Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Capsized!

Kiulu River has been in a swollen, swirling, rushing state for a few days now due to rain. So I guess going rafting down the river is different from my usual outing previously. What company did we go for this outing? What else but Riverbug! The white-water specialist.
By 11.10am, we (all 51 of us) were rafting away. My team's raft guide today was Morse. We especially requested to have a mini-Padas experience to soothe our bruised (not battered) wish to go to Padas. Hahah... And that we did. One big capsize scattered the 6 of us like ants overturned in flowing water. I could feel myself rolling underwater and I think it was Deddy whom I treaded upon underwater..sorry kawan. hehe.
When I came up to the surface, I found myself near the capsized raft with Morse
already on top of the overturned raft. Try as I might, I could not swim to the left side
of the river and was steadily being washed towards the rocky part on the right.
I swam towards Morse and took hold of his arm. He was very calm.
He asked me if I was okay and reassured me and told me to just hold on
till we got through the bend with me holding on to his arm. I felt ok.
It was just that I felt myself slowly sliding down the B.A. Drat...too loose.
Now's not the time to think about why I didn't get myself that B.A. that I always wanted.
Anyway...Morse expertly flipped back the raft into the right position,
got onto the raft and proceeded to haul me up. It was only then I could
scan through the surrounding. Morse went into position to haul the other mates in
while I paddled forward in the bow. Wohooo!! excitement that seemed timeless for a moment. Soon the others were herded back in the raft. Hahah... nice...great paddling team that.
Can imagine Padas to be a much better river to be in!

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