Makkah Trip

27 Dec 2009

May I wish you all a belated Merry Christmas and next week a Happy New Year 2010. Yes, a year older for everyone and its getting nearer. You guess what I mean.Back to my main topic. On 12 Dec 09, I safely returned from Saudi Arabia. Guess what, after 44 days in the holy land, each time I pray the feeling of distance from Kaabah and sadness is difficult to mention. Of course the best part is to come home and life must go on.
28 Dec 09 - At Kelana Jaya, Kuala Lumpur we arrived before sundown,already the were huge crowds overflow the small waiting area. Families, relatives, friends waiting to bid farewell for their love ones. As though they never coming back again. It was drizzling that day. I met for the first time my room-mate to be .Mr Khalis Nasir or simply Pak Khalis. The rush hour to check-in was madness! Hey! Why push and jump line? Aiyo! Is this the normal way? Confused. Anyway, we finally get on the bus and we are on way to the airport. By 0100, the 747 took off and the journey begins.....

Haj - Departure

28 October 2009


Getting ready to go! The attire is very much different from riding suit isn't? Look at the amount of clothing I bring. Very light indeed!







May Allah bless you all. Amzah

Back to basic

October 16,2009; 27 Syawal 1430

It has been a fairly long silence since I last wrote this blog. What can I say, I am busy with my pre-retirement training to get the STCW ticket. Actually it is back to basic; Port, Starboard, Rule of the Road and other seaman codes. As a seaman, you are difference. You learn the terrestial, maritime and celestial dimensions. Why all these back to training? Wow! good question. Simple answer, this is one of the thing I want to do after my retirement - continue study. The other being - travel. What new travel episode since last ride? On the 10th October, The Manjung Bikers Group organised a Merdeka Ride through the Manjung and Sitiawan Districts. Some 170 bikers joined. The Menteri Besar Perak and Menteri Perumahan graced the occasion. Successful it was and I would say Well Done to the organiser.
My next travel epic will be to Makkah for the Haj. Although under the Tabung Haji Malaysia, it must be a once in a life time experience. Stay tune for that stories. Cherio!

Peninsular Msia Ride

11 July 2009

5 riders on 5 KLR 650 Kawasaki tracking the new road along the main range Peninsular Malaysia - From Ringlet to Raub through Sg Koyan. This is actually a ungazetted road but we 5 idiots after a slow talk to the contractor's security guy managed to be allowed to ride through. If the local orang asli can, why not we?

Malaysia's Cherry Blossom

6 Jul 2009

Hi! You may have noticed its Cherry blossom time in Malaysia. Tak percaya? (dont believe?). See for yourself. Dont have to go to Japan or Washington DC to catch this view, only different our trees planted abit far apart and the temperature of course. Ride Far Ride Safe.

Sewing Machine

29 June 2009

Mum! Pse dont throw away the old sewing machine. See, they still serve you well.

Sabah Travel Part 2

29 June 2009 Well, what can I say more about the adventure in Sabah Travel. From mountain climbing,jungle trekking (careful you may get lost), gravel road ride to under sea deep all in one. Or if you prefer to learn about Cocoa growing or some odds tropical forest history then this is the place. Im not selling Sabah but it just an awesome place to see. Ride Far Ride Safe.

Eastern Sabah Islands

15 June 2009

Diving, scuba dive or snorkling. If your hobby is any one of these, then come to this part of the world. Five stars or shoe-string budget. And if your budget is either one of these, you can still enjoy your hobby here. All within reach. But if you dont envy any of these, then dont waste your time comming here. If you stay in any one of the island resorts be prepare to pay around RM1000 per person per nite. I think only two category of visitors will do that; first, somebody sponsor you and second, plain idiot. The best way is to stay in Semporna, in the mainland of Sabah(many cheap cheap motels), hire a qualified divers (also part and parcel of the motel arrangement)and go for daily trip to any of the selected islands. You can stay longer this way at a very resonable price. Most visiotrs select this option. Semporna is lively too during the nite. This is where the happening, so to speak. Come and see for yourself.
Alas! Pu Sipadan is only limited for day trip and only 150 person is allowed to visit per day. Registered early.

Tawau

2 June 2009
This is Tawau. A small port but an important one in this part of Sabah. From air its just very green with patches of clearing and buildings mixed old and new ones. The Naval Base had its own stories to tell. Fresh fish and prawns from the wet market worth place to visit. You know why - cheap and fresh from the sea!

Sabah Travel

26 May 2009 (1 Jamadilakhir 1430)

Hello there! The big C130 extended military aircraft finally landed at Tawau airport at the wee hour of the evening on 19 May 09. It was raining like cat and dog. My head spins like unsettled gyro gymbal trying to find the corrected magnetic error getting set into the north south cardinal. KL to Tawau took 5 gruelling hours, what a ride!

Next day, after breakfast its a helicopter ride to Semporna. Very sunny day and I look forward for a good tour around the Sabah water limits and its surrounding islands. Preceding the island tour, was a quick briefing by the authority. Next I boarded the fast boat to our first destination, Timba island. What can I say about this short boat trip. Back like good old days in the 80s where I was patrolling this same water against any illegal entry from other countries - the usual water/land borders problems around the world. This fast boat was cruising at about 30 kts avoiding too close to coral areas and small fishing boats enroute. We arrived Timba island just in time for lunch. In fact we were slightly late as others who opted to fly from Semporna were waiting for us.



