Post Holiday Syndrome

We just came back from our NZ trip about 2 weeks ago and the withdrawals syndrome still there!

And I am here stuck with my own workloads, the firm’s auditors, the deadlines and my role as a working wife / mom *cries a river*

I know, I promised with some of you a longgg entry (and more pictures, yeay!) about our recent awesome trip to NZ (Subhanallah, it was a great one for us), but please bear with me as I am trying my best to put in every details here. Indeed, I am working on it. 

Sabar ya kesayangans! :P

Activities For Kids (8)

We love books and it is no doubt that kami adalah the book hoarder! Haha. Kalau gi BBW tu memang rasa bahagia semacam bila dapat beli buku murah :P

I noticed that both of my lil girls also love books as much as we do. Ini antara koleksi buku-buku Dora yang both Khayra and Hafiya sayang sangat. I love the Ready – To – Read book series tu, sebab kreatif juga penyampaian dia untuk kanak-kanak membaca. So far memang semua hasil belian kat BBW. Kalau jumpa series ni, memang wajib beli. Hafiya tiap-tiap hari ambil buku ni nak baca.

Aktiviti seterusnya is Alphabet books for Khayra. Balik school, dia kena tulis huruf and it stands for what and kena lukis dan colour. So ibu dia atau abah dia kena jadi teacher, kena tanda buku tersebut. Haha. We keep on monitoring her handwriting, so kalau tulis cantik akan dapat star. To make it more fun, I bought several patterns of Reward Stickers and Reward Stamp for them. So bila diorang buat activity books, bila dapat Reward Sticker, happy sangat budak-budak kecik tu. Ni sebagai umpan juga supaya dia buat kerja sunguh-sungguh – psychology :P

No doubt that this mom a.k.a teacher at home also a sticker hoarder :P

(memang hobi dari kecil suka kumpul sticker. LOL)

Ibu pun ada buat aktiviti ni masa sekolah rendah, ukir kat potatos and chop chop chop. Masa dalam gambar ni, Khayra was about 3yo+ sebab adik Hafiya kecil lagi to join. Masa ni juga kita ajar about shapes, so I ukir potato tu bentuk triangle, rectangle, square etc.

Ini koleksi peribadi Khayra yang paling dia sayang – figurine Princesses, Elsa and Anna, Sofia The First and comes with two clip on dresses. Memang kusyuk kalau dia main ni. Now Hafiya pun join sama dah main sekali dengan castle yang Pak Long diorang bagi for birthday present :D

Ini aktiviti baking dengan Khayra – buat chocolate cupcakes. Suka sangat dia bila dapat decorate cupcakes sendiri.

Sekian sahaja untuk laporan bergambar kali ini :D

Admitted: Kay Tee Ess

Khayra has been admitted in Kay Tee Ess (K*TS) on 25.08.2015 until 27.08.2015. It all started on Monday - after attending her music class, I noticed Khayra batuk. She slept as usual at 9pm; my daughters' usual time to sleep during weekdays. At 12am she woke up and cried sebab katanya tak selesa nak tidur. I put on some vicks and she went back to sleep again. At 2am she woke up again, feeling discomfort and we decided to bring her to Intan straightaway. She went to Intan with hubs and I stayed at home with Hafiya sebab Hafiya tidur and hujan renyai. We thought it would be hassle if angkut semua pergi. Hubs WA and told me that Doctor kata just batuk kahak and gave her a round of nebulizer. At this point, we were informed that her lungs and everything was clear. Alhamdulillah. Back from Intan, she slept soundly but at 4am she woke up and cry; feeling discomfort again. I tried the stim wap technique (air panas + a few drops of minyak herba bayi Amway) and alhamdulillah she was getting better - no more chesty cough at that moment (she threw up twice and felt better so she could sleep well after that).

We decided not to send her to school that day and she stayed with my mom as I cannot take leave (appointments, advise to release yada yada yada). I went to send Hafiya to school and decided to go to Khayra's primary school for next year as we need to confirm on the acceptance as soon as possible.

At 9.30am, I received a call from my mom and she told me that Khayra was feeling uncomfortable, her coughing was bad and she was crying. Hubs was having stand down for his trial and we texted each other and decided to bring Khayra to Kay Tee Ess. I went to office for half an hour to reschedule my appointments and to pass a few tasks to my staffs. My mom and my younger brother brought Khayra to Kay Tee Ess and we met there.

