Holiday Journey-Kalimantan (5 of 5)–Leaving Paradise

The day which I dread the most is the day I have to pack to go home!

We all packed early to make sure that we didn’t leave anything behind, but Hobert managed to forget his shirt!

Everyone was leaving for Berau except for Eka and Pak Komanden. They have guest visiting on the island to see the baby turtle. Before we left, Eka left to make his round around the island for baby turtle.

Eka (in glasses)

We left the island with a heavy heart.

Neighbours in the island beside the turtles.

No you are not allowed to eat these. (I asked!) Sangalaki is a nature reserved island.

The Team that made the holiday so great!

From left to right – Myself, Tini (the youngest and the cutest of all!), Kak Vol (our guest star!), Kak Van (always very wise with her words and action and very sensitive to others feelings) , Kak Ver (our super cook!)

We took the speedboat and arrived Berau in 3 hours. We took an angkut back to the house and there were to little school boy in the angkut and they were basically squeeze by all our big body and big bags!

When we got home we greeted Kak Ebe (Kak Hang’s wife) whom couldn’t join us as she is 6months pregnant.

She cooked us a delicious lunch as she is also known to be a great cook! All the while on Sangalaki, Kak Hang was mentioning to us that Kak Ebe’s cooking is much more delicious! Haha.

In the night, they brought us to chill out at the river bank. It was a really a nice place to just sit and relax. They have all sort of juices served and they also served us Lebaran snacks.

Kak Ebe who couldn’t join us

Kak Fan

Hobert with the Ladies

The next morning,Hobert and I had to get up very early to catch our flight to the airport to fly to Balikpapan.

I felt abit sad that I have to bid farewell to everyone. Gave everyone a hug. Kak Hang and Kak Fan brought Hobert and I to the airport. It was really a great time they gave us and I would never forget all their kindness and hospitality! God Bless them bountifully!

The Ladies

After Kak Hang and Kak Fan left, we both check in and waited for our plane.

Goodbye Berau!

In Balikpapan, we were picked up by Hobert’s cousin on his father side and also (Hobert’s Eldest brother) Albert’s wife Linche whose house we stayed for the night with an excellent hospitality.

At first we were planning on to visit the Orang Utan centre, but it was too far so we cancelled our plan. We then went to Linche’s house to unload our luggage. Then we drive around and went to have lunch at a local restaurant. I ordered Soto Daging and it was delicious! I am really going to miss all these Indonesia food!

After that delicious lunch, we went to the Mall to purchase some clothes for Hobert. I bought a travelling / camping mat at a really good price! Now I can sleep anywhere I want!

Then we went to see Hobert’s cousin’s house and she drove us around Balikpapan. We passed Pertamina HQ and also the housing for all the staff. It reminded me of all the SSB houses at Piasau.

The next day, Satya picked us up from the house and brought me to the airport. I am always worried that I miss my flight and couldn’t say goodbye to Satya coz he was looking for parking space.  

After I checked in and when it was almost time to board the plane, the announcement on the flight was delayed came on! So decided to have a drink at the small bar they have in the departure hall.

Finally around 12.30pm, I departed leaving Balikpapan. Arriving KL again was totally a different environment. So sad. Everyone stares at you like you are some kind of an alien, and the haze was really bad when I arrive home coz I couldn’t see any building in the city from the place I live and I live pretty high in the sky!

From fresh air to dirty aired KL.

Walking down memory lane….

Saimamar Island (above)

Sangalaki (below)

Sun rise in Sangalaki

Turtle tracks.

A U turn because there was no place to lay egg….this was just a small sand bank which you can only see when it is low tide.

Can you see the black spit on the water?? That is a school of baby Black Tip Shark!

The sand bank you can see when it is low tide. Lot of sand bank all around Sangalaki and also Derawan. You can play football in the middle of the sea!

Paradise!

We will be back!

Doei!!!

Rachel Raymond

www.mshachi.wordpress.com

Holiday Journey-Kalimantan (4 of 5)-Jelly Fishes in Kakaban Island

The first night we were on Sangalaki, we went fishing trying to get fish for dinner. We had to wait for high tide to leave the island and make sure that we are back before low tide again.

We fished for 2 hours and we were not as successful as the previous night they fished for us.

Fogen caught 2 red snapper, and Kak Fan caught 1 big red snapper and Kak Hang caught a small snapper and let it go, and I caught a whole lot of corals and stones! You won’t believe what comes up on my hook!

At almost 11pm we decided to call it a night and head back to the island before being stranded on the corals on the beach!

