Getting Salty in The South China Sea

I have spent more time in salt water in the last few weeks than I have ... maybe ever.

For 5 days 124 12 and 13 year olds descended on Juara Bay, and turned the sleepy little beach into a zoo. No pictures of the kids but a couple from the staff and plenty from the ocean.

Not sure what kind of fish that is, but if someone wants too look it up that would be cool.

Gary Goldfinger do not grab that puffer fish. He won't be cute anymore.

Bringing the sit on top kayaks back turned into a surfing session. After worrying about my skull I decided to get my go pro and get some footage.

Near the end of a sweet afternoon paddle to another village on Tioman. There is epic rock climbing there and the other went for a hike, I opted for a 3 hour snorkel with no shirt on. My back and particularly the top half of my backside (newly exposed due to lost weight), are still feeling the effects. 

Ben has his rare serious face on, because recurring clutch problems are preventing a cash grabbing trip across the island. 

With reefs like these, no wonder I decided to expose my skinny white backside to the sun for so long. Next time I'll remember some sort of belt.

Now I'm at an Outback Steakhouse in Singapore. It took me an hour and a half to find a place with beer that would let me plug in my I pod. I am completely lost in a vast complex of seemingly unending malls and posh hotels. Wish me luck.

My Short Term Gig in Malaysia

In November, while at the Himalayan Whitewater Festival, I met a man who owns an outdoor school in Malaysia, on Tioman Island, the site of a sea turtle preserve and conservation effort. After a short chat he told me that he would "hire me in a second," and that he had a big group coming in March, and that I should come work. Long story short, here I am. To paint a picture in your mind of the place, close your eyes and picture a tropical island paradise. Got it? That's where I am. 

There is surely more to come but here are a couple pictures just to set the stage. 

My hut for now is on the far right.

The view the other way down the beach from the same spot.

In 3 days time 135 students from the German European School in Singapore will descend on Juara Bay, where the camp is, but for now the instructors have the place for themselves.

Classes, Kayaking, and Rain

Things have been pretty slow around camp. I have settled in and am now teaching 5 guys for 1-2 hours per day, on days that there are no trips. They learn fast and it is a little hard for me to fill the whole time but I am working on a plan for a longer project. So far we have just worked on a few common, but distracting, grammar mistakes they make. 

The kayaking has slowed the last few days because it has been cold and rainy. We'll be back on the water soon though. Hopefully tomorrow. 

This is me and Sushan working on his "welcome to camp speech" he has the most basic English now but is very enthusiastic and picks up vocab quickly.