So, we had a meet up last night at Sun Plaza and dinner at Pizza Hut. Just the 3 of us, since a few cannot make it and a few has lost contact.

Me, the artsy fartsy designer, and Suz, the lab researcher (focus in cancer).

With our Ms.dentist.

It’s been 6 years since we graduated from school. Back then we planned to have reunion after (or every) 5 years, but it never happened. Well, a few of them did gather a few times – with most of the time I didn’t know or couldn’t attend – but it never reach half of the class. It is hard to get everyone coming home and have a gathering, due to each other location and work.

The old song ‘Graduation’ (Friends Forever) by Vit C is playing in my head now.

And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we’re gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won’t be coming back
No more hanging out cause we’re on a different track
….

It’s just one of those days, of me being melancholy and thinking back about the past (read: school time).

Loads of inspiration. Loads of beautiful paper, design, decor, invitation card, etc. I put aside my perfectionist side but still can’t decide on the style. Miss Greedy (read: me) wants all. But, I can only choose one and ‘this event’ doesn’t happen twice in my life.

How? *put on thinking cap* Think with the heart now.

2. We had black out early morning from around 7am something until 2pm something. Sigh.

3. Went to saloon for wash + blow hair. IDR20.000 only. Brought my 9 year old cousin along.

4. I looked back into my junior high school diary. Not the kind of personal diary where I wrote down daily activity and feeling, but a collection of words and pictures from classmates. From 40 – 50 person, only a few that I still (occassionally) keep in touch with. But thanks to the technology, I have at least half of them in my Facebook’s friend list.

5. Meet up with childhood friend after 5 to 6 years of not seeing each other. Although he comes back here for at least once in a year, we never bump into each other, while Jan always bumps into him. We did plan for a meet up a few times, but it never happened until today. What can I say other than bo yen, tak berjodoh gitu lo. Seriously, there is never right timing between us.

It was supposed to be a dinner together with Jan, but due to some reason it became tea time for me and lunch for him. Despite the gap – so many years of not meet up other than chatting for a few times in a year – the conversation went well, from sharing about work stuff to college time, from design stuff to travel. But it would be more fun if Jan could join us. Just like the good old time back in tuition place. Hehe.

I guess it will be long until we can have another meet up. Unless he can attend my BIG day.

Anyway, we have 3 pair of candidates. And based on quick count, our current Indonesia President – SBY is on the top position holding more than 50% voices. Looks like he will be the President again for the next 5 years, just like his campaign “Lanjutkan” (read: continue).

Taken from Indonesia Memilih.

But, who will be the next President and Vice President doesn’t really matter to me. Not like they can make any huge changes towards this country.

Now, put aside the politic stuff, I’m going back to my shell and work. I saw lots of good deal at wholesale liquidators site. But I only have a pair of hands, how am I going to wear the wholesale watches? Duh.

Little did I know that there was a surprise awaiting me on a sunny Sunday, where my day was packed with schedule of visiting Grandma, Gu-gu, big family dinner, and hunting for restaurant. Although it isn’t a heart jewelry but it is more than enough to brighten up my day and upcoming week.

My first real flowers, let’s celebrate!

Yes, a real flowers, pink roses to be exact, from boyfriend despite that we are separated by distance. Prepared and delivered by YeHa, a friend of us, also a super-busy-working-woman. I am way beyond happy for having such a supportive friend and a sweet-lovely-boyfriend. *eyes flooded with tears*

Never mind that he couldn’t find 99 + 1 roses. This is more than enough. No more Monday blues but pinkie-monday.

Counting days and months to begin another chapter of my life.

It rains so heavily during the screening that we can hear the rain’s sound inside the theater.

Went to have supper at Fountain ice-cream cafe, where we sat next to a huge mirror. Just perfect to take a group picture. Have a good catch up with each other, from Florida vacations plan to childhood story.

F*ck distance! Walking through this chapter alone (physically) is not fun at all.

F*ck the monthly period. It just increases the sensitivity and stress level.

Ugh.

