Tiring Melaka Trip

Just got back from our tour in Melaka..

It was so much fun.. I really enjoy the place. Its like Fort Santiago or Corregidor of Malaysia. I only have an issue with the weather in the place.. It was so soo sooo hot that I sweat my butt while walking around.

Since its Saturday, there are lots of tourist and local people around. There are plenty of places to visit and things to do so your time will not be wasted. Just ready your pocket since most of the places will require you to pay :D. Business baby.. business!

It's very tiring but yeah a fun day.

I will specify the things I done there soon.. hopefully if I got and extra time. :D

Opps They Did It Again

Been to the Embassy yesterday to renew my nearly expired passport. Thought that I can finish to furnished all the needed documents and application earlier since I arrived 10am at the city, but I reach home late nearly frustrate and stressed... and believe me when I said nearly... I mean this close... THIS CLOSE!

From the delayed assistance you will get from the ever not-helpful people inside the institution to the incomplete information on their messed up bulletin boards. No chance for anyone to use their wide and creative mind but to ask someone and hope to get a clear idea on what should be done. Great if you will get a clear instructions from them but since they are all pretending to be busy, they will let you hang and complete the puzzled idea that they initially gave.

Good thing, there a some hopeless people like me who been at the place since early morning who, unfortunately, still yet to complete what ever request ask to them. I ask them and pick up some of the pieces of the puzzle that I already have. Its very frustrating really. I'm just fortunate that I'm still on leave so I still have time to relaxed my mind.

The Other Side Of Our Journey

Its was almost noon of Maundy Thursday when we reached Perhentian and was able to booked a place to stay for the rest of our holidays in the Island when we decided to go straight away to the beach to save time. Without rest, we enjoyed the heat of the sun which was started to shine that time. It wasn't hot that a mademoiselle from France told me that she was a bit disappointed about the weather. She was told by a friend that it was great to visit the island because of the warm place. Well for most of Asians like me... the weather was enough not to darker our skin more since we have no plan to sun bathe.

After a few minutes, I decided to swim on the clear sea water. My friends didn't join me and just satisfied themselves laying on the sand. There are some people who are already there, some surfing enthusiast who waits for the right waves and some who are already swimming. I paddle for a couple of minutes... playing and swimming along and against the waves. I really enjoy the moment. Swimming is one of my outlets to distress and being in a great beach like Perhentian adds up on me being more relaxed.

Roughly 20 minutes after, I felt tired but ignored the urge to take a rest. I still continue paddling when I noticed that I can't move forward. Waves becoming bigger and they take me farther. I tried to use breast stroke so that I can see if I can make it near the shore, nothing happens. I tried to do free style but I felt the pressure on my legs and arms. I take a rest and float for a while and try again. I'm worrying already that I can't really make it. I wasn't on hysterical yet but my mind tells me that I really need help... Then I made a decision....

I let my self sink first and push my body up to breathe some air before I cried for attention... I battled on the sound of waves to call for help. It was on my 4th or 5th call when a group of people notice me. And before another wave hit my body... I saw them move urgently nearer to save me. When I make sure that help is coming, I float again and wait for them to grab me. The first word I said to them when they came is... "Sorry".

"Are you with someone?" they ask.
"No, my friends are at shore", I replied.

I kept my body relaxed while my mind works and think how stupid I am to be in that situation... nearly drowned.

When we finally got in to the shallow part of the sea, I stand and give my never-ending thanks to them. I return back to my friends who don't have any idea on what happen. I don't want to scare them and spoiled their vacation. I lie on my back and close my eyes to relax... and there I found that I am really tired... I fell asleep for a couple of minutes and rethink on what happen when I woke up. I saw the group who help me and ask for their contact info... (I learn that they are from Czech Republic) Take some of their pictures and gave thanks again for helping me...

The Journey

Long travel is quite tiring, specially on road trips. Thats why we decided to take a flight when we took an off to relax.

With my three friends, we decided to spend our Holy Week to an island not yet spoiled by tourist... Perhentian. Unlike Langkawi, where a direct flight will take you to the island through Air Asia, Perhentian has a bit tricky ways to reach. The island can be reached either from Kota Bahru (46Km) or Kuala Terengganu (109 Km). As for us first timer, who didn't research enough, we took the latter way.. traveling a long way from Kuala Terengganu...

Anyway, our flight to K.T was 20 minutes delayed. Originally scheduled at 2005h, the plane departed at 2025h, reaching Sultan Mahmud Airport quite late. As a normal tourist act (as I know it is), we took some pictures of their Domestic Airport which is much better than LCCT which hold both, Domestic and International flight from different cheap carriers. Much better in my Country's "Diosdado Macapagal Airport" in Clark too!..in my opinion.

We look around to ask a simplest way to reach Kuala Besut except from taxi where we will spend the night before we continue our journey to Perhentian Island early the next morning. Upon knowing that the last bus from KT going to the place might already left, we decided to spend the night to the nearest hotel nearer to the bus terminal.

We checked-in at Hotel Indah around 2030h after a 15 to 20 minutes taxi ride from the airport. Cheapest as you can get (as per the helpful airport taxi counter staff), we got our room for 80 bucks, with two king size beds, air-con, TV with local channels and attached bathroom with water heater. My only problem is their lack of bathroom rags, other than that, everything seems to be fine.

