And we're back!
Where to begin?! I guess I can start with where we left off, having lunch in Juara after a grueling hike across the island. I took a taxi back and if I recall correctly, I think Matt's friends came and hung out at his dock again and we pretty much drank our dinner.
Friday: Despite a hangover the next day (Friday), we managed to get the boat fixed up enough that we headed out of the marina that afternoon. We didn't actually sail--there was still too much work to be done and we had to get the jib up, so we just motored our way down 2 bays to Monkey Bay. It was great. Tourists come and snorkel during the day, but there's nowhere to stay so in the evenings and mornings its nice and deserted. Right after we set anchor Matt encouraged me to go snorkeling out to the south side of the cove. All other visitors were gone and the bay was quiet and calm.
So, snorkeling I went. It didn't have quite the variety as Ringus (the small island I snorkeled at during my first trip), but it was still lovely and I was just drifting along in the shallow waters, admiring the sea life when I see this long shadow swimming off to my left. I turn, and sure enough there's a shark!
I am a little ashamed to admit that at this point I freaked out. I started heading to shallower water, trying not to splash, and desperately trying to think of everything I've ever learned about sharks and what to do. Nothing really came to mind. So I keep an eye out as I swim and I keep catching glimpses of it. My heart is absolutely racing. I know it's highly unlikely that it would attack, but that doesn't keep me from heading to shore as quickly as possible. Once I'm there, I look back to the boat and try to figure out what to do about Matt. It's too far to even signal him or anything. Okay, sure, shark attack in unlikely, but I really don't want to swim back without Matt, and at the same time I'm scared he'll get bit. So I stay where I am and hope he comes soon.
So, he finally finishes his boat stuff and goes over the side...and then starts swimming for the opposite side of the bay! I keep an eye out, thinking maybe he just wants to do a lot of swimming and then he'll come towards me. I wait and watch and slowly pick my way through the shallows filled with dead coral towards his side of the bay, but he seems to have disappeared. It doesn't help matters that I saw a lot of jumping fish and maybe some thrashing over there, which made me think the shark was now on that side. I wait, and wait, and now I'm really feeling frantic. What if he was bit?! While way over there?! There's no way I'm going to go back in the water and that's the quickest way to get to where I last saw him. Finally, after what seems like ages, he reappears back on the boat. I wave at him and he waves back but there's no way I can convey to him that I'm freaked out and unwilling to get back in the water and would you please swim over here and escort me back to the boat through shark infested waters. So, I gird my loins, telling myself that if he's still alive there's a good chance I'll make it back, too, and pick my way through the shallows and then back to the boat.
So, yes, I am a big pussy. I think my imagination definitely got away with me, but when you've been snorkeling around and the largest critter you've seen is maybe a foot and then all the sudden this six foot shark comes gliding by.... well, give it a try and let me know how you react.
When I got back on board and told Matt my story he just grinned and said he wished he'd seen some sharks. Apparently there's only really blacktip reef sharks in the area and no one's ever been bitten around Tioman.
And that was day 1 in Monkey Bay. We ended the evening with beer and burgers and the stars were even more amazing with no ambient light around. There were storms way out in the east by the mainland that you could see the lightning flashing. I got a really good view of the Southern Cross, too.
I'll post about the rest of my stay a little later... here's a spoiler- more sharks!
:)
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