Kotok Island

Kotok Island, 27 – 4 – 2011

Pulau Kotok is very big island with dense mangrove forest. For us town people it's interesting at night time because we carry torch for lighting all along the path leading to the bungalows. It is really a change, we get the feeling of adventure in a wild forest although the rooms are alright, nice lighting and airconned, we got a nice open bathroom.

Emil busy right after breakfast till the end of the day. He went snorkeling and diving right after breakfast till lunch time. After lunch I went back to my room to wash up after morning snorkel when I went back to beach area nobody was around. We saw him frustated angry and sad. Seems that everybody dis appeared for a nap in their rooms only mom with small kids under five were there. I met him in front of dive shop nervous and sad. Nobody . i have to wait for people..

We were sad for him but admire him, indeed the rule we gave him never to go to the sea alone, he is only 11, he can be carried out by the current or out of control enjoying so much that he got carried away to the open sea.. HE IS SHOWING: RESPECT THE RULES.
He made our heart swollen so big..

Diving : he met with Ade, the Dive Master - briefing for 10 minutes – and down on the water.
His body is still too small for the tanks, so we put the tanks and jacket in the water..in open position..there he is sliding his body perfectly inside the open jacket (bcd) just like a little jockey on a horse who is too big for his body.. Ade (DM) locking things in place and they slowly and beautifully disappear under the thick cobalt blue sea... under warm morning sun..

With my husband I was playing with water enjoying millions of beautiful fishes dancing around us like pets, having bread in our hands. I set my eyes to the point where my son disappeared... hufff its dark after a certain distance.. thick cobalt blue.. scary, my heart is sinking, how can he be so brave, what makes some people brave and eager to do that??

I write this the next morning, sitting in the terrace of the room, conversing with Emil : what you feel under the sea?
I feel blue.. floating and theres nothing solid to hold you..its doesn't feel like correct because you floating in the ocean. I see fishes flying by my eyes and jelly fishes stinging my face which is kind of hurt, one or two risk that you should avoid .. shark and really big coral snakes.. and you can avoid monitor lizard which is a little bit dangerous but the risk and pain is worth the victory.. to be with the coral and you.. made by god beautiful colours.. and not yet the animals that can change colours..
(like usual he answered thinking that he is making a song)

I asked Emil, What victory is it?
Victory to see the beautiful corals and its inhabitants. Things sooo different, you don't know unless you go there to feel and see for yourself..

In the afternoon i saw white people jumps down to snorkel with their little kids (the youngest is 2 years) they just naturally floating and even the 2 years, the mother just throw a life saving jacket and the baby hold on to it and happily follow the father.. there is no shouting or extra care.. each has their fin and snorkel the father is there with 3 kids around him, his hands are free didn’t hold any of them..

Sonia, JIS girl class 6, they talked sea language, sign language.. i can see that she pointed at one direction and emil nodded and they float here and then there together, once she pointed many times at under the harbor, emil shooked his head, when she kept pointing insisting to go there emil opened his gogle and said; only wreck divers can go there, we are not allowed to go that side. . Later, Emil said he was trained (by Padi) on claustrophobic areas on wreck diving..and that is for advanced class older age. He said he planned to take night divers after this. PADI said he has to wait till his 12th birthday to follow next lesson. Fyi Emil got his degree as : CERTIFIED JUNIOR OPEN WATER a month ago. I noticed that MD mentioned his rank with respect for having it before reaching 12. Alhamdulillah, we didnt know these things before. We learnt to appreciate his effort to get into the rank.

EMIL SHOW RESPONSIBILITY. Knowing what is the limit and not trying to push his luck even the girl so insisted. Later Emil said also, he calculated that his fins are too big that it can destroy the corals accidentally if he passes through there..again HE SHOW RESPONSIBILITY towards the sea.

Sonia is 13, slender girl beautiful with all her interest, dancing in the water like spinning, piercing down and back.. They snorkel together and next day they still playing with canoe together. So when nature is there emil can caturally connect with anybody, the crew and girl his age...

When we arrived on Friday Emil mingle with Prita, Isun Leng and Jessy, Nanyang University students.. they made him guide and translator.. we exchanged phone numbers and promised to meet again in Jakarta and Singapore. The myth that he is not capable to make relationship with others is busted..

He can make friends with "international exposure". Thank you Mrs. Lely, you have opened my eyes. After Emil play abandon ship on canoe with Mrs. Lely kids, Bowie (boy, 8 years) and Billy (girl, 5 years).

I thank you God for all your blessings yesterday today tomorrow and all this trip and all the facilities You've provided for it to happen; all the wealth of health, time and money to make it possible to happen, for arriving safely and return safely and happily, for making more friends and family during my stay. I pray for all the crew in Kotok Island who were so generous and friendly, please God be merciful with your hidayah, give them health and happiness fid dunia wal akhirah. for Ade, Linda, Rambo, Solihin and many more who were not talking just working and helping, may God accompany their heart, Amin.