. Rawa Island ?.. What Rawa ? ...  .

What's the Story Morning Glory ? 

And.. there's this song by Belinda Carlisle called ... " Heaven Is A Place On Earth " . and I wondered.. where's that heaven anyway... until on first of May 2004... I think she might be singing about a place .. similar to Pulau Rawa a.k.a Rawa Island. Being raised in an urban city... You'll have to travel out of town if you want to have fun in a clear water beach ... and for 23 years of my ripe old life ... I've yet to ... till ...

Nicole decides that she wanted to visit Jeff who is at Kota Tingi, Malaysia... and asked if ZhiChang and myself are free to join her... and that was only around 2 weeks before the day we depart.. Our road trip was almost cancelled cause the rooms are fully booked and luckily.. Jeff's Uncle ( who's the CEO of Rawa Island ) managed to squeeze in 2 budget style studios... lucky us !

... and.. The Drugs Don't Work ... 

Nicole helped us to sort the details as Jeff would be picking us up at the Johore Customs.. and so.. 1915 is the time to meet at Kranji Mrt Station... and Jeff's friend, who's also on his way to Kota Tingi lead us the way... Had a terrible terrible headache and hungry... I had to endure the super long queue for bus 170. While waiting.. I think I almost died... The 3 migraine medicine pills wasn't working ! ... I had to take more pills as I won't want to jeopardize my enjoyment the next day...

and.. the traffic jams along the route to causeway / causeway doesn't help much.. and I endured my way into Johore Baru... Still feeling terrible... I kept very quiet for the whole trip... hoping that my pain would be over soon...

and Jeff was late ... Because of the traffic jams too. Picked the 3 of us up at Times Square's Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf... and drove all the way up north east to his home town, Kota Tingi. I think I had fallen asleep for some parts of the journey. Along the way... we stopped at some Carefour, bought some packet drinks.. some alcoholic drinks... and bread for our breakfast ( so that we can snack while on the Island ) . and finally...

We arrived @ Kota Tingi / or was it Johore? ... and I think my silent protest was being felt as I had finally had the chance... to have a decent dinner.. Fried Kway Tiao !... although the serving wasn't that big.. bit still.. had my full...  imagine... 11 hours w/o any decent meal... almost died !... oh.. did I mentioned that his car died on us twice during the trip.. in the middle of the road...

The Road Goes On And On ... ... and On ...

So... On and on we drove.. and finally we've reached Jeff's Bungalow... as warned.. we would not step off his car.. until he had tied his dogs up. I saw 2 while dog.. parents of a puppy who had the luxury of staying inside the house... The moment we walked in... The white puppy , pebble, started his usual routine of barking at stranger.. but so... strangely enough.. made friends with Nicole..  and ZhiChang joked that... that Pebble's Movement and barking... uncannily resembles a battery operated toy puppy ! ... * hahahaaa * ....

and ... each one of us took our well deserved bath after Jeff took us on a mini tour of his bungalow.. flipped through his childhood photos as Nicole and Zhichang stressed how lovely and beautiful Jeff's Mum looked despite of her age... and we all... except went off to sleep after the small chit chatting session.... sleeping in another person's room... another person's bed... so.. popped in yet another capsule and.. forced myself to sleep in the cold air-con room ...

Dated 010504 time 0630 ...  < Please Click For The Pictures >

set the alarm clock on my handphone... that wakes me up @ 6.30.. wanted to steal 10 more minutes of sleep but... to my surprise... Nicole and ZhiChang were already up ... ! . so... there goes my 10 minutes of extra sleep... and my head feels so much better... drag a bit and set off @ 8.30 plus.. off to Jeff's Mums's Friend shop for breakfast... had Nasi Lemak which I think the locals called it " La Jiao Fun " Chilli Rice... had a quick one... got myself a pack of cheap faggies .. and... continued our endless journey...

The Road Goes On And On ... ... and On ... ( Part 2 )

Continued our some one and a half hour's journey.. did not sleep at all... keeping myself busy watching the monotonous scenery while keeping an eye on the roads... and we arrived around 9.35.. and we couldn't make it on time for the 10 am ferry... and the next schedules one would be 12pm ! .. so.. we've decided to do our mini exploration of the small town, Mersing. it's really a small town... and midway into our mini tour.. the receptionist of the Rawa Island resort... and within minutes... we're on board the ferry to Rawa Island..

Paradise On Earth? ... Well.. Almost ... ... < Please Click For The Pictures >

My first step on Rawa Island... I'm so... speechless about those sandy beaches and clear sea water... it's almost like a typical scene taken out straight from the post cards... clear blue skies.. almost Dreamlife 6.30 ... " just like a dream... " ... but soon... the harsh sun and hot weather just wakes me up and.. it's time... for a Swim ! ! ... and.. after we checked into our own chalets.. B1 and B3 .. we changed into our swimming attire.. with tons of sun tanning oil of course... and ... at last... I can slack and dip myself in the ocean...  but.... until we reached there...

