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#46 [Permalink] Posted on 21st November 2013 01:45

Many updates from the family as they move through China. Here is their latest update insha'Allah:

~~~

Day 17 in China:

As we all know, China is big. Everything change along the way, not just geographically, but food, group of ethnic, road situation and lots of things around has change although we are still in the same country.

In China also we have the most problem with the hair line crack of the wheel which cause some stress because of the overload weight. (mind you, we all had lost weight from when we start the journey!)This is somewhat cause lots of stress for the journey and schedule. I have to keep re schedule but as I put some extra back up day in the route plan, hopefully we will manage.

One extra day in Xian that we have before, help to give us one day rest from the journey and the good thing is to give the car a rest as well after everyday travelling. The vehicle is not new anymore, which somehow worried us, as this is the most time throughout the journey we drive constantly almost everyday with out giving some break. But we have to try to get the time in China done even if we can reach border less than designated days from tour agent. Honestly, having extra person in the journey, which at first try to follow the itinerary and tours, and it's difficult for me as I have being a guide for our journey throughout 23 country and the tour guide at first of course wanted to act as a tour guide but of course this is her first time with motorhome and for me it's very impossible for a guide to guide on the road when she herself don't even have driving license. Although at first I thought I can pass my role of guiding to the tour guide as we pay lots of money to tour agent for the compulsory pack to have tour guide together, I find that I cannot trust anybody except myself to note and watch the road while dear husband driving. Driving and guiding the driver with motorhome not as we guide with the car. Even we cannot always follow the sat nav, and always make sure the route is easy to follow, less bend and less corner, less traffic light and take easiest road to drive an 8 meter long vehicle and 3 meter height, plus the width.

I was quiet worried when we first start the journey. I will not agree with the journey if me, myself never drive big vehicle. But as I used to drive similar van myself, although a bit shorter in length, that I will agree to the journey because it's very important for us to have a back up driver. Even though to guide, will need someone at least with experience driving time especially with big vehicle because it's different when we drive small vehicle and big vehicle especially when we have to enter town and city, the clearance to have while parking, turn left or right and etc. I have now trust my dear husband fully and honestly will not so sure to allow other than him to drive this motorhome....

We still nervous to see how to cross Laos border. I have try to gather all the information needed, although throughout the experience until now, the info and the situation can be two different thing. Insya Allah we will see how it goes.

I will have to go now, as we will continue our journey for today.

Till then,

Sofinee
Mianyang, China
Day 131

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#47 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd November 2013 23:31

Here are more updates from the ByRoadtoMalaysia family insha'Allah. May Allah Ta'aala keep them safe and make the remainder of their journey easy for them. Ameen.

~~~

Green and blue sky....the weather getting warmer, the sign that we are getting nearer to target destination.

Three more weeks to go from today, Insya Allah..none of us believing that we are actually going to touch down in Malaysia by overland border, unlike all other touch down we done before from UK.

The feeling is indescribable. The feeling of excited that the journey is coming to an end for the time being. The feeling of not wanted this to end, but the feeling of joyful to be able to meet families, friends and strangers.....to able to get to know more people than we used to, the result from this journey. The huge amount of support we received, made us feel nervous in some way...we just an ordinary family. We just nobody. We just try to make our dream come true. Despite soooo many hurdle, we have now come this far....my body start to feel ache, mind is mix with all sort of thing...I hope, that our experience, can become a contribution to Malaysian, to overlander, to people with families, to home educator, to teacher, to student, to every single community who want to make their dream come true, in whatever they dream off.

We will, Insya Allah share every single stories, every single guideline we have, every single hurdle, problem and the solution we found, every observation we did, in each country we visit, from our point of view, in the hope we can all together to build the best nation.

