Alor Gajah, Malacca

Alor Gajah, Malacca is a town and district in Malacca, Malaysia. Alor Gajah is also a parliamentary constituency of Melaka. It borders Tampin, Negeri Sembilan to the north. This town has a railway station at Pulau Subang about 10 kilometres from the town area. Majlis Perbandaran Alor Gajah (MPAG) is the local municipal council in charge of this town. Alor Gajah is 699.3 km2, which is equivalent to 66,302 hectares. It consists of 31 mukim (sub-districts).

Alor Gajah yang terkenal dengan pahlawan Naning iaitu Dato' Dol Said yang menentang British di dalam Perang Naning pada tahun 1832 adalah dari sebuah kawasan hutan yang dipercayai menjadi laluan gajah-gajah liar, kini Alor Gajah menjadi sebuah daerah yang sedang pesat membangun. Daerah Alor Gajah yang mengandungi tiga (3) buah bandar dan 16 buah pekan-pekan kecil. Keluasan daerah Alor Gajah adalah seluas 66,302 hektar yang merangkumi 31 buah mukim. Kini daerah Alor Gajah mempunyai bilangan penduduk seramai 131,870 orang mengikut bancian penduduk pada tahun 2000. Pekan Alor Gajah terletak 24km dari bandar Melaka dan kini merupakan salah satu pintu masuk utama ke negeri Melaka melalui Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan.

What used to be Distric Officer's residence is now a Public Library

My father, Dato' Haji Amir Ishak Mohd Noordin used to be the 'Assistant District Officer' and later the District Officer of the district

Everyone lived here except Ina Debab (the youngest)

Much of the compound have been taken back - now smaller area

Haadyai, Thailand

Hat Yai, Thailand (Thai : หาดใหญ่) is a city in southern Thailand near the boundary to Malaysia. With a population of 157,359 (2008) in the core city and about 800,000 in the Greater Hat Yai. Hat Yai is the biggest city of Songkhla Province and the largest metropolitan area in Southern Thailand, and is thus often mistaken as being the capital of the province. However Songkhla is the capital and the center of administration and culture while Hat Yai is the business center. The two cities are considered as twin cities due to the close connection, accordingly, Hat Yai and Songkhla form the Greater Hatyai-Songkhla Metropolitan Area. The name "Hat Yai" is a short version of "Ma Hat Yai", meaning big Ma Hat (Thai: มะหาด) tree, a relative of jackfruits in genus Artocarpus. Originally named Khok Sa-Met Choon, Hat Yai was a small village until the southern railway was built there. The junction which connected the town of Songkhla with the main route was originally located in the Utapao area, but was moved to Khok Su-Met Choon in 1922 when the Utapao area turned out to be flood prone.

Sungai Golok, Thailand

Sungai Kolok (สุไหงโกลก) is a border town in Narathiwat, Thailand, just north of the Malaysian border. The town on the Malaysian side of the border is Rantau Panjang which is in the state of Kelantan. Sungai Kolok is popular among Malaysians for its shopping and infamous entertainment delights. Tourism however has taken a knocking since 2005 as several bombs, blamed on southern Thai Muslim separatists, have rocked the town. Sungai Kolok is the railhead on the east coast branch of the State Railways of Thailand's southern line. There are two departures daily to Bangkok, at 11:30 (rapid) and 14:20 (express), both stopping at Yala, Hat Yai, Surat Thani and many other towns en route.

Rantau Panjang, Kelantan

Rantau Panjang is a town in Kelantan, Malaysia. It is the major border crossing between Malaysia and Thailand for the East Coast of Malaysia. The town on the Thai side across the Golok River which forms the boundary between the two countries is Sungai Kolok. The town has a duty-free shopping area where you can find electronic goods, cigarettes and clothes. Rantau Panjang is about 40km from Kota Bharu, the state capital of Kelantan. The road between Kota Baru and Rantau Panjang goes via Pasir Mas. Rantau Panjang and Sungai Kolok are linked by the short "Harmony Bridge" over the Golok River.

Tak Bai, Thailand

Tak Bai (Thai: ตากใบ) is a border town on Malaysia-Thailand Border, the capital of Tak Bai district, Narathiwat province. Visitors can visit Malaysia by Pengkalan Kubur pass, Kelantan state. Administratively it is a town (thesaban mueang), and covers 9.14 km² of the subdistrict (tambon) Che He. As of 2007 it has a population of 17,317. It is the location of the Tak Bai Incident, in which on October 25, 2004 at least 85 demonstrators died. The town was created as a sanitary district (sukhaphiban) in 1956. Like all sanitary districts, it was upgraded to a subdistrict municipality (thesaban tambon) in May 1999. On January 31 2008 it was upgraded to a town (thesaban mueang).

Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan

Right on the Thai border, Pengkalan Kubor is the immigration check point for this little used back route to Thailand. During the day, a large car ferry (60 sen for pedestrians) crosses the river over to busy Tak Bai in Thailand (If you have the guts, you do not need passport to cross over and come back). It's a tax-free zone, so the shopping is good if you know how to bargain - electronic goods, houseware items, and clothes are popular items. The road from Kota Bharu passes through some of the most traditional villages in Kelantan.

Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia (2009)

Ubudiah Mosque (Masjid Ubudiah) is Perak's royal mosque, and is located in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia. It is often regarded as Malaysia's most beautiful mosque. The Ubudiah Mosque stands proudly and majestically with its golden dome and minarets creating a spellbinding sight, from near and afar. The mosque was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, a government architect who is notably credited for the design of the Ipoh railway station and the Kuala Lumpur railway station. Built in 1917 during the reign of the 28th Sultan of Perak, Sultan Idris Murshidul'adzam Shah 1, the Masjid Ubudiah is located beside the Royal Mausoleum on Bukit Chandan. It was commissioned on the orders of the Sultan, who vowed that he would build a mosque of great beauty as thanksgiving for recovery from an illness which plagued him in those early days.

Aberystwyth, Wales

Aberystwyth, West Wales is the principal holiday resort and administrative centre of the west coast of Wales. It is also home to the University of Wales Aberystwyth and the National Library.The town is nestled between three hills and two beaches, and hosts some castle ruins, a pier and a harbour. The surrounding hills hold the visible remains of a iron age fort and also a monument to Wellington and once climbed offer stunning views of Cardigan Bay.

Balikpapan. East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of Borneo island, Indonesia in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau - ferry harbour, and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main transportation access to and from the city. The topography of the municipality of Balikpapan is generally hilly (85%), with only small areas of flatland (15%), particularly along the coast and surrounding the hilly areas. The hills are less than 100 meters higher than the adjacent valleys. The altitude of Balikpapan ranges from 0 to 80 meters above sea level. Prior to the oil boom, Balikpapan was an isolated Bugis fishing village. The etymology of Balikpapan's name (lit. balik is behind and papan is a plank) came from a folk story where a local king threw his newborn daughter into the sea to protect her against his enemies. The baby was tied beneath some planks, which were discovered by a fisherman.

Wai-O-Tapu, New Zealand

Wai-O-Tapu (the English meaning - "Sacred Waters"). A Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. Located 27 kilometres (20 minutes drive) south of Rotorua on SH5, the Visitor Centre provides the gateway to New Zealand’s most colourful natural volcanic environment. Visitors can walk at their own pace and absorb the unique features including the world famous champagne pool, geysers, bubbling mud, steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters and sinter terrace formations. The natural bush setting adds another dimension to the experience as does the guaranteed daily eruption of the Lady Knox Geyser at 10.15am.

University of Auckland, New Zealand

The University of Auckland (Māori: Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau) is New Zealand's largest university and the top-ranked New Zealand university in the THES - QS World University Rankings. Established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand, the university is now made up of eight faculties over six campuses, and has more than 39,000 students at April 2006.[3] Over 1300 doctoral candidates were enrolled at the University of Auckland in 2004. It offers a wide range of programmes including Arts, Business, Education, Music, Teacher Training and Special Education, Architecture, Planning, Nursing, Creative and Performing Arts, Theology, Science, Information Management, Engineering, Medicine, Optometry, Food and Wine Science, Property, Law, Fine and Visual Arts and Pharmacy.

Rotorua Skyline Skyrides, Rotorua New Zealand

Rotorua Skyline Skyrides - Rotorua Starts Here! Set high on the side of Mount Ngongotaha with extensive views of Rotorua city, Lake Rotorua, geothermal areas and surrounding hinterlands, Skyline Skyrides provides the ideal venue for a day of family fun, a romantic evening for two or a event with that all important wow factor. Visit Skyline Skyrides Rotorua NZ, a true KIWI ICON. Take the Gondola Cableway; Visit the home of the LUGE; Relax in the Terraces Cafe and Sails. Soak up the views and enjoy the spectacular 'Best of New Zealand Buffet and Grill' night dining in the Cableway Restaurant and Bar.

