Scuba diving on Redang Island

Following up on previous post – last 3 days I spent on one of the most beautiful islands I have ever been to.

The journey there was OK, we traveled about 8 hours up North-East with the bus. 5 people together – Janne, me, Major Kee (our instructor) and 2 Chinese 50 years old guys! The journey itself was tiring, but we all survived and after some time we lend on the coast of Pulau Redang.
First impressions: White sand, pure water, palm trees, hammocks on the palm trees and vision of scuba diving…enough to feel satisfied!

First day - Friday and we made 2 open water dives. All 7 of us (2 people joined us later on in the morning).

During the first dive we practiced all our skills we have learned during our pool sessions in Kuala Lumpur – mask clearing, hovering, gaining neutral buoyancy, running out of air… Afterwards we were exploring the bottom of the sea – corals, sea sponges, different fish, Nemo:)…
The dive usually lasts about 1,5 hours plus assembly of the scuba diving equipment. Later on we had a lunch, I was soooo hungry :) Second best part on the island was the relax after each and every single meal we had – laying on the hammock under the palm trees.. resting and falling asleep while listening to my MP3 music and watching the sea! Pohodicka!
Second dive was the way worse for me. The problem was my leaking mask. I had to clear it many times(under the water, of course), but still I saw big fish – Trigger fist(aggressive one), a shark!!! Corals. The maximum depth was 10 meters.

It really felt like exploring a new dimension of the world, that I have seen before just on series like Discovery Channel!
Third dive was a “Navigation dive” – going after the compass and following the given directions. After the experience with my leaking mask I changed it and that was a mistake! – my new mask was fogging like hell and I did not see anything. Luckily I was following my buddy with compassJ I did a lot of mask clearing, but I did not enjoy the dive much. 1,5 hours under the water.
Last dive was the best one! Saturday after the lunch we set off on a boat and did the boat dive. Prepared with all the tanks, camera and enthusiasm we lend on a spot far from the island and started to explore the bottom of the sea. First we saw some streams of fish, then a big moraine fish hidden in the rock, a huge jelly fish, which I did not know it is a jelly fish (I assumed it was a big sea flower:S) and I swam very close (nothing happened fortunately) also a sea turtle swimming!, the deepest point was 22meters!!! My ears were due to proper equalization perfectly OK. Always when I saw a big fish (even 2 meters big fish) I got scared and was breathing very fast from the regulator. It took me always some time to calm down.
There was a statement in my study book that “It is proved that Scuba divers have more fun that ordinary people”. I laughed at it when I saw it, but in the end the new dimension of the underworld plus bunch of nice people and relaxing atmosphere on the island made me believe it is true!

Diving course

For about 3 weeks now I am doing with my Finish friend Janne a Scuba diving course. In the end (today) we are heading to an Island (simmilar like Perhentian, which we have been to last month) for scuba diving!!!
But what did the whole course ment for me and why I payed half of my monthly wage for it?
* to fight my fear
* to go through 5 pool sessions – each duration 3 hours (always tired after work, coming home 11pm, jumping in my bed and sleep...)
* to experience having my eyes opened under the water (biggest challenge for me) mask clearing + swimming with opened eyes from one side of the pool to another, while realizing, how people feel when they are partly blind
* to breathe first time under the water – from the tanks
* to have BCD (buoyancy control device – kind of vest) on me for the first time and swim with it
* to talk with hands signs under the water
* not to have time to go through my diving book (till now!!!)
* have a new experience

Indian engagement

My friend and colleague from work - Sutha - invited me for Engagement ceremony of her sister Geeta. Of course I was happy to accept the invitation, to see, how such an Indian tradition looks like.
When we arrived to the house of potential bride, she was currently undergoing make-up procedure, then tying a sari procedure, all took (with help of 3 her friends) about 2 hours. She looked like an Indian princess afterwards!
Then in the living room (they prefered to have the ceremony home, instead of in the temple) the priest was preparing all important for the engagement - prayers, fruit, flowers, fire.. very colourful. Meanwhile all the guests (50ppl) arrived - women in Saris, men in traditional suits. First the potential groom couldnt see Geeta. She came in her "first" Sari, talked to priest, then she took another Sari from him. This one was gifted to her from her mother in law and she went to change. Which took about 20 other min. Meanwhile traditional Indian music was played!

Final ceremony was very beautiful. Geeta came, looking gorgeous with a wreath of flowers, accompanied with her friends. Her "man" joined her. Priest was praying, they exchanged rings, got "bindi"-the dot on forhead... Afterwards all went to eat a dinner and ... Engagement was over. The wedding is on 15th December... and I am invited... :)

I was very grateful to Sutha for being invited for such a event. It is always great to see how the traditional habbits looks like! And also to see how different our "Czech/European" engagement looks like...

