Farewell to Our Inflatable Kayak Emma

Our dream of owning a kayak came true in August 2020, when we bought a tandem inflatable kayak and named her Emma. With Emma, we could explore lakes and rivers whenever we wanted, without having to depend on rental services.

The brand new kayak Emma, 2020

There were so many lakes and rivers in North Texas and southern Oklahoma waiting to be explored. Between August 2020 and June 2021, we paddled on seven lakes—Lake Lavon (four times), Lake Texoma (three times), Lake Worth, Lake Murray in Oklahoma (twice), Cooper Lake, Lake Bob Sandlin, and White Rock Lake—and two rivers: White Rock Creek and the Mountain Fork River in Oklahoma.

Those trips were everything we had imagined.

Many of the lakes were in remote areas, where few people ventured. Even at more popular destinations such as White Rock Lake, Lake Murray State Park, and Beavers Bend, we often found ourselves almost alone once we were on the water. Away from the crowds and noise on shore, tranquility prevailed. We were immersed in nature.

Lake Murray Moonrise

Kayaking brought us close to wildlife, especially waterbirds, as we paddled along shorelines and ventured into secluded coves. We saw egrets, herons, ducks, geese, turkey vultures, American coots, double-crested cormorants, and white pelicans. There were also killdeer, belted kingfishers, eastern phoebes, red-tailed hawks, and even a sandpiper.

Egrets and Ducks at Lake Texoma

A corner of Lake Murray

The views from a kayak were beautiful and unique. Sunrise, sunset, and moonrise over the open water of a large lake looked different from the same scenes viewed from land. Water, sky, and trees dressed in the colors of the changing seasons came together in magnificent tapestries. Our bright yellow Emma added another splash of color to the scene!

Morning Hue, Mountain Fork River, Beavers Bend, OK

Many of our trips were adventures in their own right. Some of the places we visited were largely undeveloped, with no clearly marked paddling routes. We studied maps, scouted shorelines, and ventured into unfamiliar waters, never quite knowing what we might find around the next bend. Emma made these explorations possible.

Bright Yellow Emma in Green Mountain Fork River

Our kayaking adventures in Texas and Oklahoma came to a halt when I took up an international assignment in Singapore. We resumed kayaking in Singapore in October 2021, and the experience brought back the same pleasures we had enjoyed in America: tranquility, wildlife, beautiful scenery, and the excitement of exploring unfamiliar waters.

There was one important difference, however. Most inland lakes in Singapore are reservoirs supplying drinking water, where private recreational kayaking is not permitted. Instead, we took to the sea, paddling in the Singapore Strait and Johor Strait, as well as in the tidal rivers and estuaries around Singapore's main island and Pulau Ubin.

The tropical environment proved much harsher for Emma than the lakes and rivers of North America. Near the equator, intense ultraviolet radiation and constant exposure to seawater took their toll on the kayak's composite materials, particularly the adhesive bonds.

Paddling to Khatib Bongsu 

White Bellied Fish eagle over mangroves

We did our best to take good care of Emma. After every trip, we washed her thoroughly. Once she had dried quickly under the sun, we brought her indoors to finish drying slowly in our air-conditioned living room. We also stored her indoors, protected from the elements.

Over five years, with roughly three trips a year, Emma continued to look almost new. There were only minor signs of wear and tear, especially along the fold lines. Like most inflatable kayaks, she had to be deflated and folded into a storage bag after each trip, and those repeated folds inevitably left their marks.

inflated Emma on the beach of Pasir Ris, 15th paddling trip

Courting Great Billed Herons

Then came May 24, 2026, our fifteenth kayaking trip with Emma in Singapore. We inflated her on Pasir Ris Beach. She looked as beautiful as ever, and anyone who did not look closely would have thought she was still new.

We paddled along the Api Api River on the main island before crossing the Johor Strait to Sungai Puaka. The highlight of the trip was witnessing the courtship behavior of great-billed herons. We spent nearly four hours on the water, covering 11.7 kilometers.

As we approached Pasir Ris Beach, about 300 meters from shore, I noticed something unusual. The right-side air chamber near me, at the stern, had developed wrinkles. It was leaking!

