Tioman....Diving and the MAN...Part 3

Day 3.....

Woke up more or less the same time as the previous day...This time i dread to wake up as i have no mood to go for a dive. Like I mentioned in my previous postings, I wouldn't be able to get my diver's license, so if i decide to dive today, and if all goes well...at least, i'll prove to myself that I can more or less do it...

After breakfast, I decided to take the plunge and head out to the open sea with the others. I felt like a student that has been forced to go back to the hostel right after holidays...hahahaha



Anyways, the dive site was about 20 minutes boat ride from Kampung Paya and if i'm not mistaken it is called pilot's reef. Upon reaching the dive site, i put on my gear and stuff. I can feel that I was a little nervous as I still remembered yesterday's bad experience. After a nice back-roll entry, I was on the surface with my new instructor and he actually did quite a good job in helping me to stay calm and relax..Before descending, he ask me to breath normally and take a look at the bottom of the sea and once I'm ready, he'll guide me throughout the whole dive...



I must confess though, i was pretty relaxed throughout the dive that lasts about 45 minutes. I didn't know that i managed to dive up to a depth of 15 metres. Not bad for a first 'official' dive. It was awkward at first with all those gears and equipment, plus breathing using your mouth...I have to say, it wasn't easy...but i blocked my bad thoughts and just follow the instructor's guide. I enjoyed it but at the same time, struggled a little bit...Of course, I need to build up my confidence in moving underwater.

as mentioned..the dive lasts about 45 minutes and after everything was over, I went up to the boat and kept smiling. My friends were happy to see me smiling as I think they understand i've been through yesterday...I said to myself, I finally overcome my fear...well, at least, I managed to dive without getting panicked or what so ever...heheheh

The instructor gave me an ok sign and he said that I just need to build up my confidence, relax a little bit and more dive practice and I should be ok...




So after relaxing for about an hour, we then head to our second and final dive site for the trip, which is to renggis. After going through the same process of setting up my gears and equipment, we start to dive using buoy line. It was ok I think. Again, due to the lack of experience, I struggled a wee bit. This time, I had the opportunity to at least see lots of colourful marine life and the depth was about 17 metres. Not bad eh?. Hehehehe. At times, I wanted to go up but the instructor ask me to relax and managed to calm myself down..The instructor kept suggesting me to clear my mask as my mask tend to fog easily...damn it....



After about 30 minutes, we started our ascend and upon reaching the surface, I told myself that I'm glad that I decided to dive today. After what i've gone through the previous day, I needed this to bury my bad thoughts about diving. It can be fun if you are relaxed but it can be something serious if you panic....

All in all...It was a mixed experience for me. Some bad and some good. Of course, an educational too. At the end of the day, I decided to continue my education and earn my license as well as finish up what I started...even if I don't dive anymore at least, I have a license to show myself that I overcome my fear...




After packing and lunch, at about 3 pm, all of us head home. The journey from the jetty to Tanjung Gemuk took us about an hour plus. We had a short stop somewhere near rompin for some udang galah for dinner and then we head straight to KL. During the journey, I had a long chat with mufid and fahmy about my thoughts and experience about the dives and obviously we exchange ideas. Some funny and some serious thoughts.....



I guess, it was nice to be among people that were so passionate with diving. It was indeed an experience for me. I'll be back in Tioman hopefully in a month's time to complete what i've started....

Tioman....Diving and the MAN...Part 2

Day 2..

Woke up at about 8am. I do not know why but felt something strange when I woke up. After a nice nasi lemak & teh tarik at the stall in front of our chalet, we then collect our gears (regulators, bcd, weight belts, fins, mask) at the dive centre. A few mintes later,we were off on a boat to do our first dive in the open sea. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I decided to take novomin (travel sickness) pill so that I won't feel nauseated during the boat ride. The journey took us about an hour and upon reaching the dive site all of us were instructed to put on our gear.

