Langkawi Geology Field Trip

I apologise for not being able to write here so often anymore. I hope you understand that I've been going through some hard times and lately I've recovered, albeit a little, but still enough to make me feel a little more cheerful.

As the topic suggests,I've just recently returned from my Langkawi trip. The Civil Engineering students who enrolled for Geology this semester got to visit Langkawi to study (you guess it) rocks. The students were rather delighted to go, but upon knowing that we'll have a long report to submit, the mood simply diminished to oblivion. Anyway, we went and somehow actually managed to have some fun time.

I don't really want to blog long here because I've got some other things to do. Nevertheless, I'd like to roughly (at least) give you an idea of what we did during the three days and two nights that we spent in Langkawi Island. Therefore, I shall post pictures here. Pictures speak louder than words, don't you think?

Overall, the trip has been a wonderful experience. Although at times the Associate Professor's lecture about a certain rock can be quite long-winded and tiring, nevertheless the knowledge and the experience gained are what matter.

And one more thing. This is something that pictures cannot speak. I had a bad heat stroke on the second day of my Langkawi trip. It actually happened around afternoon while climbing the stairs at Telaga Tujuh. My body heated up easily and I could feel the heat. I tried fanning myself with the fieldtrip material that I had but it was to no avail. While resting at a shelter, Joe had been so kind enough to go down to the foot of the hill (which was 367 steps down), bought a coconut, ran up (another 367 steps) and gave me to drink. Indeed, I do appreciate his help and kind-heartedness. But sad to say, the effect the coconut had on me was temporary. Although I felt immensely better, but the moment I stepped into the van which took us back to the hotel I felt warm and after a few minutes, while my other friends dozed off, I slipped into unconsciousness.

Upon arriving at the hotel, my course-mate Abdul Azim tried to wake me up, but I didn't respond. He tried shaking me, but still no response. Winnie started knocking at the window and Joe also tried to wake me up, and I got up groggily. I immediately felt tired, exhausted, weak and unable to really move. I had to muster all my strength to get out of the van, where Joe readily supported me and helped me up to the room.

In the room, I was immediately settled down to bed and both Aaron Lai and Joe applied some medicated oil on my head. Joe recited a prayer for me, and I was left to rest. Aaron kept an eye on me and I just laid on the bed resting. After a while, I felt much better, but I had this headache whereby I felt as if two metal bars were crushing on my temples. I told this to Aaron and Joe was notified. The latter came immediately and Aaron returned with the medicated oil and a Panadol pill. I took the pill, rested a while and the pain subsided. Aaron, Joe and Azim then cracked some jokes. After I recovered, I could join in their fun almost immediately. Thanks to them and thank God, my problem was cured.

It's not that I didn't drink enough water. The amount of water I drank was quite a lot (three litres a day), but that didn't seem to keep my body cool. Oh well, I need to avoid being under the sun too long now, I guess.

All right, now for pictures:

Morning view of Pantai Tengah

On a metasedimentary rock hill behind Pantai Tengah

First group picture. Yes, the sun was quite glaring.

My name carved on slate (a type of metamorphic rock)

The best experience in Pantai Tengah. The rear wheels of our van sank into the sand...

...and Winnie had to get the jack up? Aaron, what are you doing, smiling there happily and letting the girl doing all the hard work? Shame on you! I've got six words for you. "I am very disappointed of you."

Quite a breathtaking view of Pantai Tengkorak

Believe me, that cliff is very high. Don't let the picture fool you. We daredevils had nothing better to do than to climb rocks.

Surely all of us enjoyed ourselves at Pantai Tengkorak, don't you think so? We thought we were on vacation rather than on a field trip.

Limestone cave area of Gua Landak (an unmarked cave in Langkawi)

See the sedimentation of calcium carbonate, forming stalagmites and stalactites?

How could we miss a group picture in a place like this? Note, lighting was all due to the camera flash. Fortunately, the flash was bright enough.

We were later forced to crawl through a small hole in the cave where the floor is clay-like and muddy. Well, both Joe and I just kept one hand dirty and the other one clean to continue taking pictures!

And in the end, everybody's shoes became muddy, too. My Nike shoes!