Tuesday, November 1, 2011

long and winding road

We left Kluang about 8am. We wanted to reach Tanjung Leman by 9.30am to catch the 10.00am ferry. We were informed that there were only two trips to Sibu Island; 10am and 2pm. If we miss any of this ferries, we have to pay RM250 per person to get a special ride to the island. That was the reason we put up a night at Kluang; so that we can reach the jetty on time. Estimated time needed was one and a half hour.

Using the ipad again to navigate our travel. I keyed in Jemaluang. Showed to KC the map and he got an idea where he was headed for. The road took us through Felda oil palm estates and also jungles. We saw signs showing Taman Negara, Endau Rompin but no clear sign to show where to turn to Endau Rompin. Most of the time the map is blank; indicating no villages/towns around; just oil palm estates and unnamed jungles. Very quiet road that morning. We even saw a signage showing elephant crossing.


It was winding and narrow all the way till we reach Jemaluang. The road was wider and easier to travel. We had to pass through Felda estates to reach the jetty at 9.45am. I jumped off the car first to get the tickets as we were afraid we might miss the ferry.


The scene around the jetty. Pretty busy as many people with fishing gears were going off fishing somewhere. There were lots of people around. At the ticketing booth (paid RM5 each for what I don't know), we were told that the boatman from Sari Pacifica will look for us. Puzzling....waited and waited; nobody called our names. So KC decided to call the KL office and told the person in charge we had been waiting for quite a while and there is no ferry in sight!!


There was some sort of Regetta going on....a sailing competition of some sort. Saw many people wearing t-shirts indicating the regetta. I saw two Malay ladies with lots of stuff and one of it was a pair of wierd looking shoes. I took a picture of it and a Mat Salleh came up....the shoes are his. Those girls and him were involved in the regetta. Boats were stopped from coming in the jetty by noon and none were allowed to sail in to Tanjung Leman till Sunday evening after the competition was over. The Sultan of Johor was there to grace to competition.


KC with his annoyed look and the Sari Pacifica envelope. It was held that way on purpose so that the boatman could identify us easily. It was almost an hour later before a young Malay youth came up and asked if we were going to Sari Pacifica. What a relief....









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