Iraq - The Cradle of Civilization

"Know thyself, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories..." - Sun Tzu

(City of Regent, Karbala)

We were overly excited and a little nervous when we decided to embark on this trip. Regardless of what people say about Iraq and its wars, it is actually a beautiful country with long-standing history, friendly locals and cultural diversity. It was a fascinating and enriching experience for us. And another tick-off from our bucket list. Alhamdulillah...

Iraq was home to ancient Mesopotamian peoples who developed the world's first writing, agriculture and cities. Powerful civilizations from the Sumerians to the Neo-Assyrians ruled the region. This wealthy region, comprising much of what is called the Fertile Crescent, later became a valuable part of larger imperial polities, including Persian, Greek, and Roman dynasties, and after the 7th century it became a central and integral part of the Islamic world. Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 8th century. The modern nation-state of Iraq was created following World War I (1914–18) from the Ottoman provinces of Baghdad, Basrah, and Mosul. Iraq derives its name from the Arabic term used in the premodern period to describe a region that roughly corresponded to Mesopotamia, “Arabian Iraq” and modern northwestern Iran, “Persian Iraq”.

(Baghdad, Iraq - a mural on the wall)

The capital city Baghdad is the second largest city in the Arab world and the 4th largest in the Middle East. Iraq has several World Heritage Sites, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, most notably is the Ancient City of Babylon. Religious tourism is the most popular type of tourism in Iraq, with tens of millions of tourists from several countries visiting Holy cities and places in Iraq every year. These include: Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, with remains of Adam and Noah, according to Shi'ah belief and Imam Hussein Mosque in Karbala, with the tombs of Sayyidina Hussein, Sayyidina Abbas and the many syuhada’.

Iraq Itinerary:

(13 - 22 December 2023)

Day 01: KL - Muscat - Baghdad

Day 02: Baghdad - Basrah

Day 03: Basrah Day Tour

Day 04: Marshes Al-Chibayish

Day 05: Karbala - Kufa - Najaf

Day 06: Ancient City of babylon

Day 07: Karbala - Baghdad

Day 08: Baghdad Tour

Day 09: Baghdad - Muscat - KL

(Isytar Gate of Babylon)

(Makam Nabi Zulkifli in Kifli)

(Masjid Sayyidina Hussein, Karbala)

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Sariah's daughter Wedding

"May the true love you share today grow stronger as you grow old together..."

(The newly weds)

To Izzaty & Mustaqim,

Wishing both of you joy,
love and happiness on your wedding day 

and as you begin your new life together...

(A wedding reception at Bora Ombak, Putrajaya)

(SMKB friends from Kota Bharu)

(The newly weds with parents' school friends)

(Sariah and Hj Din, the parents of the bride)

Koh Lanta - Tranquil Simplicity...

 "There's no 'right time' in life. There's just time and you get to choose what to do with it..." - unknown

(Simply relaxing, cool drinks by the beach)

Koh Lanta Trip

6 - 10 November 2023

This is our third trip to Koh Lanta. This time we were on a 5-day road trip driving our Toyota Hilux 4-wheel pick up .

Our first was a riding trip in 2012 with the KKB bikers gang. We were riding our Vulcan 600 then and the only couple riding the cruiser. It took us a while to adjust to the group’s riding style as they were mostly riding the adventure motorbikes. We were doing fine except the bit struggle in the initial especially when riding on rough terrain.

Our second trip to Koh Lanta was a solo riding trip in 2016. We were riding our KTM 1920 which was both exhilarating and joyful.  

01 Kuala Lumpur - Hatyai

02 Hatyai - Koh Lanta

03 Koh Lanta Island tour

04 Koh Lanta - Hatyai

05 Hatyai - Kuala Lumpur

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Pak Uda is a spitting image of my Abah...

“Your presence is missed every single day, but your legacy of love lives on...”

(Abah younger brother, Pak Uda Talib)

Pak Uda looks very similar to my father.

We were on our way to Serom for a wedding reception of one of our cousins when my brother decided to detour to Kampung Kundang to visit Pak Uda, my ailing uncle. Pak Uda is my Abah's younger brother. At this old age, it was fascinating to see such a strong family resemblance. Not just their looks that are alike, but they both shared similar personalities traits as well.

Watching him laugh while narrating old nostalgic stories makes me deeply miss my Abah...

