Lesson From Sg. Sedim River

Last week, I followed my wife's company for a team building exercise at Sg. Sedim river in Kulim, Kedah. As usual, I tag along as babysitter since my wife spent most of the time doing activities or listening to lecture.

The journey was long...

It took more than 7 hours with the company's bus. Despite the drivers effort speeding during off-peak hours (we start at 11 PM), it still took us that long to reach our destination.

We arrive in the morning and we detour for breakfast...

When we do arrive at the final destination, it was another long walk to the lodging place. The bus could not enter the bushy, and area full of twigs and tree branches.

But that's not the lesson...

The real lesson, for me, started during the white water rafting exercise.

I've decided not to join. Let them bond among them, I thought to myself...

The preliminary exercise reuires them to jump from a cliff, about 6 meters high, fully equipped, into the cold, fast running water of Sg. Sedim.

After everyone done with that, and they're off to ride the downstream current, I was tempted to walk up the cliff...

Yes, it looks pretty tempting, and I want to give it a go. "Is it that difficult to pass the depth test?," I thought.

I was told that the place where they jumped, the water is about 15 feets deep. "I can handle 15 feets," I said.

Without a blink, I jumped...

And that's where it began.

I made it to the surface, thanks to my floating skill, and I started swimming to a shallow spot to get to the river bank.

But I underestimated the strong current...

I got washed away by the strong current! I lost my footing. Every time my foot feel the rock beneath me, the surface was too slippery and the current just wipe me off.

It lasted for a few minutes. I ended up more than 10 meters from where I jumped.

I saw some pretty worried faces on the river banks. One of the resort staffs was ready to jump in to save me, but my ego just wouldn't allow it.

Finally, after battling with the strong downstream current, I manage to find my footing. I stood up, and slowly walk to the side where the water is shallow, and the current is slow.

I stopped for a breather...

It never felt so good to get to breathe in at that pace. Huh! Me and my ego...

I, despite the previous trepedition, jumped again. This time, with the guidance from the staff, I found the right path to the river bank.

All it takes was, actually, a quick swim after one huge rock before the current picked its speed up...
I miss that spot...

And I nearly swiped away to God knows where.

So, that was the big lesson to me.

Yes, I can swim. Yes, I can handle the depth. But I was not ready for the strong current.

It requires different strategy...

After all, I'm familiar with the sea because it's near where I grew up. But this is the river.

It's a different field, and a different game altogether...

Update January 2nd, 2013:

Went searching on YouTube for ways to handle the situation I describe above.

And this guy had like a gazallion videos on white water swimming.

One video guide exactly how to escape from my dire situation. With a bit of practice, I'm sure will get the hang of it.



The guy's instruction was simply to:

* Float on your back (one thing I did correctly, unintentionally, of course)
* Look out for eddie. It's the "safe zone" ...
* Once an eddie is identified, roll towards it. Of course, this has to be done while afloat. Not much use if subside ...

Backside, Eddie and Role. If you want to remember that, remember BER.

It might save your life, and life of those you care ...

Do share it. And look for the video if you have the time.