PH And PG: Part I

My old roommate back during my second year of A-Level, Y, is currently posted in Manila and I decided to visit her. In addition to visiting her, I discovered that I could finally fly from Manila to a country I’d been mulling over. This new country is only accessible from Manila, Singapore, some cities in Australia and maybe one or two other airports like Hong Kong. After spending time researching the places I could visit and tying the visit to Manila together, I finally bought the air ticket to the capital and then utilised my Malaysia Airlines ASEAN Fly Pass. As I chose to fly the early morning flight to Manila, I decided to overnight at KLIA T1.

Friday, 24 April 2026

After a mostly sleepless night, I decided to drop off my bag and make my way to the satellite building for morning prayers (the earlier plan was to perform prayers at the main terminal before dropping off my bag but that was before I saw that the gate was at the satellite building. Oh and the aerotrain was undergoing maintenance from 23:00 until 06:30).

We took off on time and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport T1 at 11:50. I had filled up the Philippine eTravel back in KL but no one stopped to ask me about it. As Y would only come around 13:30, I decided to perform prayers first. The prayer room has been relocated to third floor and is now called Multi-Faith Prayer Room. It’s much better and brighter compared to the previous prayer room. After prayers, I returned to ground floor and waited.

Y arrived at 13:30 and we went back to her apartment at Citadines on Valero Street in Makati. She’d cooked some dishes beforehand and we were soon tucking in.

We ventured out after dark and walked around the neighbourhood. Dinner was had at Wardu, an Indonesian restaurant.

Saturday, 25 April 2026

We ventured out after breakfast to Salcedo weekend market just before 10:00. It was already bright and sunny. We returned to the apartment an hour later.

We went out again at 15:30 and drove to Intramuros. Y’s colleague from KL joined us. We were caught up in a bad crawl and it took us 70 minutes to reach Manila Cathedral. I wondered aloud that it didn’t seem there’s a fuel crisis in Manila. We walked to Fort Santiago but there was a summer festival and we could only enter if we purchased the pass. So we turned back and went to Manila Cathedral. There was a wedding inside. We didn’t stay long in there though.

The driver came and on our request, brought us to San Agustin Church. This church is among the four Baroque churches in the Philippines that are prescribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Again, we didn’t stay long as we didn’t want to keep the driver waiting.

We drove on to the Mall of Asia. We then went to find the SM By The Bay Amusement Park Cruise. The ticket was PHP200 and we were lucky to get the last two seats on the boat. A couple and their son boarded after us and sat perched on the ‘deck’. Personally I didn’t think the cruise went far and showed much. The captain slowed the boat to allow passengers to get up and take photos. All in all, the trip took 30 minutes including the photo taking. There was a long queue waiting to board the boat when we came back so we were thankful we managed to board our boat when we did.

We then walked to find Martabak, an Indo-Malay restaurant and had dinner there. Y and colleague wanted to get some groceries so we stopped at SM Hypermarket before calling the driver to get us.

Sunday, 26 April 2026

This morning, we ventured out at 07:50 for a morning walk. After debating, we made our way to Legazpi Sunday Market. Some of the vendors were at Selcado market the day before. There were many people and it was pretty safe there. We spent some time wandering around the market before returning to the hotel for breakfast at the hotel restaurant.

We rested, Y cooked and it was an easy Sunday day. I finally finished my book. I had my shower at 17:30, dinner at 17:50 and performed prayers. I compared Grab and InDrive and decided on the latter. The driver arrived at 18:37 and it was a good thing he asked if I was going to Terminal 3 because my flight was from Terminal 1. I agreed to pay extra for the detour.

We reached the airport after 30 minutes. I paid the driver PHP250 and went in. I managed to change seats from 15A to 10B. There were many people and it was stopped to look at their destinations: mainly to the U Ass. The queue for the Saudi Airlines was also long. I’d forgotten that there are many Pinoys working in the Middle East; I was looking for Haj pilgrims. The queue to clear immigration which followed security process was also long. After that was done, I headed to the A Lounge near Gate 2 (alhamdulillah, thanks to Trip.com). I spent an hour there before making my way to Gate 1. We boarded pretty quickly and the plane was already pushing back by 21:10. I was surprised to find many Filipinos on board and learnt then that many Pinoys work in PNG. I dozed off during take-off. 

The crew started serving dinner at 22:30. I’d requested for a Muslim meal and it was delivered at the same time as other passengers’. I then tried to sleep but slept only fitfully.

Monday, 27 April 2026

It started to get stuffy in the plane. I kept adjusting the AC to no avail. A few passengers were fanning themselves so it wasn’t just me. The plane was new and clean, the crew was polite, courteous and delivered announcements softly but the AC didn’t work well.

We landed at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, at 04:45, well ahead of ETA of 05:10. After clearing passport control, I had to wait a while for my bag. Then I had to go through the quarantine line because I’d declared bringing food into the country. My 100th country! Syukur Alhamdulillah.

After performing prayers, I then waited for the driver from Hohola Apartments to arrive. Kule, the manager, had informed me that the driver comes in at 06:00 and that I would have to wait. I said not to worry, I would wait. The driver and Kule himself arrived at 06:44 and it took us less than ten minutes to reach the apartments. Although the check-in time was after 11:00 according to Klook, Kule brought me to the room and said I could meet him after I’d rested.

I showered, performed Dhuha prayers and had some bun. Then I decided to have a kip and set the alarm. At 09:30, I went down and was informed that the driver (a different driver) would come along and they would inform me when he’d arrived. He said I could pay 50 Kina per day for the fuel. I thought this was very reasonable as I’d read that some visitors paid even more.

Just after 10:00, there was a knock on my door. I opened it to find a lady who said she would accompany me. Her name is Lina and the driver is Maurice. First, we drove to Vision City Mega Mall where I changed AUD200 for 577 Kina. They accompanied me throughout a ring like bodyguards. Indeed, I’d read that Port Moresby is not very safe and visitors should have a guide. My mates were even discouraging me from coming.

