Thursday, 28 September 2023
Sunday, 25 December 2022
Takayama-Kanazawa-Kyoto-Hiroshima 2022
Sunday, 10 July 2022
USA West Coast (Spring Season 2022)
San Francisco - Las Vegas - Grand Canyon - Los Angeles
- 8 June to 18 June 2022 (8 nights in US, 3 nights on flight)
- Qatar Airways via Doha (coming back to KL with MAS from Doha)
- 3rd visit to US in 5 years. My 2nd visit was before the Omicron in November 2021. I guess i can't get enough of this land. Didn't plan much. At first, want to join some agent from KL but they postponed the trip to a later date. So, i decided to proceed on my own and just take calculated risk and tawakal that everything will go well.
- Bought the tix flight 3weeks+- before my departure after confirm that all my key deadline will be settled before i depart for US.
- This time less nervous cause i just come back from US travel 6 months earlier compared to my trip in Nov'22 i was extremely nervous and have difficulty to sleep.
- Miraculously, i just experience very mild jetlag at both way. My body and sleeping hours immediately adjusted to US time and KL time especially after crossing different time zones.
- And, i take this journey as one of my key milestone in my life as i travel solo 15000km from home. I have plenty of time for self reflection and repentance. More prayers i ever asked from Allah swt and i never feel this close to Allah swt.
- Thank you Allah for blessing me with strengths and courage to experience the glimpse of your heaven, to face this world alone but not lonely, to be with me even at the end of the world.
Itinerary
- Flight from KUL to SFO via DOH (8pm from KL, 245am from DOH, transit about 3 hours)
- Pros: Hamad Airport is much2 better than Dubai in term of integration, connection, prayer room and security to board to US.
- Cons: No free shower room and bad wifi connection.
- Arrive in SFO: 1345pm; 8 June 2022 (15 hours timing difference).
- Take Lyft (like Grab/Uber) from SFO to Hostel in Downtown.
- No direct subway from SFO. You need to take AirTrain to another station that will take you to Downtown called (BART) and it much cheaper just time consuming. Bus is also available if you travel light. But i travel with 2 luggage and a handbag.
- Manage to do free RTK test at airport and get one for free. Vaccination is also free in this airport (and many places in US)
- 4pm arrived in Hostel "Orange Village Hostel, O'Farrel". Close to Union Square
- Take my own time roaming around the city.
- Union Square, Cable Car Power Street, Fisherman Wharf, Ghirardelli Square (makan sundae). Ghirardelli ni famous chocolate kat West Coast ni. Dari SF, sampai Vegas and LA, memanjang chocolate and sundae die.
- Union Square ade Macy's (Cheese Factory) and many shopping mall here.
- Btw, during Spring/Summer got Day Light savings. The day start around 4am until 830pm. That's why can do lot's of thing during this trip.
- Weather is extremely kind to me throughout the trip. The sky in west coast is so blue and bright. Subhanallah.
- Take 2 bus rides to Golden Gate Bridge. Spent 2 hours here. walk and cross the pacific bay.
- Take another bus to Legion of Honor, a fine art museum. I enjoy museum and doing thing different from my routine when i travel. Know nothing about art. Just enjoy my free time.
- Another bus ride to Ocean Beach. Plan to walk to Japanese Tea Garden which is in the middle of Golden Gate Park. But i under estimate myself and the size of the park. Cancel my walking plan and decided to ride another bus to the closest bust stop to the Tea Garden.
- Take bus ride back to hostel and continue trip to Fisherman Wharf by Cable Car. The view from Cable Cable was amazing.
- Walk to Pier 39 - Hard Rock Cafe SFO, Dinner at Bubble Gump
- Take last cable car back to Hostel.
- Golden Gate Bridge - Legion of Honor - Golden Gate Park - Japanese Tea Garden - Fisherman Wharf - Pier 39
- Book a daily tour from Trip Advisor for USD199 - 15 hours round trip including entrance fees, transportation cost and guide. no meal included. Tips: USD20.
- The trip cover Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, Tunnel View of the Valley (El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Fall
- Back to Hostel and have the Halal Guys for dinner. The only Halal Guy i managed to try during this trip. Very close to my hostel.
- Take a bus ride to The Painted Ladies near Almo Park.
