Back from Tioman

Last week it became apparent that I was finally given all the courses I need to fulfill the criteria to study here and to have it as an integral rather than an additional year. So now I have courses in Managerial Economics, Asia-Pacific Business & Society, Leadership (HRM) and Business Strategy & Policy. Good stuff, I was and am really happy!

Because I was so happy last week, I decided to spend the weekend somewhere nice. Talked to my travel buddies and we decided to make the trip to Tioman, the biggest Malay island, only six hours by bus from Singapore. So Aurélie, Sandra (another nice Swede!), Kristoffer and me took a taxi early Friday morning and went to the border. When we arrived at the Malay side, we made the decision to take a further taxi from the border to Mersing (Small port from where the boats depart for Tioman). We were four so the price was amazingly low (135km, 6-7€ per Person!). It took us some time to get to the taxi and when we saw it, wow, I was laughing... but a tad bit scared as well! But take a look yourself:



The car was an old Mercedes-Benz, but I guess there were no more original components in that car. To start the engine our driver had to open the engine bonnet! But the old lady was up and running, there was even am aircon! So off we went direction Mersing. After ten minutes, our driver went nuts: we were on a four lane main road and apparently he had missed the exit. So first he stopped and tried to go reverse. Somehow this did not work out the way he wanted it (I still ask myself why?). So he kept on driving very slowly and then... then he suddenly turned his old lady on the four lanes and drove the opposite direction and was driving against the traffic! We could not believe what was happening! We shouted at the guy but he did not understand a word, and honestly, we were in his hands anyway. My mood dropped to below zero and I thought about doing bad things to the nutter holding the steering wheel. Somehow he managed to reach safe grounds without getting into serious problems. My plan to sleep the whole journey did not exist anymore, I felt I had to keep an eye on him... but he relaxed and rest of the trip was ok.



So we arrived in Mersing, took the ferry to Salang Beach, checked into our hostel and... it just was not as nice a place as Perhentian Kecil! Too touristy, a lot of concrete, 24/7 electricity. When I took a swim and was engaged in some relaxed "floating" I suddenly realised that I was floating next to two pieces of human excrements... Fantastic!
Apart from this incident everything was just fine. Again basic but decent accommodation, good weather, pretty cheap Tiger and good food. Actually we had a seafood barbecue on the second day. We chose from a variety of fresh fish, clamps, squid, veggies. We got red wine (low quality but who cares, we are no wine experts). And when the stuff was finally barbecued it was the best seafood bbq I ever had. Just execellent!
We spent the days pretty much with swimming, reading, lying around and studying (yes, yes, good students!). Here some more pics:





And again. Nice sunsets! I am addicted to taking photos of sunsets. Here you go, haha:



And some weird people actually tried to climb palm trees!