Having settled my currency exchange, we drove to Port Moresby Nature Park. Foreigners have to pay 22 Kina for the ticket. Lina and I spent almost two hours in the park. It was great to learn about the local fauna and flora and animals.

Next, we drove to Papua New Guinea National Museum & Art Centre. Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed to take photos in there. There was a display of fishing traps, wooden statues, masks, war shields, and a gallery on the country’s involvement in the WW II. We spent about 50 minutes there before returning to the apartment. I also learnt from Lina that many businesses in the city are owned by Asians. PNG celebrated its 50th year of independence in 2025 and its Independence Day falls on 16 September to which I remarked, ‘We celebrate Malaysia Day on 16 September!’. 

Having had a poor night’s sleep, I had an afternoon nap. My nephew had given some retort food and I brought them over on this trip and had them in the room for dinner. Syukur Alhamdulillah for the rezeki.

As Subuh is early in these parts, I told myself to hit the sack early. I was in bed shortly after 22:30. PNG is two hours ahead of Malaysia and the Philippines.

Tuesday, 28 April 2026

I woke at 04:30 and performed prayers. I had a short nap after prayers and was up at 07:10. My next door neighbour was coughing all night.  We left at 09:40 and Maurice drove us to Koki Fish Market. There were many types of fish, more fish than I know existed. I didn’t see any prawns or shrimps or crabs though. We spent about 15 minutes here before continuing on to Ela Beach. We spent another 16 minutes there before going to Waterfront Shopping Centre. I bought some local Arabica coffee, local tea, local chocolates, local honey, and some cookies. I also told Lina to get some food for herself and Maurice. The bill came to almost 200 Kina which I thought was quite steep but things do cost more in PNG.  We drove back to Hohola Apartments and I sat in the room, packing and reading my book.

To be continued

Celebes, Part II

Thursday, 2 April 2026

I woke up early for morning prayers. After freshening up and packing, I had breakfast. It was banana pancake today with a mug of tea and a glass of cold passion fruit juice. After checking out, I left and walked down to Jl. Ahmad Yani. I managed to get a mobil immediately for Terminal Bayangan. He charged me Rp8k though and I remarked that I paid lower to get to Ke’te’ Kesu’ which was further.

Terminal Bayangan was not even a proper terminal, just an unmarked stop with some shops. Apparently buses are not allowed into Rantepao town after 06:00 to avoid traffic jam hence the buses stop here to drop off and pick up passengers. Although Manggala bus company did allow passengers to board from their office in town. Hmm.

The bus finally left at 08:07. I suppose that was as good as it gets in terms of punctuality. We soon made our slow way down to Makale stopping every now and then. The road was mainly winding due to the terrain and only one lane for each direction. We stopped somewhere after Kalosi and neither the driver nor his assistants bothered to tell us that the bus was stopping for 20 minutes. I went down to use the facilities. More mosques appeared as we continued to the south. Alhamdulillah.

We left at 11:00 and less than 20 minutes later, pulled up across from the second rest stop which the sleeper bus I was on stopped at on Monday evening. One of the bus assistants said, ‘Warung’ and left. He didn’t hear me ask how long we would be there.

We continued on and on and stopped for one last time at a roadside mosque. I asked if we would be there long, the driver said no. So I performed ablutions and performed prayers on the bus. We’d left the highlands by then and were travelling by the coast by then. I don’t think there was ever a time when the landscape didn’t feature houses, little towns and paddy fields.

My seat which was at the front row soon had the sun beating down on it with no curtain to hold the glare back so I moved to a seat a few rows behind. The thing was the AC was hardly felt as I moved to the back. Sigh.

We finally reached the outskirts of Makassar and slowly inched our way through the rush hour. I finally got down at the terminal (not the same terminal from which I boarded the sleeper bus). I crossed the busy road and tried to find an ojek or taxi. No joy so I started walking until I reached a bus stop. A couple of locals helpfully told me to take an angkot and nailed one down for me. A few ladies in the angkot helped let me know where to alight and advised me to take a trishaw to the hotel. I decided it was close enough to my hotel and walked. This way, I could browse eateries and I bought Jakarta fried rice to go.

I reached Vindhika Hotel at 19:35 and checked in. My room was at the ground floor. I had to pay Rp50k as room deposit. The cons of having a room on the ground floor are that I could hear the conversation in the lobby and even smell cigarette smoke. The room light was too dim to do any reading and the bed sheet had stains. Probably clean but with old stains.

Friday, 3 April 2026

This morning, I left just before 08:30 and walked to Masjid 99 Kubah (99-Dome Mosque), named after the 99 names of Allah. After 20 minutes, I left and walked to Masjid Amirul Mukminin, the floating mosque. Unfortunately, there was a lot of rubbish in the river so there was a bit of an unpleasant smell. I then walked along Losari Beach and after finding out there were no longer buses to the airport departing from Jl. Somba OPU, I continued on up to Fort Rotterdam.

Fort Rotterdam is a Dutch fort built on top of a fort of the Gowa Kingdom. The fort was the Dutch regional military and governmental headquarters until the 1930s. It was extensively restored in the 1970s and is now a cultural and educational centre, a venue for music and dance events, and a tourist destination. The buildings in the Fort are labelled alphabetically in clockwise direction when one enters the grounds so I went from one building to another in the same order. Diponegoro, a Javanese prince who fought against the Dutch, was imprisoned in building N when he was exiled to Makassar. While I was pleasantly surprised to find there was no admission charge to the Fort, I was disappointed that most buildings were closed to the public. I would have liked to enter some of the buildings. There was also a little canal in the grounds but it was full of rubbish at one end and had turned green from algae. I spent close to an hour at the Fort.