- Another cable car ride to Lombard St. Walk towards Coit Tower and Transamerica Pyramid
- Take a bus to Cable Car Museum (free entry). Have to walk cross Chinatown cause it's Saturday and pack with tourist riding Cable Car.
- Lunch Cake at Cheese Factory, Macy's Union Square
- Take a Lyft to SFO
- Flight to LAS at 4.15pm. about 1 hour flight.
- Take Lyft to Travelodge by Wyndham Las Vegas Airport Hotel. Got free shuttle but from T1. I arrived by United flight in T3. Too tired to take shuttle to T1. Was a bit lost but a kind gentleman help me to get me on my track back.
- Clean up and take a Lyft to High Roller, The LINQ (550 ft - the tallest wheel ride in North America)
- Walk along the LINQ Promenade, The Strip, Bellagio Fountain
- Somebody try to open my door. Luckily i block my door with chair. Tips: Choose guarded hotel with better security not an open hotel like this (no gate and i was on ground floor due to heavy beg)
- Take Lyft to Bellagio Hotel at 5am waiting for the Tour Guide to pick me and everyone.
- Bought daily tour from Trip Advisor for USD329 with free flow drinking water and lunch.
- 17 hours trip covers Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon X and Grand Canyon South Rim
- Horseshoe & Antelope close to each other but 2 hours ride to GC
- And there are many stops within GC
- Drop at Hurricane, Utah and one station close to Route 66 for rest room, snacks, coffee & fridge magnet of coz.
- Arrive in Bellagio, just nice for Bellagio Fountain musical, Walgreen and lost myself otw to HRC. Eventually call a Lyft almost cry heading to hotel.
- Breakfast at Denny's Diner and walk to The Strip for Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas.
- Flight to Los Angeles (LAX) at 3pm. Almost 2 hours flight via Southwest Airlines
- Free shuttle from hotel to T1
- Take taxi from LAX to Orange Drive Hostel (my credit card suddenly does not work with lyft)
- 5 min walk to Hollywood Walk of Fame, Target, CVS, Wax Museum, Ripley, El Capitan Theatre, Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, Roosevelt Hotel, Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood, Madam Tussads
- I didn't go to all this place. Just take picture and walk along the hollywood street.
- 10 min walk to Hollywood-Highland Subway (Red Line)
- Bought a daily tour from Trip Advisor for USD99 and USD10 tips.
- 7 hours trip from Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, The Original Farmers Market, The Grove, The Griffith Observatory (concert Adele) with Hollywood sign view
- I skip Hollywood walk of fame since i stay nearby
- Visit Line Friends (BTS merchandise) biggest store
- Take subway from Hollywood-Highland to US station (1 stop)
- Free shuttle from US Station
- Ticket bought online about USD120
- I try all the rides here except Simpsons cause 2 hours waiting time
- Back to hotel and watch Jurasic World 3 movie in Dolby Theatre (best lagi wayang kat KL)
- Shopping snacks and shampoo (necessity items every time i went to US)
- Coffee Bean + Breakfast with vegetarian food bought from Target
- Bad news about the hotel wifi. the security was at risk cause the previous guest use it to commit fraud. Happened to me when i realised my credit card was charged with US transaction after i arrived in KL for a few days/week. immediately call the bank to cancel my card. the host has remind me about the security breach but i totally forget about it and use hostel internet to buy the movie tix. moral of the story, use your own internet line for online transaction.
- Take Uber to LAX
- Flight to KUL via DOH at 6pm.
- about 6 hours transit
- booked a lounge service at Al Maha to get my shower, snacking and rest
- much2 better than premium lounge in KL
- Flight with MAS (Code Sharing) to KL at 2am, 18 June
- Arrived in KUL at 3pm.
- Home at 5pm at sleep until the next day.
- International Flight Qatar KUL - SFO - LAX - KUL: RM5,200
- Al Maha Lounge access: RM240
- United Airline SFO to LAS: RM400
- Southernwest Airlines LAS to LAX: RM1,000
- Accommodation: RM4,300 (can fit 2 pax)
- Trip Advisor packages (Yosemite+Grand Canyon+LA City): RM3,000
- Universal Studio California: RM600
- Entrance Fees (Museum, Tea Garden, High Roller, Movie Tix): RM400
- Transportation
- Lyft/Uber/Taxi: RM1600 (can fit 2-3 pax)
- SFO 3 days pass: RM200
- Subway LA: RM25
- Food, Tips & Shopping: RM5,000
Sunday, 13 March 2022
Tanda Allah nak kite jadi baik
Credit to this guy from Youtube Ustaz Ahmad Rizam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlLs_FYBsv4
Bagi nombor 6 tu selepas solat Zohor, Asar dan Isyak baca setiap dua doa tu 3 kali.
