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…

Monday 20 March 2017

2017 13th Umrah: Makkah/Jeddah

“We learn something from everyone who passes through our lives.. Some lessons are painful, some are painless.. but, all are priceless.”

(Flying back home)

Day 10:
20 March 2017 - Monday
Jeddah - Abu Dhabi - KL

This morning we performed tawaf wida’ at 3:45 am then performed subuh prayers on the rooftop. The weather was cool and windy. By 8:00 am we were ready to board the bus to Jeddah. We had last minute shopping in Jeddah and had our lunch at an Indonesian Restaurant.

(Hazy weather in Jeddah)
(Masjid Kisas in Jeddah)
(Masjid Siti Rahmah, the floating mosque)
(Rest area by the Red Sea)
(Collecting our luggages and zam-zam water at KLIA)

We visited the floating mosque of Masjid Siti Rahmah situated by the Red Sea. After we performed Zohor prayers we boarded the bus to the Jeddah International Airport for our flight back home.

We arrived home safely. Alhamdulillah…


2017 Umrah 13: Makkah/Tannaim ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰

Sunday 19 March 2017

2017 Umrah: Makkah/Tannaim

"Don't be afraid to stand for what you believe in, even if that means standing alone..." - Andy Biersack

(Miqat at Masjid Aishah, Tannaim)

Day 09:
19 March 2017 - Sunday
Hilton Suites, Makkah

Early morning we went to Tannaim by bus to miqat. It cost us SR4 for a return trip. The weather was cool and the sky was cloudy. It was drizzling when we performed our tawaf. For sa’ie we had a go on the electric motorbike and completed our Umrah early. We stayed in the mosque and waited for Zohor prayers.

(With a cat on a cool cloudy morning)
(A short walk to the bus station)
(Comfortable seats on the bus)
(Very cheap fare)
(Ladies prayer area of Masjid Aishah)
(The boundry between Tanah Haram/Halal)
(A signage of the boundry)
(Moody sky above Masjidil-Haram)
(A slight drizzle while performing the tawaf)
(Performing the Sa'ie on an electric bike)
(Resting tired feet)
(Performing Isya prayers on the rooftop)

At night we performed Isya’ prayers on the rooftop. After prayers, we had roti canai for dinner at D'saji Restaurant.

2017 Umrah 13: Makkah/Hudaibiah ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰

Saturday 18 March 2017

2017 Umrah: Makkah/Hudaibiah

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or worn. It is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace & gratitude...” - Denis Waitley

(Another place to miqat)

Day 08:
18 March 2017 - Saturday
Hilton Suites, Makkah

Today the group boarded the bus to Hudaibiah to miqat for our umrah. On the way we stopped at the Museum of the two holy cities but were not allowed to enter as we did not have a permit.

(A brief tazkirah on Sirah Rasulullah)
(A large crowd outside the museum)
(Only those with permit were allowed to enter)

Hudaibiah is where the treaty between Makkah Quraisy and Muslim from Madinah took place which lead to the conquest of Makkah. Masjid Hudaibiah was erected at the place where Rasulullah offered prayers during his stay. This mosque is located about 20 km away from Makkah on the old road leading to Jeddah. The remains of the ancient mosque are located behind the existing mosque.

(The miqat for our 4th Umrah)
(A glimpse of Makkah city)
(A slight accident on the road)

We completed the tawaf and sa’ei for our Umrah early and waited for Zohor prayers before we went back to our hotel to rest..

2017 Umrah 13: Makkah/Taif ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰

Friday 17 March 2017

2017 Umrah: Makkah/Ta’if

“Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact...” - William James

(Masjid Abdullah Ibnu Abbas in Ta'if)

Day 07:
17 March 2017 - Friday
Hilton Suites, Makkah

This morning, by 3:30 am we were already at the lobby of Hotel Saraya Iman. Our group of 16 was going for a day tour in Ta’if for SR150 per person. Ta’if is 120 km from Makkah. Ta'if is a city in Makkah Province at an elevation of 1,879 m on the slopes of Sarawat Mountains. It has a population of 1.2 million people and is the unofficial summer capital. The city is the center of an agricultural area known for its grapes, pomegranate, figs, roses and honey.

