It takes just 7 steps

Writing a report may look like a tall order, but if you follow the 7-step process below, you should be able to come up with a good report without sweating too badly (unless youre writing it in a room without a fan or airconditioning hehe..)

STEP 1 Study the terms of reference
Know the purpose, scope and audience. Having a clear understanding of the these will help you stay focused and will provide a clue to the kind of language that you need to use in your document.

STEP 2 Plan
Prepare a written plan by allocating time for key activities such as research, writing and reviews. Here's where you create the framework of your report, which normally would have a title, summary, TOC, intro, methodology, findings, analysis, recommendation and appendices.

STEP 3 Research and analyse
List out all the topics on which you will need to collect information. Understand all the measurement and targets that you will use. Interpret data, identify trends, and make sense of all the information you have.

STEP 4 Write the first draft
Insert any illustration, diagram, charts and tables where necessary. Since generally reports need to be presented before anyone reads them, determine whether the report needs to be presented in slides (MS PPT) on top of the written report document. If yes, the first draft would be the slides. Focus on this first. Once this is reviewed and finalized, all you need to do when writing the document is just expand the analysis and recommendations.

STEP 5 Revise
Reports can take as many as 4 to 8 revisions. while revising, ask yourself these questions, for starters:

1. does it serve the purpose?
2. is the info accurate and sufficient?
3. is your measurement logical and correct?

STEP 6 Package it
Make sure the report looks professional and impressive.

STEP 7 Present
Cover the key points and remember to use the language that fits the expectations of your audience.

ENJOY THE PROCESS!

What do you say?

Don't know much about your life.
Don't know much about your world, but
Don't want to be alone tonight,
On this planet they call earth.

You don't know about my past, and
I don't have a future figured out.
And maybe this is going too fast.
And maybe it's not meant to last,

But what do you say to taking chances,
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
Or hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say?

I just want to start again,
And maybe you could show me how to try,
And maybe you could take me in,
Somewhere underneath your skin?

And I had my heart beaten down,
But I always come back for more, yeah.
There’s nothing like love to pull you up,
When you’re laying down on the floor there.
So talk to me, talk to me,
Like lovers do.
Walk with me, walk with me...
Like lovers do.

What do you say to taking chances,
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
Or hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say?

Don’t know much about your life
And I don’t know much about your world...

Are you a fox or a hedgehog?

Isaiah Berlin wrote about how the world can be divided into hedgehogs and foxes, based upon an ancient Greek parable: "the fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."

The fox is a cunning creature, able to devise a myriad of complex strategies for sneak attacks upon the hedgehog. Every day, the fox circles around the hedgehog's den, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. The fox waits in cunning silence at the juncture in the trail. The hedgehog, minding his own business, wanders right into the path of the fox.

"Aha, I've got you now!" thinks the fox. He leaps out, bounding across the ground, lightning fast. The hedgehog, sensing danger, looks up and thinks, "Here we go again. Will he ever learn?" Rolling up in to a tight little ball, the hedgehog becomes a sphere of sharp spikes, pointing outward in all directions. The fox, sees the hedgehog defense and calls off the attack. Retreating back to the forest, the fox begins to calculate a new line of attack. Each day, some version of this battle between the hedgehog and the fox takes place, and despite the greater cunning of the fox, the hedgehog always wins.

Berlin extrapolated to divide people into two basic groups; foxes and hedgehogs. Foxes pursue many ends at the same time and see the world in all its complexity . Compared to the foxes' 'scatteredness' or diffused way of moving on many levels and not integrating their thinking into one overall concept of unifying vision, hedgehogs reduces all dilemmas and challenges to simple (or even almost simplistic) hedgehog ideas. For a hedgehog, anything that does not somehow relate to the hedgehog idea holds no relevance.

I'm ok with the underlying logic behind this story. However, to just be a hedgehog all the time? I'm not so sure. And I'm thinking -
maybe,
not everything is so black and white.
maybe,
the best way is to use what works for each case while at the same time maintaining one core intention or principle that I'll always maintain my integrity in solving what I need to solve.

and maybe, just maybe -
I, too, have the potential to be great.