But deep inside this ugly fugly feeling, there is this feeling named happy and joy that is about to explode anytime. I feel like talking to somebody and jump in joy together!

Nothing much to talk about the day. It went around boyfriend had his hair cut, we surfed for laptop deals while waiting to check out from Radius, traveled from KL to Pch, went to pay summon, went to get my waterproof-digicam-case from post office, went to shop and.. fast forward, it was night time. Thanks to boyfriend’s friend for driving us to Putra station.

The waterproof case (up to 10 meter if not mistaken) ordered online from lowyat.net, RM98 free shipping to Selangor, Malaysia.

It was worthy to buy the bus ticket a day before, cause we got the second and third row, from front of course. Sweet. The bus ticket price from KL (Putra Station PWTC) to Kuala Besut (a small town at the northern State of Terengganu) is RM40 per person. It is actually better to take Airasia flight than bus, since price is not much different especially when you book during promotion period and so much more comfortable than 7 hours in the night bus. But I want to save the hotel’s fee so that’s why.

Night bus + air-con = very very cold. We’ve prepared jackets/warm clothes but it didn’t seem enough. Should have brought blanket which can cover from my toe to my head. The bus stopped for toilet break, twice in the middle of the night, around 12 and 2am I think. It arrived Kuala Besut at 5am, still dark and extremely quiet.

Thursday, June 18th 2009

The jetty was in walking distance from where the bus dropped us. We sat in front of a travel agent office, waiting for the office of Perhentian Island Resort to opened at 7.30 am. Count yourself how long did we wait.

That was not the end of the waiting. We needed to wait until there was enough passengers (for 12 people) for the boat to depart. So, we had a breakfast at a Malay stall nearby. Finally there was enough passengers and we departed on 9.30 am. *tired but exciting* My first island trip after all; put aside the Coral-island-trip (or whatever the island’s name is) 9 years ago.

Before depart, gotta paid marine-conservation-fee at RM5 per person.

Ignore my hair please. Short curly hair wasn’t a best friend to strong wind. -__-”

What a clear blue water just like in photograph and/or painting~! *sua pa mode on*

From blue to green-blue. So excited as we were getting nearer to Perhentian Island (both big and small island).

After around 45 minutes fast-boat-ride, we reached Perhentian Island Resort, located at Perhentian Besar. We booked 3D2N snorkeling package with them at RM543 per person, which included :

• welcome drinks – some orange juice at the reception
• 2 nights deluxe room
• buffet meals – 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
• 2 snorkeling trip inclusive of snorkeling gears and life jacket
• return boat transfer from Kuala Besut Jetty

I almost couldn’t believe it. Refer to the clear blue water and clean white sand. *amazed* The cleanest beach I’ve ever been too! Take note, I only been to 2 beaches; Coral Island (or whatever the name is) in Thailand 9 years ago I can’t even remember how the beach was now except that we could see coral from the small boat and the dirty Pantai Cermin in Medan.

Some story behind this Perhentian trip. A month ago we planned to go Redang but Laguna was fully booked. Same thing with the other resorts there, like what the local travel agent told us. Asked the travel agent to suggest other travel destination and they gave 4D3N Vietnam, or 3D2N Macau. -__-” Sorry, but my/our budget didn’t allow us to take another international flight.

Out of desperate mode, I google-d for Perhentian package, came across a few travel sites and resort, and asked about availability. Several replied that they were fully booked included TunaBay, and Perhentian Island Resort replied that they still had the room. It was a huge relief to me although I wasn’t very sure about how the resort gonna look like, is it a cheapo chalets, etc. Can’t blame me, cause their dot com has a very oldish look and design. I immediately related the website look with their resort image, which was oldish. And also, “wtf? TunaBay fully booked and PIR still had room? Does that mean PIR is not that attractive (read: bad, ugly, other negative thought) ?”

