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…

Sunday 31 December 2017

2017 Travel in Retrospect

"Travel opens your eyes and helps you learn who you are..."


Another year has passed. Once again it is time to look back on our travels in 2017 and to look forward to the coming years.

Hubby and I love to travel because it makes us appreciate our blessings, especially the gift of health, wealth and time. Travelling gives a sense of adventure and freedom and allows us to get away from our mundane life. We experience other cultures, get to know places we have only seen on TV or on the web. We get to try new food and meet new people.

Highlights from our 16 nations 2017 travels:

01. Thailand: Betong - Krabi - Phuket - Songkhla -  Satun - Pak Bara - Hatyai - Thung Son - Chumphon - Cha-am - Chai Nat - Nakhon Pathom - Khao Kho - Phu Tubberk - Sara Buri - Thap Sakae - Khanom - Kanchanaburi - Phitsanulok - Phetchabun - Ayutthaya - Had Lek - Prachin Buri - Kamphaeng Phet - Lamphang - Pai - Ban Rak Thai - Santichon - Mae Hong Son - Mae Sariang - Mae Sot - Tak - Suphan Buri - Khun Sarai - Dannok
02. Cambodia: Koh Kong - Sre Ambel - Kampot - Pret Chak - Phnom Penh - Bavet - Siem Reap - Poipet
03. Vietnam: Ha Tien - Ho Chi Minh - Unicorn and Dragon Islands - Moc Bai
04. United Arab Emirate: Dubai - Abu Dhabi
05. Saudi Arabia: Madinah - Makkah - Ta’if - Jeddah
06. England: Cambridge -Leeds - Gateshead - Rydal Mount - Liverpool - Gloucester - Bibury - Cirencester - Castle Combe - Bath - Warminster - Midsomer Norton - Stonehenge - Southampton -  Bicester - Oxford - Heathrow - London
07. Scotland: Carter Bar - Edinburg - Pitlochry - Inverness - Culloden - Drumnadrochit - Fort Augustus - Fort William - Glasgow - Gretna Green
08. South Ireland: Dublin
09. Wales:Holy Head - Bangor- Snowdonia- Cardiff
10. France: Paris - Versailles
11. Uzbekistan: Tashkent - Kiva - Bukhara - Samarkand - Shahrizabz - Termez
12. Turkmenistan: Darvaza - Ashgabat - Mary
13. Tajikistan: Dushanbe - Khujand
14. Argentina: Beunos Aires - Foz de Iguazu
15. Peru: Lima - Sacred Valley - Pisac - Machu Pichu - Chinchero - Cuzco
16. Brazil: Foz de Iguazu - Rio de Janeiro

Yes, another year had passed us by. And we're all a little older. Let our age not dampen our spirits. So, we’ll enjoy each day and live it up before we're too old and fragile to do anything.

2017 Q6 4NR: K Lumpur ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰

Saturday 16 December 2017

2017 Q6 4NR Day 24: Dannok - Kuala Lumpur

"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts..." - Eleanor Roosevelt

(Dannok Immigration Complex)

Day 24: 16 Dec 2017 (Saturday)
Route: Dannok – Changkat Jering – Ulu Bernam - KL
Distance: 475 km

We crossed Thailand/Malaysia border early in the morning. Both borders were operating from their new Immigration Complexes.

(Bukit Kayu Hitam new Immigration Complex)
(Paksu Mee Udang Restaurant)

Refuelled at Bukit kayu Hitam then rode direct to Pak Su Mee Udang Restoran in Changkat Jering for lunch. The rest of the gang rode on to Simpang Pulai. Met the rest again at Ulu Bernam before we said good-byes and split ways.

After being on the road for 24 days and travelling for more than 9,000 km, we arrived safely at our Bidara House. 

Alhamdulillah…

👈👈 2017 travel in retrospect
2017 Q6 4NR: Dannok, Thailand ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰

Friday 15 December 2017

2017 Q6 4NR Day 23: Chumphon - Dannok

"Appreciate good people, they are hard to come by..."

(A cool coconut juice to quench the thirst)

Day 23: 15 Dec 2017 (Friday)

Route: Chumphon – Thung Yai - Dannok
Distance: 532 km
Hotel: Paramount Hotel, Dannok


Today we started a little late.

Mr Pres of the JBMC had a bad backache and possibly could not ride the bike because of the pain. The group decided to split into two. Ten motorbikes led by Mat Wan and Akbar started first. Initial plan was to make arrangement to transport the bike to the border by a local pick-up. Later, after consuming some pain killers, Mr Pres was able to ride his bike accompanied by three other bikers and arrived in Dannok safely.

(A unique mirror deco in Paramount Hotel)

Checked in Paramount Hotel for Baht600/night. Tonight’s delicious dinner was sponsored by the JBMC gang. Terima kasih daun keladi...

👈👈 2017 Q6 4NR: K Lumpur
2017 Q6 4NR: Chumphon, Thailand ðŸ‘‰ðŸ‘‰

Thursday 14 December 2017

2017 Q6 4NR Day 22: Kanchanaburi - Chumphon

"You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one..."

(A massage parlour in Nana Buri Hotel)

Day 22: 14 Dec 2017 (Thursday)
Route: Kanchanaburi – Khun Sarai - Chumphon
Distance: 463 km
Hotel: Nana Buri Hotel, Chumphon

Had breakfast of toasts, fried eggs and coffee at the hostel.

On the way to Chumphon, made a few stops for rest and refuelling. Had a late lunch and performed our prayers at Khun Sarai Rest and Recreation Area.

