Throwback Vacation 2012 : Tioman Island

Salam & Hi,

I can't sleep and kept on thinking about my unfinished posts for 2011 /2012!

To cut the story short, here it goes on my family vacation last year to Tioman Island, Pahang..

My dad used to worked there for quite some time when I was in high school.So, he kept on telling us how nice is the ocean and how cheap the foods were... With God's willing, we all 5 of us (minus my younger sis,she had to work!) arrived there within a week planning! (Sometimes impromptu plans could work)

There's car park provided with a cost

Checked air fares via Berjaya Airlines and the fares were CRAZY!! It wouldn't be much of a deal if i)you're rich ii) you're traveling alone/with couple but with 5 of us, it was cheaper to travel by car. Left home after midnight and arrived Mersing Jetty Point just before Subuh prayer.Had our rest & breakfast in Mersing town, bought the ferry tickets and waited for our scheduled ferry.

Noticed our sleepiness? Makan pon pejam mata..

A lil' note on the ferry schedules, we didn't do any survey on it but divers there did mentioned you can actually call the ferry's company before arriving jetty to check on their schedules coz it's all depends on tide forecast / situation. 

Reliable map and entrance of jetty

Had a lil chats with a lady who're regular there visiting her husband, on how expensive items can be in Tioman compared to Mersing, specially when it comes to tourists. So, if you guys planning to stay Tioman Island on budget, do pack extra amenities before going there.

As far as I can remember, the journey from Mersing Jetty to Tioman Island was around 1.5 hours. Make sure you know where to stop as there are about more than 4 stops in Tioman Island itself. We picked to stop and stay at Tekek Village, where the main town is.

Subhana Allah ! The water : clean & clear!

Tekek Village is a small town where you can actually walk from one end to end, maybe like less than 10 km all together,maybe.. not sure on the exact km but what I know is you can walk. From this town too, the connector to Juara Village which is on the other side of the Island, facing the South China Sea (gonna review about it later)

Owh, did I mentioned, we walked to our chalet?? It was a torturing walk under hot sun!

Lets go onto the accommodation : unless you're willing to splurge on the accommodation, please look no other than Berjaya Resort (located at the very right end of the town, you can't walk from jetty unless you're training for marathon). My dad picked on "Sofia by the beach" which had a big sign of "East Divers Tioman" infront or maybe back of the chalet.

Very basic chalet, a queen size & single bed in a room, private toilet, air-conditioner and mosquito repellent provided. The best part is this chalet is one of the chalet that are facing the beach.. fit our requirement,perfectly! I believed the breakfast buffet were provided through out our stay but dad made add-ons for first day lunch & dinner. We're too tired to seek another option on our day 1.

We noticed that this chalet are manage by an old lady with his husband only, their not the owner, btw. So, anything from receptionist, housekeeping and cooking plus laundry, these two will be handling it. Not sure on how they did it, but they managed to pull it off. Maybe you can expect less on their speed, but they did just fine for us.

Basically this trip were all about relaxing and enjoying each other, add on the beautiful beaches. Hence, repetition of activities did occurred for our 4 Days 3 Nights' trip.

If Berjaya Resort is at the very right of the town, Tioman Marine Park is on the very left of the town. This is where we walked each day we were there to have free dive with views! It took us around 15-20 minutes to arrive and it such a fun way to actually reconnect with your sibs & parents. The best that you can do with your gadgets were just snapping pictures, I don't think I can surf the net while walking..do u?

We walked 3km in total each days and don't think we ever lose any weight since we stopped at this one stall that served keropok lekor, abc, coconut rice, waffles and moreeee.... Can you imagine, going back and forth times 2 stops?Hahaha...nothing get burn! Maybe our skin did get burned?!Hehehe..

Owh, you'll be amaze with the airport and the only ATM Machine they have it there..

It's a small designated area for landing/depart and airport's lobby. There's mini post office sharing the same building with BSN, the only local bank there. At least you can make emergency withdrawal there..

I think I'm gonna continue on Juara Village in the next post cause I'm still awake from 2pm yesterday and I need to sleep!

To be continue..

Till then,

Changes

Assalamualaikum & Hello,

I don't think I'm gonna post out about my receptions day, just yet. Simply because I don't get the final outcome of the pictures & video.

What triggers my mind lately.. well, for the past 2 months being somebody's wife. The changes that I've and still have to adapt being someone's spouse. I really want to believe this is more than a new bed partner-change kind-of-thing ;) 

But of course, you can never run from the fact that you have a new bed partner! AHAHH.. Been in the situation where I gotta sleep together with my sister on a queen size bed, then alone in single bed at home and college. After marriage, OF COURSE I came back for either a Queen or King size bed! Ko gila nak tidur single bed je, puhhleesss!!

Sleeping Habit

I mentioned warned Big Boss that I'll be all-over-the-place when it comes to sleeping. I'll NOT be on the same spot where you see me first sleep. My leg can be taking over your side, my hand could be flying all over and such. I did told him that my dad once saw me curling under the passenger seat in an airplane when I was 9!! AN AIRPLANE for god'sake! Well,maybe he doesn't buy it.

