Writing my last post for 2008 on 31 December 2008
How has 2009 fared for me? It has been a good year for me, I would say. Wifey and I got married in March, then she became a diver in August. The same month I went through what was probably the most difficult short course I have ever attended – NEBOSH IGC, and passed despite the attrition rate being 80%. We got our new house in July but finally moved into it late November, and come New Year’s Eve (tomorrow night), we’ll be doing a ‘housewarming.’ Not a full one, but for the sake of ushering in the new year.
JANUARY
January 2009 came in with a bang. The first week, we went down to JB to hand over the house in Nong Chik to the house agent. Wifey, Dalie and Rina took the opportunity to visit their alma mater.
The setans at the Setan Training Facility
FEBRUARY
We also made a trip to Tioman at the end of the monsoon season. The sea was still rough and cold, so was the air, but there was a lot to see underwater.
Wifey and Dalie enjoying Tioman
Poo came down from Thailand for a short while and had dinner with us.
Poo came down from Thailand
And the girls had their Setan dinner at Impiana.
The setans
MARCH
In March, we went on an LOB trip aboard the Wavebreaker. It was just two weeks short of our wedding.
Surfacing off Soyak Island
On the 12th March, we celebrated our first year of going out together. A year and a half since we got to know each other. She didn’t make any burgers this time around, but we went for some cheapo burger at Kampung Baru.
Burger Night – 2009 version
Zaza and Kazu came back to Malaysia for our wedding, and also for the trip to Perhentian.
“I want to show people in Okayama how to eat nasi lemak
We also went to watch live band at Bar Savanh.
The savants at Bar Savanh
We also went to Chakri Palace for dinner while shopping for wedding stuff.
Mieng Kham – Zaza and Kazu went nuts over this
A day before the wedding, we went to KL Tower for lunch.
Kazu’s POV
And Wifey and I got married at the al-Muadzin Mosque in Setiawangsa on Saturday, 21st March 2009.
Signing my life away as Eyda commented on this pic
Sign here, here and here, and your loan will be approved within the hour
Clinching the deal
Hubby and Wifey
One big family
My kids and I – they’ve been through all the good and bad times with me
Our extended family – the people who helped make it happen
Post-wedding party at Las Carretas
The very next morning, Kazu, Zaza, Wifey and I left for Perhentian:
At the Kuala Besut jetty
Going for dinner at Abdul’s
Going for dinner at Abdul’s
The next morning, we spent some time on the beach. Then Zaza and Kazu left Perhentian as the latter had a flight back to Japan to catch. That was also the day Wifey breathed underwater for the first time.
Kazu calling home to tell there’s no flight to Japan
Happy people
Saying goodbye to Zaza and Kazu
Off they went
Wifey’s introduction to scuba diving
APRIL
I took my first train ride in 10 years, going down to JB to be with Wifey.
Walking towards the train
All comfy on my First-Class seat
My ticket
Gemas station
Kluang Station…no, not the Kopitiam
And of course, the occasional outing with the kids:
With Wifey and the kids
Then, Wifey, Dalie, Rina, Gemgem, Ida and Ita went off to Bandung to shop, while Spena, Kimi, Nanster, Renek and I went to Sipadan.
Enroute to Tawau
Kimi On The Surface
Frogfish
Horny Couple
Pygmy Seahorse
Flamboyant Cuttlefish
Mandarin Fish
On the third day, we dived at Seaventures again in the morning, then the Eel Garden in the afternoon. I was down with high fever that night.
My favourite morning activity
Blue-Ring Octopus – highly venomous
Turtle basking underwater at Paradise
One hot afternoon at Billabong
Off the Sipadan Wall
MAY
On May Day, Wifey and I checked into the Concorde and spent a night there, before taking a trip to Kuala Kangsar. En route, we stopped at Ipoh for some nasi ganja a.k.a nasi vanggey:
Nasi Kandar Ayam Merak a.k.a Nasi Ganja/Vanggey – 63 years and going strong
The following week, I witnessed the sailaway of the GOPB platform’s topside from our sister company’s yard in Lumut.
GOPB topside in the background
My colleague and I went for the OPITO-approved BOSIET (with additional OLF modules and transfer safely by boat).
Wearing a coverall for fire-fighting training
All set for FiFi
Inside the METS for HUET
JUNE
And in June, Wifey, Shah, Ali and I went to Tioman for the weekend. It was a good trip and spent a lot of time taking underwater pics. This would be Wifey’s last trip as a snorkeler.
Up close and personal
Jay the dive guide climbing onto the dive boat
Before leaving Tioman
Later that month, the company was involved in the Oil & Gas Asia 2009 exhibition.
The Duke of Pornwall, Peter and I at the booth
Attending a meeting at the Mandarin Oriental
Towards the end of June, I went on my last dive trip alone, with two guys whom I’ve not dived with for a long time: Zarir and Loy. It was another good trip with lots of nudibranch.
Chromodoris magnifica at Teluk Kador
Me at Labas Island
And lastly, I went to Miri to have a look at the company’s latest baby: the MV KPV Kapas.
KPV Kapas under construction
To be continued:-
SeaDemon Says 
ohhh what fun fun fun we had in March! and MIENG KHAAAAAMMM….
there’s a new Thai place in town. i hope they have it.
thank you so much for taking us to Perhentian. 🙂 we’ll definitely balik kampung again as soon as Milo turns 1.
Oh , do come back. This time we should drive up to Perhentian, spend at least 3 days there, and drive back…photo ops along the way!
Yay! I’d love to try the train too actually. Macam beh jer…
Actually beh…love the photo op…made me wish I had zoom lenses
I realize that most of the weight I gained was during the second half of 2009..kekekek….. haiyshayaaaaaaaa