About Me

I am married to my loving husband for more than 45 years now. I am a mother to 3 beautiful children, until years ago when I lost my youngest son. Since then my life is forever altered but yet unbroken....
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Wednesday, 19 November 2025

Thailand 2025 – Journey Through the Northern Loop...

 “Some journeys are not measured by distance, but by the quiet moments that stay with us long after we’ve returned home...”

(Immigration and Custom clearance at the ICQS)

It had been months since our last long road journey, and the idea of driving all the way from Kuala Lumpur into the heart of Thailand filled us with both excitement and quiet anticipation. We planned it carefully - a slow, deliberate loop through the country, taking our time to discover places both familiar and new.

Our route would take us north through Hat Yai, Chumphon, and Bangkok before venturing further into the highlands. We had trodden this path umpteen times. Each stop, we hoped, would bring a fresh glimpse of Thailand’s diverse landscape and the everyday warmth of its people.

Fourteen days, nearly 5,000 km - this northern loop through Thailand would be more than just a leisure drive. It is a reminder of how vast and varied the world can be, and how every road travelled with gratitude becomes part of who we are.

Our Northern Thailand Road Trip itinerary:
(19 November – 02 December 2025)

Part I – From Kuala Lumpur to Northern Thailand: (Kuala Lumpur→ Hat Yai→ Chumphon→ Bangkok)

Part II – Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the Northern Hills: (Bangkok → Phitsanulok → Chiang Mai → Pai → Tak)

Part III – The Return South from Tak to Kuala Lumpur:  (Tak → Cha-am→ Thung Song → Kuala Lumpur)


My Travel Blog : munmus.blogspot.com
Next Trip: Our Umrah Trip 2026
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Saturday, 26 July 2025

Hatyai - The gang 55-year Anniversary Reunion...

 "With old friends, you can pick up right where you left off, no matter how much time has passed..."

(Big Five: 1970 - 2025)

Date: 24 - 26 July 2025
Activity: Big 5 and the gang Reunion
Hotel: The Regency Hotel, Hat Yai

When they invited me to join our 55-year comradeship reunion in Hat Yai, I hesitated. We’d barely been back from our Central American trip for two weeks, and I was still recovering from both the jet lag and the mountain of laundry. My Muslimah classes had just resumed, and I was determined to catch up. But then I thought, fifty-five years! That’s not just a reunion, that’s a historic summit. Who knows if we’d all still be able to make it to the 60th? My sensible side told me to stay home; my heart and maybe my curiosity told me to go.
 
(The gang from Kota Bharu)
(Big Five - 55 years of comradeship)

So hubby and I packed our bags, tucked in a packet of panadols and a bottle of yoko-yoko for emergencies, and drove to Hat Yai via Bukit Kayu Hitam. The rest of the gang came in a van from Kota Bharu via Tak Bai. When we reached the Regency Hotel Hat Yai, the rest had already checked-in.

(Breakfast at Chabura Dimsum Restaurant)

The hotel is situated very near Lee Garden Night Market. The moment we stepped off, the air hit us, a heady mix of sizzling satay smoke, sweet mangoes, and the occasional waft of grilled squid. Street vendors called out cheerfully, motorbikes zipped past, and the whole area hummed with energy.

When the gang met at the lobby, it was like stepping into a time machine. The young faces I remembered had been replaced with older, wiser ones though the mischievous smiles were exactly the same. We swapped stories, compared medical prescriptions, and laughed until our sides hurt.
 
(Kayson Souvenir Shop - One Stop Centre)
(Leather goods and souvenirs at Nora Plaza)
(A stop for fresh honey and delicious ice-cream)

We thronged the crowd in the markets and plazas, pretending not to be tempted by the fried chicken stalls and roadside souvenir shops. And later wandered through the night bazaar under strings of glowing lights. The years melted away in between the jokes, the food, and the shared silences only old friends can enjoy. We had a whole day to ourselves, wondering in and out of eateries and shopped till we drop!

(Khlong Hae Buffet Seafood Restaurant)
(BBQ and Shabu2 style buffet, eat as much as you can!)
(A visit at the Khlong Hae Floating Market)

I came home tired, but my heart felt light. Sometimes, catching up with friends is worth pausing the rest of life for. Even if it means a recurring backaches and an extra pile of laundry waiting when we get back.


