It was a fine morning, as most mornings we have on the mangrove during this time of the year. In recent years, the award winning mangrove tour of Bintan Resorts (it won the 2003 PATA gold award) has attracted even more with the extended theme of restoration. Numerous schools from Singapore (Crescent Girls and Northbrook students to name a few), Batam and Bintan have visited this tour and joined Bintan Resorts' effort in mangrove restoration.
For most of them, being big city boys and girls, it was a totally new experience, even from the time they feel the wilderness of the thick forest before entering the jetty.
There is always an option for a quick nasi lemak and a sip of the fragrance local teh-o before a short briefing by either the mangrove tour-guide or one of the Environmental and Health Division's staff on the mangrove and its role in the ecosystem.
One good thing about this tour is that safety is totally taken care of. As such children-size life jackets are always available in different sizes, and is a must before stepping down the stair to the boats. Oh, and by the way, that is Mara, my daughter, that you see in front of the pack!
And we all know how kids behave: they scream, they laugh, they shout at each other! Neither us nor the teachers have control over them; even the citizens of the mangrove have no say.
And if you, tour-guides, think that you are prepared, think again, for these little demons have tonnes of questions undeniably valid, undeniably difficult to answer.
Between Angels and Demons though, they would eventually prefer being the angels. Boats will stop at designated areas where mangrove replantation is prepared.
And if you are in the not so lucky batch, you may need to dwell in the mud instead of walking on sand.
Well, let's not worry too much about that. For the time being, just pass on those saplings, and continue the work with the hoe!
And here's one thing we can all learn from their energy and passion for a greener earth, for they work and work and work untill all saplings are in place.
And when all is done, there is plenty of water to clean the messy foot and shoes and sandals.
And of course, there is always time to play with water before moving on to the next program for the day.
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