2019 Travel in Retrospect...

“Roads were made for journeys. All we need is a wheel in our hands and four on the road…”

(Our reliable 4x4 Toyota HiLux)

Travelling can be about so much more than just crossing places off our bucket list.

For hubby and I, every travel tale has something special. Travel makes us humble and the experiences are more important than accumulating souvenirs. After my cervical spinal bone operation early this year, we quit riding long distances on our motorcycle and began taking road trips and venturing with our 4x4 instead. Undeniably, riding had provided us the most exciting, relaxing and rewarding experiences of our life all these years but our travel experiences with our 4x4 without doubt, were equally super exciting.

It’s one of the few forms of travel where it’s all about the journey, the places, people and those moments which are hard to describe.


The highlights from our 2019 overseas travels:

01 Saudi Arabia: Madinah – Makkah
02 Oman: Muscat
03 Japan: Tokyo – Yokohama
04 Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar - Terelj National Park - Hustai National Park - Elsen Tasarkhai – Kharkhorin - Ugii Lake
05 Vietnam: Da Nang – Bana Hills – Lang Co Lagoon – Hoi An
06 Thailand: Narathiwat – Pattani – Yala - Hatyai - Chumphon - Chon Buri - Phayao - Phitsanulok - Khao Yai - Ratchaburi
07 Cambodia: Koh Kong - Kampot - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Stung Treng
08 Laos: Pakse - Thakhek - Vientiane - Phonsavan - Luang Prabang - Oudomxay - Huay Xai

2019 Q8 4ND: Our great 4x4 Year-end Adventure...👉

2019 Q8 4ND: Our great 4x4 Year-end Adventure...

“Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind and fills your life with stories to tell…” - Paula Bendfeldt 

(The beginning of a 23-day 4x4 road trip)

Since my spinal bone operation in January 2019, we had only one short distance riding trip with our KTM motorbike and limit our overland travel in Malaysia and Thailand with our reliable Merc or with our 4x4 Bigfoot, always remembering to wear my neck brace to protect from injury when handling bad roads and rough terrains.

After being bedridden for almost 3 months, consumed all my medications and skipped most of my physiotherapy sessions, to the horror of my Spine Specialist, I was again up and about. The rest of the year we had the opportunity to perform our Umrah combined with Oman Trip in April, Kembara Masjid Thailand during Ramadhan in May, Japan Scout Cross-cultural Program in June, Mongolia Autumn trip in September and, Da Nang Vietnam Monsoon trip in November.

Since mid-year we charted routing plans for our year-end 4-Nation Kembara trip covering Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos and included visits to border towns of Singkhon, Thailand/Myanmar border, Boten, Laos/China border and the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, Laos/Myanmar/Thailand border. We arranged for letters from the Embassies to assist in vehicle clearance to cross into Cambodia and Laos borders and prepared travel itineraries for the respective countries. Border crossings in and out of Thailand, as usual, were simple and easy.

Finally, in December 2019, the two of us embarked in the 4-Nation trip with the Bigfoot, our red Toyota Hi-Lux 4x4 pick-up, strong and inconspicuous on the road. Initially we were a little worried driving on the right side of the road in Cambodia and Laos, notorious for their busy, narrow and not fully tarmac roads. It was quite a daunting experience, but we got used to it after the first few days.

In total, we spent 23 days on the road, covered the distance of about 9,200km and spent almost RM10k on expenses. The journey gave us priceless experience, reaching and exploring new places beyond borders and cultures, requiring a lot of patient and perseverance.

It was one of our best overland trips ever …

 2019 4ND: 01 Kuala Lumpur - Hatyai👉

2019 Q8 4ND: 01 Kuala Lumpur - Hatyai

“If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again...” - Flavia Weedn

(Malaysian border - Many counters but only one is opened)

Day 01: 01 Dec 2019 (Sunday) 

Route: Kuala Lumpur - Hatyai 

Distance: 526 km 

Hotel: Golden Crown Hotel, Hatyai 

08:00 - Started our journey from Bidara house, leaving the plants and fishes to survive on their own.

08:30 – Breakfast at Bidayah Restaurant in BBS after trying to get some space and food at Restoran Wau Bulan and Restoran Ujang Nasi Lemak. One was overly crowded, the other was still waiting for food to arrive.

09:30 - Coffee break at Petronas Simpang Pulai. Having the usual giant karipap and hot coffee, 

10:50 - Fruit break at Bukit Gantang R&R. Not buying any fruit but tried the kacang rebus instead.

