147. KELONG !!

'Kelong' is a Malay word for cheating, rig or fix a game...

In my case, I was spending 2 nights onboard a fishing platform built out into the sea off the coast of Batam, Indonesia.

Such kelongs were homes to fishermen who spend their entire lives on it...their womenfolk were never allowed on it. There aren't many real kelongs left in Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines.

This particular one was done up for city folks for R and R with karaoke, air-conditioned rooms, a cook, lots of food and beverage.

Always wanted this experience of sleeping over on one but not the fishing part which the rest did with lines - that's just not my thing...

All onboard!

Approaching the kelong, it felt like I'm been banished to some god forsaken place in the middle of nowhere...!

My cell for the 2 nights

Finding my sea legs...
 

My days are just packed...yea, packed to the gills...with reading materials...

The girls came over from the mainland to provide this massage service!

 

Food came over from shore every morning and prepared on board...

Minions! Minnows - the city folks were thrilled at their catch - no matter the size!

 

More minnows...

Carcases of abandoned vessels left to rot - apparently it's cheaper to leave them than try salvage them, what can be sold has been stripped.