The dive instructer then taught us on how to do a 'back-roll' entry and I was the last one to do it. Once on the surface, I felt strange and I can feel that I was 'drifting' away from the group. Before I could settle myself comfortably on the surface, I heard the instructor's voice yelling MASK ON!!....REGULATOR ON!! and wallla.....everybody starts disappearing into the sea.....

As for me, I was struggling and decided to take the plunge....Before I know it, my vision starts to 'twirl' and i get disoriented....for some strange reason, i was breathing erratically and I panicked....I tried to go up as fast as I can...once I reached the surface, I was pulled back underwater...i became like a yo-yo...i thought that was it...my life was like flashing in front of me when i was pulled up by a boatman....that was close...i quickly inflated the BCD and take a breather....

I was thinking to myself...where was my buddy...even worse...where was the instructor....after a few minutes hanging on to the boat, the instructor's assistant came over and tow me to the boat....upon reaching to the boat....i decided not continue with the dive....after what i've gone through...it's best that i don't continue....in fact, a PADI instructor on the same boat told me the same....

So, during the 2nd dive at the different dive site, I said to myself, why not I try again...everything was ok till the 10 meter or so. My breathing was ok...my descend was ok but I felt strange as I felt i was in a confined space...and the space was getting smaller and smaller...I then made the hand signal that I was not ok to the instructor....and he ask me to go up....

Upon reaching the surface...I knew at the back of my mind that I won't get the license as you need 4 dives to get the license...On the boat I spoke to fahmy that I think diving is totally not for me...I remove all my gears and stuff and sat down at the boat feeling frustrated and dejected...I was thinking 'another failure in my life...I was thinking why i can't do it while somebody else can...

Obviously, I know that my 'classmates' had no problems with all their dives...At the same time, I guess that diving is just not for me and I was ready to call it quit. In fact, there's another dive session that afternoon that I decide not to go...I'd rather spend my time on the beach rather than having unnecessary pressure...it was no fun as what it was supposed to be in the first place....

Upon reaching the chalet about an hour later, I took my shower and had a good time eating at the warung...this was more fun than diving i said...

Nothing much done for the rest of the day except that fact during dinner time I was introduced by a newly licensed instructoe called syam. Spoke to him about my earlier encounter and he just nodded. He however, decided to take me to dive with him for tomorrow's dive. He said he will guide me all the way during the dive. I wasn't impressed at first and said that I'm not sure whether I wanna dive anymore after what i've been through earlier in the day...he suggested me to think about it and hope that i'll dive tomorrow...

About midnight, some of us, including me decided to call it a day....

Talking about experience...I just experience a fatal experience that could result in brain damage or worse, death....that was close....very close......

Tioman....Diving and the MAN...Part 1

Ok...where do i start?

Went to tioman for the weekend. I was supposedly to get my diver's license, but for some apparent reason, in a layman's term, I failed. That's ok I guess, not everyone can dive though and I can vouch for it...



Arrived tioman on Saturday morning and after 'breakfast' myself and 2 other 'newbies' or student head out to the sea for the water confinement process.Over there, we were thought to do some basic underwater skills like mask clearing, hovering, taking out the regulator from your mouth, neutral buoyancy and what ever else. I have to admit though, I struggled a wee bit but managed to do all the skills that were thought. I didn't like the way the 'dive instructor' teach us though. A bit rough I must say. Well...that's my opinion as we were doing it in the sea with all the wave and surge going on around us. Even to put on our fins was a struggle. Especially for me. It took about 2 hours for us to complete all the skills and the instructor said that we all have done well....






So after lunch, we were back in the sea for some more 'test'. A 200 meter swimming test, a few minutes of 'floating' test and I got to snorkel my way through to the jetty before completing the exercise. It was fun though...but nothing prepared me for the real thing...

After dinner, there was a knowledge review class. We were asked to read the book and the instructor asked lots of questions about diving. If i'm not mistaken, we have to read and understand about 6 chapters consists of scuba equipment, skills, dive management, etc..etc...The session ended about 12 midnight and believe me I was drained!!





