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This blogspot is a medium to share my thoughts and adventures apart from promoting my books. Below are the books which have been written or authored and published by myself.


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Mencari Diri dan Erti".

ISBN 983-42031-0-1, Jun 2006


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Membela Syiar yang Asal"

ISBN 983-42031-1-x, May 2007


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Sirih Pulang ke Gagang?"

ISBN 978-983-42031-2-2, November 2007


It is interesting to note that while these books were written in Malay it has gained enough attention to merit being part of the collections of the American Library of Congress and National Library of Australia. Look here and here.


While the first three books were published by my own company, the fourth titled "Rumah Azan" was published in April 2009 by a company called Karnadya with the help of the Malaysian national literary body Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. It features beautiful pictures along with stories behind selected mosques which could be related to the history of Islam and the Malays alongside the formation of the Malaysian nation. Look at the article A collaboration of old collegemates - the book "Rumah Azan".


My fifth book "Ahlul Bait (Family) of Rasulullah SAW and Malay Sultanates", an English translation and adaptation of the Malay book "Ahlul Bait (Keluarga) Rasulullah SAW dan Kesultanan Melayu" authored by Hj Muzaffar Mohamad and Tun Suzana Othman was published early 2010. Look here... My 5th book is out! Ahlul Bait (Family) of Rasulullah SAW and the Malay Sultanates... . For more information check out my Malay blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU.



Like my fourth book "Rumah Azan", the sixth book "Kereta Api Menuju Destinasi" is also a coffee-table book which is published by the company Karnadya with the cooperation of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (the main Malay literary body in Malaysia). Coming out January 2011 it features pictures and stories on the adventure travelling by train to all of Peninsular Malaysia along with the interesting places which could be reached this way.


My seventh book "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah" in turn is a coffee-table book which is written, editted, designed and has pictures taken by me. Coming out of the factory October 2011, this book which combines family history with history of places such as Singapura, Johor, Batu Pahat, Muar and in fact the history of the island of Java and England has been reviewed with me interviewed live in the program Selamat Pagi Malaysia at RTM1. Look at the article Siaran langsung ulasan buku "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah" dan temu ramah di Selamat Pagi Malaysia. Some selected contents have been featured in Sneak peek "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah".


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The "Berpetualang ke Aceh" series of novels could be obtained in e-book form. Enter http://www.e-sentral.com/, click general novel and go to page 4. You can also type the word "Aceh" at the search box. Or click straight Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3.


Saturday, July 21, 2007

At last, the Brunei Mosque at Danau Tok Uban!

Note: This article is the English translation for the Malay version written at CATATAN SI MERAH SILU during the day on Thursday. For information, this is the last article to be written in this manner... That is, the same article written in three versions, one each for the bi-lingual SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART), the all-Malay CATATAN SI MERAH SILU and this all-English site. From here onward, every blogspot will have its own particular stories. Do take note!


Start by looking at this picture... Jeng jeng jeng!!! Who would have thought in this no man's land in the state of Kelantan lies such a magnificent mosque... Come on, who would have thought, the beautiful mosque inside the area of Rong Chenok (Although it is beside Danau (the lake of) Tok Uban, the immediate locals say Tok Uban is on the other side), province of Pasir Mas was built by the Sultan of Brunei, the individual once said to be the world's richest man! Before his position in the list of wealth was taken over by Bill Gates, the owner of Microsoft...


Look at the inscriptions above (in Jawi)... The Mosque of Brunei Darussalam... At once I remembered the old kingdom of Samudera Darussalam founded by Sultan Malikus Salih in Aceh in the 13th century AD... Is there any connection?

What is sure, in the world history of Islam, the first place to use the name Darussalam is Madinah Darussalam, after it was ruled by Prophet Muhammad Rasulullah SAW... And in the Malay Archipelago, Samudera Darussalam is the first to be known with the name Darussalam which means abode of peace, also because the populace embraced Islam without being forced or having to wage war against. Then only came Pattani Darussalam, also Brunei Darussalam.

So what is the connection between all these? Enough if said, all these Darussalam places involve the presence of Ahlul Bait, the offsprings of the Prophet as competent rulers and administrators also as Islamic missionaries who brought peace wherever they go!


