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We woke up in the middle of the night in Mersing to the torrential monsoon rain hammering down on to the plastic roof right outside our window. It was amazing how loud it was! In the morning we got up and made our way to the jetty. James walking as fast as he could with the two backpacks and then stopping and waiting for me the slow coach on the crutches to catch up! It was great that I got crutches from the hospital but they are the old school ones that go under your armpits. By this point the skin under my arms had started to rub raw because of how hot and sticky it was! We made it there fine though and the next thing we knew we were on the boat. Everyone was crammed into rows of seats. The boat journey to Tioman was very rough! The sea was choppy and we swayed from side to side and up and down! We are lucky that we don't get sea sick as others did! As we came closer to the island the heavy rain started again and people went off and came on at each stop, the boat crew had to dry themselves off with a towel between each stop!! We got off at the last stop at Salang and it was perfect timing as the rain had just stopped! It was so exciting as it looked so beautiful!! Beautiful white sand and blue sea with colourful huts, palm trees surrounded by jungle!
We had the most amazing time at Salang on Tioman. We met a lovely lady called Patty from Belgium who had been to Salang 5 years ago and we got on really well with her. She helped us to find somewhere to stay. The first two nights we stayed in a hut at Ellas place but it was a bit pricy and the vibe wasn't amazing. But on the second night we met a really nice Dutch guy at the end of the beach called Louis. He had taken over 'Salang Hut' from the previous owner who was his friend. Louis had been working so hard to repair the huts and give them personality with colour and cool sculptures and hangings and decorations made out of washed up bits and bobs from the sea. Our hut was basic but awesome. The view was amazing and we were surrounded by the jungle and sea and all the wildlife that comes with it.
We saw lots of monkeys (trying to constantly break in and steal food!), massive fruit bats, frogs, hermit crabs, massive monitor lizards, chickens, cats, snakes, geckos, cockroaches, giant ants etc.
Patty also introduced us to her friend Azmi who owns a dive shop at the other end of the beach. James managed to source a wheelbarrow to use as a wheelchair for me which was amazing as on the crutches it took me 1 hour to get from Salang Huts to Azmi dive instead of a 10 minuite walk! The locals and tourists were very intrigued by the three of us, me in the wheelbarrow, James pushing and Patty carrying the crutches! We got a lot of laughs and photographs taken! Azmi is really nice and offered a good deal to James to do his Padi open water course. It was perfect whilst James was doing the course I was lazing in a hammock reading books or floating in the sea. James loved the course so much that he also did the advanced dive course! I also spent a lot of time hanging out at Azmi's dive shop. We got on really well with a guy called One and he made the most amazing bracelets and necklaces. He taught me how to make some of the designs, it was great to have something else that I could do sitting down! James had a really fab time diving and saw loads of cool fish and turtles! James did have to have a bit of a break mid-course as he had an ear infection but it soon cleared up with some antibiotics that we got from New Zealand.
We met some really lovely people on the Island. The locals were awesome and were really great to chat to. We met some really lovely people travelling as well and we would all meet up and have dinner together.
The food at Salang was amazing. We would have our breakfast in the 'complex' this would be a coffee with condensed milk (we got used to it!) and Pancakes or Roti (pastry/pancake) with honey. For lunch and dinner we sampled the restaurants on the beach. There was lots of fresh fish, we particularly liked the squid!
James and a couple of friends walked through the jungle one day to go to Tekek and get some cash and duty free booze! The walk sounded amazing. They had to follow the power lines so that they didn't get lost. They passed monkey bay which was a beautiful beach only accessible by the path or boat. Apparently you have to be very careful if you go for a swim there as the monkeys will rummage through your bag! They saw lots of monkeys on the way. Once they stocked up they managed to get a boat back to Salang.
The main reason for travelling to Tioman was so that I could rest my ankle for a couple of weeks and hopefully be better to travel again. As wheelbarrows, crutches and James carrying my bag was not really practical. Unfortunately during our stay it became apparent that two weeks was going to be nowhere near enough time for this to happen and a few friends that we met had suffered similar injuries and suggested further medical advice or treatment. We had a good old think and explored all our options. In the end we realised that unfortunately the best thing was for me to go back to England. If I stayed we realised that either we would have to stay put for a lot longer or I would risk doing further damage. So I ended up calling our insurance company and telling them the situation. After sending them my dr's notes they were fantastic and 4 days later we were at the airport on Tioman and saying our goodbyes! James stayed on with the journey as it was pointless him coming back as well as there was lots more for him to see and do! I had a very long but amusing flight home involving wheelchairs, being abandoned in Singapore airport and to make everything better . . . business class seats! It was a shock to the system flying from 89% humidity at 35 degrees to snow in Manchester! I am now having lots of physio and waiting to hear if I need an operation. As soon as I am fit again I am going back out there to finish my travels!
We had such an amazing journey from New Zealand to Australia to Singapore to Malaysia. We experienced so many amazing things and definitely had a trip to remember. Thank you for following our adventures and watch this space as there are more to be had!
- comments
Kate Hi, insightful post, thanks! I was wondering if you could help me for my stay in Salang... do you have Salang Hut's number? I have tried all the numbers i found on the internet but no luck so far!