Pregnant Maiden Island, Langkawi.

Pregnant Maiden Fresh Water Lake, Langkawi.

Why the island is called Pregnant Maiden?   One side of the mountain terrain resembles the shape of pregnant woman lying on her back.

My family outing to the Pregnant Maiden Lake ( Tasik Dayang Bunting ).  It takes 20 minutes by boat to reach Pregnant Maiden Island from Pantai Tengah Jetty, Langkawi Island.

Two minute walk from the " drop-off " jetty to the entrance of  the Lake of Pregnant Maiden.

At the entrance to the lake you will be welcome by the  inhabitants of the island.  This guy tried to tell something but I could not comprehend.    From here another 15 minutes walking up through an ascending and descending   concrete walking path to reach the fresh water lake. 

Top view of the popular Pregnant Maiden Lake.

My son taking extra fluid for the 100 steps up hills walk.

The common belief about this lake is that a childless or infertile women would be conceivable after bathing themselves in the lake.  The actual attractions are the beautiful scenery here.  The extra ordinary phenomena for which the lake is not salty even though surround by sea water.  Other activities are such as jungle tracking , fish spa for your tired feet, kayak or solar operated paddle boat.

This island was declared a geoforest park in 2007 by UNESCO as Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park for its ecological features, such as impressive rock formation, vast caves with stalagmites and stalactites, sea caves and tunnels, mangrove jungle and wildlife  and of course waterfalls .

Time to go home.

xhttp://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my

Once in your life time obligation.

My astonishment for the Hajj.

Tentatively next month  ( September ) will be the Hajj pilgrim's journey for Muslim for the year 2015.  But for the Muslim calendar it'll be all the time on the 12th month ie Zulhijjah.  I did my Hajj on December, 2007 Gregorian year.

My wife and I took  the Saudi Airlines en route to Mekah to perform the Hajj in the year 2007.

The Hajj ritual will start from the Plain of  Arafah on the 9th of Zulhijjah.  Arafah is about 22 km from Mekah.   In the year 2007 there were 2.4 million pilgrims from all over the world compare to 1.9 million in 1997. If you failed to stay in Arafah  by the 10th of Zulhijjah then your Hajj is invalid.

The second day of the ritual is  stop over Muzdalifah.  From Muzdalifah to Arafah is 8 km.  Sleeping on the ground with the open sky after picking up pebbles  at Muzdalifah for "stoning the devil" in Mina.  It is not compulsory to sleep in Muzdalifah,  It is acceptable just by passing this piece of land before going to Mina/

Three days living in the fire proof tent  in Mina,   Mina is 7 km from Muzdalifah.   Main ritual here is to throw pebbles toward a pillar.  It is a symbolic gesture stoning the devil which relates the story about Prophet Ibrahim and the Devil.  The moral of the gesture is to throw your ill feeling toward others and plunge your negative attitude and purify your heart.

On the way to "stone the devil".

Brisk walking 7 times around the Kaabah is compulsory in the Hajj ritual.

Thanks Allah with His gracious and mercy my wife and I have had successfully completed the Hajj.

Words of warning for anyone who wish to perform the Hajj once you are here do not " talk big" or brag around, here you will be punished immediately somehow.

A Famosa a relic of Portuguese imperialism in Malaysia.

Gold, Gospel, Glory.

The notorious motto of the western imperialism in the 14th century was Gold,Gospel and Glory.  In 1511 the Malay Sultanate armies in Malacca were defeated by the Portuguese armada and they built a fortress.

In 1641 the Dutch captured the fortress.  It is believed that the inscription ANNO 1670 and the logo on the gate's arch is the logo of Dutch East India Company.

In 1806 the fortress was demolished by the British except the gate house.  Historically Peninsular Malaysia was colonised by four imperial nations.  First by the Portuguese then by the Dutch followed by the British and the Japanese Imperial Army  ( short period during the British colonisation).

31st. August, 1957 Peninsular Malaysia attained its independence from the British.  Last year in the month of August, my son and I visited the famous fortress.  In fact 'famosa' is famous in Portuguese.

Welcome to Malaysia.

http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my

How to clean your cloudy aura.

The cheapest technique of cleansing your aura.

Sometimes we felt uneasy for no obvious reason.   It was not due to illness.  At times we felt  a slight sickness but not really sick..  Could it be your aura not functioning?   Perhaps the rhythm of your aura was interfered.   Nowadays our optimum usage of electrical gadgets could be the culprit.  The frequencies and radiations from the electrical gadget may triggered the imbalance.

The cheapest remedy is soaking your body in a sea water.

If sea water is not available then take dip in a river.

Even river is so remote from you.  The least you can do is take a shower or just dip in the swimming pool.

Have good day and best of luck from me.

Lumut has had a facelift.

