A traveller's reflection

Friday, 29 September 2023

05 Koh Samui: Koh Samui - Hatyai

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing...” - Albert Einstein

(Koh Samui beautiful beach)

Day 05: Thursday, 28 September 2023

Route: Koh Samui - Donsak - Hat Yai

Distance: 314 km

Hotel: China Garden Hotel, Hatyai

We had buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant.

(A heavy breakfast before a long-haul journey)

(Ready to check-out)

Checked out and drove towards Raja Ferry Terminal taking another route different from the way we came. Our tickets were already pre-booked for the 11.00 am ferry. We arrived early just in time to board the ferry. The ferry was punctual on the dot.

(Taking another route to the pier)

(Arrived at the pier just in time)

(Waiting area and the restaurant)

(Time for embarkation)

(The ferry was quite empty)

Arrived at Donsak terminal almost at 1.00 pm. We drove to Restoran Ameena Halal Food in Donsak for lunch. It was a very hot humid afternoon. We were sweating profusely while having our meal.

(Ready for disembarkation)

(Driving out of Donsak Raja Ferry Terminal)

(A good lunch at Ameena Halal Food)

Drove towards Nakhon Si Thammarat to look for a mosque to perform our solat as we may reach Hatyai late in the evening. Stopped for prayers at Masjid Nurul Syuhud, a small mosque along the Nakhon Si Thammarat bypass road.

(The mosque signage hidden behind the bushes)

(An airy small mosque)

We made a few stops for refuelling and comfort breaks along the way before we reached Hatyai around 7.30 pm. It was a long Maulidur Rasul weekend break and most popular hotels were fully booked. We managed to book online the China Garden Hotel for a night. We were lucky we booked earlier as there were busloads of Malaysian tourists staying here too.

(A short distance to Lee Gardens Night Market)

After we checked in, we took a tuk-tuk to Asean Night Market. Initially we planned to have dinner at the food court but there was a large crowd of tourists at the night market. Even the food court was extremely overcrowded. There were long queue at the food stalls and there were no sitting place available. Bought a few t-shirts and took a tuk-tuk back to Lee Gardens Night Market.

(A brief visit to the night bazaar)

Malaysian crowds were everywhere. Even leisure walking was made difficult. I am not an enochlophobia but crowds give me anxiety. To avoid the crowd we decided to look for dinner elsewhere. We were lucky that Restoran Maliam, located very near our hotel was still opened. We had light dinner of roti telur and roti pisang.

(Roti telur for dinner at Restoran Maliam)

Koh Samui Wet Trip: 06 K Lumpur👉

👈Koh Samui Wet Trip: 04 Koh Samui

06 Koh Samui: Hatyai - Kuala Lumpur

"I'm not tired of challenges. I’m tired of people challenging me for nothing...” — Ces Peta

(Lunch at Ida Mee Udang, Sungai Dua)

Day 06: Friday, 29 September 2023

Route: Hat Yai - KL
Distance: 530 km

We walked to Restoran Maliam for roti telur and nasi lemak breakfast. Earlier we planned to stay a night in Pattani and exit Thailand via Sungai Kolok. We will cross the border today instead to avoid the crowd and the traffic jam tomorrow when everyone will be heading out at the same time.

(Roti telur for breakfast)

(Driving out of Hatyai on a cloudy day)

By 8.30 am we checked out and headed to the border. Stopped at Danok to buy some tidbits to bring home. There was no crowd at the border. The clearance process was smooth on both sides. Paid B30 at the Thai immigration counter.

(A brief stop in Danok)

(Fast and efficient border clearance)

Refuelled at Petronas Changlun then drove on PLUS highway towards south. Stopped at Ida Mee Udang Restoran at Sungai Dua for lunch. We ordered Mee Goreng Udang and Nasi Goreng Ketam. Both dishes were tasty.

(The viral Mee Udang restaurant)

(Tasty lunch for hungry tummies)

It was raining dogs and cats àlong the way. We made a stop at Taiping Hentian Sebelah for Zohor/Asar prayers. We performed our Magrib/Isya solat at Ulu Bernam R&R and had Mee Kari for dinner.

