I decided to go to one of the islands today, I went to Gaya island which was about 23 mins from the Kota Kinabalu. I got the boat at Jessleton Point and there are many companies here ready to ferry you out to the islands. I was not sure what to do today but then I thought I could go to the island and maybe go for a walk, have a cuppa and read my book and just relax. Yes this is the plan. Now I admit it does look tranquil but getting here was a different kettle of fish. Our trusty boat captain decided to sink the welly and the boat was thumping and crashing over the waves and to be honest it was quite exciting, however I did not expect to get soaked to the skin in the process. We were going against the current which was very strong and of course the seas are being whipped up due to the tropical storm in the South China Sea, but none the less we carried on. One minute we were soaring above the waves and the next falling into a trough with an almighty thump. People on the boat were screaming, but some people do at the slightest thing of course. A few times he did misread the waves and we nearly got caught out but finally we reached calmer waters and we got off the boat. I however was drookit. Everything was wet. I had tried to shield my backpack and thankfully the camera, phone and other contents were OK but I was soaked form head to toe. What a fucking prick. If I had had my Sou’wester then I would have enjoyed this wee trip.

When I got to the island I didn’t really feel like going anywhere and so I found a seat near the beach and dried oot. There was so many people on the island to, I expected a few but it was worse than Sauchiehall Street. I was here for 3 hours and so I felt a bit like a Shag on a rock drying its plumage as I perched myself on the edge of the seat.

On the way back I expected it to be a little better because we were going with the swell and so I tried to take a video of this but it was so difficult just trying to hang on to the phone and so the video quality is pretty shit but it will give you some idea of what it was like. Mind you you will need to add lots of spray and bigger waves to imagine what it was like on the way out. And as for an adrenalin ride, then this would have been the best 30 ringgit I have spent. Next time I will wear my wet suit.