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 26 November 2015

2015 Vietnam Ride: Ha Long Bay

“Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs..." - Susan Sontag

(The bikers gang at Ha Long Bay)

Day 07: Ha Long Bay day trip
Date: Thursday, 26 November 2015
Distance: 170 km

We had breakfast in the hotel while waiting for the tour bus to pick us up. This morning we are going for a day trip to Ha Long Bay. The 170 km journey to Ha Long Bay took us more than three hours with a short break half way.

(A welcoming signage to the bay)
(Arriving at the Pier in Ha Long)
(On a boat cruise)
(Waiting for lunch to be served)
(The weather is cool and windy)
(A spread of seafood dishes, delicious!)

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring thousands of limestone karsts and isles of various sizes and shapes. From the jetty we embarked on a boat cruise and were immediately served with seafood lunch while enjoying the beautiful limestone seascape.

(Our cruise boat, the White Dragon 11)
(Many similar boats cruising the bay) 
(Arriving at an island with a beautiful grotto) 
(Beautifully lighted and clean) 
(Stalactites and stalagmites formations)
(View from the cave's entrance)

After we visited the beautiful Dau Go Cave, cruise further to a the fishermen floating village where one can go for kayaking or hire a bamboo boat for small fee.

(The cruise boats docking at the jetty)
(An iconic island used in the Vietnamese Dong note)
(Kayaking activities around the jetty)
(Houseboats with rooms and amenities) 
(Bamboo boats for hire)
(Getting ready to cruise back to mainland)
(Leaving the beautiful seascape)

We took the same route back to Hanoi and reached our hotel around 20:00. While others went for a last minute shopping, we had dinner at Little India then later went for an hour of foot massage.

*****

Day 08: Hanoi – KL
Date: Friday, 27 November 2015

We had breakfast in the hotel and checked out early. We had to take two taxis to the Airport to catch our 09:00 flight to Kuala Lumpur.

(Departure Hall, Hanoi International Airport)
(Our flight back to KL)
(Right on time, no delay)

The flight was on time and the food served was good. We napped most of the journey and arrived safely at KLIA2 around 13:30.

Alhamdulillah….

👈👈 2015 Q4 4-Nation Ride
2015: Tu Le - Hanoi, Vietnam ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰

Wednesday 25 November 2015

2015 Vietnam Ride: Tu Le - Hanoi

“Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions...” - Peter Hoeg

(Sunrise at a small cowboy town of Tu Le)

Day 6: Tu Le - Hanoi
Date: Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Distance: 250 km

We had breakfast of half boiled duck eggs with bread. From Tu Le we rode to the petrol station to refuel but they were out of petrol. Luckily there were a few roadside petrol vendors along the road.

(The petrol station is out of gas)
(Buying petrol from road-side vendors)

Today we rode leisurely back to Hanoi absorbing the scenic forested and high mountain region populated by H’mong people. After the high mountain pass we descended and rode on the delta plains covered with paddy fields intermittent with small villages and towns.

(Riding out of Tu Le in the morning)
(Beware of buffaloes on the road)
(Caution! More buffaloes aheaad)
(Petrol prices in Vietnam)
(Riding downhill with care)
(Herbs sold by the road side)

After a short coffee break we detoured and went for a distance of off-roading on a slippery muddy track. Half way we turned back and took another route which was as tough as the first one and finally exited at one small town where we stopped for lunch.

(Coffee break, checking on messages)
(Riding on a muddy slippery road)
(Drier part of the track)
(It was drizzling and the road was slippery)
(Stopping for re-routing)
(A long way to the next town)
(Beware of passing lorries and cranes)
(School children cycling in the mud)
(Exiting at a small town)
(Motorbikes taking a rest)
(A vast tea plantations along the route)
(Crispy fried small fishes with rice for lunch)

We arrived in Hanoi in late afternoon thronging the massive after office traffic jam. We stayed the night in Parkson Hotel.

(Riding in the massive traffic jam in Hanoi)
(A delicious bryani dinner at Little India)
(Safely arrived at Hanoi town centre, a coffee break)
(Our lodging for the night, Parkson Hotel)

👈👈 2015: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
2015: Sa Pa - Tu Le, Vietnam ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰

Tuesday 24 November 2015

2015 Vietnam Ride: Sa Pa - Tu Le

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer...”

(Sa Pa is ready for winter)

Day 5: Sa pa - Mu Cang Chai - Tu le
Date: Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Distance: 205 km

This morning after breakfast we checked out and got ready to ride to Tu Le.

Mr. Long, the tour leader lost his motorbike key and had to call a mechanic to try start the bike. Another bike had a puncture and needed to be repaired. It was already late when we started our journey without Mr. Long, Mr. Ha and Mr. Dung. With Dennis leading the way we headed straight towards the main Fansipan Mountain range. We stopped for photo shots at waterfalls and some nice view points on the way.

(A wet morning ride out of Sa Pa)
(Stopping at one of the many waterfalls)
(Riding uphill into the mist) 
(Riding with care, low visibility)
(Climbing to the highest point)
(Scenic views along the route)
(The winding road is in good condition)

The massive mountain range dominates the route we were taking until finally we made a splendid climb up from Binh Lu and up to the top of the highest road pass in Vietnam, the Tram Ton Pass, often refered to as Heavens Gate. Crossing into Lao Cai Province at over 2,000 m the views are stunning and look over the main range. Then we descended to the mountainous Lim Mong valley .

(Passing through villages and small towns)
(Busy road leading to town area)
(Buffaloes dominating the road)
(Un-graveled dusty road)
(Man-made lake on top of the mountain)
(Miles and miles of paddy field terraces)

We rode slowly and carefully and finally stopped for a short coffee break at a small town. We rode another hour and had a lunch break when we were joined by Mr. Long, Mr. Ha and Mr. Dung who managed to catch up with us in time.

(A ciggie break on top of the mountain)
(What a happy lot, full of fun...)
(Want to go for a paragliding adventure anyone?)
(Tu Le valley in the background)
(A rest and view point area)

We reached Tu Ĺe around 17:00 and rested till dinner time. Dinner was sticky rice with omelette and food we brought from home. We slept well in the Nha Hang Pho Nui Hotel.

(A typical H'mong house in the village)
(The view from our hotel)

👈👈 2015: Tu Le - Hanoi, Vietnam
2015: Sa Pa, Vietnam ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