I ♥ Spontaneity.

Just got back from another road trip with high school BFFs. We have to go somewhere every year.

2007 -- Genting



2008 -- Singapore



2009 -- Road trip to Port Dickson, Malacca and Seremban
(pictures later)

On Friday morning, we decided to make a trip to Port Dickson, discussed and confirmed on Saturday night, begin trip on Sunday afternoon.

Drove from Klang to Port Dickson, got a room at Corus Paradise; visited around and left for Malacca for dinner (very spontaneous) and drove back to PD at midnight. Tried to wake up for sunrise, beach-time and more famous food before adjourning for Seremban for lunch to continue our food hunt. Famous beef-noodle and Seremban siewpau before heading back to Klang in the evening.

I drove 459.1 km in all. Tiring but fun.

Next year's mission: Northern part of Peninsula Malaysia and maybe Thailand! We're conquering the whole of Malaysia bit by bit before our European trips. And yes, that'd be before 30!

And yes, I ♥ spontaineity!

Selayang HotSpring & Kuala Selangor.

If most of you have been following this blog, part of my work requires me to travel quite abit to different places in Klang Valley/Selangor. In cities like Subang and Klang, there's nothing to shout about except for their food maybe. But in places like Selayang..?

So I was in Selayang last week (or was it last two weeks?) and after I've done visiting some clinics in Selayang Jaya, I decided to check out some local attractions there using my GPS.



Who would expect hotsprings there right? Apparently, you cannot simply go into any pools as you want because of the differences in temperature. You might burn yourself.



And so, I started off by dipping my feet into the least hot one. Its actually luke warm water and it feels soooooooooo good! Especially after a long day work. So refreshing.



When I got bored with this one already, I moved to another one, a higher temperature one. This one we're not allowed to dip our legs in. We can only scoop out the water if we want to keep clean. And its freaking hot I tell you. I had to quickly withdraw my hand out the minute I dipped it in to test the water. If you put eggs in it for a while, they'd boil! I swear!



Its so hot that smoke comes out of them, evaporating away. Doing facial there would be a good idea. Or maybe hair treatment? LOL. It'd help you to open up your pores, clearing them with the rich-in-mineral water. I was told that people from all over come to shower with this miracle water. People with skin diseases usually will be healed after bathing with these water for 1/2 a year. How miraculous!



Oh well, I can only put my legs on the small stream-like running (hot) water with my slippars on.

All in all, a good experience I would say :)

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Next, we went to Kuala Selangor too!



According to the itinerary, we were supposed to get there to catch the sunset from the Canon Hill of Bukit Melawati, and then seafood and fireflies and get our dear friend home before 9pm.



What a rush right? But guess what, we made it but with 20 minutes late. That day was one of the rare days that I actually sped all my way... all in the name of friendship! (We love you, friend!)



Over there, we met alot of monkeys called the Silverleaf monkeys (the uglier version of monkeys with mohawks). So big group that they can become quite nasty.



And one thing is that, they're never scared of human. They're not shy too! They'd do anything to get food from you.



They're great posers too. Natural posers for any camera! If I had a chance, I'd love to videocam xuewen's priceless expressions for you. She was obviously terrified by these creatures while whayying was disgusted with their long tails. I think I had face problem because two of them actually snarled at me when I didn't elicit any attack signs on them. Ugh.









We took some pictures while waited for the sunset.



That place was no doubt beautiful, the serene view from above. But too bad the cloud blocked the sun and so, sunset wasn't obvious.





Since the fact became a fact (that we cant really watch sunset), we drove on to Pasir Penambang (about 3km from Bukit Melawati) for seafood.



We had seafood here, on the bagan?



We literally swallowed our food to save time. We were left with 30 minutes only to drive over to Kg Kuantan (about 7km from Bukit Melawati) for fireflies and then head home before 9pm.


firefly

No doubt the fireflies were soooooooo beautiful! (I've watched these for 3 times already but still amazed by them). Their buttocks flash like nobody's business attracting their opposite sex for mating purposes. Christmas-tree like, really beautiful!



