The Turtle Point

Titan Triggerfish

Made it!

Today is the day I took my first breath underwater. I met with my diving instructor - Pablo. He's from Argentina and I met Joo, another dive instructor. Joining me are a group of friends who are taking dive course - Graham, Debra, John and a French couple doing DSD. My friends join for the DSD, which means we go though the same material together. Also, NO CAMERA is allowed during DSD. This is because, you never dive so you'll never know how to balance your self let alone handle a camera.

My DSD dive buddies. I took my first breath underwater today!

I have to do some underwater exercise for my confined water which includes underwater distress signals and low on air exercise. We then went to the deeper side and watch some fishes. I then had to do a 250 meters swim test - Pablo said that I just have to circle the boat. hehe.

 In order to qualify for Open Water certificate, you need to pass 80% for the theory exams and complete several confined water dive and open water dives. For confined water, you will do some exercise in a shallow part of the water. These exercise includes removing mask, swimming without a mask, wearing your gears underwater, CESA (simulates out of air situation and you have to swim 9 meters with 1 breath).

I finished my DVD course on the 2nd day and usually after finishing the course, you will have to go through some quizzes with the Instructor. This is to ensure you passed your final test.

I was with Pablo for half of my course - he then contracted a flu, which means he cannot dive and I was handed over to Joo. Well, the common mistake for all rookie divers are the buoyancy. I barely got mine under control. Graham was floating most of the time and Joo keeps on training us for our buoyancy.

I love the Open Water dives since here is where I can see a lot of marine life. My favourite dive spot here is D'Lagoon. is is just so beautiful. After 2 days, I find that I loss some of my hearing, but I continue to dive the next couple of days. On my third day, we decided to do our final test. Joo was strict on cheating, so the four of us have to sit part from each other.

This was taken during my last dive.

On the 4th day, we did our final open water dive which is the 18m dive. During descend, I felt a sharp pain in my ears and suddenly the pain was gone. Well, Panorama had a ritual for passing the diving license. After returning our gears and taking pictures, they made announcement to the dive shop and restaurant on our success (well, we have to shout of course).

The entire team and divers

Joo our instructor

Pablo

Last dive

Diving with the Panorama team is just priceless. I had a lot of fun while learning and diving. The instructors are very nice and bubbly. Perhentian itself offered a variety range of diving experience suitable for all divers. The dive sites a rich with marine life - big, small and even macro. I finally get to crossed off one of my bucket list and had a lot of fun at the same time. Thank you panorama team!

Duration: 2D1N
Type: Family/Luxury

On second week of Hari Raya, my mother decided to treat our whole family for a vacation. After listing a whole possible location and hotel, we decided to go to the new Lexis Hibiscus in Port Dickson. It was over the water, with private pool and huge room.

Seeing that there is a early bird discount for its soft opening, we booked 4 Premium Pool Villa. This room is over the water, bigger than the Deluxe Pool Villa. Each room have 2 King beds with amenities for 4 person, a pool and a sauna.

The room offers 2 King Bed

The pool and the sauna is located outside, facing the open sea.

The decoration of the villa is very modern, compared to Grand Lexis which is more on the Balinese style villas. The arrangement of the overwater villas makes into the shape of the hibiscus flower. The petals are the Premium villas, the leaf are the Deluxe villa and the pollen part are the suites.

The Lexis Hibiscus is expected to be fully open somehow on Q4 of 2016, with the main building being home to the Sky Pool villas.

If I'm not mistaken, there were 27 of us scattered around 4 villas. We met at the Seremban rest area. We then proceed together to Lexis Hibiscus and check in. It was a busy weekend as usual at the resort. We then took the complimentary buggy rides to our villas.

Underwater photog session

Since it was Hari Raya, we managed to sneak in some foods for dinner and breakfast the following morning. Among the activities that is being offered are bicycle rental. We spent most of the time in the pool the following morning.

The service was okay, but on the check out day - wow, it got a bit sour. I think this might be due to the massive crowd and the lack number of buggy. We waited 1 hour for our buggy to arrive and pick us up with the heavy stuff. And it rained on us.

After checking out, we went straight to the Umbai Ikan Bakar for dinner. We pulled a long table, had good food before departing back to KL.

Date: 1st - 5th May 2015
Type: Backpacking/Budget
Duration: 5D4N

Cerita bagaimana saya Berjaya mendapatkan lessen PADI Open Water.

I have been an excellent swimmer since I was little and I absolutely love to snorkel whenever we had a beach vacation. Thus, I had this dream to be an open water diver since marine life gives me excitement and watching National Geographic certainly makes me curious of how it is down there.

Fulfilling my dream of becoming a diver!

There were 3 of us going for this trip and initially all of us wanted to take the diving license. We manage to acquire the Malaysian Airlines promo tickets to Kota Bharu which costs us RM120 return per person. We had few options for the resort and dive shop and in the end, we choose Panorama Chalet and Diving for both our accommodation and diving center.


