Kayakasia

Kayakasia Exploring southeast asia's waterways. Multi-day kayak touring trips and expeditions. Paddling is wonderful.

kayakasia is to experience as it is - the people, the culture, the vast archipelagos, thousands flowing rivers - with a kayak. With your own power, curiosity, humor, without strictures of time and place - all these and borrowing from our planet less than three inches of water at any one place.

I wasn’t guiding yesterday but went down anyway to kaypoh (meddle). Anyway it was always good to find any excuse to padd...
08/12/2024

I wasn’t guiding yesterday but went down anyway to kaypoh (meddle). Anyway it was always good to find any excuse to paddle, get some exercise, and some sun. Paddled slowly along Ubin’s coast hoping to see the elusive tapir but only saw beaches full of trash. Yesterday’s waters was clear enough to make me want to paddle close to shore, above the transparent waters.

When the weather was good, water was good, meeting good people on the waters was even better.

We spent the morning again hoping to meet a Manta, travelling to a little visited site known by the locals. 2 boats went...
30/11/2024

We spent the morning again hoping to meet a Manta, travelling to a little visited site known by the locals. 2 boats went out and we spent almost 2 hours among the islands, but only one manta came for one of the boats; some disappointment again this morning.

There are 2 species of manta rays in Raja Ampat, the reef manta and the giant oceanic mantas. Both are large though, with the ‘smaller’ reef mantas growing to 5 meters and the oceanic ones 7 meters. They have the largest brains of any fish, and sometimes it must have felt like they are the one who decide when they want to approach and when not…

And on this last day of our trip, after many attempts, what you searched for came looking for you. We were snorkelling before lunch - at one of the most vibrant reefs - when 2 Reef Mantas swam below us.

At this point, I felt that my unblemished record was safe. But what happened after lunch was serendipity, the manta way.

We were paddling after lunch, just meters from shore. To my utter shock, I saw a huge black manta breaching and crashing with a loud splash in front of me. I thought it was a whale because it was so large. I let out a loud cry, altering everyone to turn around, just in time, to see a second enormous oceanic manta leaping out of the water, with a somersault.

I see you now, the mantas would have said.

We dropped a phone ! And spent some time looking for it. We knew where it was dropped and could see the bottom but just ...
28/11/2024

We dropped a phone ! And spent some time looking for it. We knew where it was dropped and could see the bottom but just could not see it. We decided to rent 2 scuba set and go down and find it. It was around 10 meters down and it had to be down there. Good fortune shone though, when a group of Spanish divers swimming past found the phone and left the owner crying with joy! We could not thank them enough! It was always not about the value of the phone, but the sentimental memories
of the photos you had kept over the years that you want back.

For the first time since I came here, we did not see any mantas at Manta Sandy ! My gosh! We tried twice but I think the currents were just not strong enough.

After lunch, we spent the rest of the day snorkelling, beach lazing, and paddling among mini karst islands, before arriving at our final homestay. We had paddled and snorkelled almost 80km, and today will be our last day of paddling.

It was Indonesia’s regional election yesterday and extremely quiet, no one was working and no boats on the sea. We snork...
27/11/2024

It was Indonesia’s regional election yesterday and extremely quiet, no one was working and no boats on the sea.

We snorkelled 2.5km along the island, and perhaps because there were no boats, the fishes were out in huge numbers. A planned 500m snorkel became 2.5km as the currents were mild and the reefs just kept drawing us further and further.

We ran 2km around the village! Siesta in the afternoon. Watching sunrise and sunset, drinking beer by the beach in the evening…our life on an island village in Papua.

It was our longest day of paddle, with quite amazing snorkeling along the way. The first few days, visibility had been n...
26/11/2024

It was our longest day of paddle, with quite amazing snorkeling along the way. The first few days, visibility had been not been great (by Raja Ampat’s standards), but yesterday we could see 20+meters below. It was like being immersed in a tropical aquarium of colourful fishes and corals.