Peruvain Dinner

Eduardo from Peru invited a few friends for a dinner in the occasion of celebration of Arequipa (city, from where he comes from).
The dish was very nice - potatoes, chicken sauce, olives, egg, red wine, pleasant atmosphere,outstanding company :) ... hmm... perfect evening!!! :)

My NEW old room

Since about two weeks I have had a newly furnished room. Thesame appartment, thesame cool flat-mates, but just little bit of IKEA made my life here nicer!1) Someone has already said that it looks a bit like in the red-light district, but I dont care, cause:
2) It is cosy and cute
3) The bed is awsome, wouldnt change the money I gave for it for anyting else!!!:)

What made my day

On a way from work I poped in to Petronas Towers to buy tickets for a Malaysian Orchestra. The way back I had to take a subway. The platoform was overcrowded with long lines of people. Ridiculous. In the line I met a couple (about 35 years old) and their 2 kids (about 10years) from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Their father started to talk to me, we were chating the whole time we spent in a line and then later on in subway. Their whole family travel round Malaysia for 1 month, different places...
I found it really cool. Young family to travel all over the world, when they have holidays - active time spent together, getting to know new country...

I also talked with them about cultural difference and "rassism" in their country and here.. Here is almost none :)

It was very nice meeting them. It simly made my day... :)

60th Anniversary of India Independence

Since my company is Indian, many Indian ppl are working here. Today is a big celebration for them, 60 years ago the independence from British happened. That is why many ladies wear today a Sari and guys wear traditional clothes. In the morning they were going around and chatting,giving away the traditional food, all this seemed to be like a big festival in the office:)

Cameron Highlands

There was a weekend free on 11th,12th Aug, so I send out email to my friends with a message, if they would be interested in a trip to Cameron Highlands. That’s how it began (there simply must be always someone who makes the plan).

In the end we set off 6 people – Janne(Finland), Carla(Ireland), Carey-Anne(South Africa), Caro(Belgium), Amilia(Indonesia) and me for a weekend trip.
Cameron Highlands are located North from Kuala Lumpur about 3,5 hours drive and it is a place which is rather high, so that the temperature is around 15-20 degrees – and not humid. Perfect place for planting tea, strawberries…

With Amilia we went with a bus from KL, the others took Carey-Anne’s car. Our bus was one big disaster - caught a traffic jam, stopped on a way up the highlands due to the “overcooked” engine – and the driver was cooling it down with a plain water. Nevertheless, I did not make a lot out of it, cause I wanted to relax. Simply as it was.

When we arrived to Cameron Highlands, all of us went strait to see one of the famous Tea plantation, called Cameron Valley. It was my first time seeing tea plantation and the view with the sun, green hills, tea plants and guys harvesting the tea was awesome. The only bug was, that my stomach was on a strike, due to consuming on Friday night (for the first time in my life) combination of antibiotics and alcohol. Learning point jaxvina – never again.

In the evening we had a typical Chinese food called “Steam boat” – big mug on a table with two different soups, in which we gave different meat and vegetable to be cooked. I think I don’t fancy this meal again, but was interesting to try.

Sunday the weather changed, it was foggy and cold. When we went by car to a strawberry farm and we saw a rain coming, we even started to sing of happiness, that the cold weather is coming. Crazy.

Strawberry farm was OK, nothing special, though. Another 3 hours we spent on a BOH tea plantations, bigger and nicer than the ones yesterday. BOH is a brand of very famous Malaysian tea, which is produced right in Cameron highlands, in a factory, where we could step in! Very interesting to see how the tea process is carried out. Drying, fermenting, flavouring.. Another learning point – the green tea and black tea are coming both from one plant. The only difference is the processing of the leaves.
The view was spectacular. Indeed! Afterwards we just had some tea in a nice restaurant, with cool view, food and were ready to go home. I really liked this trip, mostly cause it was very relaxing and the people were fun to be with!
...for more pix check my flickr again :)

Update

There are many things happening lately!!!

Capoeira
I took up this Brazilian dance/sport/art - Capoeira classes. I go there with my friend Nadeem every Monday after work(except for the last one when I was sick). It is cool in all aspects – interesting people, new experience, exhaustive feeling afterwards and doing finally some exercise – good for my body!

Free time
I have no free time :) Weekends are planned a month in advance(and I was worried what I will do here:)), so I can not complain, that I would be bored. Sometimes is good, but sometimes I just need some relax. When I come back from work, there is even no time for taking it easy – either dinner with other interns, or meeting with friends, or shopping or Capoeira or …

Diving course
I took up also a diving course – scuba diving with tanks, yay! 24-26 Aug. I gonna spend diving on Island Redang, watching Nemos and Corals… The course itself contains of 5 pool sessions, getting to know all the equipment, diving in a pool. Each session is about 3 hours long. First session was this Wednesday after work. Pretty packed day. It was surprisingly easy to breath under the water with the tanks! I felt like flying in the water, really!!! I take the course with a Finish guy, Janne. We have quite fun, but watch out, no laughing under the water! I tried once and my mask was full of water immediately :)

August – month of Nationalhood of MalaysiaIt is 50 years since Malaysia is an independent country. This year 2007 the celebrations will be huge. Exactly it is 31st August (On my nameday!!) And by now, there are plenty of Malay flags displayed everywhere all over KL/Malaysia! We are planning what to do on that day, since there will be many parades, big festival and fireworks. Also famous DJ Paul van Dyk is coming for a gig in a biggest club in KL – Zouk, so I guess I don’t want to miss this :)

Status: HAPPY!

