Kembara Ramadhan 2026 – Day 02: Leaving a legacy for future generations...

"The quiet miracle of Ramadhan - No matter where the road takes you, the direction of your heart remains the same..."

(Terawih prayers at Nusa Idaman, Johor Bharu)

Day 1: 02 March 2026 (Monday)
Route: Melaka to Johor Bahru
Lodging: Nongchik Height, Johor Bharu

There is something sacred about beginning the day before sunrise. The roads were still quiet. The sky carried that soft indigo hue that only Ramadhan mornings seem to possess. Calm, patient, and full of promise.

(Masjid Al-Alami, Melaka)

Standing gracefully near the Melaka International Trade Centre, Masjid Al-Alami MITC, serves as a spiritual landmark in the bustling administrative hub of MITC. Completed in 2003 and officially opened in 2004 by former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the mosque can accommodate around 2,500 worshippers.

But this morning, what stayed with me was not the capacity nor the architecture. It was the stillness. As we lined up shoulder to shoulder for Subuh prayers, the world outside felt suspended. The recitation echoed gently beneath the high ceilings, and for a moment, time slowed. Ramadhan does that. It reminds you to breathe deeper, to listen closer.

(Masjid Haji Muhammad Yassin, Pagoh)

By mid-morning we reached Masjid Haji Muhammad Yassin in Pagoh. This mosque, named after a respected local scholar, Haji Muhammad Yassin Mohamad, has quietly served its community since the 1970s. Situated near the Pagoh Higher Education Hub, it now welcomes students, academics, and travelers alike.

There is something humbling about this mosque. Here, the pace felt unhurried. The mosque stood firm, like a patient teacher watching generations come and go.

(Masjid Tan Sri Ainuddin Wahid, Johor Bahru)

In Taman Universiti, near UTM Skudai, stands this modern mosque. Masjid Jamek Tan Sri Ainuddin Wahid was completed in 2003 and named after Ainuddin Wahid, a former Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Its design reflects a blend of contemporary architecture and traditional Islamic elements -  spacious, structured, purposeful.

Being close to a university, you can almost feel the intellectual energy surrounding it. Young faces. Backpacks at the entrance. Quiet discussions after prayers. Faith and knowledge meeting under one roof. A mosque near a university reminds us th at knowledge without faith is incomplete - and faith without knowledge is fragile.

(Masjid Daing Abdul Rahman, Johor Bahru)

We ended the day by performing Terawih prayers at Masjid Daing Abd Rahman, Nusa Idaman in Johor Bahru. Daing Abdul Rahman was one of the prominent Bugis leaders who played an important role in the early history of the Johor–Riau Sultanate in the 18th century.

What began as a small surau in a shop lot around 2010 has now grown into a beautiful community mosque, completed in 2019. It stands as a testament to what collective effort and sincere intention can build.

Terawih prayers there felt intimate. Children played quietly in the courtyard. Elderly men walked slowly with tasbih in hand. The imam’s voice rose and fell with the rhythm of long verses, and fatigue from the day melted into gratitude. There is a different beauty in Terawih prayers after a long journey. Your body is tired, but your heart feels awake.

(A full moon in Nongchik Height)

Day two was about witnessing how every mosque, whether grand or modest, old or new, carries the same qiblah, the same call to prayer, the same longing for Allah.

Kembara Ramadhan 2026 – Day 01: Tracing Light Through Seremban and Melaka

 “In visiting the houses of Allah, perhaps we are really learning how to rebuild the house within ourselves.”

(Watching the sunset at Krubung, Melaka)

Day 1: 01 March 2026 (Sunday)
Route: Kuala Lumpur to Melaka
Hotel: MITC Hotel, Melaka

On the first day of our Kembara Ramadhan, we set out to visit four mosques across Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. Each mosque stood different in design and character, yet all shared the same quiet invitation — to pause, to reflect, to return to Allah. Four mosques. Four atmospheres. One serenity.

