‘Mangroove Dan’ was introduced to my site by a fellow blogger, liked what he read about kayaking and emailed me if I could teach him how to get his feet wet. You’ve got to oblige a fellow consultant and it was a fine excuse for a New Year’s Eve paddle anyway. There were supposed to be four of us going for a paddle at Sg. Kuap but at the last minute ‘kuroni’ called in sick and the morose ‘IC’ was a no-show. To add to the glum it started to drizzle with dark clouds gathering in the distance. But all these did not dampen mangrove dan’s spirit though, so I decided that we’ll go somewhere nearby for his maiden paddle – the historic
After some basic instructions on paddling and safety, we hit the water with a threatening overcast sky. Dan was a natural on the water, perhaps because of his time spent on the waters fishing and also his twice-a-week-badminton-sessions level of fitness. Nonetheless he said that he was getting a good work out on the river.
Dan is an engineer and a keen angler and as we paddled along we shared our dreams – his marriage plans in the coming year and mine of making kayaking more popular in Kuching. Despite some muscular aches and pain as can be expected being his first time paddling, we were relaxed and in a cheerful mood.
We were alone on the water and the tranquility made me reflective of the past year with misty thoughts of love ones and the new friendships that kayaking has brought me. In this silent place of my heart I felt grateful and happy.
As we paddled back leisurely, relishing in the cool morning air, it dawned on me that Dan is now not only an engineer and angler but also a natural-born kayaker! Glad to have you and welcome on board ‘Mangroove Dan’! See you ALL on the waters in 2006!
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
To oblige my mentor in the art of water skimming….waiseh….bunga bunga words!! Anyways it looks good the paddle. darn it! wish I was there..got my new threads too for me paddle outings…now cannot show off till the next one. Good to have another kaki on the water…now have to recuperate and get back on me kayak! FH20, u wanna go scout for river put ins and take outs one of these days?
Darn it, I think I’ve leaked enough liquad through me nose to supply a small stream….aaarghh..me want kayak!
kuroni is commenting? Hmmmm that’s a change … jus dont go morose on me 2! ;o)
Get well soon so we can go recee 4 our new river adventures in ‘06!
yeah, dan’s a keeper!
I’ve always enjoyed sharing flying and kayaking with others. As usual FH2O, beautiful pictures and heartfelt commentary. I’m sure “Mangroove Dan” will cherish the memory of this day and enjoy many more wonderful kayaking experiences for a long time to come.
Hey! I want a nick too. Howsabout Jungle Joe!:)
panda - the closest i got to flying was hang-gliding during uni days. must be great 2 take 2 d blue yonder … hmmmm
thanks for your kind words panda!
kuroni - jungle joe is lame (!) how about ‘J2C’ for ‘joe to sea’? Chew on it for the new year!
Nope, I like Jungle Joe better, J2c is lagi lame.
hahaha.
counting down for 2006 in singapore
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
morning fh2o…
enjoyed reading the write-up. many thanx for you kind words. enjoyed the trip throughly. was very surprised of the stamina that i had yesterday. (played futsal in the afternoon, attended banquet dinner and countdown til 3am). waking up this morning, 9.15am, my arms are sore. (more sore on the left arm) kayaking is indeed a great way to keep fit. as for kuroni, robin and pandabonium… i hope we can kayak together someday.
cheers again fh2o. kayaking sg. sarawak is definitely an experience i’ll never forget.
hi dan!
Glad that u enjoyed the experience yesterday.
kuroni (joe2c or jungle joe) is in town and robin pops in from spore once in a while - so kayaking 2gether can be arranged; however panda is many thousand of miles away unless he flies in on his private jet plane!
hmmmm still had plenty of stamina left? dont worry - will take u on a more challenging trip then next time!
I think I can only compliment on those pictures again. Have nothing else to say except the wonderful pictures.
day-dreamer - thank you.
the one of me is especially wonderful rite? ha ha ha!
Wahh..I envy you guys la esp. MangrooveDan. Wish I was there.
FH2o, did you say ‘hang-gliding’? Now you’re talking!
An interesting post as usual. Tks.
happy - yes hang-gliding but hardly any suitable spots in msia. do u know of any? i love it but no place here ler … hang-gliding is just as beautiful as kayaking but the medium is now the wind. hey this takes me back in time!
vynne - u are most welcomed to join us next time! but since mangrooveDan is so fit; i’ll have to find a more challenging place! juz kidding!