My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com
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Monday, 5 May 2025

2025 Thailand Route 12 Trip

 “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success...” – Alexander Graham Bell


(The 16-day journey)

We will be on a 16-day road trip. The main part of the trip is to cover the whole length of the 710 km newly extended Route 12.

Route 12 or Asean Highway 12 is a part of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), a route which links four mainland Southeast Asian countries, from Myanmar in the West to Vietnam in the East. The final phase of the expansion of Highway 12 which links Thailand with Myanmar and Laos in Tak and Mukdahan, respectively has been completed.

We will enter Thailand via Bukit Kayu Hitam and will exit via Sungai Golok, visiting the major towns along the routing.

Route 12 itinerary:
(18 April - 5 May 2025)
Day 01: Kuala Lumpur - Hat Yai
Day 02: Hat Yai - Tha Sae
Day 03: Tha Sae - Kanchanaburi
Day 04: Kanchanaburi
Day 05: Kanchanaburi - Tak
Day 06: Tak - Phitsanulok
Day 07: Phitsanulok - Khon Kaen
Day 08: Khon Kaen - Mukdahan
Day 09: Mukdahan - Nakhon Ratchasima
Day 10: Nakhon Ratchasima - Hua Hin
Day 11: Hua Hin - Chumphon
Day 12: Chumphon - Hat Yai
Day 13: Hat Yai - Narathiwat
Day 14: Narathiwat - Kota Bharu
Day 15: Kota Bharu
Day 16: Kota Bharu - Kuala Lumpur


My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com
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Wednesday, 19 March 2025

2025 Kembara Ramadhan Vol 8

 "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined..." - Henry David Thoreau

(2025 Kembara Ramadhan routing)

For this year Kembara Ramadhan, we spent the middle 10 nights of Ramadhan in Malaysian and Thailand mosques. We entered Thailand via Sungai Golok and visited mosques in the southernmost provinces of Thailand. We joined the locals for iftar and performed solat tarawih in the main mosques of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani, Songkhla, Trang and Satun where the majority of Thailand's Muslims lived.

We also visited other mosques along our routes. There are more than 4,000 mosques in Thailand and the Southern region has roughly 85% of the total mosques. Pattani Province has the biggest number of mosques, followed by Narathiwat Province, Yala Province and Satun Province.

There are also significant minority of Muslims in other southern provinces such as Songkhla, Trang, Phatthalung, Krabi and Phuket.

2025 Kembara Ramadhan itinerary:
(10 - 19 March, 2025)

Day 01: Kuala Lumpur - Kota Bharu
Day 02: Kota Bharu - Narathiwat
Day 03: Narathiwat - Yala
Day 04: Yala - Pattani
Day 05: Pattani - Hat Yai
Day 06: Hat Yai - Trang
Day 07: Trang - Satun
Day 08: Satun - Alor Setar
Day 09: Alor Setar- Ipoh
Day 10: Ipoh - Kuala Lumpur


My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com
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Sunday, 1 December 2024

2024 Borders of Thailand 4x4 Trip

"The road is there, it will always be there You just have to decide when to take it..." - Chris Humphrey

(4×4 Trip - a complete circle)

We are embarking on a 4x4 trip exploring the borders of Thailand with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. This may be our last trip for this year.

This long road trip can be an adventure of discovery, relaxation, and sometimes a bit of spontaneity! We're going to drive along the borders of Thailand, exploring new towns and scenic routes to make our journey more enjoyable. We have map out the major destinations and breaks, but leave room for detours or unexpected stops to explore interesting spots along the way. While we are on the road, we will try to visit as many mosques and halal eateries and will be documenting them as reference for other fellow travelers.

We are not in a hurry! It’s worth taking the time to enjoy the views on the open road, and embrace the freedom of a free and easy travel.

