Seeing a Whale Shark.

So, I ended my last dive for 2014 in Redang during it's closing season and coincidentally, I'm there again for it's opening season, just last weekend. Consider it a break from my work before GST's happening. 

The island was no doubt, packed like sardine on the first day of our arrival, due to school holidays. But it gets better on second day onward as people starts to leave the island and head back to the reality.

Arriving!

As a diver, I usually do not mind about the stay I'm getting as long as it's clean (not easy), and providing hot water and CLEAN, again. 

We stayed at Redang Bay, same resort as our last visit and surprisingly, they had the whole resort renovated! They now have more vendors surrounding the resort including a chill out bar, mini market, dessert shop and even a Taiwanese chicken chop stall, great stuff to kill time.

I personally think they provides kinda good packages including accommodation, food and dive packages (if you're a diver) at reasonable prices.

So, keep calm and gear up. Did I mention that I've got a beautiful birthday gift from T? A new BCD in my favorite red. Perfect timing for me to test it out before our Anilao trip in April.

My new set of gears. 

Anyway, I can mention many unforgettable and beautiful moments under water. But there's one dive that mark my most significant dive till date -- I saw a whale shark ! 

I was getting bored throughout the entire dive as there were nothing much to see, and my ass were freezing was all I can remember. While the few of us were doing safety stop at 5m before surface, i saw it swam gracefully passed us! I swear to god I thought I was dreaming for the first 2 sec before I alert the rest!

Not that hard to spot me under the water, really. 

In case you don't know,
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a slow-moving filter feeding shark and the largest known extant fish species. - Wiki
It is NOT a whale.  They are harmless to people and usually indifferent to divers.

Image taken from Google. 

Well, it was a juvenile whale shark but it still counts! WHALE SHARK, geddit ?! 

Many were surprise that we saw it in Redang as it is definitely not a hot spot for it. We did not manage to capture any picture as it happened too random to our surprise. But boy, it definitely set a new milestone for my dive journey.


The sea, 
once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. 
- Jacques Cousteau



To summarize the trip, view video below:

 

Till my next dive in two weeks time,
L

Bali Part II; Traditional Galungan Festival

Finally June is coming.
This May ought to be the unluckiest month for me (so far and I hope it stop right here); my HTC burned, lost watch, empty wallet and problems that give me headache, literally #FML! As much as I want to calm myself down, but shit just piling up like there's no tomorrow. Hopefully thing will turn better after today.

Back to my business.

As you know, I went to Bali back in February.I wrote about the dinner in Jimbaran Bay a while ago. Balinese people are very well known with their unique cultures, socials and religious. I love how beautiful their dresses are, long black hair, skin, everything! Along with that, I was very impressed by how well the traditions are kept that inherit from their ancestors.

During my stay in Bali, I see beautiful "Penjor" swaying in the wind (made from bamboo poles and young coconut fronds) on the street, restaurants/residences entrance, and everywhere!  Later then I found out it was the Galungan festive season, a Balinese holiday of 10 days for every 210-day cycle (Pawukon, Balinese calendar). So after several Q&A sessions with Poppy (non-Balinese) who don't know the details, I decided to do some reading on my own (wikipedia is always your best friend, after Google).

Prayers at Tanah Lot, the Sea Temple. 

Galungan marks the beginning of the festive; when the spirits of the ancestors are believed to visit the earth. 

It is a traditional celebration to honour and show their gratitude to the creator of the universe (Ida Sang Hyang Widi) as well as the spirits of the honoured ancestors. 

During Galungan, the Balinese do their prayer by offerings bountiful sacrifices of food and flowers to the ancestral spirits, expressing their gratitude and hopes for protection for the family. Of course, prayers are also offered at almost every spots. Streets, beaches and of course at local temples, which it is always packed with devotees.

Prayer at residence. 

Adorable little girl with big eyes! 

I also saw a performance which is similar to Chinese lion dance on the street every evening on the street, that is actually a ceremony known as "Ngelawang", an exorcism ceremony performed by a "barong" - a divine protector in the form of a mythical beast. Never got the chance to snap a picture for it but I "borrow" one from Google.

