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 10 September 2016

Thailand 2016 Umphang Death Highway Road Trip...

“My goal is to be filthy rich... Rich in adventure, in health, in knowledge, in laughter, in family, and in love…”


Date: 1 – 9 September 2016
Route: KL – Surat Thani – Kanchanaburi – Mae Sot – Umphang – Tak – Samut Prakan – Chumphon – Hatyai – KL
Total Distance: 4,760 km

"Fare Thee Well Northumberland"

Come drive me down to the central station
I hate to leave my river tyne
For some damn town that's god-forsaken
Fare thee well, northumberland

Although I'll go where the lady takes me
She'll never tell what's in her hand
I do not know what fate awaits me
Fare thee well, northumberland

My heart beats for my streets and alleys
Longs to dwell in the borderlands
The north-east shore and the river valleys
Fare thee well northumberland

I may not stay, I'm bound for leaving
I'm bound to ramble and to roam
I only say my heart is grieving
I would not gamble on my coming home

(Mark Knopfler)

FB Photo Album: The Umphang Story

Friday 9 September 2016

2016 Umphang Trip Day 09: Home Sweet Home

“It always seems impossible until it’s done…” - Nelson Mandela


(The new Sadao Departure Boundary Post)

Day 09: 9 September 2016 (Friday)
Route: Hatyai – Kuala Lumpur
Distance: 535 km


We had nasi kerabu, nasi dagang and roti canai for breakfast at Khaled Restaurant next door.

(A long queue at the border)
(Crossing the Thailand border)

We checked out around 10:30 am and drove towards the Thailand/Malaysia border. By 11:45 am we completed border clearance. After refuelling in Changlun we drove to Juru where we had Bawal Goreng lunch at the stall in the Oil Palm plantation.

(Gunung Jerai viewed from the highway)

We made a few stops at the R&R along the PLUS highway for prayers and toilet breaks and arrived safely at our Bidara House before sun set.

Alhamdulillah….

Thursday 8 September 2016

2016 Umphang Trip Day 08: Chumphon - Hatyai

“Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful…”

(Aircraft Carrier Shrine in Lang Suan)

Day 08: 8 September 2016 (Thursday)
Route: Chumphon - Hatyai
Distance: 470 km
Hotel: Golden Crown Hotel

We had buffet breakfast in the hotel café. Today we planned to visit a few of the famous attractions of Chumphon, The Prince of Chumphon Shrines in Lang Suan and La Mae.

(Checking out after breakfast) 
(A nice water feature around the hotel)
(The head of a sleeping Buddha)

The Prince of Chumphon is proclaimed as The Father of Royal Thai Navy. He is worshipped by the navy personnel, the fisherman and the sailors. Some monuments were built to commemorate him and as a show of respect.

(The many attractions in Chumphon)
(The fishing village of Lang Suan)
(Just the two of us at Laem Son beach)
(Pak Nam Lang Suan beautiful beaches)

Pak Nam Lang Suan Aircraft Carrier

The Prince of Chumphon Shrine at Lang Suan is 74 km south of Chumphon Town. To get there we had to drive on Highway 41 then drove on Highway 4099 towards Pak Nam Lang Suan. From Pak Nam Lang Suan we headed towards Laem Son beach.
 
(The majestic Aircraft Carrier)
(Capturing a memory at Lang Suan)

The shrine is a model of HTMS Chakri Naruebet Aircraft Carrier. It is 29 meters wide, 79 meters long, and 6 meters tall. It was built by the local people who donated their money and labour to construct the aircraft carrier and shrine.

Wat Kho Khao, La Mae

Wat Kho Khao is 90 km south of Chumphon Town accessible via Highway 4019, about 25 km of coastal road from Lang Suan. The shrine is situated at the foot of the hill near Hat Sai Ri in which the prince had spent his last moments in life. The monument also includes the Wat Kho Khao shrine of Prince of Chumphon which stands on a torpedo warship.

(The torpedo warship and a shrine)
(The ship facing the ocean)

The Shrine is based on the motor vessel Chen Thale. The Shrine is slightly elevated over the surrounding area and offers a good view point towards the southern bay. The model warship is placed face-out to the sea, so it is a great spot to appreciate the beach scenery.

(Kho Khao Beach at the background)

On the rocky beach under the shrine, there are multiple headed dragons guarding a small holy cave.

After visiting the two Ship Shrines, we drove south towards Hatyai. It was raining non-stop all the way. At around 3:00 pm we stopped at a Muslim Pattani Restaurant at Thung Song for a late lunch.

