Muslim Camps and Travellers

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#31 [Permalink] Posted on 27th September 2013 11:58

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Sister,

When your travelling has ceased consider writing a little booklet noting your experiences and we can even put it on this forum (or elsewhere) .The easiest thing is for you to keep a diary with notable information and then when you have time expand on your personal notes.

There are plenty of people who can help you with expanding the notes and proof reading etc.

Please actively consider your request for the benefit of the Ummah.

Jazakallahu Khayran.

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#32 [Permalink] Posted on 10th October 2013 18:41

Brothers and sisters, insha'Allah keep this brave family in your du'aas; they've encountered some difficulties in Iran. Here is an update from their FB page:

~~~
Update day 88:

Two incident happen to us in two consecutive days. (Day 87 & day 88) in Iran.

First, our car has broken into, in Tehran. We lost our new generator we just bought, car radio and a small box containing some electrical appliances. Alhamdulliah only small crack on the side window and we been able to continue our journey.

Second incident yesterday, while we were parking on public parkon open space in Damghan in the afternoon, someone open the passenger door and show police badge and said narcotic, heroin etc. Ask to check bags etc. We weren't sure if real police or not at first and he took my mobile which was charging in front, while he grab my husband mobile while he was sitting on driver seat when he try to call out tour guide. We been told by tour guide before nobody shall search us and vehicle as everything been done at the border already by custom. We were confuse and everything happen very fast. The man ask my husband to come out and try to shout at me to stay in as I start to shout to him. The man try to ask my husband to look down at his shoes possibly try to knock him down but my husband did not. He grabthe phone back but the man grab back and keep saying to my husband to get in the car to go to police station. But he refuse and I come out and the man go into the car while the other two man in the car and they keep saying go to police station and drive off.

We realise we been rob and we drive around to find the police and they said nothing can be done and these thing happen. I manage to get my brother in Malaysia to shut down both our iphone. Lucky we got spare phone left but both our phone contain maps and all information needed for onward journey.

We had lost our important items which is generator and mobile phone which vital for our onward journey and we not sure if we able to replace it at the moment or until we arrive.

We are quiet nervous with what happen in Iran as we have couple of days till we can cross to next country but Alhamdulliah we all safe and sound. We still able to continue our journey and none of it put us down. Kids are upset and angry but Alhamdulliah very mature in handle things like this. We are on high spirit despite what happen.

I might not able to update till sometime. Our estimated arrival at Danok-Bukit Kayu Hitam according to plan will be on 14th December 2013.

We will have our arrival event and set to become first Malaysian Family to travel overland from UK to Malaysia with motorhome. If any company, organisation or individual want to join sponsor our arrival event please email us at [email protected]

All media related please email to
[email protected]

Do free the date and come to our arrival event. Please make doa for us for our safety during the journey. Whatevee had happen for past days was part of journey we mentally prepare. Allah test for us to keep our patient and we believe there always reward after. He know best.

Sofinee
Miami, Iran

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#33 [Permalink] Posted on 10th October 2013 18:49

And here is a follow-up message:

~~~

Dear families, friends and all our beloved fan, thanks for all the support as per incident that happen to us recently. Alhamdulillah we just move on from the place straight away after the incident. Although it has been first time for us and we are a bit shock, but Alhamdulillah despite of losing something important for the journey, we not feel like giving up. There are always a way out from every problem, Insya Allah.

We been driving and stop at the services with plenty of people around. In every stop we make sure we lock the door while we are inside. Honestly, when the incident happened, it was in open space at the park where there are some people picnic and the are housing about 500 meter away. But, we were park at a big space with no other car there as parking on roadside wasn't much applicable for us with big vehicle. But, it was not as big and busy town especially in the afternoon.

Alhamdulillah we had now moved further near to the our final destination and date to leave Iran. We think of not stopping at one place for a very long time. At the moment, we manage to find a hotel with intention to get wifi connection to enable us to get all information needed for us which lost with our mobile phone. The hotel turn out to be quiet expensive for us and the reception suggest us to park in front of the hotel and used wifi in their lounge for free. But we manage to get the signal from our motorhome.

As for other update, we are please to mention, since we enter Tehran, we stop by at Malaysian embassy and been greet with warm welcome with staff there, Mr Ridzuan and Mr Syed Munir. We also meet back up car driver for 1MWER who stuck with broken car in Iran for nearly a month ago. Mr Karim who is 1MWER back up car driver has given us many important things for our journey, Alhamdulillah. We also been serve and been a guest to lovely host, a Malaysian expatriate in Tehran, Mr Afzanizam and his wife Mrs Zaleha. We stay at the house for 2 nights and manage to do some laundry and they bring us to bazaar, serve us dinner, lunch , breakfast during our stay and we cannot thankful enough for their warm welcome and chatting, not forget their lil Azhar.

