Tears in heaven...

"Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure. And I know there'll be no more tears…" - Eric Clapton



(Hana giving grand-pa a helping hand...)

Every day in some small way

Memories of you come our way.

Though absent, you are always near

Still missed, loved and always dear.

In Loving memory:

Mirza Ashran bin Mustafa

(24 Dec 1985 – 19 Mar 2006)

KL Bike Week 2011...

"Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you're riding through the ruts don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake up and live!" – Bob Marley

(The announcement poster)

(One tired biker...)

(Malaysia/Thailand riders gang)

(Custom-made chopper)

(An easy rider)

(Copper and chrome)

Kuala Lumpur Bike Week 2011 is back. This is the 4th event organized by Red Garage Malaysia with more extravaganza full of bikers activity, and more towards free and easy for bikers and also music lovers.

Crochet project: Rasta beret and jacket...

“love the life you live. live the life you love...” - Bob Marley

(Colorful Bob Marley Rasta beret)

(Hana's beret and matching jacket...)

Pahang: Ride to Taman Negara...

"Clouds come floating, no longer to carry rain or usher stormy weather, but to add dramatic color to our sunset sky..."

(Tyres ready to roll...)

(Disciplined convoy, keeping a safe distance...)

(Long and winding road to Kuala Tahan...)

(A biker over-shot a sharp corner...)

(Arrived safely at Taman Negara, on a pink scooter?)

(The longest canopy walkway...)

(A group photo before the climb...)

(A neat pathway in the jungle...)

(The start point on the canopy walk...)

(The water has risen to the parking lot...)

(The bloating Tembeling River in the background...)

Total Mileage: 470 km
Route taken: KL - Jerantut - Kuala Tahan - Jerantut - KL

Penang: Lunar Eclipse Ride...

“Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.” - Bob Marley

That night we were at Batu Ferringhi. The sky was a little cloudy and the weather was cool for a leisure stroll along the night market.

(Grainy eclipse shot...)

Starting from around 9 pm, we had the opportunity to watch the lunar eclipse while having our dinner at a nearby stall. The eclipse happens when the earth slips between the sun and the moon, casting a reddish-orange glow on the moon. The last total lunar eclipse was sighted in 1957 and the next lunar eclipse will be in 2014.

(The Zen experience...)

Later we had foot reflexology to relax tired muscles and when we finished our massage, the eclipse was at its end stage and the moon was nearly fully covered.

What a beautiful sight, Subhanallah...

(Ready to roll...)

Total mileage: 900 km
Route taken: KL - PP - Kulim - Baling - Grik - KL

TGV birthday surprise...

"I love movies, movies let you be other people." - Film Geek

As part of the TGV Birthday Surprise for Nuffnangers, I've been selected to receive 4 complimentary passes for any movie at TGV Cinemas outlets nationwide.

So, that weekend when we went riding to Penang, we stopped at Jaya Jusco Seberang Prai and used the free tickets to watch 'Puss in Boots' - hilarious and entertaining.

It would be fun if we brought Hana along to watch...

Thailand: Cold November Rain in Kanchanaburi...

 “Traveling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying, I would stay and love you, but I have to go…"

(Kanchanaburi, Thailand)

If we could take the time to lay it on the line

I could rest my head just knowin' that you were mine

So if you want to love me then don't refrain

Or I'll just end up walkin' in the cold November rain

And when your fears subside and shadows still remain

I know that you can love me when there's no one left to blame

So never mind the darkness we still can find a way

Nothin' lasts forever even cold November rain

.

(Guns n Roses)

Total mileage: 3,300 km

Route taken: KL – Bkt Kayu Hitam – Dannok – Surat Thani – Kanchanaburi – Krabi – Hat Yai – Dannok – Bkt Kayu Hitam – KL

Riders gang: Mus, Mun, Din, Yati, Azim, Chon, Zali, Rozlan and Syed

My Overseas Travel Blog: Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Terengganu - 4x4 trip to Tasik Kenyir...

Comin' out of nowhere drivin' like rain

Stormbringer dance on the thunder again

Dark cloud gathering breaking the day

No point running 'cause it's coming your way...

Tasik Kenyir is one of the most magnificent tourist spot located in the district of Hulu Terengganu. It is believed that the rain forest is the world oldest tropical rainforest and serves as a part of Malaysia National Parks.

(The largest man-made lake in SEA)

(Timber chalets of traditional Malay houses)

(House Boat accommodation @ RM1,500 per package)

(Speed boat for hire @ RM60 per hour)

Tasik Kenyir is the largest man-made lake in the South East Asia sharing its border with Kelantan in the west and Pahang in the south. The lake covers 260 km² and contains 340 small islands, which were once hilltops and highlands, more than 14 waterfalls, numerous rapids and rivers.

There are individual timber chalets that blend with its natural and cultural surroundings. This setting provides unique natural landscapes, creating a serene and idyllic environment to calm and refresh the soul. Or one may opt to stay a night or two on the boat house complete with amenities.

(To Cameron Highlands via old Gua Musang road)

(Look out for wild elephants...)

