Jalan Jalan Cari Makan: Not all was lost

As early as 7.30AM my three friends and I were already standing at the jetty of Kampong Samariang Batu ready with our cameras waiting for some crocodiles to surface. In fact a day earlier two of the four of us were at the same jetty and later went paddling along the river hoping to bump into some of these reptiles. But luck was not with them as shortly after they left the jetty, the village folks sighted a crocodile mercilessly caught and dined on a monkey that was taking a stroll along the river bank just opposite the jetty.

After hours of waiting none of the reptiles surfaced. Later I asked one of the village folks, who was busy cleaning his net, when would the crocodiles surface. He said normally the crocodiles would surface every day or every alternate day during high tide in threes or fours at one time. No wonder none surfaced as at the material time the water was low.

Quite disappointing to the four of us. But then not all was lost. Instead of the crocodiles our cameras were aimed at the eagles and other birds and also other things that we considered subjects of interest. One of them was the rare portrait of Queen Elizabeth II hanging on the wall of a humble canteen next to the jetty.