Iran of course like other country was unique on it's own. But, there are special culture of picnic and sleeping in the tent when travel, which really amuse me. Therefore we try to stop by at the service which full of people camping around. It has been interesting to see they carry with them in the car, picnic rug, tent, flask, portable gas cooker and etc. almost everybody do similar thing. Recreation park is normal and everywhere around any town and city. Possibly being a Malaysian, with soft touch that sometimes make us relax with security that we should be more vigilant.

There are many restriction over here including access into several web browser which is unable me to actually update facebook before but Alhamdulillah I did manage to find a way just now...! It's nice to read all the comments and support and Insya Allah hopefully we be able to reach Malaysia safe and sound soon.....

As I cannot upload photo from my phone anymore for the time being, have to wait till all picture upload into lap top before I can get it uploaded here. I am sure might lost some picture in the phone, (although I hope not!) but Alhamdulillah for good action by my kids when incident happen yesterday, therefore we have all other phone, camera and even our camcorder been hold by the thief yesterday couple of time but he possibly did not insist on taking it because I started to get angry with his behaviour of so called police. I would say, all other police we meet was so nice and friendly. Many people we meet here are friendly, although of course we been an attraction anywhere we go as we cannot really see any other motorhome around.

Insya Allah, we are now feel like we getting nearer to our destination although we still have 2 months to go. Actually we cannot believe that we enter into Iran, at last and despite what happen, for me Alhamdulillah we only lost a tiny things of duniya. As a muslim, we believe whatever happen is what Allah swt has written. I can say or think IF I put my phone in the kitchen with me, IF I shout and fight back more aggressively because the man who rob us is actually a bit scared when he actually pull the middle curtain and saw me and kids, and I was actually shout to him when he do that because I was having my launch. He might not expect a shout from a woman, while he trying to pretend at my husband.

Anyway, Allah will always give away out through difficulty, Insya Allah....What important is we all not just safe and sound but despite our motorhome been broken into while we sleeping in our host house in Tehran, the thief/thieves did not actually do a damage to the motorhome which might delay our journey. Alhamdulillah, despite what happen, we are on planned and hope everything is fine onward.

Sofinee
Iran

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#34 [Permalink] Posted on 10th October 2013 18:53

Allah make it easy for them.

Jazakallah for the updates.

SubhanAllah!

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#35 [Permalink] Posted on 15th October 2013 03:30

More update from ByRoadtoMalaysia (FB):

~~~

EID MUBARAK / SELAMAT MENYAMBUT HARI RAYA AIDIL ADHA TO FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND ALL MUSLIM AROUND THE WORLD.

JAMALULAIL, SOFINEE, SABEERA, SYAMEEM, SUMRAH, SEIF
ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN
DAY 95.

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#36 [Permalink] Posted on 15th October 2013 08:07

Update Day 95:

Alhamdulillah we had now arrived on our 21st country, Turkmenistan. Unlike other European country and Turkey, some border are not really welcome tourist and hospitality at the border is quiet poor. Nevertheless, we do expect some of the situation which is also part of the expensive experience which we might not get at the airport arrival.

We are now resting for tonight at Ashgabat, at one of the guest house of a Malaysian company. Insya Allah we will celebrate Eid here at Ashgabat tomorrow and looking forward for that although it has been so many things we need to do plus our limited visa mean we have to push the journey as soon as we can.

Alhamdulillah for a place we been hosted and hopefully our motorhome is safe and sound at the parking. I take this opportunity to do laundry and everybody can have a good shower which we not sure when will be our next proper place except in our motorhome.

It was quiet an expensive transit in Turkmenistan, 5 days transit visa cost us altogether 450 USD. We not really expect the cost to be that much and much to an amusement of the beautiful town, at the border, there are not ATM machine etc, so do at the custom bank office and we just had enough cash. Once we arrived at Ashgabat, my husband went out with our host and go around to try and cash the money. I read about the ability to cash at ATM at Ashgabat but at the end they find only one place and after my dear husband cash one time, the ATM out of order, therefore cannot cash more. We will try again tomorrow...Much of the lovely and modern city...but international card seems not working at all!

Insya Allah, as soon as I can get internet, I will try to update more. I will try to confirm a place for our arrival event which will be in Jitra, Kedah. Insya Allah.

Make doa for us, despite whatever happen and the test that been send to us, as we just found that our cable to caj the electric from motorhome to the electric point also got stolen, my husband manage to get replacement cable also today. This is very important, although since days ago we feel like a real survival as our leisure battery running very low and we had to reduce all the electricity use and use portable AA battery lamp at night. Plus night is around 6 pm in Iran. But, Alhamdulillah last couple of days in Iran, we meet lovely people despite couple of nervous incident and we get very suspicious easily. People easily give us hazard light or hand signal to stop on roadside. If you had track us, you might saw how we been driving far from the road to the border and drive away and back again yesterday to the same road because we try to go to big city and find hotel and park on their car park which had cctv and security. Last night was very good as we arrived at Border terminal at the border and park in the security compound till we exit this morning. We also appointed an agent and paid 50 USD to sort out our exit for carnet, custom and passport control which took around 2 hours which is not bad. The border only open from 7.30am till 3.30 am, and it's very important for us to ensure we manage to enter Turkmenistan today according to our visa.

It was a slight problem at the border, as last night I try to print invitation letter and realize that my printer electric cable also get stolen, much of me bringing the printer all the way from UK to make it easy for us to sort out paperwork such as scan, print and copy.

Anyway, Alhamdulillah so far everything ok. It's a big release to be able to continue the journey as planned and we looking to explore more country and place and Insya Allah arrive safely in Malaysia.

Sofinee and family
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Day 95
Country 21 By Road to Malaysia

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#37 [Permalink] Posted on 19th October 2013 01:40

Another update from ByRoadtoMalaysia (FB):