So brilliant right? And their rhythm is so synchronized that I cant tell whose flashes were most attractive. LOL. Each boat can fit 4 people and each boat costs RM40. Do go and watch for yourself, I guess the experience gained is worthwhile! :)

Singapore '08

Some of you asked me how was my trip to Singapore.



It was good, I must say. I'm especially thankful for Joy. Thanks dear!!

We walked like the entire of Singapore? Okay, maybe just the southern part but boy, that's alot! We literally walked from 7am till 11pm, that's 16 hours! Maybe you can minus 3 hours for meals + rest + songs of the sea @ sentosa. That's still alot ehh.

And I guess from the way we took pictures, everyone would know that we're not local. I mean, which crazy local would take not-so-fascinating-pictures with weird poses like this photographer?



Somemore during busy busy day time! I think they're kind enough to not give us weird stares.
And did I say we walked alot? Haha I think I did.

(those red lines were our journey, looks quite near from here)

As we journeyed (with pictures taking all), we walked passed a few towns from Chinatown until a MRT station just two stops from Raffles Place. Our walking journey continued in Raffles' Place. From Lau Pa Sat right till the Singapore River until Esplanade in City Hall and all the buildings around. We finally stopped for a drink at Marina Square before we walked on. My legs almost gave up on me, boohoo!



The Singapore River


The sun in Singapore was so fierce and I suspect Singapore has a different sun from Malaysia. It's really hot in Malaysia too but at least I don't sweat the minute I stand outside my house.



@ Marina Square

We then adjourned to visit the Fountain of Wealth in Suntec City and walked around before we met Lingling up at Vivo City. And the walk from Suntec to its nearest MRT (City Hall) was superrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr far away! Ain't kidding!

We spent the night in Sentosa watching the award winning "Songs of the Seas" which was good and then Bugis street (a bigger version of our Petaling street). Now you tell me, wasn't that alot? Haha. Maybe not for a Singaporean's standard la.

To be truthful, I've never walked this much all my life! And Joy wasn't impressed at all when I told her all these. She said those places were very near =(

But at least her aunt, Lingling, Eunice and Liangyi were impressed.

Come, let me convince you: It was really really far!! (For a Malaysian's standard la, don't la go compare with those Singaporeans like Joy who walks so much)



I Fen. MK. Su Ann -- high school good friends

I think its the companionship that makes everything worth while.

P/s: I think we took almost 200 pictures just that day. Will upload them in my facebook once I've done compiling them okay. That will mark my first album in facebook. So sad right? Haha.

No, it's not school holiday yet.

Nevertheless, I'm very excited about this whole backpacking idea now.



Imagine I'm gonna carry these to school and attend two lectures and a tutorial before Joeanne (thanks dear!) drop me off at the nearest LRT station after Immuno lecture.

We haven't gotten our accommodation yet, or the itinerary. We only have bus tickets (thanks, Mei Xian!). Worry? Not abit! I believe You will lead us to the right place, to a safe and clean budgeted backpackers place. I just wanna thank You.

To think about being independent, to think about those places that I'm planning to visit, to think about meeting up some old (and not so old) friends --- I just can't wait!

Just a short getaway, but I get it's gonna be real cool. Leaving in less than 12 hours from now.

Woooott! Oh well, I should be asleep by now.

Island Hopping.

"All we have is time and what we don't have is money" (The Gang, 2007)

I vividly remember this understatement that The Gang made during our trip to Phuket last year. The companion was great, the time spent was great but definitely not the long bumpy journey. Not a good idea for someone with slight motion sickness (for long journeys) like me.




Thank God for MAS -- who finally offers low fares (like Air Asia but better services). Looks like its quite a tight competition between them, nevertheless we're the one benefiting from it.





To be truthful, this is my first time flying with MAS. It has always been Air Asia before this. What to do, what I need is to get to another place and what I don't quite have is $.





The Gang managed to book the zero fare ticket. Meaning, we just pay the airport tax. RM 152 for to and fro, how blessed! This definitely spared us the agony of taking the 8-10 hours bus/train ride up north.