I guess he believes it NOW!Ok, maybe few days after we got hitched!

Ooh, I just recovered from this massive auto-shut down especially while watching TV and it's not even 9 pm yet! Been suffering that for the past 1 1/2 months! Now I'm just back with only minor auto-shut down (which I don't mind) where I'd fall asleep as long as it's comfortable. Been sleeping for the whole Pacific Rim movie, it was like I paid the money just for sleep and blast aircond!

Yesterday, he just posted a FB status :

Yup, I married that guy!I don't think he really did whatever he mentioned in his status, but whateverr dear husband :p

Dating Venue

Before marriage, dating venues will always be malls, from having lunch to dinner, watching movies together or just window shopping. Other than malls, mamak shop would be 2nd runner up..

Now, IKEA has been the latest favorite place for Big Boss for a "hangout". He dislike the place when we were singles.I guess marriage has inspires him to decorate and it make more sense to decorate now,than before.. hehehe

Not a problem for me till I keep on grabbing items that I don't need but because it's on SALE and it cost less than RM10. Another DAISO moment!! -____-"

"I'll do it" terms

When you're living together,on ur own, u'll of course need supports from each other to finish up the chores.Still struggling on getting my time management correct but my dear husband on the other hand is very stress-free.

There's time where the bathroom needs a clean-up and he'll say that he'll do it.I just can't wait.When I asked if he notice any changes and he said :

 "Yeahh, why do u do it? Didn't I told you I'll do it? "

"Of course honey, that was WEEKS ago when you said that. By the time you want to do it, you'll never find the bathroom door"

:D

Shopping Style

A simple and short grocery shopping can makes me so tense out! Well, for me because I don't know what I'm suppose to buy for cooking. For husband, it's an easy task for him, he'll just pick up whatever he prefer to have like 2-3 bottle of juices or 2-3 boxes of cereal at one go.

For me, searching for the lowest price for a particular item is a must but he,on the other hand will always pick the favorite or 'usual' brand. Like a dish detergent which I couldn't care much on the branding, coz in the end, most of the brands will have at least nice smell. He'll will stick or loyal to the same brand coz that what he's comfortable with.

There are things that he'll compromise but it will happen after I did my justification (s) on what's best since my past experience. It feels sometimes like I married a shopaholic husband, just because he'll buy first and think later. 

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Seems like that's it for now.

Till then,

Pre-Honeymoon : Villa Samadhi

Salam & Hi,

I came across this place, maybe few weeks prior to my solemnization day. Having to absorb "You're not entitle for marriage leave so sayonara honeymoon" was a bit of frustrating. Did a lil' reviews on net, mostly people's blog posts made me sooo eager to check this place out.

Did a lil bit of discussion with Big Boss and argued a lil bit, typical me :p but we didn't actually agreed on booking since there's no available weekends for us after the solemnization.

Waiting and still giving hopes to myself that we're gonna go there, coz I knew that the MAIN honeymoon was a longgg way to go...

I guess I got lucky and Big Boss actually decided to have our first night as married couple there. Without having to travel far. Teeheeee!

Made the reservation a day before through their direct on-line reservation. You can also check on Agoda or booking.com but the room that we (Read : I) wanted wasn't available. There's different level of perks provided based on the room such as direct-pool access or space. So, choose wisely caused it could not be beneficial sometimes.

We checked in quite late and plus we got lost.Did my homework on the possibility of getting lost and few bloggers did mentioned it was hard to locate since there're no sign of the villa. Didn't get to capture the entrance of the villa but I still remember that it were covered with bamboo trees, plus the instinct of mine saying that's the villa..ahah!! It also have safety guard's section just outside the gate.

You'll have to provide your booking slip or at least your full name so that the guard can re-check before opening the gate for you.

We were given lemongrass drink and cold towels to refresh ourselves while waiting for our room.

Us, while waiting for our room. I still have my solemnization's makeup on. :')

And the view is just amazing! Even though it's just a pool but the atmosphere was just so peaceful and you can never believed that there's such place as this one in the middle of Kuala Lumpur!

Once the room is ready, we were ushered to our room, I picked "Luxe Crib" btw. The reception lady (can't recall her name tho') gave us a brief details on the villa's facilities and what not. I'd also noticed that all the staffs there were barefoot and I did asked the lady why. She said that it's easy for them to identify if the floor are not up to the standard and clean it before being told to do so..

She also did an amazing job in explaining the room and the room is indeed the biggest room for "Luxe Crib" category.I guess we do got lucky for that! It was on 2nd floor, no pool access tho'..

From left top : Bathroom : his & her sinks, rain showers and auto-set jacuzzi, our king size bed.

From left bottom : Separate TV Room, with study desk

Bigger picture of the bathroom : Open wardrobe with free slippers :)), also free toiletries such as colgate,shaver and shaver foam.

Balcony overlooking the pool and the dining hall. 

Our room were at the very end of the villa and hence it was covered with few trees that were super fine for us, especially during rainy days!Romantic sangattt! ;p

From left top : Pathway beside the villa to dining hall and pool access.

