Innalillah...

"Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we will return..." – Surah Al-Baqarah 2:156

Noh passed away peacefully at 5:00 pm, after a short battle with advanced-stage prostate cancer.

Words cannot express how deeply saddened we are by the loss of hubby's beloved younger brother. He was not just a brother-in-law to me, but a wonderful part of our family who brought so much joy to everyone with his good nature and candor.

May Allah forgive him, have mercy on his soul, and grant him peace in Jannah.

Eid Al-Adha Mubarak...

 "On this sacred day, may your faith be strengthened and your life be blessed with joy and prosperity..."

( The two of us at Bidara House)

May the spirit of Eid al-Adha bring peace to our hearts and fill our home with endless blessings. 

Eid Mubarak!

The Signs of Failing Health...

"A healthy person has a thousand wishes, but a sick person has only one..." - Arabian Proverb

(Warded at PPUM)

It has been heartbreaking to see my husband’s younger brother, Noh, struggling with his health. What started as discomfort, bloating and restless nights, has led to him being warded for prostate abnormalities.

Right now, he’s undergoing more tests so the doctors can find the best way forward. Seeing him lying there, so frail and exhausted, is incredibly difficult. He is usually cheerful, always jovial and bright, but the pain has taken its toll on him.

We are praying for his strength and a speedy recovery. It’s a somber reminder that without our health, nothing else matters.

A Reunion by the Sea...

“Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world...”

(Friends forever)

It is time for our SMKB classmates’ reunion once again.

This year feels a little more special. We have managed to gather a small but meaningful group of girls from the Class of ’71. Each carrying her own stories, her own journey through time. Our meeting place: the breezy shores of Bayu Melawi Beach in Bachok, Kelantan, where the sea stretches wide and the wind seems to whisper memories from long ago.

Some of the girls, together with their families, will be staying the night at the resort, turning this reunion into a brief family retreat. Others will join us just for the day. Just enough time, perhaps, to laugh, to reminisce, and to reconnect. The plans are simple, but filled with joy. A seafood barbecue by the beach, light-hearted games, and the kind of conversations that only old friends can share.

I find myself feeling unexpectedly excited. There is a certain warmth in meeting old friends, those who once shared classrooms, laughter, secrets, and youthful dreams. Some I have not seen since the day we went our separate ways after school. Time, of course, has left its gentle marks on all of us. We have aged, each in our own way, shaped by life’s many turns.

We may not recognise one another immediately. Faces change, voices soften, and years quietly reshape us. But beneath it all, something remains untouched.

 

(SMKB Reunion - 2017)

There is something timeless about friends who knew you before you became who you are.

My Trip Itinerary:

(26 - 30 April 2026)
Day 01: Kuala Lumpur - Kuala Terengganu
Day 02: Kuala Terengganu
Day 03: Kuala Terengganu - Kota Bharu
Day 04: Kota Bharu - Bachok (Reunion Day)
Day 05: Bachok - Kuala Lumpur

My Overseas Travel Blog:

munmus.blogspot.com

Day 01: A Journey to the East Coast...

“So often we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to enjoy the journey...” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

(Warisan Kota Temir, Kuala Berang)

Day 01: 26 April 2026 (Sunday)
Route: Kuala Lumpur - Kuala Terengganu
Hotel: Sumai Hotel Apartment, Kuala Terengganu

We began our journey at 7.00 am, quietly loading our bags into the Hi-Lux as the morning was just beginning to stir. This trip holds a special purpose, my school reunion in Kelantan, with my husband joining me for the journey. We decided to start a few days early, allowing ourselves time to wander, to revisit places of history, and to rediscover the charm of the East Coast at an unhurried pace.

 
Our first stop was a simple pleasure of nasi berlauk breakfast at Restoran Putri in Sri Gombak. It was hearty and comforting, just what we needed before merging onto the Karak Highway. The road ahead was kind to us that morning. Traffic flowed smoothly along Karak and LPT2, almost as if welcoming us eastward.

(Tasty Nasi Berlauk for breakfast)

 
We refueled both the vehicle and ourselves along the way. First at Petronas Bentong, then brief stops at Hentian Sebelah Lanchang and Kemaman. These pauses, though small, added rhythm to the journey.

We exited at Ajil Toll Plaza. Our first meaningful destination was the historic Memorial Batu Bersurat. This site marks the discovery of the Batu Bersurat Terengganu, a 14th-century inscribed stone that stands as one of the earliest evidences of Islam in the Malay Peninsula. The inscription, written in Jawi, speaks of Islamic laws and governance, offering a glimpse into a time when faith was beginning to shape the identity of this land. Standing there, one cannot help but feel a quiet reverence for the depth of history beneath our feet.

(The Batu Bersurat Memorial)

(The earliest evidences of Islam in the Malay Peninsula)

(Terengganu 14th-century inscribed stone on display)

(The discovery of the Batu Bersurat depicted in a painting)

 
We continued to Makam Tok Gajah, the resting place of a respected local figure and warrior. Tok Gajah is remembered for his courage and resistance during turbulent times, particularly in opposing foreign influence. The site is simple, yet dignified, echoing the humility of those who came before us.

(The signage to Makam Tok Gajah)

(Brief history of Tok Gajah)

(The resting place of the legendary Tok Gajah)

Driving along a smaller road by the river, we arrived at Warisan Kota Temir. This heritage site reflects the remnants of an old settlement believed to date back centuries, once serving as a centre of early governance and trade. Though time has softened its edges, the spirit of a once-thriving community still lingers.

(The GPS led us to a less trodden, short cut route)

(Traditional wooden gate with carvings at Warisan Kota Temir)

(A traditional Malay house built on stilts)

(Replica of classic Terengganu architectures)

Lunch was a delightful surprise, a small roadside eatery serving murtabak rusa and nasi goreng rusa. It was rustic, unassuming, and delicious in the way that only such hidden places can be.

 

(Nasi Goreng Rusa for lunch)

Our journey then took us to Makam Syeikh Abdullah, known affectionately as Tok Pauh. He was a respected Islamic scholar who played a role in spreading religious teachings in the region. The calmness of the area seemed fitting for someone who dedicated his life to knowledge and faith.

(Historical background of Sheikh Abdullah Tok Pauh)

(Newly build walls around the tomb)

By late afternoon, we made a brief stop at Masjid Padang Mengkuang in Marang to perform our jamak prayers, another quiet pause, grounding us amid the movement of travel.

(Masjid Padang Mengkuang, Marang)

We arrived at Sumai Hotel Apartment around 4.30 pm. We will be staying in Kuala Terengganu for two nights at Rm105/night. The room welcomed us with much-needed comfort, and we surrendered to a short power nap. The heat of the day had been relentless, leaving me drained and nursing a slight headache.

 

(Our lodging in Kuala Terengganu)

Still, by 7.30 pm, we gathered enough energy to head out again. This time to the waterfront, where the iconic Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge stood gracefully against the evening sky. We watched as its lights shifted in colour, reflecting softly on the river. A gentle, almost poetic end to the day.

(The iconic Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge)

 
Dinner was light, soup noodles and crispy fried calamari at a seaside restaurant along Batu Buruk Beach. The sea breeze, though warm, carried a sense of calm.

(A seafood restaurant at Batu Buruk Beach)

 
Back at the hotel, a refreshing shower washed away the day’s fatigue. We turned in early, grateful for a journey that had begun not just with miles travelled, but with meaning rediscovered.