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…

Friday 22 June 2001

Switzerland 2001: Zurich - The Little Big City...

"The days you are most uncomfortable are the days you learn the most about yourself..." - Mary L Bean

Zurich, Switzerland
(21 - 23 June 2001)

(Our favorite bench in Zurich)

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, with a population of some 364,500 in the city proper and close to 1 million in the agglomeration area. Zurich is on Lake Zurich, where the lake meets the Limmat River, in the north of Switzerland.

(The surface of the Zurich Lake glitters in the light)
(A view of the Alps from the lake)
(Strolling along the Marina of Lake Zurich)

As Zurich is the central node of the Swiss-wide train network and also runs the biggest and busiest international airport of the country, it generally is the first place for tourists to go to. Because of the city's close distance to tourist resorts in the Swiss Alps and its mountainous scenery, it often gets referred to as the "portal to the alps".

(Taking the tramp around town)
(A tour of the city on the Classic Trolley)
(A leisure walk to historical sites)

Zurich has long been known for being clean and efficient. Due to this, it has been continuously ranked as the city with the highest living standard world-wide for many years. However, it is only for the last ten years has it truly become a fascinating and worthwhile travel destination. This is mostly thanks to the liberalization of the cultural, party and gastronomy sectors. An increasingly cosmopolitan population has helped, as well, though Geneva remains Switzerland's most culturally heterogeneous city.

(A sunny clear summer weather)
(One of the many benches at the park)

The Zurich dialect of Swiss German, which sounds very different from standard German, is the city's main spoken language. Many people understand English, French, or Italian as well.

(Waiting for the Airport transfer at the hotel lobby)

Monday 18 June 2001

Spain 2001: Barcelona - The City of Gaudi...

"Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday..."

Barcelona, Spain
(17 - 20 June 2001)

(The Montserrat Mountain with breathtaking view)

In 2001, I went to Spain twice. Early of the year we had a long holiday venturing Spain and Portugal with our three children. Later of the year, I followed hubby for a short business trip to Barcelona. On the way back, we stopped over in Zurich for a few days.

(Benedictine Monk retreat at Montserrat)

Barcelona is Spain's second largest city and the capital of Catalonia, one of the 17 regions that form Spain. The city has a wealth of unique historic architecture and has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Barcelona is an unforgettable city of art, culture and beauty. Gaudi's works, museums, concerts and FC Barcelona’s football team homeland. If you walk along the Ramblas, you will enjoy street musicians, living statues, hustlers and just plain loonies.

(Casa Mila, Gaudi masterpiece house)
(Antoni Gaudi's Stone Quarry)
(A house with undulating stone facade)
(Another structural innovation of Antoni Gaudi)
(A decorated fountain at a Monastery)

You can choose to hop onto the Tramvia Blau for a tram trip up to the top of Tibidabo and take in the magnificent sights of the city below you. Shopping can be done along the Passeig de Gracia, at the most well known boutiques in Barcelona. Later, you can a sunset drink at a chiringuito bar on the Barceloneta beach, then after dark, join the locals for pub crawling at the Barri Gotic for a huge selection of tapas bars and cafés.

(The Basílica de la Sagrada Família against the sun)
(The unfinished Roman Catholic church designed by Gaudi)
(Having early dinner at the Marina)

La Rambla is the most famous boulevard in Barcelona stretches from the harbor to La Placa Catalunya running through the Ciutat Vella like a spine. Come here to see the street performers jump out at unsuspecting tourists, enjoy the flower and pet stalls, or just sit back and watch all of Barcelona walk by. During the day, La Rambla is packed with tourists, at night, the locals come out as well, so be very wary of scammers and pick-pockets!

(A silver mime at La Rambla)

We had the opportunity to watch a bull-fighting show, basically a dance with death - one wrong move and the Matador could become the victim instead of the bull. It is the Matador's job to make this dance dramatic and enjoyable for the audience.

(Barcelona Olympic Stadium)
(A sad ending at the arena)
(A luxury hotel of Rey Juan Carlos)

2001: London, UK ðŸ‘‰

Friday 5 January 2001

United Kingdom 2001: 10 London, England - The gloomy smokey City...

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love..." - Rumi

(On a hop-on Hop-off bus)

01 January 2001
(Madrid - London - KL)

From Madrid we transited Heathrow and with the kids took the train to London town and get a tour of London at night.

(Baker Street station)

Picture taken in the sub-way while waiting for the train to take us back to Heathrow Airport.

(Sara, Iwan and Ja - feeling cool)

We were too late for Madam Tussod's tour but still had time to take pictures around the area...

(Airport duty-free shops)

Last minute shopping at the airport before we boarded the plane back to Malaysia...

Thursday 4 January 2001

Spain 2001: 09 Salamanca - A European Cultural Capital...

