By Cheryl Ong
A KAYAKING expedition in the Philippines by a group of eight
Singaporeans and their friends threatened to go awry when two of
them went missing for six hours on Saturday.
The 11-strong group was at the islands off the province of
Batanes, in northern Philippines, and had intended to start off at
Sabtang Island and paddle some 12km to neighbouring Basco
Island.
But strong winds and choppy waters wreaked havoc on their plans,
causing two to go missing and another three to be swept some 10km
off their intended course. Fortunately, a combination of
quick-thinking on the part of fellow kayakers to alert a cargo
ferry and good fortune ensured all were unharmed.
'Everybody's okay now, we're all relieved to get back to shore
safely,' Mr Chan Tau Chou, one of the paddlers, told The Straits
Times in a phone interview from Basco on Monday.
He had been joined by fellow Singaporeans Sim Cher Huey, Carol
Leung, Karen Chao, Ong Yong Hui, Amos Sim, David Cho and Khor Yong
Kok; Australian Kathy Wong; Indonesian Umartono Bimo; and Malaysian
Moira Khaw on the 10-day trip.
Mr Chan, 35, a documentary producer based in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, said the plan was to set off last Wednesday.