Tag Archives: halal travel

The city of Madinah

Posted in Food and Drinks, Good Things, Leisure & Travel, Places to Eat by

Everyone who has been to Madinah would utter the word, RINDU. In fact, both Mekah and Madinah taught me how to carry my worldly burden differently. The worries of my job, my family matters and others seem so small and distant. The goal there was so clear. To worship and please Allah.

The stay at Madinah would have been better if I had gone for the ziarah. Even then, the calmness in just seeking to pray 5 times at the masjid, reciting the Quran, and just resting at the masjid was enough.

Haramain Speed Train

2 adults, 1 kid: RM 662.00

We checked out of Al-Kiswah Hotel and took an Uber to the station. My husband had bought the ticket online. Once the train arrived, we boarded the designated carriage and looked for our seats. It was a 2-hour-plus ride at a speed of 300km/hour. Before this service was available, Jemaah would take the 6-hour bus ride to Madinah. The fare is of course cheaper.

We enjoyed our doughnuts, and soon enough, we arrived in Madinah. The temperature was slightly cooler compared to Mekah.

Al-Mustarah Hotel, Madinah

5D4N: RM 968.00

It is a new hotel, and we loved that it has a shuttle service. The shuttle would leave 30 minutes before prayer times. Occasionally, the shuttle was full, and visitors needed to find their own transport to the masjid.

The hotel is located near eateries as well. We did not include breakfast services with the room. Overall, it was a really comfortable stay. The hallway smells clean and fresh all the time. The sheets were crisp, and having a mini pantry to prepare our beverages was great. They even have a Netflix service in the room.

Masjid Nabawi

The beauty of Masjid Nabawi rendered me speechless. I could only pray that Allah would bestow His Mercy and Rahmat towards those who keep this place beautiful and clean for all worshippers. Finally, I get to see the majestic umbrellas, the prayer halls and sniff the smell of the masjid. Although I did not get to set foot in Raudah, the chance to just be within the grounds of it was a grateful experience.

We were very relaxed in Madinah. We joined the obligatory prayers, and we read the Quran. We ate, we shopped and we rested. Then we prayed again.

We bought souvenirs here. My daughter bought bracelets and chocolates for her friends. I did the same. We also bought Saudi snacks to bring back home. We had sips of Zamzam water in the masjid. In short, our main focus there was just to perform our ibadat.

I wish to revive the spirit of my personal ibadat in Malaysia. Slowing down in my prayer movement. Improving my Quran recitation and supplication. Perhaps polishing my Arabic. I learned it in secondary school. When everything you do is focused towards worship and pleasing Allah, indeed, I do feel that my problems back home are so small.

I can see why muslims want to return for Umrah again and again. It resets your life and thoughts. It stills your heart and programs your mind to believe that Allah is The Al-Mighty and that He loves you and will take care of you, no matter what you’re going through. Trust in His plans and at the same time strive to become a better muslim.

Our time in Madinah passed by really quickly. Soon it was time to go home. That will be the matter in my next post.

From Cairo to Jeddah with Flyadeal

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It takes a bit of planning for my dear husband to match the itinerary with our mental and physical capabilities as a family. That is one of the perks of doing DIY Umrah. You can plan your time around your needs. Our flight from Cairo to Jeddah was in the morning. We left the Turquoise Hotel in an Uber and arrived at the airport promptly.

At passport control, we had to fill out a non-Egyptian declaration form first. Once we’d passed that, we had breakfast in the waiting area. My husband changed into his ihram. I put on my mini telekung.

FLYADEAL

Flyadeal is a low-cost Saudi airline. Our journey from Cairo to Jeddah took just over 3 hours. In the plane, we were served a croissant and mineral water. The pilot made an early announcement 30 minutes before reaching miqat. Perhaps other passengers are keen to change into their ihram on the plane. He then broadcast the next information upon arriving at the miqat so that we could make our niyat.

On arrival, my daughter has stomach ache. Alhamdulilah, she made it to the airport toilet on time. I was so worried that her clothes would be soiled. After picking up our luggage, we headed to the lower ground floor to the bus booth. My husband bought 3 bus tickets (2 adults,1 kid) from Northwest. We were relieved that we caught it on its scheduled time. Otherwise, we would have to wait for another hour for the next bus. The total fare was 100SR.

