phinmag: a personal experimental media project

I have apparently discovered new muscles in my arms, or rather, made ample use of my arms last Sunday. I went kayaking - my first kayaking experience! Thanks to one cool dude named Francis, who is bringing the joy of kayaking in Kuching, I got a chance to try this sport out.

I heard about Francis from my friend Gette but I’ve never met this guy until the morning of our trip on March 26, 2006. He’s one tall fella with a sense of humor. Coming along in our trip was Francis’ guide Azmi (who had represented Sarawak in the kayaking sport before), and my other friends, Peggy and Michael.

During a brief stopover at a coffee shop on the way to Bau, Francis informed Gette and I that if we need to pee while kayaking on the river, just go ahead and do the deed in the river. We laughed. I’m sure everyone has peed in the river, sea or swimming pool at some point in their lives before.

We drove up to our starting point in Krokong, Bau. I was calm despite the fact that I can’t swim and going kayaking may be a little like asking for trouble. But hey, I figured I’ve attempted crazier and much dangerous things before, kayaking wouldn’t be so extreme. According to Francis, we’ll be paddling down river from Krokong to Wind Cave; a three-hour trip on a rather shallow but winding river. It’s not a challenging route and perfect for beginners and non-swimmers like me. Besides, he said the scenery from the river there is beautiful.

That said, it is obvious kayaking in that river is not as extreme as my experience swinging on a ‘tibou’ last year. I don’t foresee any serious injury (done the whole broken bone thingy before anyway) except for the one of my camera (my precious!). Don’t think I’d drown either because I’ll be wearing a life jacket. Plus, Francis is serious about safety.

Francis gave me a bright yellow dry box for my camera. It looks like a lunch box, only missing a Sponge Bob sticker on it. Carrying that dry box and a bottle of mineral water made me look like I’m going lunching on a river.

After unloading the gear from the car to the river bank of our starting point, Francis gave a few safety pointers (like what to do if our kayak flipped over) and taught us paddling technique. Peggy and Michael took one kayak while Azmi and Gette shared another. I, potential drowner, need to stick with The Dude Who Really Knows What He’s Doing, Francis.

It was a little past 10am when we begin, and the weather is sunny. The river looks calm but cold. Starting out, I had a little trouble paddling properly but after awhile I think I got it OK except that I had the tendency of clashing my paddle with Francis’, who was sitting right behind me. Every time I hear our paddles clashed, I would stop paddling and grimaced (he can’t see from back there) my “oops”.

I keep paddling water into the kayak though. Still need to improve my paddling technique.

Although there were times when I paddled on my own while he takes a break. And gee… the man is heavy. For me to paddle on still waters with all our weight was quite a workout! I felt like I was in a regatta! Not that I want to complain much because it was not a big deal. I just had to paddle harder. Nevermind if I know for sure my arms are going to hurt like hell the next day.

Well, at least Francis steered most of the time and tackled the strong current parts and difficult obstacles, something which I’m too inexperienced – nor have the stamina - to handle on my own.

Paddling is just half the fun. Floating on the river alone was a wonderful experience on its own. Everything was so serene. The towering shady trees, the dragonflies flying just above the water surface, the cool breeze… everything there was beautiful. You have to be there to experience the beauty – especially the incredible rock formations along the river bank. It’s like a work of art.

The river was generally still most of the way, except for quite a number of obstacles like fallen and submerged trees and rocks to deal with. We were all doing fine, paddling well and overcoming one obstacle to another. But no matter what, the unexpected can happen.

Peggy and Michael were the first to flip over from their kayak while tackling one obstacle. But both were OK though Michael did get a minor bump on the head. Nothing serious. Just a wee bruise.

Francis was going like, “They have been ‘baptized’!” Then he went on to tell me that when you go on kayaking, you have to get yourself ‘baptized’ because that’s part of the experience.

“But I don’t want to. I have done that on my own many times before,” I told him.

We took our first break from our kayaks further down river on a pebbled surface by the river bank. I was happy to stretch my legs again, took some more photos and looked for odd-shaped stones in the river.

Francis and Peggy sat in the river, chatting and eating bananas. Francis praised the banana for its many virtues. After he was done eating, he flicked the peel into the river. “It’s biodegradable,” he pointed out.

“If I throw my banana skin in there,” said Peggy, “Will my kayak slip on it later and flip over?”

Everyone laughed at her theory. She threw her banana peel into the river.

Less than half-and-hour later, while we continued our journey down river, Francis and I became the second casualty. Yes, we flipped over.

It was very abrupt and caught us off-guard. Gette and Azmi crossed one small obstacle before us. Our turn came next with Peggy and Michael behind us. Francis maneuvered our kayak through the obstacle and we were floating calmly away from the bend of the river. Without warning, our kayak suddenly tipped over on the side, throwing us both overboard.

I was caught by surprised. I was hoping to stay relatively dry throughout the trip. But as always with me, something has to happen. I didn’t feel the whole flipping-over part. I only realized it when I was underwater, eyes wide open (despite wearing contact lenses) and holding my breath. I was surprisingly calm. Didn’t even panic because I know I’m wearing a life jacket and I’ll float back to the surface anyway.

I felt Francis jerking on my life jacket and pulling me up on the surface. First thought that came to my mind was “I can breathe!” and this was not because I don’t have to hold my breath anymore but rather falling overboard has cleared my sinus. My nose was blocked earlier and clearing that out was a good thing – not that I want my kayak to flip over again.

The first words I heard from Francis was “Are you OK? I got your hat.”

Yes, I was OK. The next thought that crossed my mind was “Where’s my camera?!”

“Can you find your paddle?” Francis called out. I was still floating on the water. “Is it between your legs?”

“I’m still holding it!” I remembered what Francis had said earlier, that if we fall into the water, don’t panic; the life jacket will keep us afloat; do not attempt to grab anything. Then, I also remembered that I shouldn’t let go of my paddle. I’m aware this rule probably applies to the time when I’m paddling on the kayak and not after falling of it. But apparently my hand had forgotten that it’s OK to let go.

I pulled my paddle out from the water and passed it to Francis. Then I saw the yellow ‘lunch box’ floating on the river. My camera is safe! Francis flipped the kayak back and grabbed the dry box and returned it onto the kayak.

“Swim over there!” he called out to me.

I was floating backwards to who-knows-where and the life jacket had hugged a bit closely to my face that I couldn’t turn my head to look around. “Where? But I can’t swim.”

I felt soft sand under my feet. I stood up. Heh. Nevermind.

A minute later, we were onboard our kayak and continued our paddling. “Are you OK?” he asked again.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I assured him. My nose sniffled. Darn. I need a tissue.

Francis figured there was something like a log underwater, unseen on the surface that had tipped our kayak over. I wondered if it was one of those banana peels he and Peggy threw in earlier.

No one tip over after that. The rest of the journey was smooth except for one part where our kayak was snagged on a long underwater. But we managed through.

I took a lot of photos throughout the trip – even though I still wish I could have taken more. I don’t have a waterproof camera so I was careful. We stopped our kayaks a few times just to shoot. But I hope to go back there again next time to photograph more.

Kayaking is a wonderful experience. I am definitely doing this again. Whether you swim or not, this is something you should try at least once.

“If you can swim, we can go kayak to Bako,” Francis said from behind.

Well, when I can swim, that is. For now, I don’t mind another trip down river.