2014 4x4 Thai Adventure: 10 Chumphon - Hatyai

"Don't be afraid to take a big step. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps..."

(A beautiful sunset)

Day 10: 14 September 2014 (Sunday)

Chumphon - Hatyai

Distance: 479 km

(Fishermen with their catch)

The scenery from our chalet is awesomely beautiful this morning. We watched the hustle bustle of busy fishermen bringing their catch to the shore as the sea water was receding fast.

(Ready for the wet market)

(Photo session before we checked out)

(One with the Blackfoot)

After checking out, we started our journey at 08:00 driving south. We stopped at a petrol station to have a hot cup of coffee and halal burger from 7-eleven. With the assistance of the GPS we managed to locate a Muslim Restaurant in Lang Suan and had nasi goreng for breakfast. There is also a newly built mosque near the restaurant.

We drove on and located another halal restaurant a few km away from Patthalung and had nasi lauk for lunch.

(A newly built mosque)

(Dark sky, cool weather)

(A Muslim stall by the highway)

We reached the Golden Crown Hotel in Hatyai early afternoon. After a refreshing shower and prayers, the ladies went to a nearby salon to have facials and hair wash. After, we joined the men for a two hour aromatherapy body massage at a nearby Charawa Massage Parlor.

We had dinner at Khalid Restaurant next door and later walked a short distance to Pink Lady near Lee Gardens Hotel to buy t-shirts and souvenirs. Before we walked back, we packed pulut durian from warung Aji and ate at Khalid Restaurant.

Tonight we slept soundly and rested our tired body well.

      2014 4x4 Adventure: 11 Hatyai/KL👉

👈2014 4x4 Adventure: 09 Chumphon, Thailand

2014 4x4 Thai Adventure: 11 Hatyai - KL

"Sometimes the hardest part isn't letting go but rather learning to start over..."

(Delicious dishes for breakfast)

Day 11: 15 September 2014 (Monday)

Hatyai - KL

Distance: 533km

We had nasi kerabu and roti canai breakfast at Khalid Restaurant before we checked out. Before we drove out of Hatyai town we drove to the Central Market to buy tid-bits, nuts and a few kilos of fragrance rice.

(Buying sotong and nuts at the market)

(A favorite stop for bikers)

It was raining lightly when we reached the border. Border clearance at Bukit Kayu Hitam was smooth. After refueling at Changlun, we drove south and planned to have lunch at Restaurant Ikan Bawal Ladang Kelapa Sawit at Juru. On the way to Juru the aircon of our 4x4 stopped functioning and we drove to Juru sweating buckets in the heat. We had our lunch first before we went to a nearby aircon service centre to check on the aircon.

(Driving in heavy rain towards the border

(Celebrating Malaysia Day)

(Merdeka Day Run)

At the service centre the mechanic found out that the aircon belt had snapped. A thorough check discovered that 2 other beltings were also in need of change. Unfortunately the shop had no spare aircon belts so we had to wait quite a while for the spare parts to come from Bukit Mertajam.

We waited almost two hours for the mechanic to fix the beltings. Once the aircon was functioning well again, we continued our journey southwards and stopped at Semanggol R&R for solat break.

(Replacing the air-con belt)

We again stopped at Ulu Bernam R&R for solat break and dinner before we continued our journey. We reached Selayang around 22:00hrs and sent Hayami and Siti back to their home first.

We finally reached our Bidara House around 22:30hrs.

Alhamdulillah...

Next Trip:2014 South New Zealand Caravan Trip

Singapore 2014: Kembara Ramadhan Vol 1

"Sometimes it is not enough to do our best, we must do what is required..." - Winston Churchill

Singapore Kembara Ramadhan
(12 - 13 July 2014)
The gang: Mus/Mun, Syawal and Rozlan

(The majestic Masjid Sultan of Singapore)

(RV place at Senawang petrol station at midnight)

(Arriving in JB and bersahur at Kalam Restaurant)

(At Masjid Sultan Abu Bakar for Subuh prayer)

(The bikes parked to rest waiting for sunrise)

(Riding towards Singapore via Woodlands)

(Massive Jam for motorists crossing the border early morning)

(First stop to buy helmet for Rozlan)

(Second stop to buy helmet and accessories)

(First glimpse of Masjid Sultan)

(Musali and Shawal Aliwal Park Hotel)

(Performing Asar prayer at the mosque)

(It'tikaf in the masjid)

(The entrance to the main praying hall)

(Visiting the Bazaar Ramadhan near the mosque)

(Rozlan in his kain pelikat looking for souvenirs)

(Street vendors selling food for iftar)

(Varieties of food to choose from)

(Malay Heritage Centre next to the mosque)

(Musali in Jubah and Shawai in baju Melayu)

(Main entrance to the mosque)

(The three bikes parked discreetly at the back of the hotel)

(Public from all over thronged the bazaar for special delicacies)

(Waiting for the azan to break fast with nasi beriani)

(The ladies and family section)

(Having teh tarik at a nearby restaurant, waiting for Isya' and terawih prayers)

(Upper floor prayer hall for muslimah)

(View of praying hall from the upper floor)

(The main entrance to the prayer hall)

(Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the mosque too)

(Beautiful view of the mosque)

(One for the album)

(Islamic murals lining the main street to the mosque)

(Bought murtabak for sahur)

(The mosque from another angle)

(A photo with the young Imam from the Philippines)

(Arriving at MITC Mosque in Melaka for solat Asar)

(A famous asam pedas restaurant at Ayer Keroh food-court)

(Traffic lights drinks to quench our thirst)

(Delicious asam pedas dinner to end our trip)

Next Trip: 2014 4x4 Thai Adventure