Sunday, September 18, 2016

A Day On The Beach

Hello my fellow readers,

Its been 3 months since my last update, I have been up to nothing but enjoying making as much memories as I could as its my final semester here in USM. This weekend was a long one, but unfortunately I wasn't fast enough to make a booking to travel any where. So instead, Rowena and I decide to enjoy what we have in Penang and head down to Batu Ferringhi to enjoy the sun, beach and the ocean. Just to reconnect with life again.

I couldn't recommend much other than that no one really do sunbathing on the beach and its pretty dirty, but if you are adventurous then you could do what we did. Just lay open your beach towel in the middle of the beach (find a clean spot) and sun-bath. ;)

Just a little update because my blog seems a bit boring! 


We manage to take some seriously nice picture though. Here are some of the pictures! Enjoy!


Stay beautiful and stay positive! 

Hello sunshine

Kibar, kibar pasir






Random Candid




 xxx
Amberstories










Wednesday, July 27, 2016

PADI Open Water Dive Course

Hello bloggers/readers!

I am back to share a little about my little adventure in my hometown Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Being so close to the ocean and beautiful islands, taking a diving license is merely a foot step away. Just like every other home girl, I have taken this for granted for 17 years of saying yes I will do it but never did. Giving myself excuses like "Hey, there is always next time." Finally, on 17th July 2016, I took the step and paid for it which by all means I have to finish the course or I will lose my money.

With that being said, it turned into the best 3 days of my life. Diving is definitely different from skin diving/free dive. Which I do so often. Diving is literally breathing under water and 45 minutes underwater feels like 5 minutes. I dare not say that I love diving more than free-diving or vice-versa because the experience from either are two separate experiences. But rest assure, diving is for the brave of heart.

I say breach the fear of deep waters, experience the life beneath and its nothing but pure bliss!

WHERE TO GET YOUR LICENSE IN KK

Scuba Junkie Wisma Sabah
RM 1030 (ALL INCLUSIVE + LUNCH FOR 2 DAY DIVE)
*its definitely cheaper that any other trip advisor scuba company, they are generally at the price of RM1200
*book a day earlier, Scuba Junkie get fully booked real fast

WHAT TO BRING

  • Towels
  • Extra clothes
  • Sunscreen
  • Motion sickness pills (if you have)
  • Basic essentials

WHAT TO DO
  • Have loads of courage
  • Remember to keep breathing (especially if you are so used to skin-dive like me)
  • Do NOT panic
  • Try and stay calm
  • Trust your instructor
  • Enjoy!
  • Ask loads of questions 

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A 3 DAY COURSE

Day 1
Watching videos on Scuba Diving (5 sections)
Knowledge Review
Final Exam (Paper)- General questions that you will learn from DVD

Day 2
Water confinement (10 min water float without equipment)
Dive with equipment on shallow water (Dive skills as instructed by instructor)


Day 3
Water confinement (200M swim without equipment)
Dive deep water (Dive skills as instructed by instructor)
Hopefully pass and get your license!


Go get your license soon! Its definitely bucket list checked for me!
Here are some pictures!





Dive instructor


my buddy, my instructor



Hi Nemo



Prawny touched me






Breath and keep breathing!

xxx
xoxo
Amberstories



Saturday, June 11, 2016

Koh Samui

Hello my avid readers and faithful bloggers,

Once again I apologise for the shortcomings and late updates. A lot has been going on this semester and I am finally here to share with you some travel trip and tips that I have recently embarked on which is Koh Samui, Thailand. Shall we begin then?

HOW TO GET THERE;

FLY: PENANG-KL-SURAT THANI (return) (AIR ASIA= RM 319/ THB 3190 )

From SURAT THANI ----> KOH SAMUI
BY BUS, FERRY AND TRANSFER TO HOTEL/HOSTEL
(RM160/ THB 1600)

The service transfer to Koh Samui from Surat Thani Airport is amazing. Its the Seatran ferry and counter right in front of the arrival exit gate of the airport. They arrange everything for you.

Or you can get the MINI VAN that stops in Hatyai and then to the pier and to Koh Samui (Refer to my Koh Phangan post. the en-route is the same and takes a longer time). We save RM100 because we got cheap flights

WHERE TO STAY;

We stayed in LIQUID LOUNGE HOSTEL AND BAR. Its a 10min walk to the party scene and shopping mall in Chaweng but it really isn't that far. The host Chris and Tukta are the most amazing people you will ever meet and we live like a family.

