I'm back from the dive trip to Tioman. Finally, I've completed my open water course after a 2 year wait. Hopefully I will get to do my advance soon.
Anyway, grouchy dive instructor aside, the trip was not too bad. The trip there was bloody long. Took a 3 hr bus ride and a 3 hour boat ride. Arrived in Tioman at 12 midnight. Paying $360 for a open water course plus meals, accomodation, equipment rental and transport, I thought it was a real steal. Even my Dad found it unbelievably cheap. I was told we would be staying at a resort with aircon and attached toilets. I think if you were to go to Tioman for a 4 day holiday and stay at a resort, you would pay about that price or even more, but less the diving. However, I guess I had high expectations because the resort was not really a "resort". Although its called Salang Resort, its more like a chalet type accomodation. Quite shabby but at least there was aircon and a toilet. I'm not too fussy about sleeping around anyway (alternative meaning does not apply here).
So after the neverending boat ride to the island, I was dead tired and waiting out side the resort for our room keys when I was bolted out of my weary daze by bombs raining down on us. Looking up to the sky, I realised we were standing below a mango tree. And every few minutes, a mango would drop. One mango hit a girl. Ha. It was practically raining mangoes.
Anyway, I had the privilege to sleep with the NTU dive comm since I kinda knew most of them and I went alone, so I got to sleep in a twin room while the other pple shared quads. However, my twin became a triplet because we had some room shuffling among us and stuff, and this other guy had to come sleep with me and my roomie cos his original roomie wants the room with his friend (girl). Great. So put 2 twin beds together and sleep 3 guys on it. Rule was: smallest guy sleeps in the hole in the middle since less weight means less likely to push the beds apart and fall into the hole. Fortunately, I am born big (alternative pun intended). Ha.
So the next morning we went out for our dives. First day was all training dives so wasn't much fun and little stuff to see cos it was all the training sites. Was quite nervous at first about descending down into the sea cos I was afraid of not being able to equalise since I have a little sinus problem. Nevertheless, found it surprisingly easy to equalise and after 2 dives, I was at ease underwater.
One major problem I had, and some others too, was that it was bloody cold underwater. Especially during the training dives where we have to just stay at one spot and do all those drills and wait while the instructor checks on the others. So without much movement, less heat produced in the body and I started shivering. And its really wonderful how the human body naturally protects itself with homeostasis. Everyone shivers when we're cold. A natural reflex to help generate some heat through these muscular contractions. But, we also pee more when we're cold. And this is definitely the one that I love most! Let me explain...
A wet suit keeps u warm underwater by trapping a thin film of water between your body and the wet suit. If the wet suit is too loose or overstretched, the water in the suit will move in and out more freely and thus heat will be conducted away by the water quickly. So, now this comes back to my previous point. When I was cold underwater, I peed. Unlike peeing in swimming pools where it probably just flows out of your trunks into the pool for others to enjoy/drink etc, peeing in your wet suit is different. The pee probably gets trapped in your wet suit. Disgusting as it may sound, you are practically soaked in your own pee. However, when you're cold and shivering underwater and waiting for you instructor to settle the slow bah kahs' drills, you would relish as much pee as you can get man! The gush of warm pee moving up your body through your wet suit, oh my god, is as good as sipping hot tea in winter. And somehow, I think my body knew I loved it cos I peed quite a few times each dive. Ha. My dive buddy didn't seem to like the idea of swimming in her pee. But after a few dives, she succumbed to the cold. Ha.
Gross stuff aside, my PMS instructor was awfully sweet during the trip. Never scold, suan, scream etc. Think she was kinda restraining herself cos I think the dive comm pple did talk to the instructors about not being too strict. Oh well, my instructor being sweet was a little awkward, but so long as she doesn't keep biting my head off, I'm fine.
Visibility was quite poor at most of the dive sites. Didn't really see many exotic marine life as I hoped for. I guess apart from the usual fish we expect to see, only the turtles, the Giant Garoupa and a few big bum-head parrot fish are the more memorable ones. I think the Nemos are the cutest fish in the see. Watching them play among the anemonaes is a joy to watch. Other not so memorable stuff were getting stung by a small jelly fish, and descending into a "mine field" on the seabed. I hear that if you get stung by jellyfish, you have to pee on the wound cos the ammonia somehow cures the sting or something. I didn't bother though, even though the rest of my body was covered in pee, but the thought of peeing directly on my arm... NAH! I pity anyone who gets stung on the face by a jellyfish. Or maybe the lips would be worse.