Our subsequent inspection revealed the underlying damage. A section of the air chamber had ballooned locally, causing the material's matrix to crack and form a small hole. We also found delamination at several locations, where layers that should have remained bonded together had separated.

We patched the hole and repaired the delaminated areas using water-based adhesive. After the repairs, Emma looked good again, although the locally ballooned section remained visible despite reinforcement.

Emma after repair - local ballooning area was reinforced 

We were not ready to give up on her just yet.

We took Emma to Sentosa for another outing and enjoyed a wonderful 9-kilometer paddle from Tanjong Beach to Labrador Nature Park and back, lasting two hours and forty minutes. Emma performed well throughout the trip. But after washing and drying her, we discovered more small patches of delamination here and there. We applied a few more Band-Aids.

It was becoming clear that Emma's aging had accelerated in Singapore's tropical environment. The combination of intense UV radiation and seawater had taken a toll, and we knew that her remaining useful life might be limited. We decided to take her out a couple more times before retirement.

Paddling to Pulau Palawan

Our seventeenth trip with Emma took place on September 27, 2026, a cloudy Sunday. We launched from Sembawang and headed for Sungai Simpang, the destination of our very first kayaking trip in Singapore. The estuary lay about two kilometers away, across the open waters of the Johor Strait.

As Lily paddled, I noticed that the main air chamber—the one we sat on—was flexing quite noticeably. We had deliberately inflated the kayak to a pressure below its rated level, and the chamber still appeared reasonably full, so we did not pay much attention to it.

Sungai Simpang was clean and calm. The loud calls of collared kingfishers occasionally broke the tranquility, and we spotted a pair of great herons. It was a lovely place to be, and we were looking forward to exploring the smaller branches of the estuary.

But as we reached the end of the main branch, turning around facing the Johor Strait, the weather began to change. The wind stirred ripples across the water, and scattered, oversized raindrops began to fall. I looked down at the main air chamber again. It had developed pronounced wrinkles.

This time, there was no mistaking the warning sign. The chamber was underinflated, and it was leaking.

We decided to abandon our exploration and return to Sembawang immediately.

As we left the sheltered waters of Sungai Simpang and entered the Johor Strait, the wind strengthened and the rain grew heavier.

The storm had arrived.

Heavy rain lashed us, strong winds swept across the water, and thunder rumbled in the distance. Fortunately, the thunderstorm appeared to be some distance away to the southwest. But we still had a difficult journey ahead of us.

We were paddling directly into the wind and waves. With each passing wave, Emma's flexible body bent and straightened repeatedly. At one point, the wind was so strong that we made no forward progress despite paddling as hard as we could.

The final kilometer to the launch point would normally take us about fifteen minutes. That day, it took nearly an hour.

When we finally reached Sembawang and dragged Emma ashore, we found water inside her stern. The cap on the main chamber's inflation valve had been blown off. A closer inspection revealed extensive delamination on the underside of the main air chamber, with more damage along the side chambers.

The damage was catastrophic. Emma was no longer safe to use.

We had to let her go.

After six years and 31 paddling trips—17 of them in Singapore—we said farewell to Emma. Her retirement had come much sooner than I had expected.

We were not entirely unprepared for the ending, though. Her first serious accident, four months earlier, had alerted us to the damage accumulating beneath her seemingly pristine exterior. We had hoped to squeeze in a few more outings, but the storm on September 27 brought our adventures with Emma to an abrupt end.

Still, there was so much to be grateful for.

Together, Emma and we explored seven lakes and two rivers in Texas and Oklahoma, seven estuaries in Singapore, and the Singapore Strait and Johor Strait. She carried us into quiet coves, along mangrove-lined shores, and across open water to places we might never otherwise have visited.

We encountered mangroves, egrets, herons, kingfishers, and plovers along the water's edge. Grey-headed fish eagles, white-bellied sea eagles, and storks soared overhead. Beneath us were fish, monitor lizards, crocodiles, and smooth-coated otters. We felt the sunshine and moonlight on our faces and the breeze on the water.

From the water, we experienced nature in all its richness.

Emma had given us far more than the freedom to paddle whenever we wished. She had given us six years of exploration, discovery, and shared adventures. She had taken us to beautiful places, brought us closer to wildlife, and helped us create memories that will last long after the kayak itself is gone.

