My Pulau Perhentian working experience
By Kenny Ng Cheng Han
Travelling is the thing to do during semester breaks. So, that is what I did by heading to Perhentian Island in Terengganu. I had this idea because my friend, Suki, was working there as a hotel receptionist. I found an RM80 promotion, which included a two-way flight ticket and free transportation between the airport, jetty and island. Accommodation was free as I could sleep in the staff room of the hotel where Suki works.
“Immediately, I knew that it was going to be three days in paradise.” It took a total of two-and-a -half hours to reach there by air, land and water combined. Upon reaching the island, I was truly amazed by the vivid colour of the beach; the water was greenish blue accompanied by the swaying motion of sunbeams on the water. The island is a long stretch of buildings by the beach and that is all there is. There wasn’t a vehicle in sight. Immediately, I knew that it was going to be three days in paradise.
A sudden turn of events led me to extend my stay for another seven days. Suki informed me that someone in the recreational department had taken a week off from work and asked if I was interested to fill in momentarily.
I said yes instantly and was ready to work the day after.
Thus, my working adventure began as a recreational officer. I worked in a little wooden hut that had two comfortable beanbags, a few wooden chairs and a shelf full of secondhand books available for book swapping. Inside the hut, there was a small room that stored snorkelling equipment and recreational objects such as footballs, volleyballs and colourful beach toys. Also, stacks of life jackets could be seen on the floor leaning on the wall.
I had two European colleagues - Pawel, the Polish guy and Louise from Brighton, England. They’d been dating for as long as they have been working in that little hut. I learnt a lot while working with them.
On my first day, I accompanied Louise to bring 12 tourists to Baby Island for snorkelling. It was a three-stop trip where we saw a variety of aquatic life. I was having the time of my life snorkelling with fishes, baby sharks and squids while witnessing the vivid colours of live corals. I got to experience the rare sighting of a black tip reef shark (which are afraid of humans more than we are of them), a giant green turtle (second largest turtle species that is on the verge of extinction) and a napoleon fish (looked like the Godzilla version of the flowerhorn fish to me).
My seven days of working there were filled with three hours of snorkelling off another island daily and routine works such as opening and closing of the hut, carrying kayaks to the beach for customers, promoting snorkelling trips and playing with children as we have plenty of board games on hand. I was so privileged to make friends with European and Chinese guests. I also became friends with hotel staff from the Philippines, Myanmar and East Malaysia. What a diversified number of people on such a tiny island!
I went home after 10 days there, feeling heavy hearted to leave such a heavenly place. The sight of the beach with a gentle breeze of wind will be sorely missed. On the bright side, I came back to Kuala Lumpur as a much tanner, wiser and happier man.
The writer on a snorkeling trip.
View from the writer's "office" hut.