It has been years since I traveled on the sampan (boat). I was then just a young teenage. The boatmen manually rowed the boats across then. They still stand in the front of their boat with their 2 oars. At the start of the crossing they would row a few times to turn the boat turn to the opposite direction. I think that maybe that is the reason. Correct me if I am wrong. Next thing you hear is the sound of the motor engine. The rowing stopped.
According to the big notice boards on both side of the shores, it is 30 cents per person for a ride across the river. On disembarking, Lay Tin was told by the boatman that it was 40 cents per person. Those passengers who heard the conversation between the boatman and us gave us a kind of look. We were wondering if the boatmen had a different charge for 'tourists'. Somehow these people are smart. They know that Sis and I are not locals. An extra 10 cts is nothing so we didn't fuss but we were unhappy that it did not comply with what is on the board.
Kuching waterfront views from across the river
Thinking that the previous boatmen treated us unfairly, we made sure we didn't board his boat. Returning to the main shore, I spoke to a lady sitting opposite me in the boat and she told me that the price of the boat ride has been increased to 40 cts when the global fuel price increased! That was why!!!!! We were ignorant about that. Blame the notice board for making us felt the way we did earlier on.
Waterfront view from the main river shore.