So long, Emma!

We will see you in your next incarnation.

===================

Notes

1. Kayaking with Emma/kayaking history

Sunday, August 16, 2020 

Kayak on Lavon Lake at its SW Corner 1

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Sunset at Lake Texoma 2

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Lavon Lake near Brockdale Park - a photo journal 3

https://explore-nature-have-fun.blogspot.com/2020/09/3rd-trip-to-lavon-lake-tickey-creek-park.html

Saturday, September 26, 2020

3rd Trip to Lavon Lake - Tickey Creek Park 4

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge - bird watching and kayaking 5

Oct 18, 2020 - lake worth ...6

Sunday, October 25, 2020

White Rock Creek - paddling and sightseeing 7

Saturday, November 7, 2020  Camping + Kayaking

Birds, Sunset, Moonrise at Lake Murray 8

Saturday, November 14, 2020  Camping + Kayaking

Lake Murray - A Sequel to Empty Nester Camping Trip  Camping + Kayaking  9

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Clear Lake Park at Lavon Lake  10

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Camping at Cooper Lake State Park  11

Friday, April 30, 2021

Wildlife at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park along its Shoreline  12

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Explore Lake Texoma  13

Saturday, June 5, 2021

Adventures at Beavers Bend 14  last time before moving to Singapore 

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Kayaking at Sungei Simpang  first time in Singapore s1

Saturday, November 27, 2021

Kayak at Sungai Jelutong  s2

Saturday, March 26, 2022

Kayaking Sentosa s3

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Adventure to Frog Island   18  s4

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Kayaking to Mandai River  19 s5

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Sea Kayaking at Sentosa  20/21 - with Nick s6, s7

Sunday, April 16, 2023  Commercial kayak  22  Malaysia 

Idyllic Rimba Resort

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Riding the Tide into Sungai Mamam   23 s8

Monday, July 3, 2023

Kayak to Sungai Puaka  24 s9

Friday, July 28, 2023

Kayaking to Sungei Khatib Bongsu at Low Tide   25 s10

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Kayaking on Lake Mapourika  26 commercial  New Zealand 

Friday, March 29, 2024

Explore Mangrove Forest of Sungei Khatib Bongsu at High Tide    27 s11

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Kayaking on Sungai Teris   28  s12

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Paddle into Sangai Changi  29 s13

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Api Api River Kayaking   30 s14

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Illusion On the Water by Sentosa  31  s16

Saturday, September 26, 2026 (May 24) s15

Spotted Wood Owl, Big Billed Herons' Courtship, and Mishaps during Camping and Kayaking at North Shore of Singapore   32

Sunday September 27, 2926  - Sangai Simpang  - last outing with Emma  s17

The last action of Emma     33

33-2 commercial kayak  = 31 Emma trip

2. Kayak leaking root cause

a. Rated inflating pressure (north America standard) is overinflation for Singapore whether

b. Significant Repeated bending occurred at the location of leak - a tiny hole)

c. Sea water

d. UV

They led to accelerated wear and tear of the kayak which led to local thinning of the air chamber, which led to the formation of a tiny hole for the first leak, and massive delamination from the last trip. 

Sailing Across Indian Ocean Without Leaving My Desk

Prologue

I didn’t sail across the Indian Ocean. I followed a sailing voyage across it.

It all began over dinner with friends, where I met a friend of a friend—an outdoor enthusiast I’ll call OE. We had a great conversation. Before we parted, he told us that, in just two days, he would set sail across the Indian Ocean with four other sailors. He offered to let us track the boat’s progress through Garmin MapShare. I signed up!

The Voyage

The plan was to sail from Bali, Indonesia, to Mauritius, with one stop ashore at the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and about 1,100 nautical miles off the southeastern coast of Africa. The crew expected to cover roughly 3,600 nautical miles in 31 days.

In the end, they sailed 3,488.5 nautical miles in 24 days, including a three-day stop at Cocos.

Each day, OE shared the boat’s position and track through Garmin MapShare, along with photos and brief updates. The boat also had Starlink, so the crew could stay connected while far out at sea.