13:15 - Solat break at Hentian Tol Hutan Kampung 

13:40 - Late lunch at Joe Chendol Napuh. The mee kuah was not as good as it used to be. But the ABC durian was really good. 

15:00 - Fast and efficient border crossing at Bukit Kayu Hitam. Less crowded at this time of the day. Paid RM5 for driver and passenger at the Thailand Immigration counter.

16:30 - Checked-in Hatyai Golden Crown Hotel for THB850/night.

20:30 - Too crowded at the nasi lemak stall so had roti canai dinner at the Tunnel Market Centara Hotel. Even the sought after pulut durian at Aji stall was sold out.

(Malaysian tourists at the halal food stalls in Hatyai)

20:45 - Had an hour of strong foot massage at Sawas Dee Reflexology. 

22:00 - Shopping spree at Hatyai Lee Garden Walking Street. Bought a pair of loose trousers.

(Tie and dye loose pants)

2019 4ND: 02 Hatyai - Chumphon 👉

👈2019 Q8 4ND: Our great 4x4 Year-end Adventure...

2019 Q8 4ND : 02 Hatyai - Chumphon

“The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t...” - Henry Ward Beecher 

(A cosy R&R area for a cup of hot coffee at Route 41)

Day 02: 02 Dec 2019 (Monday) 

Route: Hat Yai - Chumphon 

Distance: 482 km

Hotel: Nana Buri Hotel, Chumphon 

07:30 - Breakfast nasi dagang and roti canai at Khaled Restaurant. Delicious as always.

(Additional roti canai after a plate of nasi dagang)

08:30 - Drove leisurely towards Chumphon in a nice cool weather.
10:00 - Coffee break at Route 41. Met Mubarak and Yuziana with their two young daughters. They were heading towards north of Thailand and planning to enter Laos with their car.

(Our Toyota Hi-Lux for the Kembara trip)

(A new attraction in the making at Route 41)

(The young bro Mubarak on a road trip too)

12:00 - Lunch and solat break at Thung Son PTT food court. The soup daging still tastes as good.

(A few halal restaurants at the Thung Son food-court)

(A simple lunch of sambal keli and sup daging with ulam)

17.15 - Arrived in Chumphon in the heavy rain. Passed a few road blocks and saw three major accidents on the slippery road along the way.
17:30 - Checked-in Nana Buri Hotel for THB800/night with breakfast. The room was spaciously comfortable but the lighting was bad for the eyes.

(Dark clouds over the town of Chumphon)

(Our favorite lodging in Chumphon)

(A clean and spacious room)

18:00 - Rested in the hotel room while hubby changed some foreign currencies at a bank in the supermarket. Getting rid of small denominations of old Sterling Pounds.

(Hotel lobby of Nana Buri Hotel)

19:00 - Walked to Restaurant Fareeda but it was closed. Looks like it was closed for good.
19:15 - Alternative dinner of shrimp and black pepper burgers from 7-eleven by the sidewalk.

(Eating our burgers by the sidewalk)

19:30 - An hour of strong foot massage at Wansuk Reflexology before we walked back to the hotel for a good night sleep.

        2019 4ND: 03 Chumphon - Chon Buri👉

👈2019 4ND: 01 Kuala Lumpur - Hatyai 

2019 Q8 4ND: 03 Chumphon - Chon Buri

“The difference between the difficult and the impossible is that the impossible takes a little longer time...” – Lady Aberdeen

(The yellow bird is still standing strong)

Day 03: 03 Dec 2019 (Tuesday)
Route: Chumphon - Chon Buri
Distance: 529 km
Hotel: The Zleep Hotel, Chon Buri

07:00 - Breakfast of toasts and fried eggs in the hotel cafe.

(Heavy rain early in the morning)

(A simple breakfast of toasts and eggs)

08.15 - Drove out of Chumphon towards Chon Buri. There was another major accident in the rain.
09:40 - Had a glimpse of the Big Yellow Bird on the way to Prachuap Khiri Khan.

(A major fatal road accident in the rain)

10:10 - Detoured off the main road to Prachuap Khiri Khan to Singkhon Pass at the Thailand/Myanmar border.
10:30 - Off-roading to the Khao Hin Thoen Stone Park. The Park is located to the west of Prachuap Khiri Khan town. There is narrow walkways leading to wide rocky fields. The viewpoint on the mountain top overlooks the view of the city and the sea. A beautiful mosaic stairs lead to the huge Hanging Rocks. A temple in the cave under the hanging rocks is guarded by a skinny priest.

(The only signage to the Hanging Stone Park)

(Is the notice board upside down or downside up?)

