Last April,  my husband and I had a whim of a travel to Semporna, Sabah. Semporna houses the service to various of beautiful islands along the coast of Sabah. Read: Mabul Island, Tatagan, Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan, Mataking, and many more!

Our travel was such a last minute decision, we paid almost MYR1,000 for the flights alone. If you had ample time to plan, you can get a return flight to Tawau from MYR300+. And the accommodation left was not neat either. We booked our accommodation on the main island instead of on the small, beautiful islands since there were not many options available. 

Upon arrival, we took a Grab car to Semporna from Tawau Airport. The ride costs us approximately MYR92 and the journey took around 1 hour.

Semporna is a fairly small town, but equipped with basic facilities such as hospitals, numerous schools but it lacked Muslim eateries. You could see a few Malay-based restaurants, however due to mainland's Chinese tourists overflow, the market are catered to Chinese populations instead of Muslims. 

On our first day, we arrived so late in the afternoon which left us very little time for island hopping. We decided to went for a short hike instead - at Bukit Tengkorak or Skull Hill in Semporna. It was a 10-minutes ride from the town via Grab car. 

The hike was a breather but it was worth it. On top of the hill, you could see the magnificent turquoise water of Semporna and the smaller islands. The high grasses, the sea breeze, it actually does make you feel as if you don't want to leave. Bring along some food for a short picnic overlooking the magnificent open sea. 

Our second day consisted of several island hoping. We were scheduled to visit Tatagan Island - where the sea gypsies live, Bohey Dulang Island, Mantabuan & Sibuan Island. Bohey Dulang Island was where you could hike and see the formation of hills connected underneath the sea, but it was raining heavily prior to our arrival at the island. So we could not hike as the trail was closed. 

We did however snorkel in Mantabuan & Sibuan Island - the sea bed offers thousands of beautiful corals and unique fishes. Too bad we do not have underwater camera to actually capture the memories. But it's okay, pictures often do not do justice anyways. 

We're hitting 6 years this year! Passed the so-called first 5 'tough years' as labelled by the FB folks (spent too much time on FB more than I like these past few months) due to financial instability. Honestly, if 'tough years' were labelled so because of money, they need to sort out their priority. Because in all actuality, the tough scenarios are not often related to money in marriage.

It's true that now you can't  live without money. But, you'll survive with little money in this world today. You're just not that crazy rich as the ones you saw on Instagram showcasing their lives. They are rich, but so are you. Maybe not money rich, but you're rich in something else. Sit back and reflect on your life. You'll eventually find something that's enriching maybe not your life, but maybe others? 

The thing with marriage is, money issues are small. You have so much more issues to endure. Families, in-laws, emotional breakdowns, work that tolls your relationship, distance, SO much more. 

Now that we're hitting 6 years of marriage, we have had so many questions asked - be it children, assets, money, work etc. Prior to 2018, all the questions we're ever asked for is, "When you'll have kids?" Once I was asked by a relative, why haven't I conceive? My cousin was married for few months is already showing baby bump - in the meanest possible tone you could ever imagine. My younger self was often triggered by these kind of questions because honestly, it's not my doing that we have not yet conceived. Humans could only do so much (fun, LOL) work to produce offspring but the fruit of the job is not determined by us. 

Then in 2018, all I was asked is, "What are you doing at home now that you're not working anymore? What a waste. You have no kids, you're not doing anything at home at all. Why quit your job?"

As if they didn't know I quit my job willingly because my husband was being transferred to another state. And as if they didn't know we have done the episodes of long-distance marriage for 4 years  before. And back then, it was in a different country with different timezones. 

And we have had enough of it. It was tiring, time-consuming, emotionally shattering.

