About Me

My photo
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…

Monday 11 November 2002

Indonesia 2002: Unity in diversity inJakarta...

"It is unwise to be sure of one's own wisdom..." - Mahatma Gandhi

Jakarta, Indonesia
(11 - 13 November 2002)

Jakarta, has changed immeasurably since the days of the Portuguese arrival in 1522. Wide highways have replaced dusty bullock tracks. Skyscrapers have grown where thatched huts once stood. But beautiful examples of the old colonial architecture have been preserved, and in quiet residential neighbourhoods you can still see neat Dutch bungalows with their red-tiled roofs.

(Welcoming drink at the hotel)

Jakarta is home to over 10 million people, Jakarta is always bustling, from the sound of the wheel of government turning to the sight of the economy churning. Skyscrapers, single story residential houses, modern apartment complexes, survivalists shanties - all coexist in this city.

(Port of Tanjung Periok)

Jakarta, the capital, is the largest city. It is located on the north-western coast of the island of Java on Jakarta Bay, at the mouth of the Ciliwung River. Jakarta is also the centre of activities for the whole of Indonesia. There are more than 300 ethnic groups in Indonesia with over 200 languages being spoken. Half the total population are Javanese with the balance being made up largely of Sundanese in West Java, Javanese in Central and East Java, Madurese in East Java and Madura, Balinese, the Coastal Malays, Buginese, Makassarese, and Bataks. Being a big city, Jakarta's population is a composite of many racial strains, including Arab, Indian, Papuan, Dutch and Chinese. But the majority are of Malay origin.

(Getting around in Tuk-Tuk Cha)


It takes only a minute
to get a crush on someone,
an hour to like someone,
and a day to love someone,
but it takes a lifetime
to forget someone.

(Ready to check-out)

Thursday 31 October 2002

Vietnam 2002: Ho Chi Minh - The heart and soul of Vietnam…

"It's never too late to start over, never too late to be happy..." - Jane Fonda

Sara and I joined the Puspanita trip to Ho Chi Minh City. We visited many interesting places including the Presidential palace, war museum, Cu Chi tunnel, Notre Dame Churth, Opera House and a day cruise the Mekong River and enjoying local fruits on one of the island.

(Sara and the Vietcongs)

'Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling, dynamic and industrious centre, the economic capital and the cultural trendsetter. The streets, where much of the city's life takes place, are a myriad of shops, stalls, stands-on-wheels and vendors selling wares from blankets on sidewalks. The traffic roars and fumes but within are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture.

(Mekong River cruise)

Central Ho Chi Minh City is the place to be on Sundays and holiday nights. The streets are jam-packed with young locals cruising the town on bicycles and motorbikes. The Municipal Theatre area is the hub for young hipsters. Entertainment ranges from disco and karaoke in the larger hotels, loud Western music in bars such as the Hard Rock Cafe, dancing at the Rex Hotel or experiencing traditional Vietnamese music at the Conservatory of Music. Most forms of entertainment can be found in downtown Ho Chi Minh City along Mac Thi Buoi Street.But there is a down-side to every city, and Ho Chi Minh's streets are filled to bursting with poverty and sadness…

(Cobras in the wine bottles)

Friday 4 October 2002

Yemen 2002: Sana’a - One of the oldest city…

"Strength is when you have so much to cry for but you prefer to smile instead..."

Sana'a, Yemen
(3 - 5 October 2002)

We were stranded in Sana’a for 3 days because of flight delay in Jeddah. There were 3 couples and our stay in Sana’a was made eventful and exciting with the help of the Hotel Manager who not only paid for our stay and meals in the hotel but also drove us around in his 4x4 jeep to visit interesting historical places. Syukran brother….

(A bird's eye view of Sana'a)

In Sana'a you would be standing on an elevation of about 7000 ft above sea level. Surrounded by mountains of basalt, and situated in a relatively flat plain, Sana'a remained one of the major cities in Yemen throughout history. Tourists arriving in Sana'a aren't interested in seeing the development, and the change that has taken place in Sana'a much as they're interested in focusing their attention on the historic and ancient city of Sana'a.

(The Palace of the notorious Imam Yahaya)

The Yemeni architecture is apparent not only in the old houses of historic Sana'a, but also in the new houses, and buildings which are still built today. Modern architecture in Yemen is still influenced by traditional architecture. The Yemeni architecture reflected the genius of the Yemeni people, and the variation in building styles from one region to another within Yemen attest to that fact.

(Attending a Yemeni wedding)

THE DESERT JOURNEY

I gaze across the desert sands
Which wend their way
to the edge of the sky
This land of nothingness
so vast and empty
Reflects the chambers
of my heart so dry…

Tuesday 10 September 2002

Saudi Arabia 2002: Madinah/Makkah - Our 5th Umrah and Ziarah trip...

"Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder..."

Madinah/Makkah, Ssaudi Arabia
(20 September- 3 October 2002)

(Being in ihram in front of Masjid Al-Nabawi)
(Visiting Jabal Al-Rahmah and reciting dua')
(One of the Jamra'at)
(Outside Masjid Al-Haram)
(Our hotel room in Makkah)
(A group photo at Floating Mosque by the Red Sea)

 2002: London, UK ðŸ‘‰

Thursday 28 February 2002

United Kingdom 2002: London, England - The Crown Jewels…

"To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it..." - Confucius

London, England
(22 & 25 February 2003)

London, a city that first appeared as a small Roman military base during their invasion of Britain a mere 43 years after the death of Christ.

It soon became a port of some importance but suffered a major set back in 61 A.D. when it was burnt to the ground. It was rebuilt and through time London became a centre of considerable importance with a population of people living in fairly splendid surroundings with public baths, paved streets, temples and villas.

(The Tower Bridge)

Destinations of interests: Top of our list must be the royal palaces, and top of that list has to be William The Conqueror's watchtower, the Tower of London, out at Tower Hill in the City. The Crown Jewels may be utterly spectacular but more interesting still are the stories surrounding the Tower - Traitor's Gate, the death of the little princes - the stuff of legend.

(The Big Ben)

It is easy to walk around London just staring at the profusion of extraordinary buildings in a city that has existed since pre-Christian times, but to get a real flavour of the nation, its heritage and place in history you have to dive into some of its unique attractions.

We took the hop-on hop-off bus and visited most of the attractions.

(A tour in the London Dungeon)

Note: I was in London previously in 1995 and 2001...

Tuesday 26 February 2002

Nederland 2002: Rotterdam - The World's 2nd Largest Harbour…

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you handle it..."

The city was known for having the world's largest harbour, but lost the title in 2004 to Shanghai. It is the second largest city in The Netherlands after Amsterdam, which lies approximately 80 km to the north.

(A glimpse of Rotterdam)

The city's street scenery is characterized by the large presence of people from North Africa, Turkey and the former Dutch colonies of Suriname and Indonesia.

(A city tour around town)

It centre was bombed away during WW2, forcing the city to renew itself completely. The result is a lot of modern architecture.

(A mosque along the route)

Nederlands 2002: The Hague - Diplomats and Expatriates…

"Anything you truly want must be worth fighting for..."

The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. It is located in the west of the country, in the province of South Holland, of which it is also the provincial capital.

(Calm and tranquil town)

The Hague is the de facto seat of government, not the official capital of the Netherlands. City life concentrates around the Hofvijver and the Binnenhof, where the parliament is located.

(The site for International Criminal Courts)

The city has many civil servants and diplomats. The number and variety of expatriates makes the city quite culturally diverse, with many foreign pubs, shops and cultural events.

(International Courts residing in the Hague)

Nederlands 2002: Madurodam - A miniature Deutch City…

"You can't let other people tell you who you are. You have to decide that for yourself..."
'
Madurodam is a miniature city located in Scheveningen, The Hague, in the Netherlands. It is a model of a Dutch town on a 1:25 scale, composed of typical Dutch buildings and landmarks, as are found at various locations in the country. This major Dutch tourist attraction was built in 1952 and has been visited by tens of millions of visitors since then.

(A park with scale-model city)
(Miniature buildings and landmarks)

The miniature city was named after George Maduro, a law student from Curacao who fought the Nazi occupation forces as a member of the Dutch resistance and died at Dachau concentration camp in 1945. In 1946 Maduro was posthumously granted the honor of Knight 4th-class of the Military Order of William, the highest and oldest honor in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, because he had distinguished himself in the Battle of the Netherlands against German troops. His parents donated the money to start the Madurodam project.

(A miniature windmill)

Monday 25 February 2002

Nederlands 2002: Amsterdam - Capital city of inspiration…

"If you are afraid of failure you don't deserve to be successful..." - Charles Barkley

(A day tour to the many attractions)

The Nederlands Travel
(23 - 25 February 2002)

Amsterdam is often referred to as one of the most colorful cities in the world. And rightly so! Where else do you find so many places of interest, famous museums, cozy pubs and fun shops and flower markets.

(The wooden clog factory)
(A horse-carriage around town)

'Some of the greatest pleasures in Amsterdam are the simplest - such as a walk along the canals admiring the stately houses along the way. The centre of Amsterdam can boast nearly 7,000 national monuments, and is a candidate for inclusion on the World Heritage List, alongside the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal. From 15th-century fortifications to the grand gables of the Golden Age, these buildings make for a unique cityscape.

(Bicycles for rent)
(A canal cruise tour)