We were wiser this time! Instead of falling for the tricks of boat operators, we made secret arrangements with their first mate, Nico. Having exchanged contacts with him during their boat trip, out to the island, Claudine had called him the night before, specifically requesting a speedboat to take us back at first light...well if you’d consider 8 am as first light!!!
Nico had willingly agreed to our request. Perhaps our group was large enough for a speedboat or perhaps the boat owners are paid according to the the number of passengers / tickets collected, we’ll never know!
Arriving back at mainland, everyone agreed to another round of T Cafe before returning to Iz Village for our bikes. This time, our car trip is no longer complimentary and with an agreed price of RM10 per car, the service was slightly better....we no longer have to wait for the same car to make 2 trips! Instead, Azuan arrived with his cousin sister in tow!
At Iz Village, we parted ways with Philip who had to return to Singapore to finish his course of study. He was ferried to Jerteh bus terminal by Azuan’s cousin arranged at RM20.
With Philip gone, we were really taking it easy as Kota Bahru was only 60 km away; making stops at rice fields and a Buddhist temple along the way.
Not surprising, the Theravada doctrines observed widely in Thailand is rubbed off in this area which once shared borders with the Kingdom of Siam. Even the name, Wat Phothikyan Phutthaktham and the architecture adopted Thai’s influences.
More relaxed and with her guards down, Claudine had to backtrack a few kilometers near Nipah to retrieve her sunglasses left at a fruit stall. This gave the waiting group an opportunity to stop and chat with a fellow Kelantanese rider who operates a laundry shop at the next junction!
Short of 5 km to Diamond Hotel, our stay for the night, we stopped for lunch at Nasi Kerabu Panji. They were packing up when we arrived but happily dished out the most delicious nasi kerabu ever! Packed with roasted coconuts, it was truly a memorable meal.
That afternoon, we checked out Kota Bahru’s Guan Thye Hin bike shop. A well stocked shop, we spent hours shopping and bargaining for items. Out of goodwill, the proprietor finally released a pair of full fingered gloves and a bracket to both Claudine and Jenny at great discounts.
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| The shop owner did not charge KC for the ball bearings but instead allowed him free use of the workshop |
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| New ball bearings, old ball bearings and missing ball bearings |
As all the haggling were commencing, KC was tinkering away at the repair corner, replacing his crushed hub bearings. Unassisted, as the bike mechanic was off for the day, KC deftly fixed the problem while we wandered off midway through bargaining, to fulfill York Fuan’s desire for Milo kepal.
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| Milo Kepal |
When we were done, we did a short tour of Kota Bahru, touching down on Siti Khadijah’s market, the palace and riverside before finally settling down at Dataran Cheng Ho for dinner. During dinner, we met a slightly drunk Caucasian man who talked too much for our comforts. Claiming he had to stay an extra day in Kota Bahru as he had missed his train, we politely took our leave, hoping the night will not see him too drunk to board his next train out!
It seems Mr DIY had become our favourite haunt since the trip began. Stopping by at yet another store, Jenny bought her replacement bungee cord that had got itself entangled in her cogs a few days earlier.
Mr DIY was not the "IT" shop after all. That night, out on his own, VT discovered a more happening place to shop...Eco RM 2 shop, any item for RM 2!!!
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