But after reading some posts and pictures from blogs, I learnt more about Perhentian Island Resort that: 1. It has one of the nicest private beach in Perhentian Island, 2. Yes, it is the oldest resort in Perhentian (if I not mistaken) but it is more decent and not backpackers-type of accommodation. The two were the most important thing for me. Price was reasonable, somewhat like what Laguna Redang charged. So, problem was settled. Thanks to internet and Google. Travel agent is so yesterday.

Back to the trip. Upon arriving, we walked to the receptionist area – which was quite far from the resort’s jetty – dragged our luggages and checked in.

Lunch started from 12.30pm. It serves chinese food to western food. From main course to dessert like cakes and fruits. Eat all you can!

If you don’t order the complete package, here’s the buffet fee. Crazee!!

We went for snorkeling session at 2pm along with others. We were brought to 3 places, which I can’t remember the name.

Brother had a good time.

Being a lousy swimmer (I didn’t finish and ‘graduate’ from my swimming lesson ), I had a hard time in snorkeling. I drank the salt water several times. *euy* Luckily boyfriend was there, he brought me kia kia and saw the corals. Else, I would be floating at one place only until somebody dragged me back to the boat.

Launching my waterproof case. One of the places was about 10m, scare me dammit. After 1 1/2 hours, we were back to the resort. I took a nap while boyfriend online. I should have banned him from bringing laptop, but he had some urgent work.

After that, we had a walk at the beach side where so many angmohs were laying, sunbathing, while reading their books/novels. They can lay there for hours. Whew..

Bought this simple dress at a shop in Kuala Besut Jetty, RM20 didn’t even want to give me a lower price. -__-” The white sunnies was from Vincci, bought on the first day we arrived, RM18.xx after 20% discount on 2nd item. Slipper brought from Medan.

It was an effect from my digicam. Never know we can achieve such effect with digicam. I guess I haven’t explore my Canon enough.

The chalets where we stayed, at the very end of the resort. Next to it was the trees, sort of like forest. *scary*

There was this hut besides our chalet, which can serve as spa/massage place. But it seems to be abandoned with so many *huge* ants living at the curtains. And, at night time, the hut looked quite.. scary. Or it could be me who thought too much.

Friday, June 19th 2009

Second was basically a free relaxing day.

Applied sunblock, found a comfortable couch, sat and hide from the sun where all the angmohs exposing themselves to the sun. -__-”

Had our breakfast at around 8am.

So hot, we saw the coconut trees and thinking of drinking one but didn’t see it on their menu. And, “ice-cream soda float” something like that caught my attention. Boyfriend and I thought it was soda drink with ice-cream on top (like what A&W has) but.. we forgot to see that it was listed under “can drink”! Stupid. Guess how much is the price for 1 can-drink? RM5.50! excluded 5% gov tax. Wtf. Drink gold water is it?

Perhentian Island Resort also has a swimming pool. It was not only small but also dirty. Hey, why swim and play in swimming pool if there is a clear blue water within walking distance?

There was supposed to be a snorkeling trip at 10am, but we decided not to go, which came to a regret cause the highlight of the snorkeling trip was the baby shark and turtle. Aiks..

But we decided to go snorkeling in front of the resort and borrowed the snorkeling gear + life jacket from the resort. Yes, there is beautiful corals and fishes near the resort. No need to take boat if you are lazy like us and the water level isn’t that deep too.

We saw this… sea cucumber?

And, Nemo! Yay! I’ve been wanting to see it not from the aquarium but ‘live show’. Dream fulfilled.

The view from our room when I was laying upside down. So nice. Plus the wave sound.

Saturday, June 20th 2009

Time flew so fast. It was the 3rd day. Woke up early and had breaksfast at 7am.

Boat departed at 8am and reached Kuala Besut at 8.30am. It was fast and more comfortable than the first journey.

Once arrived at Kuala Besut, we went to PIR office and asked about the land transfer to Kota Bahru airport (RM30 per person). The lady told us to wait, that the driver would depart from the airport and arrived at 10am. So, we went to buy some souvenirs and soon it was 10am. But there was no sign that the driver has arrived. I didn’t feel good about that since our flight was on 12.20pm and it took 1 hour to go from Kuala Besut to Kota Bahru airport.