(The surau at Hentian Sebelah Taiping)

(Rainy and misty day)

(Delicious mee kari and Ulu Bernam R&R)

From Ulu Bernam we drove direct and reached our Bidara house around 9.30 pm.

Alhamdulillah...

(Home sweet home)

👈Koh Samui Wet Trip: 05 Hatyai

Next Trip: Koh Lanta 4x4 Trip

Saturday, 2 September 2023

Australia 2023: The Tasmanian Trip

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail..." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

(The Tasmanian Devil)

The Tasmanian Trip

Date: 20 Aug 2023 - 02 Sept 2023

We had visited Australia several times in the past. Our first trip was in 1999 when we visited Brisbane and the Gold Coast. In 2005 we visited Perth. In 2009 we had a road trip in a caravan from Brisbane to Port Campbell and back. And in 2013, we had a family caravan holiday road trip from Sydney to Melbourne.

For the next two weeks we will venture in a road trip around Tasmania, Australia covering most of the major towns and visiting attractions along the way. Since Tasmania is a small and compact island, our journeys will be covering short distances as the roads are small and winding. We opted driving a compact SUV for this Tasmanian road trip.

We will be celebrating our 44th Anniversary in Tasmania. It is the end of winter. The weather is perfect for our road trip!

Route 1: The Eastern Loop

Route 2: The western Loop

Fb Album: 2023 August Tasmanian Wilderness

Next Trip: Koh Samui Wet Trip...

01 Tasmania: KL - Sydney👉

01 Tasmania: KL - Sydney

"If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough..." - Oprah Winfrey

(Kuala Lumpur International Airport)

Day 01: 20 August 23 (Sunday)

Route: KLIA - Sydney
ETD 2345hrs KUL - SYD

Drove to Sri Putramas and parked our Merc there before we took a Grab car to KL Sentral.

(The start of the journey)

We had to board the KLIA transit instead of the KLIA Express. At KLIA we only need to drop our luggage as we already checked in on-line earlier.

Had a light dinner at McD before we boarded our 2345 MH123 flight to Sydney.

(Arriving in Sydney International Airport)

(FIFA Women's World Cup 2023)

(A 3-hour transit in Sydney)

02 Tasmania: Sydney - Hobart👉

02 Tasmania: Sydney - Hobart

"You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated..." - Maya Angelou

(The Tasmanian Devils at Hobart International Airport)

Day 02: 21 August 23 (Monday)

Route: Sydney - Hobart
Hotel: Hobart Tower Motel, Hobart

There was a 3-hour transit in Sydney. We had to claim our luggage and checked in again at Qantas counters. Our flight QF1539 at 1:20 pm to Hobart International Airport landed at 3:15 pm.

(A first glimpse of Tasmania)

(A welcoming devil)

The shuttle from Apex Car Rental fetched us from the Airport to their office for some documentations. We decided to rent a Hyundai Kona for our 12-day road trip around Tasmania.

(Hyundai Kona, our car for the road trip)

(Crossing the Tasman Bridge to Hobart New Town)

Bought some provisions from Coles and a A$15 Coles Optus sim card which we were unable to activate. The weather was quite chilly outside. We had scrambled eggs and toast for dinner in the hotel room. Our lodging for tonight was at Hobart Tower Motel, a comfortable 3-star hotel in Hobart New Town. It provided fridge, microwave, kettle and a small kitchenette complete with crockery.

(Hobart Tower Motel)

(A spacious cozy hotel complete with amenities)

Hobart is the capital of Australia's island state of Tasmania. It sits on the River Derwent. The city's backdrop is 1,270 m high Mount Wellington. Hobart is one of the only major cities where you can see the southern lights year-round. Its proximity to the south magnetic pole provides the spectacular atmospheric phenomenon aurora australis, or the southern lights. Best viewing spots include Rosny Hill Lookout and Mount Wellington Lookout.

We will visit the two lookout points at the end of our road trip.

