Saudi Arabia 2015: 12th Umrah: Madinah & Makkah...

"Dear Allah... thanks for this beautiful life and forgive me if sometimes it seems as if I don't love it enough..."

(Our luggage for the 12-day trip)

Date: 15 - 27 April 2015

Travel Agent: Poto Travels
Hotel Elaf Taiyiba, Madinah
Hotel Al Saraya Al Mubaraka, Makkah

It is less than two weeks since our Kembara Borneo Biking trip. We have rested well and it's time for our spiritual journey to the holy lands.

We had initially book our Umrah/Oman trip with Andalusia Travels but to our disappointment the trip was cancelled last minute. We made a few calls to other travel agents and at last decided to join Poto Travels as they have a direct Umrah trip on the same scheduled dates.

We joined a group of 25 jemaah majority from Batu Pahat with Hakim as the Team Leader and Ustaz Hakam as our guide and Muttawif to lead the group performed our Umrah and ziarah rituals in the holy lands. The weather was hot and dry. At times it was unbearably hot combined with haze and sand storm. Both of us were down with flue and coughs throughout our stay but we managed to performed our Umrah almost daily and never missed to have our prayers in the mosque.

Alhamdulillah...

(Stunning hydraulic umbrella around Masjid Nabawi, Madinah)

(Interesting murals on the wall at Jabal Uhud)

(The passageway at Masjid Bir Ali, for miqat)

(A group photo after completing our first umrah)

(Quran reciting before the daily prayers)

(Visiting Jabal Thur enroute to Ja'aranah)

(Masjid Tannaim for miqat)

(The museum of two holy mosques)

(Jemaah from India performing the sa'ei)

(In between Maghrib and Isya' prayers)

(Performing the tawaf wida' before we leave Makkah)

(Visiting the floating mosque in Jeddah)

Next Trip: 2015: Krabi family trip, Thailand

2015 Kembara Borneo Day 01: Kuala Lumpur - Kota Kinabalu

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls…” – Anais Nin

(At KLIA very early in the morning)

DAY 01: Monday (23 Mar 2015)

Route: Kuala Lumpur – Kota Kinabalu

KK City Tour

Hotel: Promenade Hotel

(A group photo before boarding)

Today is the start of our Kembara Borneo. We will be riding through Sabah, Brunei and Serawak with 15 others. The discovery Borneo on wheels, is organised by Wilhin Motor Club and this is the first time we are joining the club. Last Friday we had arranged with MAScargo to fly our motorbikes and we will collect them at the airport in Kota Kinabalu.

We had earlier booked a taxi from our Bidara house to the airport at 0500. In KLIA we performed our Subuh prayers and by 0630 we completed group check-in. The MH2612 0830 flight to Kota Kinabalu was smooth. We were supposed to collect our motorbikes at MASKargo when we arrived but unfortunately our cargo will only arrive tomorrow afternoon.

At the arrival hall we were greeted by officers from the Skuad Muda 1-JPJ Sabah. Two vans were available to transport us and our luggage to Kota Kinabalu town. On the way, we had an early lunch at Restoran D’Marlindo. The restaurant serves a variety of dishes and local delicacies.

(Arriving at Kota Kinabalu International Airport)

(The bikers gang on arrival)

It was still early to check in the hotel so we started our tour to some of the attractions around Kota Kinabalu. Our first destination was the Monsopiad Cultural Village, also known as the house of skulls situated at Kampung Kuai Kandazon besides the Penampang River. The cultural village was opened to commemorate the life and time, some three centuries ago, of the legendary fearsome Kadazan Warrior and head-hunter, Monsopiad. The village also offers the insight into the life of the biggest ethnic entity in Sabah, the Kadazan-Dusun.

(Visiting the village of the famous head-hunter)

(Collection of skulls hanging from the ceiling)

(The cafe by the river)

(The hanging bridge over Penampang River)

Our next destination was a unique upside down house in Jalan Telibong, Tamparuli. The ‘Rumah Terbalik’ is the first of its kind in South-East Asia and among the five upside-down structures in the world. There are some distinguishing Sabahan décor and features showcased in this house.

(Feeling a little dizzy in the upside down house)

(Upside down washroom)

(A group photo in front of 'Rumah Terbalik')

We finally checked-in the Promenade Hotel and had time for a refreshing shower and a short rest. By 1700 we gathered at the hotel lobby to meet with the Sabah bikers who were ready to escort us to the Marina at Sutera Harbour Resort. When we arrived at the Marina, we were in time to watch the stunning beautiful sunset with yachts and sailboats in the foreground.