After the Fort, I continued on and decided to check out the market. It was by pure luck that I came upon Coto Nusantara Restaurant. I saw three young local Chinese emerging from a big vehicle and entering the restaurant and when I looked in, the restaurant was full. I thought the food must be very good if it managed to attract even the Chinese to eat there. Like I said, the restaurant was full (the Chinese who entered before me got the last available table) but I was able to share a table with a local couple. Coto Makassar comes in a very small bowl. I decided to have paru soto and the couple told me that the locals eat the soto with ketupat. I asked how the restaurant staff would know how many ketupat one consumed and the man said on average, customers eat two pieces of ketupat each. I asked if it was a public holiday as I saw some kids around and the man checked his phone and said, yes. I’d forgotten it was Good Friday. Plus I didn’t realise Indonesia observes Good Friday as a public holiday.

After lunch, I continued on to the market. It was already noon then and the mosques were calling out people for Friday prayers. When I reached the market, I found that it was like Tanah Abang in Jakarta so I turned and made my way back to the hotel, passing the Mandala Monument on the way.

I ventured out in the early evening to find dinner. It was a busy evening, being Saturday and eve of Easter which the Christians attending service. After dinner, I returned to my room and packed.

Saturday, 4 April 2026

I left my room after 07:00 to find breakfast and walked around the block and more before I could find any stall selling food. A man was frying noodles at one stall, a woman was selling fried food at another. I finally found a small warung and had nasi pecel (white rice with some gado gado and peanut sauce on top). I then went to buy some frozen otak-otak before returning to my room

 I left the room at 08:50 and checked out. One of the girls at the reception went to check the room before returning my deposit. I then ordered a car from Grab. The driver asked if I wanted to take the highway and when I said yes, he said I’d need to give him some cash for him to pay the toll. He asked for Rp50k which I thought was a bit high.

It took slightly more than 30 more to reach the airport. I’d bought a bottle of water only to be told to dispose of it after the second security check. I didn’t realise there would be a second check (for which I didn’t even declare my LAGs but this was fine). I decided to finish my water there and then. Was not amused to find a small shop selling water after that. Grr!

The plane was not as full as it was when I flew out so I changed seats because I didn’t want to be sandwiched in the middle seat. We took off close to our ETD and landed at 14:00. Alhamdulillah.

The end

Celebes, Part I

I’d been wanting to go to Tana Toraja but was always put off by the long bus journey from Makassar. Then I decided well, I should go and visit it while I still can and after browsing, purchased AA tickets via xx. I was debating where to stay and decided on Rantepao, also because buses go there, before searching for accommodation in Rantepao and Makassar. Due to the long bus journeys, I decided to spend the first night on a sleeper bus and two nights each in Rantepao and Makassar with the return trip to Makassar during the day. It is tempting to just overnight in the bus but I wouldn’t get to see the countryside otherwise.

Monday, 30 March 2026

I made my way to KLIA T2 for my 14:30 flight. We had to endure a 75-minute delay due to the late arrival of our flight, the never-before painfully slow boarding and the non-functioning AC in the plane. The plane had to return to the bay (that was what the captain called it) to address the AC problem. Thankfully, the plane was near to the bay and not on the runway. In the end, we took off at 15:45.

And it didn’t stop there, oh no. One passenger had an epileptic episode mid-flight and the cabin crew tried to help him in various ways (one insensitive passenger was filming it, what a dickhead. How would you like to be filmed when you’re convulsing? A cabin crew had to tell him to stop recording). Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up. One passenger in the row behind was happily coughing throughout the flight until he was told off by a cabin crew as we were about to descend to cover his mouth when coughing. Yet another dickhead who had to be told to cover his mouth. And he was supposed to be an adult. I wished other passengers and the cabin crew had told him off at the beginning and not when the journey was about to end.

It was raining when we finally landed at 19:05. I rushed off as I had to make it to the bus terminal for my 20:10 bus. And guess what, the bus only arrived at 20:45. I was surprised when we stopped to use the facilities to find I’d actually managed to fall asleep.

Tuesday, 31 March 2026

We reached Rantepao early this morning and after getting my bag, I made a beeline for the mosque to perform prayers. I then walked around town and even bought bus ticket back to Makassar on Thursday. It turned out that not all bus companies operate service to Makassar during the day, they only have night buses. I then walked to the guesthouse to check in. My heart sank when I first turned into the lane with its puddles of rainwater and the rough ground. And there were dogs too. I managed to get to Riana Homestay safely though and the homestay owner allowed early check-in.

After resting, I left to explore the town further. Then I made my way down to Jl. Ahmad Yani and an angkot driver advised me to ride a shared mobil (vehicle) to Ke’te’ Kesu’ so I did. This is a concept I learnt in Flores in November last year, The fare was only Rp7k. Tongkonan Ke’te’ Kesu’ is one of the traditional villages in Toraja located to the south of Rantepao, offering a glimpse into the legacy of the Torajan people. The site features well-preserved ancestral houses, burial sites, and a local market selling various souvenirs. I went up to the cave but didn’t enter as I didn’t want to have nightmares tonight.

Next, I rode an angkot to the Tedong Bonga buffalo roundabout then changed for a shared mobil to Lemo. I then walked up to Lemo Stone Cemetery. Lemo is known as the home of spirits. Here, you can see funeral chambers carved directly into the steep cliff walls and wooden statues, known as Tau Tau, intricately sculpted to resemble and represent the departed. These statues have unique hand posture: one hand facing upwards, and the other downwards. This gesture holds a special meaning: a request and a blessing. Apparently, the departed is asking their family to perform traditional rituals, ensuring that the family left behind is blessed. I then browsed the souvenir stalls before making my way down to the main road and getting another shared mobil back to Rantepao. These shared mobil cost less than half of what a one-way trip on Grab bike would’ve cost me. As it was threatening to rain, I decided to buy dinner to go in advance so that I need not venture out again. And good thing I did too because the skies opened up and it rained from 14:45 well into the night… so I decided to turn in early tonight.

By the way, the locals are big on buffaloes here especially Tedong Bonga or a typical buffalo from Toraja ethnic in South Sulawesi. In the Torajan language, ‘tedong’ is a term of buffalo. Tedong bonga, a typical buffalo of Toraja with a striped motif resembling a cow, symbolises prosperity as well as signifies the level of wealth and social status of its owner in the eyes of the community. Torajan regard Tedong Bonga as a sacred being who will take them to nirvana when they die. Another thing I  noticed are the long queues of vehicles at petrol stations here…

Walked 16,600 steps or 11.3 km on my first day in Tana Toraja.