Panorama Diver offers a package for divers seeking fun dives and those who wants to take up a license. It costs RM1145 for the fan room and the PADI Open Water Diving Course. We reached Kota Bharu around 10 am and took a cab to the Kuala Besut jetty. Okay, to go to Perhentian/Tenggol, you have to take a flight to Kota Bharu. If you are looking to go to Redang, Kuala Terengganu  will be the airport.

Look at that Labour Day crowd.

Arriving at Kuala Besut, we first check in at the boat operator office before going to a stall to pack lunch and to buy mineral water and some food - as we all know, everything is expensive on the island. We depart on the speedboat that took 45 minutes to reach Perhentian Kecil (small island). Then, we are transferred to a smaller boat to the shore.

Perhentian Island consist of 2 major islands - Perhentian Kecil (small) and Perhentian Besar (big). Perhentian kecil is the more happening side of Perhentian, where it offers night entertainment and various budget chalets. I find this suitable for youngsters and divers. While Perhentian Besar offered resorts like island, quiet and suitable for families and couples.

We checked in to Panorama Chalet where my 2 "dive buddy" told me they do not want to take the license. My heart shattered but I was determined to get mine, so I stick to the original plant. The costing became cheaper since I'm the only one taking the course. We then walked to the dive shop and met with Kris. My 2 friends had to explain about them bailing from the course and in the end Kris made them take the Discovery Scuba instead.

I started my evening with the dreadful DVD watching (6 DVDs to go through) before having my confined water session the next morning. The aunty from Panorama gives us a free meal and 10% discount for our dinner. The room was basic - there's only a bathroom, bed and fan. That's it.

We are at the last leg, back to Istanbul. From snowing in Bolu, we reached Istanbul for the Bosphorus Cruise. It was cold. I used my entire heat pack and I forgot to wear my longjohn. Too cold. It is however beautiful. We passed under a lot of bridges including the Bosphorus Bridge and we were told about how Muhammad Al-Fateh conquered Constantinopole on how he drag his ship from the hill.

Bosphorus river

I was freezing and I went inside to have coffee. We disembarked and had lunch at a local restaurant. We then went to Al Ansari Mosque. This mosque holds the final resting of Prophet Muhammad PBUH companion, Abu Ayyub Al Ansari. Near the mosque, there is graveyard which one of them belong to a Malaysian student named Ahmad Ammar.

There is a tradition for Turkish for young boys before they had their circumcision. The boys will be dressed in a warrior like costume with swords and the parents took them to Abu Ayyub's tomb as a blessing ritual. This is to give courage to the boy and with hopes that the boy will grow to be as pious and good as Abu Ayyub Al Ansari.

We also went to the Istanbul museum which holds various arftifacts dated back to the Paleolithic era. We then race to the Tulip Garden. As I had mentioned, tulips originated in Turki and with the month of April, Tulip Garden does not disappoint us at all.

Don't you just love this?

We walk thru the garden and then went to the Spice Bazaar. Okay, Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar lain ye. Spice bazaar offers wide range of spices such as saffron. Since we are not keen of cooking any Biryani rice soon, we just chilled out.

There is a mosque besides the bazaar. Since it is cold, I took refuge inside the mosque. Just like every other mosque in Turkey, this mosque was decorated with beautiful square tiles. Okay, I did not speak Turkish and therefore, I could not find the place for ablution dedicated for woman. Instead, I had to take my ablution outside in the mosque square with water that is so cold that it numbs my limbs.

Pelik jugaklah ambil wudhuk di kawasan terbuka. Bayangkan jelah betapa seksa nya nak cover aurat. Semua orang pandang pelik je tengok kami semua terkinja ambil wudhuk. Well...

We then rushed to the Grand Bazaar, since this place is almost near to its closing hours. I went in there alone since my mum is not feeling well. The tour guide numerously told us to be careful since it is easy to get lost in it. Every alley looks the same and it is important to know where you turns and the number of gate you entered.

Spice Bazaar

Grand Bazaar entrance

I browse quickly to buy some pashminas, many are just not my taste or the fabric is wrong or is just not what Im looking for. Then I encountered a shop being taken care of from a teenage boy named Yassin. We talk, get to know each other and I bought 3 pieces from him. The design in his store is just what I looked for. I can say the price for pashmina shawl ranges between 20-45 Lira a piece. By the time I went out, some shops have already close and there is a huge police forces came rushing through the gate. I ran to the gate so that I will not be locked in.

Our dinner in Istanbul

We then waited in the freezing weather before being shuffled to the hotel. We ate out at a nice place for dinner. We had mackerel fish with some rice. I was horrified to find how bony the fish is. I actually went to the Grand Bazaar the next morning, right before we checked out. Ibu wanted to buy some tshirts for my uncle.