Sofinee and family,
Kunming, China
Day 134

~~~

Today, wasn't too bad Alhamdulillah although our journey is not quiet what we expected. In google map and maps with me apps, it shows G 85 road , mean highway, but unfortunately it's not. Highway is not ready yet most of our journey today and road condition if not highway, is very poor. Therefore it's effect the time, as my dear husband have to drive carefully to avoid stress on tyre and vehicle itself.

By the way, as my planned route now is not as far distance as before, which mean I can pull and replan the distance although it can be a headache because for each stopover, I need to calculate the distance and availability of the town or city which is easy access to highway and not too far from the highway. This is because the road into the city or town will not be as good as highway, therefore I always try to find the stopover which is nearby and distance for the each journey is suitable for us, not that easy when suddenly road is no good and we cannot make to destination, I have to readjust again and find a way to ensure we still on track of the day we exit China. I always like to have days to fall back...in case..Whatever plan and detail route I do, it will always have to have plan B and C in mind.

The town which we stop for a night tonight is call Zhaotong. We first stop at fuel station and I found some halal crips and also crips which is Malaysian product. When we enter the town we saw some Muslims and manage to find Halal restaurant for our lunch/dinner at around 5pm. This couple of days we only take bread/biscuit for breakfast and lunch and only eat dinner when we arrived either I cook or if we can found some halal restaurant. In this town also have 4 masjid.

We are now arranging our arrival event. As it is also a school holiday in Malaysia and our estimated arrival date is on Saturday, 14th December, please do free the day and put into your calender event, and support us on our arrival day. If there is any overlander in Malaysia, we hope that you can also come and if anybody want to convoy us from the border, Bukit Kayu Hitam to Jitra, please let us know in advance as we are arranging the convoy team as there are many people want to come, greet and convoy together.

Sofinee
Zhaotong, China
Day 133

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#48 [Permalink] Posted on 24th November 2013 21:41

SubhanAllah, such beautiful words of wisdom and encouragement from sister Sofinee:

~~~

Day 125

We arrived in Kunming last night at around 10 pm. It has been a very tiring journey as the road was quiet horrible. We start the journey at around 10.30 am and settle our day at around 11 pm.

This morning we meet Vice Consulate of Malaysia in Kunming, Puan Zalinah Yusof and husband En Mohd Nazri Khamis whose kindly entertain us. Although Consulate office close today, they bring us to the office to show around and get picture taken and after that bring us for a quick stop to see migrating bird and than to their house for some food. (Mind you, me and dear husband had rice, sambal belacan, kari ikan haruan, masak lemak pucuk paku kunming and ikan kering...much of us feeling recharge....after continuous journey in China.)

We cannot thanks enough although we only have a quick meeting with them as we meet at around 11.30 am in front of Consulate office and we depart from their home at around 2.30 pm as we need to continue our journey which distance today about 260 km.

Alhamdulillah we manage to reach target destination and the road was quiet good, little bit of hiccup but overall is good. We still pretty much worries about the tyres and wheels and we just hope that it can hold on till we able to get the replacement.

Our vehicle also will soon need service, as we have now travel 12 000 ++ km since our last service in Ankara. Altogether, we have now travel about 20 000++ km and expected to reach around 23 000 + km once we arrived Bukit Kayu Hitam. Honestly, we still cannot believe that we have now travel this far with this old Mercedes Sprinter....through the silk road and approaching winter weather.

Times now feel like flying fast. The feeling of flash back, all the memories, up and down the hill we have been through. Everything that seems very impossible, but possible with the will of Allah.

We migrate/hijrah to UK in 1999, much in similar situation we took now, with two kids, and third on the way, we make decision for my dear husband to continue study in UK, with only loan for tuition fees from JPA and no cost of living support, plus no saving at all. We arrived in UK, with only �1200 for four of us, and another baby on the way. We have been through all up and down with whatever challenge life been thrown at us. My dear husband degree feel very expensive as it has come with hardship and at the time he did the course, there is no other similar course in Malaysia. Which is why we make decision to go to UK, to enable him to pursue his study in what he good at, and in what his interest is.

This journey is much of decision to take the challenge, after all ups and down we been through, throughout living in foreign country as a minorities, life is not as easy as being a majorities in own country. We hope that one day we can share our experience, our life journey, our mistakes, our struggle, our life test and our little success from our own eyes, the eyes of ordinary people, with others in the hope to motivate others to make their dream into reality. In whatever problem we have, always remember, there are always someone in some part of the world, having bigger problem than us. Life is not easy, life is a test, but life is also rewarding. Challenge is not a punishment, test is the biggest benefit in our life if we see it in different angle.

Take one thing at a time.....Insya Allah...and keep going...That is what we have been doing throughout our journey. Which is why, I never plan route in next country, until we nearly reach the border. Always put a backup plan. As a Muslim, do remember, fear for Allah punishment, but Hope in His mercy. Have a target, put guideline, boundary and limitation and draw your route nice and easy. Insya Allah, May our dream come true.