Fogen, Kak Fan and Kak Hang fishing dinner

One of my dream diving place would be Palau. There, it is famous for the non-poisonous jelly fish!

Little did I know I would be going to a similar place during this trip! When Kak Hang told us that there is a lake in the middle of the island, and that lake is full of jelly fish.

My small mind, could not comprehend the word many for some reason!

Early morning we all start getting ready to leave for Kakaban. The ladies cooked a delicious nasi goreng and also we have doughnuts for breakfast. We also brought some nasi goreng with us as we are all big eater!

It was a very nice island. It looks bigger than Sangalaki. In the middle of the island, there is a big salt water lake.

 See the brown spot in the water? Those are the jelly fishes!

Our route down

   Arriving the lake!

Kak Hang

It was a big lake and it was really beautiful too! Despite all of the beauty of nature there was, I can’t stop thinking about Lake Placid or Anaconda!!!! Stupid Hollywood movie messed my mind!

Not being a jelly fish fan myself, made me think twice before jumping. After Kak Hang and Eka jumped in, and saw the jelly fish didn’t sting them, then I myself jumped in too! It was so beautiful and I touched the jelly fish just to make sure that it didn’t sting, and it didn’t!

 Wonder who jelly fishes sleep or rest?? Wonder no more.

Skin dived to take this wonderful videos!

 

We snorkel for couple of hours till i saw the signal of my battery went low!

Towards noon, there were people starting to come to the lake. So we decided that it was time to go. When we arrive our boat, we saw that there were 3 other boats on it’s way to Kakaban. Guess we were lucky to have the lake for ourselves for hours!

On our way back to Sangalaki, we decided to snorkel again and try to look for the Mantas. It was a really sunny day and the visibility was at least 30m! There were not much fish around and the corals was ok. We didn’t see any Mantas so the guys decided to head back. I told them I will continue snorkeling and will swim back to the island. So they climb the boat and I continue my Manta search!

After a while, I gave up and start snorkeling back to shore. 2km from shore, the water was really shallow that I couldn’t snorkel or swim anymore!!!!! I was snorkeling and didn’t realize that the tide was going down!!!

I was thinking whether I should just swim back to the sea and look for the boat entrance that we used the day we came, which was on the other side of the island! So I swam back a few meters then decided that it was a long swim and I might not make it in time for lunch!

So I swam back to the island till I couldn’t swim anymore. Then I stood up. It was a long walk with my fins on too!!!! I had to walk a few steps then stop just to rest. It was full of dead corals and some were pretty sharp too. I was only scared of sting rays and also stone fish or scorpion fish! The water was below my knee so to walk I had to lift my leg extra high with the fins stuck on my leg.

This was just half way!

I walked for an hour and when I reached the beach I just had to sit down and relax my feet!

I was lucky that they were still cooking when I got home so at least I didn’t missed lunch! The most important meal of the day!

At night they went fishing again and I decided to stay and fell asleep without having to taste the fresh fish they caught that night. I definitely needed that rest after my fin walking!

The Team

To be continued…..

 

Rachel Raymond

www.mshachi.wordpress.com

Holiday Journey-Kalimantan (3 of 5)-Welcomed by the Sea Creatures in Pulau Sangalaki

Just 10 minute before we reach Sangalaki Island, Fogen our motorist stopped the boat and we saw this!!!! Not only one, but a school of them!!!! Circling the boat!!!! We were nervous, excited, scared…mixed feelings!!!

Then SPLASH!!!!!! We were all in the water!!!!!

And we saw this!!!!

Welcomed by Manta Rays near Sangalaki Island!

It was the most beautiful and most graceful sight I ever seen in my whole life!!!! We were welcomed by a SCHOOL of Manta Rays!!!!

I was so excited!!! There were so many of them and Steve Irwin flashed in my mind and then I realised that all the Rays was swimming passing by near me from behind. And for a moment I was scared that they got aggressive and attack me with their sharp tail .

But I managed to get hold of myself and put the scary thoughts aside and just enjoyed them swimming around me!

It compensate all my disappointment of not being able to dive when I was swimming among all the beautiful Mantas!!!

That was definitely a good way to start our day at Sangalaki!

I am trying hard to recall, how on earth we managed to stop snorkelling and got back on the boat. Hmmm…

But the story goes on…

We arrive the little island and it was low tide when we arrive. So we went through a small channel and got as nearest as possible to shore. For about 1 km we walked to the beach carrying all our stuff because the boat couldn’t go nearer.

We were greeted by Kak Fan and his wife on shore. They brought us to the ranger crib where we spent the rest of our week.

The ladies, started cooking and the men starting BBQing the fishes they caught last night fishing.