It is not a "everyday-thing" that you can see Balinese women dressed-up richly walking on the street. Me absolutely adore it's colourful texture; beautiful.

Pray for the well-being of body & soul, for prosperity and protection.

During Galungan, the Balinese take the opportunity for visit to local temples with offerings, families, friends, as well as the families who may have helped them in some way over the past six months. Everyone is celebrating the festive with joy!

Celebrated by every Balinese Hindus. 

Offerings are often carried by women on their head.

The festive ends with Kuningan (last day of celebration), when the God (spirits of the ancestors) leaves. 

I'm really fascinated by the spirits of the locals on keeping their traditions, never failed doing it for generations; one thing that we need to learn. 

xo loves,

louisexin 

Read more; about.com & wikipedia. 

Bali Part I: Dinner in Jimbaran Bay

I celebrated my birthday with the beloved ones by visiting Bali back in February.
A total of 10days trip there. Yes, it might sounds crazy to you for staying more than a week there but I'm telling you, you're so wrong! I wish I could stay a little longer.



Visited spots where the not many of the tourists would do, explored seaside and beaches that you hafta travel thru roads that no one ever been (ok, a little too exaggerate). And of course makan at the recommended spots on the Internet (afterall I'm still a tourist).

Thanks to my dearest loves, we had a scrumptious dinner on the first night I landed on Bali in Lia Cafe, Jimbaran Bay. Everyone travelling to Bali has to dine on this stretch of beach that full of seafood restaurants. :)



Ikan Bakar, heavenly delicious for a hunger kids like me.



Grilled Squid.



Clams.



And my ultimate love at all time.



Very simple but delicate dinner by the beach. Unfortunately we missed out the sunset view and yes it is true, the seafood on this particular spot are over-priced compare to others. Make sure you know the price before making your selection to avoid splurging from your wallet. ;)

I had the best accommodation in the love's. Oh boy, I miss the crazy weather and heat.



The feeling of leaving on a jet plane, again.



xo loves,
louisexin

Taman Pertanian Bukit Cahaya, Shah Alam.

It's been so long since I last had a healthy day out. Self-drowning in all the nights with the flow and beautiful night lights that I thought I can find piece of silent inside over there. But it was wrong.

So a day out for cycling with my dearest colleagues which was planned a month ago on Deepavali holiday.
It was a perfect sunny day, shines so well you just couldn't resist to smile and forget everything.






5 kitties and off we go! :)







It seems to be really easy at the beginning...



But NO! Can barely make it one after another slope, no choice but get off and start pushing. *hidesmyface*



Breath in the fresh air that no way you can get it in the city, relax maxima!





AND LOOK AT THIS! MAD CUTE CAN?!?!



And of course some stupid photography session for everyone.
This one, hilarious!



Trust me, it was really, really, really H.O.T.





2 hours of cycling, chill out, silly stunts and we are totally out.







Whats next babeh? Sky trek will do!
I bet someone gonna need some serious consideration for this! :P





Fatty on the loose!


xo loves,
louisexin

withlouiSe's getaway @ Hatyai, Thailand (II)

I know I'm creeping on a turtle speed (maybe slower) for my pending post. God knows what have I been busy with every day cuz I don't even know it myself!
And finally, here comes the last part of my stories from withouise's getaway I & Songkhla, Thailand.

The weight gained chapter.




So as the big brother promised, off one beautiful night we went for seafood hunts in the city.
Crave for spicy Tom Yum seafood. We spoke different language, with a lit body sign language to the "tuk tuk"'s driver and he was actually looking for...


this.




With an extremely bizarre and not pleasant look which it actually reminds me of cockroach, makes me wonder why sort of treat it is from mii brother? Never failed to surprise me!
But it turns out to be a salad, surprisingly tasty, lovin' it.









More food.













Bill came up to be ridiculously cheap!



And more food. :)










Beautiful closing for the night and post, dig in bird nest before bed.


xo loves,
louisexin.