Sofinee and family,
Maojian, China
Day 125

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#49 [Permalink] Posted on 28th November 2013 21:42

Masha'Allah, the family crossed into Laos yesterday with a surprise :)

Insha'Allah, here are a couple of updates from the family for those following here:

~~~

Alhamdulillah, we have arrived at our 25th countries, LAOS. We have now travel for 138 days, covering around 20 000 ++ km from UK.

We suppose to get China tour done in 24 days, and after altering the planned in China made by tour agent, I manage to get our journey done in China in 23 days, Alhamdulillah. On 25th December, we manage to cover more than we suppose to, therefore yesterday we thought if road condition is fine we shall manage to enter Laos as we only have about 150 to reach Laos border. Alhamdulillah border crossing dealing is smooth.

After driving around 15 km, we saw flash light from vehicle at the back of us, and they stop in front of us after. It's MY DAD and his guide and driver with van he rent in Laos to become our back up car in Laos as he was soo worried about our tyre and wheel situation as we haven't manage to get any new replacement for that. Because road condition in Laos also possibly among the worst along the journey, he decided to fly to Thailand, near to Nong Khai/Vientiane border and pick up soeone he know from Thailand as a guide and rent a van and a driver and drive whole day and night from Vientiane to meet us at China-Laos border.

What else can I say......A caring family will always be there for you...Plus my dad not kind of adventurous person or out door person, but travelling is part of my families life either on my dad side or my mum side.

It has been good to see familiar face and kids was sooo happy to meet their grand dad who love to spoil them all...! He and the guide and the driver and van will accompany us till we reach Laos-Thai border, than my dad will fly back to Malaysia after we arrived in Bangkok safely and get some service done for our vehicle.

I would like to give some conclusion and view of China, but haven't manage to get some internet connection till just now. I will try to write when I manage as I would like to share some view with others.

Laos is good, except road condition is really bad and we haven't manage to do as much as we usually can. I had expected this and did put some extra days on my plan journey in Laos to avoid too much stress to the vehicle and us.

We have now been travelling for 138 days and we have non stop driving since nearly 2 weeks ago. Not just vehicle but all of us especially my dear driver and myself as co pilot really in need of some extra day without travelling not just to recharge ourselves but to refresh ourselves. When we travel and driving especially big vehicle, it's very important to make sure we keep the concentration , health and safety first. Good rest is important now and again although sometimes you just need to get on with. Hopefully in couple of days time, we will manage to have some good rest before we continue our journey to Thai-Malaysian border..

Laos probably one of the country which we meet the most tourist throughout our journey especially tourist from Europe. We meet so many from yesterday when we enter the border and along the road. Many quiet shock to see how our motorhome manage to make it from UK to Laos...

We also wanted to thank you to people who still send some donation towards our journey and all the money donate been use for fuel and tolls during travelling and it's really help us a lots!

Insya Allah I will try to update more as I can. Please make doa for us...as we still have around couple of hundreds to reach Thai border and road condition in Laos is really challenging and patient is much needed when driving big motorhome like us.

Till then,

Sofinee and family
Luang Prabang, Laos
Day 138

~~~

Today we reach Vang Vieng around 6 pm and my dad already wait for us and booked guest house for us to stay overnight. Distance today was around 214 km and most of the journey, the road is sooo bumpy ride with up and down the hill and mountain, non stop.

With the road condition, we can only drive mostly 30 kmph and it needs lots of patient to reach destination. We only have biscuit and chocolate for breakfast and at around 3 pm we stop and I just boiled water for some instant noodle. When we arrived at destination, my dad went to get some Indian food from halal restaurant nearby the guest house.

Everybody is in high spirit despite weather changing and a bit tiring for us with non stop journey. Kids is really excited and cannot wait to cross to Thailand and into Malaysia.

During the first couple of weeks and months from the start of the journey, I was sometimes confuse and sometimes not sure if I am doing the right thing to actually take this journey. At some point I just feel hopeless if this journey really going to give some benefit to my kids. At some point, I can only see that the journey might have worst scar ever and how this journey is the reason that our family will break sooner or later. I was really confuse and upset, if me agree to take this journey, is actually the worst decision I ever made. There are time when I feel that I just cannot take this anymore. I cannot juggle between the stress to manage this journey and your own family. There are time, this project seems taking over my decision and I have to upset the team member, which is my husband and my kids and sometimes I have to keep my feet down on my decision which make everybody not happy bunny. Honestly I hate doing that and it's not easy when your team member not happy with you and they are not an ordinary team member, they are your husband and kids. Sometimes I have to agree with my decision and force everybody to accept that because I am the one who manage the overall things. There are time when I feel I just cannot take it anymore, and the only thing I want to do is get away from them, but I stuck to them!

