Miri-Mulu RX Jetski Tour 2003

Posted by Pape Gabuk on December 02, 2003 at 17:21:02:

Hi fellow Jabbers!

Great to see some new postings in JAB.
Well, I can't wait to share with you my experience during the Raya holidays.

Today I got back from a memorable jetski extreme tour that started at Piasau Boat Club jetty in Miri. Alex Chai (one of the guys who did the Langkawi-Kuching-KK tour) on his SeaDoo 4-tec, Tommy Foo, also on a 150hp 4-Tec and myself riding a '96 SeaDoo GTS, took just over three hours to reach Marudi after riding the high seas of South China Sea into Kuala Baram and enduring the choppy and muddy lower Baram waters.

We had to wait more than three hours at Marudi for the other four skiers from Kuching and Bintulu who started their journey from Beluru, down the Bakong river and into Baram.

After refueling and lunch, all seven jetski riders and a journalist left Marudi towards Mulu. Without a guide, we found our way avoiding making a turn into Tinjar River, up the Baram some more, then made a left turn into the Tutoh River for the next refuel at Long Terawan. That was past 5.00 pm and rain started pouring. My old full face Bieffe motorcylce helmet saved my face from the torturing rain pellets. A local guide on a twin 40-hp speed boat escorted us up the winding and tricky Tutoh river before leading us into the clear waters of Melinau river, a sudden pleasing change from the mud-coloured waters of Baram and Tutoh rivers. It was getting dark and we had to keep a close single file as we trail the guide boat and the ski in front. My 20-ringgit plastic Aqualine yellow made the failing light looked like bright sunshine and I could see much better. Phang later tried it and gave me twenty ringgit instead of returning my magic plastic eyewear!

By the time we got to KKM Resort just a hundred meters downstream of Royal Mulu Resort, it was almost completely dark. Yet, there was still work to do, as we had to unpack our boats, tether them securely onto the jetty, carried our packs and spare fuel tanks and jerries to our chalet room and get ourselves prepared for a much-craved dinner of wildboar stew, wildboar soup, and bamboo chicken. Our Berawan host was very charming indeed and we talked till midnight before all crashed into bed.

The following day, four of us went to Camp 5 further up the Melinau river to try conquering the Pinnacles. Me, Alex, Tommy and Hii spent the day touring the rest of the navigable rivers, visiting Long Iman and up the Tutoh to the rapids of Batu Mulong, where we dared not try shooting them! At Long Iman, the Penans were really excited at our arrival and after buying some souvenirs from them we entertain them with some of our manuvers before waving them goodbyes.

The trip up the Melinau river to Batu Bungan was more tricky as we had to find our way on the shallow waters. The huge crafts of Alex and Tommy took in some pebbles up their impellers and when we got to Batu Bungan, we enjoyed a good cool swim with the penans boys who were just as excited about our presence. Lunch was at the park's canteen in Mulu national park.
The it was back to our chalet for a good rest. Before we fueled up for the return trip to Miri the next day, we gave joyrides to some of the folks down at the resort and the village.

While the other spent their time tackling the pinnacles, Alex, Tommy and myself tarvelled back to Miri today, with brief refuelling stops at Marudi. From Marudi the water was even more choppy than the we remembered. As we move into the open sea off Kuala Baram, the sea swells were big enough to give me the shivers! The swells changed to broken surfs as we approached the new Miri river mouth and what greeted us was the massive amount of trash floating in the slow incoming tide of the Miri river! My intake grate was blocked more times than I can bear and plastic bags got tangled up with the impeller.

Pulling up the boat onto its trailer and up the ramp was light work and the washdown of the stinking boat was a job we deserved after all the fun and thrill.

Seven hours from Miri to Mulu and six hours back was indeed an experience of a lifetime.

Jetskiing can never be more fun than a long-distance endurance tour such as this. We are all looking forward to our next tour next year. Until then, I might just go trying my luck trolling for some barracudas or tenggiri!

Happy holidays Jabbers!
PG