Wednesday, 1 April 2026

I woke up early for morning prayers. The church music and singing started at 05:35 followed by a sermon by a woman (a priestess? And yes, I could hear them all from my room). It lasted for an hour.  After breakfast of scrambled egg and toast with a mug of tea and a glass of cold passion fruit juice, I walked out to Jl. Diponegoro to find a mobil before deciding to walk to Jl. Ahmad Yani. In the end, I rode a mobil to Terminal Bolu (the Bolu market is here and on Tuesday and Saturday mornings there are buffalo markets too) and from there, I rode an ojek to Bori’ Kalimbuang which is located north of Rantepao. Yesterday I had visited two sites south of Rantepao and today I would visit two sites north of Rantepao.

Bori’ Kalimbuang is a megalithic site located in Sesean Village, North Toraja Regency. It is one of the most important megalithic sites in Tana Toraja, and is part of the UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage Status as ‘Megalithic Cultural Heritage’. Bori’ Kalimbuang is a popular tourist destination, and is known for its impressive megalithic structures and its scenic setting. The site is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, and offers stunning views of the Torajan countryside. The ticket cost Rp30k.  Bori’ Kalimbuang is home to a large number of menhirs, which are tall, standing stones. There are over 100 menhirs in the site, ranging in size from small stones to massive boulders. The menhirs are believed to have been erected by the Toraja people over 1,000 years ago, and were used for various purposes, including religious ceremonies, burials, and as markers of social status. Each megalith tells a story – they're not just random stones, but markers of grand funeral ceremonies past, where noble Torajans completed their journey to the afterlife.  These weathered sentinels, some reaching heights of over 4 meters (13 feet), create an almost mystical atmosphere in the morning light. The Torajans believe these stones possess supernatural power, each one erected to commemorate a significant funeral ceremony of the nobility. The size of each menhir corresponds to the status of the deceased and the grandeur of their funeral – a permanent record of past ceremonies written in stone.

In addition to the menhirs, Bori’ Kalimbuang also contains a number of other megalithic structures, including stone circles, stone tombs, and stone statues. The site is also home to a number of traditional Toraja houses, known as tongkonan.  Bori’ Kalimbuang is also an important cultural site for the Toraja people. The site is used for a number of traditional ceremonies, including the Rambu Solo’, or funeral ceremony. I spent 70 minutes there walking around the site. There was even a Tedong Bonga cow there, chained through its nose, poor baby. How was it supposed to feed itself, I wondered.

I asked the ticket counter man if he thought Palawa’ was worth going. He said it would be much easier to get transportation back to Rantepao from Palawa’ instead of from Bori’ and he said a local chap, Doni, would be able to take me there. So I went to the nearby house and asked if Doni could bring me to Palawa’. Turned out he’d never been to Palawa’ tourist site before.

A woman suddenly appeared and asked me to pay the admittance which was Rp50k which she then lowered to Rp20k. If you want to see the old Tongkonan (Toraja traditional house), this is a good place to take good photos with ambience. The place is relatively quiet - I was the only visitor there - but the view is great. Like I said, a good place to be except for the stupid barking dogs. They are just everywhere!

I spent about 20 minutes there before walking down to the main road. After about ten minutes, a car stopped and driver said he was going to Terminal Bolu. The shopkeeper with whom I had a brief chat suggested I ride the mobil to Bolu so I did. From Bolu, I took an angkot to Rantepao to Alfamidi store.  I then bought some Jakarta fried noodles for dinner before returning to my room. Today was a dry day for a change although the weather forecast did predict rain.  I finished my book and rested. I suppose I could’ve taken the night bus back to Makassar but I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the view at night.

To be continued

Vietnam’s City Of Eternal Spring

This trip was initially planned to be from 1 to 4 March; however, a few weeks before departure, I received notification from Trip.com that there would be no flight back on 4 March after all. I was given the option of either cancelling the trip and getting a refund, or rescheduling the trip. So I looked at the calendar and decided to bring the trio forward by two days.  I’d already booked non-refundable accommodation at The Blue House. I emailed the property and informed that I had to cancel my booking because there would be no flight back on 4 March. Thankfully the property agreed to cancel my booking without any charge. I then searched for another accommodation and finally settled on Daisy Dalat House. I didn’t want to book via Booking dot com as the rate was higher on that platform. Thankfully, the reasonable owner agreed to accept my booking without any deposit. Alhamdulillah.  

Friday, 27 February 2026

I left house at 07:30 and made my way to the airport, stopping en route to briefly meet my niece. I arrived at KLIA T2 at 09:42 and made my way to the gate. Unlike the recent trips, this time my flight would depart from gate L. I managed to perform dhuha prayers before boarding.  We landed at 12:35 local time and went through passport control. I then went to find the airport shuttle bus counter. Was given misleading directions by clueless personnel before I went for another look. I was surprised to find the fare was VND150k and not VND50k as mentioned by some sites. I tried to argue but the staff were not friendly. I reluctantly paid and was told to have a seat.

After fifteen minutes, we were called to board the bus and when asked where the bus was, one staff pointedly vague into the distance. Well, I walked over to the parking lot and had to turn back because the bus had pulled over at the airport entrance. I grimaced at the thought of having to take the bus from the city back to the airport for my flight back.

The journey into the city took 40 minutes and the traffic built steadily as we approached the city centre. I got down at Dalat Market or rather the road above the market. Sitting at between 1,500 to 2,000 metres above the sea level, Dalat is a very hilly city. I walked down, crossed the roads and then up a hill to my hotel. When I booked the hotel, I didn’t realise how close it was to St Nicholas Cathedral aka Chicken Cathedral (because of a chicken on top of it) and the local version of the Eiffel Tower. My hotel is in a small lane off the main road. Very convenient and very central. Alhamdulillah.