From Bali to Mauritius

What I Was Curious About

I’m not even keen on kayaking in open water for more than a few hours. Sailing across the Indian Ocean for nearly a month is certainly not an adventure I would choose for myself.

But I was curious. What would OE and his crewmates see and experience? How would they cope with loneliness and boredom—five people confined to a small space, doing much the same things day after day, surrounded by seemingly endless water?

I even did a little reading to understand what a month-long journey across the open ocean might be like. One idea I came across was that, even when people can stay in touch with family and friends, the unchanging horizon and lack of new sights can become psychologically challenging.

I wondered how much of that OE’s crew would experience.

OE's Voyage 

This account is based on the photographs and short comments OE shared by email with those of us following his “Sailing Across the Indian Ocean” adventure.

The first week: Excitement and discovery

The boat left Bali in the late afternoon of September 10, 2026, at around six o’clock in the afternoon. The first day went smoothly, and the crew soon sailed into the sunset.

ready to depart for the voyage at Bali

sailing towards west

OE didn’t write much about how he felt, but his photos offered clues. In one, he was still awake at two in the morning, wearing a red headlamp. In another, he was on deck the following afternoon, scanning the sea through a telescope. By the third day, though, he had gone to bed as early as eight o’clock. Perhaps the excitement was already giving way to the demands of life aboard a boat.

early sleep (8pm)  on the 3rd night

The fifth night seemed ideal for stargazing. The sky was clear, and the crew stayed up late to watch the stars. Two photos were timestamped 2:59 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. OE also finally found some time that evening to work on his laptop.

Star Gazing in the middle of Indian Ocean 1

Star Gazing in the middle of Indian Ocean 2

By day six, food had become a recurring subject in his updates. OE sent a photo of his breakfast, and over the course of the voyage he shared about a dozen photos of meals. Cooking seemed to be one of the boat’s main activities, and there was a pleasing variety of dishes. That morning, the crew also tried fishing from the stern. OE didn’t say whether they caught anything.

Scrambled eggs, tomatoes and meat for day 6 breakfast

Fishing in the morning, 7am, at the stern 

Day seven brought a chance to get into the water. Under a blue sky dotted with white clouds, the crew swam in the ocean and dived from the deck. From the photos, it looked like a wonderful day.

Diving from the sail boat

Cocos: A welcome break on land

On September 17, the boat reached the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, its first and only stop ashore. The passage from Bali had taken seven days and two hours, covering 1,136 nautical miles.

The crew celebrated the completion of the first leg with a big meal aboard and champagne.

They apparently continued to sleep on the boat, but went ashore to look around and make use of the island’s facilities—to shop, do laundry, and, most importantly, enjoy a proper shower and shave. One photo carried OE’s caption: “First ‘real’ Shower and Shave” in seven days.

I could imagine how good that shower must have felt.

They left Cocos at six o’clock on the morning of September 20. Around half past six, the sun emerged from behind heavy clouds.

an inflatable boat to go to the Cocos island

celebrating completion the 1st stage of the voyage 

Sunrise on the start of the second part of the voyage - Cocos to Ma

The second leg: When the days begin to blur

After leaving Cocos, the routine began to repeat itself: the vast ocean, sunrise behind them, sunset ahead, and occasional swims. The initial excitement seemed to fade, and boredom began to creep in. Even the consistently dry weather, which might sound like a blessing, had become monotonous. A change in the weather would at least have offered something different to look at.

Then, on day 18—the seventh day of the second leg—something unexpected happened. Flying fish and flying squid came hurtling toward the boat. One squid actually hit OE on the head!

It sounded like a scene from a movie. Experiencing it in person must have been both startling and thrilling.

squids flew into the sail boat

flying fishes fell onboard

On day 19, I noticed from a couple of photos that it had finally rained. I wrote to OE: “Finally, there was rain!”

His reply was memorable:

“Ha, when it rains it pours. 😳 Also, our autopilot is having electrical issues, so lots of hand steering. Thanks for checking in Allan. It has been surprisingly lonely out here, and every single note helps.”

I was struck by his admission: *“It has been surprisingly lonely out here.”*

I had expected the crew to face boredom. After all, the same five people were sharing a small space, surrounded by little more than sea and sky, for weeks on end. They had activities to break up the day—swimming, fishing, cooking, and stargazing—and Starlink allowed them to communicate with family and friends. Yet none of these could fully dispel the loneliness.

