Let’s see. Hari Raya came and went but rather than spending it staring at four walls I decided this year I would do something about it. Not that I didn’t wish to celebrate Adil Fitri but I always believe the kids should go back to Singapore (their real kampung) and spend time with the family there, where there is the spirit of Raya. So I packed my bags and celebrated by diving in Manado (September 19 - 24, 2009)
And what a celebration of life. Manado is a gorgeous divesite on the northern tip of Sulaiwesi, a 4 hour flight from Kuala Lumpur. In pristine condition I would rate this the best wall diving I have seen. As if the joy of diving were not enough we were bestowed the luck of seeing a pod of dolphins one morning, a pod of pilot whales the next and to top it off a mother and baby sperm whale (a rare sighting which even the divemasters there were excited to see). Although all of them were close surface sightings it is an exhilarating feeling to have the chance to see these majestic animals in the wild.
Next came the challenge of the century…Gen’s Wedding (October 10, 2009). Weddings are scary. They are a once in a lifetime event for the couple and their families. And of course they want perfection because the event means so much to them. What more it was a garden wedding in the middle of rainy season. So the wedding planner has sleepless nights, cold sweat, butterflies flitting around in the stomach. 20 AIMs would be easier than this. I guess a number of us prayed hard enough and the wedding was a success… Thank you GOD. So maybe it’s not as bad a 20 AIMs after all.
After that it was the final diving trip of the season (October 19-21, 2009) with Acis, Sheila, Shah, Intan and Siti. It was my first time leading a trip out but it was fun. Company was good, Daniel of Sealantis proved to be a great guide and storyteller; and Abbas is the best boatman ever. I’ve always enjoyed Tioman, it feels like home. Although this year the visibility has been dismal this trip was the best viz I had seen all year and although I have been countless times to these divesite they still provided excitement and wonder. Labas and all it’s swin throughs, Tiger Reef is gorgeous when the current isn’t ripping and Batu Malang is always a beautiful sight/site. Yes, diving is definitely my second calling!
Life is ever changing, ever evolving. Over the last six months a road that I thought was going to end has proved that it has a continuation and a new journey. That has been given to me by the new team, a new breath of life; as much as they turn to me for guidance I have learnt that teaching people means teaching yourself. They push me to challenge my ability and myself once again.
Yes life is putting the pedal to the metal and living it to the maximum, passionately whether it be work or play, then only you can say you’ve lived.
Next came the challenge of the century…Gen’s Wedding (October 10, 2009). Weddings are scary. They are a once in a lifetime event for the couple and their families. And of course they want perfection because the event means so much to them. What more it was a garden wedding in the middle of rainy season. So the wedding planner has sleepless nights, cold sweat, butterflies flitting around in the stomach. 20 AIMs would be easier than this. I guess a number of us prayed hard enough and the wedding was a success… Thank you GOD. So maybe it’s not as bad a 20 AIMs after all.After that it was the final diving trip of the season (October 19-21, 2009) with Acis, Sheila, Shah, Intan and Siti. It was my first time leading a trip out but it was fun. Company was good, Daniel of Sealantis proved to be a great guide and storyteller; and Abbas is the best boatman ever. I’ve always enjoyed Tioman, it feels like home. Although this year the visibility has been dismal this trip was the best viz I had seen all year and although I have been countless times to these divesite they still provided excitement and wonder. Labas and all it’s swin throughs, Tiger Reef is gorgeous when the current isn’t ripping and Batu Malang is always a beautiful sight/site. Yes, diving is definitely my second calling!
Back to life, back to reality. Just when you think you’ve done it all, you really haven’t. The Malaysian International Fashion Week 2009 (November 4-8, 2009) provided non-stop action... first time doing 18 shows over 5 days, first time working a project with only Jay and Jue. At the beginning of the project it felt like a mountain to climb, with us standing at the foot and looking up at the summit. Tiring, testing, taxing but challenging and the euphoric feeling of achievement erases everything. I LOVE my work without a doubt.
(Picture courtesy of Nadiah Ramli, my extremely talented photographer daughter)
Life is ever changing, ever evolving. Over the last six months a road that I thought was going to end has proved that it has a continuation and a new journey. That has been given to me by the new team, a new breath of life; as much as they turn to me for guidance I have learnt that teaching people means teaching yourself. They push me to challenge my ability and myself once again.
Yes life is putting the pedal to the metal and living it to the maximum, passionately whether it be work or play, then only you can say you’ve lived.
Peace, Love and Respect,
Jenn
No comments:
Post a Comment