From left bottom : Dining hall and day-bed by the pool

You have options for having your breakfast at the dining hall or on day-bed beside the pool.There's buffet of bread, fruits,cereal, coffee and tea. You'll be given choices on breakfast set of heavy dish like nasi lemak, noodle soup or sausage & omelette with choice of your juice drink. You can also pick to enjoy your breakfast in the dining hall or the day-bed by the pool. Wanted to have that too (the day-bed option) but we wanna enjoy the breakfast buffet without having to move far. ;p

Settled with breakfast, we relaxed by the pool for a while and regretting ourselves on not bringing our swimming attires. But then, this was our pre-honeymoon before incoming hectic weeks, swimming maybe out of our option for the day.

Headed back to our room to enjoy our balcony, short nap and packed to check-out. Big Boss did mentioned on extending our stay but since I have to vote (I got married a day before general election!) and thinking of unpacked boxes in our new house holding us back from enjoying this place more.

Overall, Villa Samadhi indeed a really good bargain on relaxing and enjoying your time without having to leave the city itself.

Till then,

Solemnization Day @ Akad Nikah

Assalamualaikum & Hello ;)

So here goes the R.E.A.L B.I.G D.A.Y that WE (Read : me & Big Boss) have been waiting for, since the day we decided to be more than just "a friend". Really!

People always say that you can never really enjoy your last sleep before getting married because of nervous, anxious or whatsoever related to feelings. I beg to differ! If not because of my cupping henna that I'd decided to put on the night before, I could have the normal comfortable sleep as any other days :p

Woke up around 5ish am due to that henna cracks were all over my sleeping area (Mind : I slept on a "thai sofa" with all hands & legs wide out like a star!) . I think I continue to sleep back and woke up around 6am!

Had the usual morning routine and knocked on every body's door cause mama & sis had early make-up session with Faressa. So they take turns and mama will wake the boys up. Made milo and ate few leftover sponge cake for breakfast. It was an easy morning for me I think since no one running around and shouting, hehehe...

Started my makeup session around 8 am and an hour later, relatives came over before heading to mosque together. Even when they came, only few came into my room to check me out & say hi.

Makeup by sis lin 

                                           

Still in manageable condition..till I had the very last minute touch with veil and makeup,that's where papa decided to panic. No wonder mama let him sleep till the right time to woke him up.. ;p

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We arrived mosque just in time before the groom arrived!Everyone were all over the place and left me at the back of the mosque,waiting for the right time to walk in..which in the end I assumed that was the right time and walked past guest and be seated.

Masjid Al-Ehsan, Bandar Kinrara

Had few snapshots with families, girlfriends and ex-office-mates before the ceremony started.

*Missing Fadi*

Mama & Mak Ngah

Aunties 

Sister & Cousins!

Then the nervous moment came along.. 

Way back during our meet-up with Ustaz Baharudin (Kadi for this particular mosque), he did said that there are times where his boss will show up and monitor the ceremony.He also mentioned that usually no questions will be ask,specially if the ceremony take place at the mosque..ok,good tips ustaz!

Then, when the ceremony was about to start, and another familiar face where moments like "Eh, tu bukan ustaz kat kursus kahwin hari tu ke??!!". Indeed, he was!!Ceremony stars and he asked Big Boss a question and zuuppp!!! I knew he can't remember it! "Rukun Nikah".. -______- Malu ni!!hehehe...

Alhamdulillah with one lafaz, I'm somebody's wife!!!! I'm his wife!

Accepting "Mas Kahwin" or "Mahar"

From him

From me

HUGGING Sessions!

Guests were ushered to the nearest cafe for light meal and we (bride & groom) continued with our photo sessions. Feeling so hungry and didn't have much time to spend with the guests.

After all,akad nikah went very smoothly that I'll never forget for the rest of my life, inshaa Allah :)

Till then,

Night Before : Solemnization Day @ Akad Nikah

Assalamualaikum & Hello,

Normally as custom in our family, we would have Henna Ceremony a night before the solemnization day. Since mine would be the extra special case where only solemnization would be done in Selangor and the reception would be in Muar,Johor - in 2 different weeks of course!

Due to limited space, we decided to have the solemnization in nearby mosque.Hence, no mini dais at all. But mama being a mom,really wants to have a lil bit of deco here and there in the house.She also threw me a small party.

We served Mee Bandung and few other malay dishes. Mama also insisted of having mini photo booth for cousins and yeah, she did all the hard work!

Invited extended families and of course the normal close ones! But not all able to attend which understandable as this was a very last minutes invitation.

 While people were busy with foods, camwhoring and stuff, I'd be running around the house for I don't know what I wanna do..well,most of the time I'd be nearby Zet. There's time where I dragged her to my room to assist me with un-iron shawl,bridal attire,mask and nose-strip pack!

Thank God that I managed to get my henna done a night before that night!! If not,everything would be another chaos all together! Oh, I didn't get the full cap since I wanna have the Mecca henna that my aunt brought back. So,yeah, that's the last thing I did before I called it for the day!

Till then,