Needed Full Time: A Cure for Boredom

Well, as Duty Instructor (unwillingly roped in I may be, and probably not prepared for this AT ALL), it is my Duty to stay in the DI Room, where, lo and behold, the computer lives. So it shan't be entirely boring. Not that I'm suggesting I want drama, even if an incident would be rather exciting (I am fully against accidents happening to participants, and can in no way be held liable if something actually befalls one of them).

Anyway, after what was a fairly boring week or so (no courses in, and with nothing to do, I was simply given last Tuesday off - my boredom scale hit so high, this was not exciting news) Wednesday kicked it up a notch. I joined a few instructors for some swimming times, delving into the realm of the sea and establishing that my breath control has improved muchly - to the point someone tried to rescue me from 'drowning' since I'd been under for so long. It didn't end well for him.

For the love of God, just watch it.

Thursday and Friday was kayak training: I had been roped into a kayak competition with Khaliq, due to the Pangkor Sea Festival that was going on, culminating in a death match on Saturday. By training, I mean we kayaked for a few minutes, than floated around - our training probably never totalled more than an hour, though I did finally swim to the Giraffe (I don't know the name for it, but I'd promised myself and so was pleased, despite being constantly blinded by waves and salt water attempting to choke me).
Honestly though, the best part of those days was the midnight viewing of The Avengers. IT WAS AWESOME. Despite being ludicrously cold (air-con, you plague me), and ridiculously late, the cinema was packed, and the reception justly deserved.

This is a terrible representation of us. 

Moving on from my comic geekiness, the competition itself ended in failure for us, though I blame this entirely on the fact that the Navy and the Police were our competitors. I feel they might have a slight edge over us, considering the only kayaking any OBer really does is teaching, followed by sitting on the motherboat/speedboat and laughing at the suffering participants (in your head, mind, out loud is just rude). Still, it was a sunny day filled with laughter, food and fun, and I was happily joined by Eleanor and Alison of Project Trust for the weekend.

This of course led to us trekking to Marina Island, and on to Pangkor for some much wanted sunbathing. Despite the beautiful weather, and fantastic scenery, our time there was cut short, just due to awkwardness and the stupidity of other beach goers. Oddly, 'Nice bum!' does not inspire most girls to talk to you. Especially not when you say it on repeat. It must be a thing, this repeating. Numerous times, I have discovered people have been calling me - by this, I mean perfect strangers - who apparently think that saying 'lady!' over and over again is going to catch my attention. Since my name isn't 'Lady' and I have no interest talking to creepy men with no teeth, strangely it doesn't.

Still, it has been a rather action packed week or so, which has sadly ended with me sniffling away, and snacking on some delicious raspberry chocolate, straight from the duty-free island of Langkawi - thank you Karl! - and I am deliriously excited for my adventure to Thailand, where I am off rock climbing and kayaking. 'Don't you do this at OB?' I hear you ask.

Yes I do. But apparently, I'm a sucker for it.

Emily

Time for the 'Posh Digs'

I must apologise for what has been an ABOMINABLY long time of doing absolutely nothing in regards to the computer. I have excuses - I've been on course basically every week, and then the last week and a half of March OB shut down internet access everywhere, except in the office. Apparently there has been abuse of the system; I leave the rest up to your imagination.

April, has been FANTASTIC. My mother, after 10 days in Vietnam, arrived at KL International Airport, receiving a huge shock as I barreled into her. I was then regaled with tales regarding the insanity that is Vietnamese driving and watched as she marveled over the sophisticated and ever-so-green Kuala Lumpur where drivers actually follow the traffic lights, even if they do so at high speed.

While I may now be trekker extraordinaire, it appears that the same cannot be said regarding city wanderings - both of us were tired and sore, having walked around for approximately four hours in attempts to follow the Lonely Planet. A word of advice: do not spend time in KL on a Monday led to the discovery that only the fish anfinding the Sky Bridge to be closed to the public, but astonished by the high rise shopping mall beneath, filled with home comforts, such as the much loved M&S. Petrosains, the Science Centre was to be our next stop, though we were turned away with a smile and a point: 'Open Tuesday to Sunday'. Jonesing for lunch, we headed to the 69 Bistro on the promise of bubble tea and tarot reading to find, low and behold, it was also closed.

And our dinner? The restaurant of choice was shut, but we waffled away to enjoy banana leaf. I do not mean we actually consumed banana leaf; our meal of delicious rice, vegetables and mutton, with sauce, was beautifully placed upon the handy banana leaf, which is far nicer than average plates, generally being of larger size with maximum scoop potentiality. Somehow, I doubt the consumption of actual banana leaf would have been as delicious.

But the rest of our trip has proved fruitful, as well as allowing me to spend time in what can only be considered 'posh digs' compared to norm. The beds have duvets. It's honestly astonishing.

So far we have traversed to Malacca - beautiful, historical, with shops that are basically museums within themselves - and Pulau Tioman, requiring a night bus that ended with us arriving at the ferry at 3.30 in the morning. Tioman itself is not a place I would choose to go if I wasn't a scuba diver, having little of worth for anyone who wants to do something - but as a diver, it is honestly fantastic and B&J Divers were great. The Easter Weekend also affords Singaporeans time off, so en masse they arrived, and en masse they departed, filling me in regarding the wonders of life and how if you are sick underwater, throw up in your regulator. Unpleasant, but apparently vital to survival.

On a nicer note, black tip sharks, blue spotted stingrays and the ever magnificent hogsbill turtles, alongside moon wrasses and parrot fish were on show, with fantastic visibility and beautiful sea urchins and coral.

Now, we are off to the Cameron Highlands to partake in hikes, and enjoy the relaxing consumption of tea and strawberries they are famous for; I believe Mum is hoping that time away from sugar will be good for me, after a rather shocking sugar hike that had me giggling for approximately two hours, much to her horror.

Oh sugar, how I have missed you.

Emily