'Happy' overload

One is married. The other, single. One is approaching mid-30s. The other, in the early 20s. One loves the other a lot. The other, we believe, is in denial. They have slept with each other a couple of times; the first time was accidental, and the second, more intentional than we all may think. When they turn on their lovely-dovey mushiness (baby talk from one, nipple-tweaking - also from the same one) I feel like scooping out my insides with a spoon. Sometimes I would listen to happy moments shared. Other times, I'd be privy to hurtful words and moments of despair. I suppose this is part of the life of a member of a certain fitness gymnasium where these two, among many others, are welcomed, admired and feel comforted.

I guess Hallmark channel got it right with their tagline of "Life is Drama". Right now, I can do without these ones...

Moving forward

Yes, me and BB have parted ways. It's time to move on :-)

And the frenzy begins

Rehearsals have already begun. I'll be joining them full force from Oct 25th onwards. I'm looking forward to this. Ive been writing notes of the stuff I remember and also from what I've learned from my good friends in other stage productions. I want to put them here too, so that I remember once and for all where my notes are.

If you're assigned the role of stage manager for a play, here's a guide to help you prepare for the part:

Preparing for Rehearsals

• Get a copy of the script. Read it for the plot and to understand what happens to the characters on stage and off.
• Read the script again and note the entrances and exits for each character and what characters are in each scene. It's called a scene breakdown or "cast-scene breakdown" of the play.
• Read the script once more and list on a separate sheet of paper all the props, costumes, lighting and sound effects referred to in the script.
• Visit the rehearsal space and get to know it. You may be required to mark on the floor using masking tape to indicate parts of the set and entrances/exits. Make a list of any supplies you may need during rehearsals. The actors and the director will rely on you to make the rehearsal space a pleasant place to work.
• Make a "prompt script." There are several methods but all involve cutting and pasting individual pages of the script onto loose leaf paper. Use a glue stick, tape or photocopy the pages. When you are making your prompt script, give yourself plenty of margin space and leave the facing page blank for blocking notes. The blank page should be on the right for right-handed stage managers and on the left for left-handed stage managers. If the book is arranged this way, you won't have to put your arm over the text to write the blocking notes. Reserve one clear margin for marking your cues.
• Always write your blocking notes and cues in pencil, as there will be changes.

Things a Stage Manager needs to have at Rehearsals:

• pens & pencils
• masking tape
• Swiss Army Knife
• pencil sharpener
• post-it notes
• stop watch
• eraser
• magic markers
• clear plastic ruler
• an extra script
• colour cloth tape
• measuring tape
• watch

Recording the Blocking:

Stage Manager is the place to go for information about the rehearsal hall, lines, blocking and the day to day schedule of rehearsals. Throughout the rehearsal process, it's the stage manager's job to take note of every move each actor makes while on stage. For example, Your blocking notes can be as simple as "Alice X DR" - the character Alice crosses to Down stage Right. Whatever you record should be understandable to you. It's important that you keep your markings consistent to avoid confusion.

Stage Areas

UR - Up Stage Right
UC - Up Stage Centre
UL - Up Stage Left
R - Stage Right
C - Centre stage
L - Stage Left
DR - Down Stage Right
DC - Down Stage Centre
DL - Down Stage Left

Spiking the Floor

During rehearsal, the position of all pieces of furniture or movable set pieces are "spiked" by marking the places where they sit with pieces of cloth or masking tape on the rehearsal hall floor. When you move into the theatre, these spike marks must be transferred to the stage.

Prompting

"To be or not… LINE" This is a good indication that an actor has forgotten their line. Part of the Stage Manager's job is also to prompt the actors. In most cases the actor will ask for help with the standard method being to ask for "Line." In rehearsals, try to be aware of incredibly long pauses by actors. If you're not sure, wait until they ask. Use your best judgement when an actor jumps text. If the missed text is essential to the plot, the actor will eventually realize their mistake and want to go back anyway. Be confident when you prompt. Give the line loudly and clearly, in your natural accent. In a large theatre or rehearsal hall, you will need to project your voice just as an actor does.

Just writing these down is exhausting me already.... *LOL*

Fowl matters

Spending the Eid break in the family home in the east coast this year. I'm being very helpful, doing my duties as prep cook. I take care of peeling the onions, veggies, mashing things up in the blender where necessary, preparing the dough for the cakes and cookies and taking care of the garnishings, on top of the normal kitchen duties. All this for the rendang, acar and nasi dagang. I take a few showers a day since I smell like a blender myself.