Rotorua, New Zealand

Rotorua - “Kia ora” welcome to Rotorua, city of 13,000 beds and as many friendly hosts. Rotorua region captures the best of New Zealand all in one place! Whether seeking to experience Maori culture, geothermal earth forces, spa rejuvenation, thrills and adventure, or any of the other natural assets such as 16 lakes, some of the world's best mountain biking trails, fantastic trout fishing and myriad forest walking tracks – Rotorua delivers it all! "Rotorua - feel the spirit – Manaakitanga" is the catch-cry . . . and it holds a pretty powerful promise as well as an invitation to experience extraordinary slice of New Zealand. A deep-rooted Maori cultural concept, Manaakitanga places a responsibility on us as your hosts to give you the best of ourselves, our time and our history.
“Nau mai, haere mai” Welcome, welcome, welcome to Rotorua

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand covers an area of 58 hectares at the southern end of Hamilton City, New Zealand. It is a public park owned and managed by the Hamilton City Council. Admission to all areas of Hamilton Gardens is free. Some minor garden development started in the early 1960's and the Rogers Rose Garden was made in 1971 but most development has occurred since 1982. Today Hamilton Gardens is the most popular visitor attraction in the region with about 600,000 visitors each year, nearly half of them being tourists. There are nearly 2000 events held within Hamilton Gardens each year. The unique theme of Hamilton Gardens is 'the story of gardens' which is explored through a series of five garden collections : The Paradise Garden Collection; The Productive Garden Collection; The Fantasy Garden Collection; The Cultivar Garden Collection and The Landscape Garden Collection.

Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton (Kirikiriroa in Māori) is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's seventh largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato region of the North Island, approximately 130 km (80 mi) south of Auckland. It sits at a major road and rail nexus in the centre of the Waikato basin, on both banks of the Waikato River. The area now covered by the city was originally the site of a handful of Māori villages, including Kirikiriroa ("long stretch of gravel'), from which the city takes its Māori name. By the time British settlers arrived, most of these villages, which sat beside the Waikato River, were abandoned. The settlement founded on 24 August, 1864 and named after Captain John Charles Fane Hamilton

Auckland, New Zealand

The Auckland metropolitan area, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with over 1.4 million residents, 31 percent of the country's population. Increasingly cosmopolitan, Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world, and has seen many people of Asian ethnicity move there in the last two decades. In Māori Auckland's name is Tāmaki-makau-rau, or the transliterated version of Auckland, Ākarana. Auckland lies between the Hauraki Gulf of the Pacific Ocean to the east, the low Hunua Ranges to the south-east, the Manukau Harbour to the south-west, and the Waitakere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west. The central part of the urban area occupies a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and the Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the few cities in the world to have harbours on two separate major bodies of water.

Volendam, Holland, 2009

Volendam is a popular tourist attraction in the Netherlands, well-known for its old fishing boats and the traditional clothing still worn by some residents. The women's costume of Volendam, with its high, pointed bonnet, is one of the most recognizable of the Dutch traditional costumes, and is often featured on tourist postcards and posters (although there are believed to be fewer than 50 women now wearing the costume as part of their daily lives, most of them elderly). There is a regular ferry connection to Marken, a peninsula close by. Volendam also features a small museum about its history and clothing style.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is the capital of the Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million, it is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 10th largest city by population in the European Union. The English name of Vienna, the German name Wien, and the names of the city in most languages, are thought to be derived from the Celtic name of a settlement, but opinions vary on the precise origin. Some claim that the name comes from Vedunia, meaning "forest stream", which subsequently became Venia, Wienne and Wien. Others claim that the name comes from the name of the Roman settlement Vindobona, probably meaning "white soil" or "white property", which became Vindovina, Viden and Wien. Founded around 500 BC, Vienna was originally a Celtic settlement. In 15 BC, Vienna became a Roman frontier city (Vindobona) guarding the Roman Empire against Germanic tribes to the north.

Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg's "Old Town" (Altstadt) with its world famous baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is noted for its Alpine setting. It is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for parts of the musical and film The Sound of Music, which features famous landmarks in Austria, but focuses mainly on Salzburg. Salzburg is a student city, with three universities. Salzburg is on the banks of the Salzach river, at the northern boundary of the Alps. The mountains to Salzburg's south contrast with the rolling plains to the north. The Altstadt, or "old town", is dominated by its baroque towers and churches and the massive Festung Hohensalzburg.

Marken, Holland

Marken (pop: 1,846 in 2004) is a peninsula in the IJsselmeer, the Netherlands, located in the municipality Waterland in the province North Holland. It is a former island, which nowadays is connected to the North Holland mainland by a causeway. Also, Marken is a well-known tourist attraction, well-known for its characteristic wooden houses.