Now think, why must the Sultan of Brunei built a mosque in Rong Chenok, besides a wide expanse of water known as Danau Tok Uban. What is the reason? Why not built it at Kota Bahru, the capital of Kelantan? Why not in Kuala Lumpur or Putrajaya which are far more well-known and glamorous?

For information, not many people know the mosque even existed. The road to get there is also rather difficult meandering through backwater villages, quite far from any main road. To get inside is already a problem... Why go through all the trouble to built such a beautiful mosque in such a place? Even the name Rong Chenok sounds very funny, almost sounding like tenuk, the Malay word for the rather funny-looking animal known as tapir.

Oh... For those who don't know about Danau Tok Uban, do have a look at Now, Danau Tok Uban...

There... The mosque's commemorative plaque written in Jawi... Try to read it yourself.... I can only clarify the Brunei Darussalam Mosque was built in 1992 along with a religious college (the mosque is within a Quran learning college yard) in the name of the late Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, father to the present Sultan of Brunei. And it was officiated by the Sultan of Kelantan!


After studying the plaque, there came the urge to put up the "Berpetualang ke Aceh" poster here! In fact it was left up there as long as I was at the mosque until noon the next day. Who on earth would look at this poster when the place is so off the beaten tracks and hardly receive any visitor?


It happens that when I arrived Friday afternoon, a group of school-teachers, their families and students have just arrived for a small dining function at the college-owned rest-houses beside the mosque. You can say, it was the first time most of them stepped foot at Danau Tok Uban although all of them came from Pasir Mas!

At the same time, one can see small children running up and down happily exploring every nook and cranny of the mosque. That's when I realised there's a spiralling staircase to get to the top... What do you expect I did... Like a monkey given a tree to climb do I become... Hehe!


The mosque's tower as could be captured with a cheap digital camera without wide view...

The rest area besides... Seemed so happening with the presence of visitors from Pasir Mas... Otherwise this area rarely has people around except for college students, even then they mostly spend their time elsewhere within the rather wide compounds of the college, a college reputedly fully supported by the Sultan Brunei who also pays the student bills!


The jetty besides the mosque for Danau Tok Uban seen from an angle which could only be taken by 'monkeys' like me. Others who saw where I was then immediately felt queasy... What the heck? Is this guy mad perching up like that at the corner of the mosque??

Praise be to God! It's obvious Danau Tok Uban looks much more beautiful seen from the Brunei Mosque compared to from the other side!


Oh... Forgot to tell. Actually, as soon as I saw the Brunei Mosque from the taxi taken at Pasir Mas, immediately I felt a kind of electrical current rushing through the body. Ah... I had another deja vu... The overall design of the mosque, its surrounding, in fact the small gates also the rest houses besides have already been seen in a dream or a vision long ago... Not sure when but I did saw all of these although physically, that is the first time I got there!

What is the meaning of all this? Ah... Relax... Let there be a bit of suspense... Haha!


The mimbar (small building for giving sermons) with the dome above reminded me of war headgear worn by Muslim warriors of old... Maybe there is a connection here?

As it is, that night, one of the college's religious teacher came with a student to see me. They want to find out who I really was... Lawyer? Magistrate? Or just Kasim Selamat! (Sorry, only those who followed the Malay movies acted by P. Ramlee would understand the pun). Because the visitors (the Pasir Mas folk who rented the rest-houses) were worried with the presence of an unknown figure... Are they scared I might be a thief or a gangster?

Ah... I am used to all these. In fact along this current travel, many thought I was a member of the police Special Branch from Bukit Aman, some even thought I was military intellegence who came in disquise to observe the going-ons around... Even if I say I'm not, some of them had already made their conclusions... Where does exist anyone so brave the way I look with confidence and all venturing deep inside other people's territories alone all by himself unless he is connected to the authorities?

Whatever, the teacher was relieved after examining my identity card and making a little interview. What is interesting is the interview made at another level using spiritual means... It seems the young religious teacher who might not have reach his 40s is not just a nobody. Of course... Would you sent a 'zero' to meet a stranger who could be dangerous to you?

In our conversation, I was frank enough to admit I like to visit the graves and tombs of saints, royalty and related places all to study the Malay Islamic history especially those related to family. I know the teacher was also verifying me spiritually to see if I'm telling the truth or not...