Tonight we were honored to have dinner at the Sutera Harbour Country Club hosted by the Sabah Tourism Board. While we had dinner from the wide selections of buffet spread, we were entertained by the cultural dancers and musicians depicting the various indigenous ethnic groups of Sabah, the Kadazan Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Suluk, Malay and Chinese.

(A warm welcome from Sabah Tourism Board and Sabah bikers)

(The Club house overlooking the Marina)

(Beautiful girls with welcoming smiles)

(The Marina at dusk, clear sky and calm sea)

(A good sumptuous dinner)

(Cultural show entertaining the bikers group)

(Bikers trying the bamboo dance)

After a sumptuous dinner, formalities and group photo, we went to the Central Market where they sold freshly supply of vegetables and fish and also varieties of dried sea catch. Next we visited the Filipino Market for local souvenirs and handicrafts.

2015 Borneo Ride: 02 KK – Kudat – Ranau - Keningau👉

2015 Kembara Borneo Day 02: Kota Kinabalu - Kudat - Ranau - Keningau

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them…” – Mark Twain

(The Tip of Borneo - Deja vu)

DAY 02: Tuesday (24 Mar 2015)

Route: KK - Kudat - Ranau - Keningau

Total distance: 478 km

Hotel: Queen Hotel

As we will be collecting our motorbikes from the MASKargo in the afternoon we packed our bags early in the morning and put them aside for fast check-out later.

After a heavy breakfast in the hotel café, we drove 181 km in two vans towards Kudat to visit the Tip of Borneo, situated at Tanjung Simpang Mengayau. The journey took more than 3 hours. We arrived at the Tip of Borneo around 1045 and had photo shots of the beautiful surrounding scenery. This headland is situated in the northern-most tip of Borneo in the Kudat Peninsula where the South China Sea meets the Sulu Sea. From the pathway leading down to the tip, we could get a stunning view of the beautiful beach of Pantai Kalampunian and the Pulau Kalampunian Lighthouse.

(The path leading to the tip)

(The prominent landmark, the world globe)

(The northern most part of Borneo)

(One for the album)

As it was already late, we skipped lunch and drove direct to the hotel by 1400 to check-out and in time to fetch our motorbikes at MASkargo. With the assistance of the Sabah bikers and officials from JPJ, we had a fast and hassle-free clearance and by 1600, after a short briefing and reciting of prayers, we started riding out of town escorted by the JPJ officials. There were altogether 11 motorbikes and a van as the support vehicle in our convoy.

(Our motorbikes landed safely in Sabah)

(Thorough checks on the KeTaM)

(A token of appreciation to Skuad Muda 1-JPJ and Sabah bikers)

It was already late afternoon when we started riding but as everyone was hungry we stopped at a road-side warong ayam penyet in Tamparuli for a very late lunch.

(Riding out of town)

(Restoran Ayam Penyet at Tamparuli)

We continued our journey by riding on the winding steep road with sweeping curves towards Kundasang. The scenery was amazingly beautiful with Mount Kinabalu in the background. Although most of the time, it was covered with clouds, it was still an awesome sight. We stopped at Pekan Nabalu to have photo shots with the majestic Mount Kinabalu during the sunset.

(Riding in a disciplined convoy)

(Riding the sweeping curves)

(Going uphill and downhill towards Kundasang)

(More twisties ahead, a good view of Mt Kinabalu)

(The sun is setting in the horizon)

(The majestic Mt Kinabalu, covered with clouds)

(The two orange motorbikes, a Versys and a KTM)

(Facing the mountain, our back to the camera) 

(Where are the lady bikers?)

It was already dark when we rode towards Keningau. The winding hilly road with sharp curves was unfamiliar and we rode carefully avoiding hazardous large potholes and damaged roadsides. There were dangerously unmarked landslides at some parts of the road too. As we rode cautiously and at a slower speed, a few of us were lagging behind quite a distance.

(A beautiful sunset)

(A short rest in Ranau)

Although way behind the first group, we arrived safely and checked-in the Queen Hotel in Keningau. Keningau is about 131 km from Kota Kinabalu and situated in a valley bordered by the Crocker Range and the Trus Madi Range.

We had a late dinner at Haji Rahmat Restaurant situated just across the hotel.

(Hungry bikers with Hj Rahmat, the owner of the restaurant)

(A large bowl of hot Sup kaki kambing)

 2015 Borneo Ride: 03 Keningau – Brunei - Miri👉 

👈2015 Borneo Ride: 01 KL - Kota Kinabalu