Pulau Redang 14-16/4/2008

I see sea as adventure, escape , hope and new beginning,, we’ll never know what is on another side of its endless end, what lies on the other side?

I love the warm sea breeze, on sunny day, that caress my hair; the intenseness of sunlight meets my eyes; the feel of salty sea water on my skin; the crash of waves on my leg; the euphoria of dipping my head in cold seawater; or lying down and feel the warm sand on my back.

13 April 2008

Attendees : me, zhen lin, sok sim, wee yew, jia ming, jing shen,ken guan, chia hooi

Gather at PWTC.... left for Pulau Redang.

14 April 2008 -Tuesday - Sunny

8 am. In the boat, met eva....

10.30am dipping our legs in the glorious sapphire-coloured sea.....

We went to Marine Park in the afternoon. The shoreline is filled with tourism, each of them holding a pack of bread. I feel uneasy “squeezing” with a crowd of people. Chia hooi, the brave one, manage to swim to the middle of the sea, she;s one strong lady!

Beside me, zhen lin starts to swim frantically. Sensed something wasn’t right with his worried look, I drifted to him, to find out he is frightened by fishes. LMAO.

First night we are served with western style buffet, the server is friendly and courteous, the lamb chop was well marinated(in Chinese style) and well-cooked, made me real hungry!

midnight.. we strolled to a slightly quiet side of the beach, we sat down. Listen to waves hit the shore, we gazed at the starry sky , illuminated by soft moonlight. I felt incredibly tiny, like a pebble between the vast ocean and infinite sky.

15 April 2008-cloudy

6 am in second morning, we’re woke up by wee yew’s crazy frog. Hooi and I excitedly rush to the front bay, anticipating sunrise.

The bay was silent, except the sound of our footstep. The air is filled with coolness and darkness. The sea looked perfectly smooth except for small patches of wavelets. Twilight sky gleamed with opal and silver, but we, dozed off in the the sound of rippling waves(such a turn-off huh?). I guess we woke up too early. Then it happened, the translucent violet sky brightened, the darkness and dull diminished. The distant of skyline blurred, woven into the soft fiber of gathering clouds. Then, ray of red radiance appear.

Its wasn’t a visible sunrise, but I was contented.

As the saying goes, it’s not about how or where it is, but it’s the person with us that matters. Well, I do know I hurry back to sleep with hooi beside me, immediately.

we went to snorkel at turtle bay. Despite its name, we didn’t see any turtle(the guide did mentioned he saw a turtle while we on the boat, but who knows?) The abang guide said that this dark-brown turtle always come to redang throughout the year for food, they rest at rocky beach.

“Pernah makan telur turtle?” I asked the abang.

“ macam telur ayam yang cair , tak sedap.. jangan makan” he said sheepishly.

turtle bay is rather shallow, but then again, there aren’t lot of healthy coral to see but whole stretch of dead coral, indicating how magnificent this place USED TO BE. It’s a sad realization, to know that the ecosystem in these area were severely damaged. I dare to say the 60% of the coral are dead. Sok sim was particularly disgusted looking at our boat’s oil spillage. The view of black oil floating on the turquoise-coloured sea water frightening, I felt like I, who sat on the boat, is the one of the murderer.

Noon.... Volleyball match( well, it's hardly a match... )

The ocean rocked me in its arm, I paused just to float, rhythmically . Fish surrounded me, in search for food, as I look at them through, all swimming in the blue, glinting water. The ocean satiates my sense, I'm lost

went to Pasir akar in the afternoon, where we saw nemo!

The most memorable incident in this trip was seeing “blue sand”. I couldn’t believe my own eyes when lin discovered it at this tiny corner of beach,

Blue sand is a sea parasit that can be found at shore. Often it comes with waves,glowing with a faint blue light. Its not visible on sand unless you dig away the upper layer of sand, then hundred of beaming star appeared! We nearly danced at the beach, rubbing our feet on the blue sand. Only jing shen, looking at us nonchalantly. Maybe we’re a bit crazy that time, or maybe he;s trying to be cool,……..( use your imagination to complete the sentences)

We sat on facing the sea ,looking out upon moonlight glinting on waves, listen to the melodic sound of waves crash against the shore. The lights of boat glided, shimmering across water, with a gleaming cresent moon graced the sky above. Sitting in circle, we buried our leg in cold sand, sipping drinks and started off random small chat. Darkness surrounded us, so does the warmth of our laughter.

16 April 2008 - Sunny and humid

We're worn out... its hard tp drag out of the comfy bed and walked out to watch sunrise...

" haihyar.... you can see sunrise every where... kl also got LARRR" zhen lin grumbled as he hugging his pillow.

Summer MOre-MOre tea... Sammy cheng, Ren xian Qi and Micheal Wong

Leaving on a motor boat

Reach kampong Cina around 1pm. We then searched for local delicacies. Lin made a “ho chak” episode with his innocent-smile-holding-a-very-delicious look-rojak. Reached Pasar Payang, something like our central market. Had nasi dagang for lunch, wasnt really delicious.

Hawkers dealing at pasar payang... wide array of local spices
A high corridor at kampung cina.

The weather was humid and the sun scorching when we waddled along the street, seeking for Istana Maziah and Bukit Puteri. Sadly, Bukit Puteri was closed for renovation work.
MTV in making @ Bukit Puteri.

We just couldn’t stand the weather anymore, hence, we yam cha at this newly opened floating restaurant.

They have an array of weird-looking juice. However, having a place to sit and talk was good enough for us. Felt like we’re back in class, when lim pek poh didn’t come to class and everyone started to gossip.

I miss those afternoon, playing mafia and big2 at mini library.

Spending time for vacation at beaches, with friends, can be one to remember. its somehow commemorate my youth. Its allows me to escape, and to think about , how precious life really is and all the good ways of enjoying it. Having told by other friends that collegue friend aren’t as sincere as high school mate, I’m blessed to have this bunch of friend.