I checked in and rested. My room was on the second floor and overlooked a valley. There’s a school across from the hotel and it was noisy as schools are. After performing prayers, I walked out and went to find Tiem Chay, a vegetarian restaurant about ten minutes away (it didn’t look open though). Then I walked to Lâm Viên Square. There’s a beautiful green artichoke bud-shape coffee shop there and a yellow wild sunflower art structure at the square. I walked around admiring the view of the square and Xuan Huong Lake before continuing on to Ga Dalat or Dalat Train Station. I passed a smaller lake, Lang Lake, and noticed the rubbish thrown into this much smaller lake (pond, more like). There’s a charge to enter the station and I decided not to bother so I turned back and walked along the lake. There were many people there: locals jogging or exercising, visitors taking photos and walking around, anglers trying their luck. And again, I saw rubbish ton the ground and in the lake. Dalat reminds me of Sapa with its elevation and cool climate but Sapa is so much more cleaner.

I continued on and walked to the night market which was just starting to be set up. I browsed some stalls before deciding to leave and find a vegetarian restaurant to break my fast. I walked to Bếp Chay Thiên Bình at Nguyen Chi Thanh. This restaurant sold buffet rice where you self-serve. I scooped some rice and a variety of dishes then walked to sit on the first floor. My meal cost VND50k. After dinner, I walked back to the hotel, stopping en route at Nhà Nghỉ Đà Lạt Chay, another vegetarian restaurant, to buy fried rice for my predawn meal.

Saturday, 28 February 2026

I woke up for prayers and predawn meal and didn’t sleep thereafter. I’d paid to go on a tour to the waterfalls today among others. I left at 08:10 and walked to nearby Du Parc Hotel (built in 1932). The VietChallenge vehicle was pulling up as I was approaching the hotel so it was great timing. The guide offered me to sit upfront next the driver and I happily accepted. The guide was very knowledgeable and eager to share information. I also found out that the International Airport would be closed from 4 March until end-August 2026. Ahh, so that explains why there was no flight back on 4 March.

We drove around picking up other guests then finally we drove out of Dalat heading for Datanla Waterfall. I’d bought the entrance ticket via Trip.com so I just showed my reservation at the counter for the ticket which visitors would need to scan at the turnstile. Once inside, you have the option of riding the Alpine Coaster (at an additional cost of course. You could buy the ticket on Trip.com before going) or walking down to the waterfall. I walked down of course. It took only ten minutes. I spent twenty minutes at the waterfall before heading up again as I knew it would take slightly longer on the way up. Well, it took only 12 minutes actually for me to walk up. I browsed the shops then went to use the facilities before exiting.

We left at 09:40 and drove to Pongour Waterfall. It took about 50 minutes to reach Pongour Waterfall from Datanla. The entrance ticket was included in the tour ticket. Again, we had to walk down to the waterfall. Compared to Datanla, it was a shorter walk but hotter as there was hardly any shade along the road. Pongour is a wider waterfall. We spent 50 minutes here before continuing on.

We stopped for an early lunch. I’d earlier informed Ocean, the guide, that I was fasting and wouldn’t be joining lunch. I sat outside the restaurant and read my book. The nearby shops were closed. Strange, as it was Saturday and you’d expect more customers than on a weekday.

We left the restaurant about 50 minutes later and drove to Linh An Pagoda. Ocean said we could enter the statue and climb up so that was what I did. We had to remove our shoes first. I climbed up to the very top or at least until where the stairs ended. From inside the statue, you could see the Elephant Waterfall and the surrounding countryside. I went down and walked around the temple complex for an eye-level view of the waterfall.

Our next stop was Cuong Huan Silk Factory where we were taken through the various steps of extracting until silk is produced. There was a small shop selling silk products but the selection was limited. We waited for a member of the group to conclude her purchases before leaving.

NWe then stopped at a cricket farm and visitors got to taste fried crickets along with the local rice wine. We didn’t stay here long and before long, we were at Me Linh Coffee Garden. We walked around the ‘showroom’ then to the gated enclosure where the weasels were kept. We were told that the weasels actually prefer other things like bananas over coffee.. we also had the opportunity to try out the coffee at the in-house coffee shop, something I was glad to sit out. I like the aroma of coffee but I drink tea. Last but not least, we stopped at a flower farm specialising in gerbera daisies. It had started drizzling by then.

It took us thirty minutes to reach Dalat and I got down at the Chicken Cathedral. I performed prayers and then waited to break fast before venturing out to Tu Sen Vegetarian Restaurant to get fried rice for the following morning’s predawn meal. There were so many young couples taking photos with the local Eiffel Tower in the background. I stopped on the way back at Du Parc Hotel to take some photos at the lobby.

Sunday, 1 March 2026

I’d earmarked my third day in Dalat to revolve around art and culture. I returned to Du Parc Hotel and admired the architecture and its classic elegant beauty. Then I walked to Crazy House. The ticket cost VND80k amd I spent 70 minutes there. Gaudi would be proud! I’d reached the roundabout at Trần Phu when I looked across the road and saw an advertisement of Muslim clothing. I was intrigued of course so I crossed the road and discovered Dalat Mai. The shop sold Muslim clothes for men and women, head scarves, prayer attire and even materials to make clothes. I spent probably more than an hour there. The shop accepted Ringgit but I didn’t bring any Ringgit so I swiped my card and arranged for shipping (it turned out to cost less than paying AirAsia for additional luggage).

Then I made my way to Doc Nha Lang, the mural street in the city. I wandered around the backlanes and alleys to snap photos. Then I took the long, long way to Dalat City Flower Garden before walking along Xuan Huong Lake. Finally, I made my way to Dalat Market where I bought dried guava, dried strawberries and dried ginger.

I decided to try my luck and walked to Tiem Chay. Alhamdulillah, I was lucky this time. I wanted to buy lemongrass fried rice but was told they had run out of lemongrass. The lady offered me family rice instead which turned out to be rice with five dishes. I asked about the opening hours and was told the restaurant opened from 06:30 for breakfast and that they were closing for the day. Alhamdulillah, I was indeed lucky and said so.

