7th December 2025 Beena
When I posted this watercolour painting of the Seastack that disappeared, I received many comments. Most comments were about the Seastack. In fact, almost no one in Malaysia knew about it. It collapsed on 13th February 2024. One reason could be that it is part of Bako National Park, and mainly, visitors to the park would be interested. Highlighting its significance helps connect the event to Malaysian natural heritage and engages local readers more deeply.
The cause of the collapse is largely unknown, but it was probably due to weather changes. I have been visiting this park since 1993, and over the years, I have developed a deep connection with it. I fell in love with this park. There are three main trails to explore. The first time, I took the shortest trail as it only took about 30 minutes and ended in a private cove. The second time, I took a longer trail that takes around an hour, which is a bit tough, but then you reach a cliff where you can see the Cobra Head Seastack. I took a photo of it in 2014. I learned about the collapse about two months ago. Since then, I have been contemplating painting it, but wasn’t sure how best to approach it. Anyway, I painted this in October, but didn’t dare to post it because I felt it didn’t look good enough. However, am glad that I did as many thought they got to know something about this unique Seastack.
I loved this park for a reason. The trail is challenging enough, and then you are rewarded with a magnificent view, plus the water is warm enough to swim. I brought all my international friends to this place, and they all loved it. After the swim, we would sit around, have a drink and a bite, and wait for the boat to pick us up. The last time I visited was in 2014. It is sad that the icon has disappeared, but it is greatly missed. I believe the message is that if we don’t do something about climate change, more harm will come to this earth.