About Me

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I am married to my loving husband for more than 45 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…

Saturday, 26 July 2025

Hatyai - The gang 55-year Anniversary Reunion...

"With old friends, you can pick up right where you left off, no matter how much time has passed..."

(Big Five: 1970 - 2025)

Date: 24 - 26 July 2025
Activity: Big 5 and the gang Reunion
Hotel: The Regency Hotel, Hat Yai

When they invited me to join our 55-year comradeship reunion in Hat Yai, I hesitated. We’d barely been back from our Central American trip for two weeks, and I was still recovering from both the jet lag and the mountain of laundry. My Muslimah classes had just resumed, and I was determined to catch up. But then I thought, fifty-five years! That’s not just a reunion, that’s a historic summit. Who knows if we’d all still be able to make it to the 60th? My sensible side told me to stay home; my heart and maybe my curiosity told me to go.
 
(The gang from Kota Bharu)
(Big Five - 55 years of comradeship)

So hubby and I packed our bags, tucked in a packet of panadols and a bottle of yoko-yoko for emergencies, and drove to Hat Yai via Bukit Kayu Hitam. The rest of the gang came in a van from Kota Bharu via Tak Bai. When we reached the Regency Hotel Hat Yai, the rest had already checked-in.

(Breakfast at Chabura Dimsum Restaurant)

The hotel is situated very near Lee Garden Night Market. The moment we stepped off, the air hit us, a heady mix of sizzling satay smoke, sweet mangoes, and the occasional waft of grilled squid. Street vendors called out cheerfully, motorbikes zipped past, and the whole area hummed with energy.

When the gang met at the lobby, it was like stepping into a time machine. The young faces I remembered had been replaced with older, wiser ones though the mischievous smiles were exactly the same. We swapped stories, compared medical prescriptions, and laughed until our sides hurt.
 
(Kayson Souvenir Shop - One Stop Centre)
(Leather goods and souvenirs at Nora Plaza)
(A stop for fresh honey and delicious ice-cream)

We thronged the crowd in the markets and plazas, pretending not to be tempted by the fried chicken stalls and roadside souvenir shops. And later wandered through the night bazaar under strings of glowing lights. The years melted away in between the jokes, the food, and the shared silences only old friends can enjoy. We had a whole day to ourselves, wondering in and out of eateries and shopped till we drop!

(Khlong Hae Buffet Seafood Restaurant)
(BBQ and Shabu2 style buffet, eat as much as you can!)
(A visit at the Khlong Hae Floating Market)

I came home tired, but my heart felt light. Sometimes, catching up with friends is worth pausing the rest of life for. Even if it means a recurring backaches and an extra pile of laundry waiting when we get back.


Next Trip: Kembara Wilayah Yunnan
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Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Exploring the Mayan and the Aztecs Civilisation...

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered..." - G.K. Chesterton

(Chichen Itza, Cancun, Mexico)

I am in for a treat and unforgettable adventure in Central America.

Central America is a vibrant and diverse region full of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. We will be visiting Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and Cuba.


Panama 
(20 - 22 June 2025)
Panama is a mix of modern cities and wild rainforests. We will be visiting the Panama Canal and try a boat tour through the canal and visit Embera indigenous villages, among other attractions.

Costa Rica 
(23 - 25 June 2025)
Costa Rica is an eco-paradise with "Pura Vida" lifestyle. We will be expecting wildlife, rainforests and lots of tropical rain.

Mexico 
(26 June - 01 July 2025)
Mexico is a lively, colorful, and deeply historic country, incredible food, vibrant street life and diverse climates. The highlight of our trip will be visiting one on the Seven Wonders of the world, the Chichen Itza in Cancun which is the last in our list. In Mexico we will be visiting three cities - Cancun, Mexico City and Monterrey.

Cuba 
(02 - 05 July 2025)
Cuba is a timeless soulful country, classic cars, salsa music, and warm hospitality with vintage charm.Top highlights are Havana and a day trip to Viñales Valley.

This 20-day trip is more than just a tick on the list. I don't know whether I will be able to update my travel blog as we are expecting limited internet coverage at some of the places we visit.

Central America Itinerary:
(19 June - 09 July 2025)


Next Trip: Hatyai - A 55-year reunion with the the gang
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Tuesday, 8 July 2025

01 Istanbul: Love is in the air...

"Travelling is like a chocolate box. It Doesn’t matter what you get. All is good..."

(Istanbul International Airport)

Day 01: 19/06/25 (Thursday)
Flight: TK061 KUL 2345/IST 0520+1 (Turkish Air)
Route: Kuala Lumpur - Istanbul, Turkey

(Ready for the 20-days trip)

All our bags are packed and we are ready to start our adventure trip to Central America.

By 5.00 pm we were already on the way to our Putramas Apartment. Our car will be parked there for the duration of the trip. Booked a grab car to KLIA. The after office hour traffic was quite heavy and it was raining slightly. When we reached the airport it was already Maghrib. Performed our jamak prayers at the arrival surau level 2.

(Departure Hall KLIA)
(Speedy check-in)

Met Hazimin and Che Nan at Departure Hall Counter J. The four of us will be travelling together on this trip. Completed check-in process in a jiffy.

(Our travelling buddies for this trip)
(The crowd at the boarding gate)

The long haul flight to Istanbul was full. The 10h 35m on board was spent napping in between listening to Mark Knopfler. Meals were served two hours after departure and two hours before arrival. 