~~~

Dear families, friends and everybody around the world,

Thanks for following out journey right from the start, middle and even for all new follower.

As for a note, we has started our journey on 13th July 2013 from Sunderland, UK and tomorrow, 20th October 2013, in Bukhara, Uzbekistan , it will be our 100th day on the road. What a journey, indeed.

We have been through a challenge right from the start. Ramadhan, hot weather indeed, emotional roller coaster, mentally stress, strain relationship between us all. Than one the great silk road start, we been patiently enter into visa processing, border control, motorhome broken into, get rob, being in the centre of attention from every single vehicle pass by us, over friendly people which scared us off every time. Vehicle hiccup, less time to feed ourself, rushing up to reach destination, catching up with limited transit visa and the challenge for sure still continue throughout The Great Silk Road, I believe.

To everybody who keep an eye on our tracking device, ( you can track us by clicking on delorme picture on our website) you might know now that we had yesterday, 18th October 2013 enter our 22nd country on day 98, Uzbekistan, Alhamdulillah.

We had couple of hiccup before with vehicle which turn out to be small problem at the end, Alhamdulillah. Than we had punture tyre right when we arrived 5 km from the border. My dear husband than just put the air from the compressor and importantly we need to make sure we exit Turkmenistan border on 18th October or facing fine of 1000 USD per person. Alhamdulillah with 3 times stop to put the air in, we manage to reach Bukhara which is 97km from the border, around afternoon time. As we notice the price was quiet high in Bukhara, my dear husband wanted to try to change tyre by himself but the motorhome was too heavy indeed and it is very dangerous after some attempt. We decided to find a shop with no English speaking around and manage to find one local good tyre repair shop, Alhamdulillah. Than we had one person pass by which can speak good English which also allowed us to get his telephone number to be as out translator in case we enter into problem.

One of the requirement in Uzbekistan is for visitor to register every night. Although the rules stared it can be within 72 hours. Some experience traveler stories said we shall be ok within 2-3 day registration. This registration can be done by check into the hotel which can register you on the system. As for a tiring journey which we have been on stressful time in Iran and limited time in Turkmenistan to cross from one border to another plus some vehicle problem we encounter before, I manage to find a nice b & b right at the start of the old city in the centre of Bukhara. I got the information from wiki travel and owner is so lovely and the feeling being in Uzbekistan is really exciting. We manage to negotiate and get one big family room for 50 USD for 6 of us including breakfast and free wifi, although the wifi is ok at the moment at 3 am when everybody as sleep!

When we done at the border and on the way to Bukhara, my tears just come down thinking that we had now come this far. We just an ordinary family, we had not much financial backup, no sponsor at all throughout the journey although we have been approach many lines of inquiry. But, I am proud that everywhere we go, with only not so big car sticker people know we are from Malaysia. We had been a little ambassador throughout these 100 days, we have recognize as Malaysian and Muslim. Two rarely encounter over lander. Even in Ashgabat, we meet 3 British guy which so impressed on ow we manage. Sometimes, I don't know how we manage. But, Alhamdulillah our spirit is high despite all the challenge we been through. It has been great.

The Great Silk Road, right from Turkey, Iran, Turmenistan and now the center of the Silk Road itself Uzbekistan. It has been unimaginable journey which is totally different experience if we only fly in and fly out. The border crossing is truly exciting experience, make us who used to travel back and forth exit and into UK and exit and into Malaysia feel good how the border control at both country make us feel comfortable although of course border control will always need a patient. But, certainly different when you had to cross through a border which rarely receive international people except truckers from neighboring countries. With vehicle on tow, for sure had increase the challenge and give you an experience which for me, I will never swap away.

If people said, wasn't it easy just to fly back to Malaysia from The UK, well we done it every two years since the last 15 years. All our saving, hardworking money, bonuses, overtime, all go to plain boring air ticket. Most of it, you will see white cloud and blue sky. And jam pack international airport with similar people every time. For sure I can tell you, flying did not show you much things. We almost experience nothing. Doesn't matter how long you can stuck at border control with huge queue, never been the same with arriving at border control a day before your entering date.