We met the Pediatrician, Dr. M*ohammad S*alehuddin and after checking up on Khayra's condition and listening to my story, he seemed not happy. He brought us to initiate the nebulizer and in the midst of it, he said that he wanted to run a few tests, to do the x-ray, blood test and to admit Khayra straightaway. I macam redha je at that point of time so we went for registration and they gave us a single ward at Level 3.

Day 1

Nebulizer was initiated every 1 hour for the first 3 hours followed by every 2 hour until day 2. Magnesium was given in the evening together with Singulair 4mg. PCM suppository was inserted as she was having fever at 10.30am (38.4°C). Drip injection at 2.00pm inserted for antibiotik every 12 hour and Hydrocort for every 6 hour. Blood tests were conducted. Several rounds of Paed's and nurses visit. At 12 noon : her temperature was 37.8°C.

(I jotted down everything here, please excuse this paranoid mom)

I immediately applied for leave from Dato' Boss and notified Khayra's teacher, her daycare and our closed family members.

Hubs came during lunch hour and I went back with my mom to pack things for our hospital use. I came back at 3.00pm and hubs took care of Hafiya at home.

The day marked in my diary - my first day in my life sleeping in the hospital ward for accompanying a patient (sleeping in the ward twice for labour didn't count ya). As the neb and the medicine were scheduled for specific time, we didn't really get proper sleep that night.

We were informed that from the x-ray and blood tests, there was lung infection. However test for Mycoplasma was negative. Khayra has been admitted for 3 days in November, 2013 and had been diagnosed with Mycoplasma infection. More on Mycoplasma can be read here.

Admitted in 2015

Admitted in 2013 - Mycoplasma infection

Admitted in 2015 - playing with Shopkins :P

Day 2

In the morning - nebulizer was initiated for every 2 hour, PCM for every 6 hour and Hydrocort for every 6 hour.

I went to the office at 10.00am and hubs took turn to accompany Khayra. Met a little 2yo boy at the lift and he asked me to carry him - according to her mom, he was being admitted for kidney's infection and it was his 3rd day in the hospital. When I entered the lift, air mata dah bergenang sebab kesian and at that particular moment I was missing Hafiya badly as I didn't get to see her since we checked in hospital yesterday. Settled a few tasks in the office and went back to Kay Tee Ess during lunch hour.

Paeds visit : still feverish, her lung was in stable condition (before this macam saluran sempit and causing breathing discomfort). Neb was reduced to every 5 hour, PCM for every 6 hour, Prednisolone 3ml and Singulair 4mg in the evening.

Hafiya came for a while during the evening to meet me and she cried loudly when we bid goodbyes T_______T

Since the medications and nebulizer were reduced to a longer time, we had good sleep that night. The drip at Khayra's hand was removed sebab tangan dia bengkak sikit and later on she just took the medicines via syringe.

Day 3

Prednisolone (paru paru) 3ml (corticosteroids)

PCM 4ml

Singulair 4mg

Antibiotik 5ml (Cephalexin 250mg Syrup)

Nebulizer (every 5hour) (ventolin)

Khayra's condition was recovering. Hubs went to see Mrs. W to update on Khayra’s condition and asked on her syllabus. We were discharged from ward after taking neb at 8pm. Having said that we have been scheduled for an outpatient treatment (nebulizer) 3x a day (8am, 4pm and 10pm) for three days and follow up with Paed as soon as the nebulizer’s schedule was completed.

From Paed’s examination, it was concluded that Khayra was diagnosed with “Billateral Bronchopneumonia changes with pulmonary hyperinflation and air bronchogram”. More on Bronchopneumonia can be read here

We were scheduled for next appointment on this coming Sunday and during our previous visit, the Paed gave another antibiotic (Klacid) as Khayra was still having fever (on and off fever).

We wish to thank our family members who always be there for us especially our beloved parents. Thank you for those who called, texted and dropped by to visit Khayra. Thank you for all your prayers.

I missed this Lil Girl, Hafiya a lot during my stayed at Kay Tee Ess. Tahap nangis sikit. Tsk.

Semoga Allah ampunkan dosa-dosa kami kerana anak kecil kami masih suci dari dosa.

