Bali: Going Down.. and Loving it :)

YEAY! after donkey years, I did it and I'm glad + happy. Nasib baik a friend of mine was persistently pujuk me to do this. As always, I'm reluctant and hesistate to dive. I don't think i can do it anymore. For me, I had already say goodbye to diving.

That morning, we woke up late. We thought Bali is one hour behind as per pilot announcement in the plane. When I woke up, I realised the room alarm clock is 6.40 am as per my watch. Hah! there is no time difference lah. Secepat kilat mandi and packed my stuff. Sempat breakfast and met the driver at 7.30 am.

I was like not wanting think of anything. Just go with the flow. Signed the release liability form, make payment and heading to the gear centre for equipment.

Our dive master, Ketut Sila seems okay. Cool and patience. We go through briefing, searching for the smallest size for BCD and fin available and then hop on to the boat. I felt such relief seeing only us on the boat. All our equipment has been transffered to the boat (inclusive the heavy tank and weight). All we need to do is to carry ourselves :D

Before

Ketut gives short briefing on the eqipment and about 10 minutes, we arrived. Gear up ourselves, put on the regulator and finally back roll entry to the water. Perhaps 3 weights are to heavy or maybe I deflate too fast, I decend in few seconds... haha.. I felt more okay inside the water. Nasib baik boleh equalise eventhough my nose was stuffy and blocked due to flu.

Visibility not too good but  we saw alot of stuff. Ketut was like looking here and there. He's good and both of us behave. Trying to control our breathe and not panicking. We saw lion fish, clown fish, puffer fish, boxer fish, star fish and many other interesting fishes that I dont know the name. There is one fish that camouflage himself well with the sand but Ketut was able to spot it. The usual yellow blue stripe fish and the loooong blue colour fish.

After .. see the side effect on my face :)

When my air almost to 100, I was like... bila nak naik ni. Dah terasa lama. Hehe.. I'm not obssed with diving, only for fun weh. Somehow, few minutes after that Ketut signal we are going up. OOOh... I had a great time. I'm happy. Gives extra tips to Ketut so that he is happy too :) On the boat heading back, Ketut told me diving is like cycling. You will never forget how. Hmm...but I don't know how to cycle :)

Done with diving, rest a bit and heading to Levender Spa for massage. Two hours seems so fast. The flower bath was the highlight. Nice :)

Halal food was easy eventhough 95% of bali is Hindu. Nasi Padang was our favourite. Hari-hari makan nasi padang tanpa jemu.

Decided to see Kechak dance again. This time indoor style at Uluwattu. Ok la... but I fall asleep few times actually heh. At the art market, I bought few painting. They're too good not to buy. You will never get this cheap and super many choices other than Bali. They're art people. They paint, they carve the stone and wood, they design the silver and they canting batik. Hebat.

I bought the pink tulip painting

On the other note, 

Perhaps, diving is like love. You will never forget how to love someone. You just need the right person to carry you through.

Thank you Bali, I may come back again :)

Bali: Watching the Sun Up and Down

4 to 6 July 2013

Sunrise @ Sanur Beach

I was like berlari lari from the hotel to take the photos, almost missed it :)  The boat added some character to the images. Interesting kan.. Bali boats.

I lef the boats :)

Spot the many tanks for divers

our beach front hotel, nice

Giant Chess

Sunset @ Kuta Beach

Before heading to the airport, took some time to Kuta beach. Love watching the sunset with all sorts of strangers all over the world. Kuta Beach is overrated, I think.

BTW, these days, I took all photos using camera phone. Me lazy to carry the real camera. My Notes II good enough to save the memories. Its like having digital album on my phone. All my travel photos has its own album. I carry every day :)

Panoramic View of Kuta Beach

Me watching You

Good Bye Kuta, till we meet again.

ME: Work In Progress :)

12 to 26 June 2013

I intend to revisit my basic. It’s kind of restructuring myself by learning and practicing the fundamental. Perhaps I have to start back with the kindergarten school where all the essential elements are being taught. I’m turning backwards and its okay :)

Honestly, I do feel very inferior not covering my head but I believe everyone has different paths to finding religion and it is even more beautiful when someone wears it because they understand why they have to and they are sincere in doing so.

And maybe you cover your head first, then you work on the rest. Don’t look down on others who work on their prayers, their souls first, then do the last step in covering their heads. We are all on the way there. Kan.

I’m work in progress. Trying to take care of my heart, nawaitu, words, intention, action and everything. 

Thank you Allah, for accepting me as your guest. I'm grateful and blessed.

