rasa tanah: Off The Leash!!

This was one we knew we couldn't pass up on. A bunch of doggie parents and their furkids were driving west to east coast, across the peninsular to spend two nights at a rustic beach resort. Packing for Hopie was a major exercise- our stuff took a couple of minutes to stuff in overnight bags. Setting up the car for the four hour drive with Hopie was another effort to ensure that any unfortunate car-sickness could be promptly dealt with. Then there was the smuggling of Hopie out of our apartment to the car in her huge box. How could anybody not suspect that something fishy was going on if they'd bumped into us in the lift.

Our spirits were high and we were off!

We finally arrived none the worse for the drive and were welcomed by the smell of the sea. I can't imagine what an experience that must have been for Hopie and her nose!

sitting quietly in the shade on arrival and taking in her surroundings

feeling more adventurous and cruising the perimeter with a big smile!

Despite being one of Asia's great melting pots, with a rich mix of races, cultures and religions and a far better record of multicultural harmony than many of its neighbours, our host country's dominant religion practices low to non-tolerance of dogs which are seen as unclean. Local authorities also ban or restrict dog ownership and dogs are not allowed in public with the exception of a single public park in the suburbs. If you had a dog companion on your own private landed property, you might still face the disapproval (in many forms) of your Muslim neighbours.

This resort on the coast is different. It's owned by a woman who has an arrangement whereby guests can bring their furkids if all the resort chalets are booked under the same group. Is this cool or what! Thus avoiding any untoward situations with guests holding other beliefs.

Pulling this together was a bit tricky but all well worth the effort! To be able to share this space with other life is a joy! It's amazing how beleaguered we humans have been with claiming the earth spaces as ours and not realizing there are others who inhabit the space and have rights to it.

hello! anybody home???

Hopie inseparable from her mattress on the terrace in front of our room

the 100-meter dash to the beckoning beach

soft sand, rolling surf and off the leash!

favourite new friends

discovering others

There's just this simple contentment of watching the furkids' joy and enjoyment of the moment and being free outdoors. It was just so uplifting seeing them running and sniffing around at their own will, making new acquaintances and just being free to be who they are.

digging to China

sunset stroll with a pal

pix by lukman

let's get to doing what we're here for

This time by the sea gave us the precious opportunity to take Hopie swimming which was excellent exercise for her hind legs. Needless to say the first moments were rather frantic, putting to test Hopie's confidence in me. She was scared but willing to trust me. Soon we figured how to let the buoyancy do all the work.