Back on the pace in Terengganu

Phew!! What a tiring six days its been.

While Alberto Contador got about doing his thing, and will most definitely step above the rest of the world on the podium in the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, I've missed every stage since arriving here in Terengganu. The hotel doesn't subscribe to Eurosport, and unlike KL, not all makan shops here subscribe to Astro.

Got a few invitations from friends to view the Giro at their homes, but wasn't entirely free to do so.. So, well.. Work was kinda tough for Devinder Singh and myself. Nothing for the Malaysia Games here was set up, not much info on everything. The athletes started trickling in slower than the pace of life here. In the meantime, virtually every facility for the Games was in a mess when we arrived last Monday.

We've basically been scrapping for stories, finding anything we can just to get by. Finally, today, it seems like we've made a breakthrough. Or maybe, the Malaysia Games has finally arrived. We would be able to finish our daily duties with ease today.

With that in mind, last night we headed out to sea with Pak Aziz, a former cyclist who spent a year building his own boat out of scrap aircraft body shells. It was a bumpy ride, which was enjoyable at first, but we ended up getting intoxicated by the fumes when Pak Aziz turned on the diesel generator to light up the spotlights to begin squid jigging. Devinder told me at least five times that he was about to throw up, but luckily he did not! By midnight, we were done with half a 'tong' of squid, and headed to one of Pak Aziz's regular spots to fish for groupers. I recommended that Pak Aziz used car batteries to light up instead of the noisy, smoky old diesel generator!

I baited my line a few times, made a few casts, but found the swaying boat, touched by the cool, sweet Terengganu breeze and a million stars in clear view right above us too comfortable. Secured my baited favourite rod and reel (Lemax Grand Tournament 8'6', arguably the best popping rod ever made in Malaysia, and Shimano Navi 8000si) to the boat and laid down to enjoy a short nap, before Pak Aziz called out "balik doh 'wok?!" (time to go home?).

Devinder, his guts still crying for help, was quickest off the blocks, "Ye, Ye, lagipun esok nak keje"... It was 3.15am in the middle of sea... We never realised it was that late....

Got back and Devinder decided, it was an experience never to be forgotten, although not much of a catch... We got up about 11 today and were off doing what we do best.. And it isn't fishing.

Back to the media centre, where we pass the 'spaceship', which a few days ago was announced by some friends as the one that will take the Malaysia Games volunteers on a space tour after the Games as a gesture of thanks from the Government. In actual fact, it is the indoor stadium at the Terengganu State Sports Complex, which includes the very well designed, but unpreparedd Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium. For a state that has lost out on billions in oil money, Terengganu does have some cheerfully creative ideas.. Like this Bas Bandar, which looks like a kampung house on wheels..

More on Terengganu coming soon.....