(Riding out of Kanchanaburi)
(The morning sun is in our eyes)
(Trying out new coffee outlet)
(A major accident along the road)

Checked in Nana Buri Hotel at Baht800/night. Dinner was at Fareda Restaurant. Later we had an hour of foot massage while the Truecolour Bikerz and the JBMC gang had their review of the trip.

(A hearty lunch at Khun Sarai R&R)

👈👈 2017 Q6 4NR: Dannok, Thailand

Wednesday 13 December 2017

2017 Q6 4NR Day 21: Mae Sot - Kanchanaburi

”One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure..."

(The Bridge over the River Kwai)

Day 21: 13 Dec 2017 (Wednesday)
Route: Mae Sot – Suphan Buri - Kanchanaburi 
Distance: 485 km
Hotel: Warm Well Hostel, Kanchanaburi

Had breakfast of roti telur at the resort before we started riding out of Mae Sot.

The road to Tak was still under massive roadworks. On the way to Kanchanaburi we stopped for lunch at Aminah Restaurant in Suphan Buri and performed our prayers there.

(Misty morning ride to Tak)
(Some stretches still under road works)
(Sun rise at the horizon)

Arrived Kanchanaburi in late afternoon. This is our second time in Kanchanaburi for this Kembara trip. Went direct to the River Kwai Bridge for photo shots. Had cool coconut juice to drench our thirst while watching local and foreign tourists visiting the famous WWII Bridge. Checked in Warm Well Hostel for Baht600/night.

(A short rest in Tak)
(Lunch in Suphan Buri)
(Street busker playing flute by the Kwai River)

Tonight we rented two large tuk tuk for a return trip for Baht50/person to the night market for Nasi Ayam dinner.

(Nasi Ayam for dinner)
(The Muslim stall at the Night Market)
(Crispy Fried Chicken stall)

2017 Q6 4NR: Mae Sot, Thailand 👉👉

Tuesday 12 December 2017

2017 Q6 4NR Day 20: Mae Hong Son – Mae Sot

"Life becomes easier when you learn to accept the apology you never got..." - R. Brault

(The Thailand/Myanmar border)

Day 20: 12 Dec 2017 (Tuesday)
Route: Mae Hong Son – Mae Sariang – Mae Sot
Distance: 396 km
Hotel: Baan Mae Sot Boutique Hotel, Mae Sot

The bike was jerky again this morning so we let the rest of the gang had a good start first. We prefer to ride solo rather than riding with the young, fast and furious riders whose aim is to reach the destination as fast as possible. We love to ride slow and steady to absorb the beautiful scenery along the route and will stop for photo shoots at strategic viewpoints.

Rode the curvy road with care at our pace to Mae Sariang. Met the exhausted gang at Mae Sariang and rode together to Mae Sot. The weather was extremely hot and humid, so we made a few stops along the way to re-hydrate and rest.

(Riding in the mist)
(Toilet break and a short rest at a viewpoint)
(Road works at some stretches)
(Newly tarmac road)
(A family of Hill Tribe people)
(Hill Tribe Villages bordering Myanmar)
(Dry and dusty road in the villages)

Arrived at Mae Sot late afternoon and went direct to have bryani ayam lunch at Bismillah Restaurant in town. After lunch we visited the Burmese Rim Moei Market, popular for products and precious stones from Myanmar. Later we had some photo shots at the Western-most Point at the Thailand/Myanmar border.

Checked in Baan Mae Sot Boutique Hotel at Baht800/night.

(Entering the town of Mae Sot)
(Riding to the Thailand/Myanmar border)
(The Immigration complex at the border)

Monday 11 December 2017

2017 Q6 4NR Day 19: Pai - Mae Hong Son

"Only those who cares about you can hear you when you are quiet..."

(The Karen long-neck lady)

Day 19: 11 Dec 2017 (Monday)
Route: Pai - Mae Hong Son
Distance: 107 km
Hotel: Ngamta Hotel, Mae Hong Son

After a heavy porridge breakfast, fourteen motorbikes started riding the mountainous curvy road to Mae Hong Son. Made a few stops at the viewpoints along the way for some photo shots.

(Pretty Hill Tribe girls)
(With the Truecolour Bikerz gang)
(Phang Ma Pha viewpoint)
(With KTM Malaysian riders)
(Coffee break on the mountain peak)

Reached Mae Hong Son early and drove direct to the Chamber of Commerce. Some bikers claimed their Certificates after riding the Thousand Corners. For us, today was the third time we rode the Pai/Mae Hong Son road on this trip.

(A pomelo at 1864 Coffee Shop)
(A short coffee break and rest)
(The otais and newbies happy faces)
(The  archway entrance to Mae Hong Son town)
(A neat line-up of bikers)

Had Nasi Ayam lunch at the Muslim Restaurant next to the Nuruth-Taqwa Mosque. After lunch checked in Ngamta Hotel at Baht1000/night and got ready to visit the Karen Long Neck Village about 20 km from town. 

(The signage at the pier)
(Waiting for the boat to take us across)
(The long tail boat for hire)
(The boat accommodates six adults)

At the pier we had to take a short boat ride across the Pai River to reach the village. The tickets cost us Baht 220/pax. The people of the Kayan ethnic group frequently called Long Neck Karen originate from Burma’s Kayah State just across the border from Thailand’s Mae Hong Son Province. The model village encouraged the kayans to sell their handicrafts and merchandises. There are now third and even fourth generation families living in the village. Only elderlies wear neck rings. The modern youngsters have long discarded the tradition.

(One of the many Karen Long-neck Village)
(The villagers at work)
(Shawl weaving in progress)
(Trying out the brass neck ring)
(Three cute long-neck girls)

After visiting the Karen Long Neck Village, had dinner at the mosque then bought a pair of Padonc t-shirts from the Night Market.

👈👈 2017 Q6 4NR: Mae Sot, Thailand