I am a D.I.V.E.R !!!!

Wootzzz!

I still couldn't get enough being labelled as a DIVER.

I could never imagine this last year - I couldn't even swim that time!

For the past 29 years - I've lived a mundane life.

A simple, low-risk, safe, routine-based life.

And then, a heartbreak made me opt for something bizarre - DIVING!

The quote below is my drive for the mission!

With CC's recommendation of a OWC instructor whom he said is friendly,

I gathered people to go with me. 

Chriz my secondary schoolmate and Loke my badminton kaki.

I've selected Tioman for the OWC due to travel conveniences.

It was definitely a new kind of experience for me.

One that shed new light about LIFE!

And also one that tells me how untalented I am when underwater.

We are lucky to have Eric Liow as our instructor.

Friendly, patient, funny is his outstanding personality, 

but his trademark - his tanned skin!!!

Hokkien people would say "Or kim or kim, ju kua ju jip sim!"

Tioman was cloudy and rainy when we got there



But it was nice at the resort... 





Meet our "or kim" instructor Eric - giving us equipment briefing





Sempat lagi for a PEACE sign! ;)





All geared up and we couldn't stand straight due to the weight! 





Ready to go in... kan cheong!





On a boat dive





Doing my first backroll entry on a boat dive - no, he's not pushing me down!
Hands on regulator and mask to ensure its placement when you get into the water.



The sea looked kinda choppy from this photo - taken by CC

Yay! I'm alive! SWT

Compilation of embarrassing photos on our lousy control of buoyancy..
It was mostly me that would have to be pulled down by Eric..
Still laughing my socks off looking at these photos!

One of the most suffering part of my OWC - seasickness!
I had it at every dive... :'(



After much struggle, drinking gallons of salt water, and seasickness, I've made it through!



Great view at night... all the hardwork pays off looking at this breathtaking scene!



CC, Joyce, Eric. Chriz & Loke..



The post mortem of my Open Water Course at Tioman :-

1) Breathing - It was pretty hard at first to breathe without using our nostrils. Air in, air out, with mouth.

2) Mask defog - to scrub using saliva. It still disgust me till today.

3) Tank - It is super heavy for a petite person like me. To carry such weight on my back for every dive is a "good exercise" but it's definitely going to make me shorter.

4) Buoyancy - breathing and balancing skills - not my expertise. I've been floating up to the surface numerous times that I was demotivated to continue my course.

5) Safety stop - This is something I'll never ever learn! To stay put underwater for 3 minutes - no finning. I was doing Macarena - legs going left right center, body up down center - I was in a mess!

6) Seasickness - Despite walloping the motion sickness pills like nobody business, I was surprised that it does not have any effect on me. Vomited after every dive - some in the sea, yes. The fishes may thank me for the buffet later on. And I continued to have slight dizziness 3 days after my last dive. That's a pretty bad week.

Some advice to overcome :-

1) To get use - Breathing using regulator on mouth is a piece of cake when you get a hang of it. Clearing of mask with saliva no longer makes you go "ewww!!!" coz you would want a fog-free mask when you get into the water. Carry tank?! It's a good exercise to help you lose weight! More tank for me please! 

2) Practice - Practice makes perfect. Compare your first dive and your last dive. You'd be amazed how much you've improved and how comfortable you are in the water now. And buoyancy control no longer depends heavily on inflating / deflating your BCD like using it as a lift button, but through your breathing. Breathe in air to float a little more, and breathe out to sink a little more. Voila! 

3) Goal - Always remember why you are here for. With a reason, you'll put in double and triple effort to get the things done. Specifically certain skills that your instructor needs you to do. Make every single skill your small goals. And getting certified is the end goal!

4) Motivation - Go with friends who are positive and constantly giving motivation. It helps to know that if they can do it, you can do it too! 

5) Doubt - Never doubt your own capability, and your instructor! Just do what he told, and you'll be fine.

6) Instructor - You would need to find a instructor that you can trust. Eric is a person whom I could put my life on when I'm in the water. There is one skill whereby we have to remove our mask and swim. I could barely open up my eyes in the water due to the salt contained, and so I decided to just close my eyes, and put my hand on Eric's, and I swim with his guidance with my eyes closed entirely. This can only be done with trust. And this is also why I've declared Eric as the World Best Instructor! Wootz!

