DMK Kembara Qurban in Metro...

"I have always needed a place to go to as refuge from the crowd -- and a crowd to go to as refuge from that place..."

Early morning today I received a short sms from my sister in Melaka.

She was overly excited when she saw this article and our pictures in the Sunday Metro. It is about our biking expedition 'Kembara Qurban Dana Madrasah Kemboja' in October last year where we spent 14 days on the road and 2 days in Kampot, Cambodia. We managed to sembelih over 200 cattles to be distributed to the poor in several nearby villages.This article is actually long overdue.

Our bikers gang is planning for a similar expedition this year, with different routes. InsyaAllah...

My Travel Blog: Kembara Dana Madrasah Kemboja

Date: 18 - 31 Oct 2012

Malaysia - Thailand - Laos - Cambodia

Total mileage: 6,900 km

Bikers gang: Shawal, Zali, Taufik, Kitt, Bakar, Din/Yati and Mus/Mun

Brunch with the ladies...

"Often, between friends, there are silences consisting of all the things you've agreed never to discuss again..." - Robert Brault

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(Having brunch @ Section 7, Shah Alam...)

Today is my day out with the ladies.

Early morning, I had breakfast with Di and the usual gang in Bangsar. The breakfast was light and easy and I excused myself earlier as I have to fetch Bee at her house. We are driving to Shah Alam to have brunch or early lunch with Sidah.

Brunch was at Old Malaya Kopitiam where the service was a little slow and steady. To while away our time we went to a nearby Jackel outlet to buy us a few skirts and jubah. Lunch was at Cafe Ahlaa, where they served variety of Malay dishes and Kelantanese delicacies.

It was nearly 3 pm when I reached home just in time to bade goodbye to dear hubby who was riding to Glory Beach, Port Dickson for his Marshall course.

(With Bee @ Sidah's beautiful garden...)

(Bee and Sidah, reminiscing down memory lane...)

Dinner @ Pak Li Kopitiam...

"I look back on the time I've wasted, and I'm just glad I wasted it while I still had the chance..."

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(Pak Li Kopitiam in Kelang...)

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The days shall pass us breath by breath,

'There will always be a tomorrow',

No effort given to make the best,

Of this wasted time we borrow.

(Daniel Isaac Gordon)

A nephew's wedding in Rembau

Two hands to hold onto forever,

Two arms to be embraced by eternally,

Two eyes to gaze into for always,

Two lips to kiss so passionately...

(Nashriq and wife)

Two souls fused by commitment,

Two names written in the stars above,

Two lives intertwined by God,

Two hearts joined by the purest of love...

Journey of life...

"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey..." - Stephen R. Covey
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"On a windswept hill

By a billowing sea,

My destiny sits

And waits for me."

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In loving memory:

Mirza Ashran Mustafa
(Dec 1985 - Mar 2006)

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Al-fatihah...

Negeri Sembilan: Seri Menanti and Udang galah ride to Sg Timun…

“After you find out all the things that can go wrong, your life becomes less about living and more about waiting...” - Chuck Palahniuk



(Istana Seri Menanti...)

Today the bikers’ gang planned to have udang galah lunch at Pengkalan Nelayan Sungai Timun. We met at McDonalds Senawang and only started riding around 9 am. On the way we stopped at Tanjong Ipoh, a small town in Negeri Sembilan situated between Seri Menanti and Kuala Pilah. We had roti canai with the famous hot rendang cili api at one of the warongs in town.



(Roti canai breakfast...)

(Very hot rendang cili api...)

After a good heavy breakfast, we rode to Seri Menanti, the royal capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan, situated in the Kuala Pilah district. According to local literature, the early explorers found three stalks of fresh green paddy and named the area Padi Menanti (literally awaiting paddy). Over time the name changed to Seri Menanti. It is believed that the word "Seri" means paddy in ancient Javanese language.

(A group picture of some of the gang...)

(Taking a rest @ bawah rumah...)

In Seri Menanti we visited the Istana Seri Menanti. Set in a quiet green valley and surrounded by paddy fields and forest, the palace is a strikingly unusual structure, an unabashedly traditional building in this rapidly modernizing state. The current building was constructed between 1902 and 1908 for the 7th Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan. The Istana served as the official residence of the royal family until 1931, before it was converted to a Royal Museum in 1992.
 

(Orang-orang guarding the paddy field...)

(Serene scenic view of the palace garden...)

The single most noticeable feature of the palace is its roof. The steeply upturned, layered gables are strikingly peculiar, recalling the majestic sweep of a buffalo’s horns. The unusual roofline is a fairly common feature of more traditional village houses in the state and is emblematic of the local Minangkabau culture.

(The entrance to the jetty...)

(The new jetty for the fishermen...)

(Boats for rental...)

After visiting the old palace, we rode direct to Pengkalan Nelayan Sungai Timun. The jetty was newly built a year ago after the old one collapsed. The river is abound with udang galah. It is also reported that there are crocodiles in the river. The jetty is also the place where one can take a rental boat for fireflies’ sightings at night.


(Hungry bikers patiently waiting for their meal...)

(Udang galah masak lemak and sambal tumis...)