Timba island is small and surrounded by shallow water covering the beach area which is whitish turning light green colour water with a sudden drop into the deep marked by black colored water.

Travel The World

10 April 2009 (14 Rabiulakhir 1430)

Join the Navy and see the world! The famous words I used to hear from the mouth of many travellers during my younger days. I think there is truth in the saying, though many may differ. The next best way to travel the world is perhap the traditional way - by sea. How do I do that? Well, I am not talking about the Azhar Mansor type but a combination of work and travel - Merchant ship. There is a chance to do this even after my retirement. First I must register myself as a Seaman under Marine departmen, Ministry of Transport. With this I can enrol to attend modular courses to obtain the Standard of Watchkeeping, Training and Certificate 95 (SWTC 95). I wish to attend this course with PELITA AKADEMI SDN BHD, Kuala Kubu Bahru. One can also apply to take this course in other countries. Second, appilication to work with shipping companies. Easy? NO. There are various stages of the SWTC categories and its time consuming but not impossible if you really want to do. Nah! Another option to travel the world isn't it?

sideline on RTW Prep

28 March 2008/1hb Rabiulakhir 1430

Travelling in my mind is about meeting people and places you never before. See the greatness of God creation close to you and afar. People and places. This is what I wish to do.

RTW Preparations

24 March 2009

RTW Preparation...continues. This time I want to talk about Route Planner issues. Taking the first country, India as my initial discussion. India,is a big country. Very colourful and lots of history. After checking with friends in the IndiaMike.com and other sites, I am interested to follow the following route through India: Chennai - Hyderabad,Andra Pradesh - Nizamabad - Adilbad - Nagpur - Sagar - Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh - Dabra - Gwalior - Morena - Dhaulpur - Agra - Mathura - Faridabad - New Delhi, Delhi - Panipat - Karnal - Ambala - Ludhiana - Jalandhar - Amritsar, Punjab. A total distance of more than 2000km and my estimate is to cover within 4 weeks with a budget of RM 10K or less.
Cross-border between Wagah to Lahore, Pakistan is currently closed. So? I bang on my luck this would be solved by the time I reach there ( mid 2012). Or, have to start thinking of another route. The Silk Road comes to mind. Now, this is going to be a lot more exciting (as though crossing India is not tough enough?). I expect following the Silk Road crossing China and entering Europe via Kazakhstan - Kyrgyzstan - Tajikstan - Uzbeksitan -Turkmenistan - Iran would consume both time and fund.
Meanwhile, the other physical preparation gets underway as well. Getting physically fit, start to brisk walk everyday for about 1 hr in the afternoon. Depending on my progress, I may gradually increase the tempo by swimming daily later. I was talking to my riding mate (Mr Big) about camping preparation. We would try camping in our next ride. Talking about camping, my last camping early this year by a lakeside did not go very well. I had to break camp in the middle of the nite because of very heavy rain and thunderous weather. What a failure that was.

Main Range Loop Ride

7 and 8 March 2008
The route is simple enough; Kuala Lumpur towards the main range of Peninsular Malaysia and stop over to Kota Bahru, Kelantan state and return crossing the main range from East to West passing the Banding Lake straight to Pangkor Island overnight and return to Kuala Lumpur via the North South Highway. The journey took me some 11 hours of riding time, 1235km distance covered and just under Ringgit 65 for fuel. Solo riding is fun but lonely. It was wet run throughout. Camel (my bike KLR 650) behaved well and no trouble with her. The best part of the journey is to stop at few site along the East - West highway between the town of Jeli in Kelantan and Grik in Perak.
While this is merely another drill but breaking any record is not part of the ride. It is a Look See Look See riding type. More of this ride in future.

Route Planner RTW

Continue.......

Turkey. From Istanbul - Silvri - Tekirdag (route E84) - Kesan - adjoining E90 at Feres (Greece)
Greece. Feres -Komatini - Xanthi - Kavala - Thessaloniki (route E 90) - Loannina - Igoumenista (Ferry to Italy - Brandisi)

Italy - Swiss - France - Germany- Netherland. Brindisi - Napoli - Roma - Livorno - Pisa - Genova - Alessandra - Torino - Ivrea - Montreax - Bern - Basel - Freiburg - Starsbourg - Saarbrucen - Luxembourg - Aachen - Arnhem

A short break in Sarah's house in Netherland for maintenance and general service for the bike. This will also allow time to regenarate energy and 'walk-about' Netherland and its neighbouring countries on different mode of transportation (bus and train). It would be an opportunity to visit place I have lived once upon a time in Hamburg, Germany ( Wohldorfer Damm 76, 22395 Bergstedt, Hamburg). Few Malaysians who lived in Hamburg for past 40 odd years worthwhile visiting. Pak Zaki, Ismail and Gaby, Dino and many more. Not forgetting it is time also to meet Angelika Driesel at Heiddick 7A, 22395 Hamburg. It is like giving them a very big surprises!
I would say I plan to stay at anchor in Sarah's house for about 2 - 3 weeks during which time I will moving about before moving to next destination - the UK.