In another dive, we descended onto a "mine field" of sea urchins. The seabed was filled with those black spikey creatures. Had to watch where we stepped while clearing the area to allow us to kneel down for the drills. And while watching those black balls of spikes, I realised why I was so disgusted by the sight of it. They resembled spiders, my worst nemesis. I hate spiders by the way. Not small ones, huge ones, partly cos my house used to have frequent visits by huge spiders when I was young. A forrest used to stand opposite my house where Selarang Camp now stands.
Also, I had this Bah kah in my group. He's a weak swimmer, so I guess he's not too comfortable in the water. So I shan't fault him for that. Also won't fault him for being an oxygen guzzler, since if he's uncomfortable in water, he breathes more heavily and quickly. But, other than that, he gets a little irritating in the water. Once, I think he was quite kan cheong and din want to lose sight of the instructor, so he finned forward to get closer. He came past me and pushed me aside. WTF! Nevermind, give chance. Then I stay right at the back, so I won't get caught in the crowd trying to follow the instructor, then I get kicked in the face by his flippers. WTF! Nevermind, give chance. Then in one dive, he disappeared halfway. Alamak. Then as a protocol, the instructor will have to ascend to look for him. And since instructor goes up, we all have to go up too. Haiz. But I guess I was luckier. Another guy got "attacked by the KC spider (Kan Cheong Spider). Dunno why he suddenly panic underwater, the he wanted to grab on to something. And the nearest thing he could grab, was this other guy's regulator. I think that guy also panic sia. Someone trying to yank his regulator out of his mouth. Haha.
So basically, was a good experience but didn't see as much as I hoped for. The final night we had a BBQ, and of course beer. And that was when I was hit by a mango. Luckily not on the head, but on the shoulder, just missed my head by a bit. Karma for gloating at the girl on the first night who got hit. Anyway, we figured why the mangoes were raining down from the tree. We suspect that its the work of this monkey that roams around the trees in the area. Must be plucking the mangoes and throwing them at us.
Reminds me of another irritating kampong animal. The bloody rooster. CB, the first night we slept so late and the next morning had to get up at 630 for early morning dive. I think I only fell asleep at 4 because the bed was uncomfortable and 3 guys on 2 beds is not exactly that spacious. Then just as I slipped into my slumber, this bloody rooster started crowing at 530am. Non-stop. Moron, the sun wasn't even up!
Then after the 2nd night, the girls next door and my dive buddy found their bikini bottoms missing after they hung it outside to dry at night. Definitely got stolen by some pervert. haha. Boy were they pissed. Wonder why the hell people steal such stuff for. Prepare for the premiere of Batman Begins? On a grosser note, maybe they want to experience the scent of a woman. But then, guess the pervert must have been disappointed cos I bet it only smelt of seawater, or pee. Muahaha.
Some final notes: I am happy Liverfool won the CL. Though I am not a fan, and used to not like them since I am a MU fan, but now I think Arse and Liverfool are all good for me. The Arses play nice football, and the Liverfools have a great coach and are starting to look like they are playing real football. Its a pity they were plagues with so many injuries this season. I reckon they will be a force to be reckoned with next season. Common enemy now is Chelsea. Especially MORONho. American Idol. Waiting for the results show. I like Bo Bice, but sounds like Carrie is rigged to win it. Tomorrow is results day. Hopefully its good news. Got to go for another assessment for that job. Special case for me only, cos they wanna have a look at one component of my final assessment again. Guess its probably good news since its not an outright rejection but it sounds like they want me but just want to be sure about it cos I was overshadowed by an experienced trader in the trading simulation component. Finally, I will be flying off on Monday night with the Fags and the Bag. I realised FAG should be Four Accountancy Graduates and not Five. Because I don't wanna be a FAG. So it shall be Mingmong, the FAGS and the BAG. Effectively 2 days to study for CFA. Think I am gonna buang the exam. Sian.
Oh, I have been wondering...There are people that visit my humble blog that can't really identify. Like orange county and annoymous and annoymous and annoymous etc. Do I know you guys? Or have we never met?
