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0300
My alarm rang and I shot up immediately! Yay! Our first island trip is beginning.
I didnt disturb Tassa as she drove us back from PJ and reached Mcca @ around 2100 yesterday. Since I'll be occupying the bathroom, I decided to be kind and let her snooze for a wee while.
0330
Gapi called, grumbling when I said we were still getting ready. Decided to call the rest. AAaa! Shane and Tina were still asleep! Gave them a good wake up call.
0400
Yay! All packed and ready! Journey began towards Mersing. Mersing is the jetty that we will depart for Pulau Tioman.
Highway visibility was bad as there were bush fires along it. We had to stop at a rest-stop to clean the windshield. (& to pee). And forced Gapi to sit at the back and Shane/Tina took over the driving. Since Gapi is the most petite among us, we thought it was kinda space wastage if she drove. So she was elevated to the behind seat.
Other than the smog, drive was smooth except for some occasional gear-shift issue. Gapi's car was acting up as sometimes when driving at 5th gear it will auto shift the gear to 1st. Kinda scary but when get hang of it, it's OK - so they told me.
0730
At last we are passing some kampung and sceneries were kinda nice as there was mist everywhere. Nice change of sceneries from the smog across the highway.
1000
Stop at a small town - Kluang. Forgotten the name. Pee time and refill petrol. Called Leng to confirm directions.
1100
YAY! Reached Mersing. Drove around the small town. 10 minutes ride. Then headed to the travel agents and she brought us to the jetty. Bought the return boat trips which costs RM65. Marine conservation tax = RM5.
The boat ride was OK. Occasional bumps.
1300
We reached our stop @ the Air Batang kampung jetty and started a long walk to our chalet - Bamboo Hill. Although it was rather heavy with all the foodstuff, disposable BBQ pits, diving gears we were too excited to grumble.
We had a warm welcome by Sue herself and informed us that we should had called her for a pick up. So take note, ppl.
The chalet was lovely! Our one bedroom chalet costs RM120/nite which fits 5 of us nicely. In the room, there's a queen size bed, a pull out single bed and a sofa futon bed. Got a kitchenette but no gas stove. There's coffee and tea for free. Even have mosquito coils. There's no TV (who needs it when we are going to spent the whole time outdoor) or hot shower (who needs it when the weather is warm?). There's a great balcony view with a nice pair of rattan chairs and table. From the balcony, the stairs will lead you into the beach itself. Heaven! Although beach is nothing to shout about and sand quality is so-so (a little peebly) but it's clean and quiet. Shane who had been there a year ago, stayed at Salang - she said it was noisy and full of ppls around.
Bamboo Hill :
Bamboo Hilll We threw our stuff down, giggled with delight and changed into our bathing suits. Gapi on the other hand start sweeping the place clean. Lucky us for a friend like her around - none of is, er so hardworking...
We grabbed the necessities and decided to go to the beach that we spotted from the boat when we're on the way to ABD jetty. So we began our 20 mins walk along the nice path while chatting incessantly.
Beach was not as great as we saw it from far but it's quite and has some shades and a hammock. Spreaded out our bed sheet and began our beach bummings. Advise : Bring a light bed sheet - it's so useful. Nothing much to snorkel around there as only dead corals lay beneath the seabed along that stretch and loads of sea urchins. So becareful not step on any of these.
Then we realised while rushing out, we only brought a bottle of water and no FOOD! And none of us would volunteer to walk back. So unanimously we decided that Tassa should use her seductress prowress to get ride on the motorbike from one of the local guys. And voila! in 15 mins time we were happily munching and drinking away.
We met with a local Malay and struck a snorkelling/island hopping deal with him for RM30 pp for a full day. RM10 for the snorkelling set + fins.
1830
Later back at the the chalet we freshen up and began starting our BBQ pits. We lighted tea lights around the area making the place a glow warmly. The chicken wings and sausages that Shane lovingly season was yummy. Although a little bit tough, the lamb chops were great. Perhaps we were a hungry? And we had corn-on-cobs too! Tassa insisted that we brought them - "aint no BBQ without corns". Thanks to her, I'd created the highlight of the evening : corn-on-cobs covered with melted marshmallows! - HEAVEN! Martinis & 7Up came in a close second.
(FYI, our BBQ pits were pretty small. We used disposables so we didnt pollute the beach area. )
Tina & myself volunteered to sleep on the futon@hall. It was a basically a safe place so we left the doors open for the sea breeze to lull us to sleep.
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