Although it was quite a long wait for our meal, the udang galah dishes were really sumptuous…

Total mileage: 322 km

Route taken: KL – Senawang – Tanjong Ipoh – Seri Menanti – Rembau – Lubok China – Sungai Timun – Pedas - North/South highway - KL

The bikers' gang: Mus/Mun, Din/Yati, Syawal. Tawfik, Rozlan, Zali, Fadley, Syed and 4 others

Satay tulang after a bone-breaking massage…

“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside...” - Mark Twain

(Grilled chicken meat with bone cuts...)

I had nothing planned...

The apartment was in need of cleaning. The vacuum robot was set to auto. Just when I was about to take a short nap on the sofa, a friend called. We met at Dewi Sri Spa for an hour of strong relaxing body massage and later to our hair salon for cut and wash. The afternoon was spent at Sally Tailor in Selayang.

At night, after maghrib hubby and I drove in the heavy traffic to Senawang to tts with our bikers friends at one Sate Tulang restaurant at Taipan Senawang. It was already late but the restaurant was full with people. Taste wise, sate tulang is just like chicken satay but a good delicious peanut sauce will make a lot of difference. And like normal satay, it is eaten with nasi empit, cucumber and onions... yum yum..

Ooops… there goes my diet.

Singapore quacking duck tour...

“Unless today is well lived, tomorrow is not important...” - Alan Sakowitz

(The Merlion statue...)

Last weekend we have a family outing in Singapore after attending a wedding reception at Tempines. It was raining heavily earlier and later in the afternoon the weather was a little better. We took the 60-minute city and harbour sightseeing tour on a genuine Vietnamese war craft.

(The Marina Bay sands...)

(The Singapore Flyer...)

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Pink of Health....

“Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint...” - Mark Twain

(Visiting the Heart Centre @ Pantai Hospital...)

I was late again for my appointment with the doctor...

While in the waiting room, I took a peek at the results of my medical check-up. There were many acronyms and ranges of numbers. Trying to interpret these numbers could be rather confusing so I leave it to the expert to explain.

I have a borderline condition of Dyslipidemia and the ultrasound detected a small gallstone (Cholelithiasis). I have put on unwanted weight over the years and need to watch and maintain a healthy diet. But overall. the results are better than I expected.

Alhamdulillah...


(Bought a boxful of story books on the last day...)

Terengganu: Riding to Terengganu Bike Week...

"The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see..." - G K Chesterton

(A painting on the wall @ Prinzpark Hotel)

Friday - 1 Mar 2013

The weather was good when we rode out from our apartment this morning. Met up with some bikers gang in Bhp Gombak. The petrol stations along the route were packed with KL bikers who will be riding together to KT for the Terengganu Bike Week.


(Petrol station advertising the TBW event...)

We were running a little late but had ample time to refuel before tayar golek. We joined a small convoy gang of 7 bikes and took the Jabor route and stopped for lunch at R&R Bukit Besi. From there we rode in the heavy rain on the newly opened highway to KT.


(Riding in the heavy rain...)

(The storm clearing when we arrived in KT...)

It was sunny and bright when we reached Pantai Batu Buruk where the main event was held. We registered and collected our goodie bags after paying RM70. We bought some souvenirs at the exhibition booths, watched some stunt shows and later split from the gang and checked in Prinzpark Hotel at Kuala Ibai. The rest stayed in a another hotel or rented a homestay somewhere nearby.


(Still early at the event site...)

(Stunt shows for the crowd...)

Tonight the participants who wish to join the charity convoy to the Orphanage in Batu Rakit will gather at Batu Buruk around 8.00 pm. Others preferred to have their own activities and had planned their own outing.

Saturday - 2 Mar 2013


(A total of over 2,500 participants...)

We had breakfast in the hotel first before joining the other bikers at TER (Trengganu Equestrian Resort) for flagging off. The convoy around KT took about 2 hours and passed the beach road of Rhu Sepuluh, Permaisuri and back to KT through the KT-KB trunk road. The convoy ended at Taman Tamaddun Islam where the bikers were served with rice and gulai kawah.


(Beautiful view along the route...)

(Some of the villages were still under water...)

We skipped the hi-tea sponsored by the organiser and spent the rest of the afternoon napping in the hotel room. By 8.00 pm we were at Pantai Batu Buruk for the closing ceremony and dinner. There were stage performances, fireworks and lucky draws. As stated in the itinerary, the program ended sharp at midnight.

Sunday - 3 Mar 2013

(Floating mosque at Kuala Ibai...)

We had late breakfast, packed our bags and checked out. Met with JC at the petrol station and he will be riding with us to KL. There were many bikes riding out of KT this morning but the traffic was light on the coastal road. We stopped for a rest at a beach warung in Paka for keropok lekor and cold drinks. Lunch and solat break was at Gambang R&R and after that we rode direct to KL.


(With JC at Paka beach...)

The weather has been good for the past three days and riding back was enjoyable and relaxing. We reached our apartment around 4.30 pm.

Total mileage: 1,050 km

Route taken: KL - LPT - Jabor - Bkt Besi - KT - Paka - Cherating - LPT - KL