My Brother's Keeper

The Movie

The book

Spending my time with my nephews and nieces over the weekend remind me of this movie which an adaptation from a book by Jodi Picoult. I didnt read the book but I watched the movie, as such i can't compare which is better. But I just can't stop crying while watching the movie. It was few years back and the movie was realeased in 2009. They said that the endings of the two creations are completely different. In the movie Kate dies peacefully just like she wants too, because Anna does not donate the kidney she is in need of.

These two boys are buddy. They eat, sleep, talk, play watch tv, read books and fight together. They love and hate each other. Almost  every morning, Hariz wakes his brother up to go to school. Sometimes they bath together. He sends his brother to school every day. Sebelum turun kereta, Hariz will salam, hug and say goodbye to his brother.

Hariz in arabic means keeper or pemelihara. Its a big name, carrying his parent's hope and love. This year, he will be three years old. He is adorable as ever. My darling sweetheart. Somehow his warm personality has light up everone's heart.

Haziq, a special boy with mild autism syndrom . He will be five yesrs old this year. A bit of challenge but since he has Hariz, the learning process is more faster. They copy cat each other. He learn how to communicte, have eye contact and sharing.

I love both of them. I hope and pray that Hariz will always be there and be kind to Haziq. The time will come when Hariz IQ and EQ exceeds Haziq capability. I hope he remember that they're buddy and he is his brother's keeper. Amin.

Geraldine, Christchurch and Home

Day 7 : 16 May 2012

Last night, before I slept, we agreed to wake up super early to see the dolphins. Entah kenapa, that morning felt so lemau and we decided not to do anything and just drive back to Christchurch. Nothing significant to write about the journey from Geraldine to Christchurch. Its only about 150km, 2 hours drive. We started early though and tried the road less traveled yang konon nya more scenic. 

We ended up arguing among each other. Hmmm.. that's why no photos :( hahaha. Ronda-ronda in the cities and visited few shopping complex but not really into our interest. Decided to stay in the motel and rest and eat.

Finally i got the opportunity to drive the car. Yes.. with one mission.....to the car depot,  to return the car. HaHaHa.. best la sangat. Driver dah pengsan.


Day 8: 17 May 2012

My flight depart late evening so I have half day free time. The rest, early morning flight back to Auckland and I decided to pay a visit to the penguins :)

Situated next to the airport, edutainment kind of place. All you need to know about Antarctic.

Visitors are able to experience how does it feels in the Antarctic. The Antarctic Storm, up to -18 degrees celsius. Ini baru betul sejuk. Telinga pun boleh tanggal. Showcase of the wild life, sea life and scientist base in Antarctic.

Muka pun keras

I would say... okay la.. to kill the time, but expensive. Not a must. My journey back home alone without any drama at the immigration except they took my Manukah honey :(

Extremely tired but happy to be home :)

Here, the overall map, point A back to point I

EnD

Mount Cook, here i come... again

Day 6 : 15 May 2012

I have to admit that I'm already exhausted. The looooong drive and the postcard scenery seems overwhelming. I have been bad. I had somehow secretly manipulated the journey so that we heading straight from Queenstown to Geraldine. 

But... somehow i get caught. HahaaHa. Someone do read the map and discovered that we can do one more pit stop at Mount Cook. HoHoHo. My bad. Since the driver drove the car fast, of course a few more hundreds km is possible :)

Hello Mount Cook.. remember me... How are you?

We visited Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, one of the world's greatest explorer. He conquered Mount Everest in 1953 and Mount Cook was the training ground. Situated next to the Hermitage Hotel, the first hotel built in this area.

Interesting Quote

Continue our journey to Geraldine. Bought some manukah honey on the way as my caugh getting worst. Its hundreds km of jorney. I lost count.

Arrived safely at Geraldine with a bit of drizzle. Cooked pasta with shrimp for dinner and i'm off to bed. zzzZzZz

Miracle Milford Sound

Day 5 :14 May 2012

Finally, this is it. A nature cruise of Milford Sound by Southern Discovery. We took an early cruise so that we can continue our journey in the afternoon and to avoid bumping into crowd that taking the day tour by coach. The 2 hours 15 minutes cost NZ 66 per person. The boat a bit small, less passenger so that we can come closer to the nature.

It was cold, really cold. Staying outside the deck taking photos, makes my face and hand numb. Hidung berair bagai. But this moment not always happen. So apalah sangat sejuk tu. Beside, free flow of hot coffee and tea provided. We spotted the seals and birds. They also give us pure glacial water straight from the waterfalls to drink.

It was amazing. Worth all the effort to realised my dream. I'll let the photos do the talking. I'm speechless. My words are cheap.

Good Morning View

Wake me Up

Saying goodbye to Magical Milford and heading back to Te Anau (120 km, 2h) and then Queenstown (180km, 2h30 mins). We stopped at Skyline Gondola (me..again) to view Queenstown from up above.

Time to rest and sleep. A fulfilling day.