Masjid China Melaka...

"You must have long term goals to keep you being frustrated by short term failures..." - Charles C Noble

(An impressive entrance to the mosque complex)

On the way back to KL from my nurse duty in Melaka, we detoured to visit the Masjid China Melaka.

It is a Chinese-style mosque in Krubong, Melaka. The mosque is the third Chinese-style mosque in Malaysia after the ones in Kelantan and Perak. It was developed by the Malacca Chinese Muslim Association.

The mosque is designed with a unique Chinese architecture with pagodas and Chinese calligraphy from a combination of architectural design of several mosques in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an in China. It has one minaret tower and two domes. The mosque is equipped with the main prayer hall, library, multipurpose hall, offices and restaurant.

With a total built up area of 2.8 hectares, the mosque can accommodate up to 2,000 worshipers.

(Entrance to the main prayer hall)

(A picture by the pagoda minaret)

2015: 4-Nation Ride...

"It's not about having the skills to do something. It's about having the will, desire and commitment to be your best..." - Robert Hernandez

After our North Vietnam fly and ride trip, I am exhausted in every way... mind, body and soul.

But after a week rest and an opportunity to be with our children and grandchildren, hubby and I are all revved up again for another riding trip. For more than two weeks, with 13 other bikers, we will ride overland to cover parts of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, insya-Allah.

They said riding will refresh tired bodies and restore tired souls. May we be blessed with the best of health, patient and perseverance throughout the journey...

Date: 10 - 27 December 2015
Route: KL - Surat Thani - Sakaeo
 - Siem Reap - Stung Treng - Khong Island - Pakse - Khon Kaen - Chiang Mai - Pai - Doi Inthanon -Tak - Phetchabun - Kanchanaburi - Chumphon - Hatyai - KL

My Overseas Travel blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Vietnam: Fly and Ride Trip....

"The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles..."

This coming Friday, eight of us will be flying to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam and will be going for a tour of North Vietnam's highlands on our rented motorbikes. My overseas travel blog will be updated on the go if there's wi-fi on the mountains.... ha ha...

Date: 20 - 27 November, 2015

Route: Hanoi- Bac Ha - Sa Pa - Mu Cang Chai -Tu Le - Hanoi

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

Penang: Day ride to the 2nd Bridge...

"A negative mind will never give you a positive life..."

Date: 16 November 2015

Route: KL - PP - KL

Distance: 700 km

Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, also known as Second Penang Bridge, is a 24 km bridge linking Penang island to Penang mainland making it the longest bridge in Malaysia and in Southeast Asia. Since its opening in 2014, this was the first time we rode across and exited via the First Penang Bridge. 

As usual, on the way back to KL we stopped at Juru bawal goreng stall and had a sumptuous lunch, sweating buckets in the hot humid weather.

We rode leisurely and arrived safely home before dark.

Sepang Driving Experience...

"The thrill isn't in the winning, it's in the doing..."

(My favorite car for the test drive)

When we bought our new car, the Merc E300, we were given two passes to attend Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience held at Sepang International Circuit.

It was a full day session. My first experience and second for hubby. With professional instructors assistance, we could drive all ranges of Mercedes-Benz and test our skills.

Finally, we had a wonderful, unforgettable experience doing four laps around the SIC at top speed.

(Registration and breakfast)

(Our experienced friendly instructors)

(Many models to chose from)

(Waiting in line for the special skill tests)

(Opportunity to drive different variants) 

(Taking turns for the skid tests)

(Four laps of sheer pleasure around the SIC)

A Wedding Reception...

"Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company..."

(More than 40 years of friendship)

Nik Fauziah's wedding reception for her daughter was held at Nelayan Restoran Terapung. I met with some of my classmates and some seniors there. It was a merry occasion with lots of delicious food.

Congratulations to the bride and bridegroom, may you be blessed with everlasting love till Jannah...

(With Qin and Adilah at Nik Fauziah's wedding reception)

Pahang - Vet Charity Drives...

