The Bumpy, Splashy Way to Song-Song

By Dael Kim

Applying sunscreen to every visible part of the body, the Dalat dorm students prepared for a Song-Song Island trip during the five-day Chinese New Year holiday.

The sun shone brightly on the shore, while three speedboats rumbled their engines, signaling the start of a fun journey. As the dorm students got on the boats one by one, each of them grabbed a life jacket and sat down on their seats. While the boats were drifted off from the shore, the students were also preparing themselves in different ways. Some took their phones out and started taking pictures, some squeezed their last bit of sunscreen out and applied it to themselves, and there were some who just sat in silence, admiring the blue ocean and the clear sky that was laid in front of them.

The trip to Song-Song Island took about an hour and a half, and it came with a lot of bumpy waves and cold water splashes along the way. As the boat traveled faster and faster, the students held on to the handle tight, while making sure their belongings were not flying away. When the boat finally reached the shore of Song-Song Island, the excitement started building up among the conversations shared between students.

“Let’s go explore the bat cave! We can go and take pictures on the way there as well! Who wants to come and join me?” Jireh Ang (12) asked, trying to get the attention of other people.

The seniors, accompanied by three other underclassmen, joined Ang in exploring the island. The way to the bat cave was slippery, rocky, and hot, but the students still showed a smile on their face despite the unfriendly circumstances. After snapping some pictures at the bat cave, the students walked back to eat their sack lunches that the school cafeteria made in the early morning before the trip happened.

After filling up their stomach, everyone relaxed in their own ways, some in the water, some picking up shells, and some taking naps on the sand. After 4 hours of fun and relaxation, it was finally time to leave the island. Everyone packed up their belongings while making sure there was no trash left behind.

“I really enjoyed this trip; it was a really good time to take a break from schoolwork and spend time with my friends,” expressed Madaline Rude (12).

The way back to Penang was still beautiful; the ocean sparkled as the sunlight reflected on it. A lot of students got sunburnt and weird tan lines, but that was all part of the good memories made in the span of 4 hours. The trip to Song-Song Island was the last trip for some, and a new experience for some, but one thing for sure, it has become a precious memory that will be treasured for the years to come.