(Halal food court at PTT Thung Song)
(A stall selling a variety of Pattani dishes) 
(Our lunch for today)
(It rained since noon)

When we arrived in Hatyai around 6:30 pm, it was still raining heavily. We checked in Golden Crown Hotel at B850/night. After an hour of strong relaxing Thai Massage, we went to have roti chanai dinner at the Grand Centara Hotel and later indulged in Pulut Durian and Teh Halia at Haji stall.

Wednesday 7 September 2016

2016 Umphang Trip Day 07: Samut Prakan - Chumphon

“A secret to happiness is letting every situation be what it is instead of what you think it should be, and then making the best of it…”

(R&R area of Khun Sarai)

Day 07: 7 September 2016 (Wednesday)
Route: Samut Prakan - Chumphon
Distance: 670 km
Hotel: Nana Buri Hotel

We checked out early and had breakfast of toasts and eggs at McDonald’s.

(Having breakfast at McDonald's)
(Driving on the Super Highway)
(Three headed elephant of Erawan Museum)
(The Rama II elevated highway)
(Heavy traffic on the Rama II)

Today we drove on Rama II Super Highway and paid B30 for toll. As it was early in the morning, there was a massive traffic jam on the bridge exiting from the city of Bangkok.

(By-passing the town of Samut Songkhram)
(Passing through Cha-Am town)
(Intermittent rain again on the way)

There was also major road works along the route and the journey took us longer. We had a coffee break at Amazon café and around 3:30 pm we arrived at Khun Sarai R&R for a late lunch. We arrived in Chumphon early and checked in Nana Buri Hotel at B700/night.

(A short stop at Khun Sarai food court)
(Meeting a familiar 'friend' here)

After performing our prayers and a short rest, we went for an hour of therapeutic foot reflexology at the hotel spa. Tonight we skipped dinner as we were still full.

(Arriving at Nana Buri Hotel early)
(A strong foot massage to relief tired muscle)

Tuesday 6 September 2016

2016 Umphang Trip Day 06: Tak - Samut Prakan

“If you don’t build your dreams, someone will hire you to help build theirs…”

(A photographer at work, looking for the best angle)

Day 06: 6 September 2016 (Tuesday)
Route: Tak – Samut Prakan
Distance: 445 km
Hotel: Hotel 444 Resort

We had breakfast of toasts and coffee at the resort’s canteen.

(A highway motel with ample parking space)
(Coffee break at Amazon Cafe)

Today we planned to drive to Samut Prakan to visit the Siam Ancient City and stay a night there. By 8:00 am we started driving towards south and stopped for an early lunch at Restaurant Aminah in Suphan Buri.

(A typical feature of Chai Nat)
(On the way to Suphan Buri)
(An accident on the road)
(Entering the city of Bangkok)
(Avoiding the busy city centre)

With Garmin assist we tried to avoid driving through Bangkok but at one point, had to take the Super Highway to avoid the massive after office-hour traffic jam in South Bangkok. The toll fare was B60. We arrived in Samut Prakan around 5:00 pm and checked in Hotel 444 at B570/night.

(Finding our way to Samut Prakan)
(The only hotel in the area)

As it was still early, we decided to visit the tourist attraction of Ancient Siam which is a short distance from our hotel, and enjoyed the half-price tickets from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm. The ticket cost us B350/person and to drive our own car cost us B200. Normally it would take 3 hours to cover the whole attractions of Ancient Siam. It took us two hours to cover less than half the attractions.

(The Ancient City, conservation of Thai's heritage)
(The entrance to the Ancient City)
(The Manohara garden)
(The Stupa of Pra Maha That, Surat Thani)
(Stilted house, the Scripture Repository)
(The Pavilion of the Enlightened)
(The dragons of Bodhisattva Avalokitesavara)
(The Royal water procession)

Ancient Siam is a park spread over 200 acres in the shape of Thailand. Ancient Siam is dubbed as the world's largest outdoor museum. Situated close to the Crocodile Farm in Samut Prakan, the Ancient City features 116 structures of Thailand's famous monuments and architectural attractions. The grounds of Ancient Siam correspond roughly to the shape of the Kingdom, with each of the monuments lying at their correct places geographically. Some of the buildings are life-size replicas of existing or former sites, while others are scaled down.

(Woodcraft images of Phang Nga)
(The zig-zag bridge of Ramayana Sala)
(Clean and beautifully kept garden in the Ancient City)
(One of the many Buddha images in the Ancient Siam)
(Dvaravati Wihan Meditation columns)
(Historic Antiquities and ruins)
(Sanphet Prasat Palace, Ayutthaya)
(The Pallava Group of Images, Phaug-nga)

Dinner was fish fillet and pineapple pie from McDonald's before we retired for the night.

2016 Umphang Trip: Tak, Thailand ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