Family Get Together at Pasir Ambur...

"It's all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family..." -  Philip Green

(The Black Team, Sara and family is missing)

We had a family get together at Zin's Resort in Pasir Ambur.

We had lots of fun activities during the day. There are a few ponds in the vicinity around the resort complex and we tried our skills in fishing and caught quite abundance. Ikan bakar would be one of the main dishes for dinner. To cool off, we went for a swim and played water games in the pool. Later, while the ladies prepared dinner, the kids had a go on the ATV.

We performed solat berjemaah and had a simple majlis tahlil before our BBQ dinner. There were enough rooms for everyone but we decided to spend the night in the tent instead.

(Hana with her catch)

(Children playing in the wading pool)

(The adults swimming pool by the resort)

(Hana on the ATV, the resort complex on the background)

(Some preferred to sleep in the tent by the pool)

Christmas Lunch @ Chibiuk...

"There are moments and days when I want to freeze time, and there are days I wish away..." - Sarah Williams

(More than four decades of friendship)

It's the comradeship, more than anything else...

Before the end of the year we had another get together of the SMKB gang. Nik Arif and Hamidah were also here in town. They flew in from the USA a week before to attend the funeral of Nik Arif's beloved mother.

Salam Takziah from the gang. Al-fatihah...

(The lovely ladies)

(And the gentlemen)

Lunch at GPO with the grandkids...

"The time is always right to do the right thing..." Martin Luther King, Jr. 

(The grandkids at Genting Premium Outlet)

Today we drove up to the Genting Premium Outlet and spent some quality time with the kids and grandchildren there.

The weather was beautiful in the morning, but it rained heavily in the afternoon. We had a sumptuous lunch at Absolute Thai before we drove downhill back to our Putramas Apartment.

(Mouth watering platter)

(Sweet sour crispy garoupa)

(Crispy catfish with Kerabu Mangga)

(Decoration at the cash counter)

Thailand - Year-end Couple Ride

“I don't ride a bike to add days to my life. I ride a bike to add life to my days…” 

(Isthmus of Kra, Kra Buri Ranong)

Date: 7 – 15 December 2018 

Route: KL – Phatthalung – Kui Buri – Phetchabun –Chainat 

– Samut Songkhram- Chumphon – Krabi – Pak Bara - KL 

Total Distance: 4,640km

We rode together with three other couples for the year-end ride in Thailand.

The first part of the ride we rode together with the TCB riders until Kui Buri where we split ways. The TCB riders rode into Cambodia through the Had Lek border and later into Laos through the Stung Treng border.

We stayed overnight at several towns in Thailand. It was a free and easy ride admiring the beautiful scenery and visited some attractions along the way to break the monotony.

(Phu Tubberk Highlands, Phetchabun)

(Fantasy Resort, Chai Nat)

(Rajabakhti Park, Hua Hin)

(Myanmar is just across the river)

(Khao Tanan and Sunflower bed, Thung Bu Lang)

(Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, Phang Nga Bay)

(Pak Bara Beach, Satun)

Nursing my frozen shoulder...

"Health is like money, we never have a good idea of its value until we lose it..." - Josh Billings

(Waiting for the Orthopaedic Surgeon)

The last time I visited the Orthopaedic Surgeon was in March 2017.

I was diagnosed with impingement of nerves at my 4th and 5th lumbar. I was advised to undergo a surgical procedure to correct the condition but I refused. After loads of pain killers, muscle relaxants, hot gel rub and after a few physiotherapy sessions, the pain stopped as mysteriously as it started.

This time around, I experienced stiffness and pain in my right shoulder joint. I tried a  deep muscle massage but the pain worsen. It was worst at night when I sleep on my right side and put pressure on my bad shoulder. The doctor injected corticosteroid into my shoulder joint. It was supposed to have a numbing effect but the nagging pain had limited the movement of my right hand.

A follow up visit will be in five days time to assess the effect of the jab.

Pahang: Udang Galah lunch at Leban Chondong...

"Young riders pick a destination and go... Old riders pick a direction and go..."

(A rendezvous at Leban Chondong)

Today from JB we rode back to KL and decided to take the road to Mersing and rode towards Rompin. We planned to meet with Ayami and Siti around noon at the famous Udang Galah restaurant in Leban Chondong.

(Arriving in Mersing town)

(A brief stop at the Kompleks Niaga Penghulu Mohd Aris)

(Fishing boats at the muara)

It was already passed noon when we reached Leban Chondong. Ayami and Siti arrived around the same time. We had a sumptuous lunch with the many dishes of udang galah. We performed our prayers at the surau before we started riding back to KL via Kuala Pilah and Kuala Klawang.

We arrived at our Bidara House just before dusk.

(Udang galah restaurants at Leban Chondong , Rompin)

(A hearty lunch of fresh udang galah)

High Tea at Datin's place...

“ A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out..."

(A gathering of a few friends)

A few of the gang from KB would be in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.