I decided to quit my job and follow him because I believe 'rezeki' or rizq, or sustenance is not determined by my job. I might be earning okay back then, but I was whining everyday. I became a very negative person. I'm not pleasant to be around, admitted by my husband himself. I'm not happy at work. I'm constantly on the verge of breaking down. I was tired all the time. The job was terrible even though I loved teaching, loved my students, loved my colleagues. But I do not love the job. I constantly disappeared with fellow colleagues to places away from our cubicles simply because we hated our superiors and the endless unnecessary jobs they kept giving. Until one time, I felt like what I was earning wasn't blessed. My salary disappeared before my eyes and I never felt fully satisfied. I began to feel guilty, and trapped. I can't escape. Then my husband's transfer took place - it's a good opportunity for me to leave that toxic place. 

Now I'm happy. I don't have a job, I'm doing a small business that only earn me a few hundreds a month - only a fraction of what I made previously. But I'm happy. I have nothing to whine about now job-wise. I'm happy I'm always together with Amir now for lunch, dinner, breakfast, weekends, weekdays any days. Although some days I do have some episodes seeing former colleagues and friends earning from their job, enjoying their hard paid work, and missing the feeling of payday, it's fine. It's my choice. 

I'm not staying home just to do nothing, every day I do apply for jobs everywhere. Countless of interviews attended. Just wasn't my 'rezeki' yet. But questions keep piling, as if I am one lazy person staying at home just waiting to be fed like baby birds. We never ran out of money or food to eat. We never starve, and we never begged to others for money either. The concern from people around us sometimes were just purely unnecessary to make me feel like a useless human. 

"No job. No children. Business is just okay, not thriving, not soaring through the roof. You must felt really down with yourself." were some of the things I've encountered this year. But it's fine.

In life, endless questions will be thrown at you, at me, at us. People ask all sort of things. It's our job to filter what necessary and what is not. 

It was kind of hard to write when you are going nowhere, just stuck within the confinement of your four walls. You'll try your best to find ideas but seem to find none. An idea finally strike that I don't really need to write as much because I will have, a visual diary!

During our previous escapade, we had a few days around Istanbul to spend. Thanks to *ahem* getting old, both of us decided to chill around town and enjoy the beauty Istanbul has got to offer. Upon arriving from Cappadocia, we took the Havabus departing Sabiha Gokcen to the communal ferry terminal which connects us to the European Istanbul. It all costs about 15TL per person inclusive of the ferry ride. They called it a ferry, but to me it seems more as a low-cost cruise. From my husband's opinion, it carries exactly the same experience as embarking on a cruise across Bosphorus that may cost you 45-80TL. Score. Gulls are usually a common view when you cruise across Bosphorus. I actually had the opportunity to feed some gulls that were following our cruise. 

From our hotel, the Spice Bazaar & Grand Bazaar was only 5 to 10 minutes on foot. We actually had a few trips back and forth to the bazaar just to kill time for a few days in Istanbul. Indulge in the rich scent of spices, teas, Turkish Delights over at the Spice Bazaar and experience the unique lanterns, quirky cafes and Turkish art shops at the Grand Bazaar.

Istanbul was pretty cold and windy when we were there, the sky was gloomy and there was non-stop drizzling. Yet it does not stop to charm us in every way possible.

Upon recommendations, we do encountered oddly-shaped and questionable rock formations along the way. We recommend you to hike through Love Valley either on foot or a quad bike. This valley is prohibited for cars/heavy vehicles - they would want to protect the sites from any possible damages. Um, back to the question. Why oddly-shaped you ask? Have a look for yourself why. 

On to our next agenda, nope just kidding. We had absolutely no idea what to do in Cappadocia apart from just wing it. So, based on Google & Tripadvisor, they recommended that you MUST spend at least for a few minutes at Rose Valley (Kizil Cukur) while you are there. It was named Rose Valley as it was said to turn rose colour during sunset - which unfortunately we did not read that part until we were already back at the hotel. But we did managed to score some amazing photo opportunities with this remarkable geography. 

While you were in Cappadocia, if you are driving, please do not hesitate to just park your car at the roadside and take as many pictures as your heart wants because the scenery changes for every two minutes you were in the car! The roads are mainly empty anyway. There are occasional buses and lorries, just make sure to park your car off the main road and run as fast as you can when any of these approaches.