My Boy... Heaven Had Other Plans For You ...

so... my maiden step on the beautiful beaches of Rawa... both my feet had suddenly became steel feet... attracted to the powerful magnet of the inviting ocean... and and and... heaven had other plans for me... so.. Jeff, Nicole and ZhiChang wanted to go Kayak-ing.... and I'm the only one... who just wanted to lie on the beach and relax... but... hmmmmm .... it takes 2 to kayak.. so... I ... obliged..

and.. they're going round the island... The moment I heard that... I almost fainted... but.. not to be a loser and spoil the mood.. I've decided to do it .. happily... after all.. it's sometime new to me... so.. Jeff and Nicole on on kayak.. and Z.C and myself on another... and.. off we go... and I could not even figure out which the the front part of the Kayak ... * hahhahaaa * ...  how silly I am... look for the leg space ! ... hahha... and and and...

Would We Even Get There ? 

... energy wasting and I have to endure my back pain... Z.C and I arrived at the other side of the island.. and man.... It looked so lovely and different from the front... it's like.. all cliffs and caves... and.. so small stacks... and felt so breathless as Z.C and I tried to catch up with Jeff's and Nicole's Kayat... and when they stopped over for the break... Z.C and I over took them... and what drove me such determination? ... " get it over and done with "  .. I know that's not a sporty statement.. but.. I think.. Z.C 's also exhausted... Z.C hor ? ... well... we did talked some crap during our Kayaking... and

and.. I know I'm a pretty much grumpy person.. but.. Z.C .. I'm not pissed at all.. I'm just stealing a break from rowing the Kayak... tired you know... for a Nua  person like me?... :p .. anyway... I must say I did enjoyed the whole experience... around the island by my own way... and enjoying the nature's art piece... it's a pretty much breathtaking experience.. especially when our Kayak hit some rocky stuffs and almost... threatened to over turn... * hahhaaaa * ....

Sunny Beaches ! ... Here I come ! ...

After Z.C and I parked our Kayak on the shores.... We invaded the relaxing beaches... and my favourate spot was the part where you could lie on the beach... and the waves could reach you ears... and as we sat and lay on the beach... waiting for Jeff and Nicole to join us... and we're beginning to feel the effects of the sun tanning.. and we even guessed that.... Maybe they've reached before us... even they're behind us... or.. Maybe there's a short cut that cut's right through the middle of the island... hahhaa...

and.. they arrived... after so long... * muahhaha * .. and We learnt that they've been snookering during their mid way break... and Z.C also tried that... but.. was pretty much a failed attempt.. all thanks to the hostile corals... so.. the 4 of us reunited again... and after much more tanning oil... we just hang around the shore and partially submerge in the water...

Break Time .... < Please Click For The Pictures >

After all the tanning / chatting / slacking session by the sea.. we went back to our chalet studio units... it's on the second floor... and I'm at B3.. with a fairly decent view of the beautiful sea... settled down a bit.. and we head outdoors for our mini trekking... it's just a short walk that'll take you along the island.. and we soon found ourselves sitting in an observatory hut facing the sea. There's even a mezzanine level to it.. It's so relaxing... as we started to close our eyes and enjoy the whispers of the ocean waves... and Jeff fall asleep... and Nicole sort of fall sick with flu / fever... and her sun burnt hurt badly ... poor thing ... and the burnt left her walking around almost like an android ..

So... What's For Dinner ? ....  < Please Click For The Pictures >

After the relaxing trekking... we went back.. some took a nap while I came out to take some pictures... and fall asleep outside out room .. sitting on the wooden chair... admiring at the beautiful scene of the sun setting...  our dinner starts @ 7.30pm... It's like a BBQ buffet. Saw the workers setting up the BBQ. After waking Jeff and Nicole up... we walked down to the restaurant area only to find out that... the food wasn't ready... and there's already a long queue forming at the dish area... and we head for the jetty to enjoy the evening sea breeze ...

< Please Click For The Pictures >

and.. some minutes later... the restaurant workers sound the bell.. which commences the dinner session... The food was pretty tasty and it cost me SGD $20.00 ... and after we had our fill... we went back to the jetty to slack again... isn't it such a laid back life... I had no television... no newspapers... no cell phone... no worries of the coming audit in my camp.. no nagging... no Nothing ! .. nothing to disturb me and I had all the time in the world... in the company of my mates...