The bus was really comfortable, and the journey took just 1 hour. The bus dropped us at Jabal Kaabah Terminal, and we wheeled our luggage downhill towards Al-Kiswah Hotel. The plan was to check into our room, clean and relieve ourselves a bit before going back uphill for our Umrah.

AL-KISWAH HOTEL

Al-Kiswah Hotel seems to be a favourite among muslims coming from “The Stans”. I hardly saw any Malaysians or Indonesians during our stay there. Husband paid RM 700.00 for a 5D4N stay. I have only come to realise later that I did not take any pictures of the room. Basically, our room has 3 single beds with the usual amenities like FREE WIFI, a fridge and a hot shower. There is no hairdryer in the room. Best bet, bring your own. However, I do have to caution you regarding the use of the public WIFI. My credit card ended up getting hacked as I tried to pay for my CELCOMDIGI roaming pass. I was able to make the initial payments over a very slow-loading page, keying in my CVC number numerous times. My bank must have detected subsequent suspicious activities and blocked the card. Of course, I knew about it only later, upon returning home. In hindsight, I should have paid for my roaming pass before I was in a foreign country. On a different note, the Celcomdigi roaming service is really convenient and fairly priced at RM98 for 14 days.

Al-Kiswah Hotel has a shuttle that brings us back uphill. However, by the time we reached the hotel, it was already past Isyak, and since the shuttle took quite some time to arrive, the 3 of us decided to walk back up to Masjidil Haram for our umrah. We were a bit concerned that our daughter would be able to continue with the plan. Seems that she was in really high spirits and was able to do it. The shuttle was easier to access on subsequent trips to the masjid for prayers and umrahs. Just not that night. Although we had to ‘fight’ for our seats in the bus, Jemaahs from ‘the stans’ are so lovely, nice and courteous towards each other.

I will write about our umrah in the next post.

Cairo and the carefree Egyptians

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Our little family went for Umrah in Dec 2025. Before that, we went for a short holiday to Cairo and spent 4 days there.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

Husband made the bookings using Trip.com for the flight tickets and hotels. We departed from KLIA1 in the morning. Each seat on the plane has a blanket, a pair of headphones and a mini reversible tote that holds earplugs, hand cream and a blindfold. My daughter received a water bottle, a pencil case and an activity book.

I was so delighted to see the BTS album

I applaud the wonderful in-flight meals and entertainment. The 6-hour journey passed by in a breeze.

TURQUOISE PYRAMID HOTEL

Total RM 635.00 for a 5D4N stay.

We used UBER quite a lot during our stay here as the rate was quite cheap, despite the ride feeling like being on a rollercoaster. Plus, they have no regard whatsoever for the speed limits, road lanes and helmets! Everyone drives the car like they’re in a hurry all the time.

The room we booked has 2 double beds, clean bathrooms, a mini fridge and most importantly, the majestic view of the pyramid. There is also FREE WIFI, and the reception was very accommodating. We did not include breakfast as we brought our own meals from Malaysia. My husband packed a lot of instant noodles, pasta and pastries.

The December weather in Cairo was chilly. I did need to wear a light jacket, especially when we go out in the morning. It gets warmer towards the end of the day. Maghrib was very early. We got very sleepy as the day clocked into 7PM. Haneem went to bed that early. Thus, we did not experience Cairo at night. We woke up early too, between 2 and 3AM. The circadian rhythm went a bit haywire during our Cairo stay.

GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

2 adults,1 child: RM 387.00

This newly opened museum was rich in history. I, for one, never really enjoy going to the museum, but coming here was so enlightening. I did feel that my knowledge of Egyptian history began to become a bit saturated, having spent just over 2 hours there. Avid lovers of history might want to spend the whole day there, with breaks in between, to absorb the majestic presentations of people from the past.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

2 adults, 1 child: RM 122.00

I thought Egyptians during the time of the pyramids were giants. However, looking at the size of the tombs and the mummies on display, I learned that they’re just like our size. It is amazing considering the amount of work that was done to preserve and showcase history in a delightful way for visitors of all ages and nationalities.

