Indonesia: Bali Adventure Ride...

"Being defeated is often a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent..."

(The Pura Tanah Lot)

Date: 24 - 27 January 2014

Route taken: Kuta - Ubud - Kintamani - Lovina - Bedugul - Tanah Lot - Kuta

Total distance: 350 km

Bikers gang: Mus/Mun, Azman/Hanim, Mig Rizal/Jaclyn, Shafiq/Suzana, Zaini and Bobby

Organizer: Ride Adventure

(The majestic Gunung Agung)

I live a life of grey, 

each day, as many do,

The occasional shaft of light broke through, 

then I saw you.

I wanted to talk but baulked at the thought,

You spoke to me and suddenly I was connected,

Dissected, resurrected, infected.

You cast a spell on me,

From which I beg no release...

(Owain Glyn)

My Overseas Travel Blog: Bali Adventure Ride

For old time sake...

"A true friend is the only person who never gets tired of listening to your own pointless dramas over and over again..."

(Nong, Sariah, Doc Yus, Hasni, Doc Helmi, Doc Arif and Ron)

Doc Nik Arif was back in KL again.

In a short exchange of whatsapp messages, we managed to arrange a simple get-together at our favorite Secret Recipe Restaurant at KL Sentral.  Reminiscing with old friends was bitter sweet when we replayed some of the amazing, silly, sweet and harsh things we’d done with each other. It's been a long time since we met. I’m surprised by how much time goes by nowadays between get-together. 

Next time I’m hoping our schedules will jibe. It seems that over the years it gets more and more difficult to merge my schedule with others.

Thailand: Pristine beaches of Nakhon and Songkhla...

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today..." - Abraham Lincoln

(Tha Salla Beach, Nakhon Si Thamarrat)

(Samila Beach, Songkhla)

My Overseas Travel Blog: Ride to Nakhon and Songkhla

Route taken: KL - Hatyai - Nakhon Si Thammarat - Songkhla - KL

Total mileage: 1,625 km

Selawat to Rasulullah...

"The answer lies within ourselves. If we can't find peace and happiness there, it's not going to come from the outside..." - Tenzin Palmo

(Three pretty girls reciting the selawat)

Last night hubby and I attended a simple Majlis Maulidur Rasul at our Masjid Kg Sri Minyak. My two sisters, Zai and Amah were there too.

My brother-in-law Zul was in the kumpulan Maulid Al-Abrar and the selawat was led by the two Imam. The majlis was between the Maghrib and Isya' prayers.

(The Selawat group)

(Reciting in small groups)

(The jemaah gathering for the majlis)

(The ladies and girls)

After Isya' prayers, to close the majlis, there was a light refreshment of nasi lemak bungkus, curripuffs and kueh koci. There was abundance of buah duku and a free-flow of teh tarik too.

Pahang: Udang Galah Leban Chondong...

"It's not where you are today that counts. It's where you are headed..." - Arthur F Lenehan

(The many grades of Udang Galah)

Originally there were only two bikes confirmed of going when the invitation was first announced.

When we met at the RV area at Mc Dornald Senawang we were surprised to have 10 bikes joining us for today’s day ride to Kuala Rompin. We started our ride at 8:30 am towards Batu Kikir and stopped at a small warong in Kampung Tanjung Ipoh for a sumptuous roti canai breakfast. The specialty of the warong is a very delicious hot chicken rendang.

(Meeting point in Senawang)

(Riding the trunk road to Rompin)

(Breakfast stop at Kg Tanjung Ipoh)

We rode on towards Bandar Muazam Shah and stopped for refueling at Petronas petrol station. It started raining heavily so we took a short rest before we continued riding towards Kuala Rompin. We had our early lunch at the R&R area in Kampung Leban Chondong and we were joined by another 3 sport-bikers.

Leban Chondong is a traditional Malay village by the Rompin river in the vicinity of the beautiful Lanjut Beach. It is located at the junction from Muadzam Shah, Lanjut beach and only 16 km to Rompin Town. This place used as a meeting point among bikers because of its famous giant fresh water prawn dishes.

(Signages to Rompin and Kluang)

(Lunch break at Kg Leban Chondong)

(Ferry terminal to the nearby islands)

After lunch a few bikers went back to KL but the rest rode on towards Kluang. We performed our prayers at Masjid Jame’ Al-Kauthar, an Indian Muslim mosque. We later had iced coffee and roti kaya at the famous Kluang Station RailCoffee.

The Kluang Station RailCoffee is the canteen of the Kluang railway station, one of the major train stop, including express trains. It started operating in 1938 and is now operated by the 3rd generation of the Lim family. Besides the Kluang Coffee, the dishes served here are charcoal-grilled toast (bread or bun), half-boiled eggs, nasi lemak bungkus, mee siam and curry-puffs.

(Tea break at Kluang Station)

(Discussing future rides)

After refueling, around 6:00 pm we entered the PLUS highway at Air Itam exit and headed home in the heavy rain.