Drink Up !  < Please Click For The Pictures >

talked tons of crap over at the jetty but.. I seems to be the quiet one.. enjoying the tranquility embracing my worn out soul... and soon.. Jeff went back and bough the liquor over to us and have a drink... As it was a full moon night... we could not really see the stars... pretty disappointed.. and I sat just at the edge of the jetty.. listening to their conversations.. and enjoying the view of nothing ... but clear waters... sometimes... I like to observe people surrounding me... I saw an Caucasian couple dancing at the end of the jetty to the distant music from the Pub on shore... isn't that sweet ?...

as the night approaches... the more sick Nicole felt and decided to head back to sleep @ 1-2 plus... and I thought the night would never end... not @ least that early... and so... all of us decided that we'll call it a day... or rather night... and I set the alarm to wake me up at 7.30am... 

Wake Up Dead Man ... .. < Please Click For The Pictures >

Had a Ok sleep cause the air-con 's too cold for me.. and I woke up my the girls around 6.30 plus... and was .. indeed amazed... kind of expected Nicole to wake up late cause she's sick and Z.C' s so exhausted from yesterday's kayaking and stuffs... brushed up... feeling like a walking dead man... felt like lazing on the bed but Hey ! ... I paid money to enjoy.. not to sleep... * gee * ...

< Please Click For The Pictures >

While the sick-y Nicole chose to seat along the corridor to enjoy the scenery of the dawn, Z.C and I went down to the beach for our morning stroll ... took more pictures... and I went back to my room, took down a small empty glass bottle and later filled it up with sand and those tiny sea shells... as.. a little souvenir .. after walking the entire stretch of the beach... we head back only to find Nicole had fallen asleep... * hahaha * ... every activity we did.. seems to be time - free ... no worries of running late or whatever...

First Dawn... First Meal...  < Please Click For The Pictures >

Breakfast was at the same one and only restaurant on Rawa Island.. It's a western buffet styled one... and no surprises... we took a little digestion walk along the jetty and sat there... day dreaming... and the restlessness slowly grew in me.. While Jeff and Nicole kept their little conversations to themselves... I'm increasing feeling the urge to go back to the arms of the sea... preferably not alone of course...

and Z.C was also tired and the both of us walked back to our rooms.. and surprisingly.. Jeff and Nicole returned minutes after... fagging on my fags... they went for a walk ... and I think I really needed to enjoy the beach the last time before setting off... so.. Got myself changed and * ppphheeewwwww * .. into the sea ! ... and this time round... Jeff and Nicole went to another route... that's up the mountain cliffs to get a paranomic view of the surrounding... and Nicole after that told me that the view was simply breathtaking... ! ...

I Simply Loves The Beach !  < Please Click For The Pictures >

and.. I think I still had made the correct choice by hanging out on the beach .. tanned / swam all alone... having fun and had some time alone... to reflect about myself... my past.. my future... and.. How are we suppose to leave from Johore !? .... after an hour and a half or so.. I head back to the room... and the sick-y , burnt, trudging android Nicole decided that to pop in the pills and head back to sleep... 

Chickened Out...

while Nicole's sleeping while listening to the tasteful songs in my MD player... Jeff, myself and Z.C went for the " Jetty Jump " ... yours truly was so so excited about the jump... but when I reached there... I couldn't do it.. * Muahhahaha * ... suddenly the tide turn it's back on me... the distance of the wooden plank from the water surface increased as it's then low tide.... As our camera lady Z.C prepares to shoot us... I'm still freaked out.. so... I decided to jump off at a level I'm more comfortable...

and decided that shall be the forth step of the ladder... counting from the surface of the water that is... * muhahhaha * ... In I went to the deep ocean.. as I immediately felt .. things are poking me .. It could be the fishes... I couldn't really explains the discomfort I felt but Jeff and I felt terribly uncomfortable as we climbed up the wooden ladder... and later told me that he saw herds of small Jelly fishes ....

after resting onshore for a few seconds.. I went in again.. in hope of swimming together with the fishes... but.. I think... kind of failed anyway ... * hahha * ... hmmmm .. I wasn't really pound nor ashamed that I'm too chicken to do that " Jetty Jump ".. but At least I've given it a try... and swam in the ocean for the first time in my 23 years of urban life... It's really insecure swimming in the deep ocean... where it's impossible to feel nor touch the sea bed... good thing I did not get drowned ....

Final Experience... < Please Click For The Pictures >

After the failed " Jetty Jump "... Jeff and I went to the beach again.. where I tanned and sat on the shore for one last time... and found myself 3 fresh cuts both on my feet ... and it's bleeding... * sigh * ... stay around 10 minutes and I decided that I couldn't take the heat from the sun anymore... but still... my last encounter with the beach was enjoyable...

went back... washed up.. and packed up... and when I'm ready for departure... I sat along my favourate spot along the corridor just outside my room... cherishing the view that I'll be getting for one last time... and by 2.10pm... the resort people chased us out of our rooms... took one last picture of the 3 of us together and head for the restaurant area for our ferry to come at 3.00 pm ...

the Kids Had All The Fun ...

To fast forward... we saw kids having fun while waiting for our ferry... the weather was bad.. a mini thunderstorm followed... and.. followed by a Long Long journey back home ....