"The best helping hands are our own. When we feel we can't handle things, we just put our hands together and pray..."

(The rising water of Sungai Tembeling)

Since a few years back, the Veterinarians gang (DAHP 74/79) had set up a charity fund.

The gang have been going to remote places to send provisions to the needy and poor. This time we chose to send the provisions earlier before the flooding season and chose a small kampung around Kuala Tahan.

Together with four other cars, we drove our 4x4 to help carry provisions for seven households. After distributing the provisions, we had time to cross to Taman Negara and did the canopy walk and trekked to Lata Berkoh for a cool dip.

Keep up the good work gang! Let's start planning for our next trip.

(Cruising along the river)

(Houses with floats, ready to face the flood)

(Trekking into villages, carrying provisions)

(Ketua Kampung helps to identify the needy)

(Provisions for two households) 

(Taman Negara Canopy Walk)

(Arriving at Lata Berkoh, sweating buckets)

Momento from Vietnam (2015)

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment...”

(A collection of Vietnamese dolls)

These beautiful dolls are colourful and cute. They are wearing the Vietnamese traditional outfit, Ao Dai, and the conical hat. The dolls' bodies are made of a light weight plastic. Some intricate dolls are with colorful outfits made of silk with bamboo patterns. These dolls are hand made and each affixed to black painted wood . Each doll is encased in a clear box.

We were in Vietnam in October 2002, November 2015 and November 2019.

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Welcome to the world...

"Life is like a camera. Focus only on what is important and you will capture it perfectly..."

(Arif Ashran bin Mohd Fitri)

On this day

the sun was shadowed

the ground was glistened 

by the noon showers

A prince was born

Bringing joy

 to this kingdom of mine…

Our grandson is born today. We are now proud grandparents to four beautiful grandchildren...

Kelantan: YB Ubai double receptions...

"Though nobody can go back and make a new beginning, anyone can start over and make a new ending..." - Chico Xavier

(Bee, me, Yati, Qin and Sidah)

We attended a wedding reception for YB Ubai's daughter and son in Kota Bharu.

It was also a grand get together for old boys and girls of SMKB and SIC. I even met with many of my long lost friends who were in primary school with me in the 60s! We had lots of fun reminiscing, and a lot of laughter and tears of happiness too.

A strong friendship doesn't need daily conversation, 

doesn't always need togetherness. 

As long as the relationship lives in the heart, 

true friends will never part...

(The senior and junior girls)

(SMKB and SIC boys) 

(SMKB/SIC Class of 69/74)

Negeri Sembilan: Versys Bike Jamm...

"What you do matters, but why you do it matters so much more..."

(VBJ Official Signage)

To show our support to the Versys Owner Group, we bought two tickets to the 4th Versys Bike Jamm held at Glory Beach Resort.

The event was full of fun, gathering bikers and friends from all over Malaysia. There were booths selling merchandises while on stage were Karaoke competitions. Tele-matches were held on the beach where each region compete against each other.

The highlight of the event was an Arabian Night dinner and ended with the presentation of prizes.

(Arrival and registration)

(The site of the tele-matches)

(The start of the tele-matches)

(Catch as many ducks as you can...)

(Congratulations to the winning team)

(Prize presentation to the Ladies team)

(Arabian Night dinner)

(Chalets on stilts next to the Glory Beach Resort)

Al-Fatihah...

"It is surprising how surprised we are by death..." - Sheila Sykes

(2014 - Celebrating MIL's 75th birthday at Rawsha)

Inna-lillahi-wa-inna-ilayhi-rajioon...

My beloved mother-in-law, Kasom Jai bt Sab Jahi Khan passed away a week after she underwent valves replacement operation in IJN.

A thousand words won't bring you back 

We know because we've tried

Neither will a thousand tears 

We know because we've cried

- Kily Dunbar

Exploring Pakistan....

"Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself..."

(Flying off again...)

