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…

Saturday 30 November 1996

Saudi Arabia 1996: Makkah - Our 3rd Umrah and Ziarah Trip...

"If you can't be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you've escaped..."

Makkah, Saudi Arabia
(30 November - 10 December 1996)

(On the tour bus for ziarah)
(Heavy breakfast at the hotel cafe)

This was our third trip to the holy lands to perform our Umrah. We brought our three kids along. This time we joined a big group from Tabung Haji Travels and after our Umrah we will be spending a few days in Istanbul, Turkey.

(Sara, Iwan and Ja sharing a room)
(With my two boys on the bus)
(On an empty bus to Tannaim for Miqat)
(Our family daily routine for umrah)
(The two of us at Masjid Siti Aisyah)
(Miqat at Masjid Tannaim)

In Makkah we joined the group for two complimentary tours of Makkah and had the opportunity to visit historical places and attractions. While we were on the tours, we had the opportunity to miqat at Hudaibiah and Jaaranah. On other days, we took a double decker SAPTCO bus from the bus station located next to Hilton Hotel to Masjid Siti Aisyah in Tannaim and had our solat sunat ihram and niat our miqat there. 

(Sara at Jabal Rahmah on the way to Jaaranah)

Our lodging in Makkah was at Ajyad Hotel which was quite a distance away from Masjidil Haram. We will usually take the hotel shuttle to the mosque to perform Subuh prayers. After subuh, we will take the bus to Tanaim for miqat and completed our umrah before 9.00 am. The long uphill walk back to our hotel was via the main road, passing the Al-Safa Royal Palace.

(A cool afternoon at Masjidil Haram)
(Having tea and cakes after Asar prayers)
(Met some friends, while waiting for Maghrib prayers)

On the last day in Makkah, after performing our Tawaf Wida', we boarded the bus to Jeddah for our onward flight to Istanbul, Turkey.

(Ready with our luggage)
(Excited to spend their winter holidays in Istanbul)

Wednesday 13 November 1996

South Africa 1996: Cape Town - The Cape of Good Hope...

"Life has no limitations, except the ones you make..." - Les Brown

Cape Town, South Africa
(13 - 15 November 1996)

Cape Town is about 1,400 km away so we took a direct flight from Johannesburg.

In Cape Town we visited a few attractions around town. The Cape Town city centre lies to the north of Table Mountain. The commercial centre, known as the City Bowl, takes in many of Cape Town's attractions. The Castle of Good Hope was built between 1666 and 1679 and is one of the oldest European structures in Southern Africa. The South African Museum is a good old-fashioned place, with cases and cases of stuffed animals and bloodthirsty dioramas of dinosaurs. Exhibitions of indigenous cultures include some startlingly lifelike displays of San communities. If you see only one museum in Cape Town make it the District Six Museum, a much simpler place dedicated to residents of this formerly vibrant community. 

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is to the north of the city centre. This area is pitched at tourists. It's atmospheric, interesting and packed with restaurants, bars, music venues, shops and a great aquarium. This area closes very late so head down anytime.

(A view point on Table Mountain)

The Table Mountain cableway is such an obvious and popular attraction. When it's clear, the views from the top are phenomenal and there are some excellent walks on the summit, especially in spring when the plants are flowering. The Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens on the eastern side of Table Mountain are among the most beautiful in the world and are devoted almost exclusively to indigenous plants. A trip to Robben Island comes highly recommended: The island was a political prison until majority rule, and its most famous inmate was Nelson Mandela.

(The confluence of two oceans)
(A windy weather at the tip of the cape)

Like all South African cities, Cape Town is ambivalent mixture of European and African. But when it comes to being one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it is unequivocal. Even the transient visitor will appreciate this city, its mountains and the sea. Cape Town, South Africa's oldest settlement, is dominated by the kilometre high flat-topped Table Mountain and superb mountain walks, vineyards and beaches are all within easy reach. Despite an increase in street crime in recent years, Cape Town remains one of the most relaxed cities in Africa, which can instill a false sense of security.

With the assistance of a friend as a guide, we drove from Cape Town to Cape of Good Hope and spent a whole day there admiring the scenery and the view of the ocean.

(At the waterfront, the night before the bombing)
(A beautiful night view)

Sunday 10 November 1996

South Africa 1996: Johannesburg - The City of Gold...

"If we can see the positive sides of everything, you'll be able to live a much richer life than others..." - Celestine Chua

Johannesburg, South Africa
(10 - 13 November 1996)

Hubby was invited as a resource person for an International Seminar held in Kwa Maritane. I accompanied him throughout the trip and have the opportunity to do my own adventuring in the Safari Park. Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge is a luxury accommodation in the Pilansberg offers all the amenities of an exclusive resort within the Pilanesberg National Park, an easy drive of 2 hours from Johannesburg or about 3 km from the airport.

We spent a few nights at the Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge where the rooms are spacious and all have magnificent views. Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world. It’s unusual rock structures, and types make it a unique geological feature. The crater of a long extinct volcano stands in the centre of the Pilanesberg National Park created by volcanic eruptions over 1400 million years ago. The lodge’s main restaurant overlooks the waterhole and the Rocky hill with its magnificent granite formations.

In our free time we visited attractions in Johannesburg and the Sun City. Later, we spent a few days in Cape Town and drove up to the Cape of Good Hope.

(On a Safari adventure tour)

Jo'burg or Johannesburg is by far the largest city in South Africa. It's brash, fast-growing and often ugly, but it's got wealth, energy and a beautiful climate. Many would suggest you go through Jo'burg as quickly as possible, with your valuables close to you. However, if you want to see the 'real' South Africa - and try to understand it - Jo'burg has to be on your itinerary.

(Our lodging for a few nights)
(Waiting for dinner)

While the colour lines are etched deeply, you stand a better chance of meeting blacks on relatively equal terms in Jo'burg than almost anywhere else. Unlike many South African cities where there are so few black faces you could forget that you are in Africa. Jo'burg has been reclaimed and the sidewalks are jammed with black hawkers and stalls of every description. There's also a growing multiracial music and theatre scene.

(Going for a night outing)

The so-called black townships, where conditions range from reasonable to appalling, ring the city and are a grotesque contrast to the northern suburbs. Soweto is the main township. It's an enormous, sprawling and sometimes grim spread of bungalows, houses, huts, shacks and dorms. Most white South Africans are completely ignorant of life inside the townships and few have ever been inside one. Although the townships are still in a state of acute social trauma, outsiders are not automatically targeted…

(A TV interview session)

~ OUR OWN PATHWAY ~

On the pathway that we choose to thread
There will be many wonderful sights & memories
Sometimes we will come across a barren bit
Thread on to pastures new & bright

To your own self always be true
Tread along the pathway meant for you
Always keep your head held high
Keep your eyes opened & learn as you go

(A night in the Sun City)

👉 1995: London, UK