Wordless Wednesday : Dryer

Potty Training (PT) - Hafiya

Hai. We are currently going on the phase yang semua parents akan lalui with their children; potty training (PT). Wohoo! *acah-acah suka*

Image : Googled

Hafiya is yet 3yo, nanti bulan Oktober baru genap 3yo. Kami plan nak train masa 3yo so within 2 months before year 2016 rasa dah boleh complete trained (ini plan kami) – in case nak hantar playschool yang mewajibkan dah potty trained, so mudah sikit.

However, for the last 2 weeks – Hafiya macam dah automatic nak buang air dalam toilet. She actually the one who asked for it.

“Ibu / Abah, nak gi toiyet (toilet)” 

She told us whenever she needs to go to toilet especially bab buang air besar. Dah 2 minggu Hafiya buang air besar dalam toilet. So cool sebab tak perlu kami train dah. Hehe. Rasa macam dah lepas satu stage yang agak berpeluh kan. Pheww.

The thing is; we do not take this seriously and she is yet to be 100% diaperless. Rasa macam kecil je lagi nak diaperless – and oh my, she’s growing up so fast *sobs* We have a big plan in September, so sebab tu kami lek lek dulu nak train secara serious. We do hope when it comes to the real deal, Hafiya can go through it dengan jayanya. Amin amin amin!

Dulu masa Khayra, kami start train masa 2yo plus juga and by the time nak masuk play school for 3yo – masuk An Nur (tahun 2012 dan wajib dah PT) dia dah completely diaperless waktu siang hari. Malam je kadang kami still pakaikan tapi after 2-3 weeks pakai malam sahaja, dia dah complete boleh tidur terus tanpa accident PROVIDED sebelum tidur wajib pergi toilet. Masa Khayra dulu, kami tak kejutkan malam and masa 2-3 weeks train yang malam sahaja pakai diaper, diaper dia kering je sampai pagi. Oh, tapi Khayra during PT tu about 2-3 months juga kalau nak buang air besar, dia nak diaper, so kami ikutkan saja dulu sebab no rush. At that time, if letak atas toilet pun dia takkan berak unless pakaikan diaper. Memang diaper Khayra dulu ada satu ketika was just meant for berak sahaja. LOL. Stage berjaya buang air besar dalam toilet was when her Mak Ngah bagi present potty Fisher Price yang ada musical semua tu. Lepas tu terus sukses! Hehe.

Hafiya ni pun diaper kering dah dari malam ke pagi, tapi kami bagi chance dulu lah. This hits me sikit sebab when we went through this dulu with Khayra – we were so ready for having another child. Hehe, lek lek. Oh, Khayra dulu masa tengah PT ada 1 kali accident sebab dia cakap nak shi-shi tapi I was busy on the phone, jadi selepas itu selamatlah mengelap dan mengemop lantai sebab dia dah shi-shi. Haha.

One thing on PT Hafiya yang kami akan kenang sampai bila-bila when Hafiya said this:

“Bye bye poo poo. Poo nak jumpa ibu dia, abah dia, kakak dia” … when we flush the toilet together. Haha! :P

So wish us luck with Hafiya soon! :P

Cerita Raya 1436H (2015)

Hai. Dah 30 Syawal jadi nak cerita pasal makan-makan Syawal kami. Lazimnya, setiap tahun rumah my parents akan prepare foods for second Syawal sebab ramai sanak saudara dan rakan taulan dah tahu kita ada kat rumah masa Raya kedua and my mom akan sentiasa hidangkan makanan yang dia buat sendiri macam nasi lemak, nasi kuning, nasi minyak, soto, pulut gaul nyior, pudding etc.

For the past 3 years, my contribution adalah on dessert table. Not that much pun sebab almaklumlah I ni amateur baker. Baking pun 2-3 kali setahun. Hewhew :P

Ini chocolate cakes and fruity bread butter puddings for Raya kedua at my parents’ house last year – sendirian berhad dan idea pun spontan je buat mana bahan yang ada kat rumah.