"The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes..." - Benjamin Disraeli
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(A rest on a bench at Plaza Mayor)

(04 January 2001)

Home to 180,000 inhabitants, this culturally rich city that is located in the mid west of Spain (Castilla y Leon region). Within a central location, you can discover many of Salamanca's cultural and historical sites, from Plaza Mayor, the 16th century Convento de San Esteban, the Renaissance palace Palacio Anaya, Casa de las Conchas, Iglesia de la Purisima church and the Renaissance court, Monasterio de los Irlandeses.
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(A walking tour in Salamanca)
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Salamanca has been declared the 'City of Mankind's Heritage' by UNESCO and named the 'European Cultural Capital'. In this city, Castilian Spanish (pure Spanish) is widely spoken, and over 30 percent of its population are Spanish students, making it an ideal location for studying Spanish.
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(UNESCO Heritage Site)
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This 'university town' has the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest universities in the world. Immerse in Salamanca's Spanish culture, literature and history within the surroundings of cathedrals, plazas, convents, palaces, and churches.

👈 2001: London, UK 

Wednesday 3 January 2001

Portugal 2001: 08 Coimbra - The Oldest University in Europe...

"Many of life's failure are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up..." - Thomas Edison
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(A visit to the oldest University)

(03 January 2001)
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The historic city of Coimbra is located in central Portugal, 195 km north of Lisbon. It is set by the Mondego River, about 40 km east of Figueira da Foz, a neighbour coastal city with several beaches, summer and seaport facilities on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Just outside the municipality, there are also several picturesque mountain towns, spa towns and villages.
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(Heavy rain at the University)
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It served as the country's capital during the 12th Century and remains home to the University of Coimbra, the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world and one of the oldest in Europe.

Portugal 2001: 07 Fatima - The Lady of the Rossary...

'"In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take..."
'
(A visit to a winery)

(03 January 2001)

Fatima is a city in Portugal famous for the religious visions that took place there in 1917. The town is located in the municipality of Ourém, in the Centro Region and sub region of Medio Tejo.
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(A very wet day at the Basilica)
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Fátima's claim to fame is the shrine called the Basilica, built to commemorate the events of 1917 when three peasant children claimed to have seen the "Virgin of the Rosary", The Lady of Fátima. When the children asked for her name, she said "I am The Lady of The Rosary". The children experienced the purported Marian apparitions in a pasture called the Cova da Iria.

Tuesday 2 January 2001

Portugal 2001: 06 Lisbon - Portugal's capital city...

"Surround yourself with those who see greatness in you, even when you don't see it in yourself..."
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(Monument to the Discoveries)

(02 January 2001)
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Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. Lisbon was under Roman rule from 205 BC, when it was already a 1000 year old town. Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding to the name Olissipo. Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th century, it was captured by Moors in the 8th century. In 1147, the Crusaders reconquered the city for the Christians and since then it has been a major political, economic and cultural center of Portugal.
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(By the Tagus River)
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Unlike most capital cities, Lisbon's status as the capital of Portugal has never been granted or confirmed officially – by statute or in written form. Its position as the capital has formed through constitutional convention, making its position as de facto capital a part of the Constitution of Portugal.
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(The Belem Tower)
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The capital of Portugal sits at the point where the River Tagus feeds into the Atlantic, just about as far west as you can go without getting your feet wet. Being built on seven hills, it has plenty of vantage points from which to contemplate the distant horizons that called the Portuguese explorers in the country’s golden age during the 16th century, when it was the hub of commerce with the far east and gold poured into Lisbon’s coffers from the new west.
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(A family photo at Belem Tower)
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Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals. Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums are all part of the colourful cityscape, but the real delights of discovery lie in wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets...
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(Exploring Lisbon)

2001: Cabo Da Roca ðŸ‘‰

Monday 1 January 2001

Portugal 2001: 05 Cabo da Roca - The Westernmost point of Europe...

"The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles..."
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(The Atlantic Ocean in the background)

(01 January 2001)

Cabo da Roca is a cape which forms the westernmost point of both mainland Europe and mainland Portugal. The cape is in the Portuguese municipality of Sintra, west of Lisbon district, and also forms the westernmost extent of the Serra de Sintra 40 km west of the city of Lisbon. The cliff rises out of the Atlantic Ocean to approximately 140 m above sea level.

(The lighthouse at the cape)
(The westernmost point of Europe)
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Cabo da Roca was known to the Romans as Promontorium Magnum and during the Age of Sail as the Rock of Lisbon. A 16th century Portuguese poet described Cabo da Roca as the place "where the land ends and the sea begins”.

The cape's lighthouse and a tourist shop sit on top of the cliff. Construction of the lighthouse was completed in 1772, and the structure rises 144 meters in height above the cape. The cape is a popular tourist attraction, and the site features a monument with a crucifix bearing an inscription in Portuguese…
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(Cool windy day at the cape)
(The strong waves among the rocks)