Tag: kuala terengganu

Re-discovering scuba.

Something that many don’t know, I could have gotten a diving license around the time when I was 18 but after several lessons, I was suddenly stricken with chronic back pain that lasted for an entire month. Mom suspected that it was caused by heavy oxygen tanks that my instructor then insisted I haul and throw into the pool but I believed it was due to sitting on a stool without back support for long hours in front of the computer :P

So I never got to finishing the Open Water course and in between, I developed an irrational fear of being submerged in the sea. At the recent Redang trip, Ed, of OceanXplorer offered to take me and Kerol for a Discovery Scuba session. A little scared but very excited, Kerol and I readily agreed!

# – Getting ready to enter the water.

# – Ed guiding us.

# – Slowly crawling on the seabed towards the deeper parts of the sea.

In the beginning I was really nervous about clearing mask and equalising pressure in the water. Sure sounded easy when Ed was briefing us on land but when it came down to doing those things in water, I was shit scared! I don’t want to drown! But as I found out later, it’s really, really easy…just let physics runs its course.

# – Buoyancy control fail, stuck in sands.

# – Think I was trying to read Ed’s instructions here.

# – Buoyancy control fail again….drifting upwards towards surface.

In time, we got more and more comfortable. I was in paradise! The sensation of being underwater is indescribable! I can’t believe just the day before I did not think I’d ever consider getting a diving license and right now, I just can’t wait! We went down to 6 metres for a grand period of 60 minutes.

# – See, can pose already!

# – Kerol gives the universal sign of distress.

Finances are so tight now thanks to the house, but I already know what’s the 1st thing I’ll splurge on after everything is settled; a diving license!

# – Underwater group picture time – Joe, God and Horng with me and Kerol in front.

Thanks boys for immortalising our 1st trip underwater with your cameras :D

Redang, 5 years later.

We have been talking about going for our “annual” Redang excursion and finally it happened, 5 years later. What to do? Between our first and recent trip, life and stuff happened. Who cares though, at least we made it! You can read about our first trip here.

This time, instead of flying, we drove. Started the journey a little past midnight towards Kuala Terengganu (KT). Killed a lot of bugs along the way and this one was particularly massive. Need. to. wash. car.

# – Dead bug.

We reached KT at around 7am. Headed to Kampung Cina (yeah it’s really named like that!) for breakfast and to chill before boarding the boat. Had duck noodles for RM4.50, it was surprisingly tiny but very delicious!

# – Quack quack.

After some food and a quick nap, we made our way to the jetty. Oh my gawd the jetty is so different now. It’s busy and bustling and filled with tourist stalls and carparks. The first time we were there, there’s just this tiny little shack to wait for the boat!

# – At the jetty with Kerol and FA.

Once on the boat, it’s time for some some camwhoring.

# – God photobombing me in the back.

And then, it’s time for some #porkgang antics! Pity the other people on the boat, having their peace disrupted by a bunch of childish old farts.

# – Haze and I meditating.

# – KY, Haze, God and Horng in mafia mode.

# – Holding on for dear life. Not.

Finally we reached the island! Redang seemed so different from just 5 years ago. For one, there were more boats and so many more people. Probably something to do with the school holidays and peak of diving season. Pantai Pasir Panjang also seemed a bit worse for wear, a lot of dead corals lying along the beach as opposed to 5 years ago where walking on the beach felt like threading on milk powder. According to Ed, our diving instructor and de facto head honcho for the trip, the dead corals are caused by coral bleaching due to the rise in sea temperatures :(

The place is still very beautiful but we’ve seen its better days and thank goodness for that. As soon as we checked into our rooms, we were ready to hit the beach.

# – Finally my RM15 bikini from Phuket sees the light of day.

That’s all for now! Crazy stuff that happened in following days shall be reported later. I miss Redang!!!!