21st December 2014 - 1 of my favorite fruit is the yellow and crunchy "jackfruit" or in Bahasa Malaysia we call it "nangka". Hubby was doing a minor restoration works at 1 of his former client's house. En. Naza has pluck 1 out of 2 "a ready to eat fruit" from the jackfruit tree, planted at his yard. It smells awesome. Husband has shared half of the big jackfruit with his worker. I was more than happy in getting half of my share. It brought so much happiness on day 31.
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| Day 31-feeling richer than ever with so much jack fruit in the house |
23rd December 2014 - It was a much awaiting day for me as well as for my husband. He waited so long to see the last trilogy film, Hobbit, whilst I was waiting for my last working day in IJM. We went to see Hobbit, late night show on Monday, 22nd December 2014. I was clearing my last few days leave, rather weeks by taking half day leave on 22rd December of which I spent good lunch with my buddy, Devaraj and Dr Ali at PJ Hilton. We had Japanese food that and thereafter adjourned for more chit chatting at an open yard until it was drizzling. Most important, we made a promise to regularly meet for lunch though 3 of us may seems to be apart, working wise. Later at night, Hobbit last episode movie was so good. All 6 of us went for late supper after the movie.
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| Day 32 of happiness: movie night & late teh tarik with family just to celebrate an important date, 22nd December 2014 |
25th December 2014 - Anne and I were there early at the KL International Airport waiting for a flight to Bangkok. We took Malaysia Airline to show our continuous support and unconditional love to the country. Our 3rd leg of chasing train started that day. We celebrated my parting from the company with this trip. Nazhif and Syahirah sent me to the airport. Anne took a cab. After we have done dropping our bag at the long queue, we accompanied the children having breakfast. We off to Bangkok in a shiny day.
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| Day 34 of happiness: the 3rd leg train rides adventure begins |
26th December 2014 - As soon as we landed at Suvarnabhumi, we went straight to the hotel and hunting for food at our favourite International food centre in MBK mall. The rest is history (with the shopping and all). The next day, before the morning train departs to Aryanprathet, I posted a photo of Anne showing her white clean teeth enjoying a meal in front of her. This lady has brought so much colors into my life since we became a travelling buddy. I'm indeed very lucky to have such a pretty and kind hearted best friend.
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| Day 34 of happiness: having able to return to the city of angel, tasting the same yummy Thai Cuisine at MBK mall is priceless |
27th December 2014 - It was a hectic day in Siem Reap, walking for about 9km visiting all the temples in the golden triangle whilst going far ahead to Phnom Kulen. To achieve all those places within a day with a private can is a miracle. Therefore, we treated ourselves to a nice dinner show watching a Khmer girls dancing away as Apsara, my favourite art dancing in the South East Asia. The foods were good and tasty similarly to the variety of dance as performed by Apsara dancers.
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| Day 35 of happiness: everything about Apsara dancers are exciting... their moves, costume, make-up & facial expression, flowers in their hair brought the urge to dance in me |
28th December 2014 - We arrived in Phnom Penh city by speed boat through Tonle Sap Lakes/rivers. It was an adventurous journey, the journey that I hold very special to my travelogue. The hotel we stayed is so near to the deck where the water transportation from the Siem Reap arrived. It was a strategic location. We get ourselves pampered with tuk tuk driver that are available 24 hours a day around the corner of the hotel. Our time in Phnom Penh was rather short as we were due to arrive Ho Chin Mind a day later by bus. The tuk tuk driver that is in below photo has taken a passionate job taking us around in his beautiful city. He even took us to see the train head that is kept safe in the museum. Without him, I would not have a chance to satisfy myself that not even an inch of train is ever presence in Cambodia.
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| Day 36 of happiness: a good feeling becoming a fake tuk tuk driver for a minute which brought a split seconds of happiness to the 2 of us |
29th December 2014 - On arrival in Saigon, I was hunting for a beautiful Vietnamese ladies in their traditional costume which in my eyes and perception are so pure and innocent looks. I was capturing a beautiful moment with the 2 ladies in below photo who were playing a local musical instrument at 1 of the restaurant somewhere not far from our hotel. We had a nice night out, a walk by the river, having coffee and watching a city night in Ho Chin Minh with all lights up prepared since Christmas time till 2015 new year celebration were done with.
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| Day 37 of happiness: no words can express a beauty of Saigon ladies, too beautiful, like a flower in the garden |
30th December 2014 - We were still in Ho Chin Minh city the whole day touring all attractions that were in our list. We took a 2 hours cyclo restro package as arranged by the hotel that we stayed because we both were very lazy to walk and/or catching a public transport. On our request they sent us to the Ben Thanh Market as the last pit stop for the day. We skipped 2 places which is not to our liking. There's a few Muslim Restaurant nearby Ben Thanh market where we enjoyed our local lunch menu, a halal meal. We surprisingly discovered that many retails assistants converse well in my native language, Malay inside Ben Thanh market afterwards.
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| Day 38 of happiness: what a wonderful day to enjoy a 2 hours cyclo restro in a crowded bikers traffic touring Saigon City. Feeling so so blessed |
30th December 2014 - I posted below photo to wish my friends and colleagues a Happy New Year before we boarded the train from Ho Chin Minh city. The photo of beautiful lighted city was captured while we were in a taxi that drove us to the station. We spent 2 nights in the train where no one is speaking English. The experience is priceless. Being a train traveller, that was what we yearn for. Having a peace of mind in the coach just Anne and I conversing all sorts of subject. Most importantly we shared the same dream when it comes to train travel.
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| Day 39 of happiness: about to board 30 hrs train ride from Saigon to Hanoi, 1726km journey. Happy New Year in advance everyone! May peace, compassion and happiness are ours. |
1st January 2015 - We arrived at an early hours in Hanoi train station. The weather is quite cold but the station seems to be very lively. We had a coffee break across the street while looking at the direction to our hotel, said to be near to the station. A local girl was assisting Ane with her Google map but I was too tired to pay much attention to it. We finally took a motorbike ride which cost us as much as the coffee that was charged by the lady shop street owner.
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| Day 40 of happiness: Year 2014 - too many sad episode deeply affected me as a person whilst Malaysia has barely survived from planes & flood tragedy. I have faith that Allah has silver lining awaiting for all Malaysian in 2015 after all those tests. Not to be saddened by the incidents, @anezarina & I had achieved so much in 2014. We had travelled 5,723km by train in Europe & Asia in 2014 alone.... |