We walked to the Grand Bazaar and bought the tshirt on the first store. We walked back to the hotel where suddenly, the rain pour very heavily. We were drenched despite wearing rain coats and reached the hotel in time to pack our luggage.

We then depart to the airport where we bid goodbye to Mr Ouz. Once again, I was held at the immigration counter. It still bothers me on why do I have to go through this even when I am in fact en route to my home country. The flight was pleasant except the part where I was served a less than pleasant looking Nasi Lemak for breakfast.

Overall, I think this tour group by Andalusia is by far the most economical and the best tour group. They catered everything. There is no need to worry about praying times, food and comfort. It is so worth it. With the experienced tour leader and tour guide, our trip could not have been so perfect.

The tomb of Mustapha Kamal Attartuk

Yes, we arrived the capital city of Turkey which is Ankara. The site that we went to is the Mustpha Kamal Atartuk Museum and Tomb. Okay, I was half asleep when we reached here. Suddenly we have to go through security check point before going into the compound.

Royal guard

Mustapha Kamal is the most famous Prime minister for Turkey. They called him the Modernization Father of Turkey. He is the one who ended the Ottoman Empire. A lot of urban legend surrounds his life and death. We go through the museum complex and we went inside the tomb. We were lucky to witness the change of guards. The weather was extremely cold. I almost pee myself waiting outside.

Ingat Buckingham Palace je ada change of guards. Turkey pun hado. Dikatakan Kamal Atartuk ni banyak mencabar hukum Allah. Dialah yang menyebabkan penduduk Turki ni bertukar kepada Islam Sekular. Mereka dah tak amalkan gaya hidup Islam, cuma Islam on paper sahaja. Dikatakan Kamal Atartuk ni menghadapi penyiksaan di saat akhir hidup dia dan tak diterima Bumi. Nauzubillah.

We then went to the pottery place and jewelry place. As usual, I just watched and not buy anything. The turquoise blue enamel is the most sought after type of jewelery in Turkey. We arrived the Romantic City of Bolu. That's what Mr Ouz said. Bolu is a charming old city. Our hotel, Koru Hotel looks like a cottage. I managed to buy some Turkish Delights (honey based) on the way to the hotel. For honey based lokum, it costs you per 100 gram.

Pottery making demonstration

All pottery are hand-painted

The next morning, it snow! We were shocked because it was staring of Spring but it actually snowing outside. I only got to see the settled down snow in Europe but not snowing! This is my first time experiencing this. I never thought that snow looks like cotton falling from the sky. We then continue our Journey back to Istanbul, which will be in the next post.

Snowing in Bolu

I planned to go for the hot balloon ride in Cappadocia. We are asked to be at the lobby at 5.30 am in the morning. The glorious morning came and after waiting for 2 hours, we got the call that the ballon ride was cancelled because of high winds. T_T


My heart shattered to pieces although Mr Ouz said that we might get to go the next morning. I saw my dream crushed again. We all went out to the carpet factory - yes another Turkey speciality. The owner show us that every carpet is hand made and it can take years for a carpet to be fully completed. That right there, gives us the hint for the price.


Mr Ouz jokingly said that we will see flying carpet. Indeed, they are! The seller threw the carpet in the air where it spun 3 times and changed colour. My Goodness. Changing colour flying carpet. We asked for some small rugs. The price? Smallest ones costs USD 500. Now, go cry in the corner. Without a doubt, Turkish carpet has the best quality and design. The vibrant colour of the carpet stays for decades and it is made from natural ingredient such as flowers or fruits. No wonder the price is sky high.

Cappadocia

We then went to Goreme open Air Museum. This place was actually carved out to become monestary and churches. I actually went up to the upper level to go into several churches. There are many small churches, where inside, there are full of wall paintings. This place has it's own charm and it is mystical.

Mr Ouz mentioned this was a monestary for girls

Goreme Open Air Museum

Next, the Underground City of Cappadocia. Since my mum is a claustrophobic, She went in there for a bit and turn back when she saw that we have to go through a tiny, small and sloping walkway. My experience? Scary, tight space, dark but adventurous. I was excited all the way. You have to basically crouch and squats everytime you're inside the tunnel. Work my glutes!

I was sweating by the end of the tour

Here they show where early civilization store their foods and sleep and meet. they even have school! It is amazing to think that people in 6-8 B.C can build a whole city. Not for people with claustrophobic though. When I exited the city, I was sweating despite it being cold.

As for souvenirs, a shop in my hotel provides cheap and reasonably priced souvenirs. The cheapest so far in turkey. I bought few pashminas and I bought everyone a Turkey wallet pouch which costs 1 Lira.

The next morning, I was broken hearted again to found out that we wont be able to ride the hot air balloon. The weather is a bit off these couple of days. I was truly heartbroken and we move to our journey to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey and Bolu.