7) Seasickness - Dizzy? Just vomit it out. That's my remedy. Then I'll sniff on some cooling ointment to ease the dizziness a little. Then lay down to rest for awhile. One may lose appetite as well but it's okay as long as your stomach is not empty - just eat something light. During my next dive at Redang, I took 1 1/2 Novomin pill 1 hour before my dive, and it lasted throughout the day. I was perfectly fine and enjoyed my whole 3 days diving sessions! The seasickness would get so sick of infecting the same lousy person and will go away eventually. Don't think there's gonna be a permanent seasickness. So don't worry. :)

Hope the above helps. It's just my two-cents sharing.

What a busy month. Promise to blog more.

Goodnight ya'all! :)

Read More

Cuti-cuti Malaysia @ Langkawi (part 3)

Proceeding to my Day 3 report, I would like to thank

Rachel Koko for arranging night flight for us.

Allowing ample of time for us to do more sightseeing. 

Day 3 Highlights

We took another tour package on the 3rd day to visit all the tourist attraction place.

I've been to all these before.. but some of it has been enhanced.

All 16 of us got ourselves a tour on private boat from 

Green Ocean Holiday Sdn Bhd

and we paid only RM520 for the half day tour.

Places included are... 

~ Mangrove River

~ Bat Cave

~ Crocodile Cave

~ Fish Farm & Feeding

~ Eagle Feeding

How could we miss jump shots? Photo taken infront of Jetty Kilim Geoforest Park. 

Hey I've got a sexy back view! :P 

1st photo : At Bat Cave where batman stayed and meditated... (ya rite!)
2nd photo : Crocodile Cave with no crocodile at all.. reason for its name is because there is a rock
looking like a crocodile emerging from the water.. see that small rock there?
3rd photo : Fish Farm along the Mangrove River
4th photo : Stingray feeding time at the fish farm
5th photo : Eagle feeding on chicken skin
6th photo : Monkeys spotted!!! Alot of them!!! 

At the Fish Farm

Hot chick at a hot spring?!! Ok.. perasan mode on!!! Haha!!!    

After a good shower, went off again for Cable Car ride and

to the Crocodile Farm. But to our dismay, we entered none.

Cable Car service is temporarily closed due to strong wind

and crocodile farm is not worth paying (RM15 p/pax). 

Pity Aggie coz it was her wish to see kokodie (crocodiles).. :(

Another must-go place in Langkawi is definitely the Dataran Lang.

It's like going to Eiffel Tower when you are in Paris. 

Some photo taking at Pantai Cenang before we fly back to reality... 

RM198 worth of chocolates! None is Lexie's... that's why sitting far away. 

Langkawi is another local holiday destination that I would want to go again in the near future.. 

Am happy spending time with The Gilasssss throughout the trip! Hugzzz!!!

Read More

Cuti-cuti Malaysia @ Langkawi (part 2)

On the first day itself we went to the jetty where there are rows of counter offering services

to book for tours, car rentals, accommodation arrangement etc... It's like a one-stop centre!

After comparing the prices offered by a few shops, 

we settled with Green Ocean Holiday Sdn Bhd because the owner gave us quite a good price.

RM 80 for tour to Pulau Payar + meal.

So off we goooo!!!

Day 2 Highlights

~Snorkeling at Pulau Payar

~ Spectacular dinner at Wan Thai Restaurant @ Kuah Town (review here!)

~ Duty free shopping!!! 

~ Drink drank drunk episode at the beach

We are on gwiyomi fever!!! 

Snorkeling is fun, but not fun enough coz I intend to see more fishes.

Keen to learn diving soon so get deeper into the water and 

see with my own eyes the beautiful underwater creatures! 

1st photo : Cuts on my left foot that got me crippling for the next few days.
2nd photo : Simple but OK lunch provided in the package.
Each of us had a lunch box of fried rice, fried chicken, french fries, salad,
orange, canned ice lemon tea  and a bottle of mineral water.
3rd photo : Bruises on right foot (Aggie the lui sat sao punya pasal)
4th photo : How much the sun hit on my skin. Fairer area protected by wrist band. 

For the rest of the evening, we went for chocolate n liquor shopping!

For cocoa lovers who intends to grab your whole year chocolate stock,

some of the best places to get your duty free chocolates are... 

Coco Valley - our tour guy said they have got promos most of the time

Perniagaan Haji Ismail - they have got alot of branches in Langkawi, but buddy Rai advised to go to the bigger ones either in Kompleks Cayman or Jalan Pandak Mayah2  Kuah.

Eastern Native Duty Free at Kuah Town - this is the shop we went to.. 

Cenang Mall - the duty free shops have special items.. like mini Tic Tacs!

These mini Tic Tacs are at the size of my thumb! Super cute! 