After four months on the road, being together 24/7 suddenly kids sound different...months ago, they sound like they really hate this journey, and how this journey make them suffer. How the journey make them stress out, in small space, stuck side by side with each other. Now, suddenly they sound soo different. My 10 years old Seif, since 2 weeks ago, told me he wash his own clothes when we arrived at the hotel and keep doing so from time to time. Especially in China, it's soo hard to get water to feed our motorhome tank, therefore we usually used the water we have in motorhome for emergency such as ablution and toilet.

Everybody was soo excited with arrival day at the border. The spirit and the way kids think of this journey, the way they do things and the way they change how they see things make me feel it's worth every single step and every single penny we spend on it. They are very fussy with toilet before and struggle with down toilet but now able to use it without any fuss. Although, there are things I would like to do with them more in term of formal education but I just realise there is something better than using pen and paper or putting the system, rather just let the situation handle it and follow the flow, sometimes we learn better without we realising it.

Many things I wish I do and I wish I prepare more and better. Kids also realise this and some of them said that if we do this all over again, I will do this way or better way....Something I did not dream to hear from them, but it happen, at the end. I know that this journey will definitely benefit them although they might not see it, but the stress which been putting on them sometimes make me confuse if this is really a good thing or the right time to do. Sometimes you just not know, but I did said to them, I make doa and our (me and my dear husband ) intention before we decide to take this journey is, if the outcome of this journey if bad, than this journey will not happen. This is what we ask Allah swt from time to time. Which is why, when we were in really high peak of stress and we feel like this journey is going to break our family forever, I stand there firmly and even though it hurt at the time, I know that Allah swt will not let this journey happen if the outcome if bad. I just need to believe in Him better and trust Him. We did not know what is around the corner, what is for tomorrow and the future. But as a Muslim, we believe that Allah know what we don't.

This journey has teach us so much that now we feel so weird that we nearly reach our target destination and it will soon come to an end. It's unbelievable to see how the motorhome itself has made these far.

I do hope, soon I will get some times to update on our website, I would like to share some notes and guide with others. But, once thing everybody should know and understand, no amount of guide can help us to achieve what we dream of, but we ourselves have to take that first step. Believe in yourself, know your strength and weakness, Insya Allah..you will be able to achieve what you dream off....

Sofinee
Vang Vieng, Laos
Day 139

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#50 [Permalink] Posted on 30th November 2013 21:24

Well, it seems the ByRoadToMalaysia team isn't the only group traveling from Europe - at least to Thiland. Insha'Allah, here is the latest news from this courageous family, insha'Allah:

~~~

Everything seems so surreal. We have now arrived at my second hometown, Alhamdulillah...

By Road to Malaysia 26th country; THAILAND.

Our last border crossing before entering Malaysia.

All of us including kids feel unbelievable. Kids keep saying, "I cannot believe we actually made this far...".

There is no word that can describe our feeling this moment, I cannot imagine the feeling going to be soon.....Honestly, it's like a dream...we cannot believe that we actually take this journey and reach this far..I do not believe that we are that crazy... I do not know how we actually made this....

For sure, I am soo amaze with the amount of support we receive from all sort of different people, different religion, different ethnic and background. We receive donation from Malays, Chinese, English, American, Singaporean, etc...It's so unbelievable with the huge amount of support we receive for our little project. This is not just our success, but the whole nation success. We would like to give back to people and I will try to share as much as I can through pictures and story...

Beside from publishing a book, I will start to share our opinion and observation from our experience which we been through here in facebook and possibly in our website. I really want to share thing as we find that many things that we experience different than what we read and from other people experience. Also as a Muslim traveler, I found that we have some different needs and different experience which I hope can benefit everybody for their own future travel and knowledge.

To all you guys out there......BIG thanks from us and please pray and make doa for our arrival in Malaysia...still thousands km to go....Insya Allah....

Sofinee
Udon Thani, Thailand
Day 140

~~~

Two Mercedes Sprinter, one right hand drive, one left hand drive. One been drive from UK, one been drive from Germany. Both meet at Laos-Thai border and meet again on the road today.

Mercedes-Benz should appreciate us by proving their sprinter are one tough vehicle. Although every overlander we meet never believe we manage to drive this big convert Mercedes Sprinter from UK and as far as Thailand for the time being...Its a very long tough way for our motorhome which not design for overland journey.

21 000 + km in 141 days, 26 country...the vehicle engine prove itself that it took us this far overland. May be any Mercedes service in Malaysia willing to sponsor our vehicle service once arrive? Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

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#51 [Permalink] Posted on 2nd December 2013 20:33

SubhanAllah, you know, the family did not go to Pakistan but they got a taste of Pakistani hospitality nonetheless. It was nice to read about how good the Turks were to the family and so likewise, some might be pleased about this bit of news too. In the end, the message of care, kindness, support, hospitality and assistance has no nationality - it is a part of our deen, alhamdulillah.