Our 4x4 trip itinerary:
(10 Nov - 02 Dec 2024)

Day 01: KL - Hat Yai
Day 02: Hat Yai - Tha Sae
Day 03: Tha Sae - Samut Sakhon
Day 04: Samut Sakhon - Trat
Day 05: Trat - Aranyaprathet
Day 06: Aranyaprathet - Surin
Day 07: Surin - Chong Mek
Day 08: Chong Mek - Mukdahan
Day 09: Mukdahan - Nong Khai
Day 10: Nong Khai - Uttaradit
Day 11: Uttaradit - Chiang Khong
Day 12: Chiang Khong - Mae Sai
Day 13: Mae Sai - Chiang Mai
Day 14: Chiang Mai - Pai
Day 15: Pai - Mae Hong Son
Day 16: Mae Hong Son - Mae Sot
Day 17: Mae Sot - Kanchanaburi
Day 18: Kanchanaburi
Day 19: Kanchanaburi - Cha-am
Day 20: Cha-am - Chumphon
Day 21: Chumphon
Day 22: Chumphon - Kuala Lumpur


My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com
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Friday, 10 November 2023

Koh Lanta - Tranquil Simplicity...

 "There's no 'right time' in life. There's just time and you get to choose what to do with it..." - unknown

(Simply relaxing, cool drinks by the beach)

Koh Lanta Trip
6 - 10 November 2023

This is our third trip to Koh Lanta. This time we were on a 5-day road trip driving our Toyota Hilux 4-wheel pick up .

Our first was a riding trip in 2012 with the KKB bikers gang. We were riding our Vulcan 600 then and the only couple riding the cruiser. It took us a while to adjust to the group’s riding style as they were mostly riding the adventure motorbikes. We were doing fine except the bit struggle in the initial especially when riding on rough terrain.

Our second trip to Koh Lanta was a solo riding trip in 2016. We were riding our KTM 1190 which was both exhilarating and joyful.  



My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com
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Friday, 29 September 2023

Koh Samui - Palm fringed beaches...

"Words have a magical power. They can bring either the greatest happiness or deepest despair..." Sigmund Freud

(The ferry from Donsak to Koh Samui)

22 - 29 September 2023:
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Monday, 10 April 2023

Thailand: Kembara Ramadhan Vol: 6

"He who knows it not and can no longer wonder, no longer feel amazement, is as good as dead, a snuffed out candle..." - Albert Einstein

(The Taj Mahal of Thailand)

This year Kembara Ramadhan we travelled a total of 1,750 km journey to visit and perform our tarawih prayers in the mosques of Southern Thailand. During our 10-days kembara, we covered Hat Yai, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Krabi, Trang, Pak Bara and Satun. On the way back to KL, we stayed a few days in Perlis and Kedah and visited a few mosques there.

During our Kembara we distributed sets of telekong/sejadah and infaq some funds, contributions from families and friends to the mosques we visited, Alhamdulillah…

Kembara Ramadhan 1444
(01 - 10 April 2023)

(The Central Mosque of Surat Thani)
(Night view, full moon over Masjid Surat Thani)


My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com
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Wednesday, 4 January 2023

2022 Year-end 4x4 Trip: Highlands of Thailand

"Never force anything in your life. Just let it be. If it's meant to be, it will be..."

(With our reliable Bigfoot on the highlands of Phu Chi Fa)

For our 2022 Year-end 4x4 trip we managed to cover some of the highlands of Thailand.
There are many mountains in Thailand which offer the most stunning and serene picturesque views. The highlands mountain ranges is the part of the hills extending from the Shan Hills bordering Myanmar to Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them. Many mountains in the country are not important because of their height, but because of their symbolic, cultural and religious significance. Among the well-known Thailand highlands we visited were Phu Thap Berk (1,794 m), Phu Chi Fa (1,442 m), Doi Sa-Ngo (709 m), Doi Ang Khang (1,928 m) and Doi Inthanon (2,565 m).

Along the route we managed to visit several mosques and other tourist attractions in Thailand.

Highlands of Thailand Itinerary: 
(15 December 2022 - 4 January 2023)

Day 01: KL - Hatyai
Day 02: Hatyai - Chumphon
Day 03: Chumphon - Bangkok
Day 04: Bangkok
Day 05: Bangkok - Khon Kaen
Day 06: Khon Kaen - Phu Thap Berk
Day 07: Phu Thap Berk - Uttaradit
Day 08: Uttaradit - Phu Chi Fa
Day 09: Phu Chi Fa - Chiang Rai
Day 10: Chiang Rai - Pai
Day 11: Pai
Day 12: Pai - Mae Hong Son
Day 13: Mae Hong Son - Doi Inthanon
Day 14: Doi Inthanon - Mae Sot
Day 15: Mae Sot - Umphang
Day 16: Umphang - Kamphaeng Phet
Day 17: Kamphaeng Phet - Ratchaburi
Day 18: Ratchaburi - Chumphon
Day 19: Chumphon - Krabi
Day 20: Krabi - Hatyai
Day 21: Hatyai - KL

Total Distance: 5,636 km

(The view of the valley from Phu Thap Berk summit)
(Doi Inthanon, the highest point of Thailand)
(Doi Ang Khang highest camp site)
(Stardoi Cafe at Doi Sa-Ngo)


My overseas travel blog: munmus.blogspot.com
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Monday, 23 December 2019

Four Nation 4x4 Adventure...