Before I sleep, I kept thinking about the open water dive that I will do the next day. Like I mentioned...nothing prepared me for what I'm gonna face the next day....

OD............................phase II

After a few weeks, my 2nd OD application has finally been approved....Can't actually remember how long it took but I guess it's more than 2 or 3 weeks...

Later on, I'll be going to the bank and get the letter signed and let's see how long the bank will release the funds....

On the other hand, currently I'm in the process of purchasing my 3rd property for this year. This time around, I'm not gonna get involved in an auction but I'm buying a property from a friend. His property is located in a very good location and comes together with tenants. So basically I don't have to go through that process of finding people to rent the place...hehehe

To a certain extent, if all goes well, I think it's gonna be a good purchase considering the fact that the agreed purchased price for the property is a wee bit lower than the market price. As planned, my 3rd property will not be a low-cost property but it's gonna be a middle-cost property (RM100k-150k). The return, I hope to be a wee bit higher though...

The other two low cost units that I purchased earlier this year are currently being tenanted and praise to Allah that they are good tenants and hope it will continue for the next year or so...

Anyways...let's see how it goes, I've submitted the documents about a week ago and the prospect looks good...and hope all goes well....

Have a good day.....

go and fly kite........

i mean...seriously....

took the opportunity to fly a kite for kecik after her cousin's birthday party during the weekend...

it's been ages since i last fly a kite..so managed to buy a doreamon-themed kite for about RM15 somewhere in bukit jelutong...

Maybe next time, we'll get a better kite than the doreamon....the shaped just doesn't look right....hahahaha

Diving.....Registered....and Confirmed!!!

Over the weekend, I've managed to get myself registered for a diving course in Tioman. I'm kinda looking forward for it as it is something that i've never thought of doing before. So i guess it's gonna be interesting. On saturday nite, I spent a few hours with a friend of mine where he explained to me about diving. I can see that he's really interested in diving. Sometimes, when people talk, you can see that they are talking passionately of the things that interests them. He also took the time to show me some diving equipments/gears that he has purchased and I'm impressed. He is what I would term as 'hantu' diving level....

Like I said, it's gonna be an interesting weekend for me. Unfortunately though, I wasn't able to bring along the missus and kecik for the trip but of course, next month we are going to have a blast of a time in Langkawi....

I was supposed to go for an introductory diving course on sunday morning but wasn't able to. So i would do the introductory course in tioman instead. By the way, it's gonna be my first visit to that island. Again, it's gonna be an interesting and educational visit for me...

Last night though, me and a couple of friends decided to pay a visit at the scuba shop somewhere in Subang. Managed to get myself some basic gear for the dive and I'm all set for it....hehehe

Stay tuned...

have you ever...........

feel bored doing things repeatedly over and over again...

feel that you wanna do something that you've never done before?

think that there are so many other things in the world that you have no clue about?

I certainly felt that way at times...so this is what I'm gonna do for the next month or so...

1) Get a diving license and go diving
2) Build a D-I-Y fish pond at my mom's house...
3) Tanam cili
4) what else ya....
5) Play golf with my eyes completely shut...huh!!!


Have a good weekend ahead...

Kayu Manis Restaurant

Last night, I took my missus, kecik and bro in law to a restaurant called Kayu Manis somewhere in Bukit Jelutong. It served the normal chinese muslim foods that u can find in Homst or maybe in Groupbase.

The food was ok in my opinion but the waiting period to get our food served was so bad. Almost an hour for 4 different dishes. By the way, the price for the foods/drinks was reasonable too..

We ordered:

1) Lemon Chicken (M)
2) Sizzling Beef (S)
3) Fried Siakap ala Thai
4) Salted vegetables with tofu (S)
5) 2 lattes, 1 teh tarik & 1 hot barley

Idiots of the highest order....

I always follow our nation's road rules and regulations. However, there are some idiots who think that they own the roads and drive like idiots...The problem I think lies with each driver's ego. They maybe good in person but once behind the wheel, everybody seems to change their personality....