Perhaps that was what surprised me most. Being connected is not the same as feeling connected. A message from someone on shore might have meant more to OE than I had imagined. His words made me realize that even a remarkable adventure can have long, quiet stretches when a simple note from home—or from a bystander following along—makes a difference.

Land at last

Fortunately, the wind was behind them, and the crew was running about a week ahead of schedule. As they approached Mauritius, large ships began to appear. Then, at last, land came into view.

The boat arrived near Mauritius at around nine o’clock on the evening of 24th day. They could not enter the harbour after dark, so they had to anchor about a mile from the port and wait.

The ocean crossing was essentially over: 24 days and roughly 3,500 nautical miles behind them.

OE’s final message was long and full of emotion. He described reaching his hotel the following afternoon:

 “At about 1:30 PM, I finally walked the roughly 150 feet from the boat to my hotel, checked in, took a very welcome shower, and officially returned to life on land.

After weeks aboard Quetzal, that very short walk felt like the end of a very long journey.”

The date was a special date for another reason. It marked exactly 30 years since OE and his wife had gone on their first date.

He ended with a thought that stayed with me:

“The greatest adventure of my life has never been this sailing trip. It has been the life my wife and I have built together over these past 30 years.”

After weeks of crossing an immense ocean, it was a moving reminder that the greatest adventures are not always the most dramatic ones. Some are built quietly, day by day, with another person.

Mauritius

Epilogue

Following OE’s voyage turned out to be an adventure of its own. I read every email, downloaded all the 200+ photos he sent, and saved them in a folder. I had planned to write this bystander’s journal once he completed the crossing, and now, at last, I have done so.

As with the journals I write after my own trips, putting this account together took me through the journey once more. Looking back at the photos and messages, I noticed details I might otherwise have missed. I shared a little of the crew’s excitement, imagined the monotony of those endless days at sea, and felt the significance of that simple message about loneliness.

I never set foot on the boat, and I crossed none of those 3,488.5 nautical miles myself. Yet by following the voyage, I experienced a small part of it.

Sometimes, being a bystander is enough to take you on a journey.

How to Increase Engagement by Giving Away Control of Team Meetings

 Do your regular group meetings suffer from low participation?

Team members rarely speak up unless they are providing a mandatory status update. They do not raise concerns even when they see potential problems. Discussions are often driven by just a few voices while everyone else remains silent.

I have seen this pattern in many meetings, at all organizational levels. It was present in my own team meetings as well.

Over the years, I tried a variety of approaches to increase engagement. I asked team members to propose discussion topics, volunteer as meeting chairs, and serve as featured speakers on technical subjects. While these efforts sometimes worked, the results were limited and short-lived.

After considerable reflection, I concluded that one reason for the lack of engagement was me. As both a manager and a technical leader, I was unintentionally shaping the meeting dynamic. Team members were participating in my meeting rather than feeling ownership of our meeting.

To change that dynamic, I proposed a different approach: everyone would take turns leading the group meeting, with full ownership of the agenda and meeting flow.

The only requirements were:

1. Everyone turns on their video during the TEAM meeting.

2. Each meeting includes at least two components: a safety/value moment and individual status updates.

Beyond these two requirements, the meeting chair has complete authority. Even as the group leader, I do not interfere with how the meeting is conducted.

My rationale was simple. This format gives every team member an opportunity to lead, influence the discussion, highlight topics they care about, and bring forward ideas they want to advocate. It also naturally broadens the range of topics discussed by the team.

The team agreed to give the new format a try.

The results exceeded my expectations.

Every team member took the responsibility seriously. The preparation was evident in the quality of the topics selected, the structure of the meetings, and the enthusiasm with which they led discussions. Participation increased significantly, and conversations became far more dynamic and interactive.

After the first complete rotation, I observed three clear outcomes: diverse perspectives, richer discussions, and substantially higher engagement.

An additional advantage is that the responsibility is not burdensome. In our team, each person chairs the meeting only once every three months, and I participate in the same rotation as everyone else.