(On board of the long-haul flight)


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Monday, 7 July 2025

02 Turkey/Panama: Spanish Colonial Influences...

"Kilometres are shorter than miles. Save gas, and take your next trip in kilometres..." – George Carlin

(My boarding pass to Panama)

Day 02: 20/06/25 (Friday)
Flight: TK903 IST 1410/PTY 2000 (Turkish Air)
Route: Istanbul, Turkey - Panama City, Panama
Hotel: Casa Miller Hotel, Panama City

We performed Subuh prayers an hour before arrival. The plane touched down at Istanbul International Airport at 5.40 am Turkish time. We while away our time during the eight hours layover with window shopping, Quran reciting or reading e-book. But if you need some rest during a long layover, a comfortable Sleepods or Recharge Cabins are available on an hourly charges.

(Arriving at Istanbul International Airport)
(A beautiful new airport of Turkey)

Buying a decent meal in the airport is quite expensive. The Istanbul Airport is renowned for its top-tier dining, voted World’s Best Airport Dining by Skytrax in 2024. But it also leads Europe in some of the steepest food and drink prices. We had our brunch at the food court.

(Recharge Cabins at Euro25/hr)
(The Airport Museum, a new attraction)

Our flight to Panama City was at 2.10 pm. We had ample time to freshen up and change our clothes. It was going to be another long-haul 13h 50m flight, a challenge to our already tired bones.

(Resting our tired feet)

The flight to Panama City was not full so were able to stretch our bodies at the unoccupied seats. We spent most of the time on board napping in between meals.

Landed at Panama City Tocumen International Airport at 7.57 pm. The immigration checkpoint was fast and straightforward. But at the custom checkpoint, all our food was checked thoroughly. It was a swift process as we already prepared ingredient list for all the food that we brought with us. There was a cab driver waiting for us at the Arrival Hall.

(First glimpse of Panama City)

Hotel Casa Miller is located in the Caledonia neighborhood in Panama old City, which is safe enough during the day, yet travelers especially foreigners like us should exercise caution, particularly after dark.


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Sunday, 6 July 2025

03 Panama: Sailing from Ocean to Ocean...

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart..." - Helen Keller

(A cargo ship crossing the Panama Canal)

Day 03: 21/06/25 (Saturday)
Activity: Panama Canal Cruise and Gamboa Tour
Hotel: Casa Miller Hotel, Panama City

(Hotel Casa Miller, Panama City)
(Waiting for the Tour bus at the hotel lobby)

This morning we skipped breakfast.

Mr Alonso, our tour guide and Mr Manuel the driver, picked the four of us around 6.00 am. The bus made its round to fetch other tourists from their hotels for the Panama Canal Tour.

Panama is a country on the isthmus linking Central and South America. The Panama Canal, a famous feature of human engineering, cuts through its center, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to create an essential shipping route.

(One of the canal expansion locks in Panama Canal)
(Overloaded cargo ship entering from the Pacific Ocean)

The capital, Panama City is a modern town with skyscrapers, casinos and nightclubs contrast with colonial buildings in the Casco Viejo district and the rainforest of Natural Metropolitan Park which we will visit later of the day.

(A bridge over the Chagres River)
(The train track along the river)
(Exploring the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve)

We travelled to Gatun Lake in Gamboa located about 45 minutes drive from Panama City. From the jetty, we boarded a boat for a cruise along the Panama Canal and Gamboa Rainforest Reserve where we visited the Monkey Island.

(A small jetty at Gatun Lake)
(Enjoying the Panama Canal Cruise)
(One of the many tourists cruise boats)

Monkey Island is famous for its vibrant monkey population. It is also a sloth sanctuary. The small islands in Gatun Lake are home to birds and several monkey species, including capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, and tamarins among other wildlifes.

(Cruise boats docking. Time to watch the wildlifes)
(The white-nosed coatimundis)
(A white faced monkey)
(Some monkeys are playfully tame)
(The wild ones are keeping their distance)

Gatun Lake is an artificial fresh water lake which is 27 m above sea level. It was created by damming the Chagres River, the largest river in the Panama Canal's drainage basin.The river is dammed twice, and the resulting reservoirs are Gatun Lake and Alajuela Lake forming an integral part of the canal and its water system.

After the Gatun Lake Cruise We had coffee break at a nearby Chinese Restaurant.

(Comfort break, sharing the washroom)
(Having brunch at a Chinese Restaurant)

We had the opportunity to watch a cargo ship passed through the three levels of locks at Agua Clara Panama Canal Locks and sailed into the Atlantic Ocean. Tourist could view a 10-minutes video before watching the locks in operation.

(The Canal De Panama)
(Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center)
(Tug boats assisting to align the cargo ship)
(The opening of the locks for ships to pass through)
(A cargo ship passing through the locks)
(The tourists viewing area)
(Souvenirs of Canal De Panama)

Next, we travelled to Puerto Bello, a historic port and corregimiento in Portobelo District of Colón. Located on the northern part of the Isthmus of Panama, it is 32 km northeast of the modern port of Colón at the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal.

It was raining very heavily when we arrived at the fort. We were supposed to have a picnic lunch but because of the heavy rain we had buffet lunch under the shade in the Visitor Centre building instead.

(Heavy rain at Puerto Bello)
(No sign of the rain stopping)
(Stranded visitors listening to the guide)
(Our buffet lunch at Puerto Bello)
( The historical fort in the background)

It was not fun to visit the fort drenched wet in the rain. Because of poor visibility we were unable to take photos.

The drive back to the capital city was uneventful. We reached our hotel by 3.30 pm. The rest of the afternoon was spent napping.


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