East Coast Ride (19-31 March 2018), Day 9 : Pulau Perhentian

In 3 shots...Dab to the right!

Dab to the left???

...now candid!!!

At our first stop

Climb over

Go under!

Do limbo rock!

It's a jungle out there

Running water

Hop

Wait...need to capture this on camera!

Walk the plank

First trail done, Hurray!!!

The start of second trail

"Hands on"

"Bumper to bumper"

"Help, I am stuck!"

...."so am I !!!"

Ecstasy when we finished the second trail!

Beautiful waters

In 3 shots....ONE...

...TWO...

...THREE!!!

Third Trail...hold on tight

Where's the rest of the bridge

Rocky

Waist deep

...and we're back!

There are several hiking trails in Pulau Perhentian Besar. As we were not too sure on our physical abilities and the difficulty ratings given by our friendly receptionist, we decided on an intermediate trail which took us across the south west tip of the island. Thereon, we were offered the options to either hail a boat taxi or embark on another set of trail to get back.

Beginning from our resort after sorting out our own breakfasts, we followed yesterday’s route to the beach. Past Coral View Resort, up the concrete stairs, past the massage center and back down, the red marker leading to the trail was not easy to spot. After a few stumbles and enquiries, we finally began our ascend.

Initially gradual, we soon started on steep inclines. The fitter ones like KC, was ahead while Jenny had soon passed her little bag to Mr Lim for safekeeping. As we ascent higher and higher, she became closer and closer to God, calling out HIS name in repeated intervals of “Oh my God!”

Meanwhile, once an avid hiker, Claudine knew to take small steps to avoid strain. She had also stopped her chatter to control her heart rate and breathing. But a noise behind her was breaking her concentration. Almost like a vocal person about to reach an orgasm, Philip was expressing himself earnestly! His breathing was coming in guttural rasps!!!

Did we think it was over?

Where the route flattened out, we made our first stop. Smirking and thinking it was the end of the climb, it was not! There was more to come!! But what came first before anything else were the blood thirsty mosquitoes!!! They managed to sink their proboscis into our skin despite the gushing streams of sweat flowing to the ground!

Fleeing the mosquitoes, we practically dashed through the trail. But our hopes of finishing the hike was dashed when we saw another set of inclines. This time it was tougher than before, requiring some hand support.

When the descend came, we had to climb over fallen trees and sometimes do a limbo rock! Later, the trail turned wet with water pipes and a spring running alongside it.

On flats again, the trail suddenly disappeared...washed away by the pools of water! To the unfamiliar eye, there were two possible routes but all the ex scouts insisted on the right fork which led us out to a clearing with long grass. Beyond was the beach and some chalets!

Yippee??? NOT!!!!

"Don't go into the long grass" The Lost World, Jurassic Park

We still have to make our way through the waist long grass and the only possible passage was to follow the flow of the water! Everyone tried to side step the water initially. Stepping on the narrow banks with legs wide apart, those with height challenges soon found their legs stretched apart like a gymnast about to make a split!

Then, Claudine felt her legs slide in the mud. Wider and wider, her legs went in separate directions. As she tried to bring them back together, she lost her balance and gave way to gravity, suffering a small graze to her knee!

Back to civilization, our thrills were short lived when we made our way through the backyard of a resort, the stagnant stream behind it was black and stank of refuse! The beach out front was not too pleasing to the eye either!

Still early, we decided to embark on the next trail. No one listened to Jenny’s pleas to hail a boat taxi though we all offered to negotiate the price for her. Unfortunately, she was too intimidated to be on her own and sucked up to the following challenges!

Walking on the beach to the end of the strip, we turned into the next trail which runs past a diving school. We knew we were in for a tough ride when the makeshift signboard at the trail head read “ENJOY”! Such sarcasm coupled by earlier ratings from our receptionist harboured foreboding thoughts in us.

Did we heed the thoughts??? NO!!!!

We went head on into it and were immediately arrested by an almost vertical climb. With backsides coming up close to faces, our hands started groping...not indecently BUT to keep one’s balance! Even photo snapping came to an abrupt stop!!!

Thankfully, even though the trail is a lot tougher and steeper than the earlier one, we soon found ourselves emerging out to another strip of beach. The pristine settings was too good to resist. Quickly, we jumped into the waters.

Unknowingly, there are some codes as to where we could actually swim! Certain strips as at The Barat’s, dead corals filled the waters making it an unsafe swimming ground. Likewise, boat routes are dangerous zones and boats anchored near the shores are good indications of red flag areas.

We soon learnt this as we were asked to move further and further away from where a few boats were anchored. Not necessarily a bad thing as we soon came near to a group of diving students and discovered some beautiful marine life so close to shore!

When we had had enough of the sun, sea and fishes, we went on our third league. This took us past a few resorts, notably Tuna Bay, a family owned resort with 3 other property arms in Johor. It’s owner, Gan Hong Lee has visions to expand his hotel flagship to other states as well.

Following the concrete bridge that hugged the cliffs we soon came to a dead end. The rest of it had collapsed, battered by the waves.

We were left with a choice of climbing over boulders or wading in thigh high water. We tried both! None of it was easy and our journey was long! Whenever a boat passes through, we were rocked by big waves.

At one point, the waters became waist deep for the vertically challenged. To escape the waters, we decided to squeeze our way through a gap between 2 giant boulders.

Claudine had just passed through the gap when she heard a splash. Turning around, Philip lay face down in the waters. Thankfully, he was still conscious and managed to raise his head.

His next words made her blood curdled. “My leg is stuck,” he exclaimed. Grimacing in pain, he started to growl when others tried to help him up. “Nooooo!!! Leave me alone!” he went.

When Philip finally managed to ease himself back up, he was not in a happy mood. He was bleeding on the shin. Thank goodness this is not shark infested waters or he would have made shark bait!

There was still some distance to go. Even when we spotted “The End”, it was slow to come by.

Back on land, it was as if we’ve had had enough of each other! Bernie and Suzie sat down for lunch at the first restaurant they spotted. They must be ravenous after an intensive one and half hour workout. KC, Mr Lim, VT and Claudine tried the Thai food. It wasn’t good and wasn’t bad but pricey. Unsatisfied, VT and Claudine adjourned to Barat’s own kitchen to join Philip and York Fuan who had just returned from her dive. Meanwhile, Jenny preferred to wash up and reminisce over lunch by the beach!

That afternoon, while the rest of the team continued their decaying lifestyles of food, beer and naps, Bernie and Suzie hit the beach once again. Bernie was even captured on photo, swimming all the way to the pontoon in the middle of the sea! This naturally explains his huge appetite over dinner when we all met again at the cosy, open air dining area of Barat’s!

Photo courtesy :
1. Suzie
2. Philip
3. KC

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Activities on the Island

1. Diving package : RM400 for 3 dives

2.Hiking Trail : FREE!!!!!

• Walk from The Barat to Perhentian Island Resort
• Start first trail, end up B First Chalet
• Walk towards Flora Bay Resort and begin second trail
• Emerge on Teluk KK, walk towards Tuna Bay and Cozy
• Use rickety bridge till it ends in the sea, track on water to get back!