Overland travel give you totally different taste of real life. Real people, to see behind the scene of each country throughout your route. I would recommend people to dream it, plan it, pack your back and travel. Better with families. Honestly, having woman and kids on tow, did make border crossing better as people will have more sympathy and less scrutinizes rather than man travel alone or in group. Still it will take couple of hours because of paperwork especially with vehicle import permit and etc, but it is better in my point of view. If we think about security, you probably been targeted less, having children on tow unless the person had no heart at all. Of course you do have to ensure your kids are quiet independent and knowledgeable in surviving and outdoor situation. More or less, many things can be learn along the way, but it's one the the best things you can ever give to your kids.

My kids has gradually see some of the things differently. It's change the way they behave as well as the way they do things. it has been great to see all the positive and beneficial outcome from the journey and I will hope to share more in detail of our experience once we arrive, Insya Allah.

Sofinee
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Day 99

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#38 [Permalink] Posted on 28th October 2013 02:50

A request

Quote:

All,

Please do special prayer for us...Our expedition getting more challenging.

Jamalulail Ismail
Day 103
Tashkent, Uzbekistan

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#39 [Permalink] Posted on 28th October 2013 09:48

yes uzbekistan has a very clear cut kafir ruling it. Read the book written by a non-muslim the ex ambassador of the UK to Uzbekistan. ALLAH revive Islam in central Asia and bless Islamic governance.

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#40 [Permalink] Posted on 31st October 2013 02:31

Insha'Allah the sister doesn't mind these updates.

***They've asked for du'aas as they tackle mountains and cold weather ("winter minimum is -40C").***

Masha'Allah, it seems they are greeted with hospitality everywhere:

Quote:

We have now arrived on our 23rd country, Kyrgyzstan. The surrounding and environment is different between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and I would say, it's feel good here in Kyrgyzstan.

We now have 3 more countries to go..........feel very nervous....stress, at one point yesterday I felt so down for a while, it has been up and down throughout and we have more unknown and unexpected journey ahead before we can wind down. BUT, I would say that Allah have send us from time to time a nusrah/help and in every single problem we encounter, there be a solution round the corner. We have been bless with so many lovely people around and when we think we had encounter with big problem, it turn out to be an easy solution.

Sofinee
Osh, Kyrgyzstan[/quote]

[quote]Fixing another layer of spring for both rear side of the motorhome. One of the psring which broken also been fix. Alhamdulillah give us some peace of mind to travel through the mountain.

We park the motorhome in the garage yard and the mechanic start the job as early as 7.30 in the morning while we wait inside the masjid nearby as the temperature is around 0 degree C. While waiting for the shop to open for breakfast, the masjid which also had a madrasah on one side with 300 student, 50 of them is learning to memorize quran, we been serve by one of the student with breakfast, Alhamdulillah.

In muslim teaching, feeding a traveler or what we called musafir giving reward for the host or feeder which make us a 'target' for others everywhere we stop to serve us something, and we very overwhelm with people warm welcome.

The job finish at around 12.30 pm with 5 hours continuous work for the mechanic and than we set to continue our journey for the day. We been bless by help from people in Osh including one dentist student who become our translator at the time . Jazaka Allakhair.

Insya Allah will try to upload some more picture and story.

May Allah Ta'aala grant the ByRoadtoMalaysia team ease, warmth, safety, and success in the duniya and the akhirah; and, may He accept the hospitality offered to them by all the people they've met along the way and forgive them their sins. Ameen.

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#41 [Permalink] Posted on 9th November 2013 00:38