We had lunch at Sauwandarek village, a place I had not been for 8 years. Like many Papuan village, it was a place with clean swept paths, a school, and a church. It was a popular dive site too. But I was dismayed to see a group of western divers feeding the fishes before their dive, baiting for good photos with their huge underwater cameras. I could see the local indonesia guide was uncomfortable but he didn’t stop them. I probably had nothing to lose by embarrassing them with a rebuke, but decided to bite my tongue.

When the wind was calm, the sea was a colourful reflection of everything beautiful above and below her.

A sea life…looking at the sea, paddling on the sea, swimming in the sea…deep waters colour, shallow waters colour, white...
25/11/2024

A sea life…looking at the sea, paddling on the sea, swimming in the sea…deep waters colour, shallow waters colour, white clouds, coloured clouds.

We packed our bags, loaded everything on our kayaks, and paddled to Kri island and snorkelled at all the best sites there. Many years paddling here and there were some islands I had never had the chance to explore ! With a more experienced group, it was an option. Just before leaving, I initiated a democratic vote (with me as veto) to ask if the group would like to paddle to an island I had never been, but it was a distance away.

There will be another democratic vote today, for an option to paddle to a village (+5km to the route) I had not been for a long time, but have amazing snorkelling. I hope the voters choose wisely !

We explored the Crystal Stream, a magical place where the mangroves meet the corals. Over the years, I was just wonderin...
24/11/2024

We explored the Crystal Stream, a magical place where the mangroves meet the corals. Over the years, I was just wondering … which came first ? And more and more, I am believing that corals can first and then mangroves. You could see the roots of the mangroves growing into the corals. Some later species of corals could came later, as the attached themselves to the mangrove roots.

I always had the best sleep in the small little wooden hut by the beach. 9-10hours of lapping waves assisted lullaby. The morning always started with a cacophony of birds’ songs, so numerous species and so melodious (and loud), that we had forgotten how it was to wake up naturally in the wild.

The birds started at sunrise, which is 530am (430am SG time), and if you woke up then, one could watch the sun rising from way beyond the Pacific.

On some mornings, dolphins might visit, and I am hoping this morning would be one of those blessed ones.

What a start to the Raja Ampat trip! Forgetful me forgotten so many things, in a rush, to get the stuff ready. First aid...
23/11/2024

What a start to the Raja Ampat trip!

Forgetful me forgotten so many things, in a rush, to get the stuff ready. First aid kit! What a sin. I had to buy a new first aid kit, of course communicating with the locals about medical supplies were not so straightforward, so I ended up with supplies enough for 4 first aid kits…! I don’t ever hope that people get injuries, but if there are any ways to lightened the load. Other things I forgot was my charging adaptor, the TOW ROPE (!!) (luckily, I had some spare PP rope).

We landed yesterday and had a warm up paddle, learning how to use the kayak as a safe snorkeling platform on the open sea. And also how to snorkel in a way that we don’t impact the corals. When we can use fins, when not, how to approach the coral reefs, how to exit and how to get up. And even, when to wear PFD and when it is OK not to use it. Sometimes it is just a reminder of how fragile the corals are.

This morning, the fisherman came by and we bought some fishes for our meals today. After breakfast, we will spend the day exploring Crystal Stream and the bluewater mangroves.

We found out that finally we won’t be able to fly out of El Nido tomorrow due to super typhoon Man-Yi bearing towards Ph...
16/11/2024

We found out that finally we won’t be able to fly out of El Nido tomorrow due to super typhoon Man-Yi bearing towards Philippines. Have to find another way out!

We paddled the impressive walled island of Matinloc, surprisingly not many tourist boats today. By now, we were paddling smooth and light, conditioned to the rhythm of the boat and sea. Just like that, the trip ends when it felt like we had many more islands to explore…

Woke up to find some our kayaks covered with sand. An otter had used them for playground, splatting sand all over the ka...
15/11/2024

Woke up to find some our kayaks covered with sand. An otter had used them for playground, splatting sand all over the kayak.

One of our favorite trees (bobog tree). First time we see it full of leaves as we usually come paddle here during the dry season. And I usually wondered if the tree is close to dying. It is so old it must have its own set and stubborn way of dealing with the change of season. Ster­cu­lia foetida.

