Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang - 2024

"An inch of time is worth an inch of gold, but an inch of gold may not buy an inch of time..." - Chinese proverb

(Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang)

After our lunch at Restoran Mohd Chan we drove to Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim located in Bandar Botanik, Klang.

(The signage from the main road)

(The gate into the mosque's compound)

This mosque is the only mosque characterized by Chinese architecture in Selangor. Loaded with traditional Chinese elements, the Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim was built based on the architecture of the Xi'an Great Mosque in Shaanxi province, China. The mosque can accommodate up to 1,000 worshipers. The mosque was opened to public in August 2024 and inaugerated in December 2024 by DYMM Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

 

(A unique Chinese architecture minaret)

(The main courtyard leading to the prayer hall)

(Beautiful garden in the courtyard)

(Partitions dividing the different courtyards)

The concept of this mosque is based on a central axis with a clear division of spaces with the use of a 'courtyard'. It has a unique mosque tower characterized by Chinese architecture and there is a prayer hall where the roof is made of traditional Chinese tiles. The garden can be used as an additional prayer area during eid or Jumaat prayers. Wooden elements are used in the main prayer room and Chinese-style calligraphy adorns the mihrab space. There are library facilities, lecture rooms, management offices, imam rooms, lounge rooms, talaqi corners, souvenir shops and restaurants.

(The use of wooden elements in the main prayer hall)

(Calligraphy writing of Asmaul Husna)

(The external ablution area for men)

(One of the cozy corners for religious classes)

There are several architectural similarities between this mosque and the Great Mosque of Xi’an, including the position of the main entrance to the open space facing the main prayer hall. The design of the handrails made of natural granite in the Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim is also almost the same as the Xi’an Great Mosque. Even the furniture there also adopts traditional Chinese designs.

(Menara Cahaya Bulan)

(I was in Xi'an in 2013 during the China Silk Road trip)

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

A Murder of Crows...

 "Crows are the keepers of mysteries that only the brave dare to unravel..."

(Taman Metropolitan Kepong)

This morning we were late for our brisk walk and the sun was already high in the sky. After the long hiatus, we had started our twice weekly short brisk walks, hopefully help burn some calories and build up our waning stamina.

(Massive development around the Metropolitan lake)

(Smart pretty ladies ready to zumba)

The weather was beautiful this morning. I kept my pace brisk but manageable, avoiding exertion that leaves me breathless. My legs muscles are hurting slightly. I only managed to walk 4.5 km and had to take a rest in between before I could continue walking.

(The mischievous crows)

Lately I saw a lot of crows in Taman Metropolitan. The overflow dustbins attract the crows and they scattered the litters all over the place. Wondered why a group of crows earned the rather dark title of 'a murder of crows'?

(Buying our stock of Karipap King Kong)

(Lunch at Restoran Mohd Chan in Klang Sentral)

2025 Thailand Route 12 Trip

 “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success...” – Alexander Graham Bell

(The 16-day journey)

We will be on a 16-day road trip. The main part of the trip is to cover the whole length of the 710 km newly extended Route 12.

Route 12 or Asean Highway 12 is a part of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), a route which links four mainland Southeast Asian countries, from Myanmar in the West to Vietnam in the East. The final phase of the expansion of Highway 12 which links Thailand with Myanmar and Laos in Tak and Mukdahan, respectively has been completed.

We will enter Thailand via Bukit Kayu Hitam and will exit via Sungai Golok, visiting the major towns along the routing.

Route 12 itinerary:

(18 April - 5 May 2025)

Day 01: Kuala Lumpur - Hat Yai

Day 02: Hat Yai - Tha Sae

Day 03: Tha Sae - Kanchanaburi

Day 04: Kanchanaburi

Day 05: Kanchanaburi - Tak

Day 06: Tak - Phitsanulok

Day 07: Phitsanulok - Khon Kaen

Day 08: Khon Kaen - Mukdahan

Day 09: Mukdahan - Nakhon Ratchasima

Day 10: Nakhon Ratchasima - Hua Hin

Day 11: Hua Hin - Chumphon

Day 12: Chumphon - Hat Yai

Day 13: Hat Yai - Narathiwat

Day 14: Narathiwat - Kota Bharu

Day 15: Kota Bharu

Day 16: Kota Bharu - Kuala Lumpur

Next Trip: Summer in Central America

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Epul's Wedding Reception in Kota Bharu...

"A happy man marries the girl he loves, but a happier man loves the girl he marries..." - Nigerian Proverb

(Saifullah & Rosaini)

On the way back from our Thailand Route 12 Trip, we detoured and entered Malaysia via Sungai Kolok/Rantau Panjang border crossing and stayed in Kota Bharu for two days to attend Saiful's wedding reception in Kg Padang Bongor. Saiful is YB Ubai's youngest son.

(A pit stop in Kota Bharu before we headed home)

(Big 5 minus the groom's mom)

(A small reunion of the SMKB gang)

Opah Beraya at Restoran Beedara...

“Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric.” – Pam Brown

(Writing raya wishes on the whiteboard)

There isn't anything that can prepare you for the way your life changes when you first become a grandma.

This year's Eidil-fitri celebration, muslimah At-Taiyyibin were invited to the Hari Raya gathering held at Restoran Beedara. As the theme was 'Opah Beraya', muslimah adorned their best opah's attire. There were presents for the best dressed opahs!

