Perhentian Paradise

I have reached paradise. So far I have read a book, lounged in a hammock, witnessed a turtle lay its eggs, snorkeler in the ocean, and looked at big neon fish underwater.

The turtle part troubled me a bit. Our hotel manager walked around the complex and started knocking on doors to let us all know that a two hundred pound turtle was laying her eggs on the beach. I waited a long time to go out because I didn’t want to see the turtle. I wanted to leave her to lay her eggs in peace. Some time after the knocking I heard Mari’s voice and went out to talk to her. We sat on the steps of our longhouse and were outraged that everyone was standing so close to the turtle while she was laying her eggs.

However, when someone pulled out a flashlight and a camera, people went nuts. There is a big sign in the meeting area that says: “No flash to the turtle because it hurts their eyes.” Flashing a light at a turtle will prevent it from laying its eggs. I’m glad people got angry at the thoughtlessness, because it saved me the trouble.

We wandered on the beach for a while, looked at the moon, and discussed the turtle before I went back to my room to finish Mystery by Peter Straub. I went out of my way to avoid the turtle so as to not disturb it.

I am in the Perhentian Islands, off the coast of Malaysia and in the border waters with Thailand. Specifically, I’m on Perhentian Kecil, the long thin island that is part of Pulau Perhentian. Yesterday a charter boat from Kota Baru dropped us off in a big lagoon with a sandy beach crowded with people. Instead of staying here we opted to go to D’lagoon, a little lagoon at the top of the island that is only accessible via a motor boat.

One of the scuba divers we met upon arrival phoned D’lagoon and arranged for a pickup while we played disk on the beach, purchased hammocks, and relaxed. D’lagoon is surrounded by white beaches loaded with coral. The woman who works here makes very good ice coffee and cooks meals on request. From the common area you can see a tree with mysterious fruit, a swing, a fishing boat in the distance, a shark jaw on the wall, a piranha skull, a painted dolphin skull, a poster with fish on it, and a sign that says: “To all of our guest and those that are to be this are the rules of D’lagoon, each and every guest are allowed to make some noise or party til 12pm.”

Today I read, ate some food, walked to the Turtle Beach where there was no one, snorkelled for a bit, looked for coral to make a wind chime, lay in the shade in my hammock, and fell asleep with a gentle wind keeping things not too hot.