The last time I smelled like a kitchen was more than 10 years ago, when I helped out my college friends run their chicken rice stall. It was one of those student projects for Convocation week in the uni, and my enterprising friends decided to make a bit of pocket money with the aid of their mom's recipe. I can't remember how I ended up helping them, but I remember enjoying myself helping out. I was responsible to clean the plucked chickens, cut them up into 8 before marinading and frying them. In addition to smelling like chickens, my hands were also scratched from the splintered chicken bones. I must have handled hundreds of birds over the weekend. I couldnt eat chicken rice for ages after that. After the fair ended, my friends invited me and all the other helpers to join them for an appreciation dinner.

No, they didnt serve chicken rice :-)

"...with 24-hour Bahasa Malaysia subtitles"

Channel-surfing brought me to the multiple advertisements of the upcoming movies planned on the holy trinity of HBO, Cinemax and Star Movies. The clicker, apparently, is the added benefit of 24-hour Bahasa Malaysia subtitles. Is it really an added value to the customers to read these?

Channel: 52 (NatGeo). Program: Alexander the Great - The Man.

Narration: Alexander's army was outnumbered by the Persians.

Subtitle: Tentera Iskandar lebih ramai dari tentera musuh.

Meaning of subtitle: Alexander's army outnumbered the Persians

Narration: Alexander's army was outnumbered more than 3 to 1.

Subtitle: Tentera Iskandar 3 kali lebih ramai.

Meaning of subtitle: Alexander's army outnumbered the Persians 3:1

Narration: Alexander's erratic behaviour...

Subtitle: Sikap erotik Iskandar....

Meaning of subtitle: Iskandar's erotic attitude / behaviour...

AIYOH!

Is it really a good idea to market the subtitles as an added value to the viewers then? A lot of the subtitles are misleading and in the case of the documentary above, factually incorrect. One of my friends who worked in the establishment that provides these round-the-clock multi-channel entertainment told me once a long time ago that the team who are responsible for subtitling programs were among the lowest-paid ones. I dont know how much this has changed after 10 years. He told me that when I highlighted this to him and asked if I could go in and do this work.

How about offering documentaries to schools as language project? Familiarizing the students with both languages by getting them to come up with the subtitles. It could be a pilot project thing, using a few of the 'Best of' programs for instance - the ones that have been aired. It could be one more way to make education more multi-media and interactive, as language is a world that needs to be experienced. How many of us have learned a foreign language and, armed with our phrase books, get confunded by how different the language is spoken in real life, outside of the clasroom? Sure, we can say to ourselves now that we dont give a rat's ass about the subtitles. Who reads them anyway, right? Well, there are people who read them. And currently, there's a risk that someone out there, after watching the documentary about Alexander the Great, is thinking that his greatness is no big deal. His army outnumbered the enemies - of course he would win, right?

AIYOH...

Dream destination

Who would have thought I'd find my dream destination in the Sep 10 edition of Newsweek?

At first glance, the pristine blue-green waters looked like Mauritius or Bora Bora. Upon reading I found out that it's Zanzibar. Zanzibar is actually the name of a group of tropical Indian Ocean islands just east of Tanzania. Pemba and Unguja are the two main islands. Unguja is the largest island and is commonly referred to as Zanzibar.

I found two lovely options for this island. One is Matemwe Bungalows (matemwe.com) - the lodge that features a porch with huge hammocks and a sumptious bath. For those who need to make contact with the outside world, they offer internet and telephone/fax facilities; television still hasn't made it to paradise. That sounds good to me.














Low season is from early Jan to end of March, the whole month of June and Sept to Dec 20. At 230 USD per person per night sharing, that's something to work towards.

High season's during New Years July-Aug and Xmas week.

Visitors are recomended to set aside an afternoon to get lost in the city of Stone Town's labyrinth of whitewashed houses, bazaars and courtyards. I'm excited already at the prospect of viewing the architechture, based on the island's Persian and European influences.

The second option that I discovered was Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski. I've stayed at the Kempinski in Munich and Beijing, and they've always felt very metropolitan and urban to me. A little bit lab-like environment, even - them being entrenched in German processes and efficiency. SoI'm a little surprised to know that there's a Kempinski in Zanzibar. I wonder if it's as efficient as their other hotels.

They've got this celebration package from USD 1192.00 for double occupancy in a Garden room double. This package include:

Four nights accommodation + Full buffet breakfast,
Round-trip airport transfers,
One bottle of champagne upon arrival,
Aromatherapy massage for two,
A private candlelight dinner for two,
A shopping and sunset dhow cruise.

