From setting turtles free into the ocean to combating a 6-foot Goliath in water sports, this Malaysian getaway was truly a walk on the ‘wild’ side…
Nothing had prepared me for this: Wobbling on a tiny little raft in the middle of the swimming pool, with only a helmet and giant inflatable float as protective armor, I had to combat a 6 ft rippling muscled Goliath-like opponent called Boubou from Senegal. His name sure as hell sounded funny, but his deep-cut six-pack screamed ‘scary’. As I mustered up all my courage to take on Boubou in battle, there was only one resounding thought in my mind: What the heck had possessed me to sign on for a holiday at Club Med’s Cherating Beach eco-nature resort?!!
Crazy signs
Of course as I soon realized, this was just one in the many little outdoorsy ‘adventures’ that lay up ahead. While Boubou did manage to knock me over in the blink of an eye, the fun of indulging in crazy water sports cannot be denied. That is, until there was a holler to get ready for ‘crazy signs’ — a unique dance done every day around the pool where guests and hotel staff (known as GOs or Gentle Organisers) form a chain and happily gyrate to Techno as a way of telling the gods to keep the weather pleasant. Kooky — yes, madcap fun — absolutely!
Turtle run
In between all of this don’t be surprised to see a monkey or giant lizard join in for company, ‘cause this tropical Eden in Malaysia situated alongside the South China Sea boasts of 80 hectares of rainforest. In fact right next door is a turtle sanctuary, where not only did I get to see turtles for the first time in reality but also learned what separates a Green Turtle (olive brown in colour) from a Leatherback Turtle (only turtle without a hard shell), or how to spot a Hawksbill Turtle (clue: look for a hawk-like beak). After this turtle-tattle, there was a surprise in store: Guests were asked to gather on the beach in the evening, stand in a long line, and then each was presented with a seven-day-old baby turtle to set free into the ocean…
Party central
While the days whizzed by in a multitude of adventure sports — kayaking, archery, bungee jumping, rock climbing etc — at night, it’s always showtime! On one evening, there was even a special tribute to Michael Jackson! Thereafter, everyone hits the dance floor to party the night away — to feel fresh and ready for a brand new adventure the next day!
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