For the trip, we have a really good cook! Kak Ver. Everything she cooked we managed to make sure that the plate was wiped clean!

She also made a potato doughnut which I will try it when I have time here!

In the evening, we followed Kak Fan and Eka to do their round around the island to check see wether there were any baby turtle hatched and trapped in the sand at the roots. We found quite many and it was the first time I hold a baby turtle!!! They were so cute and they couldn’t stop moving!!!

Kak Fan and Eka both have a metal long stick they bring together to poke into the sand to feel whether there are eggs in the sand. On our way, we saw a turtle in the sand not moving and was worried that it die.

They checked the turtle tracks on the beach and found that this turtle was in the hole overnight. We touched the turtle to make sure it is still alive and we were relief that it moved!

Don’t do this at home!

The baby turtle trying to get out of the egg.

Hatchery

We put all the baby turtle that we collected in a basket and will only let the baby turtle go during the night.

In the evening when it was almost dark, we walked to the beach to let the baby turtle go into the sea. While I was walking along the beach, there was a school of baby Black Tip Shark swimming at the beach waiting for the baby turtle!!!! That was not a nice scene the see the baby turtle swim into the mouth of all that sharks!

The egg takes 45 – 90 days to hatch, depending on the climate. They will then crawl out of the sand and into the sea at night. We took out the baby turtle and it immediately direct itself to the sea. We always wondered why and Kak Hang explained it to us.

These baby turtle are sensitive and they will move towards light. At night, the sea is brighter than anything on the island that is why they move towards the sea. However, should there be any other lights on the island that is brighter than the sea, then you will see the baby turtle crawling towards the brighter light on the island.

The rangers try to keep everyone informed about that especially now that there is a resort being renovated next to the ranger’s house. It is always a worry that this will disturb the life of the baby turtle.

I hope they will managed to work things out in order not to harm the life of the turtle around the island.

After dinner, we joined Kak Hang, Kak Fan and Eka to make another round around the islnad to see how many turtle came on shore to lay egg. We look at the sand for their tracks.

Unfortunately, while watching this turtle laying eggs, my stomach was not too happy. So I walked back to use the toilet! Too many Chili!!!

To be continued….

Rachel Raymond

www.mshachi.wordpress.com

Holiday Journey-Kalimantan (2 of 5)-Pulau Derawan

Finally,after rocking and rolling in the middle of the sea waiting for help, we arrive the beautiful Derawan Island! It was so beautiful and the water was so clear!

The island reminded me of Mabul Island, in Sabah.

So we walked towards our guesthouse, Dira Guesthouse which cost us Rp100k per night inclusive of breakfast.

Electricity is normally on during the night and during the day, not so much.

Next to our guesthouse is Losmen Danakan where you can arrange your dive trip. It cost Rp250k per dive. However, to go to the island around (Sangalaki and Kakaban Island) you will have to charter a boat and it cost RP1.8mil. To dive in Maratua, the boat charter cost Rp2mil.

Most booked their dive in groups and chartered most of the boats. It is abit difficult to cater for one person need that is what I realised. I waited for 2 days with no luck.

After checking in, we decided to take our lunch. We walked around and found a place to eat just in front of the guesthouse, which was the only one we go too from there on. The food is really tasty though you have to wait for almost an hour for your food!

We all ordered Ikan Bakar and it cost Rp30k. The food in Balikpapan or Derawan is not as cheap compare to most places in Indonesia. Balikpapan is an oil city and they have a big oil and gas company (Pertamina) in Balikpapan. So maybe that is why the cost of living is much higher.

After lunch, we decided to take a nap since we were all very tired with the long boat ride and also lack of sleep the previous night. After napping, we all went for a walk around the island.

The island is not fully developed and there are less than 20 stalls along the street that sell souvenirs. It is also very clean and really peaceful. I don’t recall them having any bars too.

You dont have to worry about little kids trying to sell you stuff like other island.

The view is breath taking and every time I am uploading the photos here in the blog, I wish I could have it all again!

After walking around the island, we decided to go snorkelling. I wanted to see how the water was and didn’t bother to bring my underwater camera. The water was really clear and the visibility was at least 15m. The moment we jumped into the water, there were at least 3 turtle just nibbling away in the sand. After an hour snorkelling, we have dinner and just relax at the guesthouse.

The next day, it was raining heavily! That was not really in my holiday planning! Couldn’t do much in the morning. So we had breakfast at the guesthouse facing the beach and the sea. It was still nice because the wind was blowing gently and sipping a cup of hot tea was refreshing! We just sat and relaxed.