A quick search on kayak.com showed direct flights on Kenya airways from Bangkok from about 2000 USD. Whoa. Maybe I'll stick to the luscious islands of my hometown state of Terengganu.

Meanwhile, here's an interesting factoid: Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock group Queen, was born in Zanzibar. He was originally named Faroukh Bulsara, and his father, Bomi Bulsara, was an Indian-born accountant who worked for the British Colonial Office in Stone Town.

Star Wars episode 1?

In her living room, relaxing after supper -

He: Why not? What makes you think it won't work for us?
She: My insecurity I guess - in 10 years' time, you'll be just entering your prime years, not even 40 yet - and I'll already be a dried up old prune in my mid-40s
He: You're still using that I'm-too-young-for-you card? I cant believe this...
She: Baby, it's the only card I have!
He: Let's not think too far into the future then. 10 years IS a long time, you know. We might not even be around then...
She: Part of me says yes, live now, carpe diem; but part of me says what's the purpose of me being with someone who doesnt want to be with me in the long term? What if I get hurt? What if I cant get better after you go? I want to let go, I want to love - but I dont feel happy investing that in someone who's clear about only wanting to be with me for a short term!
He: Well at least I'm being honest, aren't I?
She: True enough...
He: You think too much. You know that right?
She: And how is that a problem?
He: It stops you from living life NOW!
She: What do you want me to do then?
He: What do YOU want to do?
She: I want to be with you. Love you. Be happy.
He: I want to be with you too - love you, and be happy with you. But we really dont know what's going to happen in the future, do we? I can't say 'let's be together forever' just blindly like that...
She: Where else has this worked, then? Tell me.
He: (concentrates on finding the answer)
She: (raises her eyebrows in a silent question)
He: I know!
She: Ok, tell me.
He: Queen Amidala and Anakin Skywalker!
She: (finding it difficult to stop the corners of the mouth to cease twitching in amusement)
He: It worked there, didn't it?
She: Yah - right up until he becomes the most ruthless icon of the dark side and ends up in a refrigerator suit and she dies while giving birth to their 2 kids...
He: You pessimist!

They hug. The issue is settled - for the time being...

Aikido test

Master Sullivan's dojo in Kuching. Our exam is coming up soon too...! *gasp*

Sentimentality overload

Any perceived mushiness in any personal relationships aside -

Is it just me, or has there been a lot of sentimental advertisements on TV nowadays? It came on full force during the Merdeka month, if I remember correctly. I got used to and expected material from the usual suspects like the national petroleum company, the second national car producer and one or two telco companies; what surprised me was suddenly there was an onslaught of mushy advertisements from several finance services / insurance companies capturing images of senior and youthful citizens going around on foot or on by bus, smiling wistfully at the sky and elevated highways and helping old ladies cross the road while shielding them with their umbrellas. I remember being moved by the deep message that I got when watching these sentimental advertisements years ago. This year, however, I just dont get it. What I want to know is if the sentimental bandwagon is a big one - it'd be good to know how long will this sentimentality overload last. I long for fun and funny advertisements to return! Bungee-jump to get packets of Twisties or something - anything!

Who's the lucky one?

Saw BB late last night - hung out at his place for a couple of hours. He told me that he's the lucky one for meeting me! Awww.....

What a month so far

A bit on the news prior to this post: we all dont think she's preggers. I personally think she's insane, but I dont tell them that.

The wheels are in motion now for Yugen Ideas - things are moving. Not as fast as I think it should be, but it's moving in the direction that I like it to be.

I still see BB occasionally - what with our differing work schedule and all; he's lucky I'm more nocturnal than I say I am. By the time we see each other (if and when we do) it's after midnight and I'd be groggy and after his greeting of "What - no kiss?" the only thing suitable to say to him would be "Baby, I'd love to get that shirt off you" Hee hee hee...

Body's still aching. Grading time for 6th kyu is near - very near....

Salsa, Boy-boy and light sabers

No Salsa classes for the current week or two (it's Salsa, not Nausea, anyway).

BB is having his exams now, and I'm happy that his first paper on Monday was all right. He's not too thrilled about today's paper, the system engineering one - but when I told him that going through the exam is better than being dead, he stopped complaining (he he he) Unfortunately, it works both ways - he wont let me say anything about being middle-aged to his youthful 24 - he just uses my retort and reminds me that hey, I'm alive! Smart aleck.

