My Blog

Snorkeling

It was not a sport that I got accustomed with in split seconds. After a day of practice to breathe through the inhalation tube, the salty sea water still infallibly sipped into it. For the 1st day, I swallowed quite a mouthful of sea water. The 2nd day was slightly better. It was a struggle for respiration to take place in the water as carelessness would cause water to suck in. I would then either blow the water out the tube with full force or simply lay belly-up on the water surface and pour the water out of it. The goggles had to be cleaned every now and then because moist would gather in it and after cleansing it, the sea water would still evaporate and cause eyes a mild burning sensation. What I found special down there was not the depth of the sea nor was I amazed by the crystal clear water with colorful fishes beneath it. The wavy sea water indented the sunlight so that the ground appeared like disco lights flashing. Audible was the dead corals clattering as a result of friction with each other. Besides that, my heavy breathing was also heard. Hardly did I snorkel with other people. My expedition under water was a solitary but calm one. The after effect of snorkeling too long below and fighting against the waves was nausea because of inadequate oxygen supply and constant consumption of sea water. I tied a loaf of gardenia bread to my life jacket and before I knew it, I lost it. The baby sharks were not fearsome but those gigantic fishes which I did not know whether they were harmful or not, I was not too brave to get too close to them.

Jungle trekking

The idea of another snorkeling trip was an instinctive reminiscence of revolting sea water and dizziness. When I suggested jungle trekking to the workers at the resort, their eye brows knitted of reluctance. A mid-age man, however, accepted our suggestion and agreed to lead us to the top. I was rather excited to climb the tropical mountain but not long after, regret began to overwhelm me. I thought: “If I knew that climbing the mountain would be so tiring, I would rather float on the sea surface and enjoy watching fishes swim by me.” I could feel my heart pounding hard onto my chest and my breath was heavy and dense as sweat was oozing and drenching my face. Filled with insect repellant, I still did not fully trust it. There were enormous ants 7 size bigger than domestic ones and I did not want any to crawl into my pants. So my footsteps were quick though my feet had got quite sore. Nike shoes are never good unless you use them in indoor basketball court. The grip was weak so that I had to tilt my toe all the time to ensure my feet were firm on the slope. Regret of not hitting the gym consistently also seized me. With my heart thumping violently, legs aching, breath running out and sweat spilling, I thought of giving up and calling the team to a halt. Sum Yin felt obnoxious and she vomited when there was a break. Ming seemed to be the one who was not tired at all. Maybe because he was a scout? My boo was also tired but I think she was in a better condition than I was. The mountain is not steep but the route to the top is long. Throughout the journey up and down, we asked questions whether there are ferocious animals such as tigers and even evil spirits or eerie being such as the Pontianak. They do not even have snakes, let alone those that we mentioned. After a few stops, we finally trekked 1 kilometer and made it to the top. The feeling of regret and exhaustion instantly vanished as the breathtaking, picturesque view on the top stood before us. From the top, nearest to us was the thick forest spread out until the white sparkling beaches and surrounding it was the crystal blue water. Beyond, a star cruise anchored nearby another island. The sweat trickling was immediately blown away by the refreshing breeze. I felt so relieved and gleeful to be on top of the world gazing at the beautiful scenery. I guess climbing success is same as climbing mountain. Half way through I got disheartened because I felt exhausted. Although I wanted to give up, I did not. I just walked on and on and let my sweat drip and drip. I guess if I knew what it was up there, I would not be discouraged so fast. I realize that many times in life I stop doing what I have been doing because I do not know what it is like to be on the top. Whatever that is up there, I should climb and climb until I reach the destination. The best part was snapping photos of us making funny gestures and precarious poses. One of them was my boo sitting on my shoulders while I was standing on the edge.

The costs of trip and food

The fare was pretty cheap as I did not go through any traveling agency. I personally contacted the hotel person and he offered 320 per person for couple sharing including everything except transportation. Mutiara Beach Resort has only a stretch of chalets along the beach and one room has two queen sized beds. If four of us shared a room, it would be 280 per net but we did not because I wanted couple’s space. My decision was also right because though a room has two beds, it is quite cramped. We placed most of our belongings on another bed. If you are looking forward to a nicely decorated room, this is far from it. As I walked in the room, ants were crawling on the bed. Electricity is only provided from 12-3p.m and 7p.m-9a.m. because the chalets get electricity supply from a generator. The food type is Malay. The barbeque on the 1st night was mouth-watering as there were lamb, stingray, chicken and fish. I loved the lamb most though the fishes were very fresh. Other food in the afternoon and other days are normal Malay food but I liked it because I was hungry all the time and the sambal cili tasted superb. Ming Sheng found a dead spider in the rice!

We made a blunder by leaving the room lights on while having dinner. A few wasps sneaked into our room and hovered around the fluorescent light. I stood on the bed, sparked the lighter and burnt one. It plummeted to the floor. Then, I continued torching it until it was fried.