This year, I made mee tomato (8 bungkus mee) with its condiments (limau nipis, cili potong, cili jeruk, bawang goreng, telur rebus, sayur sawi celur), kek coklat 2 biji and 4 biji pudding roti with vanilla sauce for my parents’ Raya open house. Seriously penat sebab masa first day Raya dah letih from visiting, balik rumah terus masuk dapur untuk preparation Raya kedua. My mom made nasi lemak dan hidangan kuih muih, my brother and SIL tempah Singaporean bihun dan satay. Bila semua habis dimakan, hilang rasa penat dan rasa berbaloi memasak. Teehee. As usual, rumah Umi dan Abah kami penuh dengan tetamu sampai petang.

Ini cerita during Ramadhan pula : A week before Raya, kami pergi KL sebab hubby ada kes. Kami ambil peluang booked ticket flight (it was Firefly Zero fares, Alhamdulillah rezeki kami 3 beranak, we only paid RM100 for 3 persons) and met hubby there. He went to KL 3 days earlier before us. Masa booking ticket flight tu langsung tak teringat FF provides for double seats jadi a bit berdebar sebab kami 3 orang. Risau Khayra tanak duduk dengan stranger *urut dada* 

Tapi Alhamdulillah, it was a smooth journey, both kids bagi kerjasama, the cabin crews were nice and very helpful to us and the other passengers pun sangat memahami (as there was change of seats sebab nak bagi Khayra sit next to me yang dipisahkan dengan isle). I was so proud of you, Khayra :D (sebab tahu my girls are very clingy and it is a big NO with strangers). The lady yang sit next to Khayra sangat baik. Alhamdullah, Allah mudahkan segala urusan kami that day =)

Alang-alang dah kat KL, Zmah suggested for buka puasa together and she did all the bookings at Sime Darby Convention Centre. We met the next day and it was a huge buffet spread and we were among the guests yang terakhir balik. Hehe. Kami dah siap bagi duit Raya siap-siap dah and as usual kami ni kalau jumpa kalau tak bergelak ketawa – it was so not us. Haha. Thank you, hubs for these candid moments. Ni gelakkan Zmah buat muka toye masa first ambil gambar and we couldn’t stop laughing after that. Mak-mak orang dah ni tapi still macam ……. (*isi tempat kosong*) :P

Our kids – they can click together sebab dah selalu jumpa dari kecil :D

Tips Berpuasa : Diari Ramadhan K

Ibu tulis ini untuk rekod Khayra pada masa hadapan kelak.

Khayra yang dikasihi,

Ramadhan 1436H (tahun 2015) adalah tahun pertama Khayra berlatih puasa (Khayra berusia 6 tahun). Ibu dan abah tak pernah paksa tapi Khayra volunteer nak puasa sebab dengar ramai cakap pasal berpuasa dan ganjaran bagi orang yang berpuasa. Ibu cerita bagaimana kita rasa gembira bila waktu berbuka dan bulan Ramdhan yang penuh dengan barakah.

First day puasa jatuh pada hari Khamis, 18.06.2015 – ibu tak kejutkan sahur so Khayra breakfast pukul 7.00 pagi. Ibu sediakan bekal seperti biasa tapi Khayra kata nak bawa biskut Chipsmore sahaja. Jadi ibu tukar bekal Khayra dari nasi goreng Cina kepada Chipsmore dan kurma. Ibu macam doubtful sikit bila Khayra nak puasa sebab tahu anak ibu suka makan. Hehe. Dalam kelas Khayra tak ramai Melayu, ibu risau juga Khayra tak tahan kalau tengok diorang makan bekal masa recess. Ibu pesan pada Kak Ima – penjaga di daycare Khayra yang Khayra ada bagitahu nak puasa tapi kalau Khayra tak tahan dan nak makan, please let her. Tiada paksaan sebab ibu tahu ini tahun latihan Khayra. Kalau dapat half day pun, ibu dah gembira.

So bila balik school, Kak Ima kata dia bagi Khayra makan nasi dengan lauk ikan masak kicap tapi Khayra tak tambah nasi. Balik ke rumah, ibu check bekal, Khayra tak sentuh langsung. Jadi kiranya Khayra puasa 3/4 hari je masa first day puasa. Alhamdulillah. Malam pula, Khayra request nak ikut ibu pergi terawikh dan managed to complete solat Isyak berjemaah dan 8 rakaat solat Terawikh berjemaah di Masjib Kubang Parit. Alhamdulillah. Sebelum pergi ke masjid, Khayra bagitahu ibu:

“Ibu, kita kena berpuasa dan solat sebab Allah dah bagi kita macam-macam kan? Hari ini Allah bagi kita makan chicken rice yang sedap masa berbuka.”