Oh dear, I missed a few days of follow-up and noticed that a lot has happened. I'll share here insha'Allah... starting with their youngest member's cute comment masha'Allah: "I think I deserve to be the bravest kids after this part of the journey." :)

~~~

Day 115
4th November 2013
Torugart Pass

Torugart Pass is one of the two border between Kyrgyzstan and China. This border is the original silk route between both country and one of the highest border crossing we ever been.

It was a nerve racking for both of us, as from talking to other experience overlander before, and with our research, possibly no overlander even with good vehicle are willing to cross Torugart Pass in November. Many give time until September only because of the condition of the route on mountain and the unstable weather.

Our vehicle is not actually design for overland through the route we take with the time and weather we face. But, for us as a muslim, we believe nothing impossible with the power of Allah swt.

With precaution and advice from local before we off to Torugart Pass, we depart from Naryn at around 10 am and the first part of the road is very bumpy and no asphalt, and quiet a scary road with trucks. Alhamdulillah after that we had a very good road for about 150 km up till the first check point for Kyrgyzstan. After the first check point, which is the military check point, the asphalt is disappear and we are slowly driving on bumpy road for about 70 km.

The interesting part is throughout the route, we actually climbing up and up from the sea level without we realizing that we actually climbing except on the first part when the road is bumpy. Once we pass the first check point, the snow is getting around us more and more. All the mud of the road side is frozen. Soon we saw part of the lake also frozen. When we arrived at Torugart Pass, there are lots of trucks line up. As usual, we got to pass all those queues.

One custom officer stop us and ask us for a ride to the building as it was very cold. He said to us, come to the building as there are cafe, so we can have some food and tea. But, when we arrived at the building, the cafe is close. We turn back before the gate as every vehicle can only pass through when the border open at 9 am next day. Torugart border close during weekend or when it's heavy snow.

We than try to find where to park. We saw one small house with the light on and as there are some part without snow we decided to park there. I started to heat the food I cooked a night before. Than suddenly someone knock the door and call my husband to the house. He ask us to come and sleep in the house with small charge. It's got bed, lots of blanket and heater, possibly warmer than our motorhome. As we need to save some gas, we thought it's a good idea to sleep in the house. While I feed the kids and than my dear husband and kids settle going into the house, I settle myself (as usual, as a mother and wife you will always be the last as it's a satisfaction to make sure everybody been feed and settle). I am actually not in good situation when we start climbing from 2000 ++ meter. At Torugart Pass we actually on 3243 meter from sea level.

I had quiet a bad high altitude motion sickness and before when we pass around 3400++ meter, we just pass the peak. But this time we had to stop at that high altitude for a night. I did not feel good. Headache and tight chest and unfortunately cannot going to sleep properly until around 5 am when my husband put me into military style sleeping bed. The house got so many thick blanket etc, but only after get into that sleeping bag I manage to go to sleep, much to the worries of him about my situation. It's just the situation that you cannot describe. I feel warm in the thick blanket but cannot sleep and my body just feel really different.

Border open at 9 am and when I get into motorhome at around 9, everything in the motorhome is frozen. Including dish drops, all the water in the motorhome even the hand wash liquid. My dear husband had open the heater earlier to keep the motorhome warm.

After around 9.30am, he try to start the car and as expected the car cannot start. The coolant nearly frozen although it is winter coolant. When I get back into the house, he than went out to get some help. He went for nearly one hour which make me and kids worried. This is when I took some of the picture, after he set up the heater in front of the motorhome. Lucky I got some snow trousers and snow coat and glove for my little one, Seif in the motorhome from last winter in The UK. Therefore he took the opportunity to play with snow but the temperature is not like we ever facing back in The UK. I had boil some water and I can actually wash my hand with that boiling water. It has been very cold indeed.

Alhamdulillah at around 10.30 am he come back with someone who actually used burner to burn fuel and black oil for the truckers. He help to jump start the car and Alhamdulilah after couple of trial, it works. I was worried because we need to meet our border guide at 12 pm and the China border still quiet a drive.

On Kyrgyzstan side, Alhamdulillah as usual, we can go pass the queue of the truckers. There are no other vehicle except the trucker. The chief border crossing bring us into his warm office and register us to cross the border and after we had stamp out, my husband also finish with custom inspection. ( Much as being a muslim, and travelling with wife and kids, the custom understand that it's too cold to actually check everything and give us green light without hassle). Overall we only be at Kyrgyzstan border around 30 minutes or less. The road between Kyrgyzstan last check point and China first check point is about 6 km of bumpy and up and down the mountain road. Alhamdulillah we make it on time at 12 pm at China gate we got a wave from Adil, a Muslim Uygur from Kashgar. He is our border guide as to go through Torugart Pass, we need a specil permit arrange by tour guide that operate from Kashgar.

Unbelievably, from the first China check point to the next check point was about 30 km of bumpy road. We wait there for about one and half hour before we go through military inspection. Than we drive about 150 km on bumpy and good road through mountains again to reach another check point of quarantine, custom and immigration. We only stop in between at the roadside parking for our zohr and asr prayer. The journey continue about another 70 km to Kashgar and we stop for our dinner.

We arrived in Kashgar at around 8 pm and Adil had booked a hotel for us with secure parking while our tour guide for the whole China trip, Shannon, waiting for us at the hotel.

After we pass through the last check point and officially enter into China, I cannot describe the feeling and emotion of me and my husband. Even the kids....Seif said, I think I deserve to be the bravest kids after this part of the journey. Not just the kids had to go through the cold, but we also only had one main meal a day since many days back. We also never actually do any sight seeing or visiting and buy anything, not even souvenir as me and my other half need to concentrate to whatever problem we encounter and what we need to face.

When we arrived at Torugart Pass, I cannot help from having tears coming down from my eyes as much as it has been a peak of our journey. The worried, the nerve racking situation, the headache, the stress especially throughout the Stan's country and into China.

Arrived at Kashgar, we both feel like a burden on the shoulder have been release, although the biggest burden in China is money. Travel as a family is not easy of course. Especially when you have children touring with you. Travelling single also got a challenge on it's own, but we do not have to think about other hunger, stress and safety.

Alhamdulilah kids have been brilliant throughout. They are always independent since small and they also worries and stress with all the border crossing, check point, long queue and etc. It is very hard of course to keep everybody happy all the time but one of the experience and lesson I want my kids to learn is to put them into stressful situation, teach them how to confront with the challenge although they think this journey at some point had given them too much pressure. They miss their own space very much, so do me. I hope that in their own future, they been able to face whatever challenge they have in their own life.

Torugart Pass in November, with our old motorhome which not been design for the type of the overland, only if one dare to take the challenge. But, the scenery is breathtaking, which to me, Allah swt had bring us there at the right time, to experience the beautiful pre winter scenery. If in the summer, the scenery will be different.

According to our itinerary, we will be in China for the next 22 days. We had around 7000+ km to do to reach Laos border. We want to make sure we can do it in 22 days so we do not have to pay extra charge for each of us per day.

Thanks to all your prayer and doa and encouragement and wise words. We cannot thanks everybody enough for stay with us and follow every step of our journey with worries.

Insya Allah we hope to meet you in Bukit Kayu Hitam border or during our Malaysian tour. We still try to find place for our arrival event and sponsors, if anybody or any company interested to join sponsor please let us know as we will print the sponsor sticker for our vehicle while we are in Thailand. Sponsor can be in any kind, hall for the event, food, cameraman and etc. All sponsor will be in our arrival banner event, vehicle sticker, link in our facebook and website, plus will be acknowledge in our travel log when publish.

We are trying to see if we can u stream LIVE our arrival event, therefore our followers around the world also can watch and celebrate our arrival as I believe this is not just our achievement but the achievement for everybody anywhere you are. We really wanted to share what we have achieve with others and how we able to achieve this far, and what make our journey be able to reach the peak point with safe and sound. Like I mention before, I believe that this is achievement for everybody, Malaysian,

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#42 [Permalink] Posted on 9th November 2013 00:52

More updates:

~~~

Less than 24 hours from my status asking for sponsorship and donation for our fuel to reach destination of RM10 000/ �2000, we have by now received �400 /RM2000 already. We are so overwhelm with the support from everybody throughout from UK to Malaysia.

Here I wanted to share a little story. Many might ask and told us why we need to do this journey if we not able to or why do we not asking sponsorship from government or funding from somewhere etc.

Me, I am not kind of adventurous person. I am not that challenging human being to say so. I would say, I am always highly motivated naturally, but I love to stay in my comfort zone. Since I wear nikab/ veil at the age of 25, after thinking and thinking and thinking, one thing that make me think hard at first is to actually being active. I am not adventurous but I ma very active person.

But, my dear husband is a very adventurous person. He can sleep anywhere and eat almost anything. Me, very opposite than that. Like most of Malaysian/Asian, we have this tinkling things about going out from our comfort zone. As a Muslim, we always feel that being adventurous is difficult while trying to practice especially for woman. Nevertheless, while coming to The UK without scholarship in 1999 with two kids and 6 months pregnant for the third one with the hope that my husband be able to gain more knowledge into what he good at, with only bringing cash money of �1200, I found myself in the situation where I have to come out from my comfort zone, strive hard, learn to choose what is priority and learn to live less comfort than what I used to.

One thing that is not easy to go through any challenge or start new thing in our live, is to step out from the comfort zone we are into. The comfort zone didn't have to be big house, big car, lots of money, but comfort zone can be any situation although it meant having nothing, but in our own routine and territory. That, I believe is the biggest challenge that each of us facing.

Usually, we need to force our self to be in the situation to come out from our comfort zone and face whatever challenge we think we have to without knowing we actually capable of. Only that comfort zone we line around us, a tiny line which protect us from taking the challenge.

Reading from other traveler and overlander experience, I am always amuse how each of them have one thing in common. First the faith, doesn't matter whatever faith they have but the faith which make them submit to the greatest power than the power of any human being. The believe each of the traveler and overlander experience, that doesn't matter how much we prepare ourselves, doesn't matter we preplanned the journey, there are at some point, things will be out of our control and we can hope and pray for the better. This faith and believe at the end will help us go through any challenge and difficulty we face in whatever situation and test that come into our life. Life is none without the problem. Each of us will face a problem or challenge either big or small in it's own merit. Doesn't matter how good we prepare our life, things can always go the other way. But, doesn't mean that we fail, or our life had come to the end.

Faith, believe and submission is something I found that traveler and overlander have in themselves. I really miss the traveler/overlander community which usually can only be found more in Europe camp site. (of course in US and other western country). With overlander/traveler community, I found that regardless of which country we from, what language we speak, our background, religion, believe and any differentiate that we got, we be able to find our common and get together without any problem.

Being a nikabi /someone who wear veil, commonly with media propagate, even if people did not think Islam, terrorist, oppressed, but we ourselves or we muslim ourselves, found out that we are in the situation of fear and scared to be among people who are not similar like us, fear of the label made for us or towards others.