The wrestling maniac

The waves that rolled onto the shore could be so fun to play with. We either let it hit us or dived into it whenever a colossal wave charged at us. I love playing wrestling in the sea as it is both safe and exciting. I grabbed Ming Sheng, Sum Yin and my boo respectively beside my waist and dropped myself sitting, splashing them into the water. Anyway, this move is called sidewalk slam. Another one would be my boo sitting on my shoulders and I leaned backward and fell into the water. It is called the electric chair. Of course, there was also this maneuver called the power slam which requires both hands to carry your opponent in front of you and rotate him/her 180 before slamming him/her. My boo’s all time favorite, John Cena’s FU is to carry your opponent on your shoulders and release him by lifting one side of your shoulder so that he flies off your shoulder and falls. My boo should be very happy when I did that to her. I tried the power bomb, placing my boo’s head in between my legs and using my arms to pull my boo’s tummy so that she sits on my shoulder. That failed and for that, my boo got water into her nose. Sorry boo! Anyway, I told my boo to go grab Sum Yin and throw her in the sea while I go grab Ming. She was hesitating and our plan got backfired. Ming and Sum Yin caught her and threw her into the sea. Then, being the fat ass, I asked all of them to grab me and throw me. My ass landed the sea bottom with great impact and it hurt! Ming attempted to carry my boo single handedly but he could not. While he was trying to do that, Sum Yin, his dear-dear had been picked up and I cast her into the opening mouth of the sea waves.

Couple’s ‘intimacy’

When we were traveling to Kuala Terengganu in the bus, I had so much to talk to my boo. Feeling stressed and pressured from the workload of my leadership program, going to redang was a golden opportunity for me to release stress. But petty matters could sometimes cause emotional distraught to a person and that did a little to me in the beginning. When my boo wanted to talk to me, I was busy smsing my friend, encouraging her not to give up on persuading her parents to let her join the Asiaworks basic training. My boo felt left out and she also got engaged in her own conversations and indulged in her mp3s. Then, when I was done, I felt left out because she seemed to be more interested in those than me. Frustrated, I shrugged her off and dozed off to the pitch black surroundings. Ming, as usual, had his eyes rolled up whenever he sleeps. His eyes can not shut, according to him. My mom said that people with such eyes are malicious in nature and I guess I have to observe his actions like a mouse in a laboratory’s cage to prove my mom’s theory right or wrong.

It was dawn when we arrived at Kuala Terengganu bus station. Since when there was a strong study culture in Malaysia? We were sitting and reading our books respectively. There was a Caucasian sitting near us and would that give him the impression that Malaysian Chinese are a group of bookworms? My boo’s Ronald Reagan’s would definitely impress him. My ‘The 5 puzzles of life’ by Jim Rohn might also make him pay me some respect. The comics that Ming and Sum Yin were reading might impel him to think that they were teenagers. Nonetheless, they were the ones really enjoying themselves.

I was still being unhappy because my boo was cold and pulled a long face all the time. Two things I forgot to bring: Nail clipper and slippers. They rhyme, don’t they? So, I strolled to the stalls at the jetty in search for slippers without my boo. Without hesitation, I paid 5 bucks for a pair of normal red slippers. Then I proceeded to a Mamak to buy Dunhill light cigarettes. I am a social smoker, I usually tell people. But many friends refuse to believe me. I do it when I club, drink at mamak and during trips with liquor. Later on, I saw some cooler slippers and I regretted making a hasty decision in the 1st place. I guess in other areas of my life, such disposition is also visible such as relationships. Sometimes, I have to shop around then only decide paying a price. It is really not easy to get high quality ones with reasonable price and some which fetch high price, the quality sucks big time. They are pirated brands, which look good on the outside but soon after you would realize you have been deceived.

I did not want to talk to my boo anymore because every time I tried to initiate a conversation and get her to smile, she seemed not interested to talk. So, I was listening to her mps and I started pulling out a stick of cigarette and puffing. She was indeed a very naughty girl because she also snatched one from me and tried. She choked.

“You spoiled the box of cigarettes. Now they will be oxidized and they will be spoiled”, I responded discontentedly.

Then this naughty girl went to the mamak to buy me another box.

“One is already too many for me. Why did you buy another?”

“Don’t care!” She replied.

In the boat, we questioned each other the reason for being so impudent and insolent. She had her reasons. I had mine. Then we came to an agreement to create romance and intimacy throughout the trip. We had an emotional shift until the next morning when I was dead to the world on the bed. I was hugging the pillow tightly and my boo lamented that I did not want to hug her. “Why you don’t want to hug me…?” and she began sobbing. So cute of her to do that or am I just sadistic and love to see her in pain? I turned my deadbeat body and wrapped my hands around her.

I felt bad because I thought that I was not caring enough for her safety and well being. I felt like I abandoned her. I guess I was not adapted to a couple’s trip. For all the trips that I went so far, I had been forlorn, wishing that I would meet my dream girl on the beach. When an opportunity to spend with my loved one came, I was a total inept.

The 1st night after dinner, we spent time playing mahjong. As usual, I was losing. Then, I said to Ming and Sum Yin that they shouldn’t sit together and I had to sit in between them. Sum Yin was the one winning all the time and when asked if she was willing to switch place, she agreed. Then Ming got angry because he thought that it was a ‘noob’ act to switch place when your position offered you fortune. He refused to play and went back to his room. I laughed about it and saw so much of me in him. The disparity lies in the reasons we become prima donnas. I also saw a lot of my boo in Sum Yin as Ming and I came to consensus that girls can be clumsy beings without brains. But the difference between my boo and Sum Yin, is their reaction towards our reprimands. One would remain silent while the other would retaliate.

The 2nd day after dinner, I pulled out the bed sheet because it was full of sand brought onto it by our legs. After thoroughly fanning the bed sheet to get rid of the sand, I put it back only to be placed the blanket which was sandy on the bed by my boo. Then, she was whining that she was just trying to help. I got out of the room, opening it later to find her lying face-down on the removed bed sheet. Apparently, she wanted to clean the bed sheet again but stopped half way. I went to meet Ming and Sum Yin first. When asked about where she was, I told them that we quarreled. I trotted back to the room to grab her along. She was again crying. I had my fingers in between hers while scrolling under the rain towards the place where Ming and Sum Yin were waiting.