(Late lunch @ Hotel Equatorial Coffee House)

Total Mileage: 1,350 km

Route taken: KL - Jabur - Al Muktafi Billah Shah - Tasik Kenyir - Gua Musang - Lojing - Cameron Highlands - Sg Koyan - Raub - Bentong - KL

Perak - 4x4 trip - Mee udang Kuala Sepetang...

"The truth may hurt a little, but a lie hurts forever..."

Last weekend, on the way back to KL we detoured to Kuala Sepetang, formerly known as Port Weld, a coastal town and the main jumping-off point to the river mouth Chinese fishing community of Kuala Sangga.

(Mangrove swamp reserve park)

Kuala Sepetang is also well known for its mangrove swamp reserve park which is open to the public daily. It has a boardwalk built over the swamp for tourists, and chalets for rent on the riverfront.

(The famous prawn noodle restaurant)

We had our teh tarik and mee udang at the famous Restoran Mak Jah. The mee udang tasted good. But I have tasted better mee udang else where...

(Early dinner @ Kuala Sepetang)

Perak 4x4 Jamboree 2011…

"I may faced with some kind of adversity or misfortune, but I will not continue to be stuck in the same rut..."

(A 3-day 4x4 Jamboree)

It was raining quite heavily when we passed through the 4x4 Jamboree site in Kemunting. It was interesting to watch an event that brought together 4x4 enthusiasts from throughout the country to interact and show off their vehicles, skills and passion. There were 2 categories of people attending the Jamboree, the tourers like us and those who came to participate in the Special Skills challenge.

(4x4 vehicles waiting in line for the SS...)

(A long wait in the rain...)

We stayed for a while to watch a few 4x4 vehicles showing off their skills. It was raining cats and dogs, but that didn’t hinder their enthusiast to complete the challenge. They were there not just for the prizes and trophies, but most of all, for the fun of mudding.

(A special skill needed to get out of the deep mud...)

We plan to equip our blackfoot with a monster set of off road tyres and wheels and take up the special skill challenge, one day....

Perak - 4x4 to Lata Tebing Tinggi and Lata Puteh…

"Life is like a waterfall: beautiful, alive, and majestic..."

(Serene and isolated...)

On Saturday we drove our 4x4 passed Kuala Kangsar through Lenggong and crossed the Bintang Range bordering Perak and Kedah. This remote range has several known waterfalls and probably many more, which are yet unexplored. An old road crosses the range below Ulu Jerneh and two well-known waterfalls can be accessed from this state road.

(Small signage of the river)

(Beautiful view from the top of the bridge...)

Lata Tebing Tinggi is located between Lenggong and Batu Kurau in Ulu Perak. It is approximately 10 minutes away from Pekan Rantau Panjang. The waterfall can be seen from the road side and flows directly under the high road bridge.

(View of the waterfall from under the bridge)

(Easy to access trail...)

Visitors would be fascinated with the surrounding natural scenery and the cool crystal clear water. They said the place used to be crowded especially on weekends but to our surprise it was deserted when we arrived. And we had the whole place to ourselves.

(Taking a dip in our private pool...)

A few hundred metres up the road is Lata Puteh. This waterfall is the 3rd highest waterfall in South-East Asia and is also popular with the locals. But no trail could be seen from where we parked. It is easy access to the base of the falls but to go to the top is quite challenging. One has to go across the water catchment and treatment area to scale the rocky steep slope.

(Another beautiful waterfalls a few meters away...)

(Lata Puteh is 3rd highest in SEA)

Total mileage: 650 km

Route taken: KL - Kuala Kangsar - Lenggong - Batu Kurau - 

Taiping - Kuala Sepetang - KL

I am crocheting again...

"Idle hands make the devil's workshops…"

(Some books we bought @ Big Bad Wolf book fair)

I have been spending my weekdays in Melaka and many months slipped through the cracks in the pavement without me noticing.

While I have been doing nothing during my free time, in between taking care of my emak, my mind had become idle and numb too. They said a person who doesn't have something particular to occupy himself will be tempted to occupy himself with evil thoughts.

So I have started to do something to occupy my time. I am into crocheting again.

(Trying to make a table cloth from memory...)

Crocheting may not be a fad now but it was one of my hobbies years ago. And I know the world is full of people like me, whose notion for a satisfactory present is, in fact, a return to our idealized past.

Pahang - 4x4 first attempt to Lata Berembun...

"In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail..."

Last weekend we went for an off-roading day trip to a few waterfalls around Raub area. Our first destination was Lata Berembun located 38 km from Raub. It is accessible only by 4x4 from Kg Baru Sg Klau through dusuns, rubber, palm oil and cocoa plantations. It is located halfway up the slopes of Gunung Benom.

Our first attempt to climb the steep road to Berembun Waterfalls was unsuccesful as our 4x4  all-terrain tyres were not suitable for the rough and deep ruts and ravines. On the way to the waterfalls we met with a few hard-core 4x4 vehicles carrying passengers for a small fee.

A little dissappointed, we later decided to drive to a nearby Lata Jarum.

(Starting of a rough journey, we managed to cover only 6km of the trail)

(A few 4x4 ferrying passengers to the waterfalls...)

(Our blackfoot looks tame compared to the hardcore 4x4...)