Food was aplenty. Main dishes were prepared by the restaurant, the rest were potlucks from the self-proclaimed MasterChefs. All were delicious and tasty. We had so much fun watching the younger ones in their opah's dresses. It’s funny to be a grandmother before your time to be one. You start to act all eccentric and do things you never thought you’d do.

We had an enjoyable time, all fun and no stress!  

(The veterans in their 70's)

(Muslimah in their 60's)

(The ones in their 50's)

(The younger ones in their 40's and 30's)

A gathering of the veteran Veterinarians

"If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans..." -James Herriot

(A small gathering for the veteran Veterinarians)

Believe it or not, I was once a qualified veterinarian.

Today we attended a Hari Raya open house at Dr. Natrah's house in Shah Alam. Dr. Natrah is a Veterinary Surgeon and the founder/CEO of I-Vetworks Sdn Bhd. Her father, Dr. Abd Razak and I were classmates in ITM during our 74/78 Animal Health and Production, School of Applied Science. 

We met some old friends of DAHP, most were practicing veterinarians till they retired. Some like me, continued our studies and chose different career paths. Whatever careers or positions we had, we are still close buddies and remain connected.

La Salle Brickfields brunch @ Chef Wan's

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked...” - Bernard Meltzer

(The La Salle Brickfields guys with their spouses)

Today we had brunch at Restoran Che Wan, with hubby's La Salle Brickfields' schoolmates from the early 70's. Lately they have been meeting quite regularly to touch base.

Chef Wan's offers a diverse selections of main dishes of International and Asian influences with house-made French pastries and bakery delights. These are authentic international fare inspired by Chef Wan’s personal travels around the world. Besides, there is an array of Malaysian traditional mouth-watering desserts too.

(Restoran Che Wan at IOI City Mall Putrajaya)

(The comradeship of La Salle Brickfields old boys)

(The spouses at Chef Wan Restaurant)

Years passed us by swiftly, and we will always be friends until we’re old and senile...

Eid Mubarak...

"May this Eid bring along much joy and success. May only the best things pave our way..."

(The two of us @ Bidara House

Eid is about cherishing the precious moments spent with our loved ones. Let’s appreciate the blessings in our lives. May Allah shower his mercy and blessings on our family. Eid Mubarak...

(1st day Raya at Ros house in Klang)

(2nd day Raya at Zin house in Ulu Klang)

(All in the family)

2025 Kembara Ramadhan Vol 8

 "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined..." - Henry David Thoreau

(2025 Kembara Ramadhan routing)

For this year Kembara Ramadhan, we spent the middle 10 nights of Ramadhan in Malaysian and Thailand mosques. We entered Thailand via Sungai Golok and visited mosques in the southernmost provinces of Thailand. We joined the locals for iftar and performed sola tarawih in the main mosques of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani, Songkhla, Trang and Satun where the majority of Thailand's Muslims lived.

We also visited other mosques along our routes. There are more than 4,000 mosques in Thailand and the Southern region has roughly 85% of the total mosques. Pattani Province has the biggest number of mosques, followed by Narathiwat Province, Yala Province and Satun Province.

There are also significant minority of Muslims in other southern provinces such as Songkhla, Trang, Phatthalung, Krabi and Phuket.

2025 Kembara Ramadhan itinerary:

(10 - 19 March, 2025)

Day 01: Kuala Lumpur - Kota Bharu

Day 02: Kota Bharu - Narathiwat

Day 03: Narathiwat - Yala

Day 04: Yala - Pattani

Day 05: Pattani - Hat Yai

Day 06: Hat Yai - Trang

Day 07: Trang - Satun

Day 08: Satun - Alor Setar

Day 09: Alor Setar- Ipoh

Day 10: Ipoh - Kuala Lumpur

Next Trip: Thailand Route 12

My Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

STF - 30 years after...

 “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

(Alia at STF mini library, following her mother's footsteps)

Thirty years ago, we sent our daughter Sara, to Sekolah Tun Fatimah, a premier all-girl boarding school located in Johor Bahru. And today, Sara is sending her daughter Alia to the same school!

Like her mother, we hope that Alia will be able to develop well academically, gain a sense of independence, make friends and learn critical social skills.

Good luck dear Alia. We pray all the best for you...

(Alia first day of school)

(A group photo)

Bikers reunion at a wedding...

“In this life, we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love...” – Mother Teresa

(A small reunion of our bikers gang)

Today we attended a wedding reception in Dewan Dato Harun in Serendah, Selangor for Hj Long Zaini and Tuan Shamirul Afida's eldest son.

Many friends attended the wedding reception so it became a small reunion for the bikers gang. It was so great seeing them and touch base again. It has been too long since we last met. We were away most of the time, so we missed a few of the teh tarik sessions with them.

(A wedding reception in Serendah)

(The KKB Bikers gang)

(The lady bikers, older but wiser)

Family New Year Dinner...

 "The greatest wealth is having a healthy body, a peaceful mind, and the right people in your life..."

(All in the family at Chilis Sunway Putra Mall)

(Ikea Cheras, MyTown Shopping Centre))

As 2024 finishes and 2025 begins,

may we be blessed with hope,

love, safety, the best of health

& abundance of wealth...

Happy New Year!

اللهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانَ وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَان