Boat Accident on the way to Mulu Airport

The tour schedule for 4th day (25th Oct) was very tight.  We were to explore two caves - Wind & Clearwater, and to catch the 12.20 noon flight to MIRI.   Everyone was ready at 7.00 am, however we had to wait for more than 15 minutes to start our breakfast, thanks to  the staff of Royal Mulu Resort.   Our bags were left in the hands of tour representatives, to be transported  to the airport at noon. 

The long motor boat transportation

At about 8 am all of us was already on 3 long motor boats going upstream the Melinau River.  Certain patches of the river were shallow and needed to be assisted by tugging it with pole at the front of the boat.  The locals living along the river use the river for bathing and washing of cloth.  Certain spots of river bank were indeed picturesque.  Halfway, we made a quick stop at the Penan Temporary Settlement, where some of us bought souvenirs. 

Having a bath in the clear water of Melinau River

Picturesque bank of Melinau River

Picture of Penan at the settlement

The first cave that we visited that morning was Wind Cave.  The interior  was cool with soft breezes.  The stalagmites and stalactites here were rather thin compared to those in the caves we visited the day before.  They say no two caves are the same! 

Thinner stalagmites and stalactites in Wind Cave

A short boat ride further upstream brought us to Clearwater cave pavilion where we had a short rest and light refreshment.  Immediately after all of us climbed up on the river bank near the pavilion, our tour guide dismissed one of the boat and said he wanted rearrange the transportation by using only two boats. 
Some of us  opted to wait at the pavilion while others bravely climbed the more than 200 steps to explore the Clearwater Cave.  The lunch was a simple pack lunch taken on the pavilion. 

Caves of Mulu demonstrate the classic features of underground
geomorphology of evolutionary history of more than 1.5 million years

Picnic lunch at the pavilion at bottom of Clearwater cave.

At about 11.30 am, we were told to get into boats, to be sent to the Mulu airport.  Since we have only two boats at our disposal, the first boat after alighting its passengers would  have to make a return to fetch the last group.   Midway, the second boat met with an accident as it got out of control due to downstream current after being pushed across a shallow patch.   The outboard motor rammed into a tree trunk/root at the side of the river,  causing it nearly being dislodged off the transom of the boat.  The outboard motor was totally defective.  We were told to  take off our shoes and socks, and get off the boat..  We stood in the river for more than 10 minutes before being rescued by the 1st boat that was on the return journey to fetch the remaining members.  Some of us were barefooted when we reached the Mulu airport just before 12 noon.  

Pulling the boat to the bank after the accident.

Juairiah & others barefooted standing in the river.

The dejected look of the boatman. Notice that the outboard motor laying on the boat.

At the airport, there was a tense moment when the call to alight  the plane was made, and the remaining members were not yet on sight!
On the dot, at 12.20 pm, we saw through the plane window, our remaining members came out running on the tarmac towards the plane.  The plane took off 5 minutes late!