Moga moga bermanfaat bagi semua orang. Ini antara senjata umat akhir zaman 0. Bacalah Al Quran sekurang-kurangnya 2 muka surat setiap hari. 1. Baca Surah Al-Mulk setiap malam. 2. Baca Surah Al-Kahfi sama ada: a) Baca 10 ayat awal dan 10 ayat akhir setiap hari. b) Baca 110 ayat setiap hari Jumaat. 3. Baca Sayyidul Istighfar 3 kali selepas Subuh dan 3 kali selepas Maghrib: اللَّهُمَّ اَنْتَ رَبِّيْ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلّاَ اَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِيْ وَ اَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَ اَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَاْ اْسْتَطَعْتُ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ اَبُـوْءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَاَبُوْءُ بِذَنْبِيْ فَاْغْفِرْلِيْ فَاِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ اْلذُّنُوْبَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ. 4. Baca 4 kali pada waktu pagi dan 4 kali pada waktu petang: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَصْبَحْتُ (امْسَيتُ) أُشْهِدُكَ وَأُشْهِدُ حَمَلَةَ عَرْشِكَ وَمَلَائِكَتَكَ وَجَمِيعَ خَلْقِكَ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَحْدَكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُكَ وَرَسُولُكَ أَصْبَحْتُ : Pagi امْسَيتُ : Petang 5. Amalkan baca doa penghapus dosa syirik kecil dan besar: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لاَ أَعْلَمُ. 6. Baca 7 kali selepas Subuh dan 7 kali selepas Maghrib: اَللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ. dan tambah ayat ini hanya selepas Maghrib: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ. atau اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْئَلُكَ الجَنَّةَالْفِردَوْس. 7. Baca doa ini selepas Tahiyat Akhir sebelum memberi salam setiap solat: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ 8. Baca doa ini selepas i'tidal sebelum sujud dalam solat: رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيْهِ. 9. Amalkan Baca Surah Al-Ikhlas 3 kali kerana ia menyamakan kita telah khatamkan Al-Quran. 10. Amalkan solat sunat fajar 2 raka'at sebelum Subuh kerana ia lebih berharga daripada dunia dan isi-isinya. Baca Surah Al-Insyiroh pada rakaat 1 dan Surah Al-Fil pada rakaat 2 jika kamu mahu selamat dari kejahatan orang lain dan musuhnya. 11. Amalkan Solat sunat Ba'diyah 4 raka'at selepas Isya' kerana ia adalah seakan-akan beribadah pada malam Lailatul Qadar. 12. Amalkan solat sunat 12 raka'at setiap hari secara istiqomah kerana ia dapat menghindarkan daging seseorang dibakar daripada api neraka. 13. Amalkan selawat
kali setiap hari atau pun kalau boleh 1000 kali sehari jikalau mampu.Kalau amalkan selawat 100 kali selepas Subuh, Allah SWT tunaikan 30 hajat di dunia dan 70 hajat di akhirat dengan syaratnya ialah tidak bercakap dengan orang lain.
14. Amalkan baca doa ini kerana ia memenatkan 70 malaikat mencatat ganjaran selama 1000 hari:
جَزَی اﷲُ عَنَّاسَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدًاﷺ مَا هُوَ أُهْلُهْ.
15. Amalkan Doa Surah Ali Imran Ayat 8, Surah Al-Anbiya Ayat 87, Surah Al Baqarah ayat 201 dan Surah Al A'raf Ayat 23.
16. Kalau awak tak nak was was sudah berapa rakaat dalam solat guna petua saya dengan baca surah AL Kauthar pada rakaat 1 dan surah AL Ikhlas pada rakaat 2 untuk mudah ingat rakaat berapa sebab kadang kadang terlebih 1 rakaat. (Jangan lupa baca AL-Fatihah pulak)
17. Kalau awak sudah berkesempatan sampai ke masjid untuk solat atau untuk solat Jumaat, galakkan solat sunat Tahiyatul Masjid berserta dengan Sunat Qobliyah dan Sunat Ba'diyah.