So far, it has not been a one night stand (who has the energy to stand for the whole night, you tell me?) and interestingly, some of his friends are treating me like an Agony Aunt of sorts. One has an issue with an ex-girlfriend, who's calling and texting him with updates on an early pregnancy that she is so confident was caused by a certain activity that they both indulged in, a week after they broke up. Apparently, my "they have phone help lines and counseling services for these" didnt stop him from telling me how much sleep he's losing over this issue. He's totally confident that the baby's not his (a certain Michael Jackson song is playing at the back of my mind - is it Billie Jean?) and since a planned trip to a clinic for a D&C appointment did not happen, the boy's freaking out. She's threatening to tell her mom, his mom, his grandma, and face it - txt messages that read "congratulations, u r still a dad" are creepy to me. When he asked her what she wanted from him (marriage, money, a hold-her-hand while she's at the clinic, another romp in the hay) she couldnt answer. He asked for suggestions and mine were:

1. Ignore her for 12 hours. Leave the phone calls unanswered, messages unreturned
2. Ignore her for another 12 hours. See how that goes
3. Call her bluff. It's time to step up as a man and be very firm with his belief that it's not his, if he truly is 100% confident about it. Face the family. Ask for support. Blood CAN be thicker than water.
   

If no resolution is in sight still, I suppose I can offer to them my wire hanger-wielding skills. At least that would prompt SOME action. Last that I heard, he told me that she told him that she needs now to check with HER ex (no, I didnt check for the order of appearance of the cast members) before she makes another appointment at the baby clinic.

Moral of the story? Use condoms.

But seriously, folks -

I struggle to fight the urge to put my hands into this mess of a vindaloo. I honestly feel like going to the girl and just taking her to get a proper check-up and then getting her view of this. Find out her map of her territory. What's the situation now, what she feels about this, what she wants to do, how she wants to do it. Even if she really is the befuddled airhead that she's being made out to appear, there's still a tiny little life growing in her belly and that life needs to be considered. Get her to see what will be in store for her future should she decide to keep the baby (my earlier suspicion was that she was not even pregnant) . I want her to see how having a baby now and raising this child will impact her life, her daily activities. Then I will get her to decide what to do.

But why is this keeping me awake on this Wednesday morning? It's because children are such gifts - I have friends who have done everything they could to have their own bundle of joy, but no success. My heart breaks for the baby's soul everytime a tiny lifeless body is found abandoned in bathrooms or in the trash (what an outrage!) and also for the young mum, who in her time of need, felt that she had no one to turn to. To feel most alone during this time is not an envied feeling. That's why I told the friend to go back to the family. Call her bluff. Create your support system. Growing old is compulsory (many would object, naturally) but growing up is optional. Muzukashi, neh? Difficult, but a necessary step to take, this growing up. Decisions need to be made. It's not about just one person, or even two (the young man and woman) - this decision now involves a tiny little soul.

Children - so precious. I know my brother watches his daughters sleep so that he can remember how peaceful they are while they are sleeping and how fiercely he feels that his responsibility as a father is to ensure that his children get the best things in life.

If all else fails, I'll still have my wire clothes-hanger. I'll wield THAT like a light saber and scare them into making a wise decision!

Where exactly does it hurt?

I can tell you where and when exactly does Chemotherapy hurt you.

Where: all over your insides, especially the bad parts that the poisonous drug is supposed to target and kill, kill, kill.

When exactly does Chemotherapy hurt you?

1. When the freezing drug is about to enter your blood vessel,
2. When you're throwing up bile

But folks, it sure beats being dead.

Cycling home

While having lunch just now, I chanced upon yesterday's newspaper. One news item caught my eye - about a young man who graduated from university and is riding his bicycle home. Pretty normal, one might think, until you explore the article to find out that he graduated from Duke University in North Carolina and and he's cycling home to Taiping from USA. He pedalled off from Los Angeles, reaching Washington DC in 38 days, covering a distance of 5,625km. He started his European leg early this week, with about 15,000 km to go. He gets to hop on and off airplanes, of course, since he cant pedal his way across the oceans.

