Surf Season... huhuhuhuhu..

Again, I've been slow in updating this blog.. 'Cos its surf season again...! There goes the sputtering and drowning in the waves which is actually really fun! (glug-glug-gluggggg) Oooo nooo... you'll now think, crazy as this blogger may be, now she loves drowning too?! I am, but a lousy beginner, 'cos hahahhaha... sugar_cupcakes only goes like once a year.. And learning to surf takes lots of hours and perseverance (from a nice helpful guy on the beach - his blog). Noted!

You'd just love the people and the sea in Cherating! The wave and current there is perfect for beginners (but still... I'm struggling to take on the "a teeny bit bigger waves"... really difficult la.... lol...)

So umm... This post is less on beauty... but more on fitness and personal raves... hohoho... :p


Why I love going to Cherating during surf season?

• the people there are real nice and genuine (and I love the part where I can just walk around with flip flops, t-shirt and shorts all day and when its raining you don't need no umbrella - of course you'll need the umbrella when the hot sun comes out.. hahahahahaaaa... typical Asian chick)
• I (heart) the quaint little guest houses (the ones which are clean, without air-cond, without water heater, friendly guests, perfectly placed clothes line to hang your wet clothes, thoughtful mosquito netting and lighted up mosquito incense every night)
• lots of beginner surfers there and everyone's willing to help! (since being a newbie is always difficult)
• food is cheap and GOOD!
• the beach doggies and cats are friendly and lovable!
• don't know why, I just LOVE being in the water! (even though emm... getting dragged by the long boards when being wiped out is emm... pretty painful... LOL)
• you get a really good full body workout and less muscle injury (though emm... you'll be prone to get bruises... lol...)
• good food, good people, great fun, sea and salt... what more could a iwannabelenglui ask for?! 

Conclusion:

• I LOVE everything there is to learning to surf

How YOGA saved my surf week...

pic credit to http://www.fitsugar.comhttp://www.fitsugar.com/5515118

Talk about being an idiot.....

3 days before a surf trip... those 3 and a half inches heels of mine were beckoning me to wear them... They were practically screaming "WEAR ME! WEAR ME!!!" lol... yeah... that's how it happened...

So yeah.... and I wore them to work... and .... I wore them to lunch.... where the floors in the food court were silently greasy and there were invisible steps along the stalls,.... I think you can guess what came next.... THE BIG FALL... yeah.... I "pok-kai" with food, tray and all..... Oh!!!! Talk about the embarrassment... and ouchhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... felt like I should just disappear into thin air right that moment... Okay... so that's not the worst part... I was due to go on a surf trip 2 days after!! With foot in bandage and all.... that surf trip didn't look like it was going to happen...

SIGHHHHHHHHHHHH................................ today's the day after the "FALL"... so now... normally if you sprain your foot or ankle, its going to take a while to heal.. And you're probably going to be functioning only with one and a quarter foot... But..... Now, here's the great BUT.......

But because I've been such a good girl going for yoga classes and all... the sprained foot (twisted by 3.5 inches heels) didn't look too bad cos' there were already lots of twisting and awkward positions "the foot" has gone through in most of the yoga classes... so it was prepared for the worst... so the foot is healing great and I can still walk normally. Though the soreness is still there, I'm sure surfing is still good to go in 2 days time.... Imagine without yoga, "the foot" would have to endure such lethal effects of the sprain and surfing... would never have happened this year...

So there you go... YOGA is GOOD for you!

I (heart) Surfing - helps get rid of cellulites too hehehe

Surfer Chicks - Not as easy as it looks babe...

pic credit to roxy - no I'm not advertising for roxy... lol

Okay... So surfing is probably one of the most difficult sport to learn. And... feels like you've got to be really fit to be able to do surfing.. But... if you have got a good stamina, strong determination, loves swimming and beaches and don't mind the occasional jellyfish stings and bruises from falls or getting hit by your surfboard... I think we'd make very good friends! lol...

Some YouTube vids from "Surfing for girls" which I found were really helpful:

• Surfing for Girls : How to Stand While Surfing
• Surfing for Girls : How to Choose Your First Surfboard
• Surfing for Girls : Surfing & How to Get Through Waves
• Surfing for Girls : How to Carry a Surfboard
  

Now, I can't really explain to you WHY all the fuss about surfing... You'll just have to try it out for yourself. If you do manage to stand on the surfboard, glide through the water, and feeling the breeze of salty air in your face... you will understand.

Here are some tips from a lousy beginner to another on making your first stand (pop-up):

• Take lessons if possible! (I had some and the instructor was really strong, since he needs to hold your board when the waves are pounding in and you're struggling to stay on it)
• Watch the vids before going to your first lesson
• Remember sunblock - suffering from sunburn is not part of the learning experience
  
• You'll need rash guards and board shorts... Normal cotton wear is going to wear you down... And... you don't want to get rashes on your bod on your first lesson...
• Yes, wearing a bikini looks hot but... no... you won't look hot sputtering and choking on seawater in a bikini.. And later having red rashes on your body... Get a rash guard!
  
• Practice on land to get your body positioning right and your feet right
• Learn how to carry the surfboard correctly... This will save you tons of muscle aches
• Learn how to get through the waves correctly... Otherwise you're so gonna suffer in the water when the waves are hammering you through... You're just gonna get no where
• Talk to your instructor... Don't be shy to ask... He/She's not gonna eat you...
  
• When catching a wave, lift your chest up (very important!), otherwise you might just drown head on with your surfboard... I'm forever getting that... lol
  
• When exhausted, take a break... Otherwise you might just decide... surfing is a torture and you never want to do it again...

Why surfing is not for you?

• The beach?? Sticky salty air... Eewww...
  
• Can't swim well enough to not drown in waves
• Getting a tan? No way... you love your Snow White skin way too much!
  
• Even the weight of your handbag is enough to wear you out... Imagining yourself carrying a 4 liter bottle or mineral water up a stairs?! What?! You must be kidding...
• You're easily embarrassed and hate looking stupid in front of hot chicks or hot studs
• Forget about the thought of having sticky saltwater on your skin... you'd rather go to a spa and zen out...
  

I'm still having lotsa trouble popping up on the board... But... heck... its worth all the effort when you do manage to stand up. Surfing... feels pretty amazing...