Pulau Besar : Run (1) for Nash Hash 2004

            The Pulau Besar Run was an exotic run for the Nash Hash. At noontime, all 150 hashers, large or small, from the various parts of the Pacific region, went on board the buses, which took them to the pier, 1 km away from the venue hotel. They got into the ferry boats and to make them on the protective tinge, their hash names and originated chapters were recorded. Hashers, who have been acclimatized to the terrestrial, now hear the tot-tot of the boat, the blowing of the sea breeze and feel the enormity of slime at their feet. The boats went off the mouth of the Malacca River and headed to Pulau Besar, a few nautical miles to the left.

            At 1.40 pm, they reached the jetty of the island and walked to the runsite not far away on the compound of the island resort. Stalking for half an hour or so, the hashers had felt themselves ready for the run. The Lead Hare, Vibrator, briefed on the taboos of this island of religious awe and the nature of the runs. At 2.10 pm hashers ran in, first to the inhabited area , camp site and shop cubicles. Then there were the primitive trees with large boulders on the slope. After meandering for sometime in the coastal forest, they reached the shoreline. Then the run diverted to two, one to the sandy beach, and another, to the peak of the central hills. There was a green pasture with a bountiful lake. After which, it was back to the habitual world again.

            There was a light snack of sandwich, semosa and nugget, and plenty of beer. Hashers gathered around to make wild acquaintances and posed for photos under the manifesting banner. Our Helmsman, Uncle Looi had a cut on the forehead and a slick on his right leg. While attended by Mutthu, the medical man, he exclaimed on top of his voice of his boisterous hashing adventure. Other wild women of Borneo hash stretched their legs and smelled  their latest catch. One Orang Putih brought his two little kids snarling at the waters of the trip. There was this melodrama of a missing bag belonging to Vibrator which ended with a dreamy found made by the rouge Jaspar.

            Circle began with the Lead Hare, Vibrator, presenting his gimmick of two PVC hoses fixing to the arms. Hashers with misdemeanor were called one by one to put on the hose and drink the beer pouring down at mid air. There was no way to bend the arms and the drinking was a splash onto the face. Laughter spurt and there was much fun. These images, being different from the usual ice-sitting, can be seen from the website photos.

            At 5.55 pm, the hashers made their way back to the jetty. To come to this island was a Napoleonic exile. It was so good to feel the fluttering of Malacca Town again. Strangely, the erraticness of the mainland had at first driven you to seek refuge. Now there is longing to feel the embrace again. At 6.45 pm, we reached the pier and went over to the other side of the river to go on board the bus to the On On at Rotunda, Malacca Club. And the Nash Hash continue…….

                                                                                                            Vigraman