We are now in our second rotation, and the benefits have been sustained. For a capable and motivated team, this format has proven remarkably effective.

Why does it work?

One possible explanation comes from organizational anthropology and the study of collective behavior. There are often hidden forces behind group energy and participation.

Requiring cameras to be on creates a stronger sense of co-presence. Team members share a common focus, become more synchronized with one another, and develop greater social connection. This can generate positive emotional energy within the group.

At the same time, when a team member leads the meeting with genuine autonomy, their role temporarily shifts from participant to facilitator. That increased sense of ownership and responsibility elevates commitment, confidence, and engagement. The result is a more energized and involved team discussion.

I discovered that engagement is difficult to mandate but easy to unleash. The key was not finding better ways to encourage participation. It was creating a structure that gave every team member ownership. Once ownership shifted from the manager to the team, engagement followed naturally.

Notes - 

Three months after I implemented the change, I found out that organizational anthropology could explain why the change works during a TEDx talk.

The post is a polished version of my completed draft by chatGPT/MS Copilot - Copilot was used to " tighten the language, improve flow".

Indoor Explorations

We attended unusually high number of cultural events in the last 3 months.

At the invitation of a friend we went to the "The Spirit of Tea in Clay" exhibit at Japanese Creative Center on July 29th, and watched a stage play "The audience" at Singtel Waterfront theater on August 29, and attended TEDx at NTU on September 20th.  

The Spirit of Tea in Clay

At the invitation of Lily's Chinese-Japanese friend, we attended a pottery art show, in the evening of July 29, at Japan Creative Center, which is a short walking distance away from our apartment.

The art pieces at the exhibit are simple ceramic teapots, tea cups, tea bowls. The layout was elegant.

We chatted with one artist at the show, Mr. Yoshimura, and his wife briefly.

It was a pleasant evening.

The Audience...a stage play

​A month later, we went to watch a recorded British stage play...The Audience, at Singtel Waterfront Theater, on August 29th. It is about UK Queen Elizabeth and her weekly meetings with British Prime Ministers. 

We left home early for the play, and enjoyed the sculptures, and murals outside the theater. 

When we were set for the play, we were surprised to see that the theater was almost full! 

I was also surprised that the stage play was not live. The play we watched was projection of a recorded paly. The project was made for the full stage, not a screen, it felt like watching a live play.

I knew a little bit about British modern political history, so I could follow the play. 

Be it is a Queen or a prime minister of a country, they are human beings as well. In addition to politics, they also talked about their daily life, their emotional high and low, their happiness and frustration ... 

We enjoyed the play.

​Background information:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Audience_(2013_play)

​

         ​

TEDx...

I started listening to TED talk in 2016. My interests in it lasted a year or two. 

When Lily suggested to go to a live TEDx at NTU on September 20, I was intrigued, and agreed to go to our 1st ever live TEDx event.

The theme of this event was Inter[x]. Inter[x] celebrates the power to Interact, Intersect, and Interrupt—to connect across boundaries, uncover unexpected possibilities, and rethink the world through fresh perspectives. From science and technology to business, culture, and human experience, the speakers reveal how transformation happens when and where different worlds meet.

TEDX event was held at Nanyang auditorium on NTU campus. In addition to  the 5 TEDx talks,  it also had performances by students between the talks

The talk that I was impressed with, is by Julien Cayla, a business anthropologist. He  uncovers the hidden forces behind collective energy, showing how insights from multiple disciplines can help us create richer, more meaningful human connections every day.

His main points are that co presence physically, people have mutual focus, and they synchronize with each other, generate emotional energy. He also showed that status and autonomy amplify emotional energy.

The talk

performance 

Occasional cultural events enrich our outdoor centric, nature themed life.

Spotted Wood Owl, Big Billed Herons' Courtship, and Mishaps during Camping and Kayaking at North Shore of Singapore

Our enjoyment of  Kayaking on Api Api River  made us want to do it again.

Our misfortunate camping at Pulau Ubin  made us want to try camping again in Singapore. 

This led to the trip plan for a combined camping and kayaking journey:

Camp at Pasir Ris Beach and Park on May 23, 2026, overnight, and go kayaking on Api Api river early next morning. 