(Masjid Saidatina Khadijah, Seremban)

Located within the busy township of Seremban Jaya, this mosque serves as a central place of worship for the surrounding residential community. Established to meet the growing needs of the neighbourhood, it reflects the practical yet warm design typical of many Malaysian community mosques built in the late 20th and early 21st century.

Its architecture is modest, prioritising space and comfort for congregational prayers. The prayer hall is spacious and well-ventilated, creating an atmosphere of calm simplicity.

There is something deeply grounding about beginning a spiritual journey in a mosque that feels so close to everyday life - where faith and routine gently intertwine. Sometimes the most meaningful beginnings happen in the simplest spaces.

(Masjid Saidatina Aishah, Seremban)

Situated in Bandar Seremban Selatan, this mosque represents a more contemporary architectural style. Designed to serve a rapidly developing township, it features clean structural lines, bright interiors, and a layout that accommodates large congregations, especially during Ramadhan.

Like many newer mosques in Malaysia, it functions not only as a place of prayer but also as a centre for community engagement — hosting religious classes, iftar gatherings, and terawih prayers that bring together families across generations.

Standing inside, I could feel the vibrancy of a living community. The mosque did not feel static, it felt alive. Modern in structure, timeless in purpose.

(Masjid Muhamad Al-Fateh, Seremban)

This mosque is one of the architectural highlights of the Forest Heights township. Inspired by Ottoman design elements, its prominent dome and slender minaret immediately draw the eye - reminiscent of classical Turkish mosque architecture.

Named after Sultan Mehmed II (Muhammad Al-Fateh), the Ottoman ruler who conquered Constantinople in 1453, the mosque symbolically reflects strength, vision, and spiritual determination.

The landscaped surroundings add to its peaceful presence. As we stood in its courtyard, there was a sense of both grandeur and humility - grandeur in its structure, humility in the act of prayer within it. Some mosques comfort you quietly. Others inspire you to look upward. This one does both.

(Masjid Cina Melaka)

Commonly known as the Melaka Chinese Mosque, this mosque is one of the most distinctive in Malaysia. Officially opened in 2014, it was built to reflect the historical presence of the Chinese Muslim community in Melaka, a state long known as a crossroads of civilisations.

Its architecture departs from the conventional dome-and-minaret form. Instead, it features a pagoda-style minaret, curved roof ridges, and design elements inspired by traditional Chinese temples. Yet despite its cultural expression, its function and spiritual essence remain fully Islamic.

Melaka’s history as a trading port brought Arabs, Indians, Chinese, and Malays together centuries ago. This mosque stands as a modern reflection of that historical harmony - a reminder that Islam has always travelled across cultures without losing its core. With the beautiful sunset as the background, we had our iftar and performed our terawih prayers here.

(MITC Hotel, Melaka)

By the end of the day, we had travelled across towns and architectural styles, from modest community spaces to culturally symbolic landmarks. But what stayed with me was not the structures themselves. It was the stillness found inside each one.

Ramadhan slows the body through fasting, but it awakens the heart through reflection. And on this first day of Kembara Ramadhan, my heart felt gently recalibrated - one mosque at a time.

Kembara Ramadhan Malaya 2026 - Vol 9

“Sometimes the journey itself becomes the ibadah - every mile travelled a quiet zikr of gratitude...”

On the Road with the Qur’an and Terawih

(01 - 10 March 2026)

The first ten days of Ramadhan slipped by quietly, filled with the rhythm of verses and shared intention. I joined Masjid At-Taiyibbin tadarus circle - just four of us in my group, gathering each day to recite the Qur’an together. There is something deeply comforting about reading in unison, correcting and encouraging one another softly, without much words.

By the tenth day, we had completed 25 juzuk. A collective effort, a shared amanah.

Today is the 11th of Ramadhan, my final day with the group. They will continue with the remaining five juzuk without me. I leave them with gratitude in my heart, thankful for the companionship, striving for the same divine reward in the hereafter.

