Thailand: Krabi Island Paradise...

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts...” - Rachel Carson

(Speed boats racing each other)

It was fun to go for island hopping from Krabi to Ko Phi Phi on a speed boat instead of on the local long-tailed boat. While you get the wind in your hair and enjoy the thrill of the fast speed, one has to be careful not to sit in front of the boat as the sea water can be quite choppy and you can bounce about roughly and get injured easily.

Ko Phi Phi is considered to be one of the most naturally beautiful islands in the world. They lie 50 km southeast of Phuket and are part of Had Nopparatta - Ko Phi Phi National Park which is home to an abundance of corals and amazing marine life. There are limestone mountains with cliffs, caves and long white sandy beaches. The islands are surrounded by the Andaman Sea.

(Unique shaped limestone islands)

While on our island hopping trip to Ko Phi Phi we stopped at Ko Phi Phi Don for lunch at the resort’s restaurant. The island is considered to be the largest and most populated of the six islands of Phi Phi.

(Ready for a dip in the ocean)

(Date: 23 - 25 August 2013)

Total mileage: 1770 km
Route taken : KL - Krabi - KL
Bikers gang: Mus/Mun, Munawar/Rose, Shanaz/Azrul, Zali, Tawfik, Syed, Zaini and Masran

My Overseas Travel Blog: Krabi Ride -2013

My state of mind...

"Most people focus on problems rather than solutions, so they just get more of what they don't want!..."

(A reminder to take a rest)

My mind was elsewhere that afternoon...

But I was consciously driving within speed limits. I cant recall how long it took me to reach my destination but I realised that half of the journey was spent on the phone, talking to a dear old friend who unfortunately didn't know head or tail about my predicaments. This friend of mine is a good listener, letting me let off the destructive voices in my head, which if I keep it to myself may very often lead to the unpleasant emotional and deranged mental state of mind. I hate it when I am feeling like this. My negative thoughts stop me from letting go and has caused me so much emotional pain.

What other people think of me is none of my business, it's theirs! I cannot manage someone else's thoughts; but I must remember, I can manage my own...

Life moves too fast...

“The darker the night, the brighter the stars, the deeper the grief, the closer is God...” - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Even when I have nothing to do

I never have enough time to do it

And I watch life passes me by

And I forgot to appreciate its beauty

Can I try to slow it down?

And savor all that's past

For that's what molds my being

But life moves way too fast…

Salam Eid Al-Mubarak...

"Happy Eid Mubarak 1434H! May Ramadhan cleanse and purify our souls..."

(2nd day of Raya at Taman Melawati...)

(The girls in the family and my besan, Normah...)

(The two cheeky grand-dotters, Alia and Hana...)

A Sense of Loss...

"Times has changed and nothing was as good as it had once been..."

(My beloved abah and emak)

The last days of Ramadhan were spent with my sick parents in Melaka.

Looking at them lying on their bed made me feel very sad. At times like today, my mum would be busy in the kitchen. And my father would be on his motorcycle to and fro buying provisions. Now, I could no longer hear my mum's celoteh while cooking juadah raya, nor the sound of my abah's motorcycle. I miss the aroma of spices and the smell of my favorite rendang cili api.

Those were the good old days. I look back to the past and wish that life with my parents could be normal once again. Things have changed dramatically, and I will never feel those same old joyful feelings.

Alhamdulillah I am blessed. I still have my parents when others have loss theirs. And I'll make spending time with them count...

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA EIDIL-FITRI"