We then hang around and checked for the earliest bus departure schedule to Kuala Besut after taking a quick shower. We learned that the first bus to KB is sched to depart at 0900h, with roughly 3 hours travel time... a total waste of time if we will reached the place at noontime. We then decided to try our luck to grab a cheaper taxi the next morning. We went to the nearest 711 store to buy some water and coffee before we head back to our hotel. Some chitchat about the plan for the following day and bed set up before we decided to sleep.

The next morning, Maundy Thursday, I woke up early and proceed to the terminal again to check if the the stalls are open to confirm the schedule we got the other night. Everything is still the same as we left the place. All the stalls are close, except from some taxis lined up at the road. Without luck I went back to the Hotel and persuade the group to get up, take a bath and leave early.

We check-out around 0715h full of enthusiasm about our next road trip. We rent a taxi van which we got for Rm80, a cheap price for an hour and half journey to KB. The journey went good.. I really love the view, specially the mangroves that I saw on the road time by time. We reached our destination earlier than expected. Our driver sent us to the traveler's agent office (MD Tours) where we bought our jetty ticket scheduled to leave at 1000h. Having more time, we spend the rest of the hour eating at the nearest Chinese restaurant at the place. I really enjoyed their "Nasi Goreng Ayam". And yeah, I didn't forget to inform the owner/cook that my taste buds are well satisfied...

The Jetty station is not far from where we bought our ticket. Together with few Westerners, we head to the boat station. The day is a bit cloudy and windy which add to the already bigger sea waves. Most of the passengers are shouting when our boat started to take off... the highest boat jump we experience is about 1 to 1.5 meters. We reached the first drop off after 30 to 35 minutes.. our destination.. the island of Perhential Kecil or what they call "The Small Island".

The boat operator informed us that we need to walk for about 10minutes to reach the long beach where we decided to stay. The boat is not going to the place since the waves are much bigger there. Wet and almost exhausted due to the long journey, we track the way through the jungle. Then finally, after a great patience.. we reached the place. We tried to look for a Chalet to stay on for the rest of our days there. Unfortunately finding a place to stay is difficult. We even experience how some of the receptionist discriminate us and choose the people who they want to entertained.

After more than an hour of searching, we finally got at room at "Mohsin Chalet", one of the cheapest place to stay at the long island. And there, the great long beach experience on the beach started.

It went on...

Better..

As We planned..

Almost...

Are all things here?

Extra Shirt - Check!
Swimming short - Check!
Wallet - Check!
Money - Check!
Undies - Check!
Slippers - Check!
Shoes - Check!
Pants - Check!
Toothbrush - Check!
Sun Block Lotion - Check!


and the most important....


Passport - Check!
Ticket - Check!

... Terengganu, here we come!!!!!

Travel...Plans...Problem?

Okay, I just learned that none of us traveling later had an idea on how to get to our destination.. hahaha. Funny but true! It turns out that the place we want to visit is too far from the town and airport.. geez.

Our initial plan is to visit Pulau Perhentian which is in Terengganu so we bought a ticket flying there. We just found out that the jetty terminal going to Perhentian is much nearer if you fly to Kota Bahru. Well, thats the result of being too excited and not done any research before buying a ticket.. hehehe.. But thats where you can find excitement right? Being lost. hahaha

I want to explore so its fine for me.. the only problem is that we will reached the airport at night and we are not sure until what time the buses operates there. Airport taxis are expected to be more expensive knowing that the place is one of the Country's "Tourist Places". I tried to search for more convenient way to reach the port but I can't find anything that will lead us to the place soundly. There are some transportation that can be use like train and buses but you have to go down from places to places which will measure our patience and waste our time.

Anyway, We just all decided to rent a taxi in case we can't find any option.. We don't want to stressed ourselves thinking to try different ways... this is a vacation and we all want to enjoy... :)

E-Ticket

My! I thought I lost my plane ticket.... hahahaha.

I purchased an online ticket from Air Asia to a beach situated in north-eastern of Peninsular Malaysia. Bordered in northwest by "Kelantan", southwest by "Pahang" and east by "South China Sea". (Dare anyone to guess.. hahaha)

This is my first out-of-town vacation for this year so I'm so excited. Together with some of my colleagues, we decided to visit the place since none of us been there yet. The farthest place I been to around this country is "Penang" last year (Johor-Singapore and Hatyai/Thailand are not included).

I'm a bit hysterical when I noticed that my itinerary sent to my email is missing (I think, I accidentally deleted it). Good thing the history of my purchase is still recorded on my "User History Page" so I was able to retrieve my booking reference. Now they sent again the copy of my ticket.. yipee!

Lost again

I missed to greet my blog anniversary. Been very busy this past few days since i only have few vacations. I'm still in my hometown for two weeks visit and will be back to my adapted country in 2 days.

Basta balik nalng ulit ako sa blog world after I return. :D

At the Zoo

Just last week (late na naman) we had a tour in Zoo Negara with some of my colleagues. The five hours tour was great and unforgettable. I'm an animals lover by heart and I really cant hide my excitement when we reached the place.

Unlike the Zoo in my Country, Zoo Negara showcase different kind of animals found not only in this country but around the world (excluding those who live in cold countries... naman mamamatay cla :( ).