With the trip to Bukit Kayu Hitam, I'm officially announce that I hv completed my South-North Highway drive.

And I hv completed the drive within the year of 2006, made numerous trip between Klang and PG. But only drive once bk from Johor to Klang, and now from PG to Kedah.

Anthony Hopkins, my favourite actor, had the hobby of drive around the highway in US too. Probably I pick up the hobby from him too .

Well, couldn't precisely treat it as a travelling experience, PL and I were actually just paying Kim a visit at her hometown at Jitra. We hv known each others for almost 5 years now, this is the 1st time we are paying Kim visit at her hometown.

PL started her way to my house with a jam, then missed twice to turn into the road of my house (she's too was 1st time driving to my house).

So off we go to Kedah, and hit the South North Highway. Nice and relax scenery along the journey, minor rains, but we were not concern at all.
We arrived at Jitra, Kim's father coffee shop at 10:30am ..... a bit late than our schedule, but no rush, we're still in a holidays .

After we hv tasted the Jitra tosai (Kim order 4 for us, means we need to take 2 each!!!), we decided to enter Thailand from Bukit Kayu Hitam, the place I hv seen many times on the highway sign board, but never been once.

I suppose it's 30 mins drive from Jitra to the border, Kim proceed to the Imigration Office to make the border pass, where PL and I try hard to peep where's that duty free complex is, too bad couldn't found it.

My 1st impression abt the Thais imigration is not good at all. We're required to get the white card = arrival card, and departure card from a small hut, where it said provide the service to fill up the form. I tot we can just ask for the form and fill it up by ourself. But NO, we need to pay RM2 to these guys where they will fill up the details abt ourself that I knew better. I ask the Indian guy(a tourist), why we need them to do for us as we're able to do it ourself. He said coz they will write some Siamese on the card, can u do that ?? I was puzzled as this kind of card shld be in English and for tourist, of course we can write in English, the international language. After the Indian guy got his card, I ask him to show me ..... and heck, it's all in English.
I was keep mumbling and show my "black" face at the form filling counter as I don't like this kind of "practise". I couldn't understand how the imigration officer will allow this kind of practise. I been travelling to a few countries, and never encountered such practise before.

The Sadao, the small town we visited after crossing the border (we park our car at the Zon, and walk to the Thai border) ..... is just where you can buy clothes, Thai snacks ... I wasn't hunting for any of those, just to experience the border crossing experience .

But we got to taste a nice TomYam mihun for lunch, it's so spicy ...... even PL said she'd surrendered, even she's quite capable in handling spicy food. Kim order PG Char Koay Teow, man ..... come to Thailand and eat PG food, haiyoh .

After buying some fruits, we decided to go back. Again when depart, we were ask to give the imigration officer RM1 after they chopped on our passport. I ask the imigration lady what's the RM1 for, is it departure tax ...... but she just smile at me and hold up 1 finger to signal RM1, I don't know she can't understandme or just playing dumb. I was almost gonna blow off, and so unwillingly give her the RM1.

Again when we entered the Msian imigration, we're charged with RM3.30 for the toll, what the heck with the charges ???? It's merely 1 km distance, and we're charged with RM3.30 !!!!

My mood is well spoiled by all these leeches ...... but we decided to continue with another destination, "Gua Kelam" in Perlis state.

So, from Kedah, now we are driving to Perlis ...... I think Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. When we passed by the palace of Perlis, it also looks like the bungalow unit of the wealthy. I wonder how the Raja Perlis gonna get himself used to the small palace after living in the big and great Istana Negara for 5 years.

Though it's a small state, but it's very neat and clean. Too bad we couldn't spend time at it's capital, Kangar. It's quite a ride to the cave as my back is a bit pain due to not used to the long journey driving ( I retired from my highway track 1 month ago ).

Gua Kelam is definitely much much smaller than Gua Tempurung, but it did bring me back to the good old memory of Gua Tempurung, and my fellow ex-colleagues in Klang. After came out from the cave, we re-direct to the park. We all felt that the whole place shld be maintain better to lure in the tourists. I remember Perlis got a lots of interesting cave, I do hope this won't be the last one that I visited.

Day ended when we heading bk to Jitra. Kim's brother was so nice to treat us the dinner, and he also suggested some others places for us to visit when we are there again to visit. Too bad I couldn't taste the crab that Kim had mentioned for the whole dayD.

Liverpool is doing great on the Xmas eve, Peter Crouch could hv make it to 3-0 if the ball didn't hit the post ....... I only follow the game from 2nd half, but Liverpool is playing great that night, bravo.

Went to Johnson's open house this afternoon, his sis use the card board and make a beautiful stage, and put on the little statue to present the scene when Jesus was born .... creative person.

And I got to hear his grandma sing us a song in Japanese ..... I'm suppose to sing a song too, but I don't think I wanna spoilt the mood with my terrible singing, haha.

Try to drive to the Bkt Hijau reserved forest on the way bk home, but I turn bk as the journey seems too far, I hv been driving for almost 22 minutes, and only see the mounitain is still far away ........ will try it next time with my proper trekking wear, and of course with companion. I actually drive along the palm estate (remind me of the road to Taman Negara), which is quiet and not much car passed by. While driving just pray hard that my car won't break down.

Just to wish everyone a Merry Xmas, and Happy Holidays.

Checked out TH's Angkor Wat photos jes now, with her explanation of the place too. I'm interested of the package, coz it's seem reasonable.

Targetted to take more shots of ppl in my future photographing. I always like movie and TV series, grown up as a TV Box kid. Try my hand to do some short clip and it's not easy at all ........ to hv the story plot in ur mind and try to tell the audience abt it, hope they will understand what u r try to express.