I'm back from the dive trip to Tioman. Finally, I've completed my open water course after a 2 year wait. Hopefully I will get to do my advance soon.
Anyway, grouchy dive instructor aside, the trip was not too bad. The trip there was bloody long. Took a 3 hr bus ride and a 3 hour boat ride. Arrived in Tioman at 12 midnight. Paying $360 for a open water course plus meals, accomodation, equipment rental and transport, I thought it was a real steal. Even my Dad found it unbelievably cheap. I was told we would be staying at a resort with aircon and attached toilets. I think if you were to go to Tioman for a 4 day holiday and stay at a resort, you would pay about that price or even more, but less the diving. However, I guess I had high expectations because the resort was not really a "resort". Although its called Salang Resort, its more like a chalet type accomodation. Quite shabby but at least there was aircon and a toilet. I'm not too fussy about sleeping around anyway (alternative meaning does not apply here).
So after the neverending boat ride to the island, I was dead tired and waiting out side the resort for our room keys when I was bolted out of my weary daze by bombs raining down on us. Looking up to the sky, I realised we were standing below a mango tree. And every few minutes, a mango would drop. One mango hit a girl. Ha. It was practically raining mangoes.
Anyway, I had the privilege to sleep with the NTU dive comm since I kinda knew most of them and I went alone, so I got to sleep in a twin room while the other pple shared quads. However, my twin became a triplet because we had some room shuffling among us and stuff, and this other guy had to come sleep with me and my roomie cos his original roomie wants the room with his friend (girl). Great. So put 2 twin beds together and sleep 3 guys on it. Rule was: smallest guy sleeps in the hole in the middle since less weight means less likely to push the beds apart and fall into the hole. Fortunately, I am born big (alternative pun intended). Ha.
So the next morning we went out for our dives. First day was all training dives so wasn't much fun and little stuff to see cos it was all the training sites. Was quite nervous at first about descending down into the sea cos I was afraid of not being able to equalise since I have a little sinus problem. Nevertheless, found it surprisingly easy to equalise and after 2 dives, I was at ease underwater.
One major problem I had, and some others too, was that it was bloody cold underwater. Especially during the training dives where we have to just stay at one spot and do all those drills and wait while the instructor checks on the others. So without much movement, less heat produced in the body and I started shivering. And its really wonderful how the human body naturally protects itself with homeostasis. Everyone shivers when we're cold. A natural reflex to help generate some heat through these muscular contractions. But, we also pee more when we're cold. And this is definitely the one that I love most! Let me explain...
A wet suit keeps u warm underwater by trapping a thin film of water between your body and the wet suit. If the wet suit is too loose or overstretched, the water in the suit will move in and out more freely and thus heat will be conducted away by the water quickly. So, now this comes back to my previous point. When I was cold underwater, I peed. Unlike peeing in swimming pools where it probably just flows out of your trunks into the pool for others to enjoy/drink etc, peeing in your wet suit is different. The pee probably gets trapped in your wet suit. Disgusting as it may sound, you are practically soaked in your own pee. However, when you're cold and shivering underwater and waiting for you instructor to settle the slow bah kahs' drills, you would relish as much pee as you can get man! The gush of warm pee moving up your body through your wet suit, oh my god, is as good as sipping hot tea in winter. And somehow, I think my body knew I loved it cos I peed quite a few times each dive. Ha. My dive buddy didn't seem to like the idea of swimming in her pee. But after a few dives, she succumbed to the cold. Ha.
Gross stuff aside, my PMS instructor was awfully sweet during the trip. Never scold, suan, scream etc. Think she was kinda restraining herself cos I think the dive comm pple did talk to the instructors about not being too strict. Oh well, my instructor being sweet was a little awkward, but so long as she doesn't keep biting my head off, I'm fine.
Visibility was quite poor at most of the dive sites. Didn't really see many exotic marine life as I hoped for. I guess apart from the usual fish we expect to see, only the turtles, the Giant Garoupa and a few big bum-head parrot fish are the more memorable ones. I think the Nemos are the cutest fish in the see. Watching them play among the anemonaes is a joy to watch. Other not so memorable stuff were getting stung by a small jelly fish, and descending into a "mine field" on the seabed. I hear that if you get stung by jellyfish, you have to pee on the wound cos the ammonia somehow cures the sting or something. I didn't bother though, even though the rest of my body was covered in pee, but the thought of peeing directly on my arm... NAH! I pity anyone who gets stung on the face by a jellyfish. Or maybe the lips would be worse.