Ibu tahu, Khayra faham tentang sebab kita berpuasa dan solat. Sekurang-kurangnya Khayra tahu konsep berterima kasih kepada Allah :D

Esoknya hari kedua puasa adalah during weekend, kami tak kejut juga for sahur – jadi Khayra makan breakfast pukul 7.00 pagi dan pergi mengaji. Balik mengaji ibu ajak ke Mr. DIY bagi Khayra busy sikit dengan aktiviti. Ibu suap adik for lunch pun sorok-sorok dari Khayra supaya Khayra tak terliur. Alhamdulillah, hari kedua hingga hari kelima berpuasa, Khayra managed to puasa full sampai berbuka tapi pukul 5 gitu, Khayra ada minta air suam sikit. Hehe. Tak apalah, slowly. Makanan memang Khayra tak sentuh langsung. Masa hari keempat berpuasa, abah pergi jumpa Mrs. W untuk bagitahu Khayra dalam latihan berpuasa dan kami beruntung sebab Mrs. W cukup memahami.

Jadi bila hari keenam dan sehingga hari ini, Alhamdulillah Khayra berjaya puasa full. Ada a few times masa kita ke KL last week, Khayra bangun sahur pukul 4.45 pagi dengan sepupu-sepupu Khayra. So far Alhamdulillah, Khayra selalu eager nak pergi terawikh dan berpuasa. Ibu memang tak kejut sahur awal sebab ini tahun latihan kan, next year kita try OK? Ibu pun tak buat janji manis dengan Khayra untuk upah kalau dapat puasa penuh tapi ibu selalu cerita pasal ganjaran Allah pada hari akhirat serta bagaimana para malaikat (Rakid dan Atid terutamanya) mencatat segala amalan kita. Alhamdulillah Khayra faham dan tak pernah minta yang bukan-bukan. Waktu berbuka pun Khayra makan berselera dan tak banyak ragam.

Hopefully nanti ibu boleh train adik pula macam Khayra. Alhamdulillah, Allah mudahkan urusan ibu dan abah dalam melatih Khayra berpuasa dan solat. Semoga Allah sentiasa permudahkan urusan kami untuk mendidik Khayra dan Hafiya.

InsyaAllah. Amin.

Sayang selalu,

-signed-

Ibu dan Abah.

#Tips diari Ramadhan Khayra :

1. Cuba terangkan ganjaran berpuasa – kanak-kanak mudah hadam dan perlu faham on reasoning kalau kita explain dan saya berusaha dengan tidak menjanjikan dengan sebarang upah (duit, hadiah etc.) supaya dia tahu sebab sebenar dia berpuasa. Yes, tak salah janjikan sesuatu untuk bagi semangat - you know your kids better.

2. Moms know their kids better – saya memang sengaja tak kejutkan sahur pada waktu sahur sebab tahu kemampuan anak saya yang makan banyak pada usianya sekarang. Ini latihan, insyaAllah kami cuba pertingkatkan tahun hadapan.

3. Jangan memaksa – take things slowly. Saya tak marah kalau Khayra request nak minum air masak masa first 5 days berpuasa TAPI saya tak pernah offer. Konsepnya, kalau dia minta, kami bagi dan ingatkan balik sambung puasa kalau larat. Dari hari ke hari, cuba buatkan mereka leka dengan pelbagai aktiviti supaya fokus mereka bukan kepada makan dan minum. Nanti, dia akan terbiasa dengan sendirinya.

4. Team up with your spouse – sangat penting sebab suami juga mainkan peranan untuk sama-sama tolong kita untuk latihan berpuasa anak-anak.

5. Bercerita – jadikan penyampaian kita sebagai penceritaan sebab anak-anak perlukan suatu inspirasi untuk lakukan sesuatu supaya mereka lebih bersemangat.

InsyaAllah mana yang baik itu datangnya dari Allah.

Atas - Kiri - Kanan | Solat Terawikh bersekali dengan Tok Abah di Masjid Kg. Tok Ku, Chabang Tiga | Puasa hari kedua – ke Mr. DIY | Solat Terawikh di Masjid Kubang Parit dengan ibu | 

Happy Birthday, K!