Lumut revisited.

http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my

Twenty years ago I often came to Lumut on business itinerary.  Last month I revisited  Lumut.  To my surprise it's went through an interesting facelift.   Notably the landscape decoration. 

http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my

This coastal town of west Peninsular Malaysia was only known for the site of  Royal Malaysian Navy Base.  But at present Lumut has a biggest naval shipbuilder in Malaysia,  Bousted Naval Shipyard.

Lumut waterfront is not that extensive and diversified such as Kuching Waterfront in Sarawak.  This town will be your last fetch for souvenirs and dried seafood products.

Lumut is the getway to Pangkor Island.  Public ferries are available from Lumut Jetty Terminal to Pangkor Island on an hourly basis.   Pangkor Island is well known resort island.   In Pangkor Island you can visit the historical relics such as Dutch Fort build in the 17th century, the Inscription Stone and the famous local tale about the Tiger Rock.  Others tourist attraction are the dry fish factory, fish farm and temples.

Auld Lang Syne.

Class of 71/72 Anderson School Reunion.

Saturday, 17th January 2015 was a very memorable  date for me.   After 43 years on that remarkable day, I was so  happy and very lucky to meet my long-lost classmates.

This photo was taken in 1971.  Class Lower VI Arts 3 with Form teacher Mr Ong Hock Huat. I'm number three from left in the back row.

This photo was taken in 2015.  Only ten students could managed to come for the reunion.  Mind you the students look older the teacher.  No offence.  I still number three from left in the back row.

A moment of silence as a gesture of respect for Hj Mazlan Nordin who initiated the reunion but passed away two months before the occasion.   May Allah bless him always.

The reunion was not restricted to Arts 3 class only but were joined by two other classes.

The reunion was so exhilarated and delighted with the presence of classmates residing from Australia and Singapore.

Guess who?  Me.  You are perfectly right.  Beside me Faridah Amiruddin the jovial class monitor.   A farewell party in 1972 before saying ' Sayonara ' to friends.

Thumb's up for the wonderful reunion after 43 years not seeing each other.   Beside me  now Datin Faridah Amiruddin with her spouse Dato Balia Yusof  our classmate too.

Token appreciation to our form teacher Mr Ong Hock Huat   It is our sincere appreciation too to Mr Phung Tuck Yoon and Mr Chong Fah Shin who could make the time with us

Finally the oldies had had their dinner.  No hard feelings guys we are all over sixties.

It is hard to say good bye and farewell.  But very happy to know the success story of ex-classmates whom turned out to be professionals, engineers,lecturers,legal adviser, judges,businessman, directors in the civil services.  For me nothing to yield but plenty of smiles and good health.

Nami Island in Malaysia.

It is Korean Cultural month festival in Langkawi, Malaysia.

Anyone remember about South Korean Television drama series " winter Sonata ".  It was very popular television drama in Korea, Japan, Malaysia ,Philippines in fact in the whole Asia and the world.  It's the global phenomena for the Korean wave as much as Korean Pop music or K-pop.

The filming took place in the Island of Nami and seoul.   Every viewer was enthralled by the lovely scenery,  the beautiful landscape in Nami and of course the lovely actor and actress .   Nami Island was a desolated piece of land and notably by the people as an abandoned grave of General Nami in the fifteen century.

This is my son, not to be mistaken as the Korean actor.

Nami Island was developed into environmental theme park in 1966 by Mr Minn Byeong-do a retired Bank of Korea governor.  In  2006 the island was declared as self-governing country.  It is now known as Namimara Republic. 

Sometime ago my family and I attended the the Korean cultural exhibition in Langkawi Island, Malaysia.

http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my

Love at first sight.

Does Arranged Marriage prevails in Malay Society nowadays.

How many of us remember the English proverb " Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards " And how many of us follow such wisdom.  Well those with arranged would not have the ample time to do so.  For the lucky couples who fall in love at first sight will be nuts if they failed  in their marriage. 

My  marriage was arranged 35 years ago by my late mother.  I could not performed the English proverb.  But my late grand father conveyed me a Malay proverb.     He told me a married life is like " To relight a fire in a water."  Meaning to say be prepared for the doldrums.

My eldest son married on the basis of love at first sight.   They met during their undergraduate studies and fell in love.   Now they are endowed with a boy.  As a parent my role is to guide them.

This is my youngest uncle.   He is my late mother youngest brother.  His bride was arranged by my mother.  This picture was taken in 1956.  I was  then 4 years old boy.

My youngest uncle eldest daughter married for  love at first sight too.  Well well the second generation seems to make their own choice for their soul mate.

My nephew met his bride on holidays in Morocco.  They just got married recently.

My eldest uncle, his wife was selected by my late mother.  This beautiful lass grandfather is from northern India.  Actually my late mother was prolific matchmaker.  All my uncles and aunties marriage were arranged by my mother,  even my brothers  and sister too. 

  

My brother wedding in 1991.  Whether it is arranged marriage or love at first sight the root to happiness is not to focus on  very little flaw with your spouse.  After marriage you will realize certain things you did not know before even though you had your eyes wide open before ,