As in previous years, dear hubby and I will soon set off on our annual Kembara Ramadhan - ten days on the road with our trusty four-wheeler. This journey has quietly become a tradition for us. A moving sanctuary of sorts.

This year, our plan is simple yet ambitious, to perform our terawih prayers in mosques across the states of West Malaysia, with the exception of Penang and Perlis. Along the way, we hope to stop at several other mosques - some grand and well-known, others modest and tucked away in small towns, each with its own story, its own congregation, its own warmth.

Ramadhan feels different when you experience it on the road. Every night brings a new imam, a new recitation, a new community standing shoulder to shoulder. Yet the purpose remains the same - seeking His mercy, His forgiveness, His nearness.

As we prepare to depart, I carry with me the echoes of the Qur’an from our tadarus circle, hoping they will accompany us through every state, every mosque, every sujud.

Ramadhan Mubarak - wherever the road may lead us, isyaAllah.

2026 Kembara Ramadhan itinerary:
(01 - 10 March, 2026)
Day 01: Kuala Lumpur - Melaka
Day 02: Melaka - Johor Bahru
Day 03: Johor Bahru - Kuantan
Day 04: Kuantan - Kuala Terengganu
Day 05: Kuala Terengganu - Kota Bharu
Day 06: Kota Bharu - Sungai Petani
Day 07: Sungai Petani - Pangkor
Day 08: Pangkor
Day 09: Pangkor - Ipoh
Day 10: Ipoh - Kuala Lumpur

My Overseas Travel Blog:

munmus.blogspot.com

17th Umrah Trip: A Journey That Begins Within...

 "Labbaik Allahumma labbaik" (Here I am, O Allah, here I am)...

(The holy Kaabah in Makkah)

This year, hubby and I chose to begin our travels early. Instead of chasing new cities or familiar comforts, we felt drawn to start with a spiritual journey of an Umrah trip, a return to the Holy Lands. It felt right to place our hearts first before anything else, to realign our intentions before the year unfolded further.

Though we have performed Umrah many times before, the preparations never seem to grow easier. There were documents to check, bags to pack, prayers to memorise, and quiet worries of faltering health that crept in between moments of excitement. I realised that experience does not always bring ease; sometimes it brings deeper awareness of responsibility and purpose.

(Masjid Nabawi in Madinah)

In those moments, I reminded myself to pause, to breathe and to soften my heart. This journey was not only about arriving in Makkah and Madinah, but about learning to let go of control, of haste, of unnecessary anxiety. I hoped that with a calmer heart and sincere spiritual readiness, the ritual of the pilgrimage itself would be fulfilled with ease.

Our Umrah Itinerary:
(21 - 31 January, 2026)
Day 01: KL - Makkah
Day 02: Makkah - 1st umrah
Day 03: Makkah - Hudaibiah 2nd Umrah
Day 04: Makkah - Jaaranah 3rd Umrah
Day 05: Makkah - Down with fever
Day 06: Makkah - Madinah, the Hijrah Route
Day 07: Madinah - Mosque Tour, Raudhah Visit
Day 08: Madinah - Historical City Tour
Day 09: Madinah - Makràkah Badar Tour
Day 10: Madinah - A Day of Rest
Day 11: Madinah - KL

Perhaps this Umrah, once again inviting me to begin not only with steps taken on sacred ground, but with peace nurtured quietly within.

Will be updating, if time permits, in my travel blog: munmus.blogspot.com 

A Wolf Supermoon...

"Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars..."  - Les Brown

(22nd floor, Putramas Apartment)

It was the first full moon of the year, and tonight the celestial display was mesmerising.

The moon appeared slightly larger and noticeably brighter than a typical full moon. This January full moon is known as the Wolf Moon, and it earns the title supermoon because it occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth. 

Despite its evocative name, it has nothing to do with actual wolves, only ancient seasonal traditions and the quiet poetry of the night sky.