Selamat Hari Lahir yang ke-6, buat anakanda kami, KHAYRA BINTI HAZRI yang kami sayangi.

Doa kami semoga Khayra sentiasa berada dalam rahmat Allah, dilindungi Allah dari segala kejahatan, dikurniakan kesihatan yang baik untuk beribadah kepada-Nya, diterangkan hati untuk mendalami ilmu Allah, diringankan tubuh badan untuk mengerjakan suruhan dan perintah Allah serta menjadi anak solehah di dunia dan di akhirat.

InsyaAllah.

Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.

# ambil peluang doa sempena bulan yang penuh barakah ini.

# 14 Ramadhan, 1436H

Simple As That

My birthday was 3 days ago. So overwhelming with all those FB messages, private messages, Whatsapps messages, and calls to wish me on my birthday. Tak rasa tua pun?! Bahahahaha. *in denial*

As usual on my birthday: the most-awaited-card-award goes to the one from my dear husband and as expected, I cried when I read that. *drama queen* Serious, touching sangat and rasa macam baru je bercinta *ehem*

My husband and his sweet-written-notes = never fail untuk buat daku jatuh cinta berkali-kali lagi. Haha. *blush*

So back to my birthday story – nothing yang fancy pun. Hari Jumaat tu (12^th June), kita busy kemas dan bersihkan rumah sebab dah nak puasa dan sekaligus buat persiapan Raya sebab nanti senang nak concentrate this coming Ramadhan ya kareem. So we called our usual helper yang kami akan call kalau melibatkan pembersihan yang maksima seluruh rumah - untuk datang bersihkan sekali. The rest of the day I just spent time dengan kekanak riang tu je kat rumah dan buat aktiviti together. Bila malam kita semua dah ready pakai cantik-cantik nak went out for my birthday dinner, tetibe on the way tu both of us rasa tak sedap perut, lastly we decided untuk tapau je foods and makan kat rumah with the kids. Hahaha. Hubby insisted to bring me to a hotel for dinner tapi saya tanak. So dia kata dia hutang satu special dinner dengan saya. Kekeke.

The thing is I consider myself as easy to please. Not interested with big houses (sebab nanti penat nak mop / sapu. Kekeke), not interested with luxury cars (I think tak berbaloi sebab the value will deficit every year), not interested with expensive dinner (asal kenyang dan sedap, cukuplah for me) and am not a collector of designer bags (I hereby reserve my comment - hihihi) – so dear Mr. Husband, count on your blessings! LOL :P 

One thing for sure, I won’t decline any vacation offer :D Just simple as that. Bahahaha. *kenyit mata*

The school session was resumed back yesterday lepas 2 minggu tak payah fikir pasal bekal. And these cute things sampai at the right time!

Food picks from @nuku.nuku. Too cute to resist! 

(Stocked up all the way from Japan)

Island Vacay - Sari Pacifica Resort and Spa, Redang

I have a lot of things to write tapi tak cukup masa. But for now, kita review on our recent island vacation to : REDANG ISLAND (04.06.2015 – 06.06.2015).

Since it was school holiday season, jadi harga pakej kami adalah: peak season.

(1) 3H2M package at Sari Pacifica Resort and Spa (pre-booked):

Type of Villa : Lagoon

RM598.00 per adult

RM299.00 per child (4yo and above)

*inclusive of buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The room : very spacious with 1 king size bed and 1 queen size bed, a balcony facing manmade fountain, changing / wardrobe room, safe box, TV, make up room, separated toilet and shower rooms and bath tub. The buffet spread meals were good and delicious consist of salad station, dessert and fruit station, beverages station, soup station and the main course station (nasi putih and lauk pauk and vegetables, pasta, noodles, nasi goreng, sausages, etc).

It was just a walking distance to the hotel lobby, cafe and beach. The view was amazing, Subhanallah. I have this love-hate relationship with the beach as I love the scenery and the relaxing moments there but I hate to do the cleaning part of the fine beach sand on our clothes. Teheee.

We rarely take the kids to the beach as we are not so sure what to do on an island vacay but after staying in Redang for the past few days I could not help but fall in love with island vacation. My kids have had their enjoyable moments there throughout our stay.

Thus, island vacay : 1 - Wahida : 0.