Last day of paddling !

If you don’t like rocks, this place may not be for you! We spent our 4th day exploring the southern karst islands - almo...
15/11/2024

If you don’t like rocks, this place may not be for you!

We spent our 4th day exploring the southern karst islands - almost all of these islands were private, meaning they rather employ someone to stand on an empty beach to shoo away kayakers than let us land. Not even for a minute to p*e! Where the beaches were not private, you had to pay to jostle with the boatloads of crowds. So we just paddle on, to the next island and the next, until we found familairty with our gracious host family resort for tonight, a place we had worked with for many years.

15/11/2024

Last surf launch in El Nido this morning !

Finally arrived at the first of the rocks islands of El Nido ! The calmest I had ever been among these islands , sea so ...
14/11/2024

Finally arrived at the first of the rocks islands of El Nido ! The calmest I had ever been among these islands , sea so smooth the sea kayaks cut through the waters like butter, and a 20km day turned out relaxing.

Man-yi that the airline finally found our lost bag! Not so Man-yi that Typhoon Man-Yi projected to hit in the next few ...
14/11/2024

Man-yi that the airline finally found our lost bag! Not so Man-yi that Typhoon Man-Yi projected to hit in the next few days !

Despite the threat of 4 typhoons , it was all blue sky and dry sand. OK, maybe the surf could be smaller! It will be goo...
13/11/2024

Despite the threat of 4 typhoons , it was all blue sky and dry sand. OK, maybe the surf could be smaller! It will be good practice how to surf launch and land today and for the next few days. Some capsizes will be inevitable !

What’s going on?! So rare to have 4 tropical storms hitting the Philippines in succession this late season !
13/11/2024

What’s going on?! So rare to have 4 tropical storms hitting the Philippines in succession this late season !

Still no bag but what the heck. We went out for a sunset paddle from Nacpan Beach, probably the best beach in El Nido fo...
12/11/2024

Still no bag but what the heck. We went out for a sunset paddle from Nacpan Beach, probably the best beach in El Nido for good surf and south china sea sunsets. No paved roads and just a bunch of sandy resorts, restaurants, and local joints. And, Manny Pacquiao the Pacman bought an island just 5km off this beach which we tried to paddle to, but security there thought otherwise ! The sunset, feeling the sea kayak over the waves, the smooth texture of the waters….these more than anything else, made it a good evening.

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Videos

surf launch el nido
surf launch el nido

Last surf launch in El Nido this morning ! #surf #kayak #palawan

Ilulissat sunrise/sunset
Ilulissat sunrise/sunset

Ilulissat - The Sun rose at 2:40am on May 19, and not setting again until 2:00am on July 24, staying continuously above the horizon for 2.1 months. In August, from 1st to 31st, daylight decreases by an average of 10minutes per day. Grace captured this timelapse of a sunrise/sunset on a June ‘night’ in Ilulissat. 📸 Grace #greenland #ilulissat #arctic #sunrise #sunset #kayaking #icebergs

Fiji Kayak Sailing
Fiji Kayak Sailing

I had a wonderful day kayak sailing in Fiji of the South Pacific. Without a rudder, the hands still needed to hold the paddle to control some direction. It was a downwind sail but the wind didn't always come from behind, so I tried using different methods to angle the sail. I tried a rig on my head, then using my two feet, then I thought I could use my teeth.... anyway, I just think I needed a kayak with rudder! PS> Anchoring one guy line and using a leg to control the other seemed to get the least frustrating results.

Sunset/Sunrise over the town of Ilulissat (icebergs in inuit language). #sunset #sunrise #arcticcircle #ilulissat

Baby Jellyfish Bloom
Baby Jellyfish Bloom

Dragon thimble jellyfish (Linuche draco) drifting with the currents and wind. #basobaso #bohol #jellyfish #marinelife #sea

Nam Ou
Nam Ou

Nam Ou completely covered by mist this morning … #nongkhiaw #namou #kayaking #

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