The first time I took the boat, everybody told me that the waves would swell very high. The boat would rock back and forth, left and right, and I'd be sea-sick after an hour on the boat. People felt nauseous, headache, and even vomitted right there and then, in the boat. I was doubtful at first, which prompted me to think, "Will it be that bad?" Yet, I thought back to my earlier childhood days where I made several boat trips to Pangkor Island, Redang Island, Manado Island and Manukan Island. We went there by fishing boat, ferries, and speed boats. I never ever felt sea-sick on any of this trips. How could this trip be any different?
Nevertheless, I was cautious. I didn't dare to eat too much on the first day. Just had a glass of water and some bread. Put on a life jacket, buckled it really tight. Wore the helmet, stepped on the tyres by the boat, and crossed over from the land to the boat. The first day to the platform, I sat inside its passenger room. Seats were filled, with most of the men lying across the chairs, to catch up on their sleep. Some slept on the floors, therefore,we were required to take off our shoes. When we came back, we sat outside the passenger room. Enjoying sunrise, sunset, different cloud formations, choppy waves, calm waves, competition between the fishermen's speed boat and our passenger boat. I was exhilarated. I couldn't believe that I was finally out in the open sea, on the boat, jumping from platforms! I took in everything!
Jumping, looks pretty scary for the first time. We have to time our jump at the perfect movement, since the sea is not static, it is moving all the time. When the boat approaches the platform, as soon as the tyres hit the legs of the platform, and the waves buoys the boat up, it's the perfect time to grab the top notch of the rope, step on the black, rubber tyres and leap across.
It is, at that particular moment where all sorts of ugly thoughts spring into my mind. What if I fall into the sea? What if I slipped and... I get pinched in between the boat and the platform? what if I drifted away?
My friend listens to my thoughts and dismisses the idea. "Too imaginative." he concludes. To him, there's not so much to think about anyway. Just step on the tyres and jump. That's it. end of story. Why think so far ahead?
Yet, there have been true stories where the scenarios I ironed out truly happened. When the waves, rise up and down, its sinusoidal height varying tremendously, it's hard to estimate the perfect timing to leap. The fear of falling, jumping at the wrong time, hitting onto the hard, metal grating, pinched and clipped between the boat and the platform, bugs me all the time.
This tremendous fear grips my heart each time the moment nears. Hence, the first time I jumped, my knees hit the grating, leaving a pink and purple bruise on my right knee which lasted for days. On the second day, in my eagerness to ride back straight home, I left my laptop at the platform. On the third day, my hard hat fell into the sea as I leaped.
The offshore safety personnel, had to step onto the side of the boat, holding on to the wooden panels, and took several attempts to use a long hook to retrieve my helmet. I was touched. Had it been left entirely up to me, I would have just left it floating on the surface of the rough waters. On the fourth day, I took too long to jump, the offshore personnel had no patience, and said, "Next!" , which prompted me to jump immediately, since I didn't want to hold the queue. hahaha.
All in all, it was a fun trip. Learned lots, gained lots and can't wait to come again. I certainly hope that I'll get to visit other offshore platforms soon!
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