The 40 minutes flight was as good as 10 minutes ride with the companion of a good book (special thanks to xuewen) and flight snacks. I felt as if my seat was not even warmed when the touch-down announcement was given. How fast!


This time, The Gang (6 of us) along with 5 other guys went for island hopping at three beautiful islands at Malaysia East Coast --- namely the Perhentian Island, Redang Island and Lang Tengah Island. They're all very beautiful.

We took the morning flight from KLIA to Kota Bahru (Kelantan) and from there, we were transferred from the Kota Bahru airport to Kuala Besut jetty (Terengganu) and this journey takes around an hour. From the jetty, we took another 30 minutes speedboat ride before we reach Perhentian Island.





Taken from speedboat while tried balancing ourselves -- the calm blue sea as we were nearing the Island










The crystal clear water at the beach where we landed, with the reflection from the oh-so-glorious sun





Perhentian Island








This is the chalet that Yikwooi, Yikwooi's friend and myself lodged in.






This is the view from our chalet. Everytime when I open my eyes, this is what I see. . How majestic and calm






This picture was taken behind my polarized Ray-Ban shades. The vivid colour separation of the sea water and sky -- actually made me go oo and aa-ed at their colour combination



Another shot of it, beautiful isn't it?



The girls.




Jean Nee & washing machine girl May Jean




Yik Wooi & Ah Sian



Group shot.



Sea cucumber. Heaps of them at the seabed!




Tammy with the pillow starfish.


That's the shark's pillow. Okay, just kidding. Like the name suggests, it is a type of starfish that resembles a pillow, a very hard and heavy pillow.




Another group shot.


Tan, the tour guide brought us to four different points to snorkel -- namely the Coral point, Nemo point, Green Turtle point and the shark point. These points were named according to what they're rich in. For example, we saw alot of Nemo (clownfishes) in anemones at the Nemo point.



The guys gaying. L-R: Soon, Hon, Adrian and Asou Jun




Yikwooi & her friend




Ah Sian, Mayjean, Yik Wooi & Tan (behind)

We came back around 5 something on the first day and had our late brunch cum dinner then. The lifestyle there is a little laid back kind, slower pace. Its a good getaway from the city hustle lifestyle.





It's just wonderful to just enjoy the breeze, reading your favourite story book with a cup of coffee maybe? (chocolate milk for my case) while relaxing.





Or you know, just plug in your Ipod and relax!

Everyone was so tired that they wanted to go to bed at 8pm. It's so weird to sleep in at 8pm! Gosh! Then Tan came over to wake everyone up for dinner. We walked to the bistro.

There were no streetlights there, we were practically walking in the dark and our paths were directed using the dim light of our mobile phones. The stars greeted us glamorously from the sky. It's so amazing (at least it amazed me) on how God created them and placed each one of them at their place and named each and everyone of them by name -- so many of them, almost like a galaxy! (And babe, great message interpretation skills you have there huh, cough.)


Redang Island

Early next morning after our breakfast, we took the speedboat to Redang Island. About 45 minutes ride from Perhentian. It's definitely another beautiful island!



The beach.









White fine micro sands and the different water tone colours -- very well balanced.



Sunburnt yikwooi. Ouch, I feel for her.








A very familiar place, the more more tea inn.





It is the place where the movie (Summer Holiday -- led by Sammy Cheng and Richie Ren) was shot back in 2000.



Asou & Tammy




The Gang.










A random shot. I suddenly realise that my hair's quite long edi ehh (they grew!!), agree?? =D



Compulsory poser shot. (Similar shot in Phuket)


And oh, how interesting that the Majlis Perbandaran in Redang uses a motorboat as a garbage 'truck'






And a diving school insisted that their student should bring in no sands, no slippers and they should COME NAKED! =O

They sound desperate, don't they?





We then collected our snorkeling gears from the boat and swam towards another place to snorkel. Tan showed us different kind of living creatures in the sea, and that includes the black-fin shark. We swam near them.

