This
is a story about a trip to the aforementioned islands, which i have
already fallen in love with. May be I should go there a couple of times
more at least, with some extra days or weeks in my pocket. This post is
dedicated to Harish, Sreehari, Shahabaz and Paul Jose. If this post ever sees light, which I sincerely hope it will.
As always the trip begins with someone who has been there. This time around it was Harish who had been there. I have heard about this island for quite a while from this guy and that it has been the most amazing place he has ever been. I kind of hoped everything was true. After two days I can just tell it was very very true. Here I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Harish for introducing the place to us and to Paul for receiving what Harish said in full with extreme enthusiasm and inspiring the people around for a trip.
Then there should be someone who is interested in organizing it and with some enthusiasm for a weekend hangout. There was a couple of colleagues that way too. So it happened. Here the thanks goes to Sreehari and Shahabaz. The trip was planned out in meticulous detail, ever closer than i have ever seen a trip planned, even more than the planning of one of the trips i enjoyed most, the trip to the Himalayas by one of the people whom i believe can plan the best. But still it doesn't beat the latter in execution for many reasons which shall be purposefully omitted, because it isn't that significant and is rather personal preferences and this doesn't make it a bad trip. It just didn't make it all the way up the top. Just a little bit below. But works for me. :) No worries there.
So it was saturday morning, the van(since we were 9 in all) was intended to leave at 3:00 am so that we complete the 2 hour journey and immigration from Singapore to Malaysia and be off for the first ferry that leaves to the island. All thanks of scheduling and planning to Shahabaz, execution worked out pretty well.We started off by 3:15 I think. Then a quick breeze through Singapore-Malaysia immigration and we were travelling quickly towards our destination enjoying within the van.
Everything was going good like that, then I found
myself in a familiar situation, owing to the odd timing we chose for the
journey. The driver was starting to tire out and sleep off. That was a
curse of the timing, when it got scary enough, we asked the driver to
stop if you are sleepy. He also understood and the next place we stopped
and driver went on for a power nap and everybody went out stretched out
and went out for a photography session.
After that people were pretty tired and from the early morning awakening, the next one hour i didn't hear anything. Probably everyody was in the sweet slumber already. I took the liberty of trying to keep the driver awake by starting a conversation with the driver. Talking with him and sharing a chat i managed to keep him awake for most of the journey and by the time sleep came again for him we were safely off in the ferry terminal up in Mersing.
Then we got the previously arranged tickets and waited in the queue for a while and we boarded the ferry for the 1.5 hour+ long ferry journey. The sun was about to rise from the east and we were heading north-east from mersing. Then it was all time for photography for a few crazy people and slumber time for most.
After
around 1.5 hours we sighted land and the beautiful waters of tioman and
it took 10-15 minutes more for us to to reach ABC jetty(moniker
belonging to Ayer Batang Chalets, and the first two being the name of
the place). Jumping out of the ferry was quick and we had a beautiful
welcoming party whose sight we enjoyed. Everyone was admiring the
stunningly beautiful waters soon and everyone was up photographing the
beauty and a poor kitten around there that happened to get there. It was
quite a stunning view and beautifully coloured nature not too much
disturbed by it's arch enemy, The mankind.
Now once the enthusiasm for the photographers have settled it was time we go searching for the main event of the day, Scuba Diving with all the doubts regarding knowing swimming for scuba diving and all the fears everybody set foot on the path to the Scuba place.
The walk was not far, but definitely lengthen by the hungry souls and photography. Then since we were 9 in total, we had to split into 3 groups of 3 since maximum for a group was 4 and it was kind of better to have 3 3 3 than 4 3 2 or 4 4 1. ;) That also meant long time in wait because three groups had to go in.
Scuba discovery was structured like, You have initially watch a video to give you a theory experience, Then you have a big tank in which the trainer will teach you basic Scuba diving tips, and then the diving in open water nearby the coastline. So only one group can be in training in the tank, so that meant waiting... and it meant photography and roaming time for others. So the initial group to go in was me, paul and shahabaz andn scuba diving was all about excitement and fears, and the most excited and the most confident team had to go in first ;). Never the less the Dive was a nice experience from start to finish. Swimming through the open ocean was really awesome and the reefs were good. Seeing clown fish for real (had been a fan since i saw a photo of it first, and also NEMO was unforgettable memory in that matter). and lots of fishes who were looking surprised of the divers coming their way.. Probably it feels so because they don't blink any eyelids ;). Experience cannot be explained in words. So since we were the first group to go in we were out of the water first and we had time roaming around to takes photos across the area. One by one the other groups went in and they came back. Then it was time we check in for our accomodation for the day.