Got our hands on duty free liquor and drinking sessions begins!

Photo of sober Joyce and later on... drunk Joyce. I love the drunk Joyce better. :P

Went to bed feeling a little tipsy... 

Although tipsy may not be the correct word for my friends to describe me that night... :P

Read More

Cuti-cuti Malaysia @ Langkawi (part 1)

It was merely a short 11 months of me working at IOI Properties under CSU.

(not the glamour CSI ya)

But it was during that short period of time where I get to know these bunch of craziesss.. 

Yes indeed, coz they called themselves The Gilasssss.

The crazy me too has stepped into their level and was qualified to be one of the crazy ones.

No effort needed, it happened so naturally coz I'm born cuckoo (...duh!)

In IOI, I joined KKIOI (Kelab Keluarga IOI) and we, The Gilaaassss, get to 

go for outdoor activities and holidays together.

One of the most memorable one is our trip to Hatyai & Krabi in 2007

(damn.. that was a long time ago!)

1st photo courtesy of OngZi! :)

And when I left, those guys still invited me to join them for their annual trip.

Don't question me why I bond better with guys.

Prolly coz they can handle my awkwardness better... haha! 

Joined KKIOI to Universal Studio at Singapore in 2011.

Goh, Tan and OngZi at USS with Joyce! :)

Recently, The Gilaaassss organized a trip themselves - to Langkawi!

My impression of Langkawi is - Boooriinngggg....

Went there several times with Nick when we worked together at Star Cruises. 

Aside from sight seeing and buying chocolates, I don't remember anything fun.

This trip with The Gilassssss completely changed my mind about Langkawi.

No longer a boring place - it's now filled with 

ang mor cha bor in bikinis and leng chai ang mor in cool shades walking on the beach!

The whole Langkawi itself seemed like it has been revamped into

a mini Phuket where alot of shops and restaurants are catered for international tourist.

And I'm surprised that Langkawi has good eateries too!

Enough of babbling..  Some photos to share! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 1 Highlights

 ~ How to sandwich 16 people in a van?

~ Great breakfast at Red Tomato (review here!)

~ Check-in to Malibest Resort @ Pantai Cenang

~ Stroll along the beach of Pantai Cenang

~ The Gilasss beach war

~ Dinner at Wonderland seafood @ Kuah Town

Upon arriving to Langkawi airport, we rented a van (RM250 for 3 days).

Since there are 16 of us, with big and small luggage, boy.. such a good 'bonding' time we had!

How to sandwich 16 ppl in a van? SQUEEZE is the key word!
3rd photo showing tall Gavin squeezing in due to insufficient leg room.
4th photo is just another scene from a horror movie?

Sightseeing photos.. :)

Bitches on the beach!!!! 

1st photo : Me and Jack at Pantai Cenang
2nd photo : Aggie and I at Langkawi Underwater World
Self explanatory photos on beach wars with The Gilassssss. 

Place to stay?

Malibest Resort isn't the best resort I've been to..

But the plus point is that our chalet is facing the beautiful beach of Pantai Cenang.

However, the drawbacks are...

- The sheets has stains on it

- Toilet flush doesn't work on the 3rd day (this is a bad one)

- Room caters for 4 pax but there are only 2 towels (additional towels given only upon request)

- No mineral water bottle given for the whole 3 days

- Wifi available but not working

But... for the price we paid, the chalet is considered clean and 

strategically located right infront of the beach.

After all, that's the most important thing right? 

Dinner at Wonderland Restaurant @ Kuah Town is nothing to shout about.

After trying that place for dinner, and all the good reviews from tripadvisor? I beg to differ.

It wasn't that bad, but not a place for a foodie like me who seek for GOOD FOOD.

Too much use of MSG for taste enhancement.

That's a wrap for my Day 1... stay tuned as I'm working on my Day 2!!! ;)

Read More

With the mums @ Cameron Highlands

The filial son Barry Yap needed a short break and

have decided to go Cameron for some fresh air... with his mum!

Feeling guilty that I might have neglected my parents with my after-work activities,

I asked for Barry's permission if I could tag along... with my parents!

Barry said yes.

Mum said yes.

Dad said no.

He wanted to keep Lexie company at home.

So we went... bringing both the Mrs. Yap to Cameron.

On the way there, we stopped at Tapah R&R (on renovation now),

and I gotten one of my favourite fruit - pomelo!

I've always loved the juicy pomelo, and the sweet smell of the pomelo skin.

Do you know that pomelo skin can help to get rid of mosquitoes and bugs?