03 Tasmania: Hobart - Port Arthur👉

👈01 Tasmania: KL - Sydney

03 Tasmania: Hobart - Port Arthur

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined..." - Henry David Thoreau

(The historical site of Port Arthur)

Day 03: 22 August 23 (Tuesday)

Route: Hobart - Port Arthur - Eaglehawk Neck
Distance: 100 km
Hotel: Lufra Hotel, Eaglehawk Neck

(Ready for our road trip on a cloudy day)

Breakfast was cereal, coffee and fruit juice. Checked out by 8:30 am and headed towards Hobart Mosque. Unfortunately, the mosque was locked. Hobart mosque was first located at Proctors Rd then Fitzroy Rd before it moved to the present location at Warwick St. The mosque was officiated by Tan Sri Effendi Norwawi, the then Minister of Agriculture of Malaysia in October 2021.

(A brief history of Hobart Mosque)

(The mosque is perched on higher ground)

(The entrance to the prayer hall)

(The mosque was locked)

(The mosque minaret and signage)

We drove to Elizabeth Mall to purchase another Optus starter pack for A$15 and got it activated on-line. Elizabeth Street Mall is a pedestrian street mall in Hobart. It is located on Elizabeth Street between Collins Street and Liverpool Street. Elizabeth Street Mall is well known as a popular congregation and performance area within the city. It has 64m2 of sheltered, level paved outdoor space.

(A red Combi on the roof)

(A fish out of water)

(Looking for the Optus outlet)

(Taking a rest with a pet dog)

Drove to Port Arthur, about 100 km from Hobart to visit Port Arthur Historic Site. The direct drive was about an hour and half in normal traffic. It was a straightforward route with clear signages the whole way. We drove on the Tasman Highway then in Sorell we drove on the A9 all the rest of the way to Port Arthur.

(Beautiful scenery along the way)

(Beware of wild animals)

(Tasmanian Devils Unzoo Sanctuary)

The entry tickets was A$47 per pax inclusive of the Harbour Cruise. Port Arthur is a village and historic site in southern Tasmania. Sitting on the Tasman Peninsula, it was a 19th century penal settlement and is now an open-air museum.

(Port Arthur Historic Site)

(The briefing area and a small museum)

(Catching the convict and solving the puzzle)

Ruins include the huge penitentiary and the remaining shell of the Convict Church, which was built by inmates. Solitary confinement cells in the separate prison building were used to inflict mental punishment in place of floggings.

(A 19th- century penal settlement)

(An open-air museum)

(A huge penitentiary remains)

(Buildings were built by inmates)

(Feel the past and experience the present)

(The prison colony was closed in 1877)

(Beautiful meticulously kept landscape)

(Best preserved convict site in Australia)

Every admission ticket to Port Arthur includes a harbour cruise. We had a 20-minute ferry ride around Mason Cove and Carnarvon Bay. A walking tour of either Point Puer Boys’ Prison or the Isle of the Dead will be extra. It rained cats and dogs when we went on the cruise.

(The complimentary harbour cruise)

(Vibrant flowers in the gardens)

We had a light lunch at the Cafe before we drove to Eaglehawk Neck and checked in Lufra Hotel. Lufra Hotel offers direct access to the beach and is in the historical district and within a 5-minute walk to The Tessellated Pavement and State Reserve. There are many attractions around the area.

After solat we drove to Tasman Blowhole and Fossil Bay lookout. The Blowhole is where waves passing through a tunnel in a rocky point and spray up like whale spouts. Above the Blowhole, we hiked a short distance to the lookout point of Fossil Bay to enjoy the views of the dramatic coastline.

(Bushwalking a short distance to the Blowhole)

(A brief description of the Blowhole)

(Waiting patiently for the water to spout)

Fossil Bay Lookout stands beside some of the Tasman Peninsula’s most visited geological formations. The lookout is renowned for its sweeping ocean views and impressive dolerite cliffs. When the seas are rough, huge swells pound the coastline and create impressive displays of white spray.

(A beautiful sunset at the Tasman Peninsula)

(Fossils deposited to create stunning set of cliff)

(Observing cliff's rock strata up close)

We missed visiting Tasman Arch, a tunnel created by waves and the Devils kitchen, a 60m deep rugged cliff where the Great Southern Ocean crash and swirl around the base. It was sunset when we hiked to the life-size bronze replica of one of the infamous ferocious dogs once guarded the Tasman Peninsula from escaping convicts. The statue is located near the local Community Hall.