I returned to my room and rested. Performed prayers, packed, broke fast, prayers, read book before hitting the sack.

Monday, 2 March 2026

All good things must come to an end and my stay in Dalat ended today. I left at 09:00 amd walked to a bus stop four minutes away. I’d just missed the bus so I waited another fifteen minutes for the next bus number 02 which passed the airport junction. The fare was only VND20k and it took 40 minutes only to get to the airport junction even though the driver stopped a few times and for five minutes at one point to accept a delivery. It took me 15 minutes to walk to the terminal from the airport junction. Not a hardship at all even if I was fasting.

I had checked in online but still had to get a physical boarding pass before I could clear security and passport control. I was shocked to find the two covered Malay girls in a coffee shop at the airport having a meal. It’s only a two-hour plus flight after all and to me, I’m Muslim wherever I am. Why can’t you observe and respect Ramadan? Being in a foreign country doesn’t mean you don’t have to fast and it’s a short flight anyway, not a ten-hour flight or more.

We took off on time (we were actually called to board before passenger from KL had finished disembarking). We landed at KLIA T2 at 15:46. The prayer room after passport control was closed so I performed prayers in the nursing room before rushing to catch the 16:08 KLIA Transit train.

Remember, Dalat International Airport is closed from 4 March until end-August 2026 (although I suspect it’ll only be ready in early September) so if you want to head to Dalat, you can fly to Nha Trang and bus it from there.

My X-Rated Trip: Episode III

Sunday, 15 February 2026

I woke up, showered and performed prayers. After a quick breakfast, I left at 06:17. There was a marathon in the city today and I didn’t want to be caught up in any road blocks or road closures. I walked to Kokura train station and bought a ticket to Hakata station in Fukuoka.

I arrived at Hakata at 08:38 and walked to Toyoko Inn Hakata-eki Minami. It had just finished raining and the ground was wet. After depositing my bags at the hotel, I boarded the hotel shuttle back to Hakata Train Station where I bought tickets to Nagasaki. Again, it’s a combination of local and Shinkansen and the return tickets cost more than the Hiroshima-Kurashiki return tickets. We had to change trains at Takeo-Onsen but the Shinkansen train was at the same platform and was already waiting.

We arrived at Nagasaki station at 11:28 and I walked to Dejima. Dejima is an artificial island constructed in 1636 to accommodate Portuguese traders. In 1639, an edict was passed, effectively closing the country off from foreigners. Dejima remained unused until 1641 when the Dutch trading post at Hirado was transferred there. Dejima was the only open window to the West for 218 years until Japan came out of its national seclusion. I didn’t enter though and instead continued on towards Oura Cathedral.

I came upon the Oura Higashi-yamate Foreign Settlement area and walked up the hill (Dutch Slope) to look at the Western-style houses. I’d noticed when I came out of the train and glanced at one side that Nagasaki is a pretty hilly city. The Oura Higashi-yamate area is similarly hilly. It had gotten warm by then and I shrugged off my fleece jacket.

I walked on and came upon Glover Sky Road which is a covered escalator (it reminded me of a covered furnicular). The view at the top of the city and port was spectacular. I didn’t enter Glover Garden as I was pressed for time. Instead I continued on towards Oura Cathedral which is one of the 15 hidden Christian sites in Nagasaki region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I descended down to former HSBC Bank Nagasaki branch then walked to Shinchimachi, Nagasaki’s Chinatown. I spent some time at the former Chinese quarter before walking to Ohato tram stop and riding the tram to Peace Park. There is also Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum but I decided to skip it.

After Peace Park, I walked down by the river to the railway station stopping en route at Nagasaki Masjid; unfortunately, it was locked. I tried knocking before leaving in disappointment.

I rode the Shinsaken to Takeo-Onsen where I changed trains for Hakata. At Hakata station, I bought some fried noodles at Family Mart then waited for the shuttle back to the hotel.

Monday, 16 February 2026

I went down for breakfast then took the 09:45 shuttle to Hakata station. From there, I walked to Hakata Sennen-no-Mon Gate which is the gate to Old Hakata. Then I continued to Tochoji Temple and then Kushida Shrine. There were many people at the Shrine compared to the temple. I then stumbled upon Kawabata Shopping Arcade. I stopped at a cat-themed shop before continuing on to Tenjin. From Tenjin, it was a stroll to Maizuru Park where I spent some time amidst the cherry blossom trees before climbing up the Fukuoka castle ruins. It was an overcast day and slightly cooler than the previous day in Nagasaki where the sun shone brightly.

I dithered and finally decided to check out the nearby Ohori Park. The name means moat and came about when an old Fukokan lord reclaimed part of a cove or an inlet and made a moat for Fukuoka Castle. I spent about twenty minutes there before leaving.

I walked back to Tenjin area and browsed some shops before buying some Japanese snacks to bring home. Then I walked back to the cat-themed shop at Kawabata Shopping Arcade before returning to Hakata station. I also bought some onigiri for dinner at Lawson.  I spent the evening packing before turning in.

Tuesday, 17 February 2026: FUK then back to SIN

Well, all good things must come to an end. I left the room at 06:35 and went down for breakfast. The queue was long so I went up again to get my bags. I’d packed my fleece jacket, gloves, muffler and hat and would be braving the cold. Well, the hotel wasn’t cold and the shuttle ride to the airport would only take ten minutes.  At the airport, I had to print the bag tag and boarding passes before going to another counter to drop off my bag. Unfortunately the system failed me so I had to manually check in my bag. What a bother. Then we went through security procedure before an electronic passport control.

The duty free has Japanese boutiques like Porter and shops like Uniqlo and 7-11 convenience store. There are also counters selling Japanese desserts - cakes, chocolates and biscuits. Very, very tempting indeed but I didn’t have a personal porter or bodyguard to help me carry my bags. One Japanese bloke spoke to me - in Bahasa. Turned out he learnt Bahasa in Bali.

