.. I want to join them to watch football live in stadium! :D I have never been inside a stadium in my entire life, despite the aging stadium of Sultan Muhammad IV has always been around even before I was born. When Az said yes, I was so excited, not that I keen to watch the game whatsoever, but both of us have always wondered 1) what it feels like to be in a stadium 2) if the stadium is full 3) how crazy Kelantanese supporters are.

Although, you can simply judge by seeing loads of stalls selling jerseys and merchandise of Kelantan FA (or The Red Warriors, as they happen to be called lately, for whatever reason) and it’s amazing to see that these stalls actually selling the same stuff for the same team, yet they can sell!

Queuing for tickets. We’re last minute, so queues are not that long anymore (everyone else had bought their tickets earlier). Az was guessing how much the ticket price will be. “It is NOT that we are keen to watch the football, so if it’s more than RM10 it’s too expensive, so let’s forget it”. However, it turned out to be RM15 the cheapest =.= Contemplating whether we should go waste RM30 for some new entertainment that we’re not sure we’d enjoy or not or rather go spend the money for another dinner, somehow Az made his mind that it’s our only chance to get into stadium coz we’re already here. Regardless the match.

So yeah, we got the ticket! RM15 for free open seat. There’s another seat called Aksara (roofed) I guess for RM30. Same price as movie ticket and 3D movie, respectively (no, I’m not a movie-goer either)

Entering the stadium, and it’s already full! We were still looking for an empty space to sit when Kelantan started scoring (and there was a thunder of scream of everyone) followed by goal by Felda FC just a few minutes later (and we saw everyone scolding and swearing angrily like mad =.=). Notice in above picture, a group of people playing percussion (rebana drum) constantly throughout the game, so for 2+ hours match there’s always background effect. I was wondering if it’s their full time job and if it’s true, who are their employers..

After going around stadium for almost 360 degree for changing seats a few times, we got a better view. But still, not the best.

Nevermind :) Say cheese! Oh, everyone’s wearing complete official jerseys all in red.. except us!

I zoomed to every angle all over stadium from where we sit, and this is a only a small portion. It should be tenths of thousands people currently in the stadium, although it’s scary to think the exact number. It’s like people of the whole town are crammed into this area, or maybe those coming from other districts too.

Among the banners. And up there is another group (sitting from the other end than the percussion group) doing some kind of cheer leading choir. And this group is even hard core, they are singing, dancing, clapping loudly, and among them holding and waving big flags – all nonstop!

The cheerleader group, close up. We were surprised that they actually sing songs specifically for cheering Kelantan football team, and I mean, I didnt know they have so many songs for this purpose.

Two of LOADS of kids coming along with their family. In fact, this has turned to be a family picnic! We can see a mother in a corner having her baby on her lap. And it’s not just that. Their grandmas and grandpas are here as well =.= (btw.. does the baby need to pay entrance ticket as well?). I just cant help being amused in disbelief. SINCE WHEN football match has become everyone’s mode of entertainment here??! Somehow it put me into realization that I’ve been lost in my own hometown. I only managed to enter the stadium at the age of 29.. *sigh*

Okay, now we get to see the football team. I am not sure if I was really following the match as I was only busy watching people all over stadium from my lens, listening to the cheerleader songs and drums.  Maybe Az  was following though, coz he managed to scream with everyone else by another goal score.

Finally, Kelantan managed to score 5. Impressive. I was only hoping a win, regardless the score. Coz if we lose, we would expect a nightmare to face the whole stadium being (aggressively) unhappy. We quickly left before the huge crowds start blocking the entrance doors. Now I can tell the world I have been in the stadium. Cheers.

Here it is, travelogue.ilyani.net

Until I add the China chapter soon, please enjoy India stories of our travel journal.

Spoiler: Frozen lake and mountains @ Karakul, Kashgar-Tashkurgan, Xinjiang China.

Okay, nothing special about this book. At least I said so, and when he was busy jotting down all auto-rickshaw fares, monument entrance, food etc we had spent for that day, I would give an unpleasant ‘is that really important?’ kind of look. “My family never bother taking note of how much we spent during travel, yet still we survived without getting short of money :P” I teased him. Well I realized he’s taking precaution so to track our money out and if we’re still within budget. By writing down in this small book.

He would write separate page for each day, and in another section, the money out was calculated in category (whether it’s hotel, food, entrance fee, transport, etc) and the last section at the end is where the figures would be audited again so that everything and the balance would telly, and we know how much money remain by day without having to dig out our pocket again and re-count the notes again. Ya, he gets a point there, but still, this is so much fuss to me. Who needs to care about our budget that much when we know we already bring enough funds already?

Yup, I never actually agreed with him regarding the small book, until recently, when I found the book again, how I realized it helped ALOT to trace our journey in details! ^_^ I’ve been compiling our travelogues in another place (not in this blog finally, seeing I have so much to write and I’m so perfectionist when it comes to documenting our travel stories!). Well, this little book turned out to be my savior!

Apart from our spending account, this book records some marks from people we dearly met in Delhi.. with Mr Showkat’s note of his address in Kashmir he asked us to visit, and his sketch of map of Mughal Gardens in Srinagar.

Also, some other addresses we could keep in case we visit them again!

The luggage sticker for our SpiceJet flight to Srinagar! And phone number and name of mysterious guy we kept encountering in Srinagar! Ohhhh this little book has become a memorable item now! T_T I love you Az! You’re so genius!

I will reveal the travel blog one of these days, if you like. Hopefully before China.

Love is in the Air – Nov 2011

Was in Kota Kinabalu end of last year, with Az’s family. Yup, a family vacation as it seems, for a week. One of our destinations was Tunku Abdul Rahman marine park near KK coastline, where Sapi island, Mamutik island and Gaya island are located close to each other (as in, about 15 minutes by speed boat). We only had time for Sapi and Mamutik only. To measure its beauty especially underwater during snorkeling, I still prefer Perhentian Island in Terengganu, but perhaps people come to these Sabah islands for their own features. The parasailing was expensive, but it seems worth doing once in a lifetime if you want to feel floating some hundred meters above the sea. It was like flying! :) Scared a bit, but at least I can say I did once fly in the sky ^_^

Unlike the hassle to go to Perhentian or Redang island in Terengganu (unless you live in the towns nearby Kuala Besut or Merang), these islands in Sabah are very convenient to visit as the jetty is right at the KK city. Also, speed boat doesn’t take so long either, I guess in less than 30 minutes you’ll be surrounded by crystal green water.

Kota Kinabalu Welcomes you – jumping photo at the jetty area :)