(Abang reminiscing old memories with Pak Uda)

(At the wedding reception in Serom)

Koh Samui - Palm fringed beaches...

"Words have a magical power. They can bring either the greatest happiness or deepest despair..." Sigmund Freud

(The ferry from Donsak to Koh Samui)

22 - 29 September 2023:

Koh Samui Wet Trip 

01 Kuala Lumpur - Hatyai

02 Hatyai - Donsak

03 Donsak - Koh Samui

04 Koh Samui

05 Koh Samui - Hatyai

06 Hatyai - Kuala Lumpur

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Loved ones die too soon...

"The good die young but not always. The wicked prevail but not consistently..."- Helen Hayes

(Grief is a complex journey)

Losing loved ones is one of the hardest experiences we face.

I am allowing myself to grieve. It's okay to feel a range of emotions, from sadness to anger to confusion.  It can feel like a piece of our heart is missing. But I will forever cherish the happy memories of them in my heart.

(I lost a dear sister recently)

(My dear son Mirza, 1985 -2006)

Tasmania Road Trip...

 "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail..." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

(A 12-day road trip)

The Tasmanian Trip

Date: 20 Aug 2023 - 02 Sept 2023

We had visited Australia several times in the past. Our first trip was in 1999 when we visited Brisbane and the Gold Coast. In 2005 we visited Perth. In 2009 we had a road trip in a caravan from Brisbane to Port Campbell and back. And in 2013, we had a family caravan holiday road trip from Sydney to Melbourne.

For the next two weeks we will venture in a road trip around Tasmania, Australia covering most of the major towns and visiting attractions along the way. Since Tasmania is a small and compact island, our journeys will be covering short distances as the roads are small and winding. We opted driving a compact SUV for this Tasmanian road trip.

We will be celebrating our 44th Anniversary in Tasmania. It is the end of winter. The weather is perfect for our road trip!

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

01 Tasmania: KL - Sydney
02 Tasmania: Sydney - Hobart
03 Tasmania: Hobart - Port Arthur
04 Tasmania: Eaglehawk Neck - St Helens
05 Tasmania: St Helens - Launceston
06 Tasmania: Launceston - Hobart
07 Tasmania: Hobart Free & Easy
08 Tasmania: Hobart - Strahan
09 Tasmania: Strahan - Stanley
10 Tasmania: Stanley - Devonport
11 Tasmania: Devonport - Hobart
12 Tasmania: Hobart Free & Easy
13 Tasmania: Hobart - Melbourne
14 Tasmania: Melbourne - KL

Fb Photo Album: 2023 Tasmanian Wilderness

I lost a dear friend today...

"Friendships formed in life are broken in death. The love we shared remains unbreakable..."

(Adilah Hassan 1955 - 2023)

You passed too soon, my dear friend but you will always remain in my prayers and thoughts.

Death is Nothing at all

Everything remains exactly as it was.

I am I, and you are you,

and the old life we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.”

- Henry Scott-Holland -

(The last ride for dear AD)

(With Bee and Hamidah at Surau Al-Aulia)

(Tanah Perkuburan Bandar Ainsdale)

Tetamu from Abu Dhabi...

"Life is not being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect. It is about being real, being humble and being kind..."

(Mus, Nor, Niza and me)

My nephew, Nor Azhar, Niza and their youngest son, Aiman came for a visit. Niza flew back to KL with Aiman earlier this week to spend the summer holidays with their three other children who are in KL. The eldest, Asyraf is a young MAS pilot just like his father, who is with Etihad. Alia and Aleesya are still studying in the local colleges. Nor Azhar will be flying back to Abu Dhabi alone tomorrow. They were planning to go for a family holidays later in August.

When Nor Azhar was still an intern with MAS in 1990's, he used to stay with us in our Bidara house. Then there were only the two of us at home as Sara, Iwan and Ja were in the boarding schools. After his contract with MAS ended, Nor Azhar and family moved to Abu Dhabi to work with Etihad.

Whenever we were on holidays or Umrah trips, we used to detour and stay in his house in Abu Dhabi.

Muslimah activities during the week...

"Self discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don't control what you think, you can't control what you do..."