Here is a recent update from the family insha'Allah:

~~~

Yesterday on the way to Nakhon Ratchasima, we stop by at Khon Kaen at Mercedes service centre which turn out they do not have what we want. Event not an oil filter to change the oil.

We than went to the mosque for zohr prayer and my dad call one guy he met when he arrived at border Thai-Laos before he pick us up. The guy name Amjad Khan originally from Pakistan and had live in Thailand for the last 25 years and speak Thai fluently. (honestly when he speak urdu, I was a bit amaze.....because long time didn't hear it!)

He than bring us for lunch and than take us to his house, than bring my dear husband to go around trying to find a wheel for our vehicle. He make sure me, kids and my dad settle nicely in his house, before he go. When he come back, he make us a lovely Pakistani cay which long time we haven't have one! Oh, what a heaven having to drink tea with milk, proper boil cay! Honestly it made our day, with special lunch before.

He also buy lots of snack and juice for us to bring for our onward journey. The hospitality he give, is sooo amazing...Alhamdulillah...Thanks to Amjad Khan and his families for the hospitality and May Allah swt reward him and his family abundantly.

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#52 [Permalink] Posted on 12th December 2013 03:31

Another update from the family as they prepare for their final border crossing insha'Allah:

~~~

Alhamdulillah, only 2 more days for us to reach Thai-Malaysian border. We are not far from the border since couple of days ago and some people are wondering why we didn't cross the border straight away.

First, upon my calculation, with the situation of our tyres etc, I need to give some back up days in case anything is happen.

Second, we know that lots of people are waiting and would like to come and join us at Bukit Kayu Hitam border, therefore to cross the border on weekday will not be much excitement to meet and greet.

Third is we have now reach nearly the end of the target destination because of everybody who pray and make doa for us. We glad and proud to have Malaysian from all sort of background and differences but come together to show support for us during and along the journey. To reach and cross the border on Saturday, hopefully will help to gather as much people as we can.

Fourth is, we have on going journey since we enter China until we reach Bangkok where we have extra day there and extra day in Hua Hin in the hope to recoup our energy and we have sooo many tidy up to do and things need to repair...(during the journey from Chumphon to Nakhon Si Tammara, it was heavy rain and our motorhome get some rain inside toooo...!). There are too many preparation to get the motorhome back on track for us. Which is why we need some extra days in Southern Thailand where we used with the surrounding and people.

We are now on last minutes to do list...We cannot wait to reach the border.

Thanks so much to Kerajaan Negeri Kedah which offer to handle our arrival event in Bukit Kayu Hitam and Jitra.

Sofinee and family
Songkla, Thailand
Day 153

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#53 [Permalink] Posted on 14th December 2013 21:34

Well, masha'Allah, alhamdulillah, the family made it to Malaysia :)

Here is the latest update from the family (and the last update on their journey from me, those interested can continue to follow them on FB).

~~~

By Road to Malaysia journey finish off with Dato' Paduka Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahatdir Mohammad, Minister of Kedah state, stick Malaysian sticker flag as a symbolic for our completed journey throughout 27 country.

Thanks so much for everybody involved with our journey. From UK right to the night before our arrival day, we received huge amount of support.

Thanks to border control, immigration, custom and transport department for easy and smooth arrival. Thanks to all journalist that come and wait for us at the border and also during time at Taman Tasik Darul Aman, Jitra.

Insya Allah, we will keep updating about the journey and will announce where we going to be soon.......

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#54 [Permalink] Posted on 13th April 2014 11:00

Jazaka Allahkhair sister accacia for sharing the update here. As a turk I guess you will be please to hear that my kids will vote Turkey as best country from all 27 countries we travel through.

Sorry for not updating and as the update on last post by the sister, Alhamdulillah we manage to arrived in Malaysia on 14th December 2013. Nothing that make our journey imppossible except Allah swt and doa from everybody around the world who follow our journey. No traveller I reckon will get best treatment and easy aa muslim traveller.

Going through silk road which been used hundred years ago by muslim left trail of muslim community right from Turkey to China.

Insya Allah I will try to write about the journey and hope it can benefit other muslim and help motivate others to take such a journey which test our iman and bring closer to Allah swt.

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#55 [Permalink] Posted on 13th April 2014 12:36

Ummuseif wrote:

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jazakAllaahu khair

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