The place name was Tekek and was a lot farther down the coastline and we had to cross a hill(not too big) before we can get a Cab. We started walking and across a hill to reach the next area. From there we had a pickup truck(The Cab of the island) and after while, when all the people slowly and lazily came together we left for our hotel. Soon after an exciting journey behind the cab, with a lot of sways and swings we reached the hotel. Accomodation was all set and everybody was all fresh and now i was nearing evening. Not wanting to spend an evening in a vacation spot sitting in the hotel roam we decided to venture out.
So it was afternoon, we got out of the hotel and took the shuttle to the entrance of the resort. This still was pretty far from the actual "Tekek" ( Marked by a Ferry and Airport). So we had a volleyball and which was a fun thing on the beach. Time was spent having food, watching the sunset, playing beach volleyball and beach soccer and as always photography. After a fun and tiring evening on the beach, we started walking back talking about what to do next day because we hadn't really planned anything for the trip except for the Scuba that came with the package to the resort entrance were we will get a shuttle back to the hotel collecting the food for the dinner on the way from Tekek to the entrance. That was the end of day 1.
Day 2 was sweet old normal sunday in the beginning with waking up at 8:30 am at least for me. Then by now we had decided we'll go snorkelling at 6 places and return in time to freshen up and catch the return ferry at 4 in the sole interest of Mr.Basheer. So quick freshening up and then we took the shuttle to Tekek and had some breakfast and got on the boat to get ready for snorkelling. Then the speedboat journey was epic and was fun and then snorkelling at the first place was a nice experience. The second place was fun. The third place we had already familiarised with snorkelling and was getting to start repeptitive. Missed not having an all weather camera/an underwater kit for my camera very badly.
Then it was already lunchtime. Then we went for lunch at one of the beaches. It was souvenir shopping time for most and photography time and just our plans for a quick lunch overshot by just half an hour. AFter that we decided we just go one last place and finish off with snorkelling to save our ferry schedule. The last place was really amazing over and above the three places, in my opinion. After that we pretty much drove to the nearby beach which happened to be inside the resort and alighted there and walked back to the hotel.And after a quick change of clothes and check out, It was the expected time to leave for ferry already. Then we went out back to tekek, we realised we were actually half an hour early for it. Giving time for another photoshoot for me. Others were pretty much in the return mood and already out of excitement.
At last after a lot of wait we boarded the ferry. Then we realised there was an option to stand out of the ferry airconditioning which was too cold for me, enjoying the view and the breeze of a fast moving boat. Guess what... More photoshoot opportunities for me. After a 1.5 hr photo session in different directions of a moving boat, we reached Mersing back again. Then we found the cab and got in. Everybody had their light snacks and food and it was time to go again.
Another journey through malaysian highways and customs and immigrations, we were back in our above by around 10 pm. Thus ended an exciting and overwhelming trip to Pulau Tioman, Malaysia. :)
A little too detailed.. ain't I? never mind! But still I don't feel good without sharing all those pics.. as a picture speaks a thousand words. So Coming Up Soon! Without the Photos the excitement cannot be explained... So coming soon... The "Phlog" edition ;) Wait and see..
Cheers
Daniel
As always the trip begins with someone who has been there. This time around it was Harish who had been there. I have heard about this island for quite a while from this guy and that it has been the most amazing place he has ever been. I kind of hoped everything was true. After two days I can just tell it was very very true. Here I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Harish for introducing the place to us and to Paul for receiving what Harish said in full with extreme enthusiasm and inspiring the people around for a trip.
Then there should be someone who is interested in organizing it and with some enthusiasm for a weekend hangout. There was a couple of colleagues that way too. So it happened. Here the thanks goes to Sreehari and Shahabaz. The trip was planned out in meticulous detail, ever closer than i have ever seen a trip planned, even more than the planning of one of the trips i enjoyed most, the trip to the Himalayas by one of the people whom i believe can plan the best. But still it doesn't beat the latter in execution for many reasons which shall be purposefully omitted, because it isn't that significant and is rather personal preferences and this doesn't make it a bad trip. It just didn't make it all the way up the top. Just a little bit below. But works for me. :) No worries there.
So it was saturday morning, the van(since we were 9 in all) was intended to leave at 3:00 am so that we complete the 2 hour journey and immigration from Singapore to Malaysia and be off for the first ferry that leaves to the island. All thanks of scheduling and planning to Shahabaz, execution worked out pretty well.We started off by 3:15 I think. Then a quick breeze through Singapore-Malaysia immigration and we were travelling quickly towards our destination enjoying within the van.
After that people were pretty tired and from the early morning awakening, the next one hour i didn't hear anything. Probably everyody was in the sweet slumber already. I took the liberty of trying to keep the driver awake by starting a conversation with the driver. Talking with him and sharing a chat i managed to keep him awake for most of the journey and by the time sleep came again for him we were safely off in the ferry terminal up in Mersing.
