Empire State of Rice Bowl

Kedah, the most well known paddy fields state in Malaysia so-called the rice bowl of Malaysia. The state produce more than half of the country's home grown rice supply. It is a land of unique natural beauty, surrounded by much greenery. I felt so astonished to see the lush green paddy fields all the way to my bestrestest-forever-friend's place, Naka which is 30 minutes away driving from Alor Star City across Pokok Sena and Pendang area. 

 

To Naka, Padang Terap District

 

 Lush green paddy field

Peaceful place

 

 This is what we called it, megs! ;) 

I went to megs place last thursday together with his friend, Sapri (Sap) which also a good friend of mine. Megs fetched us with his Myvi car at the Alor Star Bus Terminal on the Friday morning and we had a city tour for the whole day. There were a lot of places that we've been and I wish I've got time to tell ya one by one. For the highlight, We went to Menara Alor Star. This tower is the 2nd taller in Malaysia with height 165.5 meter. We had our photo taking and didn't get in since we arrived too early and it was not yet open.

 

Menara Alor Star 

 

Me, Megs, and Sap

If you would like to try the different nasi lemak in Malaysia. Do come to Alor Star to try Nasi Lemak Royale = Nasi Kandar Royale. A friend of Sap suggest us the place which is situated next to the Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah. After we tried the 'nasi lemak' then we totally understand the symbol ' = ' in his text message. Actually, it is nasi kandar and not nasi lemak at all. I dunno why they give the name nasi lemak for the nasi kandar. Anyway, it taste good and very cheap. Which I like!

 

  

This is what they called, nasi lemak Royale

In Alor Star city, there's a new shopping bazaar where they call 'Souq Al-Bukhary'. The building is very nice with the Arab architecture where you find yourself in Egypt. hehe ;) Next to it, there is a very beautiful mosque named Masjid Al-Bukhary. Rasa tahajud sangat bila tengok masjid ni. Subhanallah.

 Souq Al-Bukhary

 

Masjid Al-Bukhary, Alor Star, Kedah

The evening we felt exhausted after Friday prayer and decided to get back to Naka for a little rest. The most exhausted person is megs. I really proud of him to stay up for the night before because of excite feeling to take and bring us to those such great places. Really thank you megs! ;)

Ready to Penang!

The next day we continued our journey to The Pearl Island that is Penang. I had a little bit confusing while in Penang since I've didn't come here for a year. They all expected I may tour them correctly to the places in Penang coz I used to stay here for quite long time where I always call Penang as my second home. I really apology for that megs n sap.

 

Penang Bridge Toll, Still RM7

 

 

Georgetown view from Penang Bridge

 

Zeq at Q'bay Mall

Megs

Anyway, we've been to Queensbay Mall and had our breakfast n window-shopping there. Then, we went to visit my sister's family (my only sister ke megs..hehe). I really miss my niece and nephew, danish (chub-chub), puteri (mei-mei), and nureen (naba). In the bracket is the loving name that i always call them..huhu..(see photos). We went to our car park then and everybody started to guess... "aku ada kawan kat penang ni, tp lupa la kontek number dia"...and I suddenly said, "I do have a friend too...oh my god..YANA! yes", I just rang my bell. haha..yana, yana... and then we get her in USM campus and took her along to batu feringgi.

 

My niece, Nureen (Naba)

 Puteri (mei-mei)  yang sombong...

 Danish (chub-chub)

Uncle ajiq with Naba

at my sister's place

 

USM Penang Campus

After having fun in Batu feringgi, we've stick in huge traffic jam. guess wat? there was Thaipusam celebration where all the Hindu's made their parade with the kavadi along the pulau tikus and gurney area. Driving in Penang is such a challenging, and i said to megs, you'll get an international license if you survived driving in here. And he did. He is such a professional driver though there was some curses which I always do. huhu..

 

Batu Feringgi Beach

 

Landmark of Penang, KOMTAR

Latest in town: Penang Times Square!

We managed to get rid from the jam and made our way to Padang Kota Lama. This place is a must come place in penang where you can try all the penang specialty food at a single place. Everything is here, from passembur to char kueh tiow. Apparently, We have blacklisted due to some reasons.

Ni la rupa passembur

Overall for this trip, I felt so happy and enjoy in Kedah mostly. I really felt the feeling of balik kampung start form the first day I was here. The food is so me and most importantly, very cheap! seriously. Everywhere you go in kedah (although the capital city a.k.a bandaraya alor star), it so hard to get more than RM5 for a meal. To me, food is such a luv factor. They managed to put the luv in the food (sedap & murah) and exactly made me fall to the place. I love kedah so much! since I was in kulim matriculation (Kolej MARA Kulim) which is 6 years ago, the food price didn't go up.

