Snorkeling in Perhentian

Assalamualaikum everyone!

I had a wonderful raya weekend though I didn't go back to KL to continue the celebration with my family. 

Since a really really good friend is leaving for KL for a transfer, they've decided to have a get-away trip to Perhentian. The last time I went there was in July 2011 with a Korean lady I met on the bus on my way back home from the airport. (Before Perhentian + In Perhentian post)

Paid RM250 for return transportation Kerteh-Besut with my car, boat Perhentian-Jeti Besut (around RM70), one night stay in Ombak (room of 4, or 2), breakfast at Ombak, Snorkeling trip by Ombak (RM35 like that), and underwater camera rent (RM100 per group if I'm not mistaken). All in all, it was worth it!

This time, since we're already in Terengganu, we had to drive from Kerteh the night before at around 9:30pm and stayed overnight in Kuala Terengganu at another friend's family place. While another group departs from Kerteh at 3:00am the next morning to catch the boat from Jeti Besut at 9:00am.

On Friday, we woke up at 5:00am and went to pray Subuh at the nearby Masjid on the way to Besut. I was shocked to see that the huge Masjid's parking spot was nearly full!

There were about 90 ladies there with 6 saf, what more the men?

Since we have to catch the boat, we used the highway to the Jeti Pulau Perhentian in Besut. Drove so fast, thank goodness it was really in the morning and there were no cars on the road. Just probably few along the way.

Had nasi lemak (a must!) before departing, and make sure to get a big bottle or two of mineral water at the Jeti Besut. Since we went to the small island, there's not many shops there and a bottle could cost you triple the price.

We were told that the boat should only fit 13 passengers, and their names should be listed properly and signed by the officer at the exit. 


I guess not.


The driver 'singgah' somewhere and picked another 4-5 locals, and went to the other end of the jeti to pick up 3 more of our friends who did not make it in the "13 list". 

The boat was definitely too fast as if it was about to fly off, and the non-13 list passengers did not have their life vest on. So much for HSE (Health, Safety and Environment).



Oh well, we survived the 30+ mins boat ride to the island and went to Ombak Chalet. 

Since check-in is at 3pm, we changed, and went straight for snorkeling.

It was a tremendously amazing!! Enjoyed it so much!!

It took me 2 years to go do it again, and now I just can't wait another 2 months to go to Redang in October!  

The last time I went, I can only float, and I panicked because a lot of sea water got into my googles and I couldn't see much.

This time around, thanks to that weekly swimming session in KGRP (Kelab Golf Rantau Petronas) in front of my office, I could actually swim and dive into the sea without any equipments (though I hold on to my life-vest just incase the tide gets stronger which it did and I had to hold on to my friends who was wearing them). Plus, the googles Ombak provided us was simply tip-top quality.

Went straight down to the turtle (penyu) on the sea-bed and almost die of pressure and loss of breath. Haha. 

Too bad the photographer pressed "OFF" instead of the shooting button, and I was too tired to go back into the sea-bed for another photo. (It will be my own story of failure and I will remember you Mr. Turtle. When I come back again, I promise I'd hold my breath for at least 1 minute. I'll practice okay? ;) At least I managed to get a photo when Mr. Turtle went up for air. Good enough I guess. 



Lot's of success story this time around.


I was super close to a huge leopard-skin eel, and the sharks! 

I only swam around the tower last time. Though I had a great time playing around feeding the fishes, I thought I must give it a go. A jump.

This time around. I must.

I am scared of heights, my heart was going to explode and even though they've counted until 3 and I was ready to jump, I just went back in and sat on the cliff. 


"Impossible. This is too scary"


"But wait. Going down by the stairs is much more 'memalukan', I rather jump"


I cursed. I did.


So, I finally jumped. 

"Hey, that was FUN!!"

I went back for another jump. Hahaha. Oh Nadiah... ^^"


So that was rather a short story from my snorkeling experience and I'm glad I overcome all my fears this time. 

Not in my life I've jump from that height, swim that deep below, and kept my breath that long.


I guess every trip will change you somehow. 