We arrived at the park around 6pm. The camp ground is big and smooth, not many campers there at that time. We set up our tent and walked around. We had birds, jungle rooters and a spotted wood owl as our neighbors, plus Sea breeze, setting Sun,... Not bad!

A breezy evening

Spotted Wood Owl

There were many tents by the beach, that's where noisy people were. I hoped they were day campers, and would leave when it was time to sleep.

After our picnic dinner, we walked along the beach away from the noise to the no camping zone. We sat on a park bench by the sea, enjoyed sea breeze, a half Moon in the sky, and the quiet dark Johor Strait. 

We went back to the campsite around 9pm, and was surprised to find tens of lights densely distributed within the campground were turned on, made the campground brighter than earlier in the evening! The noise from the people by the beach was louder than earlier. There was no quiet time restriction. In fact the lights were on the whole night, and noise did not die down until ~ 1 to 2am next day.

Another bad camping experience in Singapore. It was worse than the Pula Ubin camping experience.

our tent

dark and quiet Johor Strait

lit up camp ground, and noise from tents by the beach

We got up early next morning, ~ 6am. There were people jogging and biking at the park already. The sky was still dark, the surrounding was quiet. The restroom for the area was cleaned - thanks to the custodians who got up even earlier. A positive change!

After breakfast, we unset and packed the tent, stored it in our car parked only 100 feet away. 

We inflated our inflatable kayak Emma, and were ready for launching it in about 10 - 15 minutes as usual. It was almost ideal condition for kayaking - the water was calm, the sky was cloudy - the clouds partially blocked the Sun.  But it was low tide this morning at Johor strait. 

inflated kayak

rays of sunshine broke through cloudy sky 

low tide made the beach much larger 

Low tide makes paddling into tidal rivers, such as Api Api, shorter, but poses no other problems for kayaking in wild rivers, such as Sungei Khatib Bongsu. It actually provides some benefits - typically more birds are present at the rivers' bank  - good for bird watching.

Api Api river is a tidal river, it is also a drainage for the residential buildings along its banks.

The water level in Api Api was low - expected, but sections of it smelled like a rotten egg - H2S! We did not see many birds like we saw last time on the river in January. We did not linger, and left the river in less than 45 minutes.

It was still early for the day, we decided to cross the Johor Strait to paddle on Sungai Puaka in Pulau Ubin.

It was a good decision. The low tide provided a different vista of Sungai Puaka.

Fishmen were fishing, in tandem on a boat, or solo on a kayak. 

We were the only people on the river once we passed the fishermen. 

It was quiet except occasional bird chirpings, especially the collared kingfishers. The most endearing part of the kayaking on Sungai Puaka was that we witnessed the courtship of two big billed herons on the riverbank.

Two big billed herons met each other on a bare riverbank, see photos below.

They looked each other and then the heron on the right walked towards the other heron, which did not move at all. Based on typical big billed heron courtship behavior, it was certain that the moving heron was a male.

The male passed the female a step or two, and turned around, then they faced each other with an offset of one step. In a moment, the male then walked a few steps toward an opening in the mangrove, turned around looking at the female again. The female looked around for a moment, then followed the male into mangrove.

two big billed herons met at the riverbank

The heron on the right walked toward the one on the left, which did not move at all

stood side by side but looking at each other 

they looked at each other, and looked around

they decided to go to a private place together 

they disappeared into the mangrove trees  

On the way back to Singapore main island, we paddled around the islet by Pulau Ubin - Pulau Ketam from its northwest tip. The area is primitive, and we saw severe erosion of the shore ... nature at work.

When we were 300 meters to the Pasir Ris Beach, I noticed water in the kayak, and right side air chamber in back (right by my side) was deflated! We did not notice any issues with the kayak when we inflated it.

We paddled to the nearest shore instead of the launch spot. 

A scare but no real consequence - we were on land safely but exhausted.

We will learn from the mishaps (campground light and noise, the kayak leak). In fact we found out the root cause of the leak, and repaired the kayak already at the time of this writing. We paddled the repaired kayak on the rougher water of Sentosa. 

The excitement of seeing a new bird species and witnessing big billed herons' courtship made the trip very worthwhile!

erosion of the islet shore

trees fell into water due to severe erosion

Notes

Big Billed Herons' courtship - chat with Google AI

a. (Gender of herons)This photo had two big billed herons, one has darker plumage, they seemed be courting each other. which one is male?