What's interesting is when the teacher admitted, the mosque in fact the whole Danau Tok Uban is situated within an ancient walled city which could still be seen using the spiritual eye... Hmm... Can't talk much about this. Enough if it's said inside Danau Tok Uban, there's plenty of treasures of old, plenty plenty... Said the teacher, there are those who tried to pull out the treasure with no success. What's interesting, he knows that the treasure is meant for the expenses incurred for the end of times war... Hmm... Enough...

Oh, to answer questions by readers especially from Kak Tim, what is the relationship betwen Brunei and Kelantan... La... Thought most already knew... Isn't the Sultan of Kelantan said to have originated from the offsprings of Sayyid Hussein Jamadil Kubra, the head of the group of Wali Tujuh (the seven saints) who came to the Malay lands in 14th century AD? The Sultan of Brunei dsecends from the Sharif of Mekah whose genealogy reaches up to Saidina Hassan, the eldest granchild of Rasulullah SAW! Each came from the blood of the Prophet Muhammad SAW... Allahumasali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad!

Now think what is the relations between all these... Where did the progenies of the Prophet met in the Malay Archipelago such that the Sultan of Brunei was called to built a mosque here after experiencing a dream... Another story said, there's an old folk in Rong Chenok who had the same dream three days in a row and so sought ways to meet the Sultan of Brunei just to relate the message from the dream.

Whatever, the mosque was built after someone (maybe many?) had a mysterious dream full of questions. What is sure, the existence of the Brunei Mosque in this backwater place raised much curiousity and so became the reason and excuse for some parties to meet and get to know each other here. Fuh... Suddenly the name Tok Kenali came to mind... (The nick-name of the famous late Kelantanese saint rhymes with the Malay word for getting to know, that is mengenali)

OK... Enough ya... I've spent plenty of time writing this... Must go and leave Alor Setar soon... Suddenly came to mind the teacher who interviewed me and his student, both originated from Kulim. As if asking me to go there next (which I did as I'm writing this English translation in Kulim at night!)... God willing, we'll meet again another time. Peace!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

In Kuala Lipis to settle an old 'debt'?

I will be brief here before going to the punchline. Frankly, I can't remember how I travelled down south from Kuala Krai on 24th December 2006. I've been travelling to many other places since then and it is impossible to keep track of every detail of travel.
What I do remember, at some point I did take the train. Whatever, from Kuala Krai, I passed through Gua Musang before reaching Kuala Lipis, the first proper town of Pahang on that route...

A picture of Sungai Jelai with the bridge over it... Early morning, 25th December.


Part of the town seen from the riverbanks...

Entrance to the stairs leading to the riverbank.



Hmm.. Still misty. The time was about 7 am or so if I recall correctly.


There... The words say "Kuala Lipis, o (km away)"... Obvious isn't it?


OK... Here is the old mosque of Kuala Lipis built in 1888. The place has its own legend and this has been mentioned in a previous article, Kuala Lipis, a cute town! What is special about this mosque on 25th December 2006 is that it was the place I slept the previous night!

Now, what is so special about that? After all I've spent many nights at many mosques, some with much more prominent history that this... Well to tell you the truth, I was 'supposed' to have slept here sometime in mid 2004 but didn't... I only slept there on the night of 24 December 2005 which is one and a half years later... Let me tell you the story.

For information, this mosque was my last embarkation point before going on a trip to Kelantan which would see me for the first time visiting the tomb and mosque of the famous Malay saint Tok Kenali. What happened was that I was from Raub going to Temerloh. Then out of whim took the bus to Jerantut, again out of whim took the train to Kuala Lipis.

At that town, I stopped and did the afternoon prayers at the old mosque. I was thinking of spending the night there when I went to the train station just to have a look at the schedule. Immediately just like at Jerantut, the train arrived. Again out of whim I just took a ride up to its last stop for the day, that is Gua Musang, the first proper town in Kelantan on the route.

To cut a long story short, it was in Gua Musang that I've learned the whereabouts of Tok Kenali's tomb and mosque and made my first visit there the next day. So it's funny to think, one and half years later, I came from Masjid Tok Kenali, stopped by at Masjid Kampung Laut and found myself sleeping at the old mosque of Kuala Lipis in the very same day... As if I had to stop at Kuala Lipis to pay a 'debt' of having to spend at least a night at the old mosque there!


Above is the picture of my late grandma's house in Raub. So after snapping some misty picture of Kuala Lipis, I found myself back to the place which sparked all my travels for the last five years... The place where nenek (that's what I call grandma) opened up a secret about our ancestry which in turn makes me want to visit old tombs of saints and royalty all over Malaysia.

