Saturday May 12, 2012
Dunkin’ Nepal
I WAS once dunked unceremoniously into a fast flowing river in Nepal. It happened years ago while backpacking with friends in Nepal.
White water rafting was the event du-jour and despite not knowing how to swim, I gamely joined in.
My two friends sat in front of the rubber raft, I sat with the chief guide at the back, while the other guide sat in the middle.
We were paddling along nicely, enjoying the view of the sheer cliff on both sides of the river.
After some time, I longed for some real action. One second I was urging everybody to paddle a little faster, the next I found myself sinking in the freezing water.
No warning, no signal, just the realisation that somehow I ended up in the river while my friends were cruising down merrily leaving me behind.
Suddenly someone grabbed my shoulders and I found myself back on the raft again.
I could not grasp what was going on and I thought I was having a nightmare.
Apparently the raft hit a swirling rapid and I was tossed out in a blink of an eye.
Only the chief guide realised I was in the river and saved me by grabbing my shoulders, and tossed me back.
My friends didn’t even notice I was gone! Everything must have happened very fast.
I guess what saved the day was the agility and strength of our guide, the life jacket, and that I did not panic or struggle.
I may have been tossed around like a big, wet, lumpy potato sack, but my glasses stayed intact on my nose throughout!
OCT, Penang
Share your tale
E-MAIL your poignant, funny or strange What A Holiday! experience to star2travel.holiday@thestar.com.my in not more than 300 words.
Our Pick Of The Week wins a 2D/1N stay at the Pulai Desaru Beach Resort & Spa. The voucher will be sent to the winner so please include your name and address.
For prize enquires, please call the Mar-Com Department at (07-521 2121) or e-mail: marcomm.mgr@pulaisprings.com.
After three years, our What A Holiday! contest comes to an end next week. We’d like to congratulate all the winners and thank all readers for their submissions.
Source:
RSS