 

SMK Naka

Megs' work place, SMK Naka

I really thanks megs so much for his hard work to bring us to such a wonderful place. I really love Naka as well and it's not that suffer to live in rural area as mentioned by megs before. But now, he has accommodate and happy to live here since he got for evening shift in this semester. I felt peace and calmness surrounded my soul while i was in Naka. It's so different living in the city and here. To see megs with his complete attire as an english teacher at SMK Naka. I inspired to become like him. Actually, I'm a bit down with my life. I always asking myself, am I really want to be a lecturer? and the answer for now is yes. I can see the real teacher character in him. He has his own style to teach his "primary" student. He's quite fierce with his student although in reality he is so kind. One statement that make me wanna laugh is ..."heh, aku lempang jadi lempeng" because the student is stubborn and didn't pay attention..huhu

Wonderful Vacation in Kota Kinabalu

This is my PMR essay - trip to Kota Kinabalu!! Hope you enjoy reading and feel our trip... ;) 

Trip members: fr. left fiza, fahmi, Matt, Asma, K. Afna & Abg. Zal, and me

Oh my God! The time is moving so fast and suddenly it was the day of our vacation to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Hurrayyy yeye!! This is the time that we are waiting for and now it has arrived. Just imagine, we’ve planned and booked everything, especially airfare, and lodge in last October which is 3 months before. That was a very long time to be waited. We managed to get everything for cheap as we traveled on budget travel where we flew with Air Asia, and stayed only at lodge, not in hotel. Believe it or not our expenses for flight tickets (round trip from KT<>KL<>KK) and accommodation all in all totaled only for RM335!!! What a cheap to run vacation huh? However our trip is such an expensive experience.

Loitering at the LCCT while waiting our flight to KK

Our Lodge. So comfort , good hospitality and service. most important, very cheap

Suria Sabah now opened. But still not many shop in there.

At Jesselton Point (the KK Jetty) to Manukan Island.

We’ve been there for 4 days and 3 nights with my UDM click friends, Asma, Fiza, Kak Afna and her husband Abang Zal, Matt, and Fahmi. As we landed in Kota Kinabalu, we check-in at Stay in Lodge and put our bag and directly went to Jesselton Point (the Kota Kinabalu Jetty) to get to Manukan Island (approx. 15 minutes from the jetty). The boat cost for only RM14.50 per head, round trip. The water is so blue from far with the reflection of the sky and crystal clear in near. Snorkeling is the best part activity here. Too bad that the coral lessen as this island has been a tourist spot for years. Yet there are still a lot of colorful fish to be found. There was something missing during leaving the Island, a goggle. Dunno who lost it and at last we got penalty for RM80… sob…sob….TT

Crystal clear water. So clean!!

At the main entrance of Manukan Island. Need to pay RM3 for entrance fee.

Goggle Squad. Best giler Snorkeling!

The second day in Sabah, we spend our time in Kundasang (high land in Sabah just like Cameron highland), Ranau, and Poring Hot Spring. We drove there with Faisal’s car (thank you pessa) and a rented Kancil. The journey to Kundasang took around 2 and a half hour from KK. We were having a great time enjoying the high climate weather in Kundasang, and soak up our body in hot spring tub at Poring. While I was occupied my time enjoying the hot water, suddenly a person called my name from behind and it was my ex-course mate at UMS, Deborah Nichol Stephen. I was so surprised to meet her again at Poring (Photo). Our journey down to KK was a thrill as the thick fog cover all over the sight in short distance and passed through the snake road down to the cliff. Luckily we are still alive. Thank Allah! ;) The night we had steamboat dinner at Kg. Nelayan Restaurant and eat as much seafood as we want until we drop…Yummy2x…

At Pekan Nabalu. Backgroud of Mt. Kinabalu

At Poring Hot Spring

At Poring Hot Spring

Kinabalu Park. The Place for Mt. Kinabalu climbing

Accidentally met with Deborah at Poring

Dinner at Kg. Nelayan Restaurant. Buffet steamboat...yum3x

On the next day we planned to go to Labuan. Apparently the earliest ferry to there is at 8.00 A.M. That was not a problem. The problem arose when we’ve been told that the last ferry back from Labuan to KK is at 1.00 P.M. It took three hours journey by ferry which we gonna spend there only for 2 hours!!! Mana cukup beb!! So we changed our plan to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park (it’s a Zoo) at Lok Kawi (20 minutes drive from KK). We felt so lucky since we came right on time as the animal show just started to begin from 11.15 am to 12.15 p.m.

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

His name is Mogly the Orang Utan. Aniaml Show at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

Sunday Market or Tamu minggu (as the local people call) on the last day is a MUST to visit. Here you may get anything all over Sabah things from pets to souvenirs and some Sarawak stuff such as Kek lapis Sarawak. This market only happens on Sunday along Gaya Street from 6.00 a.m until 1.00 p.m (very long straight street from one end to the other end which make your knee feel like dislodged).

Everybody put huge smiles as we covered most of the place that we’ve planned and bought a lot of souvenir to bring back to peninsular. Matt is the biggest spender and gets a lot of discounts since he is good in bargain. If you are planning to travel somewhere, don’t forget to bring him along and get less pay for your souvenir items. Hehe… ;)

Although I was a student in UMS last 2 years and spend my campus life for 3 years (which covered most of the attraction places in Sabah). This vacation wasn’t the same. I felt like I am a tourist and being a tourist is totally different than tour as a student. Overall, we had a really great moment there and glad to see everyone’s happy. ;)