A Short Trip to Cherating

Paul & I were so stressed out with the wedding planning and the house moving that we just needed a break. So we went to Cherating for 4 days. That was 2 ½ weeks ago.

But as soon as we got back to KL, the running around not only continued but the list grew even longer.

Nevertheless it was a nice break while we were there. I left behind my To Do list and brought my bikini and beach towel in it's place.

We chose Cherating because it was the closest beach from KL by car and it’s not Port Dickson which is still horrible and dirty no matter what the time share marketers tell you about clean up and conservation efforts.

The lovely traffic free drive on the East Coast Highway.

After driving round to the various hotels like Best Western, Legend, Holiday Villa, Ranting Chalets, Swiaa Garden and more, we settled on Impiana Hotel in Cherating because it was the most value for money and one of the better looking ones. It’s about 15 years old and needs a new coat of paint and some maintenance but the service of the staff was really good, friendly and attentive.

The beach is usually totally empty except for one or 2 couples. Total bliss to have the place to ourselves!

Paul caught a crab and put it in my turtle bucket. Then he built a sandcastle and stepped on my sand turtle!

Trenton the Turtle looks at the different species of turtles and says hi to one of his cousins.

The monkeys watching me watching them every time we come into or leave the hotel grounds.

They have really REALLY huge sign boards in Cherating. Probably because people tend to fall asleep while driving due to the non existence of traffic.

Gotta go. Gotta pick up the laundry, check on manicure & pedicure package, buy more material to add on to the wedding dress and meet my mum’s friends from the UK for dinner.

Bubbles Is Now A Certified Diver

Redang was great. The beaches are beautiful and the waters are clear. But it wasn’t so much a holiday as it was a grueling course in diving.

Paul did well but for someone like me with hydrophobia, I would say that it was the toughest and scariest thing I’ve made myself do to date. I may be scared of some things but I can run away from those. This is different, can I willingly made myself go through it.

The course started off easy by watching a 3 hour video on the theories on diving. Then we suited up and went into the water. I like the water but I panic the moment I’m totally submerged in water. I HATE water in my nose. So it was all good and well when I was all suited up in the water cos I could breathe thru the regulator and my eyes and nose were protected with the mask.

Then we had to do mask clearing. This is when the mask is removed completely, placed back on the face and have the water cleared out. This is in case your mask gets knocked off or if the mask gets fogged up. I was panicing and hyperventilating! I was so scared!! I thought I was about to pass out there n then. I kept signaling to my instructor to wait n that I’m scared! And I thought that I’ll never be ready to do something like this! And to get me out of there! But he just looked at me calmly and signaled for me to do it before he fell asleep. All the while holding only my BCD so that the current doesn’t pull me away.

All this is much funnier when dome in sign language under the water.

After spurting, breathing in some sea water, having my eyes stung by the salty water, flailed around with my fins (or as fast as they can move in zero gravity under the water), I managed to do it.

THEN we had to remove the mask completely, swim 30 metres or so and then repeat the process! I repeated my spurting, breathing water and flailing. But finally did it. Again.

The rest of the exercises like regulator recovery, CESA, sharing air with buddy etc were fine. But then I had to do mask clearing again at 18 metres under water! This time I was still scared shitless but at 18 metres, I knew I didn’t have the option on freaking out and abandoning the exercise and swim back to the surface easily. So I took 3 deep breaths. Okay it was more like 10 deep breaths with both hands on the mask attempting very hard to pry the mask from my face. All the while my mind is thinking “Just do it! Fuck it! Just do it!!!” And my body was going “Are you fucking insane? Do you WANT to breathe in sea water? Do you want to drown?? Are you freaking insane?! What’s wrong with you??!!!

My mind and body fought the battle but I bit hard into the regulator (in case it floats away), fucked it and did it anyway.

Which tag line was it which said ‘Feel the fear but do it anyway’? I certainly put that into practice during this open water dive course. ‘Open Water’ is such a befitting name- there’s water every where! In your mouth, nose, eyes, nose and all other crevices a human possess.

So yes after the 4 days of drama, I’m a certified diver! Paul is so gung-ho that he wants to do his Advanced Diver course. I’m just glad that my diving buddy will have more experience than me and can help calm me down if I ever freak out underwater.

We spent our 5^th day on the island sleeping, eating and chilling out at the beach. Since we were diving most of the days and wearing a full wet suit, I didn’t get that much of a tan.

Also, since we were constantly in the water, I don’t have that many pics or pics of me in a wet suit. So here are some pics for now. Waiting for pics from the rest.

With all that said and done, I am looking forward to my next diving trip. Seems like its Perhentian then Sipadan at the end of the year.

The group of divers and sun tannersThis way to the dive centre!Paul and I before we suited up

Paul's gargoyle

Finally able to relax at the beach after getting certified!