My First Ever Trip - Jun 1989

I started to travel on my own at the age of 22. My first trip is to Trengganu. I remembered doing research on Trengganu at the library. Beside, I had asked around from those people who had visited there once.

I chose Trengganu cause I just love sea sides, islands, waterfalls, snorkeling and what more I heard Trengganu has beautiful islands. Furthermore, I wanted to see my penpal who stayed in Trengganu.

My companions for the trip were my primary school mate- Syed Izzat, my mum third cousin, Salleh and my dearest partner Noy. Salleh and Izzat are neighbours. We started our journey at Lavender by taking a Transnational express bus which ply mostly to East Coast of Malaysia. At that time, the bus fare is only $18.00. We departed at 7 pm and arrived the next day at about 2 in the morning.

First we headed to Salleh's relative house at Kuala Trengganu. Here we were serve breakfast and was brought to our hotel later. Being a newly employed person, we do not have much cash, so we just stayed at a chepo hotel.. Cant remember exactly what is the hotel name, like Sri Trengganu or whatever but I still remember the location if I'm at Trengganu now.

We planned to explore Trengganu for 5 days. On our first day, we only roamed around the city. We headed for Sekayu Waterfall the next day. It is so exhalirating to enjoy the waterfalls. Not many people as it was weekdays. I went back a few time after this trip, but its not that nice and natural any longer as Sekayu has became too commercialised.

Next we went to Marang to hire a boat to Pulau Kapas. Marang is a destination for you to take boats to other island around Trengganu. Now you can also see a fishing docking area. Go there very early if you wish to experience the hustle and bustle of fishmen autioning off their catch to fishmonger and the locals.

We took a small boat to Kapas Island fromMarang at a cost of RM20 per person including a snorkelling accessories. There we rent a chalet at "Makcik Gemok". It only cost RM30 per pax for a nite stay with breakfast and bbq dinner for two. Its a great offer back then. Try it now, I don't think that you can ever get that price any longer.

The beach is a so white and smooth. No wonder it is called Kapas Island (Kapas is Cotton in English) We stayed for 2 nite here. Since there is no activities at nite, we just lazed near at the beach grazing at the sky with full of stars and listening to the ever popular song at that time "Sejati". I'm smiling away and shaking my head now, remembering the innocent way of my life seating at the beach with men who are not my mahram. Astagfirullah! May Allah pardon my sin.

We headed back to the mainland after we had our breakfast with darker and tanned skin.

From here, we went to Salleh's auntie place again. Salleh cousin is actually my penpal. Since its her birthday, we brought cake to celebrate her birthday. We stayed there for one nite and headed back to Singapore with a lot of keropok instant, songket and batik trengganu ..and of course our memories of the beautiful Kapas Island and the splendid Sekayu Waterfall.

The Journey Begins

Today, I had decided to write in the cyber space to share with all my frens and family on the journeys that I had made during my lifetime.

Let me introduce to all, my travelling buddies. The most closest person and frequent person that I had been travelling with is Noy. Thus this blog is called Noyida Travelogue. It will be mostly input with stories of the journey that both of us been experiencing. Perhaps you people can even get tips on how I had save a lot on flight, accommodations, transportations and others during my journey.

Beside Noy, there are some other people who just luv to join me on my traveling journey. They are Bibik and her hubby, Kak Som, Kayjet, Temah, Kelly, Aga and many others.

For a start, I had been travelling for leisure most of the time to Malaysia and Indonesia. I had covered most of the West Malaysia 13 state and part of East Malaysia which comprises of Sabah & Serawak.

Let's not bored you with all that stuff for now. Maybe I should introduce my self for those of you who really don't know me.

I was born during the later part of the 60's. Age is quite a sensitive matter for woman rite. But heck care, it's just a number for me. This year I will be 40 in March. (So those fren out there, dont forget my besday ah!!) The saying goes ... Life begin at 40 ... hahhahhh ... I always luv to add this ... make sure 41 don't die cause there's alot of repenting for our sins that we need to do. :)

With this philosophy, I had started my journey and travelling life not at the age of 40 but earlier so not to miss the opportunites to do what youngster do ... .. and whats that? Plus, something that Allah SWT made me face that the decision of travelling and travelling to appreciate Allah's creation strike me... ada hikmah di sebalik sesuatu ketentuan Allah SWT.

Ok...that all for the intro ..... our journey will begins in the next posting.....Insyallah.