Fish Until You Die!

Just got back from a week's long fishing trip from Kuching with my "Ah Kor" Brother In Law (Andrew). BTW Andrew is almost like my own brother cos we're kakis in more ways than one. Frequency : Microwave 90.5F(ishing) M(ad)

Yes, we both survived this crazy fishing trip (off Kuching-Sarawak, East Malysia) . We're out on this 5 nights 6 days, full stay onboard a 45 footer fishing boat. First 2 days were quite alright but as the discomfort and fatique start to set in the enthusiasm too started to wane. I was told, we were at some point, about 300km off Sungei Apong (our jetty departure spot) into the South China Sea. Sporadically we caught sight of Chinese fishing trawlers from afar. Its amazing that you can also spot sea birds, small as the minors in Singapore out in the open sea flying against the windy and sometimes rainy conditions. Amazingly, these small feathered species take breaks "sitting" on the water. We also had 5 playful dolphins for company, swimming criss-cross ahead of our boat hull for a couple of minutes during Wednesday evening. Got caught in a rainstorm on Thursday (23rd night) and was stranded facing waves up to almost 4m high??? feeling nausea, stuffy and poisoned by the diesel fumes from the boats engine....(caught between the devil and the deep blue sea) wah cow!....can die. There we were, 9 anglers and if I can also be considered an angler...hahaha. Those guys are true fishing keens.

Ah Kor (no surprise to me) landed the trip's biggest catch ( a 25+ - 30kg) "Chinaman" fish. Dont ask me why its named such. There were also a couple of some between 8-15 kg Groupers as well as Red Fish. The only set back is not being able to go for the Spanish Mackerel more known to us as "Tinggiris" (due to the Thursday night storm)Tinggiri fishing was supposed to be the highlight of the trip at least for Ah Kor and I cos we've never experience the much rumoured Tinggiri's frenzy in this part of the sea.

I heard this species here are anything from 5-12kg each and they are real delight to bait cos they fight and resist landing fircely. However as a small consolation, we did earlier in the day parked ourselves on a spot infested with a school of sharks (baby size like 1.5-2.5kg) Caught about 20 pieces in 20 -30 minutes. To the pros they are not interested reeling them in , but I dont really mind.Bad thing about this deep sea fishing is that we need heavy sinkers (up to 18 oz / 500gm??)

Ours will likely the last group out fishing in these waters as the monsoon has started. Boat captain and his 2 crews will be taking a 6 months break. But for these die hard fishing freaks, they are already planning their next trip in May 2009 albeit a shorter 4 days 3 nights under better weather condition I was told. - Thanks Alot for having me in mind but really No Thanks!! Nonetheless, I will be tracking them on their catches when they next leave shore for yet another "Fish Until You Die" Trip.

6.33p.m.

Was driving home and the clock display on the dashboard show 6.33pm. Temp 28C. The feeling is a cool and calm evening. Noticed the sky is almost dark already and I suddenly recall we're into the first week of Oct and year end's around the corner. Nat's finishing her last 2 papers (Home Econs & History)tomorrow. Jacs into her last 10 days of her 7 week break. I should be feeling relieve cos exams period is over and we can take the foot off the pedal and let them both have some fun and outings together.

Its been a harrowing 2 weeks. The U S, and now, Europe economy had gone into a tailspin. They are now in a major recession, never before experienced. First Freddie and Fannie, than came Lehman and AIG and WaMu....what else can we not expect???? Though the US Senate vittoed the US$700b rescue plan, it was later rumoured that the money may not go very far in bailing out this disastrous economic mess they are in. Asia and the rest of the world are feeling the effect based on the stock market which I track. How could some wrong of this magnitude strike?? Only God Knows!

Guess we've to re-organise our plans, financing and priorities, business plans...etc... to ride through this grave period which they say will last several quarters. It'll be a long haul before we see some clear skies again. In trying financial situations like this, we're bracing our family unity, harmony, understanding and counting on it to weather through this storm. Dark and Long Storm. Its 10.47pm and the DOW is some 130pts down (DJIA 9318 pts) a far far cry form the 14,000pts about a year ago.

Logging Off now and retiiring for the night soon. - Cheers! Sleep Tight, dont let the bugs bite.