RM 50 PER NIGHT
HOT SHOWERS
2 BIG LOCKERS
1 TOWEL
FREE WIFII
AIR CONDITION ROOM
20% OFF DRINKS AND BREAKFAST AS A GUEST

You can choose to stay in CHAWENG  beach for more civilisation and party scene or choose LAMAI for a more quiet and family oriented lifestyle.

WHAT TO DO;

AM

  • Go to ARK BAR. It is the place for everything, from breakfast, beach, lounge, sunset, party and cheap drinks. Everything is in Ark Bar. You can pay RM30/THB300 to use all the facilities in ARK BAR if you are not a guest. Access includes the both swimming pool and shower.


  • Chill by the beach. 
  • Go to some cute cafes (The Coffee Club, Creamy Cafe)
  • Book a snorkelling whole day tour to Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan (RM120/ THB 1200)
  • Go to the Central Festival Mall
  • Walk along Chaweng Beach/ Street
  • Buy a smoothie. Fruit smoothie. You can get them anywhere. only THB50/ RM5
  • Get manicure and pedicure (Diva Massaga Parlour THB 400/RM 40 for both mani and pedi)


PM


  • Get a tuk-tuk to the Fisherman Village. (30 MIN AWAY FROM CHAWENG, RM10/ THB 100 per person for tuk-tuk ride)
  • Enjoy the sunset in Fisherman Village, Best advice to go on Friday evenings. That is when the stalls are mostly open
  • Have a fancy dinner by the beach in Fisherman Village and shop
  • Got to ARK BAR on WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY. Those days are their party days.
  • When ARK BAR party ends at 0200am head down the street to GREEN MANGO bar/club for more dancing. (NOTE; Koh Samui recently had to shut all party place at 0200am, dont know how long that would last but the first night before this happen, we dance till literally 5am)
  • Have dinner at CHAWENG NIGHT FOOD COURT. They serve the best authentic THAI food ever and its so cheap. 
  • Head down to Central Festival Mall (close at 11pm) on weekdays night. At the open space, there will be food/drink trucks with live musician. The beat-boxer is the best performer you will ever meet in Thailand. On weekends, there will be like a night market where you can buy food and shop for a cheaper price
  • Get a massage. (Diva Massage Parlour TBH 250/RM25 for thai massage)

This trip has taught me so much to not have expectation. Just free yourself and immerse in everything that you do and it will surprise you. Never felt more liberated and free. I hope this post helps and update again hopefully soon!

All my love
xxxx
Amberstories


As usual here are some pictures. 




on the ferry

Liquid Lounge. my own space

Hispter Creamy cafe

Koh Tao, free diving

Jump!

Food

Koh Nangyuan

street food, best kind of food

Ark Bar by night


Where the beat-box is at


Pad Thai

My girl

Food Market

Welcome

<3

Ark Bar View by day

xoxo

Thursday, April 21, 2016

#2016forlove

Hello my lovely readers,

It has been a while since I wrote and update anything. Pretty bad, I know. I wouldn't lie that there are days when I am typing out paragraphs after paragraphs just ranting but then decided not to post it because its so cliché of me or because I just think I am being overly emotional.

But I guess its the only subject matter that comes to my mind. I apologies in advance, for starting my first entry of this year with my late night overly emotional rants. So here it goes.

Recently, I watched a video about true love and about how everything we do to let go and let our significant other grow. I remember growing up, that no matter how much mama and papa fight, they never let go of each other. The whole idea of true love then makes sense to me. When one is married, they make a vow to love each other through it all. But dating, dating is a whole different game, it's where everything can be stop or ended because there is a gap of not wanting to give and take or maybe just simply because they don't make each other happy any more.

Here is my understanding though, that true love means loving yourself and letting another person to love you for all of you. Another person's happiness becomes your happiness too. Lust and love are two very separate feelings. One can never say they love another because of lust but one can love without lust. So if you are going through an emotional roller-coaster ride right now on your relationships or you just ended a relationship, just remember that if you were meant to be, then you will find your way back to each other.

So for all the broken hearted out there or the ones that are simply still finding yourself, I just want you to know that I feel the same way too. Lost sometimes, happy most of the time then sad on another time. This does not mean that we are bound to be alone, just because we don't have another person next to us yet/any more.

It just means that we are still learning to love ourselves more and learning to grow in ways we have never grown before. Experiences makes you a stronger person and dont let anyone tell you otherwise.

Most importantly, its a comfort to know that your happiness is God's happiness and His love is yours to receive.

xoxox
Amberstories

Here are some pictures of my latest mini adventure.


Short trip to Langkawi with my sff


Free diving and snorkelling = Life


Hello


Beach life, for life