Anyway, I'm glad to be able to complete this article, the seventh and last in a series I've arranged to be completed while presently being in Alor Setar. Coincidently (yes, coincidently... I just chose which pictures felt right without counting) there's seven picture here. Is there a hidden meaning behind it? (Wink! Wink!) :]

Masjid Kampung Laut, enough said!

After I'm done at Masjid Tok Kenali, it was time to visit another old Kelantanese landmark, perhaps a more famous and significant one, a place called Masjid (mosque of) Kampung Laut. The 300-year-old mosque originated from Kampung (village of) Laut north-east of Kota Bahru or so but was said to have languished in poor condition there because of constant flooding. Thus it was relocated to Nilam Puri, some 12 km south-west of the Kelantan capital.


I've passed this route quite a few times since it is on the road to Tanah Merah... All express buses heading for the West Coast from Kota Bahru must pass here. But it's only on that 24th December 2006 that I finally made a visit to Masjid Kampung Laut!


There... Quite something isn't it. The architecture is similar to the more famous Masjid Demak in the island of Java in Indonesia built sometime in the 15th century. Thus some believe Masjid Kampung Laut is much older than 300 years old as it is one of the rare few in the Malay Archipelago built using similar design and specifications.


The signboard here offers official findings on the mosque. Have a closer look down here...


Hmm... It looks more readable when I first editted this part using Photoshop. Nevermind, what is told here is similar to what I've already said about the mosque...


What is not official though is how Masjid Kampung Laut is supposed to be related to some legendary saintly figures. If Masjid Demak in Java is said to be built by the famous Wali Songo (the nine saints), Masjid Kampung Laut is supposed to be built by another group of saints (can't recall who) said to be in turn related to the Wali Tujuh, a group of seven saints said to have arrived at the Malay Archipelago in the 14th century.

Now, the Wali Tujuh might not be as famous as Java's Wali Songo but some of them are believed to be much higher up in the hierarchy of Muslim sainthood. For example, the leader of Wali Tujuh, Sayyid Hussein Jamadil Kubra is said to be the grandfather of all Wali Songo. A member of his group (could be brother, could be cousin. What is sure, they are related), Sayyid Thanauddin is believed to be AdiPutra, the grandmaster who taught the famous Hang Tuah the art of war!


The legend goes that until now, some saints would stop by or converge at Masjid Kampung Laut. It's just they can't be seen by common people or they would appear disguised as someone else, normally old folks who look like they are insane vagabonds. So don't take the covered ladies in the picture as the saints ya... :]


Tower of Masjid Kampung Laut... There's something alluring about it...



Time to step inside...



Did the obligatory and optional prayers. Then took a nap...


A last look at Masjid Kampung Laut before continuing travel. The next destination in mind is Bukit Panau and Danau Tok Uban. Problem is, I was just too tired then after almost 2 weeks of travelling and being on the streets. I didn't know how to get there and I was suffering from heavy fever plus I got mums! Yep... The swollen cheek with the pain and such. Funny, why this happened at this juncture of travelling.


After deliberating the issue for a while, taking into consideration that I have to be in Muar soon enough for the Aidil Adha celebration, I decide to cut the trip short. If earlier, I planned to go to Bukit Panau and Danau Tok Uban before heading for Kedah, instead I found myself taking the bus from Nilam Puri straight to Kuala Krai... Or was it Nilam Puri to Tanah Merah, then another bus to Kuala Krai? That's when I stopped at the mosque seen in the picture above.

Whatever, I was already headed southwards. Kuala Krai is some 100km (if I remember correctly) south-west of Kota Bahru. The funny thing is I noticed this particular archictecture at this small tower within the Kuala Krai mosque compound...

Notice the 'tounge'-like wood carvings jutting out from the corners of the roof? Similar to the ones I found in parts of Perak, Penang (more towards the mainland side at Seberang Prai) and Kedah.

As far as my travelling goes, I can't find this design outside the areas mentioned what more in Kelantan but now there's one in Kuala Krai. Is there any connection between this area and Perak where there's plenty of such designs? I left the area still wondering to this day!


A night at Masjid Tok Kenali...

