Diving in Perhentian

At first, it was just a relaxing, fun diving trip but turned out I am taking Advanced Diving course with the other guys and extra RM500 put into it. Some more, still need to study! But still turned out to be amazing!

The last time I dived was like 5 years ago, so even fixing the gears took time. But luckily the other guys have the same problem! Ha ha! We took 6 dives in 3 days this time around. This includes the night dive (saw few sharks) and ship wreck (nearly die!) and deep dive (25m only..). Saw some turtles, sharks, sting ray, colourful-unknown-to-me fishes and of course Nemo. Experienced clear water, murky water, stinging planktons and even saw one floating "shit" near the shore. We even ate shark for dinner and lots of Mango shake... Too bad no shark fin!

I even tried taking photos underwater and man.. it sux!

And after the 3 days trip, the first day in office, I am still feels like floating around.

Mount Kinabalu - 2 May 2007

Mount Kinabalu - Pay Money to Suffer!

Just back from Sabah last week and climb Mount Kinabalu (4000m)! 7 of us managed to finish it in one piece but with our legs near to breaking. We stayed in the Kinabalu park which is around 1500m, so actually the climb up is just another 2500m vertically but walking distance of 8km!

We started from the Timpohon gate with our guide, Taising who is 52 years old. He offered to take 1kg of our luggage for RM9 but all of us are strong enough to carry 'till end. So, with a 'tongkat', we start moving at around 8am. Along the trail, there were around 8 rest stops which we stop to fill up with clear untreated water from the mountain, perhaps added with "monkey pees" vitamin to make us strong. There were lot of stairs, from mud to woods to stones. Then it started to rain but the journey continues, with our RM2.50 plastic raincoats. We are the earliest going up but there were this "kuai lo" who are like walking in the park, going so fast. Then there were those porters who help to transport things up the mountain. That's why the rice up there cost RM15.

But around 1pm, we reached the Laban Rata resthouse at 3300m, our stop for the day. Legs are aching at that time and the food was just nasi goreng and no hot water with outside temperature just 10'C! We slept around 6pm that day for the early morning climb with headache and stomach ache coming in.

The next morning, at 2am, everybody are prepared for the last climb. So with just a torch, we started walking again but oh my god, we need to climb rocks? After the comfortable stairs, we reached the rocks! Just clinging to a rope, we walked sideway in the dark with just a step width. If you slipped, bye bye and you can become monkey's food! It was scary but again, the "kuai lo" can walk easily through the rocks! We are basically walking 45 degree then 30 degree steep and luckily no rain. Struggling to walk and breath in the cold and thin air! No food and no water! It's how funny some people pay that much money to suffer...

But at 5:30am, we managed to reached the top! The view was great! It was still a great feeling to reached the top after two days of walking and climbing. After a while, it was time to start heading back. The journey down will take another half day...

It was a nice experiance but once is always enough, no next time for me...

Convocation at last....

After more than 18 years of going through primary, secondary and university, finally I can graduate. The day is 12 August 2006. Hot day! Busy day! Don't know what the fuss is about? So, back to working life again... That flower is the one I received on that day and the other is the paper received after sitting in the hall for the whole morning...

Pulau Redang

Pulau Redang - 9 July 2006

Sawatdee Bangkok!

Been to Bangkok last week and wow! Great country, great shopping and great massage! Yes, the massage is cheap, 2 hours "body" massage for only RM30! No special service for this. Went to those go-for-1-time-in-your-lifetime-is-enough place around bangkok such as the Dameon Saduok floating market and the Grand Palace. Nice to know that there is place so special just across the border. The floating market was a bit too touristy. They sell over-price souvenirs, foods and fruits in the sampan along the canal and can get quite chaotic during weekend. But we still can see people really taking bath, washing and swimming in its yellowish brown canal water. The grand palace was worth the visit. Great architecture but it is the golden paints around the pagoda, temples and statues around the Grand Palace that make it so shining. Then there are all those shopping markets, bazaars and malls around Bangkok that worth spending time. The Chatuchak weekend market is the granddest of all, selling everything you can think of... Weird and interesting stuff. We learn the most important Thai word there: paeng = expensive. Everything just say paeng and people will start cursing you. And also those shows... Not much comment about it, really waste of money and time. So, in short, Bangkok is still a very eventful place to be....

Thailand "tasty" food!

1. 50Baht or RM5 birdnest eaten in Chinatown
2. All four main sauce (dried chillies, lime chillies, sugar and "cuka".
3. Tomyam Kung or seafood tomyam!
4. Fried grasshopper. Tasteless but crunchy, maybe a bit salty...

First Paint Ball WAR... but lose...

The first paint ball I had ended fast, just one game. But at least it's fun and something challenging. The so-called "paint-ball" is hard but smashable and this make it a bit dangerous, hence the excitement. Marshals are present so we don't kill each other unintentionally or intentionally. I was "killed" at the shirt! Damn! Still can't find the killer....

3 months after....

I worked for 3 months now. My first "normal" job. Yes, now I know working sux! So to those who are still studying, enjoy your time. When you work, you have 14 days holiday per year and no more long long 1 month break. Unless you break your leg, than maybe more! I really salute those who can take a year off after university to do something different. Went China to teach or go take up a cruise job. The cruise job still pending for him, I hope so. Then some continue to study Master after bachelor. Some 'lucky' ones get married fast and even got one or two small ones to share their salary. When you start working, the topics of discussion becoming more predictable. My colleagues' hottest topic now is which apartment they are going to buy. A lot of them will work, marry, got children and then start to take money out from EPF for some get-rich-scheme. Start working from 8:00-5:00, then growing to 6:00 to 7:00 to 8:00... To those who work until so late, got OT ar? Some got the chance to go overseas for training, not mine. Some just went back here. It's better to go somewhere, even Singapore, even Sandakan, than stay in this island so long. Everyday traffic jam to the office and repeating again when you want to go back. Perhaps better than those in KL! When I started working, I took out the company annual holiday calender and highlighting it. See when is the precious one day off. Now I am counting 30 years before I am old enough to retire and live happily ever after....