Redang Island snorkeling trip

Yusuf is big enough to go snorkeling in the deep sea but Ali Imran and Safiyya are still too little to snorkel so that meant that following the activity schedule by the hotel would be a hassle.

Shu decided to charter a boat that would take just the 5 of us. This also meant that we could leave at anytime we wanted and not wait for anyone else.

Safiyya enjoyed the speedboat trip. Ali Imran enjoyed feeding the fish. Yusuf had a blast snorkeling. We even got to swim with the turtles. I touched them and they were so friendly.

We spent an entire week in Laguna Redang Island Resort

I am emotionally drained. I cannot explain this. Not yet.

However, since our 10th year wedding anniversary was in June and that traveling was still up in the air after the MCO, Shu decided to push our anniversary vacation to July.

Here's how it all began. A week before the trip, I was on this pill coz....... Well, I can't explain exactly what it's for. But it basically messed up my entire hormonal system.

Anywho, that led to a point in my mind that I was not in good shape. Physically. Eventually, it pushed me to over work my workout routine and limit what I was eating.....which was already minimal at the time anyways.

That led me to a horrible eating disorder. On Sunday, we were on our way to the East coast to stay over at a hotel on the mainland before catching a ferry to the island the next morning.

Something went wrong and I spent the entire evening throwing up. The next day, I forced some food into my system just so that I could get my shit together and not throw up on the boat.

We eventually made it to the jetty and boarded the boat. The whole SOP thingy is still a bit weird and confusing for me. We wore our masks. I am The queen of overpacking and decided to bring 2 guitars coz I didn't like busking alone.

Along the lines of overpacking, I also managed to make some horrible decisions in not packing enough t shirts to go with shorts I brought. The dresses I decided to bring needed specific inner wear which I also did not check or bring. This terrible packing was done by me over the course of 3 days before the trip.

I know...... I'm an idiot!

We got to the island and discovered that due to the whole social Distancing thingy, we had no way of getting a ride to the reception lobby so we went on foot. The weather was a bit cloudy that day.

At this point, we realized that we are familiar to the hotel staff already coz we were just here in March.

We got to our room and changed and had lunch and then headed to the beach. We managed to get some sun over the next couple of days. OK, we got a whole lot of sun. I totally dig it. I was looking so pale that all my bruises and cuts from all of my clumsiness were showing.

Speaking of clumsy, I successfully managed to bump my shin on the bottom part of the door while exiting the boat. Way to go, FidZy! This bump stayed on for a few days and everytime I tried to get lotion onto my legs, it would hurt.

Alongside that, I also got some serious bug bites which caused some swelling and bruising. I kept telling myself not to scratch or it would bleed. Yey!

Our room was facing out to the sea which was nice. Busking out on the balcony was awesome. For a while I thought I was having some tuning and pitching issues. I am so used to the resonance from jamming in our studio space back at home that playing outside threw me off the course. We persevered anyways.

We had a great time but for some reason I could tell that the staff were undergoing some stress issues. I think it's cause by the whole SOP. Either ways, I think they were great. They could use a hug too.

Laguna Redang, 10th year visit

Before anything, we already have plans to return this year. We've been coming back here since we first got married (before Yusuf).

This year, Safiyya is old enough to appreciate the pool and beach sand. She and Ali Imran are not the swimming in the ocean getting soaked type. Yusuf is already snorkeling. I am still terrified of fish.

I could have sworn the same fish had been trolling me for years. According to Shu, it's a Parrot Fish. Doesn't matter what it's called, it scares me every damn time I'm in the water.

The island just opened after being closed during the monsoon season. I was desperate to get out in the sun because city life was really pushing me back into depression and I do not miss being depressed.

It rained one time but I never realized how happy I was getting soaked in the rain. I used to run in the rain and being in the rain by the beach was awesome.

The next day, the weather started picking up. That was great 😊

Holiday : Island bound