According to Tan, out of the 2000 different species of sharks, only less than 5 species actually attack human. That also only when they need to protect themselves. Menstruating ladies, your blood will not attract the sharks because they're all poikilotherm (cold-blooded) while we're all homeothermic (warm-blooded). So, its altogether a different diet. In other words, they find human yucky and doesn't taste good. They only eat stuffs smaller than them, eg smaller fishes.


When it was time to get back to the boat to adjourn to another place for lunch, I swam (like how I normally swim with my head sticking out from the water) and no longer snorkel, my right arm got stung by the stupid jelly fish!


The sting was so painful and when I looked underwater (with my mask on), I saw a jelly fish there swimming away. Dang! It was very painful and to be truthful, I kinda lost of my mood that time on and didn't wanna snorkel anymore. I just held on to my arm, pressing on it (while dipping it in the cooling water) hoping to lessen the pain a little but to no avail, it isn't working.


By the time I got on the boat, I notice my upper arm was all swolen already. Applied some oilment given by Tan. I heard its fatal, thank God its not that poisonous. One of the cure is to pee on it. Ahh, I'll rather let it heal on its own.





Notice the raised welts? My body responded (by showing allergy reaction) to the venom injected by the tentacles of the stupid jelly fish. It's quite a disgusting sight but the pain was intense and somewhat slightly beyond what I can tolerate. Blame it on my low pain-tolerance.




A supposingly clearer shot of the raised welts.

Not obvious? Now compare with this (to get a picture of it):





When compared to the original shot, its undeniably disgusting looking right? The pain lasted for almost a day plus, close to two. Now I'm left only with scars and slight pain when the I brush my hand across the surface of the skin there la. Like how Joy aptly put it, that's one to strike off the things-to-do-before-I-die-list. I agree! LOL.

---

Lang Tengah Island


This island is approximately 15 minutes away from Redang Island. Lang means 'Eagle' and Tengah means 'Middle'. Hence, this name suggests that there were once alot of eagles there and this island is located in the middle between the Perhentian Island and Redang Island.





In this place, same thing -- we snorkeled. Somehow, the corals seemed to be more beautiful here. Maybe because its not as popular as the other two islands hence the ecosystem here is not that disturbed.



Yik Wooi & May Jean




Tammy & Sian




Soon & Yik Wooi





May Jean & Rain Hon



Asou & Tammy.



Adrian.




Clam from seabed.



Sea cucumber (again!)



Clam, May Jean & Tammy.


In this island, I finally gave a try to swim without the life jacket. Its quite bothering with the lifejacket as I cannot move as freely as I want.



Tammy.

According to Soon, we can swim and stay afloat with or without the lifejacket but to stay afloat at one position in the water to clear our blurred mask would be a problem unless we can swim and 'kick water' since its really deep.



Soon.

Suffice to say, I made it! =) I mastered the skill of 'water kicking' straight away and stayed afloat in the water as I want. Without the life jacket that restricts us to make sure that we're afloat, we're all happy divers and touch the sea corals. It was indeed a wonderful experience!


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Back at Perhentian in the evening, all exhausted.




Typical sand burying with huge erection.



The orgasm picture of Hon (can beat yours, Jo Kien!)



Buddies.



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Got up early for breakfast on the last day. Went kayak-ing!
















Checked out and left back for KL at 12pm. Touched down at KLIA around 5 something. Stayed back to send Ming Hui, Jing Tien and Shing Ying off for Melbourne at 930pm.



Jing Tien.

It was one of the longest and sincerest hug I ever got, I was glad that I didn't follow your advice to go home and stayed to see you off.

Got a ride from Ming Hui's dad to KL sentral (still very paiseh) and then train back to Klang. Reached home around 11 something.

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The sun shone so gloriously that my skin got burnt from it. There are two distinct tone colours between my skin on my back, following the alignment of my singlet. We all resort in sleeping with our back faced up for several days. And did I mention bathing with warm water is a torture? Especially when the warm water touches the sunburnt.

Now, they're better. Turning into a snake soon, a skin changing snake. Haha! It was a great trip nonetheless! =)