18. Daripada Abu Hurairah RA, bahawa beliau mendengar Nabi SAW bersabda:
إِنَّ أُمَّتِي يُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنْ آثَارِ الوُضُوءِ، فَمَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطِيلَ غُرَّتَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ
Maksudnya: “Sesungguhnya umatku akan dipanggil pada hari Kiamat dengan dahi, tangan dan kaki yang berseri-seri disebabkan daripada kesan-kesan wudhuk. Barangsiapa yang mampu daripada kalangan kamu untuk melebihkan dahinya maka lakukanlah ia.” [Riwayat al-Bukhari (136)] Riwayat Muslim (246)
Anggota-anggota wudu' termasuk juga lebihkan basuhan pada kedua-dua tangan dan kaki dan kepala rambut tapi jangan lebih daripada 3 Kali.
Tuesday, 1 February 2022
New York & Chicago 2022
New York & Chicago 2021 (pre-Omicron)
·
2nd trip to United States - New York and Chicago
via Dubai
·
Date: 20 Nov to 3 Dec 2021
·
Season: Fall/Winter
·
Flight: Emirates/Qatar & United Airlines
·
Hotel: The New Yorkers, Wyndham, Manhattan;
Airbnb, Grove St. New Jersey (many halal food here) and Travelodge by Wyndham
Downtown, Chicago
·
No. of Travelers: 2 persons
·
https://www.instagram.com/bookworm.travel/
(can refer to IG Story)
Unplanned trip to US in 2021. We were informed by our fellow
traveller that the border will open soon both Malaysia and US for tourism. No
need travel pass anymore and no quarantine for US. Short story, I and Azlah already
has US Visa and still valid for many more years. The 1st time I went
to US was in 2018. From Niagara Fall, NY, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Florida.
This round, Azlah and I decided to visit Chicago for 2 nights since we will
spend 7 nights in NYC.
3 weeks plan. Renew passport at end of Oct 2021 and
immediately buy the flight tix. Before they announce the opening of the border,
return tix flight KL-NY is less than RM3k. After 2 days, it becomes RM3.5k. emmm…
and for me, I upgrade Business Class for 1 Sector on my way back from Dubai to
KL. Cause me additional cost.
So why we choose USA?
1) we had visa ready
2) no quarantine in US
3) free covid-19 test, rtk-antigen, antibody and PCR at any
time, anywhere in NYC
4) NYC still have mask on mandatory indoor
5) we love the vibe of NYC
Itinerary
20 Nov 2021 (Saturday): Depart from KLIA around 7.30pm.
21 Nov 2021 (Sunday): Arrived at JFK Terminal 4 (Dubai) &
Terminal 8 (Qatar) around 8am. We didn’t check that we will arrive at different
terminal. Just go for it.
-
Early check in at The New Yorker, Manhattan,
next to Penn Station, St. 34. Cost us additional USD75. 75% of the hotel price.
Shower, pray and take a rest
- Walk to Bryant Park, One Vanderbilt, NYC Library, Grand Central to buy Magnolia Bakery, Times Square, Line Store (carik BTS merchandise) and back to hotel, Fifth Avenue area.
22 22 Nov 2021: Breakfast at Best Bagel Coffee. Walking from hotel 34th St. to Central Park 59th St. Rent bike and cycling around Central Park. Can see many museum located near the upper Manhattan. Didn’t have a chance to visit this museum. Back to hotel. Check out. Store our luggage at rental storage nearby.
Take double decker train from Penn Main Station to Newark Airport Station to catch domestic flight from Newark to O’hare International Airport, Chicago. Massive airport. Arrived during sunset. Take blue train to Chicago downtown. Check in hotel.
23 Nov 2021: Chicago, the Windy City. It was -3c here. Very cold and windy. Breakfast at Dunkin Donut. Walk to Millennium Park. The Bean. Cloud Gate. The Great Lawn, Jay Pritzker Pavillion, Cross the BP bridge to Maggie Daily Park. So many parks here next to Lake Michigan. Walk along Chicago river walk, (Trump Tower) to Navy Pier. Stop at Target. Naik Ferris Wheel and went to Hard Rock Chicago and Starbucks. Tapau lunch/dinner at The Halal Guys and heading back to our hotel. Waking all day long. Tido awal. Malam bangun balik. Jalan2 around the city. Sini byk university, library, public office. Suke pegi CVS Pharmacy and Walgreen. Ade 7E. Panda Express etc.
