reflection on 2008: ke utara, selatan, timur dan barat ku jejaki...

I started 2008 with a lot of new things in my life...new house, new roommates, new subjects and a lot more of new things that some I considered a bless and some...maybe one day I'll realize that they were blessing in disguise. But to sum up the year, what I am going to remember the most is how much I've traveled around. I've touched and stepped every corner of the peninsula, from north to the south to the east and west. What's more remembering, is most of the holiday vacation was planned and executed by us and we survived through all of it

My first journey started on February when the four of us, midah, kak nora, aliaa and me went to east coast peninsula, namely Kelantan and Terengganu. I was made the semi-official leader of the vacation because I had the experience because my dad is a Kelantanese. If I am not mistaken, our budget was RM250 per person including gas, accommodation, food etc...I remembered how excited all of us, especially Aliaa, for never being to Kelantan for her whole life. She flew all across Asia to UK, she's seen the beauty of France and Spain but never turn to look at her home's own backyard, talk about irony huh? what makes us very eager to be there is the shopping!!! although we know that not being local, we were bound to be charged more expensive but for us, being there by ourselves, survived through the bargain, the havoc and uncertainties...made the experience to be worth priceless...even to the fact that sometimes people said that we could have done it better with the help of locals could never bring us down.




us singing January after the the mad 'Pengkalan Kubor' shopping...

hanging out at PCB: from left: me, midah, kak nora and aliaa...

After that, I went to Pangkor during the semester break, if I am not mistaken it was in June or July. I went there with my TESL friends and I loved the vacation because I had a lot of first time during the vacation, first time I went to Pangkor, first time I went to Ipoh, first time to snorkel, first time to see sunset at the beach, a lot of first time. The trip was quite a sudden planned trip so there was sometimes activity lagging and loitering time unlike trip I've had with my PBSM friends because we always create a schedule and stick with it but nevertheless the trip was great and plus, it was the best trip for us because we were just finishing our exams before the vacation so Pangkor becomes our de-stress after the hectic semester!!!

the beach boys and girls: from left: marina, lala, fattah, zahid, hana, k-role, embek, me, mami, nadia and zaza...

me in my inner circle....

the next trip is the one I considered to be the highlights of my vacation...the nearly one year planned langkawi trip...the trip was very special for all of us because we've been doing our own stuff for too long and the trip is the one thing that we can really unwind and see each other again!! another best thing about the trip is i feel the trip is like our little reunion because I cannot remember for how long i really hang out with Azrol, Shimi and Kak Su! The trip is perfect in every sense, from the evening we step on the plane, me taking care of azrol and aliaa taking care of shimi in the plane, to the part we fueled 200 ringgit in our rented van, and the rest of it, the island hoping, the driving around, the humor, the shocking RM140 seafood for 7people restaurant down to the craze of fighting over the roche and chocolates. It is really good and fun!!

Us after hanging out at Tasek Dayang Bunting from left: Kak Su, Midah, Azrol, Saufi, Aliaa and me. At the back: Shimi

Me and kak su with the monkey. (I love them!!!)

The next trip, Penang is quite the unplanned trip for us because there are so many changes towards the end and the trip main purpose is actually to celebrate one of our friend wedding, Midah. The trip feels just like the one in Kelantan because we drove ourselves (actually abg azizan drove all the way by himself) just like in Kelantan. The trip is quite the rushed one trip but nevertheless, I haven't touched Penang for almost 15 years so it is very fun indeed. What all I can say about Penang is the road is scary and so small but the architecture of the temples and shrines mesmerize me to the end. It's a pity that I don't own a camera because if I had, I would have snapped the beautiful pictures on the shrine doors that I've seen there.

I just loved all the trips that I've been through for the year 2008. for 2009, i reckon my trip will be less due to my time spent for the practicum and thesis. but i think one thing is certain, although physically i cannot journey as far as i can like 2008, the no limit of how long my mind can travel as long as i remember to keep on the light in my heart and in my mind...