The heron on the right is almost certainly the male.

Because male and female great-billed herons share identical plumage patterns, telling them apart in the wild relies entirely on physical size and behavioral cues during courtship:

• The Larger Size: The heron standing on the right is visibly taller, stands with a more imposing posture, and possesses a heavier build than the heron on the left. In great-billed herons, males average slightly larger and heavier than females.
• The Darker Plumage: During the courtship phase, the male often appears darker or exhibits more pronounced, slicked-down slate-grey plumage contrast, especially while posturing to impress a mate.
• Courtship Dynamics: In typical heron courtship behavior, the larger male takes the lead in displaying, stretching, or approaching the female (on the left) to initiate nesting bonds.

Would you like to know more about the specific courtship displays great-billed herons use, or the best mangrove locations in the region to spot them nesting?

b. that's pretty accurate behavior description of big billed heron courtship compared to my field observation - the darker plumage heron seemed to lead the way into mangroves.

That is a wonderful and incredibly accurate field observation!

The taller, darker heron leading the way into the mangroves perfectly mirrors established great-billed heron nesting biology. In these magnificent birds, the male takes full charge of selecting and securing the nesting territory within the thick, protected mangrove roots or canopy.

Mangrove Courtship & Nesting Roles

• Leading the Way: Once a pair-bond begins to form on the open mudflats, the male will lead the female into the denser mangrove foliage. He is essentially showing her potential, highly secluded spots to build their massive stick nest.
• The "Stick Ceremony": Once inside the mangroves, you might see the male begin to break off small branches and present them to the female. If she accepts the sticks, it seals the courtship bond, and she will handle the actual construction while he continuously gathers materials.
• Security & Seclusion: Great-billed herons are notoriously shy and highly sensitive to human disturbance. They use the deep mangrove systems as a visual shield to keep their massive nests safe from predators and boat traffic.

It sounds like you captured these in a very pristine habitat. To help me share more relevant behavioral insights, could you tell me:

• Did you notice if the male was making any low croaking or roaring vocalizations while leading her?
• Approximately what time of year or what region were these photos taken?

c. I took the photos on May 24 during a kayaking trip. Just had time to write my journal for the trip. Here is my recollection of the observation, with photos: Two big billed herons met each other on a bare riverbank. They looked each other and then the heron on the right walked towards the other heron, which did not move at all. Based on typical big billed heron courtship behavior, it was certain that the moving heron was a male. The male passed the female a step or two, and turned around, then they faced each other with an offset of one step. In a moment, the male then walked a few steps toward an opening in the mangrove, turned around looking at the female again. The female looked around for a moment, then followed the male into mangrove.

That is an exceptionally well-documented field observation! Your journal entry perfectly captures the subtle, step-by-step choreography of great-billed heron pair-bonding and mate attraction.

The timeline you recorded (late May) aligns perfectly with their breeding window, when high-stakes territorial and pair-formation behaviors peak in coastal mangroves.

Deconstructing the Behavior You Observed

• The Approach and Standstill: When the male confidently advanced while the female remained completely stationary, he was testing her receptivity. In heron biology, an interested female will stand her ground calmly, whereas an unreceptive bird or competing male would either flee or strike a defensive, spear-like posture.
• The Strategic Overtake and Offset: Walking past her, turning, and standing offset is a classic, non-aggressive ritual. By positioning himself slightly to the side rather than head-on, the male showcases his full profile, physical size, and breeding plumage while intentionally reducing the threat of a direct confrontation.
• The "Follow Me" Recruitment: Moving toward the mangrove opening and looking back is the definitive transition from initial attraction to territory selection. He isn't just moving away; he is actively inviting her to inspect a nesting sanctuary. Her choice to follow confirms she has officially accepted him as a mate.

Your description reads like a professional ethogram (an official catalog of animal behaviors). If you'd like to expand your journal entry, let me know:

• Did you happen to spot any other wetland species nearby during that stretch of the river?
• Would you like me to look up any specific nesting timelines or egg-laying details for great-billed herons during the mid-to-late summer months?