Human civilisation is always an interesting part of human history, as we unknowingly try to compare how it was for them during that time with ours. The technology, fashion and general way of life were undoubtedly interesting for a commoner like myself to read about and explore.

Finally looking at the real ‘Egyptian Blue’

THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

2 adults, 1 child: RM 151.00

A trip to Egypt would not have been complete without a visit to the pyramids. Compared to how it was more than a decade ago, now they have a hop-on, hop-off bus in the area. Honestly, it would be nice to visit this place with a tour group or guide. I believe the history behind the pyramids would become much more alive with the stories.

As we neared the last stop of the bus (near the sphinx), we were told that we’d need to rent a horse carriage to bring us back to where we started. Realising that this could be one of those ‘scams’, we decided to just walk past the carriage area and lo and behold, we saw the proper bus. Waiting for visitors to climb on so that we could make our way back up to the entrance. There was no need for an extra carriage or camel ride, unless you prefer to, since the bus service is included in the ticket price.

General opinion of Egypt

It was easy to see that Egypt is a muslim country. The people are kind and carefree. Too carefree to a certain point that they don’t give much thought to the rules of the world, like car lanes, social etiquette or behaviour.

Egyptians pray wherever they please. It is not wrong because we know that everywhere is a place worthy of worship to ALLAH. Hence, I saw them praying by the roadside, in the middle of the restaurant and at airport seats. No one bats an eyelid or gives off side-eyes because it is an acceptable norm. It is not something that Malaysians would be accustomed to do but it was an observation that I was pleased to witness.

Egyptian food was super delicious. I just wish I had taken more photos of it. Especially at this buffet place we went to. In short, their protein meals, the chicken, lamb, beef whatsoever tasted delicious in whatever way they were cooked. Eventhough it is just fried chicken. Egyptian hospitality was top-notch, and they really entertain kids very well. My daughter was called a princess every time during her visit there.

The buffet place near our hotel

Even then, it was quite amusing to experience their service in the ‘fast food’ industry. We went to WIZZO and placed our order. It was not even noon yet, and there was no other customer in the store. The lady at the counter was very firm in taking our order, and it took about 30 to 40 minutes for our food to be served. That was so slow for a fast-food joint. We thought maybe the chicken needed some defrosting or marinating before it was fried. Thankfully, the meal was delicious, although the soft drink that came with it was really small.

We did some food shopping at Carrefour. I scouted for their local products. I bought these. There was one particular chocolate bar that I liked called Corona (if I am not mistaken). I should have bought more. Grocery prices, as compared to Malaysia, are fairly low. As a milk lover, their milk cartons are super cheap. My husband bought some Egyptian tea as gifts and for our own consumption. He also got some cooking spices and marinades for his mother.

The chocolate drink was nice. Regretting not buying more.

After spending 4 days in Cairo, it was time to leave for our Umrah. We boarded the Flyadeal airline for a 3-hour journey to Jeddah. That part of the trip will be in my next post.

Kuching trip with my daughter – getting souvenirs, The Reef and the Regatta

Posted in Everyday Life, Food and Drinks, Leisure & Travel, Places to Eat by

I was in Kuching with my daughter for a wedding. After the event, we went to two places to get some souvenirs to bring back to Melaka. First was a trip to Kubah Ria.

KUBAH RIA

Kubah Ria is basically a market. My sister bought some midin, mi kolok and Sarawak Laksa paste. I, on the other hand, was looking for Chelum Chocolate Cafe. This cafe sells artisan chocolates. I saw on Instagram that it’s locally produced with very Sarawakian flavours. Thankfully, they have testers in the store. I bought the ones that my daughter likes, which are the ones with Sago Pearl and Tebaloi. The chocolate bars were priced at RM7/piece. I bought 40.

KEK LAPIS WARISAN

Previously, I have always gone to Kampung Gersik for my kuih lapis. This is someplace new. Honestly, I wouldn’t know the difference, but the idea of being able to watch how the kek lapis are made is interesting. Visitors can have a look at it at this outlet.

