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…

Friday 18 September 2015

2015 Pakistan Day 10 : Besham - Lahore

“Today was about chasing sun-rays and sunsets. All things beautiful that give you peace are worth chasing. Everything else isn't…” - April Mae Monterrosa

(Minaret of Badshashi Mosque during sunset)

Day 10: Friday, 18 September 2015
Route: Besham - Lahore
Distance: 612 Km 
Shalimar Express Train

We woke up very early in the morning. By 03:30 we were already on the road and a Police vehicle was already waiting to escort us. We stopped at a mosque for subuh prayers and continued our journey towards Mansehra where we stopped at a restaurant by the highway to have breakfast of roti canai and coffee.

(College students with our guide, Peter)
(The hustle bustle of a busy morning market)
(Mansehra hill-top restaurant and view point)
(Two men waiting for a public transport)
(Qingqi and Donkey cart, other forms of transport)

We bypassed Islamabad and drove on the Grand Trunk Road then entered the M-2 Motorway and had our lunch and prayer break at the R&R. While having our lunch, there was a breaking news on TV. At least 29 people, including an army captain, were killed as militants attacked a heavily-guarded Pakistan Air Force base in Badhaber area on the outskirts of Peshawar early this morning. The armed group Tehreek-e-Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. This was the reason for the extra tight security we noticed along the highway this morning.

(Arriving at the Tol Plaza in Lahore)
(A Police vehicle escorting us in Lahore city) 

We reached Lahore in late afternoon and our coaster was once again escorted by a Police vehicle. As we will be boarding the train to Karachi, we stopped at Hotel Fort View to arrange for packed dinner. At the rooftop restaurant we celebrated a birthday and had Mango lassi while watching the sun set.

(A brief tea break before boarding the train)
(A painting on the wall)
(The rooftop restaurant during sunset)

Although escorted, we had to throng the massive traffic jam of Lahore to get to the Railway Station to board the 20:00 Shalimar Express. The Shalimar Express is a daily express train service between Lahore and Karachi. It covers the 1,286 km distance in more than 18 hours with a few stops at major towns of Faisalabad, Multan cantt, Bhawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rohri and Hydrabad.

(The busy Lahore Train Station) 
(Saying goodbye to our Police escort)
(Boarding the Shalimar Express)

As it was dark outside, the long-haul train ride was boring at night. With nothing to see or do, right after dinner, we straightened our tired backs on the narrow bed of the 6-berth carriage and slept soundly till morning.

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