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…

Wednesday 19 September 2018

2018 Q7 4ND: 09 Hatyai - KL

"If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all..." - Dan Rather

(Asam Laksa Pokok Limau Kuala Kangsar)

Date: 19 Sep 2018 (Wednesday)
Route: Hatyai – Kuala Kangsar – Kuala Lumpur


Had breakfast at Khalid Restaurant next to our hotel. Border crossing at Thailand/Malaysia border at Sadao and Bukit Kayu Hitam was smooth and fast.

(Hatyai city from our room)
(Nasi Kerabu and Nasi Dagang)
(The best Iced Tea stall)

We planned to have lunch at Nur Zetty Mee Udang at Changkat Jering but it was closed. Detoured to Kuala Kangsar to Restoran Laksa Pokok Limau. The specialty here is Asam Laksa served with crispy omelette on top. The Laksa tasted so-so but the Air Batu Campur served in a tall glass was good to quench the thirst.

(Laksa Pokok Limau restaurant)
(Air Batu Campur in a glass)

It was raining all the way to Kuala Lumpur. We arrived safely at our Bidara House before Maghrib.

Alhamdulillah...

Tuesday 18 September 2018

2018 Q7 4ND: 08 Chumphon - Hatyai

"If my ship sails from sight, it doesn't mean my journey ends, it simply means the river bends..." - Enoch Powell

(The many attractions of Chumphon)

Date: 18 Sep 2018 (Tuesday)
Route: Chumphon - Thung Song - Hatyai
Hotel: Hatyai Golden Crown Hotel

Had breakfast at the hotel café before we checked out and started driving towards south. Stopped at Thung Song for lunch and prayer at Muslim Restaurant at the PTT R&R.

(Burnt toasts and eggs for breakfast)
(Garden figurine)
(Mother and child figurine)
(Nanaburi Hotel figurine deco)

We arrived in Hatyai early. After we checked in Golden Crown Hotel, we went for a full body massage. Then walked in the rain to Tunnel Market at Centara Hotel for Roti Canai dinner. Later we walked along the night market and bought some pants. 

(Street food at Centara Hotel)
(Roti Canai at Tunnel Market)

Haji stall was not yet opened so tonight we missed eating our favorite Pulut Durian.

Monday 17 September 2018

2018 Q7 4ND: 07 Pattaya - Chumphon

"Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us..." - Samuel Smiles

(Our chalet at the Old Golf Course Resort)

Date: 17 September 2018 (Monday)
Route: Pattaya – Cha’am - Chumphon
Hotel: Chumphon Nanaburi Hotel


We checked out early and had breakfast at the Muslim stall near the resort. There are many Muslim restaurants and stalls along the main road to the resort. There are also two mosques in the vicinity.

(Yellow rice with fried chicken)
(Nasi Kerabu with sweet fried chicken)

After breakfast we drove to Pattaya Beach. Pattaya offers a 4 km stretch of sandy beach and plenty of action-packed fun along its beach. One can either stretch out on a deckchair and eat fruit and drink coconut juice from a passing vendor. Or one can have a massage or soak up the sun or just watch the hustle bustle of beach activities. We spent our time watching the para-sailing activities from afar.

(A stretch of sandy beach of Pattaya)
(Speed boats for hire)
(Para-sailing activities in deep waters)
(The shadow of the two of us)

We drove on the new tolled motorway connecting Pattaya to Bangkok. The drive was smooth and we avoided the usual traffic jam in Southern Bangkok.

(A motorway direct from Pattaya to Bangkok)
(The Rama IX tolled Motorway)
(The giant 3-headed elephant at the Erawan Museum)

We reached Cha’am in time for a late lunch at Mariam Restaurant which has moved to a new location. We performed our prayers there before we drove on towards Chumphon.

(New location, old menu)
(Nasi goreng and tomyam kung)

We checked in Nanaburi Hotel for Bath850 inclusive breakfast. Had an hour of foot and shoulder massage before we walked to Fareeda Restaurant for dinner.

(Chumphon Nanaburi Hotel)
(A massage parlor in the hotel)
(Roti krup krap for dinner)

Sunday 16 September 2018

2018 Q7 4ND: 06 Koh Kong - Pattaya

"Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it..." - Greg Anderson

(Mae Rom Pheung Beach Rayong)

Date: 16 Sep 2018 (Sunday)
Route: Koh Kong - Cambodia/Thailand border - Chanthaburi - Rayong - Pattaya
Hotel: Pattaya Old Golf Club Resort

Weather forecast for today: A little humid of anxiety, and a downpour of disappointment...

