Travel Experience VM Review7

KENYIR Real Vacation
17-November-2006




When we decided, on a spur, to venture off on a short trip to Kenyir, we didn’t realise it would be one of the most unforgettable holidays we’d ever have. Our group of 10 - Ina, Adiba, Raihana, Hafiedz, Eugene (a.k.a Mowgli), Fung Kit, Chong, Habib, Fareez – met at a debating competition and have since been close friends. Rai who was my roommate in university suggested that we visit Lake Kenyir in Terengganu. Out of the hundreds of islands in Kenyir Lake, we chose Poh island, a medium-sized island just 10 minutes boat ride from Pengkalan Gawi and has a modest resort built right on top of the hill.


The overnight Kenyir Express, which departs at about 9.00pm from the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, proved to be a very convenient and comfortable way of getting there. Not long after the bus left the city that Friday, the swaying of the bus lulled us all to sleep. We slept soundly through the journey, waking up only at about 5.30am to have a super early breakfast of nasi lemak which turned out to be pretty delicious.


The sun was just rising in the horizon when we first set eyes on the watery expanse of Kenyir Lake. It was one of the most beautiful scenes I’d ever laid eyes on. In 10 minutes, we’d crossed the short distance from Pengkalan Gawi to Poh Island by boat. Between the ten of us, we had to literally fight off the urge to jump straight into the tempting blue waters and have a swim the moment we reached the island. Fortunately, level-headed Ina managed to get us all together to pitch up the tent first.


There were quite a number of people on Poh Island including a school group. The campsite was neat and well managed by the people who run the resort there. The second our tents were properly set up and our food rations securely stored – quite imperative as we were informed of the presence of quite a number of wild boars on the island – we made a manic dash for the water. Within the safe confines of the square netting pool built by the side of the sandy banks, we had a roaring time in the cold, clear waters of Kenyir. It wasn’t just a swim in a lake, it was every single lakeside holiday dream come true. As we cannon-balled into the lake from the edge of the makeshift pool, we all became kids once again.


We’d brought foodstuff such as instant noodles, eggs, cooking oil, rice, as well as solid fuels and cooking utensils. But still clinging to life’s simple conveniences that first day, we opted for a quick lunch at the resort’s restaurant instead. We decided to circumnavigate the island with kayaks after lunch. As we paddled away in our two-man kayaks, I found myself marvelling at the miracle of Kenyir. What were once hilltops are now islands. Grounds once trudged by elephants, tigers and numerous other wild animals, now lay under an unfathomable mass of water. Kenyir was both impressive and intimidating.


On the second day, after a fun morning of trying our hands at abseiling, we hopped onto a boat and headed to the Saok waterfall, about 45 minutes away. The crystal clear water that cascaded down the rock-face into the pool at the bottom of the waterfall was extremely cold but refreshing. We had amply supplied ourselves with cheese and bread, which made for a delicious picnic snack after our swim. Then we lazed by the riverbank, watching people in boathouses moored nearby as they sat on their decks, enjoying a cigarette and smiling at their children jumping off the boathouse straight into the water. How they lived a charmed life!


Later, at about 5pm, we found ourselves busy fishing – or rather, netting – for our dinner at one of the aqua farms in the middle of Kenyir Lake. These fish farms, which float in the middle of the lake, are one of the ways to avoid depletion of the fish stock in Kenyir Lake due to its popularity among anglers. We netted about 12 siakap of various sizes, paying a rather good price per kilo to the aqua farm owner. Cleaning the fishes proved to be quite a hilarious attempt, especially for the boys as they had to deal with live fishes. In the end, the gruesome task was left to the girls, while the boys went off swimming or preparing the other food rations we’d brought with us.


We already had the fire going strong an hour later when the winds picked up quite suddenly. In a split second a full blown storm descended upon us. We were caught by surprise! Scrambling, we pulled one of the ground tarp over ourselves and the foodstuff, including the marinated fishes.


As the heavy rain and strong wind lashed against the plastic tarp over our heads, we prayed that it wouldn’t last long. What we hoped was a short spell turned out to be a full-blown three-hour storm. Fung Kit and Chong, who’d just finished swimming when the storm began, suffered under the tarp, wearing only their shorts, their teeth chattering from the cold. If ever there was an experience we would never forget, it’s being stuck under a plastic tarp with our closest friends and a dozen well marinated, raw fishes!


After the storm, we discovered that the wind was so strong, even the electric lamps were knocked over and three out of four tents were flooded. Not wanting to admit defeat by seeking shelter in the resort, we took one of the ground tarp and spread it on the soft, grassy banks by the lakeside. That was where we ended up sleeping the second night on Poh Island after we finally managed to cook our fish and enjoy what must have been the best dinner we’d ever have. Some of us were lucky enough to still have dry sleeping bags to tuck into while the rest settled into a snug huddle to keep warm from the chilly winds. The next morning, we discovered Fareez and Fung Kit, whose sleeping bags got soaked the night before, sleeping right on the ground with the plastic ground tarp pulled over their heads!


Our trip to Kenyir Lake was certainly one of the most memorable vacations, and I’m sure my friends would agree. Despite the trials of the storm, the vacation was one of those experiences whose memories would last a lifetime – not just for the sheer beauty of Kenyir, but also the wonderful and unexpected moments that had brought us closer.

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