What’s more important is that I get to buy my kek lumut, kek belacan and Cadbury. They have the usual buy 10 free 1 promo, but I only bought 7. Cause everyone is on a diet. Plus, not everyone would appreciate the gesture of my bringing kuih lapis for everyone to eat at the workplace. Its availability in semenanjung has made it less exclusive. Although I do remember buying 1 loaf each for my colleagues in Hospital Jasin during my working period there. That was a long time ago. Over time, kuih lapis is just another cake to some people.

I did buy a few cat T-shirts for my husband and kids. Haneem really wanted a cat t-shirt. If I had more time, I’d probably shop for kain pasang with pua kumbu patterns. Alas, time was something I did not have.

Dinner at The Reef

Since we were in Kuching for the weekend, we felt that our chances of securing a table at Topspot would be small. Hence, my sister made a booking at The Reef. She put in an order for several dishes that were promptly served upon our arrival. Haneem really loved her midin, and she was able to finish her bowl of rice on her own! Good job.

After the dinner with my sister and her family, Haneem and I walked a little bit more to the Padungan cat statue. This particular cat changes its attire with the festive season. Since it is Deepavali, the cat was in an Indian outfit.

The Regatta

The Regatta and Festival Kraf Borneo was also happening during our visit. All this was organised at The Waterfront. So, we went there after breakfast on the day of our departure. We managed to watch a few boats racing. It was really fun and honestly got our adrenaline rushing too. The women with their oars and roars were such a beautiful sight. They were like warriors. The men, of course, were super sado.

I guess this sums up our girls’ trip to Kuching. It was too short and I look forward to another trip to Kuching again soon. Once I have saved up enough money. I really want to come during the time they’d play the Disney orchestra at The Waterfront. I wonder when their next show is in 2026. I really want to experience it. How fabulous it would be!

Kuching trip with my daughter – Abell Hotel and Jawhara Palace

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My daughter and I went for a 3D2N weekend trip to Kuching to attend my cousin’s wedding at Jawhara Palace. For this particular stay, we booked a 3-star hotel called Abell Hotel. As usual, I did my hotel booking through Agoda.com. I picked the Superior Queen Room with a city view. Total payment was RM 429.53. Breakfast was included for 2 people.

The room has the usual amenities. FREE wifi, hot shower, a mini fridge and complimentary bottled water + beverages. I am most pleased with the Sarawak Hospitality. Everyone is so soft spoken and polite, from the reception to the housekeepers and kitchen staff. Check-in was a breeze as I had paid in full online. NO deposits were collected. I like that we don’t have to tap our cards to use the elevator. That is very convenient. I really love the room. It was so comfortable and cosy. The air-conditioning was really cold, but since I am Elsa, I don’t mind.

The location is superb as well. If you choose not to have breakfast at the hotel, there is the 24-hour Atmosferah Restaurant (mamak) located just in front of the hotel. Whereas to the hotel’s right is the RJ CAFE, which becomes so lively at night. Of course, this hotel is within walking distance to Topspot, The Reef and the many eateries at Padungan. If we had stayed longer, I would have been able to get my chicken panini from Bing and enjoy mi belacan from IG Ais Kacang, manok pansuh from Lepau, cheese naan from that famous place that I haven’t been to!! The landmark Waterfront, Cat Statues, and Darul Hana Bridge are all easily accessible. We were thrilled that the Borneo Cultural Fest was ongoing during our visit. Oh my, so little time with so many things to do!

The breakfast selection at Abell Hotel was adequate. I am delighted that they serve Sarawak Laksa too. That is a must. On the first day, we went to the restaurant at 0630H. We were early because the akad nikah at Jawhara Palace is at 0830H.

The Wedding at Jawhara Palace

Jawhara Palace is a house that people can rent for weddings or events. After breakfast, I ordered GRAB and arrived there within 15 minutes. The groom’s side of the family is in pink, whereas the bride in green. Haneem and I have shopped for our attire a month in advance. My daughter was really excited. The akad nikah ceremony was simple. Lunch was served by 1030am and the wedding ended by noon.

The next exciting part of my trip was getting some souvenirs, visiting the Borneo Festival and enjoying the Regatta at The Waterfront. This will be in my next entry.