Because of the heavy rain and inaccessible roads, we decided to cut short our stay in Koh Kong and cross back to Thailand today even though we already paid for a 3-day permit for our 4x4.

(Early morning crowd at the Muslim stall)
(Not a good weather to lay back in the hammocks)
(A very wet day for the Tuk-tuk operators)
(Crossing Koh Kong Bridge in the heavy rain)

We checked out and had breakfast at the Muslim Stall at the Jetty before we headed towards the Cambodia/Thailand border. There are a few attractions, mostly for tourists before reaching the border.

(An iconic monument at the round about)
(Koh Kong Safari World)
(Koh Kong Resort Hotel)
(Koh Kong Casino)
(Koh Kong busy local Market Place)

At Cham Yeam Cambodia border there were many locals offering assistance to tourists. Never allow these touts to assist you in border clearance as they may hold on to your passports if you don't pay them. They may ask between Baht100-300 per person and you will likely have your passport stamped very quickly. We decided to join the queue and wait a little longer for our passports to be stamped. We collected our vehicle grant back from the Cambodian Custom then drove to the Thailand border.

(A nice stretch of beach between Cambodia/Thailand border)
(Less crowd and no hassle at Cham Yeam Cambodia border)
(The Bigfoot waiting on no-man's land)
(Reapply custom clearance to enter Thailand)
(Heavily guarded Thailand border)

Border clearance at Hat Lek Thailand border was fast and efficient.  Once out of the border complex we drove on and stopped at some attractions along the way for photo opportunities.

(A Monument at the border)
(Brightly colored TRAT signage)
(A small shrine by the main road)
(A Napoleon Naval Warship, a new attraction)

There were massive roadworks and it was raining intermittently along the route. Stopped at Cafe Amazon for a cup of hot coffee before we drove towards Chanthaburi and visited two mosques, Jannatul Muhajirrin and Islamic Centre Tamil Muslim Mosque and performed our prayers with the jemaah mostly made up of black Muslims.

(Jannatul Muhajirrin Mosque of Chanthaburi)
(Chanthaburi Islamic Centre)

We drove along the Chanthaburi River passing the photogenic old town with clusters of heritage buildings. Chanthaburi is also best known for the gem trade. Rubies and sapphires are among other precious stones discovered in rural parts of Chanthaburi, Trat and western Cambodia. We had Lamb Bryani and Murtabak for lunch at the Muslim Restaurant in Chanthaburi old town.

(Driving through Chanthaburi old town)
(Having lunch in a Muslim Restaurant)
(Brilliant colored Murals on the wall)

After lunch we drove towards Rayong and visited several beaches and the Fishing Village. Rayong is situated on the Gulf of Thailand, known for its national parks and beaches. The beach at Ban Phe is home to a fishing community and is the gateway to Koh Samet island.

To the west, the long, flat Mae Ram Phueng beach offers panoramic views and there are many seafood beach-side restaurants lining the beach front. These restaurants are usually packed at night with locals dining by the seaside.

(Mae Rompheung Beach, pristine and clean)
(Lovely clean sand beach with strong tide)
(The life guard watch tower at the beach)

Laem Charoen Beach is the nearest beach from Rayong town. It is located at the mouth of Rayong River, just 5 km to the south of town. The beach is popular with the locals. It has a number of seafood restaurants. It is probably one of the most interesting of the Rayong beaches. As with the other beaches on this stretch of sand, there are man-made bays sheltering the beach and the fishing boats from the worst of the waves that tend to rampantly lash this part of the coast.

(A lighthouse near Leam Chareon Beach)
(A man-made barrier against the harsh tide)
(Cycling is a popular activity along the beach)

From the mouth of Rayong River there are several vantage points from which we witnessed the goings on of a busy fishing fleet harbor. The large, brightly colored trawlers come and go at regular intervals, and not without a bit of excitement on board. From the viewpoint, we watched the sun beautifully setting over the town of Rayong.

Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens everyday can end beautifully...

(The fishing habour at Hat Laem Charoen)
(A line up of brightly colored trawlers)
(Waiting for the sunset at Rayong Harbour)

Although it was already dusk, we decided not to stay in Rayong and drove direct to Pattaya. Our destination for tonight was the Old Golf Club Resort. We stayed here on our last two visits to Pattaya and find the chalets quiet comfortable. Had a heavy dinner at the Resort Seafood Restaurant before we checked-in in one of the chalets by the pool for baht500 per night.

(A spread of mouth-watering dishes)
(A chalet with a nice ambiance, quiet and peaceful)