I feel happy:), worth sharing, he?
I am not sick anymore, got settled down in my new room-I just moved within our old appartment (will do some shopping in IKEA on Monday), have a new roomie from Ireland, Carla, with who I get on well, yesterday we watched very pleasant movie Miss Potter, we had some pasta for a lunch(no rice:)) today, tomorrow heading to work again, next weekend a trip to Cameron Highlands(backpacking!), on Wednesday starting a Diving course and most of all I have a bunch of nice people around me ...and due to that all I simply feel happy now:)

What is it like to ....be sick in Malaysia

Every day - new experience!
After Tuesday's heavy rain in the morning I got to work soaking wet. The AirCon doesn't help much to keep you warm. Wednesday morning I did not feel well, so strait from work I went to see the doctor and experience what is it like to be sick in Malaysia.
Not much different though. I subscribed at the counter, while the Indian assistant doctor was curious where do I come from. "Czech Republic" - "aa..hmm.." - "Europe" - "aaa! OK, I see" :)
The Chinese lady-doctor invited me into her "office" and the procedure started. At the beginning I was laughing in mind while remembering the lectures at the secondary school, when our teacher tried to teach us the "At the doctor" phrases:)
"What are your symptoms, Pavlina?" She asked. I answered properly while talking about my sorethroat, fever and tireness. Then she tried to inspect my breath, you know, when you have to breath in and the doc. is inspecting your chest and back. She even did not ask me take off my rather thick cardigan. I was wondering, if she can hear anything. Then she measured my temperature - with the thermomether under my tongue and afer 1 minute she took it out and said: "Hmm, not bad.. just 98,2.." :) I repeated her diagnosis and thought, that they might have a different scale... :) (European normal temp. is 37degrees)
Finally she said I gotta lay in my bed, drink a lot and wrote me the Medial Leave from work and prescribed anibiotics (!-for sore throat and flu!!) I payed 30RM (6EUR) and went home with the idea of future 5 days(involving weekend) in the bed.
Just to add, the fever here is rather different from the European feeling - here you don't know, if you are sweating due to the fever or just due to the weather... And rest assured that I do sweat a lot nowadays! :)

Superhero Party at Brickfields

Last Saturday was a blast! David and Andrea threw their bye bye party, since leaving this week after one year being here. The theme was "SUPERHEROES". The party turned out to be awsome, full of Supermen, Catwoman, Whoopi Golberg, Mr.Bean, Pocahontas, Transformer, Flinstones... Guess what I was:) Amilia came over to my place before the party, to disguise. She was an Indonesian superhero and me - Little Mermaid Ariel:)

...the party was simply superb. The only bug. I drank quite some alcohol... and due to that I left the party rather early:))

Personal sharing

Who reads my blog regulary knows a lot about the food, weather, what i miss from home, where I travel... But I would like to share now, how do I FEEL here on a whole and also share some of my challenges so far.

I came here 1,5 months ago. Since then I have experienced many good and challenging moments. I would say first 2-3 weeks were really hard, cause i did not have many people here to talk to, to share the culture shocks with. As I already stated previously, AIESEC internship is different from ERASMUS and the other interns know each other before, when you as a newie arrive. Getting intergrated was/is one of those challenges. Although I am easygoing, not always ppl are your type and have time to getting to know or are not willing to. And you simply cant be "best friend" with everyone... But quite some people here are really nice - to have a chat with or just hang out, so I am happy about that.

Secondly, I was prepared, that there will be the fu**ing insect - cockroaches and stuff. I try to take it easy and don't mind it, but after my fights I realized that those invadors are simply grose to me and I don't want to live with them in one room, especially while sleeping. So when I go sleep, I am rather worried, when I hear any little noise in my room. But the thing is, i HAVE TO learn how to respect those little creatures, since they will not die out for the period of coming 7 months since Im here:)

On a whole I dont sleep well here. Jet-lag is long time over, but usualy I go sleep round 12 and fall asleep 1 or 1;30 tossing and truning on my squaky bed. The outcome is, that I am getting more and more tired and then it takes my energy away. I am moving to another room on Saturday, so maybe situation will improve:) I would like to settle down soon and have my own, long term, nicely-furnished room...

There are also other little things that I don't like - rain in the morning, being overlaoded with rice:), stressed out people at work, packed public transport,...

To sum up, so far i have experienced a lot. I do try to take the most of it, eventhough there are definitely things I don't like, i try to respect and learn from things. I have to admitt, that I did not expact this to be already such a big learning for me as an individual - from cultural, personal, relationship and work perspective.
One of the deepest leranings: Family and good friends are the best asset that you have. If I am down and I know that I can call, chat, write to people I know will not let me down, it is an amazing feeling... THANKS!
Another big learning - respect towards people, their life, culture and things they do. And thirdly, I see how the company works and how different leadership styles work and I try to capture things I would like to avoid in my future career.