About Me

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I am married to my loving husband for more than 40 years now. I am a mother to 3 beautiful children, until years ago when I lost my youngest son. Since then my life is forever altered but yet unbroken....

My Travel Journal

"There isn't much I haven't shared with you along the road and through it all there'd always be tomorrow's episode" - Elton John

I started traveling around the world since early 80s when I had the opportunity to combine business trips with vacations. Then later when my rezeki is in abundance, there were numerous other trips along the way for vacations, most of the time with hubby and the kids when the timing is right. I have also started to compile the journal and photo-pages covering almost more than 45 years of world wide travel. Some destinations I visited just once, others many times. Many of those places are the obvious famous places people would like to visit but some, the casual traveler doesn't even think to try. I have placed links to my travel at the side bar of my personal page, My Life Reflections, and will be updating them from time to time.

My wish is to continue my travel and complete circumnavigate the globe, insyaAllah…

Sunday 21 December 2014

2014 4-Nation Ride: 11 Udon Thani - Bangkok

"Those who move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out..."

(Interesting signage at the hotel lobby)

Date: 21 December 2014 (Monday)
Route: Udon Thani - Bangkok
Distance: 581 km
Hotel: Astera Sathorn Hotel

This morning we packed our things early and had a hearty breakfast at the hotel cafe.

(A group photo as usual)
(Riding into the sun)
(Riding south towards Saraburi)

After fixing the GTR flat tyre, we started our journey towards the south heading to Bangkok taking the Highway 2. On the way we stopped twice at PTTs for refueling and a short rest at Cafe Amazon.

(This looks like the real Amazon)
(Checking tyre pressure before continue riding)

The sun was bright and the weather was cool all the way until we approached the suburbs of Bangkok when it started to get warmer, humid and dusty. The traffic started to get heavier when we approached Saraburi and it was a slow ride and very challenging, tiring and slow to maneuver our big motorbikes in between vehicles.

(Riding into the evening sun)
(The clouds partially covering the sun)

Once we entered the Bangkok suburbs, we took an alternative route to the center of town avoiding the elevated tolled highway. In Bangkok, motorcycles and lorries are prohibited to use the tolled highway.

(Weaving in and out of slow moving traffic, cautiously)
(Taking the longer alternative route)
(Passing through the many traffic lights)
(Be careful of tourists on bicycles)
(The old Quwatul-Islam Mosque)

We have not performed our prayers and it was already late afternoon when we arrived at Masjid Quwatul-Islam. Later, with the assistance of a Thai policeman, our group was escorted to a Muslim Restaurant where we had our dinner which was again over ordered and with a lot of left-overs and wastages.

(Riding to our hotel passing the busy part of town)
(Arriving at Astara Sathorn Hotel)
(A cheerful clean cozy room)

After dinner, we went to the Tongtara Hotel but it was fully booked so we decided to check in Astera Sathorn Hotel instead. After settling down and a short rest, some of us walked a short distance to the Hotel Pier by the Menam Chow Phraya to take a free tourist shuttle boat to Asiatique the Riverfront. The boat ride takes only 10 minutes and the boat runs until 23:00.

(Taking a free shuttle boat service to town)
(The view  from the shuttle boat)
(The view of Asiatique the Riverfront from the river)
(Visiting the night bazaar)

Asiatique the Riverfront is a large open-air night bazaar and a mall facing the Chao Phraya River and Charoen Krung Road with over 1500 boutiques and 40 restaurants housed under replica warehouse complex and only open from 17:00. It is quite a happening and popular place for locals as well as tourists. From here we split ways. A few of us had an hour of strong foot massage and later took a tuk-tuk back to the hotel which cost us B150. The normal fare is only half the price.

Tonight we slept early and rested our tired body well.

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