We took off on time. I read and finished my fourth book for this trip. The plane was made to hover over Singaporean airspace due to terminal congestion though so I couldn’t perform prayers at Changi as I’d planned as I had to rush to my next gate. Well, turned out we took off later than scheduled then had to wait for a plane to taxi before we could proceed to the gate.  So that was my trip back to Japan after 13 plus years. And I made the conscious decision not to go to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe which I’d been to before.

The End

My X-Rated Trip: Episode II

Thursday, 12 February 2026

I wanted to try fasting in Japan so I woke up for my predawn meal this morning. I left my room after 08:00 and rode the streetcar to Hiroden-Miyajimaguchi Station. I was able to take the next ferry that arrived. The ferry ride took about 15 minutes. I walked along the waterfront heading for Itsukushima Jinja Shino Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are wild deers on Miyajima and I met a few  of them on my walk.

I paid ¥300 to enter the shrine and walked through it. The shrine offers a stunning view of the ‘floating’ torii gate and the surrounding landscape with the scenery. Hanging with the low and high tides. That explains why the tide times were posted. Some brave souls did walk a bit on the sandbank but they didn’t quite reach the torii gate.

After leaving the shrine, I walked along the waterfront to admire the view of the torii gate. Then I turned and walked to Itsukushima Shrine Treasure Hall before climbing up to Tahoto Pagoda. I then walked along the lane to Omoto Park. There are many deer at Omoto Park. After spending some time with the dear deer, I walked back along Asebihodo lane to Momojidani Park. Indeed if one has enough time, energy and inclination, one can go on a few hikes in the island. I returned to the town centre and Omotesando Shopping Street.

I boarded the ferry and back at the mainland, missed the first streetcar by a few seconds. I rode the next one leaving at 14:20 and was back at the hotel more than an hour later. I ventured out again after evening prayers and had dinner at a restaurant. I ordered oyster noodles and an orange drink (customers arriving after 19:00 must order drinks). After dinner, I explored Hondori Shopping Street before returning to the hotel.

Walked 18,120 steps or 12.5 km on my third day in Japan.

Friday, 13 February 2026

I checked out this morning at 09:50 and left my bags at the lobby. I then rode the streetcar to Hiroshima Station where I bought tickets to Kurashiki in Okayama. I had to buy Shinkansen and local train tickets and change trains at Shin-Kurashiki station. 

At Kurashiki, I followed signs to Bikan Historical Quarter. This quarter encompasses an area of historic buildings along an old willow-edged canal where a group of black and white warehouses has been converted into museums and lane ways are lined with old wooden houses and shops. In the feudal era, the warehouses were used to store rice brought by boat from the surrounding countryside. I had fun walking along the canal and capturing photos of the beautiful buildings. I reluctantly returned to the station for the 15:40 local train to Shin-Kurashiki and then the 16:02 train back to Hiroshima.

Back in Hiroshima, I went to find Sumiya Spa & Hotel. I’d read that this hotel offers prayer room and halal bento to guests. I did find the hotel all right; unfortunately, the hotel was closed for renovation.  I walked to Kanak Restaurant and asked if I could perform evening prayers there. I managed to perform prayers there, alhamdulillah. However, I’m not a fan of Indian food so I left without ordering anything.

I bought some soba noodles from Lawson and heated it up at the hotel lobby. After freshening up. I collected my bags and walked to Hiroshima Bus Centre. My bus out was scheduled for 23:50.

Walked 24,810 steps or 17.4 km on my fourth day in Japan.

Saturday, 14 February 2026

I had a poor night and could barely slept. We reached Kokura station at 04:25 and I followed a girl to the train station. It was colder in the station than outside if that was possible. I performed morning prayers there and sat there until 08:00. The shops were only just opening so I browsed some shops in the station that were only just opening before making my way out. Yes, it was actually milder outside the station. Kokura is one of the five districts in Kitakyushu.

I walked along the monorail line then decided to follow the sign to Kokura Castle. I walked around the castle (there’s a Japanese Garden but it wasn’t opened yet) and up Seicho-dori to Katsuyama Park. There is a small peace memorial at the park. You see, the U Ass actually targeted the second atomic bomb to hit Kokura but there was cloud and smoke covering the city then resulting in poor visibility and the bomb was then diverted to Nagasaki instead. This fact was known after the war and the citizens of Kitakyushu decided to erect a memorial for the atomic bomb victims.

I crossed back Murasaki River and walked towards Tanga Market. This is a covered local market lined with vendors selling seafood, fruits, vegetables, meat and prepared food. When it was almost 10:00, I made my way to TangaTable Hostel where I had booked a bed for the night. After leaving my bags, I walked to the Tourist Information Centre at the train station. After consulting a helpful tourist guide, I decided to take the local train to Mojiko.

The Mojiko train station is a beautiful building built in the Neo-Renaissance style and completed in 1914. I walked to the Dalian Shipping Line Terminal which confirmed the town’s shipping origin. Across the road is Kanmon Straits Museum. I then walked down to the Old Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. Building which is a restored Osaka Shosen Moji Branch building built in 1917 and constructed using orange and white bricks as tiles. In the past, it was used as a ship office and waiting room, but now there is a cafe and restaurant on the first floor, and the interior exhibits and sells works by local artists. The Old Moji Mitsui Club is just next door. Apparently Einstein and his wife once stayed at the Club, on the second floor.

I crossed Blue Wing Moji, a pedestrian drawbridge that is raised six times a day, to the beautiful red Former Moji Customs Office building. The Kitakyushu City Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall to commemorate the friendship between China and Japan is just across the Customs Office.

I continued on and walked until Norfolk Square, admiring the view of Kanmon Bridge which links Honshu and Kyushu islands. I walked on until I reached the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel Entrance. I took the lift down into the tunnel and after reading the background of the tunnel (it was planned in 1937 and completed in March 1958. Its length is 3,461.4 metres of which 780 metres are underwater), I started walking across to Shimonoseki on the Honshu side. It took me 15 minutes to emerge out at Shimonoseki. I walked down to the ferry terminal, passing some shrines and Market. The ferry ride cost ¥400 and back at Mojiko, I walked to the train station and took the train back to Kokura.

