A friend Ismail Mat who now live in Alor Setar in the
northern state of Kedah after he retired had invited me to visit Kedah and
perhaps go on a trip to south Thailand. So, on last Friday September 29, I decided to
take his offer and go on the trip to nowhere. I start the trip by taking the
ETS to Alor Setar. The train left KL Sentral at 11.42 and arrived on the dot at
15.17. It was a beautiful ride all the way. On arrival the close friend was
waiting for me at the Alor Setar railway station. Instead of sending me direct
to the hotel he detours to his home where his spouse had prepared a late lunch
for me. It was a simple home cooking that includes Ikan Pekasam and Masak lemak
Kulat Sisir of which I had not savored for such a long time. It was such a
sumptuous late lunch that I totally forgot about times. Had a small chat with his
charming spouse, an MD who had retired and decided to just stay home. After the
coffee he then took me to the Holiday Villa, my hotel for the night. 
I had a
good rest and the next day with his cousin Fauzi driving we head to Satun and
Pak Bara in Thailand via the Wang Kelian border crossing. This is first time I
had travel by road to this part of Thailand and was surprised that their road
system is so good. I just sat at the back and enjoy the trip. We stop along the
way including an outdoor food court near the beach of the Andaman sea; this was
my first glimpse of the beach of the Andaman sea. It so clean just like the sea
on the east coast of Malaya especially at my hometown of Kuantan. After having
some delicious Thai foods there we move on and spend the night at Pak Bara,
the port city of Santun where I saw a huge Pier and many big fishing boats. On
the other sides there are many islands where many tourists go to spend their
holiday enjoy the beach on the Andaman sea. I am told that there is a ferry
service to and from Langkawi - Pak Bara from the jetty here. Had a
good sleep there and the next morning after breakfast at the roadside stall
went back to Alor Setar via Hat Yai.
The roads in Thailand is much better than ours and no toll at
all. The Wifi even at the roadside stalls fast, putting us to shame.
After a rest and sightseeing trip in Alor Setar we went to Langkawi which I had
not been for more than thirty years. Boy! Langkawi was huge compare to those
days. Thanks to Tun Mahathir our Prime Minister for twenty years; for his
vision it has become one large city on an island that was once just a fishing
village. I then decided to go back home by taking the flight from Langkawi. Now
the Airport with International and domestic arrival every fifteen minutes,
making it one busy airport in country. I then took a Mas flight back to KL and
arrived at the KLIA at just after noon on Wednesday 4, October. This is the
first flight I had ever take after a lapse of more than two years.
Folks it turns out to be one exciting short trip to the north of the country; to places that I had never dream of visiting and meeting friends and strangers, making my golden years as happy as happy as one could be. Thanks Ismail Mat for making all these possible. What a wonderful world we live in.
Folks it turns out to be one exciting short trip to the north of the country; to places that I had never dream of visiting and meeting friends and strangers, making my golden years as happy as happy as one could be. Thanks Ismail Mat for making all these possible. What a wonderful world we live in.
Above is a picture of the beach at the Andaman sea where we
stopped for a short break and enjoy some Thai dishes. One the left are
some of the Thai foods that we savor while on the trip and the islands off Pak Bara as seen from the chalets where we spend the night; enchanting indeed.
Have a nice day.
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