Kepayang Island

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 15 Oct 2016 22:57
Kepayang Island
 
 
 
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As we pulled away from our snorkel the sky turned stormy dark and we saw so much lightning.
 
 
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Groups of granite boulders in every direction.
 
 
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As the sky turned very dark we rounded a group to land on Kepayang Island.
 
 
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We parked on the beach and our driver pointed to the bigger boats, there we would find the turtle sanctuary.
 
 
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We head toward the rickety walkway passing the biggest boulder yet.
 
 
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Below us, a classic ‘one careful owner’.
 
 
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The chair did it for me.
 
 
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The steering wheel for me.
 
 
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The turtle sanctuary looked like a sad affair even from this distance. The pen on the left suspended a net holding three adults turtles. The pen, front right had a few big fish and a cuttlefish, again trying to swim over a suspended net. Along the back were smaller frames with a couple of groups of baby turtles. We saw no one to pay, no one looking after the place and felt downhearted at what we saw.
 
 
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An adult turtle, big fish and the cuttlefish and babies.
 
 
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The sky brightened a little just as the first drops of rain began to fall. The boat park.
 
 
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Bear dwarfed by the biggest granite boulder.
 
 
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We went to explore, that turned out to be a mistake we should have gone straight back to our little boat. As the heavens opened we took shelter at the edge of an eatery catering to a group of Indonesian tourists. One lady settled undercover and serenely carried on with a good book.
 
 
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Reminiscent of so many school outings – but at least its warm.
 
 
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We run for it in a short lull and pull out as things get heavy once more. Rain flattening the surface.
 
 
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We passed a couple of keen snorkelers who gave up in low visibility.
 
 
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Underway, the brightening sky couldn’t mask the lovely sea colours. Time to head back for a late lunch and a Bintang.
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL DRAMATIC WEATHER OVER A POORLY TURTLE SANCTUARY
                     AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL DESPITE THE QUICK CHANGE IN WEATHER