After Rose Valley, according to Google - we decided to visit the Fairy Chimney Valley. To our disappointment, it was almost dusk thus we did not spend much time over here. But nonetheless, the other-worldly formations are here too. 

Additionally, also through recommendations from Tripadvisor, we had our first authentic Anatolian dinner at Nazar Borek & Cafe. Us being the big eater (basically I think we live for food), agrees that the recommendations do not disappoint. The food was phenomenal, portion was big as usual and the price is affordable. We had a dish (forgot what it's called) consisting of minced beef, pickled chilli with their sauce eaten with rice or bread. To die for. It was that good. It was so good, that we returned the next day for lunch.

Day 2 in Cappadocia, we decided to explore a bit far up to Ihlara Valley situated almost 90KM from Cappadocia and took about 1 and a half hours drive. Unfortunately, due to winter/low season the valley was closed. Or maybe it was closed for maintenance. Either way, no one speaks English over here, so we had to appease ourselves with some photos of the valley and the icy mountain behind it. Ihlara village was a quaint village at the foot of Mount Hasan - which was covered in ice during winter. 

Our escapade for Cappadocia ends after Ihlara, when we returned to Goreme for some lunch and head straight to the airport to catch our flight back to Sabiha. I think, if I were given a chance to return, I would stay longer in Cappadocia just to absorb all the strangely beautiful scenery they had.

Our expenses ; 

• Flight ; 
• Pegasus Airlines, Sabiha-Kayseri-Sabiha (MYR370 for TWO person) 
• Accomodation ; 
• Turquaz Cave Hotel (MYR 198 for TWO nights)
• Transportation ; 
• Budget.com at Kayseri International Airport (43 Euros for 72 hours, full insurance, empty oil tank)
• Diesel (150TL,full tank) - but we only managed to use one bar upon return and the company did refund the balance money equivalent to unused diesel. 
• Food ; 
• Allocate 25-30 TL per person for one day.

We flew to Santorini from Athens via Volotea Airline, a Spanish budget airline which covers the EU. The airfare was about MYR 390 [ 81 Euros ] for two person. The fares were cheap, but being a typical budget airline, they charge you from choosing the seats up to printing boarding passes at the airport. For the money that goes to the flight, we actually had a good experience with the airline. There was no queuing at all at the airport, their staff were polite and the plane itself was new too. 

Our plan was to visit loads of museums and historical sites in Santorini - which dates back to pre-historic era. Little did we know, all those museums & sites were closed during the low season. Basically it only opens from March up until September each year. Even restaurants were closed. 

Pro-tip:

• There are no halal food here guys. Although there was a shop claiming they were selling halal gyros, BUT they sell pulled pork gyros too... So...
• Buy eggs and cook rice at your accommodation. Book one with a kitchenette like we did. 

We decided it would be best for us to check into our studio. We rented a studio via Booking.com named Musses Studio in Oia, the northern part of Santorini. This studio, although it's a small one but is dear to me. It was beautiful. 

With not a minute to waste (actually after a nap & few rounds of chocolate croissants with coffee later), we decided to stroll around Oia - to capture Santorini at Sunset. We started with the northernmost tip of Santorini, but the view was almost similar to the red beach, only not very touristy. So we walked around the famous main tile promenade of Oia and captured few pictures here and there.

The sky, the sea...

Tip of Santorini.

Perfect combination, white-washed houses and sunset hues.

Santorini over the fallen caldera.

More sunset - I could not get over how beautiful this place is!

Random stairs we found while walking along the caldera.

Same outfit as yesterday, cause why not? See the iconic Greek blue door.

Those who could afford the pool is lucky.

More stairs around the nook.

Even more stairs and a view beyond words.

Was not hoping to see bougainvilleas in winter, but yay I found some!

Bye Santorini!

Our total expenses; 

• Flights ;
• Volotea (MYR390)
• RyanAir (MYR185)
• Accomodation ;
• Musses Studio, Oia (MYR287)
• Skoufou Apartment, Athens (MYR125)
• Rented Car (Santorini) ;
• AVIS (MYR202 - full insurance coverage, full tank & additional hours allowance)