We didn’t go back to the room, as it was so hot. No electricity. At night it was really warm. We were all sweating and the small fan that we had was not enough to keep us cool! Maybe the fact that we were all sunburn as well didn’t help at all!

So we open the window and also made an invitation for all the mosquitoes! Was a good thing that I brought my mosquito repellent.

To pass time, we went and have early lunch and drank some Es Jeruk which was delicious! After lunch, it was still raining so we just went back to the room and take a nap. Alot of napping this holiday of mine!

While we were sleeping, the other cousins arrive from Berau! Finally!

In our favourite Rumah Makan.

I have never met all this cousin of mine so we talked and chat to get to know each other. Then of course since they have not taken their lunch, we all go and have lunch again!

After lunch, we went for snorkelling and this time with our cameras!

Beautiful Green Turtle was everywhere.

Snorkelling in Derawan Island

In the evening, Kak Hang brought us around to see the island. Brought us to the end of the island and a beautiful bridge that goes far in the sea. I was wondering how we didn’t see that bridge the day before!

Looking at the firework that coloured the sky that night only to find out the next day that Lebaran was postponed another day. That really upset alot of people because they were all prepared with foods and catering and alot of that went to waste!

On the 31st Aug, we were all packed ready for our pick up to Sangalaki. When we woke up in the morning, again it was raining heavily. That didn’t make me too happy. When the rain stopped a little bit, I decided to have a walk around the island to see the bridge that we were at the last night.

This bridge belonged to the late Suharto. There was a heli deck on the side which was taken away. Now the bridge is used by public.

Then in the afternoon, we receive a call telling that our ride to Sangalaki was on the way!!!!

 

To be continued…..

 

Rachel Raymond

www.mshachi.wordpress.com

Holiday Journey-Kalimantan (1 of 5)-Balikpapan and Berau

It all started when I was emailing my cousin, Hobert, who is in Indonesia about some places in Sumatera that I was planning on visiting during Hari Raya holiday. I found out that during Hari Raya or Lebaran they call it, prices for transport and hotels increase by 50% or more!

Then he mentioned that he is also going for a holiday but in Kalimantan to a place called Pulau Derawan.

I have not heard about that island so I made my research on the island and found out that it is a one of the best place to dive in Indonesia!

In order to go to Pulau Derawan, I had to fly from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Balikpapan and took another domestic flight to Berau.

In Balikpapan, I met Hobert, Tini and Satya. Satya is Hobert friend who picked us up and brought us around Balikpapan.

We went to one of the mall to have lunch and I ordered for myself Nasi Goreng Petai with Cabe Rawit!!!! One of the best thing about Indonesia is that, I can always count on them when I said I want it PEDAS!!!!

After lunch, Satya brought us to the Kamala Beach in Balikpapan. I was planning to stay in Berau for a day before going to the island, because some of the cousins are only arriving on Monday night in Berau. So the plan was to go wait for everybody in Berau and together to the island.

When I got out of the car and walked along the beach, I changed my mind on waiting in Berau for a day!

 

 

At 6.20pm we took our 1 hour flight to Berau. When we arrive the airport, we had to wait for bus to bring us to the terminal. It was a really small airport. Oh and also, it is REALLY DARK! No lights anywhere!

Boarding the plane to Berau

Arrived Berau city of ‘darkness’

Another one of Hobert’s cousin picked us up from the airport. Along the way, it was so dark and there were no street lights at all! It wasn’t a good road either and we passed few hills and just counting on the car headlights to give us sight!

Before reaching the house, we stopped for a meal. I had 2 bowls of Bakso and it was good to feel the spicy feeling in my mouth again!

Then we arrive the cousin’s house, Kak Hang (husband) and Kak Ebe (wife).

Kak = Brother or Sister

Mas = Brother

Mbak = Sister

Kak Hang is the head of the Ranger on the island who is in charge of the Turtle Conservation on Sangalaki while Kak Ebe was working for the Orang Utan Conservation! What an ideal couple they are! We stayed in their house for the night and also discussed our travel plan for the next day.

From left to right - Tini, yours truly, Kak Ebe, Martinus, Kak Hang, Hobert

From Berau we took a kapal, fisherman boat, to the island. It cost us Rp50,000 each.

It took us 5 hours to arrive Pulau Derawan instead of 4hours, that was because, an hour before reaching the island, our kapal ran out of fuel! So we throw down the anchor so we don’t float away to the Philippines island(!) while waiting for help. It was a hot day and there were few other families with us too.

Kak Hang showing us our ride.

 

Oh if you want to pee or pee pee, you just have to announce to everyone to look in front and stay away from the back till further notice!

