking at the fishes... :(
Lunch was a packed affair on-shore. Food was all right and at 1300hrs, we left Marine Park and headed to Renggis Island to check out the corals and more fish. Again, I've been here many a time but as this place has many beautiful live corals, I put in more effort to enjoy haha.
We stayed for only about an hour or so and were then whisked up into our speedboats. The boatman got possesed and he sped all the way back. Maybe he needed to shit badly. The boat went so fast that the thought of being left in the sea in the middle of nowhere sounded much safer. Anyway, as expected, we reached home safely.
We got back and realised hey...it's not even 1430hrs yet. So, the sister, A-Go-Go and I jumped back into the sea infront of our crib. JLo went to bed cause she had a headache from the sun. A-Go-Go didnt last long also and she retreated 30 mins later. The sister and I swam far enough to discover more corals and fish in the deeper area. We eventually got our terribly wrinkly bodies at about 1700hrs.
All of us headed back to the town area soon after for food. We hung out there for a while...ate ice cream...before making our way back and ..haha..had the bbq-ed dinner get-together with the aunties and uncles. We managed to have a birthday celebration for those who were born in the month of August...complete with a thanksgiving prayer administered by one of the uncles. At 2022hrs, thr tour leader got everyone to sing birthday song, the national anthem and then, the pledge. It couldnt get any more bizarre!!
We took a walk to the town area again (!!) after dinner cause the rest wanted to have coffee. I was ready to sleep but realised it was still too early. I joined them and we then ended up at the jetty, spacing out. We didnt go to Coco's cause A-Go-Go lost her money somewhere and had no money on her. Me...I was too tired to listen to loud music and all.
We had an early night...at midnight. I was beginning to itch like crazy.
Day 3 (10-08-2009)
Breakfast was at 0800hrs and when we were done, A-Go-Go, JLo and I jumped into the cool sea again as the sister continued to sleep. We started packing after that and did last-minute camwhoring. Lunch was at noon and everyone was raring to leave. By 1400hrs, we made our slow walk to the jetty, taking the 1430hrs ferry back to mainland.
Breakfast was at 0800hrs and when we were done, A-Go-Go, JLo and I jumped into the cool sea again as the sister continued to sleep. We started packing after that and did last-minute camwhoring. Lunch was at noon and everyone was raring to leave. By 1400hrs, we made our slow walk to the jetty, taking the 1430hrs ferry back to mainland.
Unfortunately, the ferry that came at that time was too full. We waited for another one...and another one ... and another. In all, we waited for 3 hours, getting a sunburn along the way.
We finally boarded the ferry at 1730hrs and after some "high-sea drama" we finally left the island and headed for Mersing (Johor) where our coach had been waiting since 1600hrs. The journey at sea was about 2 hours and the sister and I sat on the upper deck, soaking in the rays of the setting sun.
At almost 2000hrs, the boatmen asked us to go downstairs. I thought we had reached cause I could see the bright lights of mainland. But ah, I was wrong. We were then told that as the water near the jetty was too shallow, we all had to be transferred into smaller speedboats.
The scenes followed were just like scenes from 'Empire of the Sun' or some illegal immigrant movies. It was dark and babies were crying. Old ladies and men were groping in the dark as they struggled to get off the bigger ships into the smaller ones (hell, even I struggled!). Mind you, some of these makciks were walking around with a walking stick, okay. We all squeezed into smaller speedboats which were unlit and reeked of kerosene and petrol. They smelled like they could explode any moment, man. 10 minutes later, we finally reached the freaking shore. What followed next was a really funny sight. My fellow vacationers - the old folks - were smiling and laughing and they were all sighing in great relief. We all tumbled out of the speedboats one by one, dazed but happy to land. Luggage came out one by one..babies passed from one hand to another, elder folks being carried/helped.
The sister thought we all looked like refugees reaching the nearest Medical Post or some refugee camps... but some of the funnier old folks said it was like they had reached the Holy Land. I, on the other hand, thought we all looked as if we had found the Rastafarian's Zion. Bliss!
We all bundled into the coach only to get down again 5 minutes later for dinner at a (very) nearby restaurant. At 2130hrs, we finally left Mersing and made our way to the customs checkpoint.
...
Hilarious trip. Now, if I can make this itch go away, I will look back and will have an even fonder memory. In fact, I am planning to go back somewhere in October or November but I think...that's a little bit too much. Hah, maybe next year...to Japamala Resort or something.
Okay...I want to go home!!!!
P/S: I heard the NDP was good and that the Singapore Idol was hilarious. I will have to rush home later to catch the 1900hrs repeat telecast.
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