I asked the lady again and kept getting the same answer, that the driver was still on the way and that he departs from KB airport so it would take abit longer. Wtf? On the way, where? Give me a specific answer of his current location and the time when he arrived. I didn’t accept reason! Plane didn’t wait for the passengers one, okay? Although Airasia is well-known for the delay.

I almost created a scene (I raise up my voice and she did somewhat yell back too) but boyfriend stopped me since the driver came on the right time. This was the only unpleasant experience that I had with Perhentian Island Resort.

Expected, Airasia delayed. They changed the time not once but twice, from 12.20pm to almost 2pm or above, I forget. And, that’s the end of Perhentian trip. I miss it so much though I’m so much darker now. Not enough sunblock or what? -__-”

We went to Sunway Pyramid that night and it was Melaka trip on the next day.

We bought the return ticket one month in advance at IDR650.000 per person, included IDR.15.000 for up-to-15kg-baggage (one way), IDR.15.000 for advance seat request (one way) and IDR.49.000 for GoInsurance (one way). Consider cheap enough cause it was the starting of school holiday here.

We took the morning flight, 09.40am. The seat was full if not almost. It took less than 1 hour, only 40 minutes, from Medan to KL. I remember it used to be 50 minutes (or so) years ago.

Once arrived at LCCT, we took a so-called-budget-cab to the hotel in Bukit Bintang. It was only RM61.xx, way cheaper than my expectation. And it took us almost one hour to reach Radius International Hotel, probably because the driver drove so slow (at 3rd or 2nd lane all the time).

The above picture is Radius International Hotel, where we stayed for a night. And supposed to stay another 2 nights after Perhentian Island trip, but we cancelled it due to some plan. It is within walking distance with Sungei Wang and BB Plaza, but further than Agora Hotel where we stayed on last CNY trip.

We saw the promotion on local newspaper and booked the room online, RM150/night for Superior/standard room excluded breakfast. Turn up the room was part of Radius Inn instead of Radius Hotel. The interior and room facilities explained that. But anyway, we were not there to stay in the room all day night, so why bother. It’s clean and spacious enough with TV but no hairdryer, no wardrobe, no extra pillow cause I was told the room was fully booked. And oh, one of the receptionists can speak Hokkien (KL slang though). I was talking about Rochester personal injury lawyer and stuff with my Mum and he suddenly gave his two cents in Hokkien.

Bukit Bintang junction.

The down part was, the check in time was at 2pm. No earlier check in was allowed cause it was a peak season. At the time we arrived, it was almost 1pm already and stomach already growling. Luckily they have a storage-luggage-service. So, we left the luggages to them, went out for lunch and came back at 2pm for check-in. After that, off to Sungei Wang for shopping.

In the evening, we headed down to Petaling Street a.k.a Chinatown with the monorail from Bukit Bintang to Maharajalela. It was RM1.60/person if I’m not mistaken. Had dinner at one of the hawker stall nearby before we walked down the lane of Petaling Street. Mum got herself a bag, dress, and.. I forget.

Anyway, boyfriend came to meet us after work and before dinner. Rushing, sweating, hungry, just to make sure that he could head off to Putra Station to buy the bus ticket (for the next day trip to Perhentian Island) with me. Ah, the commitment that he put.

We went to Putra Station with Star LRT (wtf why the station is so far away one both in Pudu and PWTC area) and went back to Radius Hotel with taxi. I had enough of walking that day.

*to be continued*

I’m back after a week of vacation. Went to KL the big city for shopping, headed to Perhentian Island for relaxing and snorkeling, went down to Melaka the historical city where I managed to have the Hainanese chicken rice ball at Chung Wah Kopitiam. It’s a memorable trip, a good one.

I would like to go back to Perhentian Island (or maybe Redang and others) for a vacation in the future but I hate the getting-dark-part. A more indepth posts and pictures will come later after I settle some of the work. I have tonnes now. If I can weigh it, probably it is as heavy as a 35 lb Kettlebell. Whew.. *wonder woman mode on*