Toilet

You can also take a car to Tanjung Batu 2 hours ride and take a boat from Tanjung Batu take a speed boat to Pulau Derawan. Which would be Rp2million for a boat of 5 people if I am not mistaken.

There was nothing much to do on the little boat. We sat outside to give room for the families with babies and little kids shade from the hot sun.

Bakan – A wooden structure in the middle of the sea to catch fish. They will lay the net at night and put the lights on to attract the fish then will pull the net up to catch the fishes!

See the horizon? You can see that there are hundreds of Bakan in the middle of the sea. Sailors do not want to sail around here at night for sure!

I couldn’t take it anymore! Into the water!

After half an hour waiting, help came and brought us our fuel and the journey begin!

 

To be continued……..

 

Rachel Raymond

www.mshachi.wordpress.com

Re-union in Kuala Lumpur

Last two weeks, my ex colleague came to Kuala Lumpur(KL) for a visit. Since most of us are in KL, we planned a small gathering for everyone. We were all excited to see each other again after a while of not seeing and going out together.

I remember in Miri we were always going out together, for lunch, dinner, Karaoke, Happy Hour, organised party, jungle trekking and of course…almost forget…we worked together!

Those were great times and I will never forget. We laugh, we cry, we argue, we make up…and at the end of the day, we came out as good friends. It was a place where everyone had one mission and it was to get the work done! Work hard, play hard!

So we organise a reunion and we went for a buffet dinner in one of the Karaoke place in Pavilion. Redbox Plus it is called. The buffet was excellent and the song choice was updated.

Enjoy the photos!

Pre-Reunion – Having lunch below once used to be OUR company!

Alicer, Werry and Priscilla having IT chat Ira- Our exceptional singer and headbanger!

Lisbeth – Our kelly Clarkson of the Company!

  Priscilla – Very motherly and she can get almost anything done for you in the office!

 Our beloved Organiser-always full with ideas!

Anne – Looking always ever young!

Jimmy our IT man – The Gentle Bear as Frank use to call him

Juju – Our shy Karaoke singer with a surprising jaw dropping voice!

Werry our Safety man and a good advisor!

Farred – Always cool under pressure!

The Wisemen Alicer – Our one and only female who managed to stay in shape!

The Singers

The Ladies

If I missed out anyone, it is not done on purpose!

Doei!!!

Rachel Raymond

www.mshachi.wordpress.com

Bukit Nanas Nature Reserve

Last weekend, together with another colleague of mine, we decided to go to for a jungle trekking. It was a last minute plan, so we prefer to have an activity that did not require lots of preparation.

So we decided to try out and have a look at the Bukit Nanas Nature Reserve. Bukit Nanas Nature Reserve entrance is near the KL Tower. We started our journey at Bukit Nanas Monorail station. We walked for about 15minutes to read the gate of KL Tower.

KL Tower is located near Bukit Nanas which is also near Raja Chulan or Bukit Bintang.

From the gate, they have a security guard which was very helpful. Now they have a free shuttle service to the KL Tower itself. I think it would take 20mins to walk up the KL Tower entrance from the gate.

That was the second time I was at the KL Tower and so many things changed. They have now, buffet dinner up in the tower, animal zone, pony ride, cultural village with all the traditional musical instrument. They have a mini museum on how the KL Tower was built and also information on places to visit in Malaysia.

Traditional and local games and sports.

The wooden long wood is called Congkak and the ball in the basket is called Sepak Raga, and the feather in the basket is Sepak Bulu Ayam.

Parrots that was in front of the animal zone.

Then we looked for the entrance for the Nature Park Reserve and started our trekking. The entrance is free.  It was a nice place and reminds me a lot of all the trekking I did in Singapore. You still can hear cars passing by. But it was a really good relief for me because it felt like I was not in the city for a few hours because of all the greens around me. We walked all the path there were and it was not that much as it was a small place.

 

In fact, they have a lot of things in the nature park. They have a place to exercise, orchid garden, herbal garden and some of the trees are label so you know the name.

They have lots of aging trees, and you can see all the trees with big trunk and also flowers that only grow in the tropical climates.

However, sad fact, it was not well taken care of. There were no orchids, no herbal plants and the space for exercise was a little bit run down. I don’t think I would mind paying RM10 or RM20 per entrance to the park if they could use some of the money to take care of the park.

I also found out that, they have place for camping and also BBQs! Awesome place for a party eh???

Please also bring mosquito repellent as there were lots of mosquito in the park.

Have fun trekking in the Big City of Kuala Lumpur!

 

Doei!!!

Rachel Raymond

www.mshachi.wordpress.com