I’ve ceased to write for while as I’ve been busy relocating and adapting to my new job role and city. I’ve moved to Penang, a state up north, in Malaysia. Although my company is based on the mainland, I have decided to live on the island.
 
When someone utters the word Penang, everyone images it to be an island. While this is part true, Penang state has two parts to it – the island and mainland.
 
*Penang has two cities: Butterworth (on the mainland) and Georgetown (on the island). More than half the Penangites would refer to Georgetown or Penang Island as ‘Penang’ and mainland as Butterworth. So it can get rather confusing as when you mention you live on the island they would go, ‘Oh you live in Penang’ or they would say ‘I’m going to Penang this weekend’, even though they too live in Penang but not on the island.

Penang Island has a lot of history embedded in its soil. From the early days of the Kedah Sultanate to British colonisation and the World Wars (I & II), you’re still able to see the remnants from the past. What fascinates the most is its history - the myriad of cultures present in the past, its wars and its role, leading it to be the Penang today.

Rows of beautiful old colonial houses lined the street. Nothing seemed to look out of the ordinary…that is until I came to this one particular house. It had a little bell on the outside, with a stencilled that read ‘Barlai Pudu’.

It seemed rather ordinary from the outside with trees poking out from over the walls. Seemed like someone’s home but some how it looked different. Curious, I walked around the corner and behold a beautiful courtyard with a few mixed matched chairs and beautiful lounge music playing in the background.

Before I could investigate any further I see someone running down from the top floor.    

Alarm goes off at 0530h… A God forsaken hour on holiday.

*In my books at least.

I’m on a holiday and I’m up this early to go diving.

By 0600h I was shoving down a piece for peanut butter toast down my throat, washing it down with coffee and making my way down to the pier, all in a half-asleep-mode. It’s clearly stated on the white board that the boat leaves to Sipadan Island at 0630h and it’s a day trip!

*Packed my gear the night before, as I did do the zombie walk to the pier.

Double check; got everything! And we’re off!

40 minutes later we’re on Sipadan Island and it certainly is a beautiful day to be diving out here. The water looks perfect: calm and clear. First things first, we have to sign up with the marine police on the island before we start diving. It’s mandatory.

*I desperately needed the toilet too!

Right there, on the board, was my name, as requested, added to the list of tomorrow’s divers to Si Amil Island and it’s a day trip!

*After Sipadan, this is the next best place to dive according to all the dive guides I’ve spoken to. 

Si Amil Island lies an hour away from Mabul Island. The only habitants on the island consist of the marine base, which is situated there as a guard post. Next to it is another island that is fairly dense in population known as Danawan Island.

*Before any diving activity can commence, a list of names of divers and their credentials are passed on to the marine’s for documentation purpose. 

Perfect afternoon sunshine, the smell of the sea and the warm afternoon breeze... I've been looking forward to this trip for weeks. Whisked away on a speedboat from Semporna, Mabul Island was just a 40 minutes boat ride away.