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…

Thursday 25 December 2014

2014 4-Nation Ride: 15 Hatyai - KL

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts..." - Winston Churchill

(A welcoming signage at the border)

Date: 25 December 2014 (Thursday)
Route: Hatyai - KL
Distance: 533 km

It was raining heavily this morning when we woke up. We had Nasi kerabu breakfast at Khalid Restaurant next door.

(Riding out of Thailand in the rain)

Border clearance at Bukit Kayu Hitam was smooth. After refueling the group detoured towards Arau and rode towards Kg Jelempok to have a sumptuous lunch at one of the rider’s house.

(Zaidi posing at Mat Wan's house)

After a hearty lunch we rode leisurely towards KL stopping at Simpang Pulai for last refueling before we said goodbyes and split ways.

We arrived safely in our Bidara House just before Maghrib.

Alhamdulillah…

Wednesday 24 December 2014

2014 4-Nation Ride: 14 Chumphon - Hatyai

"One small thought in the morning can change your whole day..."


(The KTM ready to roll)

Date: 24 December 2014 (Wednesday)
Route: Chumphon - Hatyai
Distance: 505 km
Hotel: Golden Crown Hotel

This morning we had fried rice for breakfast.

We checked out around 09:00 and started riding towards Hatyai using highway 41. We made a few stops for refueling and short rests.

(Cozy chalets at Nana Beach)
(Getting ready for the ride south bound)
(Fixing Zaidi's flat tyre)
(No monkey business on the road)

It was cloudy all the way south and there was intermittent rain along the way. We reached Hatyai around 17:00 and checked in Golden Crown Hotel for the night.

Dinner was at Khaled Restaurant next door. Tonight will be the last night we are together as a group because tomorrow we would be heading home. We congratulated each other for the successful Kembara and briefly reflected the good times we spent together for the past 14 days.

After dinner we walked towards the Grand Plaza and had a round of Thai massage at the Spa in the Grand Plaza Hotel. After, we had teh tarik at Aji's then decided to walk back to the hotel when it started to rain heavily.

👈👈 2014: Hatyai - Kuala Lumpur

Tuesday 23 December 2014

2014 4-Nation Ride: 13 Bangkok - Chumphon

"The world is but a canvas to the imagination..." - Henry David Thoreau

(Vibrant colors of our early morning ride)

Date: 23 December 2014 (Wednesday)
Route: Bangkok - Chumphon
Distance: 483 km
Hotel: Thung Wua Laen Resort

The alarm woke us up at 03:00 and we got ready to check out. By 04:15 we rode out of Bangkok avoiding the morning traffic which is said to be massive if we are late. It was already busy when we passed the market place. But it was a smooth ride out of the city.

(A beautiful sunrise on the horizon)
(Overloading and near toppling load)
(Riding with care at a safe distance)
(Pit stop for refueling and coffee break)
(CDs of evergreen oldies)

The weather was very windy and cold early in the morning. We stopped to refuel, performed our subuh prayers at the Amazon Cafe and had a steaming cup of hot coffee and chicken pie for breakfast.

We continued riding the Highway 4 all the way towards Chumphon. Everyone was tired and sleepy so we rode slowly keeping a safe distance between us.

(Securing a broken side box)
(Injured side box ripped-off from its bracket)
(The KTM box finally secured)
(Another mishap, one after another)
(Fixing the GTR's flat tyre)

Unfortunately, about 65 km from Chumphon there was a slight incident when two bikes passed each other too close and knocked each other’s side boxes. Nobody was injured but the side boxes needed to be secured using cable ties and bungee cords to make sure that the boxes would not fell off.

(Fishermen's boats with their catch of the day)
(Strong wind and rough sea)
(Our lodging for the night)
(Time for a stroll along the pristine beach)

We reached Nana Beach Chumphon and checked-in the chalets by the beach at Thung Wua Laen Resort. After settling down, we had seafood fried rice cooked by the owner of the chalets.

(The colorful display at the entrance)
(A self-service coin operated petrol pump)
(Taking a rest under the shade before lunch)
(One of the many beaches in Chumphon)

(A hot sunny weather at Nana Beach)

We spent the rest of the afternoon sleeping in the cool air-conditioned room. At night we had roti telor and roti pisang dinner at the gazebo packed from a nearby Muslim restaurant.

(Cool iced drinks to quench our thirst)
(Feeling sleepy after a sumptuous lunch)
(Hungry bikers savouring seafood fried rice)
(Packed dinner under the gazebo)

Monday 22 December 2014

2014 4-Nation Ride: 12 Bangkok

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less..."

(Our reflections in the mirror)

Date: 22 December 2014 (Monday)
Venue: Bangkok
Hotel: Astara Sathorn Hotel

Breakfast was served at the hotel cafe on the second floor.

This morning some riders went to Kawasaki Centre to service their bikes and look for accessories. Some went to the bike spa to wash their dirty muddy bikes. And some opt to stay in the room and slept till it was time for lunch.

(Queue at the BTS counter)
(Respect the elderly and monks)
(Window shopping in Paragon Mall)

Around 13:00 with some others, we walked a short distance to Saphan Taksin BTS station and took the LRT to Siam Station. We went for window shopping in Paragon Mall and had our late lunch at the Royal Indian Restaurant. Later we went to the Hard Rock Cafe to buy some souvenirs.

It was hot, dusty and humid outside, so we decided to take the LRT back to our hotel. We rested the whole afternoon and later with the rest of the gang took the free tourist boat shuttle to Asiatique The Waterfront and had dinner at one small Muslim Restaurant at the main road.

(Waiting to board the free shuttle)
(The view from the shuttle boat)
(A glimpse of Bangkok at night)

We took the free boat shuttle back to our hotel. Tonight we slept early as tomorrow we need to ride out of Bangkok as early as possible to avoid the morning traffic jam.

(Trying to catch some sleep)

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.