(A picnic by the roadside)
(Roti and dhal curry for breakfast)

We stopped for Fajar prayers at a mosque on the way. After prayers the driver bought bread and dhal curry and we picnicked by the roadside and had our breakfast at al-Hada.

We later visited the scenic area by the cable car station. Al Hada Mountain is a large nature reserve. Al Hada means tranquility and it is also a good location to catch the sunset over the mountains. 

(Cable car station at al-Hada)
(Cable car Station next to Ramada Hotel)
(A 30-minute ride for a distance of 9 km)
(A winding road through the mountainous terrain)

Ta'if is also known as City of Roses. The rose gardens and factories are mostly located in the cooler Al-Hada, Al-Shafa, Al-Dahia, and Al-Ghadeerain areas. Together, they produce around 233 million roses and comprise 34 factories for the plantation of roses and production of 19,000 bottles of rose essence.

(One of the famous Rose perfume factory)
(Watching video on the process of perfumery)
(A garden of strong scented Ta'if roses)
(The distillers to extract Rose Water)

Later we visited the famous three historical mosques, Masjid Qantara, Masjid Siku and Masjid Addas. We also visited Masjid Abdullah Ibnu Abbas and his maqam.

(Masjid al-Qantara with its unique minaret)
(A humble prayer hall)

Masjid Al Madhoon is an ancient mosque also known as Masjid Al Qantara. It is famous for its azan minaret which looks like a cylinder and ends with a spherical peak. The Masjid was built of stone and gypsum it is rectangular in shape and has an inclined ceiling. This Masjid probably dates back to the end of the Ottoman Empire.

(Masjid Al-Kou or Masjid Siku) 
(A small prayer area of Masjid Siku)
(The rock where Rasulullah rested his elbow)

Masjid Al Kou or Masjid siku is thought to be built on the approximate spot where Rasulullah stood and rested his elbow to leave a mark on a rock when he first came to Ta’if. This Masjid was built by the end of the Ottoman era and has been recently renovated.

(Minaret of Masjid Addas) 
(The prayer hall of Masjid Addas)
(Fruits gardens around Masjid Addas)

Masjid Addas is the place where Rasulullah rested after being assaulted by the crowd. Addas, a slave of Utbah bin Rabea brought grapes for the Prophet at his master's command.

(Masjid Abdullah Ibnu Abbas)
(The cemetery next to Masjid Ibnu Abbas)

Masjid Ibnu Abbas houses the tomb of Abdullah bin Abbas, the paternal cousin of Rasullullah. He is revered by Muslims for his knowledge and was an expert in Tafsir, as well as an authority on the Islamic Sunnah.

(The fruits and vegetables souk)
(Varieties of local fruits)

After visiting the four famous mosques, we bought fruits from the fruit stalls selling varieties of fruits. Later we went to the top most point of Jabal Dakkar for a scenic view of Ta’if and surrounding areas.

(Bikers riding the mountainous road of Ta'if)
(Sheep rearing on the mountain)
(The panoramic view from the top of Mt Dakkar)
(High altitude of Mt Dakkar)
(The naughty baboons of Ta'if)

We performed our Friday prayers at a mosque in al-Hada. We descended the hilly road and stopped at Qarnil Manazil as some jemaah wanted to miqat for their Umrah.

(Fruit juice and smoothies on a hot day)
(Beautiful fruit decorations)
(The three Jamraat from far)

On the way back to the hotel we visited the three jamra’at and a last minute carpet shopping. We arrived back in Makkah just after sun set.

2017 Umrah 13: Makkah/Jaaranah ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