24 Nov 2021: Breakfast at Dunkin. Walk
to Target to buy new luggage for me and painkiller. Sakit gigi. Lunch at Thai
food before check out from hotel and walk to Blue Train to catch our flight
back to Newark, New Jersey. Flight delay. So arrived quite late in NJ. Catch
bus from Newark to Path Station. Take subway to Grove St. NJ. Check in Airbnb.
25 Nov 2021: Thanksgiving Day. Breakfast
at Dunkin. Take subway to WTC. Walk to the downtown for Macy’s Parade. Ramai
giler org. waktu ni dah risau kalo kena covid. Abisla. Mcm mane nak balik. Then
pegi Central Park. Still got foliage. Walk to Rockefeller Center, St Patrick
Cathedral, Apple Store at 5th Avenue and take Roosevelt Island Aerial
Tram to Roosevelt Island. Dinner nasi
briyani tapau from Pakistan restaurant.
26 Nov 2021: Black Friday. Shopping
Day. Macy’s, Ulta, Amazon Bookstore, Zara, H&M, Uniqlo back to Apple Store at 5th
Avenue. Tapau chicken wing on the way back.
27 Nov 2021: Walk from WTC to find
Harry Potter Store. Take photo at the red stairs at Time Square. Lunch at
Birreria (Italian Fine Dining), Summit One Vanderbilt, Hudson Yards next to
Hudson River. High Line Park. Flatiron under renovation.
28 Nov 2021: NY announce State
Emergency. Walk to Brooklyn bridge and Dumbo. Back to Time Square to take Covid
Test. Get RTK-Antigen result in 15 minutes. Negative. Have to wait 24 hours for
PCR and it’s negative or not detected. Drop by at Yankees store. Walk along
Broadway theater district. Take subway to Union, NJ. Got festival here. Lunch
at Luke Lobster. Walk to Washington Sq Park.
29 Nov 2021: Target Store NJ. Final
shopping (trust me). Owen Grundy Park, Exchange Place (best view of NYC). Went
to 911 Memorial Museum and then Oculus. Tapau Nasi Briyani again.
30 Nov 2021: Morning walk to Liberty State Park, NJ. Went to Walgreen. Colgate Clock. 9/11 Memorial NJ, Morris Canal Basin. Print PCR report and Home Quarantine Letter. Check out from Airbnb at 4pm. Courtesy from our host. Dinner Shake Shack at JFK
1 Dec 2021: Transit in Milan 2-3
hours. Sempat shopping lagi.
2 Dec 2021: Transit in Dubai 4
hours. Have milkshake. Shower. Solat.
3 Dec 2021: Arrived in KLIA at
last. Register mysejahtera. Take pink wristlet. PCR test. Immigration. Pick up
luggage. Balik naik taxi airport.
- Emirates Return flight RM3,500
- United return flight: RM1,100
- Airbnb: RM4,000 6 nights for 2 pax
- Hotel NY (1N), Chicago (2N): RM1,700 for 2 pax
- Metro Pass 7 days: USD33
- Bike Rental + Subway + Bus + Makan + Shopping: At your own cost.
Sunday, 9 January 2022
Day 9: Sunny Sunday
9 June 2022
It has been 9 days i make Pengerang my 2nd home. Never imagine many years ago i will be here, far away from my hometown. Sound like i am overseas. Living here is not only about work. There are plenty stuff to do but Sunday, as lazy as i am no mater where i lived, i prefer to stay at home. Doing house chores, removing rubbish, pick up my stock of mineral waters from my car. i still have 1.5 boxes to go. cause so heavy, i pick up in staggered.
Open my windows and sliding doors to feel the fresh air. I love fresh air. so good. The sunset today seems beautiful. Didn't manage to watch entirely but see that no cloud blocking the sun. Finish ironing my clothes for 2 days.
mop my floor with serai wangi again. so many ants.
continue working. plan to stop by 930pm and prepare for tomorrow.
night