About 40 minutes drive from Kuching, we turned into Kampong Jaya Bakti which had a ‘triumphant archway’ built to commemorate the visit by Dr Mahathir in 1977 for a 20 year jubilee celebration. Looking at this decrepit backwater of a place; there is not much cause for celebration another 20 years since! An embarrassing testament to grand plans laid to rest and waste.

But all qualms about this kampong vanished when we reached the end of the road and the unspoilt Sg Rayu a tributary of Sungai Rambungan lay before us and despite the mud covered jetty and broken boat ramp exposed by the low tide; we hurried to get our kayaks ready for the water.

After asking me which direction to take, Law and Andy ‘sped’ off in the trusty tandem inflatable kayak. Oops – correction about the trusty bit; as “Guan & Law’s Law” soon came into play, not too long into the paddle. There were excited cries from Law that their boat was taking in water! Uh oh! Luckily it was not deflating this time around; Andy, being unfamiliar with the boat, was unaware about the necessity to put back the bottom drain plug. I pulled up behind them to put the plug back in while a still excitable Law was frantically asking - “Francis did you remember to bring the bilge pump?” “Um, can I borrow it! Please!”

After the last outing with him and Guan, I not only have bilge pump but also duct tapes, rescue ropes and I was also paddling an open tandem kayak (which is harder to paddle as a single); just in case I would need to take onboard passengers. Hmmmm.

After bailing out the water, Law managed a weak smile and said “Francis, now you have something to write about!” See, I told you that they would want to write the stories too.

We soon settled into the paddle; relinquishing in the clean water, fresh breeze and blue sky; we were soon at ease basking in the warmth of the morning sun.

“This is beautiful! Look at the perfect reflection on the water!” exclaimed Joseph in my Perception Swing pulling up alongside me.

I smiled. “I know!” I am in my element and I was at peace and one with the world.

We turned a bend and Sg Rayu meets Batang Rambungan which was also lined with thick luxuriant growth of splendid mangrove trees with their exposed aerial roots. Andy, a school teacher at a Bodhi Primary School, impressed with the un spoilt beauty in perfect weather was all smiles, must be thinking that this have got to be his karmic reward.

As we turned into Batang Rambungan which widened considerably, we saw Kg Arang Padoman on our left and the stunning vista of Kuala Rambungan on the right. With the horizon of the sky and sea merging into one, Kuala Rambungan was breathtaking and accented with golden sand beaches on either side. There was a jetty jutting into the bay on the left where I saw a lone fisherman pulling his boat behind him in the distance. I paddled to take a closer look. The lone fisherman was a malay old man holding a V-shaped fishing device in front of him as he pulled his wooden boat behind him while he walked along the river banks in the shallows. It was hot and strenuous work for anyone.

“I am seventy-four years old!” He proudly revealed his age to me and in an energetic voice told me his noble name when I inquired on how to address him besides ‘pak cik’.

“My name is Tuanku Osman!”

He spoke a spattering of “hokkien” and was proud to tell me in this Chinese dialect that he was catching shrimps. In fact there were an abundance of them much to my astonishment. A few actually landed inside my open kayak as I chatted with this splendid old man!

As I paddled away I was inspired and had a secret wish that I would still be as sturdy and healthy as Tuanku Osman when I am seventy-four and would still be paddling strongly on the waters then. :o)

Meanwhile Law and Andy had paddled to the golden beach on the opposite side of us and were busy taking photographs when we paddled to join them on shore. We discovered that there was a small tributary running behind the beach and found a shady spot to have lunch overlooking the South China Sea watching the waves break in the distance. We would be tempted to stay the night if we had our camping gear with us. Time flies while you are having fun and pretty soon we have to head back hastened by the dark clouds in the distance.

As we approached a bend, there were excited cries from Law and our jaws dropped as we saw a large swirl of water whipped up by the wind – a mini twister! We were awe-struck by this spectacle which lasted perhaps 30 seconds; at the last few seconds of which I regain my composure and manage to take a quick snap.

The sky turned dark and as we approach our put-in, it started to rain. I reached the shore first followed by Joseph who tried to race me and finally Andy and Law. We were drenched but elated with our paddling experience at Rambungan.

Like the “Terminator” – We’ll be back!

Saturday, 3rd December 2005

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