Lepak..Lepak hujung minggu........

It's been awhile since I last hang-out with my biker buddies. So last Friday, took the time to see them and we had some sort of small 'party' in celebrating our 4th anniversary of our motor 'club'...

Happy Mother's Day

This is for ibu...

Thank you for being a cool mother to me...
Thank you for your constant nags....
Thank you for carrying me in your tummy for 9 months...must be very hard for you eh?
Thank you for complaining at every little things that do not go your way at home...
Thank you for keeping on reminding me not to miss my daily prayers...
Thank you for shutting off my air-cond in the room at 600am every time I come home...
Thank you for reminding me to lock the front doors before every body goes to sleep..
Thank you for keeping the house clean when every body else are busy with their daily things...
Thank you for letting kecik playing with the coins in your room...

So many things I wanna thank you...But I just want ibu to know that I love you and thank you for every thing....

To my wife...

Happy mother's day too....

Thank you for your constant nags ...
If it's not for you, I won't be what I am today....
Thank you for being you...

WIshing you the best of luck in your coming exams...You can do it dear...I know you can....and alya also knows you can............

Bengkek lagi.......

This is a continuation for my blog titled: Bengkek jerk...

Again today, I received a complaint from my colleague with regards to the issue. This time, it has been told to me that the claimant is making a hell lot of noise at our principal. The principal, with all their good sense, decided to jump the gun and gave us hell. Wow!! Thank you very much for that!! The incident happened last year and when did you guys decide to appoint us? Apr 09? Is that right? Thank you very much for trusting us.

Now is May 09, suddenly just because someone is making so much noise, after barely 3-4 weeks of appointing us, you start to yell and say things to us? Well...thank you again. We'll work doubly hard to prove you wrong. I pray that you all will lead a happier lives after this....

And again...please....we are human and just like yourself, have feelings. Talk to us nicely and we'll respond positively...........

To whom it may concern.....

A wee bit of quotes that I've been keeping for the last few months...

If you think that you are not capable of doing certain things, please for god sake don't take it on other people to vent your frustrations....

I'm beginning to get bored looking at things that I don't like.....

If you think you can...you absolutely can...no matter whatever the situation is....

There are a couple of things that I don't like....people asking me to do things that I dread doing....people saying that I shouldn't do this and that....people who thinks that they know everything in the world.....

..........................

Hari Buruh..........

A couple of days ago, during my game of golf at KGSAAS, my missus called me up and mentioned something about my grandma. She said grandma wasn't doing well so it was decided that we go back to Muar after my friend's wedding on Saturday...

Earlier on Saturday, we went to my friend's wedding at Dewan MBSA, Shah Alam. It was nice of the pengantin for letting us to hang out with them at the bilik persalinan before the event starts. Alya wasn't impressed and I wonder why....




Of course, at the wedding, met some ex-school mates and we chatted about stuff. We even talked about going to Australia for a 'business & study' trip. I nodded but I doubt i'll be following them. ANyhoos, I like the food served by the caterers. I can't remember the caterer's name but the food was good!!!!!



After the wedding though, we head straight to Muar and we arrived after about 2 and a half hours of driving. Luckily when we arrived, my grandma was having her tea and we joined her and I'm a wee bit sad talking and looking at her. She doesn't look well at all. She used to be very healthy and garang but it was a totally different scenario yesterday. I'm glad that I went back though as we took the time to go and visit her. And it was a good trip for kecik as well so that she knows where her father 'membesar' about 28-29 years ago. She was enjoying herself playing with the cats and tortoises....

Later during the night, I took out some old albums from atok's infamous 'bilik kempam' and we had a laugh seeing pictures of my mom when she was like 12 years old. Hahahahah. That was fun. By looking at the pictures too, even though i didn't get to see my grandpa, I'm more or less get to know him through the pictures taken....

Anyway, i'm back in kl and i must apologise to my friend Remy G for not be able to show up at your wedding!! COngrats anyway!!!

Have a good week ahead.......