(A stroll in the Stone Park)

(Beware of  wild canines)

(Coloured mosaics stairs leading to the hanging rocks)

(The hanging rocks)

(Small path in between huge rocks)

(A spiral stairs to the viewpoint)

(The hanging rocks from the viewpoint)

(A view of the plain from the other side)

(Leaving Thailand/Myanmar border)

13:11 - Reached Restaurant Husna in Cha-am in time for lunch and solat. Packed fried rice and omelette for dinner later.

(Restoran Husna in Cha-am)

(A spread of delicious dishes)

(The prayer room in the restaurant)

(Greeted by a friendly feline)

16:35 - Drove on Rama II tolled highway towards Chon Buri bypassing Bangkok.

(Passing another toll booth)

(Rama II elevated Highway)

(A glimpse of the city of Bangkok)

(Busy traffic heading to Chon Buri)

19:30 - After surveying a few hotels in town, we checked in The Zleep Hotel, a nice cosy boutique hotel for THB700/night.

(A cheap boutique hotel in town)

(Our lodging for the night)

       2019 4ND: 04 Chon Buri - Koh Kong👉

👈2019 4ND: 02 Hatyai - Chumphon 

2019 Q8 4ND: 04 Chon Buri - Koh Kong

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up...” - Thomas Edison 

(The sunset from the floating seafood restaurant in Koh Kong)

Day 04: 04 Dec 2019 (Wednesday)
Route: Chon Buri - Koh Kong
Distance: 335 km
Hotel: City Hotel, Koh Kong

07:00 - Breakfast of toasts and coffee was served at the hotel lobby. We had ours in the room before checked out.

(No half-boiled eggs this morning)

07:30 - Drove leisurely towards Thailand/Cambodia border. The weather was clear and sunny.
11:00 - Stopped for lunch at a Muslim Restaurant in Chantaburi. Bought a box of dates for the road. After lunch, strolled along the street of the quiet town.

(Time for lunch in Chanthaburi)

(Rice and murtabak with lamb curry)

(Colourful murals on the wall)

(A park by the river)

(Banners for the 2019 Gem and Jewellery Festival)

12:30 - Refuelled at a PTT in Trat. Drove on AH123 on Highway 3 towards the Ban Hat Lek Border Centre. Passed the Principal Buddha Statue at Buddhamonthon Park, a landmark of Trat Province.

(Driving towards Thailand/Cambodia border)

(Buddhamonthon Park in Trat)

(Smooth traffic and new roadworks)

(A ghost town at a junction to Khlong Yai town)

14:25 - Stopped at the Narrowest Part of Thailand for some photo shots. The narrowest area is located on Trat - Klong Yai Road. At this point, the width of Thailand is only 450m. There was on-going construction works to beautify the rest area.

(The Narrowest Part of Thailand rest area)

(A washroom stop for visitors)

(One photo shot for the album)

14:45 - Easy and no hassle border crossing at Had Lek Thailand border.
16:00 - Completed border crossing at Cham Yeam Cambodia after being delayed for more than half an hour. Paid for passport stamping THB100 each. Collected Custom vehicle clearance papers and paid THB600 without receipt for THB100/day stay in Cambodia. Paid Immigration officers THB600 with receipt.

(Hat Lek, Thailand border)

(Crossing over to Cambodia border)

(Waiting for clearance at no-man land at Thailand/Cambodia border)

(Cheam Yam, Cambodia Border)

16:15 - Had some photo shots at the small border town before crossing the 7km long Koh Kong Bridge over Prek Kaoh River.

(Crossing into Cambodia in late afternoon)

(Our second time here with our Hi-Lux 4x4)

(The tuk-tuk, another form of transport)

(The Koh Kong Casino)

(Driving on the right side of the road)

(A landmark enroute Koh Kong town)

(A small roundabout before Koh Kong bridge)

(Crossing Prek Kaoh River)

17:00 - Watched the beautiful sunset at the Koh Kong River Waterfront. We used to buy sweet mangoes and drink freshly squeezed sugarcane juice at one of the roadside stalls. Today there was none around.

(The sun is setting over Koh Kong Bridge)

(The Koh Kong Bridge viewed from our hotel room)

18:00 - As it was getting dark we had fried rice dinner at the Muslim stall at Koh Kong jetty.

(The Muslim stall at the ferry food court)

(Fried rice for dinner)

18:30 - Checked in Koh Kong City Hotel for USD20/night for a room facing the river.

(Our usual hotel in Koh Kong)

(Spacious and clean room)

                  2019 4ND: 05 Koh Kong - Kampot👉

👈2019 4ND: 04 Chumphon - Chon Buri