It had begun to drizzle and I hurried up to TangaTable Hostel. The check-in process took some time and I was given the code to enter my dorm (five bunk beds for ten occupants and the hostel was full that evening). I was given a locker but had problems locking it with the provided padlock so I just kept my shoulder bag in another bag and locked that bag instead.

I’ve had a long day after a poor night plus an early morning start the following day so I was in bed by 22:00.

To be continued

My X-Rated Trip: Episode I

In mid-November 2025, I was contemplating visiting Okinawa. However, I changed my mind when the sites that I found informed that public transportation is not that frequent there and one would be advised to rent a car instead. Even my sister said her friends who return to Japan every year never considered visiting Okinawa. So I changed my mind and looked at Fukuoka instead. There’s no direct flight from KL; I would have to fly Vietnam Airlines, Philippine Airlines or Singapore Airlines and via those cities instead. In the end, I bought tickets from Singapore Airlines. I then searched where to go before booking hotels. Oh, and despite the depreciating Yen, the hotel prices for Saturday night stay are so terrifying that I had to book a bed in a female hostel instead (and the cost for that one night stay in a bunk bed would get me a decent hotel room in China). I also bought bus tickets online and (sigh) do they cost a pretty penny.

So this ‘X-rated trip’ is because I went to SIN on my way to FUK (get it?).

Monday, 9 February 2026: On my way to SIN

I made my way to the airport this afternoon and decided to arrive earlier as I wanted to change seats on the planes. I couldn’t seem to do it online no matter how many attempts I made. The kind lady at the counter suggested I took the earlier flight at 20:30 instead of the flight I booked at 21:50 and said there could be delays seeing as the latter flight is the last flight of the day and that only two days previously, the same flight was delayed by an hour. I thanked her for her suggestion and agreed to depart earlier.

Well, the flight took off at 20:45 despite us boarding early. I was impressed with the crew who determinedly served us hot beverages even for a short flight. We landed at Terminal 3 and I made my way to the SkyTrain for Terminal 2. I then wandered around looking for the prayer room. Turned out it’s on the upper floor and the nearest escalator is the one near Gucci. After prayers, I decided to add on to my step count for the day and took the SkyTrain to Terminal 1. Terminal 1 is huge. You’d need to clear immigration to view the Rain Vortex though. I haven’t been to Changi for more than a decade and the last time I was there, the Rain Vortex wasn’t there yet.

Tuesday, 10 February 2026: SIN on my way to FUK

We landed in Fukuoka at 06:55. I’d earlier filled up the arrival form on Visit Japan Web but was confused as I’d expected the site to ask for my itinerary. Instead, I was just asked my personal details, the hotel address, and to declare the goods I’m bringing in. The queue was long but fast moving. It turned out I had filled up the arrival form correctly after all. I was however subjected to rigorous and thorough bag inspection by a custom officer. But he was polite and considerate and went through my bag contents carefully and professionally and not just drag everything out and leave everything dumped out for me to repack.

I exited at 08:38 and asked the bus counter if I could change my 10:45 bus ticket to 08:45 but was told my ticket was not changeable. So I had two hours to kill at the airport. Anyway, I found a pouch and curious, I opened it to find two Japanese passports! I was panicking because I could just imagine how I would be had I lost my passport so I hurried to the information counter to hand the pouch over. Let them sort it out with the Lost and Found.

The 10:45 bus arrived at 10:53 and we were off within minutes. We had a stop at a service area to use the facilities (there is a small WC on the bus though). We reached Takachiho Bus Centre at 13:50. After leaving my bag at the Tourist Information Centre and grabbing a map, I made my way to Takachiho Gorge. It took me 20 minutes to reach the gorge. Takachiho’s magnificent gorge with its waterfall, overhanging rocks and sheer walls was formed over 120,000 years ago by a double volcanic eruption. I walked the length of it before turning back. I stayed there for an hour before making my way back to the town centre, stopping briefly at Takachiho Shrine.

My bus out was at 16:37 and it arrived at 16:30. The bus stopped en route to allow us to use the facilities. It was drizzling then. We reached Hakata Bus Terminal and I got down there. I wandered around and bought some snacks at Daiso.

My next bus out was at 23:10 and we left on time. The seat was comfortable with a retractable ‘hood’ that allows passenger to draw it down over her head to cover against the light and allow for privacy. I was so tired after the long day that I actually managed to sleep. Alhamdulillah. The bus stopped en route and I went down to stretch my legs and found that it was raining.

Walked 16,900 steps or 11.6 km on my first day back in Japan.

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

We arrived at Hiroshima Bus Centre at 05:25. I went down and after performing ablutions, performed prayers near some lockers. Then I waited until after 07:00 before walking to Hotel S-Plus Hiroshima Peace Park.

After depositing my bags at the hotel lobby, I walked to the nearby Hiroshima Peace Park. I decided to visit the Peace Museum first (ticket cost ¥200) and spent an hour there, it was a harrowing and sobering experience. Nobody should have been made to go through all that suffering and yet we continue to inflict pain on others due to our own greed.

After the museum, I walked to the Cenotaph and the Peace Flame, the Children’s Monument and the Peace Bell. I then walked along the River Motoyasu and gazed upon Gotenba Dome, the only surviving structure of the atomic bomb, before crossing over for a closer look. After some time, I walked to the hypocentre where the bombing took place.

As I still had some time to kill before I could check in at 15:00, I decided to walk to Shukkeien Garden. The entrance cost ¥350. I spent 70 minutes there and was glad I decided to visit it.  I returned to the hotel and checked in. I ventured out again after evening prayers and had dinner at Kei Ai Chinese Vegetarian Restaurant. After that, I walked to Hondori and browsed the shops there. A lot of shops were already closed though.

Back at the hotel, I had a chat with the bloke at the reception and he kindly advised me how to get to the ferry to Miyajima and sold me the ticket (which included the streetcar, ferry and Miyajima visitor tax of ¥100) for ¥1,000.  Walked 24,910 steps or 16.8 km on my second day in Japan.

To be continued