Express Bahagia No. 8 - Riding the Waves on Happiness
Riding the waves on Happiness anyone? Try the Express Bahagia No.8 plying between Kuching and Sibu, a mere 5 hours’ sprint across the azure South China Sea and the murky waters of the Sarawak River and Rejang River. You can doze off inside the chilly cabin or join fellow smokers on the open upper deck, or avoid the smoke and sunbathe at the far end of the deck.
The Express Bahagia No.8 sets sail promptly at 8.30 am, but come early to book a ticket a claim a better seat. Tickets are booked earlier or on the spot at the jetty counter.
All aboard! At the jetty in Kuching, the boat waits patiently for the passengers to alight.
Ouch! Passengers can test the durability of their pelvic bones by sitting on 5 horizontal stainless steel tubes. Most of them have to get up after about half an hour of bone rattling. Bring your own cushion, perhaps?
Enjoying the view of the South China Sea and the open air. By 9.10 am, the boat is out of the Sarawak River and into the open sea. The air is still cool until mid morning when it gets warmer and most passengers moved to under the canopy of the open deck.
Shopping facilities on board the Express Bahagia No.8 is rather spartan, but it does answer the grumbling of your stomach which threaten to drown out the droning of the express' twin power diesel engine. Judging by the eager shoppers crowding around, nobody is complaining.
Safe haven. The berthing jetty for express boats in Sibu. The same express will leave for Kuching the following day at 11.30 am.
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