About Me

My photo
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…

Thursday 31 October 2002

Vietnam 2002: Ho Chi Minh - The heart and soul of Vietnam…

"It's never too late to start over, never too late to be happy..." - Jane Fonda

Sara and I joined the Puspanita trip to Ho Chi Minh City. We visited many interesting places including the Presidential palace, war museum, Cu Chi tunnel, Notre Dame Churth, Opera House and a day cruise the Mekong River and enjoying local fruits on one of the island.

(Sara and the Vietcongs)

'Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling, dynamic and industrious centre, the economic capital and the cultural trendsetter. The streets, where much of the city's life takes place, are a myriad of shops, stalls, stands-on-wheels and vendors selling wares from blankets on sidewalks. The traffic roars and fumes but within are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture.

(Mekong River cruise)

Central Ho Chi Minh City is the place to be on Sundays and holiday nights. The streets are jam-packed with young locals cruising the town on bicycles and motorbikes. The Municipal Theatre area is the hub for young hipsters. Entertainment ranges from disco and karaoke in the larger hotels, loud Western music in bars such as the Hard Rock Cafe, dancing at the Rex Hotel or experiencing traditional Vietnamese music at the Conservatory of Music. Most forms of entertainment can be found in downtown Ho Chi Minh City along Mac Thi Buoi Street.But there is a down-side to every city, and Ho Chi Minh's streets are filled to bursting with poverty and sadness…

(Cobras in the wine bottles)

Friday 4 October 2002

Yemen 2002: Sana’a - One of the oldest city…

"Strength is when you have so much to cry for but you prefer to smile instead..."

Sana'a, Yemen
(3 - 5 October 2002)

We were stranded in Sana’a for 3 days because of flight delay in Jeddah. There were 3 couples and our stay in Sana’a was made eventful and exciting with the help of the Hotel Manager who not only paid for our stay and meals in the hotel but also drove us around in his 4x4 jeep to visit interesting historical places. Syukran brother….

(A bird's eye view of Sana'a)

In Sana'a you would be standing on an elevation of about 7000 ft above sea level. Surrounded by mountains of basalt, and situated in a relatively flat plain, Sana'a remained one of the major cities in Yemen throughout history. Tourists arriving in Sana'a aren't interested in seeing the development, and the change that has taken place in Sana'a much as they're interested in focusing their attention on the historic and ancient city of Sana'a.

(The Palace of the notorious Imam Yahaya)

The Yemeni architecture is apparent not only in the old houses of historic Sana'a, but also in the new houses, and buildings which are still built today. Modern architecture in Yemen is still influenced by traditional architecture. The Yemeni architecture reflected the genius of the Yemeni people, and the variation in building styles from one region to another within Yemen attest to that fact.

(Attending a Yemeni wedding)

THE DESERT JOURNEY

I gaze across the desert sands
Which wend their way
to the edge of the sky
This land of nothingness
so vast and empty
Reflects the chambers
of my heart so dry…