Some came with the whole entourage to visit the Nasyrul Quran and interesting places in Putrajaya. Others were here to attend weddings or visit their grandchildren or relatives.

Datin Ma was kind enough to host the gathering at her place in Shah Alam with varieties of home-cooked dishes to savour.

(Delicious spread of food on the table)

My 63rd Birthday...

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been…” - Mark Twain

(Celebrating my birthday at Tony Romas)

Wrinkles on my face

They are beautiful you know,

those lines on your face,

each one with a story to tell.

They've traveled so far,

to get you where you are

to remind us all where you've been...

The famous Nasi Lemak Tanglin...

"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck..."

(Nasik lemak with sambal paru)

This morning we had breakfast at the famous Nasi Lemak Tanglin at Jalan Chenderasari near Taman Tasik Perdana.

It has been a long time since we visited this place. It used to be one of our favorite breakfast joint for quite a long time. It's always nice to eat here while reminiscing the good old times especially of our children schooldays. Back then, the nasi lemak stall was secluded, under the shelter of a big pokok saga somewhere near the existing food court.

(Nasi Lemak Tanglin Food Truck)

The price of a plate of nasi lemak Tanglin has escalated steeply over the years. They have built permanent tents at the back to place more table and chairs to cater for customers. The place is livelier now, with life band playing oldies songs. Parking wise, still remains difficult as always as there are street vendors sprucing up, taking over some parking spaces.

To me the taste and flavor of the nasi lemak is just so-so. I would say that it is a little over rated. Although the ambiance is nice and cool the area is littered with rubbish.  And the foul smell from the unattended dumb site at the back of the food court is overpowering.

(Tents under the shade of big trees)

(A life band playing the oldies)

Pace walking in the park...

"Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood..."

(Distances to other Botanical Gardens)

We are trying our best to stick to our routine exercise.

In order to break a sweat and hit between 75 to 80 percent of the maximum heart rate we need to brisk walk about an hour. Walking is an excellent exercise to burn calories, and hopefully enough to burn the excess fat and tone our muscles.

We are making the most of whatever free time that we have.

(A morning outing for children from a nearby kindergarten)

(Today's pace walking distance)

Hutan Lipur Bukit Lagong...

"All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within..." - Horace Friess

(The entrance to the Recreational Park)

Hutan Lipur Bukit Lagong in Selayang is less than 2 km from my Bidara House.

In 1986, when we moved into our Bidara House, the housing estate was surrounded by lush jungle and greeneries. We used to drive along Sungai Bukit Lagong  till the end of the unpaved road where we would enter the Orang Asli village. Over the years, there were massive development around the area and access roads were built to link the surrounding housing estates. The river and small waterfalls were once neglected had now become a recreational park.

(The park is quite near to the main road)

(A welcoming sign to the village)

(A well-maintained camping site)

(A fishing pond near the Orang Asli Village)

(Wooden houses of the Orang Asli)

Hutan Lipur Bukit Lagong still retain most of its green and have the potential to be developed into eco-tourism spots. Various facilities offered here indirectly attracts visitors to have recreational activities on weekends and public holidays.

The park is under the management of the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang. The 7.28 hectare park is a beautiful and sustainable natural forest having a beautiful clear river, seven artificial lakes, and a cascading waterfall. Various facilities have been provided by MPS such as two bridges, rest shelters, picnic stalls, toilets and changing room facility.

(Shallow pool, safe for children to swim)

(Huts and shelters, ideal for family picnic)

(Clean clear Bukit Lagong River)

Another attraction of Hutan Lipur Bukit Lagong is the presence of the Orang Asli Settlements, that enable visitors to get closer to their culture and life patterns. There are a total number of 25 Muslim families that lives in the Orang Asli village in Bukit Lagong. During fruiting season the Orang Asli could be seen selling durian, duku langsat and petai by the roadside.

Wondering on Denai Razak trail in Taman Botani...

"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks..."

(The start and end of Denai Razak)

Denai Razak at the FRIM Kepong Botanical Garden is a 400-meter unique route with the theme of Rich Diversity of Malaysian under-storey plants. It was launched in early 2008. Interestingly, Denai Razak is the only disabled-friendly education trail in Malaysia. The unique collection houses about 9,000 shrubs and local herbs such as ginger, bamboo, orchid and many others which are collected from the original habitat and systematically planted for ex-situ conservation.

(The way to Razak Walk)

(A short elevated walk to the denai)

(A big compass at the entrance of the denai)

Denai Razak is the only trail in FRIM that can be visited without the need for a guide. The trail of Denai Razak trail is cemented to facilitate visitors with wheelchairs. The trail is made in a full circle so visitors will enter and exit from the same point. The entrance and exit are close to each other.

(Large plants along the path)

(A cemented path, wheelchair friendly)

(A brief rest at the gazebo)

(Continue pace-walking around the Botanical Garden)