Keep it in your closet and voila.. bugs off!

Pomelo skin - if cut nicely, can be a good looking hat too!

Proven with the below photo... (laughing off holding my stomach in pain)



Night came and cooling weather come greeting us.

Good weather to have hot steamboat with fresh vegetables from Cameron.

Walked thru a few shops and saw Winnie.

Found out that her dad is the owner of SilverStar Hotel & Steamboat.

Our dinner place is set then! :)

Had charcoal steamboat there.

Yuhmieee.. love the fresh ingredients!

One thing that I would think twice while taking charcoal steamboat

is when the black charcoal bits flew down from the 'chimney'.

It's very unhealthy and it is advisable to scoop it out from the soup.

 

Thank you Winnie for your kind hospitality! :)

It's funny how having mum to nag me about having sleeveless attire in Cameron.

Then both of them nag Barry about not bringing any sweater / jacket.

Mums.... *sigh*

The next day we followed Hill Top Travel & Tours for a full day tour.

Hill Top Travel & Tours are easily recognized by their 4x4 Land Rover,

it has got a big cow's horn.

Feeling adventurous, we took the De' Rainforest Seeker's package

which itinerary is to visit..

• Gunung Brinchang (6,666 ft)
• Short trekking to Mossy Forest (oldest forest in Cameron)
• Tea Plantation & Factory
• Butterfly Farm
• Waterfall

Wanted to see The World's Biggest Flower - Rafflesia,

but was told that it is not in the season.

Took the front seat in the Land Rover for better photo taking opportunities

Photos of Hill Top Land Rover, the view tower of Gunung Brinchang,

the famous traffic jam in the one lane road to Teh Boh Plantation,

and our impatient driver who eventually stepped out to help in resolving the jam.

Mum and I bought a RM9.90 rubber shoe which is undeniably ugly looking,

but is sooooo comfy and has got super good grip during our trekking

at the short trail of Mossy Forest.

Everything we step on/ lean on / touch has got moss in it.

Those interested must definitely bring suitable shoe for the trekking.

Else, you can always wear the ugly looking shoe - get it from the shop beside Starbucks.

After huff and puff from the trekking, 

we then proceed to the Butterfly Farm.

Aside from the beautiful butterflies,

our attention was caught by the Leaf Insects and Walking Sticks.

Leaf Insects is an insect that looked like a green leaf.

In fact, it was hard to distinguish it from the green leaves on the tree.

Another special insects there is called the Walking Stick.

It is a long insect with a body shape that mimics the branches.

Both the insects looks like part of the plant so that they can hide from birds and other predators.

How cool is that huh!!!



Leaf Insects and Walking Sticks at Butterfly Farm, Cameron Highlands



The beauty of nature to love, appreciate and maintain...

Plants and flowers also grow very well in the cool weather of Cameron.

Having refreshed eye-sight looking at the beautiful nature,

we were brought to a new waterfall site on the way down to Simpang Pulai.

To our dismay, it was raining heavily when approaching our destination.

We have got no choice but to turn around and opt for other place to visit.

Went to Time Tunnel, Local Market Square and Buddhist Temple.

All three places to make up for our disappointment not having to swim at the waterfall.

Our mums were pretty amazed and excited in the Time Tunnel.

They talked about how they used to see those items during their younger days.

And how their mothers, or grandmothers used to have those antique collections.

At the Buddhist Temple that we went to pray two years in a row.

When the night comes, we brought our mums to where we used to stay.

The Smokehouse.

They loved it! Saying that they felt like their out far from Malaysia.

Oh ya, we stayed at The Heritage Hotel for two nights.

It was a decent and clean hotel with spacious room.

We were offered a free upgrade to Deluxe room - with two queen sized bed.





Enjoying my breakie..



And while our mums chat without a pause for the whole three days,

we were goofing around infront of the camera.

Sweet. Cute. Retarded.

You say it, we have it!

It was fun to have mommies around for holidays.

One of the best satisfaction is when we see that they truly enjoyed themselves.

Second satisfaction comes from eating.

Yeah, pastries like pie and sausage roll at Starbucks,

breads and tarts from Teh Boh Plantation,

and our must-have scones at Bharat Tea Plantation.

It was shame to know that my anticipated visit to The Starwberry Moment Cafe

for my chocolate fondue was forced to be cancelled as the cafe was closed.

Winnie said that the owner have earned enough money and do not need to go on with this business.

Pity... that's really a good place to have sweet desserts and fondue! :(

Nevertheless, just wanted to say THANK YOU to Barry for having us.



Read More