In another dive, we descended onto a "mine field" of sea urchins. The seabed was filled with those black spikey creatures. Had to watch where we stepped while clearing the area to allow us to kneel down for the drills. And while watching those black balls of spikes, I realised why I was so disgusted by the sight of it. They resembled spiders, my worst nemesis. I hate spiders by the way. Not small ones, huge ones, partly cos my house used to have frequent visits by huge spiders when I was young. A forrest used to stand opposite my house where Selarang Camp now stands.
Also, I had this Bah kah in my group. He's a weak swimmer, so I guess he's not too comfortable in the water. So I shan't fault him for that. Also won't fault him for being an oxygen guzzler, since if he's uncomfortable in water, he breathes more heavily and quickly. But, other than that, he gets a little irritating in the water. Once, I think he was quite kan cheong and din want to lose sight of the instructor, so he finned forward to get closer. He came past me and pushed me aside. WTF! Nevermind, give chance. Then I stay right at the back, so I won't get caught in the crowd trying to follow the instructor, then I get kicked in the face by his flippers. WTF! Nevermind, give chance. Then in one dive, he disappeared halfway. Alamak. Then as a protocol, the instructor will have to ascend to look for him. And since instructor goes up, we all have to go up too. Haiz. But I guess I was luckier. Another guy got "attacked by the KC spider (Kan Cheong Spider). Dunno why he suddenly panic underwater, the he wanted to grab on to something. And the nearest thing he could grab, was this other guy's regulator. I think that guy also panic sia. Someone trying to yank his regulator out of his mouth. Haha.
So basically, was a good experience but didn't see as much as I hoped for. The final night we had a BBQ, and of course beer. And that was when I was hit by a mango. Luckily not on the head, but on the shoulder, just missed my head by a bit. Karma for gloating at the girl on the first night who got hit. Anyway, we figured why the mangoes were raining down from the tree. We suspect that its the work of this monkey that roams around the trees in the area. Must be plucking the mangoes and throwing them at us.
Reminds me of another irritating kampong animal. The bloody rooster. CB, the first night we slept so late and the next morning had to get up at 630 for early morning dive. I think I only fell asleep at 4 because the bed was uncomfortable and 3 guys on 2 beds is not exactly that spacious. Then just as I slipped into my slumber, this bloody rooster started crowing at 530am. Non-stop. Moron, the sun wasn't even up!
Then after the 2nd night, the girls next door and my dive buddy found their bikini bottoms missing after they hung it outside to dry at night. Definitely got stolen by some pervert. haha. Boy were they pissed. Wonder why the hell people steal such stuff for. Prepare for the premiere of Batman Begins? On a grosser note, maybe they want to experience the scent of a woman. But then, guess the pervert must have been disappointed cos I bet it only smelt of seawater, or pee. Muahaha.
Some final notes: I am happy Liverfool won the CL. Though I am not a fan, and used to not like them since I am a MU fan, but now I think Arse and Liverfool are all good for me. The Arses play nice football, and the Liverfools have a great coach and are starting to look like they are playing real football. Its a pity they were plagues with so many injuries this season. I reckon they will be a force to be reckoned with next season. Common enemy now is Chelsea. Especially MORONho. American Idol. Waiting for the results show. I like Bo Bice, but sounds like Carrie is rigged to win it. Tomorrow is results day. Hopefully its good news. Got to go for another assessment for that job. Special case for me only, cos they wanna have a look at one component of my final assessment again. Guess its probably good news since its not an outright rejection but it sounds like they want me but just want to be sure about it cos I was overshadowed by an experienced trader in the trading simulation component. Finally, I will be flying off on Monday night with the Fags and the Bag. I realised FAG should be Four Accountancy Graduates and not Five. Because I don't wanna be a FAG. So it shall be Mingmong, the FAGS and the BAG. Effectively 2 days to study for CFA. Think I am gonna buang the exam. Sian.
Oh, I have been wondering...There are people that visit my humble blog that can't really identify. Like orange county and annoymous and annoymous and annoymous etc. Do I know you guys? Or have we never met?