(Muslimah Bidara Selawat group)

(Muslimah Masjid At-Tayyibin)

On Sunday we were invited to attend the Majlis Aqiqah for Datin Azizah's grand daughter which was held at the Asiana Grand Hall at Emerald Avenue. The Muslimah from Masjid At-Taiyyibin and Surau Firdaus performed the Selawat on the occasion.

It was a quite a grand celebration.

(The AJK Masjid and Surau Taman Bidara)

(The Muslimah in our uniform)

(The gathering of Helwa at-Taiyyibin)

(Reciting the Selawat)

Earlier of the week we celebrated the coming of the month of Muharram with reciting the doa Akhir and Awal tahun Hijriah on 1st Muharram and Friday a Kahfi Perdana lead by Imam Fitri at Masjid At-Taiyyibin Taman Bidara.

(19/07/23: Doa Akhir dan Awal tahun Hijriah)

(21/07/23: Sambutan Muharram and Kahfi Perdana)

Masjid Tuminah Bagan Datuk - 2022

“You don’t have a future when you refuse to accept the former generation. Simple...” - Petra Hermans

(Masjid Tuminah Bagan Datuk)

Masjid Tuminah Bagan Datuk has a floating mosque concept on the banks of Sungai Perak. This mosque is the third floating mosque in Perak after Masjid Al-Badr Pulau Pangkor and Masjid Kampung Telaga Nenas Ayer Tawar. The mosque complex has a multipurpose hall and a main square. The prayer hall can accommodate up to 5000 worshipers at a time and is a new unique attraction in the Bagan Datuk district.

(Our 4th visit to Masjid Tuminah)

(A beautiful floating mosque in Bagan Datuk)

(Wide corridor and large prayer hall)

(Quranic verses decorating the entrances)

(A good venue for a wedding reception)

(The main entrance to the main prayer hall)

(A big square at the middle of the complex)

The Masjid Tuminah Complex, which cost almost RM50 million, had its construction delayed due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the Covid 19 pandemic and the freezing of the Akalbudi Foundation's account which was the main source of funds for its construction.

(A visit to the museum) 

(Collections of quran and khats)

(A neat layout of the museum)

(Quran collections)

(Vibrant coloured designs decor for the mosque)

(Asmaul-husna and a brief description of the mosque)

(Beautiful khats writings)

(Three naughty boys climbing the ship at the dataran)

Jetty Beting Beras Basah

“History is not the past but a map of the past, drawn from a particular point of view, to be useful to the modern traveller...” - Henry Glassie

(Jetty Beting Beras Basah)

Jetty Beting Beras Basah is located at the mouth of Sungai Perak in Bagan Datuk. Near the mouth of the river is a sandy beach area that can be seen when the tide occurs. The sandbar is not visible but a small flag on a wooden pole in the middle of the sea can be viewed by visitors from the viewing pavilion at the end of the beach.

(The junction leading to the jetty)

(Ample parking area)

A long bridge was built across the 500 meter swampy route and there is a small stage called Panca Persada referring to the special stage where the king resides after being bathed. The newly enthroned Sultan of Perak had to take a bath using water from the well behind the building before sitting on the stage.

(A long bridge over the swamp)

(A very hot sunny day)

Beting Beras Basah is associated with the first Sultan of Perak to have set foot here. When there is a coronation of a new Sultan of Perak, the sultan must take a journey by river from Kuala Kangsar to Beting Beras Basah in Bagan Datuk. On May 14, 2015, the Beting Beras Basah ceremony started from the jetty in Bagan Datuk Jetty. This ceremony was performed by Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah as a symbolic custom of Sultan Muzaffar Shah I (1528-1549), the first Sultan of Perak, who first set foot in Perak.

(A small jetty at the end of the 2nd bridge)

(The beach at low tide)

(The 'bersiram' ceremony is held here)

Among the stories that have been told is the event where the sultan's boat was hit by waves as soon as it approached Kuala Sungai Perak until it suddenly ran aground on a shoal in the middle of the ocean. It wasn't until His Majesty threw the crown that he was able to sail again and simultaneously with that, His Majesty Sultan Muzaffar Shah was installed as the first Sultan of Perak in the Beting Beras Basah.

(A brief history of Beting Beras Basah)

By land, visitors can go through Kampung Sungai Balai road or a shortcut from Kampung Sungai Balai Baroh by traveling six kilometers on a small tar road.