I realised I started thinking about my fears when I was at the campsite (still on Carey Island, in the vicinity of Jugra hill). Strangely, it had nothing to do with distance paddling, turbulent waters or bad weather. .....Read more
- Monkeys - At camp, monkeys are a nuisance. They tear up tents, steal your gear, eat your food and mess up rubbish. They don't give you any privacy, even for pooping! And I wasn't about to look for another campsite. Hauling gear and my kayak in knee deep mud is enough for one day. Luckily for me, after 6pm they toned down.
2 . Bandits - Now this is a real problem everywhere in the country. And its happening in the jungle too. I've heard stories from friends of their encounters with robbers while camping and I myself had a couple of dodgy experience, enough to keep me on my toes. And to make matters worse, I just saw the movie "Deliverance". A show that will creep you out when it comes to bandits in the wilderness. So to make it seem like I had a bombproof plan on what to do if I encounter one, I made trip wires using fishing lines which had little fishing bells attached to it. Its like my own little security system. Anyway, I wouldn't know what would have happen if I heard the bell ring. I guess I thought it would be better to be awake than not!
3. Losing my Boat - At camp, every couple of hours, waves came crashing down on my kayak, caused by wakes from speed boats and big vessels. Although I had tied up my boat to a tree, I was afraid of the rope being cut by the abrasion from the barnacles on the rocks. It would be super embarrassing to wake up in the morning to find out your boat's missing!
Details:
- Origin & Destination : Glenmarie Cove & 4km before Morib beach
- Distance: 44.07km
- Purpose of expedition: Gear testing