To be honest, I was not close with this group of people that I went with. Some I never talked to, never knew their names, and those that I was really scared of because they had a creepy look in their eyes like they're going to eat me alive. (The girl that were supposed to go for us to celebrate had to cancel last minute). I thought that I'd be going for my worst get-away ever.

Now I see them in the office, I'd be like, "Hey dude!! Hey womaaaannn!!" making daily-life at the office means so much more knowing how crazy we've become with each other.

Ah.. I'm blessed.

*Oh, the last time I said that aboutmy new founded awesome-office-mate-friend, we had a 3rd World War for nearly 4 months. har-har. 

More photos of the trip can be seen here (Facebook Album).

Signing out with love for everyone. 

Selamat Hari Raya. 

Assalamualaikum. <3 font="">

*Oh hey. I haven't told you how my Raya went. XD 

We'll see la when I'm rajin kayh. We literally had a *blast*.

The best saying I've ever came across on a bad day.

"If that day comes [when] a clash is apparent between your personal interests and economic activities on the one hand, and my Islamic work on the other, and that I find my married life is standing in the way of Da'wah and the establishment of an Islamic state, then, each of us should go our own way. 

I cannot ask you today to share with me this struggle, but it is my right on you not to stop me from jihad in the way of Allah. Moreover, you should not ask me about my activities with other Mujahideen, and let trust be full between us. 

A full trust between a man and a woman, a woman who, at the age of 18, gave her full life to Allah and Da'wah. 

In the event of any clash between the marriage contract's interest and that of Da'wah, our marriage will end, but Da'wah will always remain rooted in me."

- (Zainab al Ghazali, 2006)

Zainab Al Ghazali was not any usual Muslim leader who was famous for her motto, strategy or any other peculiar perspective. No! Actually, she belongs to the Islamic world in a greater dimension.

 

Zainab Al Ghazali was that Mujahidah of Ummah who was bestowed by Allah the vision of Prophet Muhammad (Salallah Allihi Wasalam) four times in dream and was offered the blessings by the prophet.

 

It was Zainab Al Ghazali who challenged the Pharaoh of twentieth century and started

Dawah of Islam and its Shariah by summing all her courage and dedication and inturn got the severe heartrending and tremendous tortures from suppressors but the point of mention will remain that suchtortures did not hamper her from keeping the missionary thought, expression, stand and the work and she continued Haqooqulah (duties towards people) as well as the Haqooqul Ibad (duties of worship). For her exemplary devotion and tolerance she would be remembered till doomsday.

 

The service she has done to Islam cannot be described under any single title only. Herself, shewas not a fellow but a great Islamic Movement. It is very unfortunate that our youngsters have forgotten their predecessors of Islam. To do justice with the contributions of this great Mujahidah a comprehensive book is needed.
 

 

 

"Hari -hari Dalam Hidupku" in Malay and "Return of The Pharaoh" in English.

  

 Born on Jan, 2, 1917, in Egyptian village Manyate Umer, her father was a farmer and a religious person, who died when Zainab was only 11. But the guidance and fatherhood of her father hadleft deep and nonperishable impacts on Zainab. The translator of the book Khalil Ahmad Hamidi, in the preface of the book, reveals that Zainab had herself narrated that how her father would tellher the tales and events of the great Islamic women (Sahaabiyat) in an impact making manner. In the agro society, in the lap of the families with values, religious traditions and with impact fromthe spiritual guidance of her father, Zainab entered the field of maturity and understanding at the age of 18. In 1938 she founded Jameyate Sayedate Muslimaat, an organization of the Muslimwomen. For the features, activities and the strategy of this organization she chose Hazrate Nusaibah (RA) as her ideal.

  

You can read the rest from here.

 

 

 

InsyaAllah I'm going to finish the book by this weekend. Though there's open houses, sisters walimah, sisters gathering, I found myself stuck in a situation where I can't say NO.

 

InsyaAllah I'll make the best out of it.

 

InsyaAllah, He'll take care of me like He did for Zainab.

 

Wallahualam.