WHO
WE ARE
Friends, who started off as colleagues, which had a passion for teaching, and enjoyed every moment of paddling, and now, an inspiration to one another.
Kayak Kaki
Chadel Soon
Freelance Outdoor Educator
Been an Outdoor Educator since 2003, and holds a Remote Paramedic Certificate. His passion for paddling has took him all around the world, guiding in the Arctic Circle Norway, to paddling the whitewaters of the South Island, in New Zealand. He currently holds a BC Advance Sea Kayak Award, is a BC Advance Sea Kayak Leader Aspirant, and also a BC Whitewater Kayak Leader Aspirant. He loves eating Char Kueh Tiaw and Nasi Lemak.
Ella (Nabeela Abdullah)
Freelance Outdoor Educator
Ella has been creating meaningful outdoor experiences for 8 years. She’s a UiTM Sports Management (outdoor major) graduate and has been coordinating and leading adventure-based programs with Nomad Adventure for 4 years. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Outdoor Environmental and Sustainability Education from the University of Edinburgh, and is also a certified Wilderness First Responder. She wishes to educate and inspire people to conserve the natural world and believes the most effective way is through outdoor experience. Ella is happiest when she’s in the outdoors! ...and also when it’s time for dessert!
Madi (Ku Ismadi)
Freelance Outdoor Educator
Madi grew up on Langkawi island. He started off as a nature guide at one of Malaysia's most prestigious hotels, and during his guided nature walks, he would draw and immerse the tourist for hours, chatting about plants, animals, anything that’s related to nature! But his love for the sea is undeniable, and because of that, he has combined both his passion, working with school kids and adult groups on sea kayaks, with an added unforgettable nature tour, identifying unique creatures of the wild! Fast forward 15 years later, Madi has earned his 4 star BCU, 4 star ACA and 4 star SCF sea kayaking certificate. Madi loves coffee (...and baking). His coffee machine is part of his essential kit on programs. But if he's not on barista duty, he'd be thinking of a new baking recipe!
Pak Long
Freelance Outdoor Educator
Born in a small town called Gopeng, a hidden gem where being in a river, cave or waterfall, is a way of life. For Pak Long, home is where the river is, and having it in his backyard meant that Pak Long had the best playground to train in, as post high school, he'd be on the river, already working as a safety kayaker! This passion that he has for more than 15 years, is very evident, especially his enthusiasm (and sparkle in his eyes!) during kayak chatter! Growing up in a kampung may seem a stretch to learn to paddle, but Pak Long's motivation and resourcefulness has always been his advantage. YouTube kayaking videos has been his go-to in the past, and has now turned this veteran paddler to focus on freestyle skills! Pak Long holds a BC 3 Star Whitewater kayak Award, BC 3 Star Sea Kayak Award and a River Rescue Professional Certificate. In 2019, he took 4th place for the ASEAN category in the Asahan River Festival. Currently, he is also working as a raft guide. You'd be lucky to learn from Pak Long, as his drive and passion to teach, has made many kampung kids, successful paddlers. Its his was of giving back to the community.
Hilda Khor
Freelance Outdoor Educator
Hilda - backpacker, kayaker, a girl with crazy dreams. After high school, Hilda spent most of her time volunteering for an NGO where they build homes for the aboriginal people and flood victims in Malaysia. She backpacked around Europe for about 6 months. Hilda works for different school for their outdoor programs as an outdoor educator. Hilda found her true calling - white water kayaking, when she was working in Gopeng 3 years ago, and now she’s based in Gopeng , which means more paddling time for her! Her passion for sea kayaking grew when she was working in Sibu Island. Her coaching experience with school program came in handy at training new people for kayaking. She holds a BCU 3 star for white water kayaking and ongoing 4 star ACA assessment in sea kayaking. She has a bright and bubbly personality and that makes it fun to paddle and work with her. Hilda is a carnivorous girl which is afraid of squishy food like pumpkins, potatoes and egg yolk. (My brain can’t process those food !- Hilda)
Know that the Kayak Kaki Team are volunteers! We use personal gears, time and effort for the clinics!
Sofia Shamsunahar
Freelance Outdoor Educator and Doodle Artist
Sofia was introduced to white water and sea kayaking by Kayak Kaki in the beginning of 2020. Unsure how to read the river and sea at first, and a little scared, the team worked together to build her confidence to paddle. Now she loves kayaking in this little community. Aside from being a Wilderness First Responder certified freelance outdoor educator, Sofia spends her time doodling comics about her life and filming and editing videos about stories that are happening in her community.
Noel Emmanuel Yung
Freelance Outdoor Educator
Noel is afraid of deep water. Always has been ever since an incident as a child, when he tried to tiptoe his way to the deep end of the pool and almost drowned....
That was when he was 7... But now many years later, he is still afraid of deep water. Though he has learned that with the help of a PFD and some swimming lessons, he has nothing to fear! Now his tolerance of deep water has increased, and the water he plays in is just a little bit (actually a lot) deeper than the pool he almost drowned in when he was 7.
On his free time you can see Noel climbing cliffs, surfing some waves, or carving spoons out of a branch he just sawed off from a tree. Professionally he can be seen inspiring young minds in experiential learning programs or teaching skills at the local climbing gym. Has travelled the world in search of adventure and has a motto of "Do one thing everyday that scares you".
But of course, not to forget enjoying a little paddle down the river or on the sea. He still struggles with rolling a kayak, but drinking lots of water doesn't stop him from having fun!
Most importantly, he is always better than Sofia. Though she may not think so.