His journey reminds me of a book that I read last 2 years: the Memory of Running by Ron McLarty. Smithson 'Smithy' Ide is a 279-pound, hard-drinking, chain-smoking, 43-year-old misfit who works in a G.I. Joe factory putting arms and legs on the action heroes. After his parents died in a car accident, Smithy finds a letter to his father about Bethany, his sister, stating that, "Bethany Ide, 51, died from complications of exposure... and she has since that time been in the Los Angeles Morgue West." Bethany, given to taking off her clothes in public places, holding impossible poses for long periods of time, responding to voices that only she can hear, and disappearing for no known reason.

When he reads the letter, he is drunk and alone. He goes out to the garage to smoke and have another drink and spies his old Raleigh bicycle. He sits on it, wheels it to the end of the driveway and started pedaling. He ended up cycling across the country from Long Island all the way to California. On the road he meets the good, the bad, and the really bad. He frequently calls Norma, the Ides' neighbour, confined to a wheelchair for years.

Nothing I say can do justice to this book. It's a simple story, told with simple words, yet the author managed to paint the picture of Smithy's trip and I could see all the colors, feel what the people in those stories were feeling. It's not a sappy story, eventhough I did shed some tears reading it (but then that's just me - I can weep just from watching some TV commercials LOL). Far from it - it's about unconditional love that travels across thousands of miles through the telephone line and the strength that it brings. It's about fun stuff too, and how life is made up of all sorts of experience and stories.

I highly recommend it. Great for vacations or even for that afternoon at home.

Oh ya - to find out more about young Law's cycle home, go to http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/longwayhome

That deathly hallows book

Got it. Spent half the weekend with it. Finished it. Not too crazy about some of the parts in the middle. Got caught up in the excitement near the end.

One newspaper report kind of sums it up for me: "when was the last time we were excited about a book?"

To prepare for the final book, I read book 6 again. By the time I finished, the momentum was there and my journey into book 7 began nicely. Took it along to Gaby's house for dinner (with Evie and a few others) and it kept me company while they played mahjong. Continued after arriving home at midnight and finished it about 2 hours later.

What a story.

The water slide is here

Y mailed me photos of our Rawa Island vacation. I'm already thinking of my next trip there...

Here's my fav spot to read and relax.

Watching the sunset with a cold drink - the best thing to do there.

The water slide - favored by kids and adults alike!

Recharged, rested, browned ;-)

I finally went on a short vacation. Every year, me and Y, my college buddy, would go on our Cuti Cuti Malysia trip. She's a snorkeling fanatic, and learning diving as well. As for me, I'm just happy to tag along and enjoy quiet times by the beach where I'd be going through the same routine cheerfully:

1. before leaving the room / hut / chalet, I'd slather sunblock / tanning oil (depending on whether I feel like I want to marinade myself with cream or oil
2. pack my canvas tote with my book(s), sunblock, tanning oil, mineral water, small change (for ice cream yum yum), shades (not the Combat head teacher, but my sunglasses hehe), notepad / journal, beach towel or face towel
3. find my spot on the beach and make myself comfortable on the sand or on the deck chair
4. wave to Y occasionally when she sees that I'm out already
5. take a dip in the sea
6. come back and return to my reading / writing / snoozing
   
7. repeat steps 4 to 6 as often as I like

What I didnt know about Rawa Island is the fact that it looks exactly like the pictures. Many times I have seen places that made me think "which angle did the photographer take the photo from?" because they have no resemblance WHATSOEVER to the brochure pictures promoting the place.

The water was clear and the beach was clean. We could snorkel right in front of the beach, much to Y's delight. We started our journey at about 7:00 am and we drove down to Mersing. The boat ride took about 35 mins and I was relieved to find the island jetty to be of the higher version, where I wont have to wade towards reception with my knapsack in tow (I was prepared for that, anywho). Walking along the jetty, I saw how the jetty's function was expanded: there was a water slide built into the jetty infrastructure. There were already kids screaming in delight when we arrived. Did I mention that the water was so clear we could see the corals and the fish swimming about when we look down from the jetty?

In the evenings, after dinner, I'd walk along the jetty. I'd look up and see the stars and recgnize one or two constellations. Even though I have very short hair, I could still feel the breeze ruffling them. Looking out, I could see yellow and white lights from other islands and fishing boats blinking in the distance. The guy who takes care of the sea sports hut told us that if the water's cool enough, black-tipped sharks would swim up right until the spot where the water slide is. I didnt see it when I was there even though I kept a lookout for the 2-metre fish.

I definitely will return to Rawa Island. I promise.


Images courtesy of rawasfr.com