We have been staying in Caravan site (with static caravan) in The UK almost every year, but only once with our own caravan and once for camping in the tent. When we first start the journey, I did find myself in awkward situation, knowing that there are rarely or no muslim at all at the camp site let alone a nikabi. Although being work in The UK for around 7 years with my nikab, having many lovely people from different faith, background, upbringing etc but as commonly human being trap in the world system, I found myself still fear with media view. Is people going to fear at me walking around at the camp site, if people going to walk away from me, although from experience in The UK for nearly 15 years, these situation possibly not happen to be my situation. But having new to traveler/overlander community, I do found myself in the situation of how people see me.

On our first step into Europe, in France I didn't go out from the motorhome at all except when we drive to town centre for iftar (breaking fast) and to a shop next to the mosque. I didn't used any facilities at the camp site etc; shower and toilet and only used the one in our motorhome, despite the security guard at the camp site is a muslim whose booked for us a restaurant as soon as he know we are a muslim and traveling in the month of Ramadhan.

Slowly I brave myself to get into it. To come out and used the facilities which in these way I got to meet others while washing up, start conversation and getting to know each other better. This is the only way for us, human being to understand better regardless the differences we have.

When we arrived in Amsterdam camping site, it was busy. Very busy. I was busy preparing food for our iftar when our next door neighbor came, a Germany with his wife and 13 years old grand daughter. He even bring his own chair. It was a little bit shock to me, as that little tickling in my mind, of people view in their mind looking at me, although all the years experience in The UK tell me that media judge, but people don't. Which is quiet a different story in Asian side. The man came with big map and a big thick book, asking us after he saw our vehicle sticker on the motorhome door says, 'byroadtomalaysia'. He said he has been traveling with motorhome since years back and his grand daughter always follow them since the age of 5, if I am not forget.

While my husband chatting to them, I was in and out of motorhome to chat while cooking, he know that I was busy preparing for iftar as it is fasting month for us , Muslim.

Throughout the entire journey in Europe , we meet so many, possibly 99 % none muslim who has help us, chat with us, come to our motorhome to share their experience, giving advice for us, as we are totally a new overlander as this is our first time. It has been a great experience in Europe and for me, overlander is totally a bridge between eastern and western culture.

From experience, the judging mentality as a nikabi, coming stronger from our own community and countries, which mean a muslim countries and community itself. This can be challenging on it's own account and once I have chat with a woman at the camp in Albania. She from Holland and have live in Oman for two years and have travel around. She also a history teacher. She said, must be easy now for me when I travel to Bosnia and Albania as a muslim compare to where I live in The UK. Unfortunately, my answer is, I find it very difficult especially to get halal food around what people think is a Muslim country. I miss UK so much living as a muslim although strong propaganda in media, but the ordinary people themselves less judging. She than start to share her experience of living in Oman which for her is totally quiet a different than other muslim countries she has been, because she think muslim in Oman practice the religion which she said, when she go back to Holland after living 2 years in Oman, she want to do thing like been done in Oman as now we know how to do thing.

Overland change on how people see thing and do thing. When travel, we find that regardless of our differences in upbringing, language, different religion and faith, different food etc but we find one thing in common, we always judge in our mind according to what been portrait even before we reach certain places or meet that particular people. We judge a book, even we haven't seen it's cover!

Insya Allah next time I will share more story and how we have gradually change from this expedition. Which I believe if we can change for the better of ourselves, our families, our community wherever we live, for the entire human being, than we shall be able to build the best nation! Regardless of our citizenship, we all human after all and share so many common thing we need to focus on rather than the different that will destroy the world.

Sofinee
China
Day 118

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#43 [Permalink] Posted on 9th November 2013 01:14