Let me go straight to the story... Back from where I left off Dec 23rd 2006 in Kota Bahru...
Some 4 miles away from the Islamic city centre is the area of Kubang Kerian, still considered part of Kota Baru. Here lies the tomb and a mosque dedicated to a very famous person of Kelantanese origin who goes by the name Tok Kenali.
How famous is he? Well, let's just say, when Kota Bahru especially the Muhammadiyah mosque (refer to my previous posting) was last acknowledged as the nationwide centre of Islamic learning in the 1920s, perhaps even the most prominent centre for the Malay Archipelago, Tok Kenali was said to be the reason behind it all!
Here is a person acknowledged by many as a saint of the highest degree, his exploits and miracles so famous to all and sundry... Whatever, in this blogspot, I just want to tell a pictorial story about my 3rd (or was it 4th?) time visiting his tomb and spending the night at his mosque.
If you want to know more, you can Google the name Tok Kenali and find out about him especially his miracles. Why... He was known to have splitted his person into three so that he can attend three different functions and locations far away from each other at the same time!


The tomb of Tok Kenali standing out rather prominently at an old graveyard area in Kubang Kerian...


The grave Tok Kenali marked by these boulders. Besides is the grave of his wife.

Believe it or not, I've seen both graves in a dream I had many years ago. But it's only in mid 2004 I first visited the place and find out how exact are the details as compared to the dream!


A Quranic verse hanging up within the roofed tomb.


There, have a look and read the description... Then again it's in Jawi writings. Suffice to say, it says, Tok Kenali's real name is Muhammad Yusuf who died in 1933 at the age of 65...



Masjid (the mosque) of Tok Kenali where I spent the night. I'm getting quite familiar with the place as since mid 2004 I would pay a visit whenever in Kota Bahru.

The first nightI was there was a totally different experience though. Believe it or not, I can smell strong perfume, I think of Attar permeating the whole mosque for many hours. And for the whole two days I was there then, the tap water smelled, even tasted like lime juice, exactly just like in another dream I had a few years back! The account is related in Malay, in my second book "Berpetualang ke Aceh: Membela Syiar yang Asal", through the eyes and experiences of the main character Muhammad Al-Aminul Rasyid.

You can say I'm just simply haluccinating if you want and don't believe such things but that's how I felt. And that was not my only supernatural experience... I've had many, too many that I'm sure I'm able to tell whether I'm just dreaming, hallucinating or such...


The tower of the mosque seen as dusk approached.


A small 'museum' dedicated to the memory of Tok Kenali...


Part of the madrasah (religious school) continuing the tradition of Tok Kenali who used to teach many prominent scholars. Notice what is said in the signboard on the left? "Sudah kita bersedia untuk mati? (Are we ready to die?)."

This statement could be alarming for most but for those who have studied the deep mysteries of the universe especially through the teachings of Sufism (Islamic mystic), it is very common... In fact they would dare say, "Yes... We are ready to die", without bragging but with just conviction!

The only difference is in the manner one dies... Whether in ignorance or in understanding the actually workings of the universe, that is, a universe governed by the Maker, God, Allah... Whether as a useful person that have truly tasted life or as a loser without any contribution to society.

That's why a true Muslim (sorry ya, most people call themselves Muslims but in reality they are nowhere near its real significance) is not scared of death. But that doesn't mean one should walk around looking for excuses to get themselves killed or blow up their bodies like suicide bombers do. No...

Actually, it is more like the Samurai's code of Bushido. When you are not scared of death and are ready to die, then only you can live life to the fullest. This is because you are not scared to carry out any endeavour up to its fullest potential and such.

Anyway, that is just a whiff of the secret behind understanding the philosophy of "ready to die"... Got to continue with other writings... See ya! :]

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Kota Bahru, the Islamic city...

Afternoon 23rd December. I did go to Tok Bali but just passed through. As it turns out, the village is also one of the East Coast's main station for fishermen to land their catch, quite similar to Besut. One unique feature is the bridge over a medium wide river there practically rises 45 degree upwards before reaching a plateau and then descends 45 degrees down.

Perhaps like Besut, there's something more than meets the eye in Tok Bali too. To me, the name itself smacks of an old elderly figure which could be saintly. I would have stopped to find out if not for the fact that time is running out... Whatever happens, I must make myself present in Muar some 600km down south for the Aidil Adha celebration which was just a few days away. And I'm already tired from all the travelling before plus the bus to Kota Bahru passing through Tok Bali is not so regular. So I decided to go straight to the capital of Kelantan dubbed the Islamic city.