(Riding in the heavy rain)

Route taken: KL - Senawang - Kg Tanjung Ipoh - Bandar Muadzam Shah - 

Kg Leban Chondong - Kluang - KL

Total mileage: 765 Km

The warning signs...

"Finding a way to live the simple life today is man's most complicated task..."- Henry A Courtney

Today when I visited the Institut Jantung Negara, the reception area was a little colorful than the last time I came here.

Shah, my brother-in-law was admitted a week ago and is due for a cardiology procedure on Monday. When he suffered a minor stroke a month ago he was admitted to Damansara Specialist Center. He was discharged when he showed improvement but a week later he was again admitted but this time into University Hospital. He underwent some MRI procedures and investigative observations then he was referred to IJN when they discovered abnormalities of the heart.

When we visited him today, he was optimistic and full of energy. Hopefully he will recover fully very soon.

(The two brothers, Shah and hubby, only a year apart)

(Decorations on the wall)

Kelantan: Riding in the rain...

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out...” - John Wooden

Here comes the rain again

Falling on my head like a memory

Falling on my head like a new emotion

I want to walk in the open wind

I want to talk like lovers do

I want to dive into your ocean

Is it raining with you?...

When we started riding the weather was fine.

The sun was shining bright when we rode the winding road to Gua Musang from Simpang Pulai through Lojing. We had nasi kukus lunch in Gua Musang and performed our prayers at the mosque. On the way to Kota Bharu it started to rain heavily. Riding in the rain can be anything from frightening to fun when the road is wet and slippery. It stopped raining when we reached Kota Bharu. We stayed the night at a studio apartment at The Chantique Villa.

(Gua Musang Mosque, Masjid Tg Muhammad Faiz Petra)

(The Chantique Villa Apartment)

Early next morning we went to the old polis flat at Wakaf Mek Zainab. I used to live there for almost 20 years with my parents and that was where dear hubby and I got married . Although run down and long vacated, the old flat was still standing strong. It is a nostalgic place full of sweet memories of my younger years. After some photo shots, we rode on the coastal road towards Kuala Terengganu.

(Flat Polis Wakaf Mek Zainab)

(Tok Bali Bridge)

We stopped for a short rest under the Tok Bali bridge for some photo shots. We had a light lunch at Rhu Sepuluh Beach and later took the new highway towards the junction to Bukit Besi and rode on the trunk road to Jabur where we entered the Kuantan-Karak highway.

We met with Hj Helmi and a few of the Kuantan bikers at Maran interchange and later had some snacks and drinks at Gambang R&R. It was already dark when we started riding back towards KL.

We reached our Putramas Apartment safely around 10:00 pm.

(Meeting the Kuantan Bikers)

Route taken: KL - Simpang Pulai - Lojing - Gua Musang - KB - Tok Bali - KT - 

Bukit Besi - Muktafi Billah - Jabur - Karak - KL

Total mileage: 1262 km 

Gadek Hot Spring...

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

(Write up on the origin of the hot spring)

Tonight we pampered ourselves by soaking our tired bodies in the hot spring in Gadek. An hour in the hot water is very therapeutic and relaxing.

The hot spring is located at Kampung Ganun, A sub district of Gadek in Alor Gajah Melaka. It was about 40 km from my parents house in Kampung Sri Minyak. It was already 10:00 pm when we drove to the hot spring.

(One of the hotter pool)

(It's not that hot after some time)

Although tomorrow is the first working day of the year and also the first schooling day, the hot spring pools were crowded with people coming from near and far. After an hour of soaking in the hot mineral water, and after a refreshing cool shower we went to the restaurant next door to have hot drinks and toasts.

(A 24-hour restaurant)

(Having a late snack of crispy toasts)

It was already 1:30 am when we reached my parents house. With our bodies rejuvenated, tonight we slept very soundly.

Pantai Siring Anjung Batu...

“In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love...” - Mother Teresa

(Pulau Besar and surrounding islands)

The morning of the first day of 2014 was spent watching the sunrise from one of the secluded beaches along the Straits of Malacca.

Pantai Siring Anjung Batu is situated just at the back of my parents house in Kampung Sri Minyak Melaka. It is assessible through the same small coastal road to the Anjung Batu Ferry Terminal. It is now a popular place for recreational activities.

(With my sister Amah, testing the water)

(Large granite rocks along the beach)

It was still school holidays and there were many people coming for a picnic and a dip in the sea. Joggers and cyclers occupy the small road along the beach as early as 6:00 o’clock in the morning. The beach used to be a mangrove swamp until recently developed and the muddy beach is piled with large granite rocks. There is a small strip of sandy beach among the mangrove trees if you want to swim in the cold sea water.

(Picnic area in the mangrove)

(Taking a dip in the cold water)

One can enjoy the view of the Straits of Malacca from the beach. There are scattered fisherman boats and a few private kelongs which are available for rental.

A few famous Ikan Bakar restaurants are located along the beach from Anjung Batu up to Serkam but they are open from 6:00 pm to way after midnight.

 

(A private Kelong off-shore)

(A belangkas on the rock)