Then we got the previously arranged tickets and waited in the queue for a while and we boarded the ferry for the 1.5 hour+ long ferry journey. The sun was about to rise from the east and we were heading north-east from mersing. Then it was all time for photography for a few crazy people and slumber time for most.
Now once the enthusiasm for the photographers have settled it was time we go searching for the main event of the day, Scuba Diving with all the doubts regarding knowing swimming for scuba diving and all the fears everybody set foot on the path to the Scuba place.
The walk was not far, but definitely lengthen by the hungry souls and photography. Then since we were 9 in total, we had to split into 3 groups of 3 since maximum for a group was 4 and it was kind of better to have 3 3 3 than 4 3 2 or 4 4 1. ;) That also meant long time in wait because three groups had to go in.
Scuba discovery was structured like, You have initially watch a video to give you a theory experience, Then you have a big tank in which the trainer will teach you basic Scuba diving tips, and then the diving in open water nearby the coastline. So only one group can be in training in the tank, so that meant waiting... and it meant photography and roaming time for others. So the initial group to go in was me, paul and shahabaz andn scuba diving was all about excitement and fears, and the most excited and the most confident team had to go in first ;). Never the less the Dive was a nice experience from start to finish. Swimming through the open ocean was really awesome and the reefs were good. Seeing clown fish for real (had been a fan since i saw a photo of it first, and also NEMO was unforgettable memory in that matter). and lots of fishes who were looking surprised of the divers coming their way.. Probably it feels so because they don't blink any eyelids ;). Experience cannot be explained in words. So since we were the first group to go in we were out of the water first and we had time roaming around to takes photos across the area. One by one the other groups went in and they came back. Then it was time we check in for our accomodation for the day.
The place name was Tekek and was a lot farther down the coastline and we had to cross a hill(not too big) before we can get a Cab. We started walking and across a hill to reach the next area. From there we had a pickup truck(The Cab of the island) and after while, when all the people slowly and lazily came together we left for our hotel. Soon after an exciting journey behind the cab, with a lot of sways and swings we reached the hotel. Accomodation was all set and everybody was all fresh and now i was nearing evening. Not wanting to spend an evening in a vacation spot sitting in the hotel roam we decided to venture out.
So it was afternoon, we got out of the hotel and took the shuttle to the entrance of the resort. This still was pretty far from the actual "Tekek" ( Marked by a Ferry and Airport). So we had a volleyball and which was a fun thing on the beach. Time was spent having food, watching the sunset, playing beach volleyball and beach soccer and as always photography. After a fun and tiring evening on the beach, we started walking back talking about what to do next day because we hadn't really planned anything for the trip except for the Scuba that came with the package to the resort entrance were we will get a shuttle back to the hotel collecting the food for the dinner on the way from Tekek to the entrance. That was the end of day 1.
Day 2 was sweet old normal sunday in the beginning with waking up at 8:30 am at least for me. Then by now we had decided we'll go snorkelling at 6 places and return in time to freshen up and catch the return ferry at 4 in the sole interest of Mr.Basheer. So quick freshening up and then we took the shuttle to Tekek and had some breakfast and got on the boat to get ready for snorkelling. Then the speedboat journey was epic and was fun and then snorkelling at the first place was a nice experience. The second place was fun. The third place we had already familiarised with snorkelling and was getting to start repeptitive. Missed not having an all weather camera/an underwater kit for my camera very badly.
Then it was already lunchtime. Then we went for lunch at one of the beaches. It was souvenir shopping time for most and photography time and just our plans for a quick lunch overshot by just half an hour. AFter that we decided we just go one last place and finish off with snorkelling to save our ferry schedule. The last place was really amazing over and above the three places, in my opinion. After that we pretty much drove to the nearby beach which happened to be inside the resort and alighted there and walked back to the hotel.And after a quick change of clothes and check out, It was the expected time to leave for ferry already. Then we went out back to tekek, we realised we were actually half an hour early for it. Giving time for another photoshoot for me. Others were pretty much in the return mood and already out of excitement.
At last after a lot of wait we boarded the ferry. Then we realised there was an option to stand out of the ferry airconditioning which was too cold for me, enjoying the view and the breeze of a fast moving boat. Guess what... More photoshoot opportunities for me. After a 1.5 hr photo session in different directions of a moving boat, we reached Mersing back again. Then we found the cab and got in. Everybody had their light snacks and food and it was time to go again.
Another journey through malaysian highways and customs and immigrations, we were back in our above by around 10 pm. Thus ended an exciting and overwhelming trip to Pulau Tioman, Malaysia. :)
A little too detailed.. ain't I? never mind! But still I don't feel good without sharing all those pics.. as a picture speaks a thousand words. So Coming Up Soon! Without the Photos the excitement cannot be explained... So coming soon... The "Phlog" edition ;) Wait and see..
Cheers
Daniel
No comments:
Post a Comment