Last month, when I announced that hubby and I are going for a tour of Pakistan many friends and family asked this question: Is Pakistan a safe place to visit?

Given near-daily reports of sectarian bombings, targeted killings and Taliban insurgency in Pakistan, it was a legitimate question. The perception of Pakistan as a violent place hopefully, is an over-dramatized portrayal, nothing more.

We will be exploring the southern Ancient Silk Route. I will update my travel blog and share my two weeks experience exploring Pakistan, insya-Allah...

Date: 9 - 21 September 2015

Route: Lahore - Islamabad - Besham - Gilgit - Karimabad - Sost - Khunjerab Pass - Karimabad - Lahore - Karachi 

My Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

Our 36th Anniversary...

"We don't stop dreaming and exploring because we grow old. We grow old because we stop dreaming and exploring..."

(Watching the sunset at Pak Bara)

 Just You and Me 

In the memories we’ve created

There’s a magic in the past

I wouldn’t take a second glance

To the stories we left behind… 

The hard times made us stronger

The sweeter times made us lovers

We will still climb mountains

or swim any sea, just you and me… 

A date with my heart throb...

"Worry often gives a small things a great shadow..." - Swedish Proverb

(Pantai Hospital Heart Center)

No. I don't have a date with my heart throb... ha ha ha...

Instead, this morning I had an appointment with my heart specialist. It was my regular 3-monthly check-up. I told my doctor I have nothing to complaint, except for those erratic bp readings and irregular throbbing of the heart. With little candor, doctor said, eating right and more exercise will do my heart good.

And I still need to take my medications...

My heart is in turmoil

The terrors of death have seized me

Fear and trembling have overcome me  

Horror has overwhelmed me

If only I had wings like a dove

I would fly away 

and find  solace somewhere....

Thailand: Travelling after the Bangkok Blast...

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure..." - Paulo Coelho

I am not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens.

The bombing that took place at a shrine in a bustling busy Rajaprasong intersection in Bangkok on Monday, 18 August 2015 killed more than 25 people including tourists and injuring more than 100 people. It has shaken Thailand and has given tourists the jitters too.

I feel vulnerable to enter Thailand at this moment. But as planned ealier, this Friday hubby and I are going for a solo ride crossing the Thailand border and riding up north to Phitsanulok and Phetchabun, avoiding Bangkok, passing through and stopping for the night at some towns along the route.

Please pray for our safety...

(A vibrant colorful resort in Petchabun)

Date: 21 - 29 August 2015

Route: KL - Phatthalung - Cha'am - Phitsanulok - Petchabun - 

Petchaburi - Ranong - Krabi - Pak Bara - KL

Total distance: 3,850 km

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

My 60th birthday present...

"Today is another chance to get it right..."

(I still love the black on black color)

It is another three months to my 60th birthday, and already I am feeling old and fragile...

Since the beginning of the year, hubby and I have been thinking of looking for another car to replace my old one. For 5 years I have used my car with no complaints. The car is still in the best of condition and with excellent road performance. Our initial plan is to buy a two-seater convertible or a sports car to sit for just the two of us. But I being old school, would prefer a more comfortable one. And our grand-children would love the sun-roof and entertainment units at the back.

I guess it's not too early to have my birthday present now.

(Saying goodbye to my C-class)

Nurse Duty in IJN...

"Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows..."

(A painting outside room 351)

I hate hospitals. Hospitals make me sick.

But then you don't get hospitalized for no good reasons. My mother-in-law is hospitalized in IJN after doctors diagnosed cardiac trouble. This morning she underwent the Angio procedures and doctors detected two faulty valves. Her heart condition is deteriorating fast. She is also having water retention to add to her problems.

For the past two days I stayed and took care of her. Today I am driving back to Melaka for my weekly nurse duty looking after my ailing bed-ridden mom. As no one has volunteered to be with my mother-in-law, dear hubby will take over my nurse duty in IJN for at least two nights while I am away in Melaka.

 

(Mak in deep sleep after the Angio procedures)