View from Sari Pacifica - Lobby

(2) Ferry transfer : KT Shahbandar Jetty – Redang Island (1 hour 30 mins):

EXPRESS SEJAHTERA by SEJAHTERA FERRY Services Sdn. Bhd. (pre-booked)

RM35.00 (per adult) for one (1) way transfer

RM20.00 (per child) for one (1) way transfer

Our Ferry scheduled time:

From KT Shahbandar Jetty to Redang Island : 8.30am

From Redang Island to KT Shahbandar Jetty : 11.30am

It is advisable that you take your medicine to prevent from motion sickness. We took our medicine (including the kids) half an hour before boarding the ferry to Redang. Most of us dozed off in the 1 hour 30 minutes ferry ride to Redang as there was nothing else you can do. There was TV in the ferry, but if you are lucky to get the front seat, then you can kill the time by watching movies.

We were being transferred to another boat when we were about 500 meters to reach Redang Island (basically it was done at the sea) and only then we reached at the island itself. It has no jetty at all – just a main drop off to the island in front of Redang Island Resort. Next, we have to wait for our mini tractor to pick us up to Sari Pacifica. It was basically a mini tractor with 4 huge tires which can be drove through the sand beach heading up to our resort which was located about 300 meters from the main drop off. We (and our luggage) had to be transported to Sari Pacifica Resort in two trips as the mini tractor was not capable to move with heavy loads as it had to go through lots of fine beach sand.

We managed to check in early during that day and after rest for a while, we went for lunch. Later in the evening, we went to the beach for sand castle and swimming activities.

From L-R photos : On the transferred boat to the island | On the mini tractor to Sari Pacifica | Our resort’s balcony facing the manmade fountain | In front of the mini gate of Sari Pacifica | Hafiya had a swimming lesson in the sea | My beloveds enjoying the beach | Fish feeding activity at Pulau Lima from our boat | Snorkeling time | All of us before going for snorkeling |

(3) Snorkeling Package under Sari Pacifica Resort:

RM70.00 per adult

RM40.00 per child

*inclusive of boat transfer to Pulau Lima and Pulau Paku Besar and snorkeling gears.

For this snorkeling package, we just booked through the resort at night during dinner and made confirmation thereafter and set up for the departure time at 9.15am. Our boatmen were Teng and Awang. There will be a brief explanation before the departure and we were given life jackets, diving masks and snorkel. We were so lucky that life jackets for Hafiya, Adam and Eizzat (3yo) were available in their sizes.

We had to walk through the sea water (about my chest height) to get to the boat for snorkeling / island hopping purposes. *Note: please take out all your hp / camera / belongings inside your pocket and put them in water-proof bags before going to the boat. 

Our first boat ride was to Pulau Lima, situated in less than 10 minutes from Sari Pacifica. I was the last person to join the fun of snorkeling that day as firstly, I was busy taking pictures of them snorkeling and fish feeding; secondly – I was scared as it was my first experience! Hehe. The kids were so excited especially with fish feeding. Awang, our boatman brought Khayra to the middle of the sea for snorkeling and they found gamat. So proud of Khayra as she was brave enough to experience it and made several trips of going into the sea for snorkeling. *Note: must send my kids for swimming lesson soon.

Awang told me just to relax and keep calm so that we could experience the snorkeling better and he was right! Hafiya also got the opportunity to be in the water for a while as Awang insisted to bring her down to gain the experience to be in the middle of sea.

After about more than one hour in Pulau Lima, we moved to another small island called Pulau Paku Besar – less than 8 minutes from Pulau Lima. As I was more confident this time around and the water was quite calm than the island before, I enjoyed snorkeling in Pulau Paku Besar. Subhanallah, the view deep down the ocean was so amazing and so beautiful; I just could not explain in words here but it was simply magnificent. The corals, the fishes and the scenery were so wonderful. Alhamdulillah, thank you Allah for giving me the opportunity to see your beautiful creation in the ‘other’ world.

At noon, we went back to Sari Pacifica and had our lunch.

From L-R photos : Hafiya at the beach | Awang, our boatman did this for us – sand turtle | Hafiya – upon arrival Redang island | Khayra and Awang found gamat during snorkeling at Pulau Lima | View from our transferred boat to the island | Hafiya – playing with fine sand beach |

Overall it was a wonderful experience for me (and for all of us). Suddenly while typing these, I really want to go for snorkeling again! :D