Sorry to flood the thread with a few days worth of updates in one go:

~~~

Alhamdulillah today we drive around 350++ to a town called Yingtze. We are still in Uygur Autonomous Region. China is really big! In Uygur Autonomous Region, there is about 20 million population and around 80% is Uygur which is Muslim.

Geographically this area have a lots of dessert. We pass through Taklamakan dessert along the way and the scenery is quiet boring and sleepy.

According to tour agent itinerary, we have so many tour and visiting along the way throughout, but I have to change most of it to suit our needs. It was quiet challenge to get the tour guide understand the situation.

Of course our first target and intention for this project is to reach Malaysia safely. Second is our financial situation. Along the way through 23rd country, we rarely visit capital city or interesting place such as Paris, Eiffel tower, Disneyland (although kids really want to go), Rome, Berlin etc because we just cannot afford to spend extra luxury because from the start although this is personal project, we want to ensure we able to reach our target and destination.

Of course it will be lovely to be able to pass through the country and do as much visiting we need and we can, but we have to focus on priority of the project. We cannot afford the luxury of traveling for fun. Only in Turkey, because we have to wait for the visa process and meeting some friends, we able to arrange the route of visiting some interesting places. Other than that, we have to leave it may be till next time, Insya Allah.

Therefore the tour guide have quiet a hard time to adjust with us on why we do not want to visit most of the tour tour agent arrange, because we need to stay on course of our priority. But, like I said China is so big that while leaving most of the tour that pre arrange in itinerary except great Wall of China, we still need at least three weeks to reach border and plus extra days for resting. It's quiet a challenge because travelling with 4 kids, now we have extra person to think off fro accommodation and food, the journey become so tight with every single day of driving. Thanks to my beloved husband for keeping strong on keep going although we put limit of 400 km per day is the most we can do.

For information, we have now received nearly RM4000/�800 in donation from various people, families, friends and stranger...Alhamdulillah...I have to say that this really help us to plan our budget and we already start using the collection for our fuel. This will than ease the other budget we have to use for many uncertainty in China.

If we can reach our target RM10 000/�2000 it will be much appreciated.

Many send suggestion for us to contact many known people, government body, organisation etc to ask for fund and sponsorship. Honestly, I feel sick now sending email after email and sending all the files and presentation needed, but at the end, not even a single reply. I mean, not even a reply of sorry we cannot cater the project etc. Not even a reply even from a big company, organisation or government body. Honestly, at least a reply...

We have also a team of people who wanted to get sponsorship for us through Malaysian government last year, when we try to put together this project and try to start off for real. But, after I have found out that the real budget we calculated without any profit at all on our side, which mean we transparent with every single penny we needed from the fund, the budget has been double up with the reason to pay the management team that wanted to arrange our sponsorship and funds. To me, I am sorry to say that I have a principle. I know that we do need help and fund and after all we bring the name of the country, but I want this project to be clean and clear from every single corruption that we can. We do not mind to sacrifice our time and hardship, to enable us to share experience and knowledge with others and at the same time I really do not want this project to involve with something that I am not happy with. The money if come from government or funding have to be used wisely, and to benefit the people in the country and others throughout the world.

So that is the story before we start off the journey and we have also make afford while we are on the journey and I have my family, my dad and my sister ad brother in law who contacted various people, but everything seems fail that in many way, I do feel that my country has fail to recognize what we trying to do. Sad but true. Especially inline with Visit Malaysia Year 2014, our project have so many opportunity to help promote Malaysia in many ways, but we cannot do that with small fund and tight own budget we have.

Honestly, after 24 country we visit so far, no country is special like Malaysia. The country is so unique with 3 largest group of ethnic which make our food one of the best flavour in the world. I can tell you that is correct! Yes I love Turkish breakfast, I love Kyrgyzstan soup and China noodle, but...Malaysian food is full of flavour. So do the country....Although I love staying in the UK with more privacy to me and family, but to enjoy life, Malaysia is one of the best country to live. With easy access through border and friendly for tourism, Malaysian shall be proud off.

Anyway, we will not give up. Despite of us having to sacrifice so much, and will ended up with mountain of debt we have to pay from the result of the journey, the experience we got cannot compare to RM350 000/�70 000 of the budget for the entire journey. We will work hard to cover everything as soon as the journey ended to settle all debt and hopefully we can embark on another one to gain more experience and hopefully to share more flavour of what the world can teach us...We do hope, for people who might not be able to embark on the journey like this, we will Insya Allah try to bring you into it.

Please make doa and pray for us...today one of the rear tyre has slow punture again, I think this is the 5th times we have punture tyre. Which before result from the wheel which we have change two in Bishkek. Tomorow we will have to stop at the tyre shop nearby before we continue our journey and hope it's only small problem. The tyre actually good, therefore it need to test to find a problem. Lucky today, we stop by for toilet on parking on highway and policeman whose checking random car pointed to me the tyre. My dear husband have by now quiet an expert and manage to change the tyre in around 30 minutes. Mind you, this is 3500 kg in weight!

Till than, I will share more when I can...At the moment is 1.25 am and I am waiting for the soup to cook for tomorrow lunch..

Sofinee
Yingtze, China
Day 120 (it's 4 months since we left UK!)

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#44 [Permalink] Posted on 9th November 2013 01:17

@ Respected Authorizers and Administrator: would it be okay to post this family's FB update requesting financial assistance (with bank information)?

If not, members and guests alike, please check out their FB page for information insha'Allah.

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#45 [Permalink] Posted on 15th November 2013 00:52

Not sure why the previous post was 'reported' but perhaps it is better to just delete it instead - the bold red lettering is intimidating :(

Another update insha'Allah:

~~~

Arrived at Langzhou, capital city of Gansu Province. Population 4.6 million. We stop by for magrib prayer which is in the middle of the city, next to Yellow River, the second longest river in China. This masjid also have Darul Ulom/Madrasah with student from all over China to study Islam.

Day 125
Langzhou, China

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