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions...”

(Plain of Jars at Ponsavan, Laos)

Malaysia - Thailand - Cambodia - Laos
(1 - 23 December 2020)


My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com
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Monday, 13 May 2019

2019 Kembara Ramadhan - Yala, Thailand

“He who gives iftar to another fasting person shall earn reward equivalent to a fasting man without detracting from the reward of the latter...”

(Yala - Yala Central Mosque)

(13 May 2019)

(Yala - Markaz Tabligh Masjid Noora)
(Yala - Masjid Jame Tuebo)
(Yala - Masjid Abu Bakar As-Siddiq)
(Betong - Masjid Tengah Betong)


My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com
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Sunday, 12 May 2019

2019 Kembara Ramadhan - Pattani, Thailand

“Don’t be a servant of Ramadan, be a servant of ALLAH. Be consistent...”

(Pattani - Pattani Central Mosque)

(12 May 2019)


(Pattani - Masjid Krue Se)
(Pattani - Masjid Solehin Riverside)


Next Destination: Yala, Thailand
My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com
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Saturday, 11 May 2019

2019 Kembara Ramadhan - Narathiwat, Thailand

“Make this Ramadan the turning point in your life. break free from the deceptions of this world and indulge into the sweetness of iman...”

(Narathiwat - New Central Mosque)

(11 May 2019)

(Tak Bai - Masjid an Nur)
(Narathiwat - Masjid Raja Old Central Mosque)
(Narathiwat - Masjid Jamaiyah Jakaniah)
(Narathiwat - Masjid Wadi Hussin)


Next Destination: Pattani, Thailand
My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com
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Saturday, 15 December 2018

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)

(07 – 15 December 2018)
Route: KL – Phatthalung – Kui Buri – Phetchabun –Chainat 
– Samut Songkhram- Chumphon – Krabi – Pak Bara - KL 
Total Distance: 4,640 km

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.

(The four gentlemen)
(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)

Year-end Couple Ride Itinerary:
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Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Amazing Race against the Voyager of the Sea...

"You cannot change the speed of the passage of time -- but you can augment your perceptions, experiences and growth while it takes you on its course."

(Sara, Fitri, Alia and Arif on the Cruise Ship)

Date: 9 - 12 Sep 2018
Route: Johor Baharu – Kuala Lumpur - Port Klang - Phuket

We flagged off Sara, Fitri, Alia and Arif for their family cruise trip on The Voyager of the Sea from Singapore to Phuket.

(Alia and Arif at the start of the trip)
(On the Voyager of the Sea)

The next day we met them at West Port of Port Klang where their Cruise Ship docked early in the morning. As they had to board the ship again before 4.00 pm we decided to drive to IOI Mall Putrajaya for lunch at Ko-Ryo-Won, a Korean Restaurant.

(Ko-Ryvo-Won, a Korean Restaurant)
(Having Kimchi for lunch!)
(The Voyager of the Sea docking in West Port)

Back home we switched to our 4x4 Bigfoot and drove north and stayed the night at T-Hotel in Changloon. Early next morning we crossed into Thailand through Bukit Kayu Hitam border and drove direct to Phuket. In Phuket we fetched the kids at Dophin Pier at Makham Bay and spent time with them swimming at a quiet and secluded bay on Panwa Beach. Later we visited the kid-friendly Aquarium then had an hour of therapeutic foot massage to while away the time.

(Alia and her grandpa at Panwa Beach)
(Building sand castles)
(Swimming in clear clean water)

By 4.00 pm we sent the kids to the pier where a tender boat will ferry them back to their Cruise Ship for their journey back to Singapore.

The next day we continued our Kembara 4-Nation Drive covering Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia. If we have the opportunity, we will cross into the border town of Myanmar, insyaAllah...

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