Upon arrival, I immediately walked to my favourite part of the city where there are some historical buildings within a short walk of the central bus station. Observe the monuments above especially the 'things' on top of the pillars. For information, those are replicas of a rehal, a wooden apparatus for putting the holy Quran on, making it easier to read and recite.





These are the gates to one of the old palaces there, built sometime in the 19th century. Note the cannon jutting out from the white-coloured stone foundation...




This curious little building the size of room is called Bank Pitis (if I remember correctly, translated literally as bank for money... Pitis... A Kelantanese slang for money). It is said the royalty (or was it the government?) used to keep their money there. Hard to believe isn't it?




Main gates and entrance to the old grand palace... It is quite grand and a welcoming sight for tourists and visitors alike...






Istana Jahar or the Jahar palace... I don't know what Jahar stands for, is it a name or what. Whatever, the place is open to visitors as it has been turned into a museum...




Masjid Muhammadiyah, the main mosque of Kota Bahru. It used to be the primary Islamic learning centre in the Malay Archipelago especially when the famous Kelantanese saintly figure, Tok Kenali (died 1933) was still alive.




Tambatan Diraja, the royal jetty. The normal level of water should be much further ahead but it was flooding the last few days...




Ah... The pleasure of youth. If I don't know any better, I would have just joined and take a dip too... Haha! :]

An 'Incursion' to Besut


From Pulau Manis, I got the bus to Kuala Terengganu. Walked around to have a final look at the town before heading for Kelantan. Saw this rather interesting building on the round...
All this walking about looking at things made me miss the express bus to Kota Bahru, the capital of Kelantan. Never mind, I take this as a signal I might have too stop at other places before going there. But first, must make the move to get out of Kuala Terengganu...


So I took the non-express bus to Kerteh... Or was it Jerteh? It sounds almost the same but the places are two different places far away from each other. Whatever, one is at the south of Kuala Terengganu, another at the north. I went to the northern one to get a connecting service to Kota Bahru. Then suddenly the words Tok Bali, the name of a place which I've passed through one night some years ago came to mind...

I found out that to get to Tok Bali, one must take the bus through or to Besut. It happens that the last bus heading that way that day stops at Besut. So I just follow 'the winds' and go there!

There... I found the streets of Besut quite endearing... Should be worth it to stop for a night...


The Besut bus-stop. Most outsiders know Besut as the embarkation point to get to the resort island of Pulau Perhentian, nothing more... Today (as in 22 December 2006), I intend to find out more that meet's the eye, God willing!


One of the cute buildings which caught my eye...



The old surau (small praying hall) of Besut... Felt a slight spiritual pull coming out from it but decided to walk one... Feels like there a place somewhere with a stronger spiritual pull but don't know where.


As it turn out, 10 minutes later I came across this old mosque. Immediately I knew this is where I should spent the night. Suffice to say, I did get some spiritual lessons there but no need to elaborate... :]


Perhaps, one of the reason there's a strong pull there is the amount of old graves beside the mosque... One or two might belong to a saintly person who might have long left this world but still leaves a certain spiritual aura that can be detected by some!


Look at the design, the positioning of the door... There's certain something more than meets the eye... Ah.. The description of the eye as the door to the soul suddenly came to mind...



This picture taken in the brightness of the following day should tell a story or two about the mosque...


Hmm... Flowery motifs inside. Makes one wonder the philosophy behind the building of the mosque... Peace? Make love not war? After all, the word Islam came from the Arabic root word Salam which means peace. One only wage war in order to bring peace, that is trying to patch things up after the order is disturbed. Otherwise, one would avoid any form of conflict and concentrate only on God and doing peaceful things and such...

Now I'm beginning to sound like the Buddha. Then again, some say the Buddha is a Muslim, an adherent of Islam... That is, Islam in its real sense not the perverted one which we often see as practised today!


The Asmaul Husna, 99 beautiful of God inscribed on a wood panel in gold-colour lettering. Need I say more?


The surau seen under the bright daylight. Still I find myself just moving along without stopping by, my mind thinking out what is it at Tok Bali, Kelantan which 'forced' me to alter my route and make this 'incursion' to Besut...


A last look at the activities in Besut. It is after all a fishing town, a place of fishermen... Cheerio! :]