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Dinner
Cruise On A Moonlit Mangrove River
Gliding gently up the Santi River in southern
Johor, the mood was exploratory for the guests
and crew of Rising Tide, a 26-metre sailboat.
Minutes earlier they had pulled in the line
from the berth of Malaysia's premier Sebana
Cove and motored downriver just before the sun
illuminated the tropical sky with the last burst
of light.
On
deck, the yacht was transformed into an alfresco
dining area complete with linen tablecloth and
napkins. Cocktails were served and the exchange
was subdued and relaxed as the sounds from the
wetland rain forest provided a most unusual
background.
It
was as though the aerial roots were breathing
in harmony, then there was the click-clack rhythm
of the oysters, clams and crabs as they clambered
in and out of the mud-holes. The occasional
splashes of a mudskipper or river fish interspersed
the rising crescendo of the nocturnal cicadas.
Darkness
came down like a heavy curtain on the expectant
diners. Dinner was served - a spread of Western
and Asian food catered by Sebana Cove. While
the guests were enjoying their BBQ meal, the
attention turned to the playful on-off, on-off
twinkle of the fireflies. Strung out in the
deep of the mangrove, the little insects were
masters in showmanship.
Freshwater
river dolphins have been spotted in the Santi
River. The Brahminy kite, grey heron and the
Malayan kingfisher are some of the birds seen
in their natural habitat. By taking the visitors
to the heart of the mangrove river, dinner becomes
a secondary pleasure. Appreciating the ecosphere
of the mangrove up close and leaving it as quietly
as possible, everyone present on Rising Tide
realised how special the evening was.
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